Former NBA Player Chris Herren: 16 Years Sober and Helping

When Chris Herren was playing in the NBA, living what looked like a dream life, he was secretly at his lowest point. The professional basketball player from Fall River, Massachusetts, was hiding an addiction that threatened to destroy everything he loved.

Herren's career took him from Boston College to Fresno State, then to the Denver Nuggets and his hometown Boston Celtics. But behind the glory, shame and secrecy were eating away at him.

"What should have been my highest time of my life was probably my lowest," Herren shared during a recent talk at the William George Agency for Children's Services in New York. The agency provides support for young people who've experienced trauma or engaged in risky behaviors.

After multiple overdoses and hospital visits, Herren got sober for 45 days. Then he relapsed the night his third child was born.

A counselor at his treatment center told him something that changed everything. The counselor suggested Herren should disappear from his family's life because of the damage he was causing them.

That harsh truth resonated deeply. Herren has been sober since August 1, 2008.

Why This Inspires

What makes Herren's story remarkable isn't just his recovery. It's what he's done with it.

Through Herren Talks, he's spoken to over a million students and community members about substance use disorder and wellness. His journey was documented in the bestselling book "Basketball Junkie" and the Emmy-nominated ESPN documentary "Unguarded."

In 2011, Herren founded the Herren Project to help schools and communities make healthy choices while guiding families through recovery. Seven years later, he and his wife opened Herren Wellness, a residential health and wellness program.

The impact is real and measurable. Young adults who heard him speak in high school now come to his treatment center for help.

"They all say 'I didn't listen when you came to my high school and I knew where to find you when I needed it,'" Herren explained. His talks plant seeds that grow into recovery when people are ready.

The numbers tell a sobering story about why this work matters. In New York alone, one in six adolescents reports using an illicit substance each year, and roughly 9% are current alcohol users.

But Herren's message offers something more powerful than statistics. It offers hope.

Despite reaching the NBA, Herren says recovery is his greatest accomplishment. "Sobriety has given me everything," he said.

His two older children agree. "Their eyes smile," he said, remembering how different things were before his recovery.

Now Herren continues sharing his story with young people, the audience where he feels he makes the biggest impact. Every talk is another chance to reach someone who might need help tomorrow, next year, or a decade from now.