April 25, 2008 7:20 PM

Mavs' Howard discusses marijuana in 2005

CHRIS TOMASSON ON JOSH HOWARD AND MARIJUANA

When Dallas forward Josh Howard admitted on ESPN Radio on Friday that he smokes marijuana during the offseason and that "everybody in the media world and in the sports world knows that NBA players do smoke marijuana,'' it brought me back to the days before the February 2005 All-Star Game in Denver.

The Rocky Mountain News did a survey in an attempt to get some idea how many NBA players smoke marijuana, and Howard was one of the players we spoke with.

Asked what percentage of league players Howard believed smoked marijuana, he said midway through the 2004-05 season that he "heard it was 70 percent at rookie orientation" in 2003.

We checked on that with NBA spokesman Tim Frank. Frank said in February 2005 that no such percentage was stated at that rookie orientation and the NBA has no idea of a percentage.

At the same time as Howard, some of his Dallas teammates were asked about marijuana use in the NBA. One offered an entirely different view than Howard

Mavericks guard Jason Terry said midway through the 2004-05 season he believed marijuana use was "way down now with the drug-testing policy," and Terry gave a figure of about 5 percent.

With all the hubbub surrounding Howard's comments, I thought it would be interesting to post the Rocky's story from Feb. 17, 2005 that dealt with marijuana use in the NBA. The Rocky Mountain News survey revealed NBA players believed about 30 percent of those in the league use marijuana.

Here's the story.

IS NBA GOING TO POT? IT'S UP IN AIR - PLAYERS AGREE HERE'S MARIJUANA USE BUT DISPUTE HIGH FIGURE

By Chris Tomasson
Rocky Mountain News
February 17, 2005

Longtime NBA forward Charles Oakley said four years ago he believed 60 percent of NBA players used marijuana. He might have overestimated two-fold.

A survey by the Rocky Mountain News revealed NBA players believe about 30 percent of those in the league use marijuana.

The News posed the question to 151 players. Of those, 59 were willing to give a percentage.

The average figure given by those players is 30.1 percent. The mean figure, the number in which half the percentages are below and half above, is 20 percent.

"Yes, it's a problem (in the NBA)," said Dallas center Shawn Bradley. "A lot more people use (marijuana) than we think. I don't know if the percentage is 60, but if it's half of that, it's a problem."

Players were told in the question about Oakley's comment four years ago. They then were asked to give what they believe is the percentage.

"You got guys out there playing high every night," Oakley, who played in the NBA from the 1985-2004 seasons, told the New York Post in February 2001. "You got 60 percent of your league on marijuana."

The New York Times estimated in 1997 that between 60 and 70 percent of NBA players use marijuana. Dallas second-year forward Josh Howard said he "heard it was 70 percent at rookie orientation" in 2003. However, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said that was not said and the NBA has no idea of a percentage.

Stars who have been involved in marijuana incidents in recent years include Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and Sacramento's Chris Webber. Portland has had several players involved in marijuana incidents in recent years, including Damon Stoudamire, Zach Randolph, Rasheed Wallace (now with Detroit) and Qyntel Woods (now with Miami).

"I think the NBA is a microcosm of society as a whole, so you tell me what percentage of society uses marijuana and I'd say the NBA is right around there," Trail Blazers forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said.

The NBA began testing for marijuana under the current collective bargaining agreement signed in January 1999, with a player receiving a five-game suspension after a third positive test. Mavericks guard Jason Terry said he believes use is "way down now with the drug-testing policy," giving a figure of about 5 percent.

Detroit forward Antonio McDyess believes some players "probably cut down" since the policy was enacted. But McDyess doesn't dispute Oakley's figure.

"(Marijuana is) there and (NBA players) have opportunities to get it, so they're going to get it," McDyess said. "I'd probably say 60 percent."

Toronto forward Jalen Rose also agrees with the figure Oakley gave.

"Charles (Oakley) is a vet, so it's hard to go against him," Rose said. "There are so many guys you see in public, and they're (180) degrees different behind closed doors."

Raptors forward Aaron Williams gave a figure of 20 percent. But he said marijuana use is "becoming more of a problem" in the NBA.

Utah forward Jarron Collins said the NBA gets an unfair rap.

"It's probably a little bit naive, but maybe 5 percent (usage)," Collins said. "There are cases where a certain player may be caught on more than one occasion, but that's isolated, so I think the perspective gets distorted.

"I think sometimes guys make comments that over half the league is using it. Well, I'm not using it, and I know guys who don't do that stuff."

INFOBOX

How many NBA players smoke marijuana? The Rocky Mountain News polled 151 players, more than one-third of the NBA, on a variety of issues. Fifty-nine of them responded in this way to the question of what percentage of players in the NBA smoke marijuana:

Range Answers Pct.

1-9% 13 22.0

10-19% 5 8.5

20-29% 12 20.3

30-39% 10 16.9

40-49% 4 6.8

50-59% 3 5.1

60-69% 6 10.2

70-79% 4 6.8

80-89% 2 3.4

90-100% 0 0.0

Which percentage of NBA players do you think smoke marijuana ? Vote at RockyMountainNews.com/sports

NBA players on marijuana use * What some NBA players surveyed by the Rocky Mountain News said about marijuana use in the league:

"Maybe 35 (percent). I don't think that many people do it. It's not like a continuous thing. During the summer once or twice. I don't think it's a habit or anything."

Chicago forward Tyson Chandler

"Seventy (percent). There's a lot." L.A. Clippers center Chris Kaman

"No more than 20 percent . . . It's probably real close to the general population of 18- to 35-year-olds." Seattle forward Nick Collison

"Do I think it's a problem? If you say somebody's used it once in the course of a six-year career, no, it's not a problem. But if you've got all 25 percent doing it on a regular basis, yeah, it is problem." Indiana forward Austin Croshere

"I'd say 10 (percent). Maybe one or two per team. I'm not seeing six guys that are smoking weed on my team."

L.A. Clippers forward Elton Brand

"I'll agree with (Charles Oakley). I'll say 60 percent." San Antonio forward Tony Massenburg

Posted by Chris Tomasson at 7:20 PM | Comments (14)