There could be a couple of reasons why NBA players smoke weed (Cannabis or Marijuana) but you should know that the top 15 NBA players who smoke weed. 15 NBA players who smoke weed: 1. Kevin Durant, 2. LeBron James, 3. Allen Iverson, 4. Steve Nash, 5. LaMelo Ball, 6. J. R. Smith, 7. Michael Beasley, 8, Lamar Odom, 9. Stephen Jackson, 10. Klay Thompson, 11. Matt Barnes, 12. Zach Randolph, 13. Larry Bird, 14. Joakim Noah, and 15. Carmelo Anthony.
The biggest question is can NBA players smoke weed? Yes, NBA players can smoke weed before the game or anytime. It’s a different story depending on whether it’s legal or not. But the NBA has a more liberal opportunity for the players as compared to other leagues’ in the world with the drug policies. Here’s a list of 15 current and former NBA players that smoke weed before games or after.
15 Famous Basketball Players Who Smoke Weed In The World Now
1. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets is one of the top-rated NBA players who smoke weed. Although it is wrong to say that Kevin Durant is a “huge marijuana activist”. But it is true that Durant has spoken about his support for the legalization of marijuana in the past. Also, he has shown up himself smoking weed which went viral and everyone now believes that Kevin Durant is one of the active NBA players who smoke weed. He is one of the current best players in the NBA. Durant has won many awards and accolades throughout his career so far.
For proof that KD smokes weed, once in an interview when some interviewer asks about his own use, KD smiled and responded, “I’m actually high right now.” On a more serious note, Kevin Durant stated that he wants to “change the narrative around athletes and marijuana.” Durant gave a statement that he started smoking marijuana when he was 22.
2. LeBron James
LeBron James disclosed that he had smoked weed during his high school years. King James is widely recognized as one of the best basketball players in the world right now. His list of NBA career achievements is really impressive, with 4x NBA championships, 2x Olympic gold medals, and many other accolades. In his book Shooting Stars, he admitted to using marijuana in high school and even detailed an instance when he and his teammates smoked weed in a hotel room. Also, in 2013, LeBron was captured holding a vaporizer after the NBA Finals.
3. Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson is widely regarded as one of the most influential and talented players in the history of the league, due to his skill in scoring, his flashy style of play, and his engaging personality. He admitted to using cannabis while in college, but after he retired, he declared that he had to give up on it. His determination encouraged him to live his life on his own terms. Iverson eventually realized how deeply addicted he was to marijuana and made the choice to quit.
4. Steve Nash
After his retirement from an 18-season career with the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks, Steve Nash, who is renowned as one of the finest point guards in NBA history and one of the most accurate free throw shooters, revealed that he has been using cannabis since then and how it has benefited his life. When asked about his cannabis use, he answered in a jocular manner: “I’m from Vancouver.” In 2018, Nash was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his two-time NBA MVP status.
5. LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball was picked third in the 2020 NBA draft. He is the youngest of LaVar Ball’s sons, with his older brother Lonzo Ball also playing in the NBA. Reports of LaMelo having used cannabis before the Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks play-in game have been left unconfirmed. Before entering the NBA, LaMelo also played for Chino Hills High School in California and then went on to play professionally in Australia for the Illawarra Hawks.
6. J. R. Smith
In an appearance on the All the Smoke podcast with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, J.R. Smith, the retired NBA player known for some controversial moments in his career, admitted to having “smoked weed in the bubble”. Watch the video above for the full story.
7. Michael Beasley
In 2010, Michael Beasley was arrested on a marijuana charge in Scottsdale, Ariz. This was the fifth time he had been caught with weed and unfortunately, it had a major impact on Beasley’s basketball career. Prior to the arrest, Beasley had posted a picture of himself on Twitter that appeared to have a baggie of marijuana in the background. Following this, he voluntarily checked himself into a rehab facility in Houston.
8. Lamar Odom
Before being able to officially become a part of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, Odom knew he would have to pass a drug test but was aware that the amount of marijuana he had smoked would not allow him to do so. This resulted in him researching different methods of how to beat a drug test. After this, Odom joined the Lakers and started to use harder drugs when more misfortune took place. He was twice suspended for smoking weed. In 2013, while under the influence of alcohol, was pulled over by police while driving at a slow speed in the San Fernando Valley. Also, TMZ reported that he failed the sobriety test. Odom ended up making a deal by pleading no contest which resulted in three years of probation.
9. Stephen Jackson
Stephen Jackson, who retired from the NBA in 2014, has openly admitted to using marijuana throughout his 14-year career. In fact, he even revealed to TMZ Sports that he would sometimes smoke weed before games. When Gregg Popovich, the coach of the San Antonio Spurs, gave him an ultimatum to choose between marijuana and starting for an NBA champion, Jackson chose the latter.
10. Klay Thompson
While Klay Thompson is one of the greatest three-point shooters in NBA history, in 2011, when he was playing for Washington State Cougars, he was stopped by a police officer near a college campus due to a non-working headlight. After the officer detected the smell of marijuana, a bag was found, and Thompson was ticketed for marijuana possession. Despite his denials, the officer eventually discovered 1.95 grams in his possession.
11. Matt Barnes
12. Zach Randolph
13. Larry Bird
14. Joakim Noah
15. Carmelo Anthony
FAQs about famous basketball players that smoke weed
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA suspended their regular drug testing for cannabis, beginning with the 2020 NBA Bubble and continuing through the current season.
According to the research, it says Yes, NBA players can smoke weed.
Read also: NBA players with 60 point games see the unexpected miracle
Conclusion
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. However, If this article helped you learn more about NBA players who smoke weed. Therefore, we have compiled the top 15 NBA players who smoke weed/Cannabis (Marijuana). Moreover, the information was gathered from many popular publications i.e Yahoo.com and NBA, for our article. Finally, we would like to mention that our website data is subject to change at any time, and we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
