John Drew (basketball)
Encyclopedia
John Edward Drew is a retired American
professional basketball
player. A 6'6" guard/forward from Gardner-Webb University
, he played 11 seasons in the NBA. Drew was a two-time NBA All-Star, and was one of the earliest casualties of the drug policy instituted by commissioner David Stern
.
. Following high school he played basketball collegiately at Gardner-Webb University
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/drewjo01.html.
with the 7th pick (in the 2nd round) of the 1974 NBA Draft
, Drew quickly made an impact with the club, averaging 18.5 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, and leading the NBA in offensive rebounding during his rookie season (Drew was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team
for his efforts). From 1974 to 1982, the immensely talented Drew starred for the Hawks, with whom he was a two-time All-Star, averaging more than 20 points per game on five occasions. After being traded by Atlanta for Dominique Wilkins
, Drew played three seasons (1982-1985) with the Utah Jazz
, retiring with 15,291 career points. He joined Artis Gilmore
and Eddie Lee Wilkins
as the only alumni of Gardner-Webb University to play in the NBA.
With Jason Kidd
, Drew holds the NBA record for most turnovers in a regular season game (14). Drew set that mark with the Hawks in a March 1, 1978 game against New Jersey.
. In the first of what would be many drug-related career setbacks, Drew missed 38 games during the 1983 season while attending drug rehab. While he would win the league's Comeback Player of the Year award in 1984 for seemingly having overcome his addiction, Drew relapsed into drug abuse in 1985, and was banned from the NBA in 1986 for multiple violations of the league's substance abuse
policy, including various arrests for drug possession
. He was the first player ever to be banned for life under the NBA's drug policy.
, Drew was living in Houston, Texas
, where Charles Barkley
had last reported seeing him, and he finally has a grip on his cocaine addiction. He is currently a taxi cab driver in Houston.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6'6" guard/forward from Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University
Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,...
, he played 11 seasons in the NBA. Drew was a two-time NBA All-Star, and was one of the earliest casualties of the drug policy instituted by commissioner David Stern
David Stern
David Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
.
Amateur years
John Drew attended J.F. Shields High School in Beatrice, AlabamaBeatrice, Alabama
Beatrice is a town in Monroe County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 301, down from the 2000 census where it was 412.-Geography:Beatrice is located at .According to the U.S...
. Following high school he played basketball collegiately at Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University
Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,...
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/drewjo01.html.
NBA career
Selected by the Atlanta HawksAtlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
with the 7th pick (in the 2nd round) of the 1974 NBA Draft
1974 NBA Draft
The 1974 NBA Draft was the 28th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 28, 1974 before the 1974–75 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
, Drew quickly made an impact with the club, averaging 18.5 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, and leading the NBA in offensive rebounding during his rookie season (Drew was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
for his efforts). From 1974 to 1982, the immensely talented Drew starred for the Hawks, with whom he was a two-time All-Star, averaging more than 20 points per game on five occasions. After being traded by Atlanta for Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
, Drew played three seasons (1982-1985) with the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, retiring with 15,291 career points. He joined Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association...
and Eddie Lee Wilkins
Eddie Lee Wilkins
Eddie Lee Wilkins is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the New York Knicks in the 6th round of the 1984 NBA Draft. A 6'10" forward/center from Gardner-Webb University, Wilkins played in 6 NBA seasons. He played for the Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers...
as the only alumni of Gardner-Webb University to play in the NBA.
With Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd
Jason Frederick Kidd is an American professional basketball point guard who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Raised in Oakland, California, Kidd played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley and was drafted second overall by the Dallas...
, Drew holds the NBA record for most turnovers in a regular season game (14). Drew set that mark with the Hawks in a March 1, 1978 game against New Jersey.
Drug addiction
Drew's career came to an end because of his addiction to cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. In the first of what would be many drug-related career setbacks, Drew missed 38 games during the 1983 season while attending drug rehab. While he would win the league's Comeback Player of the Year award in 1984 for seemingly having overcome his addiction, Drew relapsed into drug abuse in 1985, and was banned from the NBA in 1986 for multiple violations of the league's substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
policy, including various arrests for drug possession
Drug possession
Drug possession is the crime of having one or more illegal drugs in one's possession, either for personal use, distribution, sale or otherwise. Illegal drugs fall into different categories and sentences vary depending on the amount, type of drug, circumstances, and jurisdiction.A person has...
. He was the first player ever to be banned for life under the NBA's drug policy.
, Drew was living in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, where Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
had last reported seeing him, and he finally has a grip on his cocaine addiction. He is currently a taxi cab driver in Houston.
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders
- List of players banned or suspended by the NBA