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Larry Sanders, Marijuana And The NBA’s Anti-Drug Policy

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 21, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (8) against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Bucks 124-83. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (8) against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Bucks 124-83. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Larry Sanders
Dec 15, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (8) drives on Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

What We Know About Larry Sanders

Before we get to the NBA’s anti-drug policy and its effect on Sanders, it’s important to understand the man himself.

Larry Sanders the player is a a 6’11” center who became a league-wide favorite during the 2012-13 season, when he averaged 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game — all career highs. His emergence came out of nowhere, and most NBA writers and fans alike had fun with it.

Grantland’s Zach Lowe even dubbed him LARRY SANDERS!!! for his exciting play and promising potential, a trend that caught on with all of Basketball Twitter.

Larry Sanders the person is a bit more complicated, and has started to push Larry Sanders the player to a breaking point.

After signing Sanders to a four-year, $44 million extension, the Bucks watched his production deteriorate to 7.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 1.7 BPG in 2013-14. He only played in 23 games due to a thumb injury he sustained in a fight at a night club, which downgraded him from “foundational rebuilding piece” to “head case.”

His production in 2014-15 hasn’t helped his reputation any. Averaging 7.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 1.4 BPG this season, Sanders hasn’t played since Dec. 23, citing personal reasons for his absence from the team.

Less than two weeks ago, reports suggested he didn’t even want to play basketball anymore:

Sanders and his agent have since denied those claims, but the point still stands: this 26-year-old big has some deep-seated personal issues that have kept him from reaching his full potential as an NBA player. This suspension represents yet another self-imposed obstacle in getting back to the court.

Larry Sanders is not an idiot. Numerous profiles over the last two seasons have illuminated the troubled personality of an intelligent man whose father abused his mother when he was growing up.

But his troubled past and recent problems with the league don’t absolve him of the blame.

Next: Sanders Not A Martyr Based On Facts

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