Chris Herren

Chris Herren

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

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.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Chris Herren and other top speakers and celebrities.

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.

CHRIS HERREN: THE GAME HAS CHANGED

Presentation Time: 1 Hour plus Q&A

Audience: Corporate

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, showing highlights of his basketball career and his dream of playing in the NBA which began to unravel after a few bad decisions. From growing up in Fall River, MA to playing for a Division 1 team 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 resiliency and offering real-life examples showing that it is never too late to reach for your dreams. Dreams require hard work, repetition, follow through, being ready to rebound if you falter and preparing your game plan for the win. To conclude the event Chris will field questions from the audience.

Chris Herren Videos

Chris Herren - FOX5 NY
Chris Herren | Rich Roll Podcast
Chris Herren - NBC10 WJAR

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

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chris Herren for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chris Herren, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chris Herren or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Chris Herren for a speaking engagement?

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 $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chris Herren, click the Check Schedule 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?

Chris Herren is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Educational Motivational, Non-Fiction Authors, Author, College, Political, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Addiction & Recovery, Mental Health, Inspirational, Graduation, Motivational, Athlete, Business, Education, Sports, Men's Health, Health & Wellness, Sports Coaching, Basketball, Storytelling, TED, Christian and Christian Athletes.

Where does Chris Herren travel from?

Chris Herren generally travels from Portsmouth, RI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Chris Herren?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured 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 Schedule 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.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chris Herren or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Chris Herren is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Educational Motivational, Non-Fiction Authors and Author. The estimated speaking fee range to book Chris Herren for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. 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 Zack Kass, Eric Boles and Daymond John. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chris Herren for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 16/02/2026.

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.

  • CHRIS HERREN: THE GAME HAS CHANGED

    Presentation Time: 1 Hour plus Q&A

    Audience: Corporate

    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, showing highlights of his basketball career and his dream of playing in the NBA which began to unravel after a few bad decisions. From growing up in Fall River, MA to playing for a Division 1 team 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 resiliency and offering real-life examples showing that it is never too late to reach for your dreams. Dreams require hard work, repetition, follow through, being ready to rebound if you falter and preparing your game plan for the win. To conclude the event Chris will field questions from the audience.

Chris Herren Videos

Chris Herren - FOX5 NY
Chris Herren | Rich Roll Podcast
Chris Herren - NBC10 WJAR
Chris Herren - "The Brian Buffini Show"
Chris Herren - TEDxUMassAmherst

Chris Herren Reviews

  • The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama - Feb 14 2024

  • The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama - Feb 14 2024

  • The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama - Jan 31 2024

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

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chris Herren for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chris Herren, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chris Herren or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Chris Herren for a speaking engagement?

    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 $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chris Herren, click the Check Schedule 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 and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Chris Herren?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured 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 Schedule 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.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chris Herren or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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CHRIS HERREN

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