<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thunder big man Mitch McGary suspended without pay for five games by the NBA for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.</p>— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcJSpearsESPN/status/751490687040786436">July 8, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
[rquoter]McGary suspended an additional 10 games Oklahoma City Thunder forward Mitch McGary’s struggles within the NBA’s anti-drug program has earned him his second suspension of the 2016-17 season, league sources told The Vertical. McGary, 24, has been suspended an additional 10 games for non-compliance with the league’s drug policy, league sources said. The violation isn’t believed to be another positive test, but rather a failure to live up to procedural guidelines set forth in the program, league sources said. McGary was suspended five games for violation of the league’s policy in July. He will serve a 15-game suspension without pay to start the 2016-’17 season. If Oklahoma City has its way, McGary has played his last game for the franchise. Getting an asset in return for him has become more difficult with another suspension, but teams that trade for him can play him in the preseason to get a better sense of his preparation and function within a team before the suspension begins in the regular season. McGary could be released and claimed on waivers – or become an unrestricted free agent and sign elsewhere. For now, McGary’s career is in peril because of his inability to maintain a lifestyle that’ll allow him to play in the NBA. McGary left the Thunder for the final few weeks of the season for what the franchise termed “personal reasons.” McGary essentially left the team on his own, league sources said. After the five-game suspension in July, McGary issued a statement through the Thunder. “I clearly made a mistake, and for that, I apologize to the organization, my teammates, and our fans. I realize there are only so many opportunities given to you and I need to make sure that, as a person and as a player, I take accountability and ensure that this does not happen again.” Positive tests have trailed McGary, who failed a drug test at the University of Michigan that would’ve cost him his junior season had he not entered the 2014 NBA draft. McGary, an athletic forward with tremendous upside, was the 21st overall pick in that draft. As a rookie with injury issues, McGary averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 32 games. Last season, McGary bounced between the Thunder and the NBA Development League, playing limited minutes in 20 NBA games.[/rquoter]
Lots of people say drug OFFENDERS need rehab and treatment, not criminal prosecution and jail time. Also a person can be a "functional addict", if he's doing his job and not causing issues at the workplace, especially where heavy machine equipment isnt used, then is it really a big deal? Especially if its "just weed" thats getting more accepted. Though private business can set their own policies on it. He wont get jail time but cant be coming to work under drug influence (Especially when it appears he refused a test or didnt do all his rehab). Right now McGary looks dumb cuz its "just weed" he can get over to not threaten his nice career. Can also see situations if he plays it right he can be an example for more "just weed" acceptance too.
fwiw: Thread title should be "smoking mar1juana again." So, he was suspended for pot for a year in college, tested positive just last July in the NBA, and due to the suspension, that is supposed to be his *3rd* positive. You don't get suspended for pot until your third positive. Story says it wasn't even a positive test. I'm guessing he failed to go to required drug counseling as part of his July positive, missed a test, or had more than one negative test that showed attempts to mask/dilute THC. No matter what your beliefs are about mar1juana use (even in the off-season), it is a concern that he can't stop even when facing such bad consequences ... this is his FOURTH time. Pissing his career away.
ya he had a very impressive 2nd half of his rookie year. i wouldn't mind DM trading for him. our roster is too thin on talent right now to be too finicky
He hasn't wasted anything yet, he's only 24 years old. Let him get traded to the right situation and I'm sure he plays up to potential. If we hadn't signed Nene I'd be for it but this is more of a Mark Cuban move...watch the warriors get him and nurture the **** out of him tho
honestly, faking a drug test is so easy a child could do it. Yes, even with people watching. An NBA player would definitely have access to the upper realms of drug users, where such knowledge is common place. If he is too lazy to do what it takes to retain his profession while not allowing the government to make his decision for him, he's almost certainly too lazy to stay in the league any way. Too bad William Reinquest is still winning the battle for the paper industry, even after death.
He did not show a positive test this last time. See J.R.'s article. With the expensive tests, getting a negative is not enough. There are other things they can detect which indicate possible masking -- called a "secondary interfering substance," which show as abnormal readings in urine. When you are required to take a test repeatedly, consistent negatives showing the same results for odd-levels of other chemicals become regarded as possible masking and treated as a positive. My guess is that is what happened. McGary was testing negative, but the readings had odd results. He was probably warned of that, as well, and after repeated similar results, they deemed it a positive.
