Eddie Griffin: Alcoholic, Violent, Power Forward Center

Eddie Griffin is most often confused with the comedic actor by the same name. This is in spite of the fact that his alcoholism and violent tendencies make such a comparison far from funny.  Eddie Griffin, NBA player, is a power forward center with a mean streak and a drinking problem.

The first time his violent streak went on record was as early as high school.  In his senior year at his alma mater, Roman, he and a team mate were suspended for fighting in the cafeteria during lunch one day. Neither teen would ever say what the violent fight was about.  The punishment for property damage kept both kids from returning to school, although for some reason Griffin was given his diploma that summer while the team mate he fought with was expelled without his.

His skills as a power forward center got him selected seventh in the 2001 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets, in spite of persistent rumors about more violent disputes with his own team mates.  Perhaps because of these rumors, the Nets gave up rights to Griffin to the Houston Rockets, a definite ego blow for the hot headed basketball player.

His first two years in the NBA playing for the Rockets were uneventful. He held his own in scoring, rebounds and assists without ever becoming spectacular on the court. Throughout this time his dependence on alcohol was growing, though it had not yet begun to affect his game or his life off court.

In 2003 his previous on court behavior reared its ugly head again, and the Houston Rockets released him from his contract. This happened after his substance abuse and violent tendencies blew up on his team mates just like they did in high school and college, as he instigated fights with them and stopped showing up for practice.

Griffin was picked up by the New Jersey Nets on more time in 2004, after the Rockets released him.  He never had court time during that season – he had checked himself  into an alcoholism rehabilitation facility voluntarily, which family members and fans took as a good sign.  Unfortunately for Griffin, the rehab didn’t take.

His first arrest as an adult came from a violent fight he had with his girlfriend.  He ended up losing control and assaulting her, both with his fists and with an attempted shooting.  He pled guilty to what was deemed a “deadly offense” assault.  His sentence included 11 days in jail, 18 months of probation, $2000 in fines and court ordered anger management classes.

While all of this was going on, he was signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves for a “test run” – a contract that was only valid for one year.  He managed to hold it together, possily due to his restrictions while on probation and in anger management.  When he ended the season with a scoring average back where it was in 2001, the Timberwolves offered him a 3 year contract extension. It looked like his NBA career, and his life, were finally back on track.

In 2006 his arrest made national headlines when he was seen by friends watching a porn video on his in dash DVD player while driving and masturbating before crashing into an SUV.  Making his situation worse, after the pron-induced crash he entered the store where the crash occurred to tell the clerk he was drunk and that he had no license and had hit the SUV. 

Witnesses said that he kept insisting he was drunk, and kept asking the man to let him buy him a brand new car instead of calling the police and ruining his NBA career.  The case is still pending, with the responding officers under suspicion for not following protocol at the time of the arrest.   Griffin is currently a free agent not signed with any team.