Former Toronto Raptors’ Center’s Shocking Halftime Confession: “I Never Played A Game Sober”

Former Toronto Raptors center admits to drinking alcohol at halftime during every game of his NBA career.

4 Min Read

Keon Clark is a name few NBA fans remember. Clark played six years in the NBA for four different teams. He was mainly used as a reserve, including being the backup to Vlade Divac on the Sacramento Kings during the 2002-03 season.

His best tenure came with the Toronto Raptors in the 2001-02 season, as he started a career-high 31 games in the season. Clark also averaged a career-best 11.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. In the playoffs that year, Clark also averaged his postseason career highs of 13.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Clark’s best game of his career occurred on March 23, 2001, in a home game for the Raptors vs. the Atlanta Hawks. The big man scored 13 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, but these weren’t what made his performance memorable.

Clark set a Raptors record for blocks in a game with 12. Toronto ended up defeating Atlanta 112-86.

For his career, Clark averaged 8.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, which isn’t terrible numbers, but also numbers that don’t jump out at you. Still, if anyone does remember Clark, it isn’t necessary for what he did on the basketball court, but rather what he did at halftime during games. 


Keon Clark Admits To Drinking Alcohol At Halftime

Keon Clark’s final season in the NBA came during the 2003-04 season when he played only two games for the Utah Jazz. After his NBA career ended, Clark’s life fell apart.

In 2006, Clark was set to stand trial on drug and weapon charges, but he never showed up for his court date. Instead, Clark boarded a bus in Houston, Texas, and was caught before he could leave the country.

Clark was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, but a judge threw out his sentence because Clark did not have a lawyer during his initial trial. So, the judge ordered a retrial, and Clark took the stand and shocked everyone with what he said.

“I never played a game sober, unfortunately,” Clark said. “It just never stopped.”

Clark’s admission was incredible to hear. He admitted to drinking half a pint to a pint of gin daily during his NBA career. To think he never played a game sober is indeed shocking. It also leads to questions of whether his teammates and coaches knew about his drinking. If so, why did they not stop him?

Clark was ultimately sentenced to eight years in prison but he only served four. He was released from prison in July 2017 and, as of this writing, has stayed out of trouble.

It’s a shame to see a player who had talent throw it away from some booze at halftime. Who knows, if Clark could’ve stayed sober, maybe his career would have lasted longer than six years.

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Titan Frey is the editor-in-chief and a staff writer for Fadeaway World from York, Pennsylvania. Titan blends his deep passion for basketball and storytelling to oversee the content at Fadeaway World. A prolific writer, Titan has authored several novels, including the award-winning "Players Path." This experience has honed his ability to weave compelling narratives, a skill he applies to his editorial role, ensuring that every piece resonates with basketball lovers and maintains high journalistic standards. His passion for basketball was sparked by Michael Jordan's return to the NBA in 1995, and his allegiance to the Chicago Bulls often inspires his contributions to "Pippen Ain’t Easy," a website dedicated to Bulls-related content. Titan’s specialization in player biographies and retro basketball content allows him to offer unique insights, often reaching out to key sources to secure exclusive information not available elsewhere. One of Titan’s proudest achievements is the biography of Chuck Cooper, the first African American drafted by an NBA team. By collaborating directly with Chuck Cooper III, Titan was able to present a nuanced portrayal that enriched the basketball community’s understanding of Cooper’s impact on the sport. Titan also extends his storytelling prowess to his YouTube channel "HoopsHistory26", where he uses archived footage to bring historical basketball stories to life, engaging a broader audience with his vivid storytelling and authoritative content.Titan's bold predictions and memorable basketball moments also reflect his deep involvement in the sport. He boldly predicts that the Phoenix Suns will part ways with their Big 3 and focus on building around Kevin Durant. Among his cherished memories is attending the unforgettable 2004 game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers in Philly, where he witnessed Allen Iverson make his first career game-winning shot. These experiences and insights continue to enrich his contributions to Fadeaway World, connecting with readers on a deeply personal level.
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