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The NBA had seen nothing like it before.

Back in 1987 the Phoenix Suns were rocked by the biggest drug scandal ever to hit a professional sports franchise at that time.

It was simply known as "Waltergate."

On April 18, 1987 the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office indicted 13 people including three members of the Suns on charges of possessing and trafficking in cocaine or marijuana. The two month investigation showed the players were frequenting a local establishment and obtaining cocaine.

Yet in the end, their downfall came at the hands of one of their own in front of a grand jury.

Center James Edwards, guard Jay Humphries and rookie guard Grant Gondrezick – along with former Suns Garfield Heard and Mike Bratz – had all been turned in by teammate Walter Davis, who testified to avoid prosecution after being involved.

Also indicted were a team photographer, the manager of the nightclub that doubled as a team hangout, along with a restaurant owner and waiter at another team lounge spot.

Two years earlier, the 33-year-old Davis underwent a 30 days drug rehab program at a Southern California clinic for abusing cocaine and alcohol. He knew his career in the NBA was at risk if he didn’t comply with a testimony.  

It was Davis’ word against theirs.

The NBA Rookie of the Year in 1977-78 and a five-time all-star at the time, the 6’6 Davis was Phoenix’s most celebrated player at the time averaging 23.6 points (good for 11th in the NBA). Edwards was a nine-year veteran and played sparingly. Humphries was a starter in his third year and had recently broken the club’s single season assist record (605). At 24, Gondrezick was a rookie reserve guard out of Pepperdine University who went on to appear in 64 games and averaged 5.5 points per game for Phoenix.

But immunity belonged to Davis. He maintained he "had no choice."

"The last thing I wanted to do was get my teammates and friends indicted. If I’d known I was going to do that, I’d have probably gone to jail instead," Davis told Sports Illustrated in late November, 1987.

The damage was already done, both on and off the court. Phoenix finished with a 36-46 record while masking a drug scandal that sent the franchise, ownership, players and the Suns’ fan base reeling.

Head coach John McLeod was dismissed of his duties months earlier. The franchise was sold and in a matter of two days, one-third of the Phoenix roster was traded: Humphries was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks, Edwards was off to Detroit, Larry Nance and Mike Sanders were traded to Cleveland in a non-related move, while Davis remained a member of the team until July when he signed a free-agent contract with Denver.

"It was like a black cloud that wouldn’t go away. So we had to eliminate our ties with the past," Suns owner Jerry Colangelo said back then, fearing the team he’d just purchased for $44 million would be sold from underneath him and relocated.

"(Davis) didn’t commit murder and he hasn’t been indicted or charged with anything," Colangelo told the Los Angeles Times. "But I’m very concerned about Walter Davis as a human being."

While the players involved in the drug scandal "faced the possibility of permanent banishment from the NBA," all tested negative. They also avoided punishment by plea bargaining, as none of the defendants went to trial.

After admitting he used cocaine within the last year, Davis was suspended without pay and soon returned to rehab. Edwards and Humphries were sentenced to participate in a drug counseling program for a year. Charges against Heard were dropped. Bratz was never extradited, and Gondrezick pleading guilty to tampering with a witness. He received three years probation.

{AUTHOR_BOX}At that time, the NBA was known as the only professional league in sports with a permanent drug program. Still it comprised a steady list of abusers: Michael Ray Richardson, Mitchell Wiggens, John Drew and Lewis Lloyd were already serving lifetime suspensions from the league.

Davis didn’t want to join the ranks of Richardson, Wiggens, Drew and Lloyd.

So he took the deal and ran.

Playing for the Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers, Davis retired in 1991 and averaged 18.9 points per game over his 15-year career. The 7’0 Edwards played 19 years in the league and won three NBA championships with the Pistons in 1989 and 1990 and Chicago Bulls in 1996.

Humphries retired with the Boston Celtics in 1995 after an 11-year career, playing also for the Bucks and Utah Jazz. Today, Humphries is the head coach of the NBA D-League’s Reno Bighorns and boasts a coaching resume’ that spans stints in China, Korea and even as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns prior to Reno.

Gondrezick had the most difficulty bouncing back from the drug scandal.

After his time with the Suns, he played for the Los Angeles Clippers and overseas in Europe. He battled a cocaine addiction and enlisted the help of John Lucas to assist with his recovery. In 1994, he got a shot with the Philadelphia 76ers but failed to make the club.

He can’t shake hard times.

Two weeks ago, Gondrezick pleaded guilty in a mortgage fraud case that involved the sale of 24 homes in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. While his trial is set for next year, Gondrezick faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and more than $1 million in restitution for conspiring to commit wire fraud.

It’s as if the hardship from 1987 won’t fade for some.