It’s no surprise that there are professional basketball players that smoke weed. The use of marijuana has become more acceptable over the past few years, both for medicinal and recreational purposes.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) stopped testing professional players for cannabis during the 2020–2021 season and hasn’t reinstated the procedure. There’s still a prohibition on the plant in the league.
Have you considered which of your favorite basketball stars enjoy a puff grown from homegrown cannabis or other marijuana variants? Stick around while we show you five athletes who like to toke and have become cannapreneurs.
1. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is an NBA player who smokes weed. Also known by his initials KD, the Brooklyn Nets star is no novice to cannabis.
In an interview, he admitted that he started smoking marijuana when he was 22. While weed is legal in some states, there’s still a ban in the NBA. This regulation may make his cannabis use a surprise for some.
Durant has advocated for the medicinal use of marijuana for a few years. He believes that cannabis is a safer, non-addictive substitute to prescription painkillers. His views are similar to many professional basketballers who smoke weed for pain.
In 2021, KD agreed to a multi-year partnership with technology infrastructure business Weedmaps. This agreement aims to help destigmatize the history of athletes and marijuana use. Durant hopes this joint venture boosts his growth in the cannabis industry.
2. LaMelo Ball
Who smokes in the NBA? LaMelo LaFrance Ball, a player for the Charlotte Hornets, definitely enjoys weed.
Ball caused a stir after a video of him smoking a joint hours before a game went viral on social media. The incident caused some negative press after the Atlanta Hawks thrashed the Hornets.
3. Al Harrington
Al Harrington wasn’t an NBA player that smoked weed during his basketball career. The athlete used to disapprove of teammates who used the herb.
His marijuana use started as a prescription painkiller alternative after undergoing 14 surgeries. Harrington believes weed gives him a better quality of life, and the now cannabis evangelist owns Viola, a multi-million dollar marijuana enterprise.
In an interview with Forbes, Harrington stated he wants to build a $100 million team of black weed entrepreneurs. Viola has two main objectives:
- To sell high-quality forms of marijuana.
- To allow budding entrepreneurs of color to expand their experience in the multibillion-dollar enterprise.
4. Ben Wallace
Another basketball player that smokes weed is Ben Wallace. After landing in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the esteemed sports star retired from the Detroit Pistons.
Athletes sometimes battle to find their way after retirement, but that isn’t the case for Wallace. His off-court business venture is booming and comes from his appreciation for cannabis.
Like many ballers turning to CBD for fast recovery, Wallace talks about how marijuana assists with his aches and pains.
The former player partnered with Rair to develop his cannabis brand Undrafted. His business offers not only high-quality buds but also sells various accessories and clothing.
Along with some unique merchandise, Wallace Developed and launched these hybrid strains:
- Block Party
- Bud Don’t Lie
- Clockwork
5. Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson, nicknamed “The Answer,” is an ex-hooper who retired in 2013. This sports figure is widely considered the most influential player of all time.
It’s no secret Iverson belongs to the group of NBA players who smoke cannabis. He was arrested at the young age of ten for possession of marijuana and then again in 1993.
He changed his attitude and turned away from the herb until Al Harrington convinced him to join the cannabis industry. Partnered with Harrington’s brand, Viola, Allen released a new hybrid strain called ‘96.
Developed from marijuana grown in Detroit, this unique cultivar is available in dispensaries throughout the state. The quality buds are for sale as packaged flower and pre-rolled joints.
Shooting for the Future of Cannabis
Marijuana is said to have many benefits for athletes, including:
- Reduces nervous jitters
- Decreases pre-game anxiety
- Improves focus
- Alleviates muscle aches and pains
Is it a surprise that there are many NBA players smoking cannabis? With the acceptance of the herb expanding, more sports stars could take advantage of the herb’s reported wellness properties in the future.
Kyle Kushman
Kyle Kushman is an American writer, educator, activist and award-winning cannabis cultivator and breeder specializing in veganic cultivation. He is a representative of Homegrown Cannabis CO company, has been a contributor for over 20 years, and has taught courses in advanced horticulture at Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California and across the United States. Kushman also hosts a cannabis podcast called “The Grow Show with Kyle Kushman”.
