"A lot of them was on cocaine" - Kwame Brown alleges NBA of 'bending rules' for superstars using marijuana & other drugs

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas discussed on Kwame Brown's YouTube show "Kwame Brown Bust Life" on Friday how the league handled drug tests back in the day. According to the two former players, during former NBA Commissioner David Stern's time, the association treated players differently, especially when it came to drug use.

Brown mentioned that the NBA initially kicked players out for the use of marijuana and other drugs. However, when the league found out that superstars were also using the substance, Stern and the rest of the management decided to look the other way and became lenient with the drug tests. Brown said (timestamp 16:29):

"You know why they don't test for weed no more. I won't say it, but I keep eluding to them bending the rules for certain players."

Arenas then pointed out that it was the same case back in the '80s-'90s era. He noted that most players in the league during that time were addicted to cocaine and using steroids. Brown instantly agreed with Arenas' facts and said (timestamp 18:33):

"A lot of them was on cocaine."

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Looking back at when Michael Ray Richardson was banned from NBA for cocaine use

While Kwame Brown and Gilbert Arenas pointed out that the NBA looked the other way when it came to the league's superstars using recreational substances, one basketball star wasn't safe from banishment. Back in the '80s, the league was widely regarded to be in its cocaine era. This was due to society openly consuming the substance at the time.

One of the players from that era who was addicted to cocaine was Michael Ray Richardson. The former basketball star was permanently banned from the league after committing three strikes for cocaine use. By the time Richardson was banished, he was a four-time All-Star and was one of the most elite defenders in the league. Richardson opened up about what transpired during that era:

"During warmups guys on different teams would say, ‘Yo, man, I got what you’re looking for. Let’s get together when [the game] is over.’ And boom that’s how it got going. Everywhere, it was like a fad."

Ultimately, Michael Ray Richardson was banned from the league in 1986. However, it's worth pointing out that former NBA Commissioner David Stern reinstated him in 1988. But Richardson decided not to return to the league. After his banishment, other teams began banning players left and right in an attempt to reduce substance abuse.