How Chris Washburn Went from NBA Stardom to Near-Death: His Shocking Journey of Redemption!

When the Golden State Warriors drafted Chris Washburn with the No. 3 pick in 1986, it should have been a dream come true. Instead, it turned into a nightmare for the 6-foot-11 NC State prospect. “I put on a smile because they were paying me to be out there,” Washburn recalls, reflecting on his early days with the team. “But I felt alone.”

Washburn's journey took him from his hometown of Hickory, North Carolina, to the bright lights of Oakland, where he joined a roster featuring players like Sleepy Floyd and Chris Mullin. Initially, things seemed promising; during the preseason, he showcased his scoring ability and even earned a starting role. However, that momentum quickly unraveled. “But drugs took a toll,” he admits. “My mind wasn’t on basketball. A lot of times, I was on the bench watching the clock tick down because as soon as the fourth quarter was over, I could leave to go get high.”

The era in which Washburn played is often referred to as the “cocaine era” of the NBA, a time when the effects of substance abuse became glaringly evident. While many stories focus on the athletes who lost their fortunes and careers, there is less exploration into the underlying issues that drove these individuals to drug use. Washburn notes, “No one paid attention. Now, if a team sees a player fading, they’ll step in. But back then, no one did. Cocaine and crack were new. They didn’t know what to look for.”

Despite being a highly-touted athlete, Washburn's career floundered as he struggled with addiction. “All I had to do was stop,” he reflects. “But I felt more alive when I was doing crack.” The loneliness and depression he experienced as a young player compounded his struggles. “When I came into the league... the NBA was trying to clean up the image from the 70s. They said there were two things you can’t do: cocaine and heroin. That’s all they had to say.”

Even with clear warnings, many players were ensnared by substance abuse. Washburn, who averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in his sophomore year at NC State, was not exempt. He struggled to function while under the influence, ultimately playing only 72 regular-season games and six playoff games in the NBA. “I was a young guy, very impressionable,” he says. “I made a lot of mistakes.”

His first encounter with cocaine came in college with the late Len Bias, who was drafted by the Boston Celtics just one slot ahead of Washburn. Bias's tragic death due to a drug overdose just days later served as a sobering reminder of the dangers, but even that did not deter Washburn from his path. “I’m thinking this is what we’re supposed to be doing at that level,” he recalls, reflecting on their time together. Soon, Washburn too would become a footnote in a tragic narrative.

After his brief stint in the NBA, Washburn faced a series of life challenges. “I only got high on days that ended in ‘y’,” he laughs now, acknowledging the depth of his addiction. “I got high when I was down. I got high when I was happy.” In the ensuing years, he faced homelessness, stealing food and living on the streets, and even served time in prison. His marriage fell apart as his wife sought a quieter life away from Houston, where he remained entrenched in his addiction.

Though his upbringing was stable, with two parents who emphasized discipline, Washburn describes his struggles as a form of rebellion. “I was able to get out and do stuff I only saw on TV,” he admits. “It was an adrenaline rush, yeah. But also a learning process.”

Today, Washburn is using his past to help others avoid similar pitfalls. He speaks to young people about the dangers of addiction and has attempted to connect with current NBA players like Ja Morant to share his story. “I want to talk to him,” he says. “To say it’s OK to make mistakes but just don’t make the same mistakes over again.”

Washburn's life has come full circle; he is now married and living back in Hickory. He recently co-authored a memoir titled Out of Bounds, which chronicles his journey from promising athlete to substance abuse and eventual redemption. “I always thought the party would never end,” he reflects. “But you can have money in your 20s and then be flat broke and homeless in your 50s.”

His turning point came when he took on the responsibility of caring for his ailing mother after his father passed away. “At this point, it was all on me. If I was a person who still wanted to get high, we would have been homeless. That’s why I say the Man Upstairs makes no mistakes. He got me to a point to clean everything up.” Washburn finally found the motivation to kick his addiction after multiple failed attempts at rehab.

Now a father of four, including a son who is a promising basketball player, Washburn emphasizes the importance of change. “I wanted to be more than Chris Washburn the junkie. So, I had to make some changes.” His memoir aims to resonate with others who share his struggles, hoping to inspire them to seek help and make better choices.

“I knew there were other Chris Washburns out there,” he says, acknowledging the broader issue of addiction in sports. “You can only hold certain things down for so long – if it’s meant to get out there, it will.”