View source for Len Bias

{{short description|American basketball player (1963–1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Len Bias
| image = LenBias.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Bias after being selected in the [[1986 NBA draft]] 2 days before his death
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1963|11|18}}
| birth_place = [[Landover, Maryland]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1986|6|19|1963|11|18}}
| death_place = [[Riverdale Park, Maryland|Riverdale, Maryland]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 210
| high_school = [[Northwestern High School (Hyattsville, Maryland)|Northwestern]] ([[Hyattsville, Maryland]])
| college = [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland]] (1982–1986)
| draftyear = 1986
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 2
| draft_team = [[Boston Celtics]]
| career_position = [[Small forward]]
| highlights = * Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1986 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1986]])
* Consensus second-team All-American ([[1985 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1985]])
* 2× [[Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]] (1985, 1986)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball teams|All-ACC]] (1985, 1986)
* [[ACC Athlete of the Year]] (1986)
* [[ACC men's basketball tournament|ACC tournament]] MVP ([[1984 ACC men's basketball tournament|1984]])
* Fourth-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1982)
| CBBASKHOF_year = 2021
}}
'''Leonard Kevin Bias''' (November 18, 1963{{spnd}}June 19, 1986) was an American [[college basketball]] player for the [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland Terrapins]]. In the last of his four years playing for Maryland, he was named a consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]]. Two days after being selected by the [[Boston Celtics]] with the second overall pick in the [[1986 NBA draft]], Bias died from cardiac [[Heart arrhythmia|arrhythmia]] induced by a [[cocaine overdose]].<ref name=espn>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/060619_bias |title=The Legend of Len Bias |agency=[[ESPN.com]]}}<br> {{cite web |publisher=Slam Online |date=June 19, 2009 |url=http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/06/original-old-school-we-reminisce-over-you/ |title=Original Old School: We Reminisce Over You |access-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-date=October 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009110004/http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/06/original-old-school-we-reminisce-over-you/ }}</ref> In 2021, Bias was inducted into the [[College Basketball Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=CBS | url=https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/11/18/len-bias-to-be-inducted-into-college-basketball-hall-of-fame-on-sunday/  |title= Len Bias To Be Inducted Into College Basketball Hall Of Fame On Sunday|date=November 18, 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==
Bias was born and raised in the Prince George's County area in Maryland, just outside of [[Washington, D.C.]]. He was one of four children born to James Bias Jr. and Dr. Lonise Bias. He had a sister, Michelle, and two brothers, Eric and James III (James III was known as Jay).<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RYbRgF4634oC&q=jay+&pg=PT480 |title=Lenny, Lefty, and the Chancellor: the Len Bias Tragedy and the Search for Reform in Big-time College Basketball |author=C. Fraser Smith |year=1992 |publisher=Bancroft Press |isbn=9781610880015 |access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref>

Bias graduated from [[Northwestern High School (Hyattsville, Maryland)|Northwestern High School]] in [[Hyattsville, Maryland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/A-CAUTIONARY-TALEThe-Len-Bias-Story |title=The Len Bias Story—A Cautionary Tale |date=April 9, 2020 |first=Jake |last=Robinson |website=howtheyplay.com |access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1230358-remembering-maryland-basketball-star-len-bias |title=Remembering Maryland Basketball Star Len Bias |first=Mike |last=Frandsen |date=June 21, 2012 |website=bleacherreport.com |access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

==College career==
Bias attended the [[University of Maryland]]. As a freshman for the [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Terrapins]], he was viewed as "raw and undisciplined." Bias ultimately developed into an [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] player. He led the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] (ACC) in scoring in his junior year and was named the [[Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]]. His senior season was highlighted by his performance in an overtime victory against top-ranked North Carolina, in which he scored 35 points, including seven in the last three minutes of regulation and four in overtime. Bias collected his second ACC Player of the Year award at the end of the year and was named to two All-America teams.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 20, 2005 |url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-11-20/news/bal-len-bias-rick-maese-20-years_1_senior-season-basketball-hoops-len-bias |author=Rick Maese |title=Rise and fall of Len Bias |access-date=May 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015021636/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-11-20/news/bal-len-bias-rick-maese-20-years_1_senior-season-basketball-hoops-len-bias |archive-date=October 15, 2012 }}</ref>

Bias impressed basketball fans with his amazing leaping ability, physical stature, and ability to create plays, and was considered one of the most dynamic players in the nation. By his senior year, scouts from various [[National Basketball Association]] teams viewed Bias as the most complete forward in the class of 1986. Celtics scout Ed Badger called Bias an "explosive and exciting kind of player" and compared him to [[Michael Jordan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/bias2.htm|author=Sally Jenkins|title=Celtics Make Bias Second Overall Pick of Draft|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 18, 1986}}</ref>

==NBA draft, drug overdose, and death==
On June 17, 1986, Bias was selected by the [[Boston Celtics]] as the second overall pick in the [[1986 NBA draft]], which was held in [[New York City]] at [[Madison Square Garden]]. [[Red Auerbach]], the Celtics' president and general manager, had dealt guard [[Gerald Henderson]] and cash to the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] for the pick in 1984. After the draft, Bias and his family returned to their suburban Maryland home.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} On June 18, Bias and his father flew to Boston for an NBA club draft acceptance and product endorsement signing ceremony with the Celtics' coaches and management. Bias had discussions with [[Reebok]]'s sports marketing division regarding a five-year endorsement package worth $1.6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/34 |title=Len Bias dies of cocaine overdose |first=Rick |last=Weinberg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020181930/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments%2F34 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 }}</ref>

After returning home, Bias returned to the campus of the University of Maryland. He left campus at approximately 2 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, drove to an off-campus gathering and returned to his Washington Hall dormitory between 2:30 and 3 a.m.<ref name=washpost>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/bias1.htm |title=Maryland Basketball Star Len Bias Is Dead at 22 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 20, 1986 |access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://umdsbs.wordpress.com/2022/11/10/the-university-of-maryland-home-of-the-terrapins-and-maybe-ghosts/ | title=The University of Maryland- home of the terrapins, and maybe ghosts | date=November 10, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://facilities.umd.edu/fm-staff-connect/lifefm/fm-staff-news/ghosts-terps-uncovering-haunted-history-umd | title=Ghosts of the Terps: Uncovering the Haunted History of UMD &#124; Facilities Management }}</ref> For the next three to four hours, Bias, with longtime friend Brian Tribble and several teammates, snorted [[cocaine]] in the dormitory suite shared by Bias and his teammates.<ref name=longtestimonynytimes>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/28/sports/ex-teammate-tells-of-bias-drug-role.html |title=Ex-Teammate Tells Of Bias Drug Role |location=Maryland |website=The New York Times |date=May 28, 1987 |access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref><ref name=sportsillustrated>{{cite web|last=Taylor |first=Phil |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1986/06/30/629236/the-cruelest-thing-ever |title=The Cruelest Thing Ever |website=Si.com |date=June 30, 1986 |access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref><ref name=baltsun>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-06-19-1991170111-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623160624/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-06-19/news/1991170111_1_len-bias-bias-died-lonise |url-status=live |archive-date=June 23, 2011 |title=David Gregg Len Bias &#124; Years later, Len Bias' death continues to trouble many lives – tribunedigital-baltimoresun |website=Articles.baltimoresun.com |date=June 19, 1991 |access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref> Bias suffered a seizure and collapsed while talking with teammate Terry Long.<ref name=washpost/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-25-sp-20106-story.html|title=Cocaine Caused Bias' Death, Autopsy Reveals : Dose Said to Trigger Heart Failure; Criminal Inquiry to Be Pressed |first1=Susan |last1=Schmidt |first2=Tom |last2=Kenworthy |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |via=Los Angeles Times|date=June 25, 1986}}</ref> At 6:32&nbsp;a.m., when Tribble called 911, Bias was [[unconsciousness|unconscious]] and not breathing.<ref name=baltsun/> All attempts by the emergency medical team to restart his [[heart]] and breathing were unsuccessful.<ref name=washpost/> After additional attempts to revive him at Leland Memorial Hospital in [[Riverdale Park, Maryland|Riverdale, Maryland]], Bias was pronounced dead at 8:55&nbsp;a.m. of a [[cardiac arrhythmia]] related to usage of [[cocaine]]. It was reported that there were no other drugs or alcohol found in his system.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-19-mn-12348-story.html|title=Celtics Draftee Len Bias Dies of Heart Attack : Maryland Star Had Come Out of Physical 'Perfect' 2 Days Ago |website=Los Angeles Times |date=June 19, 1986 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/bias1.htm|author1=Keith Harriston |author2=Sally Jenkins |title=Traces of Cocaine Found in System|date=June 20, 1986|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Len Bias Tragedy|date=August 4, 1998|access-date=February 8, 2011|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/biasfrnt.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Still haunted by Len Bias |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?id=1216291|author=Bill Simmons |date=June 20, 2001 |website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?id=1216291 |archive-date=June 3, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bias's death occurred when crack cocaine was being published across media and his death led to greater coverage, when in reality he died using powdered cocaine.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Gelber |first=Jonathan |date=2021-06-29 |title=How Len Bias's death helped launch the US's unjust war on drugs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/29/len-bias-death-basketball-war-on-drugs |access-date=2024-09-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This also helped fuel the war on drugs as politicians began focusing on his death.<ref name=":0" />

More than 11,000 people attended a June 23 memorial service at [[Cole Field House]], the university's basketball arena and student center where Bias played for the Terrapins. Those speaking at the service included Auerbach, who said that he had planned to draft Bias for three years. On June 30, 1986, the Celtics honored Bias with a memorial service in which his unused #30 Celtics jersey was given to his mother Lonise.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/lonise-bias-mother-of-len-bias-holds-a-boston-celtics-news-photo/515175046 |title=Lonise Bias Holding Celtics Jersey |work=Getty Images |date=March 11, 2016 |accessdate=2022-05-11 |quote=(Original Caption) College Park, Md.: Lonise Bias, mother of Len Bias, holds a Boston Celtics' jersey given to her by Celtics' president Red Auerbach during a memorial service at the Cole Field House. The former Maryland basketball star died early June 19th of an apparent cardiac arrest. }}</ref>

Bias was interred at [[Lincoln Memorial Cemetery (Suitland, Maryland)|Lincoln Memorial Cemetery]] in [[Suitland, Maryland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-23-sp-2010-story.html |title=Death Be Not Proud : Five Years Later, Aftershocks From the Len Bias Case Still Can Be Felt |first=Gene |last=Wojciechowski |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 23, 1991 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>

==Later developments==
===Criminal charges===
On July 25, 1986, a [[grand jury]] returned [[indictments]] against Brian Tribble for possession of [[cocaine]] and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Bias's [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland]] teammates Terry Long and David Gregg were charged with possession of cocaine and obstruction of justice. Long and Gregg were suspended from the team on July 31.<ref name=BaltimoreSun/> All three defendants entered not guilty pleas in August.<ref name=BaltimoreSun>{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2006-06-18-0606180233-story.html|title=Triumph to Turmoil |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=June 18, 2006 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>

On October 20, 1986, prosecutors dropped all charges against Long and Gregg in exchange for their testimony against Tribble. On October 30, the grand jury added three more indictments against Tribble—one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and two counts of [[obstruction of justice]].<ref name=BaltimoreSun/>

Also on October 30, Kenneth Mark Fobbs, Tribble's roommate, was charged with perjury for allegedly lying to the grand jury about the last time that he had seen Tribble. The state dropped the perjury charges against Fobbs on March 24, 1987, and a jury acquitted Tribble of all charges related to the Bias case on June 3, 1987.<ref name=BaltimoreSun/>

In October 1990, Tribble pleaded guilty to a drug charge following a two-year undercover sting operation. He cooperated with the government and was sentenced to ten years and one month in prison.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bias/launch/triblate.htm|author= Paul W. Valentine|title=Tribble Sentenced to 10 Years for Dealing Cocaine|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 16, 1993}}</ref>

===Family===
On December 5, 1990, Bias's younger brother Jay was murdered in a [[drive-by shooting]] at age 20. The killing followed a dispute in the parking lot of [[The Mall at Prince Georges|Prince George's Plaza]], a [[Hyattsville, Maryland|Hyattsville]] shopping mall just a few miles from the University of Maryland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2014/10/26/blind-side-mom-will-speak-indy/17857185/|title='Blind Side' mom will speak in Indy|author=Maureen C. Gilmer|date=October 26, 2014|work=Indianapolis Star}}</ref> He was pronounced dead at the same hospital where his brother Len had died and was buried next to him at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.<ref>{{cite news|title=Len Bias' Brother Dies in Shooting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/05/sports/len-bias-s-brother-dies-in-shooting.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 5, 1990 |access-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-date=June 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/05/sports/len-bias-s-brother-dies-in-shooting.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following their sons' deaths, James and Lonise Bias assumed vocal advocacy roles. Lonise Bias became an anti-drug lecturer, while James Bias became an advocate for [[gun control]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Villareal |first=Luz |title=Len Bias' Mom Pushes Sobriety After Son's Death |date=February 10, 1992 |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1992/02/10/len-bias-mom-pushes-sobriety-after-sons-death/ |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=June 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106004823/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-02-10/news/9202100045_1_len-bias-lonise-drug-treatment-center |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/12/09/father-of-len-bias-wants-stricter-gun-regulation/ |title=Father Of Len Bias Wants Stricter Gun Regulation |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=December 9, 1990 |access-date=June 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021100507/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1990-12-09/news/9012090312_1_len-bias-james-bias-cocaine |archive-date=October 21, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lonise Bias, in the memory of her children, opened the Len and Jay Bias Foundation, which serves to encourage better examples for youth.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/proposal-to-create-statue-honoring-len-bias-is-withdrawn/2013/02/26/98a1fce8-8035-11e2-8074-b26a871b165a_story.html|title=Proposal to create statue honoring Len Bias is withdrawn|author=Timothy Sandoval|date=February 27, 2013|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

===Len Bias Law===
A few weeks after Bias's death, committees in the [[United States House of Representatives]] began writing anti-drug legislation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/us/joe-biden-crime-laws.html |title='Lock the S.O.B.s Up': Joe Biden and the Era of Mass Incarceration |last1=Stolberg |first1=Sheryl Gay |last2=Herndon |first2=Astead W. |date=June 25, 2019 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 25, 2019 |quote=His death created a media frenzy amid a national panic over crack, a cheap, smokable form of cocaine that was alarming drug-abuse experts and fueling a wave of violent crime in American cities, especially black neighborhoods. Mr. Biden convened a hearing the next month.}}</ref> The [[Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986]] was signed by President [[Ronald Reagan]] on October 27, 1986. The law provides a mandatory minimum prison term of 20 years and a maximum life sentence, along with a fine of up to $2 million, for cases of drug distribution that lead to the death or serious injury of a person. It is also known as the "Len Bias Law."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article181955441.html |title=How the 'Len Bias Law' of 1988 is being used to get longer prison sentences today |first=Thomasi |last=McDonald |date=October 31, 2017 |newspaper=The Raleigh News and Observer |access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

===University of Maryland investigation===
The circumstances surrounding Bias's death threw the University of Maryland and its athletics program into turmoil. An investigation revealed that Bias was 21 credits short of the graduation requirement despite having attended the university for four full years; in his final semester, he earned no academic credits, failing three courses and withdrawing from two others.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Simon|first1=Roger|title=Sadly, It's The Way The Ball Bounces|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/09/13/sadly-its-the-way-the-ball-bounces/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=September 13, 1988|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308032547/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-09-13/features/8801290862_1_athletes-bias-death-year-students|access-date=21 September 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=March 8, 2017}}</ref> On August 26, 1986, state attorney Arthur A. Marshall Jr. stated that in the hours after Bias's death, Maryland head basketball coach [[Lefty Driesell]] told players to remove drugs from Bias's dorm room. Two days later, Bias's father James accused the university and Driesell of neglecting their athletes' academic status.<ref name=BaltimoreSun/>

The controversy prompted athletic director [[Dick Dull]] to resign on October 7, 1986, with Driesell following suit on October 29 after 17 years as coach. The grand jury presiding over the Bias case issued a final report on February 26, 1987, criticizing the University of Maryland's athletic department, admissions office and campus police.<ref name=BaltimoreSun/>

==Career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend}}

===College===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1982–83]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1982–83 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]]
| 30 || 13 || 22.0 || .478 || '''.273''' || .636 || 4.2 || .7 || .3 || .5 || 9.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1983–84]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1983–84 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]]
| 32 || 31 || 34.5 || '''.567''' || {{sort|-|—}} || .767 || 4.5 || 1.5 || .4 || .8 || 15.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1984–85]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1984–85 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]]
| '''37''' || '''37''' || 36.5 || .528 || {{sort|-|—}} || .777 || 6.8 || '''1.8''' || '''.9''' || '''.9''' || 18.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1985–86]]
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1985–86 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]]
| 32 || 32 || '''37.0''' || .544 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''.864''' || '''7.0''' || 1.0 || .8 || .4 || 24.3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 131 || 113 || 32.8 || .536 || .273 || .795 || 5.7 || 1.3 || .6 || .7 || 18.4
{{s-end}}
Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Len Bias College Stats|work=Sports Reference|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/len-bias-1.html|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref>

==Film and media==
A documentary film about Bias's life titled ''Without Bias'', directed by [[Kirk Fraser]], was promoted at the 2008 [[Sundance Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/6740.html |title=Len Bias Movie Promoted at Sundance |author=Nancy Doyle Palmer |magazine=The Washingtonian |date=February 26, 2008 |access-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212022806/http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/6740.html |archive-date=December 12, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> and released June 19, 2009. The film premiered on [[ESPN]] on November 3, 2009, as part of the network's ''[[30 for 30]]'' documentary series.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

In [[NCIS season 6|Season 6]] of TV series ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]],'' Bias's manner of death was discussed. Bias's death was depicted in the Season 5 episode titled “Comets” of the television series ''[[Snowfall (TV series)|Snowfall]]''.<ref name="Campione 2022 j928">{{cite web | last=Campione | first=Katie | title='Snowfall' Season 5 Addresses Drug War and Mass Incarceration in Black Communities | website=TheWrap | date=2022-02-23 | url=https://www.thewrap.com/snowfall-season-5-len-bias-drug-war-blacks-prison/ | access-date=2023-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Snowfall' Season 5 Episode 1 Uses Len Bias' Death To Begin Crumbling Franklin's Drug Empire |url=https://cassiuslife.com/567965/snowfall-season-5-episode-1-recap/ |website=cassiuslife.com |access-date=March 2, 2022 |date=February 24, 2022}}</ref> A segment in the documentary ''[[Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy]]'' discusses the impact of Bias's death on the public's perception of the crack epidemic.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} Bias was also mentioned during a ''[[Saved by the Bell]]'' episode on drug abuse.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

==See also==
* [[List of basketball players who died during their careers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |last=Abel |first=Greg |url=http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=331 |title=It Was 20 Years Ago Today |website=PressBox |date=June 14, 2006 |access-date=September 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717110129/http://pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=331 |archive-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite news |last=Bratcher |first=Drew |url=http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/12477.html |title=Death of a Legend |website=[[Washingtonian (magazine)|Washingtonian]] |date=June 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106131848/http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/12477.html |archive-date=November 6, 2009 |via=[[Wayback Machine]] |access-date=August 21, 2009 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2018/06/on_draft_anniversary_memories_of_len_bias_still_there |title=On draft anniversary, memories of Len Bias still there |first=Steve |last=Bulpett |newspaper=[[Boston Herald]] |date=June 16, 2018}}
* {{cite book |first=Lewis |last=Cole |title=Never Too Young to Die: The Death of Len Bias |publisher=Pantheon |date=1989 |isbn=0394564405 |url=https://archive.org/details/nevertooyoungtod0000cole |url-access=registration }}
* {{cite book |first=Fraser C. |last=Smith |title=Lenny, Lefty, and the Chancellor: The Len Bias Tragedy and the Search for Reform in Big-Time College Basketball |publisher=Bancroft Press |date=1992 |isbn=0963124609 }}
* {{cite book |first=Dave J. |last= Ungrady |title=Born Ready: The Mixed Legacy of Len Bias |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |date=2011 |isbn=978-1467972369 }}

==External links==
* {{Find a Grave}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bias, Len}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:All-American college men's basketball players]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Boston Celtics draft picks]]
[[Category:Cocaine-related deaths in Maryland]]
[[Category:Maryland Terrapins men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)]]
[[Category:People from Landover, Maryland]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Prince George's County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Small forwards]]