The D-League has tossed Lakers affiliate player Robert Upshaw from the league for violating its anti-drug program, according to Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor (Twitter link). The big man was a highly touted college prospect, but his checkered past caused NBA teams to pass on him in last year’s draft. He was with the Lakers for the preseason and joined their D-League team shortly thereafter. It’s unclear what the terms of Upshaw’s punishment are, with the D-League saying merely that his playing services had been terminated for the drug violation.
Upshaw, 22, didn’t see the court much in the D-League this season, as he averaged only 15.6 minutes per game over 28 appearances, but he was impressive on the boards, snagging 4.5 per outing in that limited playing time. The 7-footer remains a work in progress on the offensive end, averaging 7.3 points to accompany a slash line of .477/.200/.610.
The center failed to impress the Lakers during the preseason, nabbing just 3.0 rebounds while scoring 2.5 points in 14.1 minutes per contest in four appearances this past fall. Upshaw pocketed a $35K partial guarantee from that contract, one that took several weeks to finalize. The team had set “offseason off-court goals” for him to meet before officially signing him, according to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times.
What is up with this kid
Damn… I had high hopes for him. Been watching him in the D league. Come on man. Get your ish together. To bad.. So much talent.
The mind is a terrible thing to waste…at what point does enough become enough? God bless you young man…hope you wake up soon.
It would be nice to know what the drug was. Coke, heroin, performance enhancing? If it was for MJ no one gives a damn. Pro sports sill have their PR heads up their backside relative to MJ. Grow a pair, eliminate testing for MJ unless you outlaw booze, too.
Booze is legal at the federal level, weed is not. I’m fully pro marijuana, mind you, use it myself, but that’s the difference.
Loser, I was pissed when Romar kicked him off the Huskies, but it all makes sense now. He’s a waste of space on any team, the kind of guy that would drag others down with him. Good riddance.
A undisciplined, unprincipled individual is unteachable. There will always be an abundance of unfulfilled talent.
Damn it’s really a shame though, I was excited about Upshaw throughout the draft and probably would have taken him before Nance even. You really never seen anybody rebound like this kid…ever
This dumbass chose poorly
I played High School basketball against this guy. He has too much talent to be using drugs smh
No reason to watch defenders NOW!