“Without Bias” Airs Tonight on ESPN

I still remember that day back in 1986 like it was yesterday…when the news that the Boston Celtics first round 1986 draft pick Len Bias had died of an apparent drug overdose.  The Celtics were fresh off their 1986 NBA Championship and would only be stronger with the addition of the Maryland star.

The Celtics Big Three (Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish) were still in their prime but would get some young blood infused into their team that rolled through the Houston Rockets for the franchise’s 16th NBA Championship.  Bias would give Bird some rest coming off the bench as Bird would be entering his eighth season in the NBA, and turning 30 during the 1986 - 1987 NBA season.

But it wasn’t to be, as less than 48 hours after the Celtics had announced they had selected the 6′8″ ACC Athlete of the Year with the second pick overall Len Bias was pronounced dead.   Bias was just 22 years old when he died on June 19, 1986 from what was concluded to be an overdose of cocaine.

ESPN airs “Without Bias” tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST, documenting the life of Len Bias.  Below is a discussion with the director Kirk Fraser and Brian Tribble.

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