Richard Dumas: Sidelined Substance Abuse

Richard Dumas spent most of his career in the NBA incapacitated by substance abuse.  It overshadowed his time on the court and caused him problems off court as well.  The small forward was a student at Oklahoma State University when the 1991 NBA Draft rolled around.  He was chosen to play for the Phoenix Suns.

In a foreshadowing of events to come, the NBA suspended him for the better part of his rookie year for substance in violation of the NBA’s drug policy.  He didn’t see time on the hardwood until the Suns were already well into the season at game 20.  Even with the slow start, he was averaging over 15 points and 8 rebound each game, and was key in helping the Suns reach the NBA Finals that year.

Just when it seemed he had turned his life around and gotten back in control of his drug problem, he was busted for drug use again.  The NBA suspended him for an entire season this time for his second offense, missing his sophomore year in the NBA completely. When he finally came back to the court under the Suns in 1995, his scoring average was in the basement at a measly 5+ points per game.

The Suns opted not to continue to deal with his substance abuse problems, shipping him off to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers had agreed to sign him because the head coach at the time was a recovering drug user as well, and wanted to try and help Dumas overcome his problem.  Even coach John Lucas couldn’t keep Dumas out of trouble with drugs, and Dumas left the NBA after one season with the 76ers.

Dumas struggled with substance abuse and his career for a few more years.  He attempted to resurrect his career in Greece with the Gymnasticos S Larisas, an then again in the United States for the D-List Westchester Wildfire under the United Stats Basketball League.  None of his attempts worked, and in 2003 he retired from the sport altogether.

After his retirement, his substance abuse problems escalated.  He was never able to beat his addictions, and was arrested for possession of crack cocaine after his time in the United States Basketball League.  He was remanded into a drug treatment program for his first two offenses, completing two months of rehab before his court appearance for his third.  The judge deferred his sentence on the promise of continued drug treatment.  Dumas finished the program, but it didn’t solve his drug problem. He has slipped off the media radar since his retirement in 2003.