EX-NBA guard Larry Hughes has been part of an exciting new career venture.

The former first-round pick partnered with ex-NBA teammate Al Harrington to bring a cannabis dispensary to his home state of Missouri.

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Ex-NBA shooting guard Larry Hughes has been a cannabis company entrepreneur since 2020Credit: Getty

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Hughes played alongside Michael Jordan during the guard’s first season with the Washington Wizards in 2002-03Credit: Getty
Hughes, 44, played in the NBA between 1998-2012 after the Philadelphia 76ers drafted him at No. 8 out of St. Louis University.

The 6-foot-5 shooting guard logged 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals in 727 regular-season games.

In addition to the 76ers, he played for seven other NBA teams during his career.

Hughes’ peak came after he signed with the Washington Wizards in 2002.

The St. Louis native averaged 17.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.9 blocks during a three-year stay in DC.

He earned the All-Defensive first-team honors and led the NBA in steals following the 2004-05 regular season.

The guard also had a chance to observe Michael Jordan’s greatness on and off the court as his first year with the Wizards coincided with MJ’s second and final farewell tour in 2002-03.

Any business knowledge Hughes acquired while sharing the locker room with His Airness would come in handy eight years after he left the NBA.

In 2020, Hughes teamed up with Harrington and his cannabis company, Village Brands, in an effort to establish a dispensary in St. Louis, which would sell his ex-Knicks teammate’s Viola products.

Since then, his company – Viola Brands, which opened the Viola STL dispensary – has been the only Black-owned and operated cannabis company in Missouri.

“I am honored to bring VMO to life in St. Louis,” Hughes said in a statement after the enterprise’s launch.

“Over the course of my career in the NBA, and since my retirement, I have focused my energy and resources on being a positive influence in this community.

“I have championed efforts to break the stigma around mental health and spent a great deal of time helping to develop this city’s young leaders.

“VMO will serve the medical needs of our community, particularly those suffering with physically and mentally debilitating conditions, including PTSD.

“I see this next journey as a continuation of the work that we have already done and believe VMO will soon be a model business in our community.”

Hughes has been running Viola Brands alongside business manager Abe Givins.