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Len Bias

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Basketball Player

The Resume

    (November 18, 1963-June 19, 1986)
    Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year (1985, 1986)
    Selected second overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics
    Died from a cocaine overdose

Why he might be annoying:

    Two days after he was drafted by the Boston Celtics, he died of a cocaine overdose.
    Ironically, his nickname was 'Frosty.'
    Because of his clumsiness, kids used to make fun of him when he played basketball and was often left out when they picked teams.
    He became the poster child of the anti-drug war of the 80's.
    He secured a multi-million dollar deal with Reebok, and was in negotiations to endorse McDonalds, General Motors and Pepsi.
    He and Michael Jordan were to be the faces of the NBA in the 90's.
    His death sparked an investigation that led to the resignation of Coach Lefty Driesell and Athletic Director Dick Dull.
    He was once a top student-athlete, but flunked his final semester when it became apparent he was to be a top pick.
    It wasn't like he came from a bad family; his parents are both well educated and his mother holds a doctorate.
    Opponents felt his violent dunking was done to embarrass them.
    His younger brother Jay was murdered 4 years later in 1990.
    His name is an anagram for lesbian.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was a 2-time ACC Player of The Year (1985, 1986).
    Mike Krzyzewski said, 'If Michael Jordan isn't the greatest player ever to come through the ACC, Lenny was. It's the two of them and then everyone else.'
    Dean Smith said, 'Michael was the greatest player I ever coached. Lenny was the greatest player I ever coached against by a mile.'
    Jay Bilas of ESPN said that he was 'the greatest player I ever played against, hands down. And that includes Jordan. He did things on the court I guarantee nobody else could do.'
    He scored 35 points, for his inferior Maryland team to beat #1 ranked UNC, 77-72. It also marked UNC's first-ever loss in the Dean Smith Center (February 20, 1986).
    In March, 1986, he led the Terps to the ACC Championship.
    Several draft publications ranked him the best forward prospect to enter the NBA.
    Along with being an elite dunker, he was an incredible shooter and ball handler.
    He had a vertical jump estimated between 44-48 inches.
    His dunks were thunderous and intimidating.
    His death led to Maryland enforcing mandatory random drug testing and higher academic minimums athletes must achieve to remain eligible to play.

Credit: Larry Biz


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 24 Votes: 29.17% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 36 Votes: 91.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 19 Votes: 89.47% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 19 Votes: 31.58% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 79 Votes: 65.82% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 58 Votes: 67.24% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 40 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 86 Votes: 72.09% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 128 Votes: 65.62% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 81 Votes: 46.91% Annoying