Los Angeles – Denver native and former NBA star Micheal Ray Richardson can sadly relate with New Orleans-Oklahoma City forward Chris Andersen. Richardson was kicked out of the NBA in 1986 for repeated drug use. Friday, Andersen was dismissed for violating the terms of the league’s anti-drug program.
“He has to take full responsibility for what happened,” Richardson, now coach of the Continental Basketball League’s Albany Patroons, said Saturday. “He can’t blame nobody but himself.”
Andersen, a former Nugget, could not be reached for comment. He cannot apply for reinstatement for at least two years. According to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, a player can be disqualified after a fourth positive test for performance-enhancing drugs or a first positive test for “drugs of abuse.” Drugs of abuse include amphetamines and analogous drugs such as methamphetamines; cocaine; LSD; opiates including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP.
Richardson said hearing the news of being banned from the league is devastating.
“You feel numb. It’s a shock,” said Richardson, who said he has been drug-free since 1988. “You never think it can happen to you. Guys always think, ‘It won’t happen to me.’ It can happen to everybody.”
He added: “When (the ban) first hits, those are your real tough times. … He has to be careful. It’s a shock. He’s probably the saddest guy in the world today.”
Andersen spent three seasons with the Nuggets before signing with the Hornets in the summer of 2004. During the 2003-04 season in Denver, Richardson met Andersen after becoming the Nuggets’ community ambassador.
Richardson, a four-time NBA all-star, was suspended after becoming the league’s first player banned for drug use after testing positive for cocaine for the third time. The former Manual High star later played in the CBA and overseas.
“I don’t think he’ll be able to get back in the league,” Richardson said. “But that’s not the most important thing. The most important thing is he has a serious problem; he needs to try to correct it now.”
Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, who signed Andersen from the NBDL in 2001, said: “I hope he gets straightened out. All the way around, it’s a very tough situation.”
Footnotes
Despite rumors that Toronto could be interested in an experienced GM like Vandeweghe to fill its recent opening, he is under contract until Aug. 1 and hopes to re-sign. “I’m very happy in Denver,” he said. “I’ve got a job to focus on here. That’s what I want to do.” … Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony recently spoke to 11-year-old Ladarius Williams, who is suffering from lupus, by phone and told him he would visit him in Los Angeles. Anthony did so Saturday, and gave him an autographed jersey and shoes. “He stayed true to his word,” said Ladarius’ mom, Reginis. “He’s a really nice guy.”
