The 1986 NBA Draft is notable for the less-than-predicted success of its top draft picks. Foremost among those was Len Bias who died from a cocaine-related cardiac arrhythmia less than 48 hours after the draft. Drugs affected the careers of other top picks including Chris Washburn, Roy Tarpley, and William Bedford. The overall top pick in the draft, Brad Daugherty had a short career, retiring at age 28 because of chronic back issues.
1986 NBA Draft | Len Bias
Len Bias is selected as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
First overall pick Brad Daugherty retired at age 28 after years of chronic back trouble
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Fact:
Second overall pick Len Bias died less than 48 hours after his selection by the Boston Celtics from a cocaine-induced cardiac arrhythmia
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Fact:
Second round picks included Mark Price, Dennis Rodman, Kevin Duckworth, Jeff Hornacek
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Fact:
Third round pick Drazen Petrovic of the New Jersey Nets was killed in a car accident in 1995
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Fact:
Petrovic was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002
