Pick and Roll

Some NBA ballers are all about the fadeaway

Apparently, the NBA’s finest have a weakness for the same herb we use medicinally. Marcus Williams, a former player for the Spurs and Clippers who had most recently been playing for a Chinese league, was recently suspended for testing positive for cannabis. Also, former Chicago Bulls point guard and current ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams recently alleged that his former teammates would puff before games during the 2002-2003 season, according to a report in The New York Times. This isn’t the first time that true ballers and cannabis have crossed paths. Here are a few examples:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem is a legend on and off the court, and we would be very remiss if we failed to mention that the former Lakers center has been very public about his use of the herb to tackle migraines. He was busted in 2000 for suspicion of driving while being under the influence of cannabis.

Michael Beasley

In 2011, when Michael Beasley was playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was ticketed for speeding and possession of more than 16 grams of cannabis. While Beasley contests that it actually belonged to a friend, the whole incident begs the question: Where can I find some friends like Beasley’s?

Carmelo Anthony

Former Nugget Carmelo Anthony revealed to TSA how he stays so “mellow” when he was cited for possessing less than an ounce of cannabis in 2004 while boarding a plane at Denver International Airport. Once again, the cannabis was claimed to belong to a friend (probably Michael Beasley) and the case was dismissed.

Corie Blount

Corie Blunt—excuse me, Blount—serves as a great testimony as to what happens to players when they feel underpaid. In 2009, the former power forward (he retired in 2004 from the Toronto Raptors) was caught by Cincinnati police, receiving a package of cannabis from the U.S. Postal Service. The package turned out to be 11 pounds of green. Authorities eventually found a total of 29 bags full of green. Who needs lock-outs?