Whoops! Comment was meant for the Celtics compatibility list. Damn fine player. Screwed up the Celts for about 14 years when he died.

Would've helped to sustain the franchise... First Len, then Reggie, added to the awful drafts....

Horrible that his life was cut short

hes alrigth

This guy would have been great, God rest his soul

man when he died it affected the team for many years as they had great plans for him. he would've been a franchise player.

Didn't work out very well for the Celtics, did he?

He was the complete package. He was a bigger stronger Micheal Jordan with a better jump shot and hops. He was a warrior. The greatest ever to play in the ACC.

these great write-up of bias. i saw him play when he dropped 35 in OT vs unc in the smith center. i was at orientation when i found out he had died. can anyone give me details on maryland's loss to ga. tech in the '86 acc tourney. i know it had something to do with an errant inbounds pass on marylands part. post here or email at beatleed at hotmail dot com thanks.

Len Bias was a gentalman and a great basketball player. I met him in NC at that spectacular performance he had in NC Chapel Hill. I am born and raised in NC and have been around basketball he was great and we should not have let him be taken by Maryland. He had a gracefull presence on the court that has never been duplicated by any other player in the game today and I am 40 years old die hard basketball fan. I have pray for his parents they lost 2 sons in horriable circumstances. He was saved I do knoe that and I pray I see him again him heaven one day. I love you man and thank you for gracing me with your presence on the court and allowing me to have the pleasure of watching a great player and enjoying grea basketball.

I was a freshman at Maryland during Bais's senior season so I was able to see him play in person. I was familiar with him from his senior season in high school, as I attended school in the same town and followed him in the papers. When the Washington Post shot the 1982 High School All-Metropolitan team photo in my school's gym, the energy in the room changed when Lenny walked in. The other players in the gym were no slouches -- Johnny Dawkins comes to mind -- but Bias gave off a different vibe even then. In college he was a tremendous presence on the basketball court. I got the sense that teammates tried harder in order not to disappoint him. He had a wiry frame early in his career which he developed into a superhero-caricature upper body by the start of his senior year. He was an explosive leaper with a soft touch on his jump shot. He had range but perferred to work close in. He was a smooth finesse player when he needed to be and he was a rugged, shoulder-bumping grinder when the dirty work of rebounding and defense needed doing. His left-handed dribbling needed work but with his leaping ability he needed only to drive within 8 feet of the rim and a dunk would result. He dunked off two feet in transition, off one foot with one hand slashing through the lane, on reverse alley-oops and off one step in traffic around the lane in people's faces. He demoralized opponents and created highlights for the 11 o'clock news before cable put SportsCenter in nearly everyone's home. Bias lined up at small forward in college and likely would also have played the "3" position in the NBA. I believe he would have been an All-Star and could have helped the Celtics challenge in the East for years to come. It is hard to say whether he would have challenged Jordan for scoring supremacy but the road to the Finals consistently would have gone through Boston as frequently as through Detroit, New York, and Chicago during the late 80's and early 90's. Bias would have been a solid rebounder and serviceable passer for a forward, if not to the level of Larry Bird, however, playing his first few seasons with Bird would have taught him how to be a complete player. Based on all I got to see of him during his lifetime, looking at what other small forwards with his size, athleticism and killer instinct have done in the NBA since the late 1970's and knowing he was drafted by Boston and would have played with Bird for a few years, my guess is that once he replaced Bird as the starting small forward, barring serious injury Bias would have averaged about 25-27 points per game, 7-8 rebounds and 4-5 assists per game for at least 5 to 8 years of the prime of his career. I imagine Boston might have won around three titles with Bias over a 15 year career, depending on how they built around him and who the coaches were. The Boston-Chicago Eastern Conference Championship series would have been epic but we have to remember that many great players had the misfortune to be born between 1961 and 1965 -- Jordan's biggest competition. Bias could have wound up like Malone, Stockton, Drexler, Barkley and Ewing but as a fan and eyewitness I imagine he would have found a way to win. Finally, I'm sure he would have been a Dream-Teamer and Laettner never would have been in that discussion. Don't be fooled by Bias being picked second in the draft. Chris Washburn was never going to be good and Cleveland didn't need Bias -- as someone else said, Cleveland needed a center. Bias was worthy of the No. 1 pick but we have to settle for ifs and buts, now.

Len Bias was as close to a perfect basketball player, that there has ever been. When Len Bias died, it felt like part of me died. Len was my basketball Idol. There will never be another Len Bias..............you will always be miseed.

The fact that Brad Daugherty was chosen #1 in the 1986 Draft over Len Bias only says that Cleveland was in more need of a Center instead of a SuperStar Foward like Bias. Len Bias awesome abilities should not be underestimated. Thats just like saying MJ was not all of that because Portland chose Sam Bowie of him. The fact still remains that Red Aueback schemed for 3 years to get Lenny,and there were alot of closed doors deals in place for Boston to secure this deal. There is little doubt in my mind that Len Bias would have molded into the NBA all time best,beating the Chicago Bulls at least 2 times in the 90's. Lenny stood at 6ft8",had a body of a 33yr.old,and was dubbed as a more advanced version of Micheal Jordan coming out of College. Reebok even wanted him as the corner stone of there athletic appearal to go head up against Nike. Despite all of this,Len Bias was extremly exciting to watch with his acurate jumpshot and his awesome mid-air alley-oops. Most people talking negative about this guy have not seen him play enough to see how amazing an athlete he was. He still remains the most exciting College Basketball player I have seen in my life. I think in Boston,he would have become even greater and gained at least 2 or 3 championships for them in the 90's.

If Bias was at the time the greatest hoops prospect since Jordan, then it begs the question why the Cavaliers picked Brad Daugherty instead. While centers were and still are still highly valued, Bias could have been as much, if not a better player to build around. Also does anyone recall if Bias was a good 3-pt shooter?

Imagine how good he could have been without coke. ..

Len Bias was simply the best college basketball player I have ever seen. I am 34 years old and have been watching college basketball since I was 6 and NO ONE was better in my lifetime. MJ was amazing, but he HAD a supporting cast of All americans and eventual all pro's and Hall of famers; Bias had none of that. He willed his teams to be very good and he did it pretty much all by himself. It is too difficult to predict what he would have been like as a pro--but ALL the signs sure pointed to super stardom,especially after watching MJ achieve what he did. People may think I am crazy, but I would have taken Bias over MJ all day long back in 86. He was the most special basketball talent I have ever seen.

I see some very bold claims of his greatness. I remember him playing for the Turtles, recall him being a mighty fine player but I don't think he was one of the greatest ever or better than Jordan. I will say that the Boston Celtics have never recovered since Bias' draft day tragedy. I remember the meanest jokes of 1986 were, NASA: Need Another Seven Astronauts and I hear Len Bias is starring in the 6-foot-under league.

The greatest basketball player I ever saw play the game. I'm 32 years Old and can remember the day the story broke on the local news here in Maryland. He was the first B-Ball player that was literally Un-stoppable. He had size, power, grace and pure Skills and every one was looking foward to the years of Bias vs Jordan. Bias (Not Jordan) made people watch B-Ball who never watched it before and he wasn't even a Pro yet. If you never saw him play go out and find a tape and you'll appreciate what real basketball is all about.

Theres a few People that you can call the MAN;but Lenny Bias was really the Man.He had style and grace on and off the court;and was before way before his time.I was just 13yrs. old when the guy past and I still cant get over it.At 6'8 He had the Jumper accuracy of Larry Bird with the Dunking Abilties of Jordan and Domonic Wilkins.Would have loved to have seen him with that Celtic Jersey wearing his signature Reeboks;killing the competition.I truly believe this guy would have been better than Micheal Jordan as great ad Mike was.Anybody seen Bias play knows Im not crazy.A shame the youngers are looking at Lebron and Bryant;thinking they are seeing something.

The man could shoot as well as anyone. He could elevate with anyone. He was a good rebounder and was improving as a ball handler. Good defender al be it not great. Could run the floor with anyone. A fantastic player that would have been an even better pro. His game was made for the NBA. 25 points a game and 8 rebounds would have been well within his realm. Undoubtably would have thrown in a couple f 30 point averages in his career as well as 1 or 2 10 rebound averages. Huge tragedy.

remember, he didn't have teammates who were as good as jordan's or thompson's

This boy was better than Jordan at the time with one of the greatest jumpshots ever. What if ...

Arguably the best college hoopster we'll ever see, and one can only wonder what he would've done playing against the likes of MJ.

Iam a Oversea fan of basketball and mainly the reason why basketball came to the world was because or Magic, Bird and Jordan. I been reading more about baksetball history. Its sad to see the likes of Len Bias and Ben Wilson, people will always remember them of how great they were at Basketball and even tho they didn't play in the Pros, The basketball pros always remember them. I never saw them play, but I knew they were great by their basketball peers. Players like them and others, will always be remember as making basketball a great game, because they played it for their life, the love of the game to make basketball a way of life to everyone.

Greatest college basketball player of all time. The game against North Carolina proved that.

I saw ever home game Bias played in at Cole Field House. He was a man among boys in the best conference in the country. The only college player that I think comes close to Bias was David Thompson. Bias was simply a phenom.

The beginning of a bad era for the Celtics. They had the #2 pick in the 1986 and chose Len Bias, who died of an overdose. The Celtics expected big things from him. A few years later Reggie Lewis died on the court, and the Celtics really haven't had a succesful team since.

At Maryland's Cole Field House I saw Len Bias & 4 relative no-names play the greatest stretch of college b-ball I ever saw (I'm 62). They outscored North Carolina with Jordan, Perkins, Worthy, Doherty & Black by 43-12 over an 8-minute period & won the game by 22. Bias easily could have become the best ever because with the incredible athleticism & leaping ability came the competitiveness & meanness you need to climb to top. But what topped it off was the amazing shooting ability. His senior, despite double & triple-teaming, he shot 56% from the field & 88% from the line.

Coach K even said he was the best player he had ever seen. Many people say he was as good or better than MJ at the same age. Has a great jumper and had Jordan's game at 6'8 at his work ethic and heart

Lenny was the best, those who didn't know him or of him are quick to make stupid remarks, if you never saw him play then don't comment. He was as good or better than Jordan, it's a shame as to what happened, it was as hard for us fans to take as the theft of the Baltimore Colts in the dead of night, we all felt empty, I remember being at Memorial stadium when we all found out thier was a stunned silence and tears as if something in all of us had just died. I also feel sorry for his mother whom ended up losing her other son as well. Please try to be mature when you comment, how would you feel if someone made a stupid comment after your sister or brother died.

Overrated! CLAP! CLAP! - CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! He wasn't even the #1 pick of the 1986 Draft. That honor goes to UNC's Brad Daugherty (#3 was NCSU's Chris Washburn). Both of these players were better than Len Bias.

Looked like a Greek God, had a smile that movie stars would die for and a game that even eclipsed those attributes. The man was special.

It's 2003 and the NBA has to go over seas to find guys who can hit a jump shot. These guys don't play defense and can't spell weight room. I love Grant Hill, but how can he be ranked #6 when his own college coach has said Len Bias and Jordan are the best the ACC has ever seen? Don't hate because of the way he died, Bias was the best. If he had not died Mr. Jordan would have no more than 3 rings!

Much better college player than Jordan ever thought about being.

Biggest tragedy in basketball history. The 2002 title was for you, Lenny. We will always love you in Maryland. You were the best.

Gimme a break...this guy is not in the top 20?...He is the best ever..

crack head

Len Bias was my hero in high school. Unbelievable athleticism combined with serious skills made for a great college career.

What a tragedy!!!