Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland began playing basketball in the streets of Harlem when he was 9-years-old. By age 13, he split his time between playing ball and committing robberies to help finance a growing drug empire.
In college, Kirkland was the 1968 MVP for Norfolk State, turning down an offer from UCLA to play alongside Kareem Abdul Jabaar. Kirkland was then drafted by the Chicago Bulls but turned down their offer when he realized he could make more money in the drug game than the basketball game. With law enforcement on his tail, Kirkland found himself behind bars twice between 1971 and 1988. From there, he made a change, becoming a motivational speaker and inspiring young, inner-city athletes to take a different path out than he did.
Presented by Ryot.
Subscribe to VICE Sports here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-Sports
Check out VICE Sports for more: http://www.vicesports.com
Follow VICE Sports here:
Facebook: / vicesports
Twitter: / vicesports
Instagram: / vicesports
Watch video Basketball to Drug Trafficking: The Story of Pee Wee Kirkland online without registration, duration hours minute second in high quality. This video was added by user VICE Sports 11 December 2018, don't forget to share it with your friends and acquaintances, it has been viewed on our site 1,810,22 once and liked it 14 thousand people.