VIDEO – NOTHING BUT NET –
May 6, 2026 – The former Boston Celtics player visited Smith Academy to speak with students about the dangers of drug addiction.
Imagine being or knowing someone dealing with drug addiction for so many years. That is what former Boston Celtics player Chris Herren experienced for several years of his life. Now, he goes to schools across the country to share his story.
For Massachusetts native Chris Herren, his life has been full of twists and turns, “it was extremely lonely, isolating, a lot of shame, a lot of guilt, a lot of remorse.”
A basketball star out of Fall River, Herren was dominant on the court through high school and college. He was eventually drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1999 and played two years in the NBA for them and the Celtics. However, his life suffered a major roadblock multiple times from the 1990s to the 2000s: the pain and suffering from several episodes of drug use. An addiction that nearly cost him his life.
“It’s a journey for all of us. Recovery is an incredible part of my family. We live it, we’re passionate about it, we’re incredibly grateful and gracious for it,” Herren said.
Now 18 years sober, Herren has spoken to tens of thousands of kids and adults around the country…
