1979 Hawks & Drugs

[AHF]

The Sportsguy recently wrote:

Quote:

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Plus, half the team ended up being on drugs -- they nearly broke the record of the 1979 Atlanta Hawks.

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What is the story there?

[Diesel]

John "snow" Drew....

"Fast" Eddie Johnson....

Freeman Williams.....

Need there be anymore said??

Quote:

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The Jazz, during the first three years in Utah, averaged 16 wins a year and a home attendance of 7,665 per game. There were problems off the court, too. On News Years Day 1980, Bernard King was arrested on five felony sex charges. Five months later, Terry Furlow was dead of a car accident. Cocaine was in his blood. In September 1982, twenty-nine year old forward Bill Robinzine committed suicide. Two months later, John Drew was placed in a rehab center because of drug use.

When the Jazz acquired Drew and Freemen Williams from Atlanta for number one draft pick Dominque Wilkins 3 September 1982,

it was widely rumored both Drew and Williams were having substance abuse troubles

, but the Jazz had to gamble. They needed an immediate, massive cash infusion and Atlanta was sending $1 million to the Jazz as part of the Wilkins deal. Layden made the deal with old friend Ted Turner from a public telephone at the Jeremy Ranch golf course.

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[Lascar78]

I've never heard anything specific about the hawks, but I know that that is around when drug use in the NBA was at its peak, before Stern & co came in and cleaned everything up.