Len Bias facts for kids
Bias after being selected in the 1986 NBA draft
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 18, 1963 Landover, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | June 19, 1986 (aged 22) Riverdale, Maryland, U.S. |
| High school | Northwestern (Hyattsville, Maryland) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Maryland (1982–1986) |
| NBA Draft | 1986 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Leonard Kevin Bias (November 18, 1963 – June 19, 1986) was an American college basketball player who attended the University of Maryland. During his four years playing for Maryland, he was named a first-team 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 arrhythmia. In 2021, Bias was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Early life
Bias was born and raised in the Prince George’s County area in Maryland, just outside of the Washington, D.C. area. 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").
From Landover, Maryland, Bias graduated from Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Maryland.
College career
Bias attended the University of Maryland. As a freshman, he was viewed as "raw and undisciplined," but ultimately, Bias developed into an All-American player. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring in his junior year and was named the ACC's 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 7 in the last three minutes of regulation and 4 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.
Bias impressed basketball fans with his amazing leaping ability, physical stature, and ability to create plays, and he 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.
Career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–83 | Maryland | 30 | 13 | 22.0 | .478 | .273 | .636 | 4.2 | .7 | .3 | .5 | 7.1 |
| 1983–84 | Maryland | 32 | 31 | 34.5 | .567 | — | .767 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .4 | .8 | 15.3 |
| 1984–85 | Maryland | 37 | 37 | 36.5 | .528 | — | .777 | 6.8 | 1.8 | .9 | .9 | 18.9 |
| 1985–86 | Maryland | 32 | 32 | 37.0 | .544 | — | .864 | 7.0 | 1.0 | .8 | .4 | 23.2 |
| Career | 131 | 113 | 32.8 | .536 | .273 | .795 | 5.7 | 1.3 | .6 | .7 | 16.4 | |
Film and media
A film about Len Bias' life, directed by Kirk Fraser, was promoted at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and released June 19, 2009.
The documentary Without Bias premiered on ESPN on November 3, 2009, as part of their 30 for 30 documentary series.
Bias was portrayed by actor Jamie Jones on the FX original series Snowfall.
See also
In Spanish: Len Bias para niños
- List of basketball players who died during their careers
