Len Bias – Syndication Server

On this day: Len Bias, Garfield Smith, Sam Cassell born; Bob Cousy traded

On this day, Celtics Len Bias, Garfield Smith, and Sam Cassell — while Boston icon Bob Cousy had his rights traded to the Cincinnati Royals.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, small forward Len Bias was born in Landover, Maryland in 1963. Bias would attend his hometown University of Maryland after graduating high school, where he would rise to national attention with the Terrapins.

He would be taken by the Celtics with the second overall pick of the 1986 NBA draft, only to have tragedy follow soon after. To celebrate his good fortune of landing with the storied franchise, the former Terrapin returned to the University of Maryland campus to celebrate his ascent to a contending team in the NBA with several of his friends.

Bias would have a seizure and collapse after using cocaine, a cardiac arrhythmia triggered by the use of the drug that eventually killed him. His unexpected passing is one of the great tragedies of Celtics and NBA history — rest in peace.

On this day: Bias dies; Carlisle drafted; Carr hired as coach; Boston trades back for Tatum

On this day, vaunted Boston Celtics draftee Len Bias passed away, Rick Carlisle was drafted, M.L. Carr was hired as head coach, and Boston traded back for the pick used to take Jayson Tatum.

On this day in 1986, Len Bias, the Boston Celtics’ selection with the No. 2 pick of the 1986 NBA draft, died just two days after his selection by the team. Bias, a highly-rated 6-foot-8 small forward out of the University of Maryland, returned home from the June 17 draft in New York City and went to a party at his alma mater.

He and several friends used cocaine for several hours, triggering a fatal arrhythmia. The loss devastated the family, friends, Celtics, and the wider basketball world. It was a major catalyst of a two-decade decline for the Celtics.

They did not win another championship after Bias’ death until 2008.

On this day: Len Bias, Garfield Smith, Sam Cassell born; Bob Cousy traded

On this day, Celtics Len Bias, Garfield Smith, and Sam Cassell — while Boston icon Bob Cousy had his rights traded to the Cincinnati Royals.

On this day: Bias dies; Carlisle drafted; Carr hired as coach; Boston trades back for Tatum

On this day, vaunted Boston Celtics draftee Len Bias passed away, Rick Carlisle was drafted, M.L. Carr was hired as head coach, and Boston traded back for the pick used to take Jayson Tatum.

On this day in 1986, Len Bias, the Boston Celtics’ selection with the No. 2 pick of the 1986 NBA draft, died just two days after his selection.

Bias, a highly-rated 6-foot-8 small forward out of the University of Maryland, returned home from the June 17 draft in New York City and went to a party at his alma mater. He and several friends used cocaine for several hours, triggering a fatal arrhythmia. The loss devastated the family, friends, Celtics and the wider basketball world. It was a major catalyst of a two decade decline for the Celtics.

They did not win another championship after Bias’ death until 2008.

WATCH: College Basketball Hall of Fame set to induct Celtics’ draft tragedy Len Bias

A welcome gesture for the tragic loss.

One of the greatest tragedies of modern basketball at any level and certainly among the worst events in the annals of the Boston Celtics was the unexpected passing of former University of Maryland standout Len Bias, who died of an accidental drug-induced heart arrhythmia just days after being selected by the Celtics with the second overall pick of the 1986 NBA draft.

Now, 35 years later, Bias is reportedly going to be honored with induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame according to a new video released by the popular ABC morning television show “Good Morning America,” which features a rare interview with Bias’ mother.

Watch the clip embedded below to hear the details of this historic event for details on when and where the ceremony will be held and other important details regarding this historic event.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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INTERVIEW: Adam McKay’s new podcast examines the tragic deaths of forgotten NBA stars

“Death at the Wing” is the latest podcast from Acadamy Award-winner Adam McKay.

You don’t need to be a basketball fan, even in the lightest, to become infatuated with the new podcast “Death at the Wing” from Adam McKay.

McKay, a former head writer of Saturday Night Live who won an Academy Award for The Big Short (2015), is best known as the director of Anchorman (2004), Talledega Nights (2006) and Step Brothers (2008). McKay has also had his hand in notable shows including HBO’s Succession and Eastbound & Down.

Following his podcast “Broken: Seeking Justice,” about Jeffrey Epstein and from McKay’s Hyperobject Industries and Three Uncanny Four productions, “Death at the Wing” uses basketball as its muse to describe the ways politics, economics, racial relations and so much more changed in the United States during the 1980s.

The series is currently on Episode 5, with new releases coming out on Wednesdays, and you can listen via Apple Podcasts. While the subject matter is dark, as it explores various star basketball players in the 1980s who all tragically passed away, it is also presented in a way that is both tasteful and informative.

Imagine if your AP U.S. History teacher taught you about the Reagan Revolution through the lens of the NBA and that said teacher also founded comedy website Funny or Die and famed improv group Upright Citizens Brigade. That should give you a decent idea of what to expect in these episodes.

If you are someone who loves sports, you will be hooked by some of the fascinating details that McKay unearths about some of the game’s biggest legends, including an incredibly candid interview with Jerry West. Or you may find yourself shaken to the core learning more about would-be stars like Len Bias or Benji Wilson.

But even if you have no interest in sports whatsoever, these stories are deeply human and help contextualize an important moment in our American history. This podcast has captivating storytelling, well worth exploring with a curious mind.

McKay spoke to For The Win so that we could learn a little bit more about this project. Please note that this interview was conducted before the tragic death of NBA prospect Terrence Clarke on April 22, 2021.

OTD: Celtics Len Bias, Garfield Smith, Sam Cassell born; Bob Cousy traded

On this day, Celtics Len Bias, Garfield Smith and Sam Cassell — while Boston icon Bob Cousy had his rights traded to the Cincinnati Royals.

NBA Draft: Which colleges have produced the most first-round picks?

On this day: Bias dies; Carlisle drafted; Carr hired as coach

On this day, vaunted Boston Celtics draftee Len Bias passed away, Rick Carlisle was drafted, and M.L. Carr was hired as head coach.

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.

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On this day: Banner 17 won; Bias drafted; Jones, Ray born

On this day, the Boston Celtics won their 17th banner, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

On this day in 2008, the Boston Celtics won their 17th and last title to date by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers with a 131-92 blowout of Game 6 of the series.

The win came at home in TD Garden, behind 26 points and 14 rebounds by big man Kevin Garnett, and 26 points from shooting guard Ray Allen.

Point guard Rajon Rondo added 21 points, 8 boards and six assists while forward Paul Pierce chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Reserve forward James Posey provided 11 points off the bench.

“It means so much more because these are the guys, the Havliceks, the Bill Russells, the Cousys,” Pierce said via ESPN. “These guys started what’s going on with those banners. They don’t hang up any other banners but championship ones, and now I’m a part of it.”

“I got my own. I got my own,” Garnett said to Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell, present at the sidelines. “I hope we made you proud.”

“You sure did,” Russell replied.

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