Former NBA Player & Speaker on Substance Abuse Disorder and Wellness; Founder Herren Wellness & Herren Project

Portsmouth, RI, USA

Chris Herren Biography

An extraordinary basketball player, Chris Herren was a celebrated star in his native Fall River, MA before graduating high school. He went on to play at Boston College and Fresno State, two seasons in the NBA – including one with his hometown team, the Boston Celtics – and seven seasons overseas before losing it all to the disease of addiction.

With the unwavering support of his family and friends, Herren has been sober since August 1, 2008, and now shares his story with the goal of making a positive difference in the lives of others.

His recovery journey has been documented in the bestselling memoir, “Basketball Junkie,” the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary, “Unguarded,” and in countless local, national, and international stories by The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and Sports Illustrated, among others. Through Herren Talks, he has spoken to over 1 million students and community members, sparking honest discussions about substance use disorder and wellness.

In 2011, Herren grew his vision of support for others when he founded the nonprofit Herren Project. Through the organization, he and his team empower schools and communities to make healthy choices, while also guiding families through recovery. In 2018, he also founded Herren Wellness, a residential health and wellness program that helps guests lead healthy, substance-free lives.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 03/23/2026.

Chris Herren Speaking Topics

  • CHRIS HERREN: THE FIRST DAY

    Presentation Time: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes plus Q&A

    Audience: Middle & High School Students

    Designed for school presentations, this 75-minute assembly will start with a film presentation highlighting Chris Herren’s basketball career and journey to sobriety. Upon conclusion of the film, Chris will take the microphone and share experiences that have impacted his life as a teenager, athlete and speaker, empowering the audience to rethink how we look at the disease of addiction, from the last day to the first. He will touch on such topics as drinking, smoking marijuana and vaping, pill use, peer pressure, bullying and cutting. To conclude the event, he will field questions from the audience.

  • PREVENTION STARTS WITH ALL: THE CHRIS HERREN STORY

    Presentation Time: 1 Hour plus Q&A

    Audience: Community Presentations, Colleges, Conferences

    In this very personal presentation, Chris Herren will share his recovery journey in a brutally honest format with just a microphone. The event will start with a 5-minute film introducing Herren and showing highlights of his basketball career and his dream to play in the NBA which began to unravel by making a few bad decisions. From growing up in Fall River, MA to playing Division 1 basketball and in the NBA, he will take the audience on his journey from addiction to sobriety. Additionally, he will relate his story to the audience addressing themes of gateway drugs, prescription drug use, vaping and the responsibility of prevention starting with us all. To conclude the event Chris will field questions from the audience.

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Chris Herren Videos

Chris Herren - FOX5 NY

Chris Herren - FOX5 NY

Lessons learned on and off the court with Chris Herren

Chris Herren | Rich Roll Podcast

Chris Herren | Rich Roll Podcast

Former NBA player Chris Herren recounts his battle with drug & alcohol addiction his path to sobriety and why service is key to success.

Chris Herren - NBC10 WJAR

Chris Herren - NBC10 WJAR

Former NBA star Chris Herren celebrates 15 years of sobriety, helps fight addiction.

  • How do I book Chris Herren to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Chris Herren

    Speaking fees for Chris Herren, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chris Herren are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chris Herren, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Chris Herren speak about?

  • Where does Chris Herren travel from?

    Chris Herren generally travels from Portsmouth, RI, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Chris Herren for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chris Herren for your next private or corporate function.
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Chris Herren is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as CHRIS HERREN: THE FIRST DAY, PREVENTION STARTS WITH ALL: THE CHRIS HERREN STORY and CHRIS HERREN: THE GAME HAS CHANGED. The estimated speaking fee range to book Chris Herren for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Chris Herren generally travels from Portsmouth, RI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Darryl Strawberry, Tony Hoffman, Amanda Beard, Danny Trejo and Cris Carter. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chris Herren for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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