Throughout his NBA career, Bedford struggled to keep himself away from drug use.

Although winning an NBA championship is the ultimate aspiration for every player in the league, William Bedford could’ve achieved his goal with the Detroit Pistons in 1989.

However, being a person who constantly used marijuana to overcome his fear of playing in front of a large crowd since college, the 7’0″ center couldn’t keep himself clean after coming to the NBA and unfortunately witnessed his team lift the silverware from a drug rehab center.

Bedford on winning it with Piston

In his interview with DJ Vlad, Bedford admitted to keeping track of the Pistons’ progress during the ’88-89 season. However, witnessing their championship triumph was ‘hurtful’ for him, especially considering how he had been part of the team that lost to the LA Lakers in the Finals a season before.

“It was hurtful at the time but with the people I was around back then, it made it a little easier. You know you’re at the point where you got the chance to do this again,” Bedford said. “You may not have been there to do this one, so just be blessed that you can sit here and watch and know that this is the place you want to be next.”

After sitting out the entire 1988-89 season to undergo treatment for substance abuse, Bedford finally found redemption in 1990 when he returned to join the ‘Bad Boys Pistons. Though the Tennessee native logged a mere 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game across 42 appearances in the regular season, he was able to clinch his lone Larry O’Brien trophy with the team.

William smoked marijuana before games in college

While there are numerous accounts of former players suffering miserably and witnessing their careers collapse due to constant drug abuse, Bedford considered drug use as a coping mechanism. He believed that smoking marijuana during his collegiate career before every game was essential for him to deliver his best performance.

“In college, I can say that being in the Mid-South Coliseum, that big, open space, I never played one game in the Mid-South Coliseum without marijuana, without being high,” Bedford told DJ Vlad. “There was no way I could run out on the floor with all those people watching me play. I had to find a way to cope with it, and that was my way of coping with it – smoking weed.”

He stayed in the NBA for only 6 years, but luckily for him, despite his vague antics, he was able to win a championship. He might have left a bigger mark on the league if he controlled himself better.