Raptors' Jalen Harris dismissed and disqualified from NBA for drug violation

Raptors guard Jalen Harris has been dismissed and disqualified from the league due to violating terms of the NBA’s anti-drug program, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. According to the report, Harris is able to apply for reinstatement in one year.

Harris was selected with the 59th pick in the 2020 draft out of the University of Nevada and averaged 7.4 points in 13 games as a 22-year-old rookie. He had been a standout on the Raptors’ G League team in his seven games with the 905, averaging 17.6 points per contest on 50% shooting from three.

The manner of dismissal suggests that the violation was due to drug abuse, not use of performance enhancing drugs. As Blake Murphy of The Athletic points out in his tweet thread containing the list of substances that fall into the category of drugs of abuse, this renders Harris’ contract null, but the Raptors will retain his rights and have a chance to bring him back upon reinstatement if they so desire.

The details of the violation are unclear, but the penalty is similar to ones received by Tyreke Evans in 2019, O.J. Mayo in 2016 and Chris Anderson in 2006. Anderson was able to return to the league two years later, but Mayo has never been reinstated. Evans is eligible to apply for reinstatement this summer.