What Could Have Been: Imagining Len Bias’s NBA Career

This edition of alternate history is a lot heavier than those of the past. It’s not wondering how the NBA would have been different if a player didn’t retire, wasn’t traded, or was drafted by another organization. Unfortunately in we are discussing a 22-year-old who would have an overdose death a day after he was drafted 2nd in the 1986 NBA Draft. Not only was Bias an elite talent that would have been ready to help from day one, but he was also drafted by the defending champion Boston Celtics. A 67-win dynastic defending champ with the 2nd pick in the draft out of the University of Maryland is a perfect storm of basketball fortune until it wasn’t. As a fan of the league, I believe leaves us wondering what could have been. For our exercise, we’ll assume Len Bias doesn’t pass that night and doesn’t develop any sort of further issues with drugs or his health.

The Boston Celtics and the 2nd Pick

1985-86	Boston Celtics	67	15	Won Finals
1984-85	Boston Celtics	63	19	Lost Finals
1983-84	Boston Celtics	62	20	Won Finals
1982-83	Boston Celtics	56	26	Lost E. Conf. Semis
1981-82	Boston Celtics	63	19	Lost E. Conf. Finals
1980-81	Boston Celtics	62	20	Won Finals

As you can see this was a dominant franchise coming off of one of the most dominating seasons in NBA history at the time. They had just won their 3rd championship in 6 seasons. The Celtics acquired the pick that would become the 2nd pick in the draft by trading Gerald Henderson to Seattle in 1984. At the time Seattle was 42-40 and coming off a season where they lost in the first round and Henderson averaged 11.6ppg as a starter. Seattle would struggle and win 31 games each of the next two seasons which is how they received a pick so high in the draft. Brad Daugherty would be drafted first in 1986, with Len Bias following at 2nd.

Len Bias would have an outstanding career at Maryland. He was a 2-time Consensus All-American and ACC Player of the Year. He would help Maryland finish 11th in 1984 in the final polls, and to make the Sweet 16 in 1985. Probably the most impressive aspect of his stats is that he averaged 23ppg on nearly .62% true shooting percentage. He was highly efficient even with few other good offensive options to take the pressure off of him. He got to the FT line 7.6 times a game and made nearly 87%.

Season	School	MP	FG%	FT%	PTS	TRB	AST
1982-83	Maryland	22	0.478	0.636	7.1	4.2	0.7
1983-84	Maryland	34.5	0.567	0.767	15.3	4.5	1.5
1984-85	Maryland	36.5	0.528	0.777	18.9	6.8	1.8
1985-86	Maryland	37	0.544	0.864	23.2	7.0	1.0

Len Bias was 22 years old and ready to help immediately bridge the gap from the aging Celtics core to the future. These were the key contributors on the 1986 championship teams with their age and key stats.

1985-86
	age	ppg	rpg	apg	PER
Larry Bird	29	25.8	9.8	6.8	25.6
Kevin McHale	28	21.3	8.1	2.7	21.6
Dennis Johnson	31	15.6	3.4	5.8	14.7
Robert Parish	32	16.1	9.5	1.8	18.8
Danny Ainge	26	10.7	2.9	5.1	13.6

1986-1987

Len Bias likely role at the start of 1986-87 would be to step into a situation where he came off of the bench, but played a solid amount of minutes to give the older Celitcs some support after the long playoff run. Bird would turn 30 years old at the end of 1986 for example. Bias would have likely been capable of playing either forward position and it would have been a perfectly aligned rotation when any one of Bird, Parish or McHale sat considering McHale could play some center, and Bird was tough enough and could rebound enough well that you didn’t need McHale or an enforcer PF.

1986-87	age	games	ppg	rpg	apg	PER
Larry Bird	30	74	28.1	9.2	7.6	26.1
Kevin McHale	29	77	26.1	9.9	2.6	24
Robert Parish	33	80	17.5	10.6	2.2	17.7
Dennis Johnson	32	79	13.4	3.3	7.5	13.2
Danny Ainge	27	71	14.8	3.4	5.6	15.2

The Celtics would win 59 games and make it to the Finals again vs the Lakers. The Celtics would lose the series in 6 games including losing one of those by 1 point. I believe if Bias was on the Celtics they win that game and likely for a game 7. I don’t think he changes the rest of the series and the Lakers with home court likely still win the championship. The Celtics were playing most of those 5 guys I listed 40+ minutes. Only Parish was at 30 minutes in the series a game. I think Bias would have filled in some of the weaker bench minutes from players like Darren Daye and allowed them to play McHale some at Center when Parrish was out. He helps as a rookie push it to 7 games, but isn’t enough to swing the series.

1987-1988

This season the Celtics would win 57 games and lose to the Detroit Pistons in the eastern conference finals in 6 games despite having home court advantage. All of the now significantly aging stars and core players listed would play 40.7+ minutes except Parrish. He logged 36 a game vs Detroit in those playoffs. Larry Bird played nearly 46 minutes a game in the series. Having Bias to spot them a few minutes or covers some for the weak bench would have been ideal in that series.

1987-88
Larry Bird	31	76	29.9	9.3	6.1	27.8
Danny Ainge	28	81	15.7	3.1	6.2	15.9
Kevin McHale	30	64	22.6	8.4	2.7	21.9
Dennis Johnson	33	77	12.6	3.1	7.8	14
Robert Parish	34	74	14.3	8.5	1.6	17.2

The Celtics won 3 games by 6 points or less. I believe with Len Bias in his 2nd year and better they do beat the Pistons. I think as closely as Detroit would play the Lakers that season taking them to 7 games before losing the Celtics would have beaten the Lakers this year. Kareem had taken a pretty big step back at that point.

1988-1989

This is the breakout season Len Bias likely would have emerged as a superstar with Larry Bird missing all but 6 games following foot surgery. Fellow young player Reggie Lewis would pick up most of the slack Bird left behind, but Bias was a much more talented player and capable. At that point he would have been 25 years old and I suspect a likely All-Star. I could see him averaging 25+ppg on this team and taking some of the burden off of McHale. This could have potentially been the best season at a prime age, given the usage with Bird out, and a willing team around him to play their roles.

1988-89
Kevin McHale	31	78	22.5	8.2	2.2	20.3
Robert Parish	35	80	18.6	12.5	2.2	21.6
Reggie Lewis	23	81	18.5	4.7	2.7	17.6
Dennis Johnson	34	72	10	2.6	6.6	11.5
Larry Bird	32	6	19.3	6.2	4.8	19.8
Danny Ainge	29	45	15.9	3.4	4.8	17.5

The Celtics would win 42 games that season and be swept out of the playoffs by the eventual champions Pistons as the 8th seed. With Bias, they probably still have a top 4 seed and could have won a round. Ainge was traded to Sacramento for a 1st round draft pick that turned into Pete Chillcutt.

1989-1990

Bird would return from injury and the Celtics would return to winning 52 games. They would secure the 4 seed and would lose 3-2 to the Knicks.

1989-90
Larry Bird	33	75	24.3	9.5	7.5	21.9
Kevin McHale	32	82	20.9	8.3	2.1	21.8
Reggie Lewis	24	79	17.0	4.4	2.8	16.8
Robert Parish	36	79	15.7	10.1	1.3	19.2
Dennis Johnson	35	75	7.0	2.7	6.5	12.4

I think an All Star level Len Bias turns the tides on this season. They probably finish with the 2 seed that season with Len Bias, to the eventual champion Pistons. The way Bird came back and McHale was still playing the Celtics would have been tough to beat here. I think they beat the Piston’s and win their 2nd title with Len Bias.

1990-1991

The Celtics in 1991 had managed to draft well and develop some quality young players even with the tragic death of Len Bias. This season they would win 56 games and lose to the Pistons in the 2nd round in 6 games. Reggie Lewis led the way averaging 23ppg. Not listed was Dee Brown who was only 22 years old but would also average 16ppg in that series. It was a nice collection of young talent as the older guys would soon move on.

1990-91
Larry Bird	34	60	19.4	8.5	7.2	19.7
Reggie Lewis	25	79	18.7	5.2	2.5	16.2
Brian Shaw	24	79	13.8	4.7	7.6	15.3
Kevin Gamble	25	82	15.6	3.3	3.1	16.3
Kevin McHale	33	68	18.4	7.1	1.9	21.2
Robert Parish	37	81	14.9	10.6	0.8	20.6

Jordan & Bias had been matching up since high school. That’s Coach K is in the bench in the background. and Craig Ehloe in red watching Jordan soar as usual.

With Len Bias I think they beat the Pistons and match up with Michael Jordan and the Bulls for the first time in the eastern conference finals. The Celtics would have had all the experience and Bias would have been at his peak at 27 years old by this point. Unfortunately for the Celtics, I believe this is just another all-time name Jordan would check off on his way to 6 titles. I think nothing fundamentally changes here as the Bulls likely beat the Celtics and take out the Lakers in the finals to effectively end both dynasties’ championship window.

1991-1992

This season would be the last dance for Larry Bird. He would turn in a very impressive regular season but unfortunately get hurt in the playoffs vs the Cavs. The Celtics would win 51 games and make it to the 2nd round where they lost to those Cavs 7 games. Bird played in 4 of those games, and was hampered. Reggie Lewis would lead the way averaging 28ppg.

1991-92
Reggie Lewis	26	82	20.8	4.8	2.3	17.9
Larry Bird	35	45	20.2	9.6	6.8	21
Kevin Gamble	26	82	13.5	3.5	2.7	15.2
Robert Parish	38	79	14.1	8.9	0.9	18.9
Dee Brown	23	31	11.7	2.5	5.3	13
Brian Shaw	25	17	10.3	4.1	5.2	15
Kevin McHale	34	56	13.9	5.9	1.5	18.5

With Len Bias I believe the get by the Cavs and have a 2nd meeting with Jordan’s Bulls where they again lose.

1992-1993

The Celtics would push on after Bird’s retirement with Reggie Lewis leading the way. They would win 48 wins and lose in the first round to the Hornets in 1-3. McHale and Parrish both turned in vintage performances in the series averaging 19ppg, 7.3rpg and 17ppg and 9.5rpg vs Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning on high efficiency. Unfortunately, Reggie Lewis would only play in one game in the series collapsing, and would tragically be dead in a couple of months from a cardiac arrest. He scored 17 points in 13 minutes in what would be his final NBA game that season.

1992-93
Reggie Lewis	27	80	20.8	4.3	3.7	17.4
Kevin Gamble	27	82	13.3	3	2.8	15.1
Dee Brown	24	80	10.9	3.1	5.8	17.2
Robert Parish	39	79	12.6	9.4	0.8	16.3
Xavier McDaniel	29	82	13.5	6	2	19.2
Kevin McHale	35	71	10.7	5	1	14.4

With Bias the Celtics would have had a better season and could have ended up in the eastern conference finals but they wouldn’t have beaten the Bulls.

1993 Through 1995

Len Bias would have been 29 years old, and Lewis was 27 at the time of his death. The death of Lewis ended any chance they had to continue on as a true contender to the Bulls or Rockets. It’s a shame on many levels to lose young people like this. When Jordan retired in 1994 there would have been an opportunity for both Bias and Lewis to lead a team to a championship independent of Bird and McHale the two biggest stars of most of the previous dynasty. Had they both lived they would have led a good team, but likely fallen a little short to the Knicks or Rockets. Bias without Lewis by his side, probably could get the 32-win Celtics to the playoffs the next couple of seasons, but likely to quick first-round exits. There was enough quality depth to still be a playoff team. Dominique Wilkins was signed in 1994-95 which would have helped some, but Bias likely is traded by 1995-1996 when it had ran it’s course in Boston and they bottomed out with 15 wins the following season trying to get Tim Duncan.

Bias would have been 33 years old in 1996. He could have retired and continued to play as many aging stars did in the 1990s. I believe with his style of game though at this point he’s probably more of a starter-level player than a star that would impact winning.

History
1995-96	Boston Celtics	33	49
1994-95	Boston Celtics	35	47	Lost E. Conf. 1st Rnd.
1993-94	Boston Celtics	32	50
1992-93	Boston Celtics	48	34	Lost E. Conf. 1st Rnd.
1991-92	Boston Celtics	51	31	Lost E. Conf. Semis
1990-91	Boston Celtics	56	26	Lost E. Conf. Semis
1989-90	Boston Celtics	52	30	Lost E. Conf. 1st Rnd.
1988-89	Boston Celtics	42	40	Lost E. Conf. 1st Rnd.
1987-88	Boston Celtics	57	25	Lost E. Conf. Finals
1986-87	Boston Celtics	59	23	Lost Finals

Alt History
1995-96	Boston	38	45
1994-95	Boston	43	39	Lost E. Conf. 1st Rnd.
1993-94	Boston	42	40	Lost E. Conf 1st Rnd
1992-93	Boston	55	27	Lost E. Conf. 2nd Rnd.
1991-92	Boston	58	31	Lost E. Conf. Finals
1990-91	Boston	61	19	Lost E. Conf. Finals
1989-90	Boston	59	23	Won Finals
1988-89	Boston	52	30	Lost E. Conf. 1st Rnd.
1987-88	Boston	62	20	Won Finals
1986-87	Boston	63	19	Lost Finals

I believe the best comparison to what Len Bias could have been is a more suppressed version of Dominique Wilkins statistically. He’s not putting up 30ppg with all the other great players on the Celtics, but I do believe that’s the comp. The way Bias shot free throws he probably even add a decent 3 point shot like Wilkins did later in his career. He wouldn’t be quite as flashy or put up the same scoring stats on the Celtics but he would contribute to winning and be a player everyone remembers I believe.

After the year Bird is hurt he’s probably averaging around 22+ppg 6rpg on similar efficiency as Wilkins did for the next 5 seasons. Bird, McHale, and Parrish would likely have no issue deferring at that point if it meant deeper playoff runs and a chance to still be a serious contender. They tried to with Lewis some as it was. Bird has said in interviews he would have retired in 1988 if Bias had lived. I’ll say maybe on that one. He had serious injuries but the level he played at from 88-92 I think it would have been hard for him to walk away. If he does stick around after 1995 or 1996, I think he’s on another team that is contending by 1996-1997.

	age	ppg	rpg	apg	PER
1986-87	23	11.7	4.5	0.8	19.5
1987-88	24	13.8	4.9	1	21.2
1988-89	25	27.4	6.9	2.5	24.6
1989-90	26	22.3	5.8	2.6	22.5
1990-91	27	24.3	6.3	3.3	23.8
1991-92	28	25.2	6.4	3.2	24.2
1992-93	29	26.2	6.9	2.6	22.8
1993-94	30	26.7	6.5	2.5	21.5
1994-95	31	25.9	6.3	2.5	20.5
1995-96	32	21.1	5.9	2.6	19.6
1996-97	33	18.4	5.7	2.8	16.8

The tragic death of Leonard Kevin Bias, commonly known as Len Bias, shook the nation in the summer of 1986. Bias was a talented basketball player who had just been drafted by the Boston Celtics after an impressive career at the University of Maryland. However, his life was cut short due to a cocaine overdose, which led to the implementation of the Len Bias law and changes in federal drug laws.

The death of Leonard Kevin Bias, commonly known as Len Bias, in 1986 due to a cocaine overdose, sparked a wave of anti-drug legislation across the United States. Bias was a talented basketball player who had just been drafted by the Boston Celtics after an impressive career at the University of Maryland. However, his life was tragically cut short due to his drug use.

Bias was pronounced dead due to a cocaine overdose just two days after being drafted. The news of his death shocked the sports world and the nation. It was a tragedy that impacted the Bias family profoundly. His mother, Lonise Bias, became a leading advocate for drug prevention and education. Bias’ younger brother, Jay Bias, also tragically died due to gun violence just two years after Len’s death.

The Bias tragedy brought attention to the growing drug problem in the United States, and the federal government responded with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. This act was aimed at reducing drug abuse and trafficking and included mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, including crack cocaine. The act was controversial because it created disparities in sentencing for different types of drugs, with powder cocaine receiving less severe penalties than crack cocaine.

The Bias tragedy also had a profound impact on the University of Maryland. Bias was a beloved figure on campus, and his death led to increased efforts to combat drug abuse and addiction. The university established the Len Bias Memorial Fund, which supports drug education and prevention programs.

Bias’ death was a wake-up call for the nation, and his legacy continues to this day. His death led to the implementation of anti-drug legislation, which has helped reduce drug abuse and trafficking. However, the controversy surrounding mandatory minimum prison terms for drug offenses, particularly for crack cocaine, still exists today.

The Len Bias tragedy brought attention to the dangers of drug abuse and the need for continued efforts to prevent drug addiction. The impact of Bias’ death was felt throughout the nation, and it led to significant changes in federal laws. His death was a reminder of the importance of drug education and prevention programs, and his legacy continues to inspire efforts to combat drug abuse and addiction.

Bias’ death brought attention to the growing drug problem in the United States, and the federal government responded with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. This act was aimed at reducing drug abuse and trafficking and included mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, including cocaine. The act was controversial because it created disparities in sentencing for different types of drugs, with powder cocaine receiving less severe penalties than crack cocaine.

Bias reportedly died just two days after being drafted by the Boston Celtics. He had consumed a large amount of cocaine at a party, and emergency medical teams were unable to revive him. The news of his death shocked the sports world, and the Bias family was devastated by the loss of their son and brother.

The Len Bias law, which was enacted in 1988, was named in honor of the late basketball player. The law required anyone convicted of a federal drug offense to serve a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with the maximum sentence being life in prison. The law was designed to deter drug trafficking and abuse and was seen as a response to Bias’ death.

Bias’ death also had a profound impact on his family. His mother, Lonise Bias, became a leading advocate for drug prevention and education. Bias’ younger brother, Jay Bias, also tragically died due to gun violence just two years after Len’s death.

The legacy of Len Bias continues to this day. His death prompted changes in federal drug laws and led to a greater awareness of drug abuse and addiction. Bias’ life and death are a reminder of the dangers of cocaine and other drugs and the need for continued efforts to prevent drug abuse and addiction.