Basketball - Eddie Griffin Suspended For Five Games

Eddie Griffin, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ forward, has been suspended for five games without pay by the NBA for violating terms of the anti drug program.

Griffin was the seventh overall pick in the 2001 draft and he managed to revive his playing career in 2004 – 2005 season as a reserve for Minnesota. He also signed a three year contract worth $8.1 million.

However, last season the now 24 year old, could not perform and he was all but invisible on the roster this season. He played just 13 games for a total of 92 minutes. He last played a game on December 13, 2006.

Griffin has a long history of off court problems and this latest incident could mark the end of his time with the Timberwolves.

General manager, Jim Stack, informed in a statement that Timberwolves were extremely disappointed in the violation of the NBA / NBAPA Anti Drug Program and that the team and NBA does not support this kind of behavior.

Griffin has been fined for being late on the first day of the training camp. While recently, he pleaded guilty to inattentive driving after he hit a parked car. Griffin, 6 foot 10, is considered to have a wide range of basketball skills but he has never managed to keep out of trouble.

During his first two years in NBA with Houston and New Jersey, he was suspended many times and missed practiced. In 2004, he spent time at the Betty Ford Center for alcohol treatment.

NBA has a policy to randomly test players for drugs four times a season.