On this day in 1986, Len Bias, the Boston Celtics selection for the No. 2 pick of the 1986 NBA Draft, died unexpectedly just two days after his selection by the franchise.
Bias, a highly-rated 6-foot-8 small forward out of the University of Maryland, returned home from the June 17th draft in New York City, and went to a party at his alma mater, after which he and several friends used cocaine for several hours, which triggered a fatal arrhythmia in Bias.
The loss devastated the family, friends, Celtics and wider basketball world, and was a major cause of a near three-decades long decline for the Celtics, who did not win another championship after Bias’ death until 2008.