Ex-Basketball Junkie Chris Herren Solidifies His Sobriety

Chris Herren could’ve had it all. He smashed outta Durfee High with a total of 2,073 points, the most career points in school history. This helped get him named The Boston Globe and Gatorade player of the year, plus named to the McDonald’s All-America Team. In addition, Herren was the central figure in a book about Durfee High basketball entitled Fall River Dreams.

As you might suspect, his college prospects were heady. In fact, Herren turned down offers from the University of Kentucky and Duke University to play at Boston College, where Sports Illustrated featured him before he even set foot on the court. Unfortunately, Herren also failed a drug test before setting foot on the court as well.

Not a good look.

But coming up positive for marijuana and cocaine before hitting the court was just the beginning of his problems. See, on November 25, 1994, in his first game for Boston College, Herren scored 14 points in 21 minutes of playing time but broke his wrist. He was consequentially ruled out for the entire 1994–1995 season.

No telling if his being under the influence had anything to do with the injury.

It didn’t matter much. Within three months of his injury, Herren failed two more drug tests for marijuana and cocaine use, and was subsequently expelled from the team and the university.

Bounce Back

Herren bounced back. Kinda. Flipping his BC Fail into a Full Ride at Fresno State, playing under coach Jerry Tarkanian no less. Here he was hailed as much as at BC, with Rolling Stone citing his recruitment as one of the highlights of the season. Unfortunately, the next time Herren made headlines it was for a fight at a local bar.

Again, not a good look,

As you might suspect, more failed drug tests would follow; so would a documentary (Between the Madness) featuring Herren’s exploits, It didn’t make for great basketball, but it sure made for great TV.

Herren lucked out and was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the second round, but then immediately released to the Boston Celtics. From then on he was bounced back and forth between the two teams, ending his NBC career playing 70 games from 1999 to 2001 as a member of both the Nuggets and Celtics.

Herren did play professionally for teams in Italy, Poland, Turkey, China, Germany and Iran.[4] In fact, he once scored 63 points in a CBA game for the Beijing Ducks. But it wasn’t the NBA.

Nothing compares to the big guys, especially after you’ve initially made the grade. Though there was no report of any dirty urine, we wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t imbibe when he was cut from the NBA. After all, is he did it while he was on the team,, why wouldn’t he do it once he was off the team?

Sober Chris Herren

Whatever the case, drugs were surely on the former NBA player’s mind. So much so, that he decided to open a treatment center to help others just as he’d been helped. Well, not quite just like the other. See gone would be the confrontational approach that his previous treatment centers employed, and in its place a kinder, gentler approach to rehabilitation. In other words, as far away from the punishment model as possible,

“I thought that was so sad,” he said, in response to a mom who wanted her son to be punished for what he’d done. “It’s not about punishment. Would you punish someone if they had diabetes?”

So Herren Wellness was born. And anti-punishment it was. Instead rehab patients will be assisted by more than 20 full-time staff members, including life coaches, wellness experts, instructors in yoga and meditation, personal trainers, nutritionists and chefs. There’s also massage therapy, acupuncture and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Pure recovery, and not a punishment in sight.

That’s the message Herren took to the Rhode Island State House on Monday when he lit the iconic dome purple in order to mark the 5th annual Recovery Week. The night was especially special, not only was Herren joined by Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, but it also marked Herren’s 15th year of sobriety, as well as the 5th year of Herren Wellness.

Healing Properties wholeheartedly applauds Chris Herren, for what he’s done for himself, as well as what he’s done for others!

Photo courtesy The Providence Journal / Stephen Ide.Thank you!