Bob Sura was caught by the Cavs' head coach when he and Dan Majerle were out enjoying the nightlife in Boston till 4:00 in the morning.
In the NBA, talent alone is never enough. Professional basketball demands discipline and accountability, particularly during the long grind of an 82-game regular season. Road trips can test those standards. New cities, late nights, and relative freedom often accompany travel, but players are expected to maintain boundaries — especially on the eve of a game.
Former Atlanta Hawks guard Bob Sura learned that lesson early in his career.
Sura was a rookie with the Cleveland Cavaliers when he found himself adjusting to the league alongside veteran Dan Majerle, a former All-Star who had already established himself as a respected presence in NBA locker rooms. Like many first-year players, Sura gravitated toward a veteran for guidance, leaning on Majerle as he navigated the transition from college to professional basketball.
During a road trip to Boston, the two decided to experience the city’s nightlife the evening before a game. What began as a routine outing stretched later into the night than intended. As the hours passed, Sura grew increasingly concerned about how little time remained before tipoff the next day.
By the time they left the bar — around 4 a.m. — they ran into their head coach.
The following day, the matter was addressed publicly inside the locker room. Rather than handling it quietly, the coach chose to make an example of both players in front of the team.
Sura recalled the moment years later, describing the blunt message delivered to the entire roster.
“Coach says, ‘I just want everybody to know that a couple of guys in this locker room let us down last night. Dan Majerle and Bob Sura were coming out of a bar at 4:00 in the morning smelling like alcohol, and they are the reason we lost,’” Sura added.
For a rookie still attempting to establish credibility, the public rebuke was jarring. It was not simply about being out late; it was about accountability and perception. In a league where preparation and professionalism are closely monitored, even the appearance of poor judgment can resonate throughout a team environment.
The incident did not lead to fines or suspensions. But the message carried weight.
Sura reflected on how that experience permanently altered his approach to game preparation.
“Last time I ever had a sip of alcohol in 10 years in the NBA before a game, I learned my lesson,” Sura said.
The episode became an early-career turning point. Veterans are expected to model professional behavior. Rookies are expected to absorb the culture quickly. In this case, the lesson came swiftly and publicly.
For Sura, the embarrassment proved instructive rather than destructive. He went on to carve out a decade-long NBA career, but he never forgot that morning in Boston — or the standard that was reinforced inside that locker room.
In the NBA, the margin between preparation and distraction is thin. Sura learned early that the league does not separate nightlife from next-day performance. Accountability travels with the team.