Former National Basketball Association, or NBA, player David Harrison has fallen on hard times. After being selected to the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Team in high school, the 7-foot centre recently admitted that he once worked at McDonald’s to make ends meet.

"I was embarrassed because of where I could be in life," Harrison told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. "Everybody has to work and make a living somehow. I have two children. They don't care where I work. They just need to eat.”

The former University of Colorado standout was once touted a great prospect by NBA scouts and the Indiana Pacers even took him 29th in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he was projected to be the third big man off the bench but due to the team’s injuries, he even started around 15 games of his first season in the league.

The 32-year-old former player was also a part of the much maligned “Malice at the Palace” that saw the NBA revise its rules on fan and player behaviour during games. Harrison was a part of the melee that saw Ron Artest forfeit a season’s salary due to suspension and centre Jermaine O’neal miss much of the season for his role in the altercation. Harrison, himself, was accused of punching a fan and was even mobbed by the crowd on his way out. He candidly recalled that they were asked to lay on the ground of the team’s bus as they were told that some of the fans were waiting outside, armed and dangerous.

Harrison is now a father of two children and admits that two years ago he had no choice but to work as a staff at the food chain to support his family. The two-time Mr. Basketball in his hometown Tennessee played in China with the Beijing Ducks for the 2008-2009 season, but found little to no success afterwards. He earned a total of $4.4 million before taxes with his stint with his Pacers but he relays that the money he earned during the whole time has now been consumed. He also played briefly in the NBA's D-League in 2011 but received no further offers to play in the United States or elsewhere to continue his professional career.

For concerns on this story contact the author at hidalgovincentpaul@gmail.com.

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