Many young basketball players dream of making it to the NBA, and it is an opportunity of a lifetime for those who make it.
Unfortunately, some players have made poor decisions that have forced the league to step in and inform them that they are no longer welcome.
Today, we’ll look at several NBA players who were banned from the league.
Michael “Sugar Ray” Richardson
Michael Ray Richardson entered the NBA in 1978 when the Knicks made him the 4th pick in the draft.
He was a four-time NBA All-Star recognized for his defensive instincts and playmaking abilities. In addition to playing for the Knicks, he also played for the Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets.
He was highly talented, but behind the scenes, he had a tragic, recurring struggle with substance abuse.
After failing his third drug test under the NBA’s stringent anti-substance-abuse policy, he was permanently banned in 1986.
He was the first active player to be banned by the league.
Despite the abrupt end to his NBA career, Richardson continued playing overseas and in minor leagues before retiring in 2002. He eventually transitioned into coaching in various minor leagues where he won several championships.
Even though he left the NBA in shame, he is still considered a University of Montana legend. He is in the school’s hall of fame and still holds several records at the school.
Roy Tarpley
The Dallas Mavericks drafted Roy Tarpley with the 7th pick in the 1986 draft.
Trouble was brewing as in October 1987 he came out and publicly admitted to having drug and alcohol problems.
Despite being a rebound machine and winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1988, he never got those problems under control.
Eventually, his off-court demons derailed his career. After multiple DUI arrests and a refusal to comply with a drug test, the NBA issued him a lifetime ban in 1991.
He was reinstated and played 55 games during the 1994-95 season, but he relapsed and violated the terms of a court-imposed personal aftercare program. He was banned again, this time for good.
Tarpley found success in Europe and other basketball leagues before retiring in 2006.
He passed away on January 9, 2015, at the age of 50.
Dale Barnstable, Ralph Beard, and Alex Groza
Ralph Beard and Alex Groza played at the University of Kentucky from 1945 to 1949 and were both two-time All-Americans.
Their teammate Dale Barnstable played on the team from 1946 to 1950, where he averaged 5 points per game.
The three men played for coach Adolph Rupp and won NCAA championships in 1948 and 1949.
Beard and Groza were elite players who were drafted into the NBA with high expectations. They both ended up on the Indianapolis Olympians and were given an ownership stake in the team.
Barnstable was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 7th round of the 1950 NBA draft, but he never suited up. While he was working as a High School coach in 1951, he was arrested for point shaving, an incident that occurred when he was at Kentucky.
Beard and Groza were also arrested.
The three admitted to rigging three games, including a 1949 NIT game, though many suspect more games were rigged.
Barnstable was banned for life from the NBA. Ralph Beard and Alex Groza were also banned and forced to sell their ownership shares in the team for 10% of what they were originally worth.
Despite being involved in a point shaving scandal, both Bear and Groza were later forgiven and had their jerseys retired by the University of Kentucky.
Connie Hawkins
Connie Hawkins dominated in his final two years of High School and accepted a scholarship to the University of Iowa. Things at the school didn’t go as planned. He was accused of being involved in a point‑shaving scandal.
Even though he was never arrested or charged with a crime, he was expelled from school.
He wasn’t eligible for the NBA draft, so he played in a lesser-known league, as well as for the Harlem Globetrotters and the ABA. When he was draft-eligible in 1964, no team picked him. He was officially banned from the league in 1966.
He sued the NBA and in 1969 the settlement paid him nearly $1.3 million. He was assigned to the expansion Phoenix Suns team in 1969 and entered the league at the age of 27. He averaged 24.6 points that season.
He played 8 years in the NBA with three teams before retiring in 1976. He was a four-time All-Star and a one-time All-NBA selection in his career. Despite playing just five seasons with the Suns, his number 42 jersey hangs in the rafters.
He later earned a place in the Hall of Fame—becoming a rare example of successful reclamation after being blackballed.
He passed away on October 6, 2017, at the age of 75.
Jontay Porter
One of the newest additions to this unfortunate list, Jontay Porter—a promising 24‑year‑old two‑way player with the Toronto Raptors and the brother of NBA champion Michael Porter Jr.—was banned for life after betting on NBA games and allegedly sharing confidential team information with bettors.
His extreme gamble included placing bets totaling over $54,000, including betting on his Raptor’s team to lose. He reportedly made around $22,000 from his bets.
Although some voices, such as Charles Barkley, have urged the league to reconsider and allow a path back after a time-limited suspension, the lifetime ban remains firmly in place.
In addition to being banned from the league, he was also hit with criminal charges. He pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2024.
He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but is expected to receive a sentence of 41 to 51 months.
Although he can never return to the NBA, he may have options overseas. A Greek team had wanted to sign him in the summer of 2024, but the judge would not allow Porter to travel and forced him to surrender his passport.
Due to his actions, sportsbooks are no longer permitted to offer betting props on two-way players and those on 10-day contracts.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Tarpley?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://pistonpowered.com/2023/09/15/players-permanently-banned-nba/?utm_source=chatgpt.comOpens a new window
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jontay_Porter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Barnstable?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://talksport.com/basketball/3032596/michael-sugar-ray-richardson-nba-lifetime-ban-drugs/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://talksport.com/basketball/3032596/michael-sugar-ray-richardson-nba-lifetime-ban-drugs/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
