Michael Jordan is perhaps the most recognizable player in NBA history. One can even say he is the reason why the modern player enjoys the perks of being an “NBA superstar”.

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However, this was not the case when MJ entered the league. His Airness was drafted in 1984 by the Chicago Bulls during a time when things didn’t work quite like they do now in the NBA.

For starters, the game was more focused on the big man, and in terms of business, while the league was on the up and up, it was far from generating the kind of revenue it does today. But, perhaps the most severe problem was the blatant use of drugs. At the time, rumors were swirling about the use of recreational drugs in the league. Something that Jordan admitted was a common occurrence.

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Michael Jordan shockingly admitted that NBA players used drugs like Marijuana and Cocaine

The modern NBA is filled with superstars solely dedicated to preserving their bodies. Players like the veteran LeBron James and the up-and-coming Jayson Tatum are focused on maintaining their health. So, to imagine either of them using recreational drugs is ludicrous.

Unfortunately, this was far from the truth in the 80s and 90s. Back then, players were more focused on having a good time rather than playing basketball. And, drugs like Marijuana and Cocaine were what these “superstars” turned to.

However, this was all just rumor. At one point in time, hardly anyone believed that trained athletes consumed drugs. But, in 2005 Michael Jordan gave weight to these rumors. In an interview with Marvin R. Shanken, MJ was asked if any NBA superstars used performance-enhancing drugs like steroids. To which he responded that it wasn’t as prevalent as weed and coke, two drugs that were commonplace in the league.

“Drugs have been in the game for a long time. They were there when I was in college, and even in high school. There is some drug awareness out there. I must admit, it’s still prevalent. But it’s not worse. They’ve tried in the NBA to implement some provisions to monitor drug use, to eliminate it, and totally get rid of it. To some degree, it is working. Drug use was hidden in a lot of sports a long time ago. Now it’s out in the open, be it steroids in baseball or steroids in football. Steroids have never been prevalent in professional basketball. But you got a lot of marijuana smoking and drug use like cocaine. All that stuff has been in the NBA.”

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It certainly was a problem back in the day. And, His Airness remembers it all quite clearly. After all, he walked in on a drug party during his first year in the league.

MJ once claimed he traveled with a “cocaine circus” during his early years in the NBA

In 1985, Michael Jordan was the best player in the Chicago Bulls. It was just his second season, but he was already leagues above his other teammates. Granted, it may have been due to his superior skill, but it may have also had to do with his team’s cocaine addiction. Or, as MJ himself said it, he was part of a “traveling cocaine circus”.

Safe to say things have definitely changed, and for the better. It would be hard to imagine what the league would look like if these kind of activities were prevalent today.

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