Sacramento Kings forward Zach Randolph could be banned for life from the NBA if he is convicted of distribution of marijuana. Randolph was arrested in Los Angeles (along with two others) on Wednesday and charged with felony marijuana possession with intent to sell due to the large quantity of weed that they possessed at the time. According to TMZ, found in Randolph’s possession was two pounds of marijuana.
According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the NBA could impose a lifetime ban on Randolph, just like what his former teammate O.J. Mayo received for violation of the league's anti-drug policy.
Based on the league’s collective bargaining agreement between the league and the player’s association, a player will be dismissed and disqualified from the NBA if he is convicted of a crime involving the felony distribution of marijuana. A player can also be banned if he pleads guilty or no contest to selling marijuana.
NBA banned O.J. Mayo for life
The NBA dismissed and banned Mayo from the league in 2016 for violating the terms of the league's anti-drug program. He was the first player to receive that kind of punishment in a decade. The 29-year-old Mayo was an eight-year veteran, playing his first four seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, one season with the Dallas Mavericks and three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.
A third overall pick in the 2008 Draft, Mayo averaged 7.8 points in 41 games during the 2015-16 campaign before he was banned.
Randolph signed two-year deal with Kings
As a free agent in the offseason, Randolph signed a two-year deal worth $24 million with the Kings after eight seasons with the Grizzlies. He left the Grizzlies as the franchise’s leading rebounder with 5,612 and third in points with 9,261 behind Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.
With the Kings, he would be reunited with former Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger, who coached Memphis for three seasons. During his stint with the Grizzlies, Randolph averaged 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds. Last season, Randolph was relegated to a reserve role but he didn’t disappoint, averaging 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in 24.5 minutes of action off the bench.
He also tallied 20 double-doubles last season, the most by any reserve in the NBA. Randolph was also known for his charity work during his stay in Memphis. During the holidays, he paid around $20,000 worth of utility bills and offered food, coats, and other gifts.
