NBA
BASKETBALL April
16, 2001 - - - - -
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Kemp
not the Only One to Flounder By
ADRIAN VICENTE
We
all know what the Reign Man used to be all about. The high-flying
“throw it up there and I’ll go get it” thundering tomahawks. That
sleek spin in the post that resulted in a reverse throw down. The
consistent 16-footer. The throwing of weak lay-ups up into the lights
and into the third row. Yes, we all remember those seven entertaining
seasons in Seattle, when this 6-foot-10 man-child was considered one of
the best players in the game. And then we remember how things turned
for the worst. The seven kids from six different women. The
ballooning to far over 300 pounds. The coke problem. It’s sad
to say, but Shawn Kemp’s recent check-in to a drug rehab clinic only adds
the finishing touches to a career worth forgetting.
Here’s
a look at several NBA players who once seem destined for stardom but who
instead floundered into obscurity. In ten years these players will
be remembered for… actually… they won’t be remembered at all.
ROD
STRICKLAND
If
you were to examine Strickland’s career numbers you’d be surprised to find
that they aren’t far off from those of John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Tim Hardaway,
Mark Jackson and Gary Payton.
Stockton
is a lock for the Hall of Fame and Hardaway and Jackson are probably easy
shoe-ins. Barring a dramatic fall-off or great controversy, Kidd
and Payton will undoubtedly get there as well. But what about Rod?
Here’s a guy who in his best years (1990-1998) averaged 16.3 points, 8.9
assists and 4.5 rebounds, but somehow never came to mind when you and your
buddies were naming the top five point guards in the league. Strickland
easily makes that list if he plays on a better squad. But more than
that, Strickland makes that list if he wasn’t so much of a hot head.
His reputation for being a guy who doesn’t care for practices and other
team functions has overshadowed his indisputable basketball talents.
Throw in a couple of court cases, DUI charges, and a poor PR job, and what
you get is another wasted talent.
DERRICK
COLEMAN
When
the New Jersey Nets selected Derrick Coleman with the first overall pick
in 1990, they thought they were getting the next Sir Charles or Karl Malone.
Coleman was the NCAA all-time leading rebounder, and was the first player
in NCAA history to record over 2,000 points, 1,500 rebounds and 300 blocks
in a career. The 6-10 forward could do it all: Post up, Hit the midrange
J, nail spot-up 3’s, find open teammates when double-teamed, and defend
the league’s best big men. DC did just that easily winning Rookie
of the Year honors while providing a sense of optimism to what the future
would hold for this previously struggling Nets franchise. DC went
on to lead the Nets to the playoffs three times in his first five seasons
in the Jersey swamps. During those five seasons, DC only missed 62
games due to injuries and amassed all-star averages of 19.9 points, 10.6
rebounds and shot 46 percent from the field. Unfortunately, the talented
power forward’s “whoop dee damn do” attitude would force the Nets to dump
him in a six-player trade with Philly. The rest is history.
The injury prone and foul-mouthed Coleman would miss 192 of his next 460
games. During that span he only averaged 14.2 points, 8.2 rebounds
and shot a woeful 41.7 percent. In his three seasons at Charlotte,
the Hornets are 35-8 without him in the lineup and 61-64 with him in it.
The next Barkley? The next Malone? Yeah right. The next
forgotten memory.
LARRY
JOHNSON
Averaging
19.2 points and 11 boards in his first season at Charlotte, it came as
no surprise that LJ would be crowned Rookie of Year. Even though
he was considered a tweener at 6-7 (really more like 6-5) playing the four
spot, Grandmama was a thoroughbred who was too quick for his position and
too strong for small forwards to handle. In his first two seasons,
LJ averaged just over 20 points and 10.5 boards while shooting 51 percent.
More than just numbers, LJ brought leadership to a 4-year-old franchise
that never won more than 25 games. In 1992-1993, LJ and rookie Alonzo
Mourning carried the Hornets to a 44-38 record and first round playoff
victory, marking the team’s first winning season and playoff birth.
Despite winning 41 games in 1993-1994, the Hornets suffered a disappointing
year. Their high-flying superstar power forward would break his 190
consecutive games played streak and miss 31 games due to a career threatening
back injury. Questions whether LJ could ever return to full strength served
as the heart of discussion at dinner tables throughout the state.
LJ would return but as a different player. It was obvious that LJ
had lost his explosiveness, posting up less and spotting up more.
That year he attempted 210 three pointers, 96 more than he attempted in
first three seasons combined. But despite his new approach to the
game, LJ was still effective, consistently putting up 20 and 8. However,
Charlotte was well aware that the new LJ wasn’t deserving of the 12-year,
84 million-dollar contract the old LJ had earned. After five seasons
in a Hornets uniform, LJ was traded to New York where he would average
only 12.2 points and 5.5 boards over the next five years. This year
LJ is shooting 40.8 percent. LJ never turned out to be that great
player. Sadly, it wasn’t his fault either.
HONORABLE
MENTION
KENNY
ANDERSON “The
Kid” was nice back in the day, averaging 16.9 points and 8.5 assists in
his first six full seasons. After that, his attitude dropped along
with his numbers to 11.5 and 5.3. Now, he’s just remembered as the
guy who complained during the strike year that his insufficient $12,000
a month spending plan caused him to sell off one of his eight luxury cars.
PENNY
HARDAWAY One
was considered the Second Coming of Magic Johnson. Now, he isn’t
even the best player on his own team (Jason Kidd). If Penny doesn’t
come back with a vengeance he’ll undoubtedly be considered one of the most
overrated players in NBA history.
TIM
THOMAS Wasn’t
this guy supposed to go pro right out of high school and dominate the league?
He’s in his fifth season and he still isn’t an everyday starter.
Still young and talented but I question his desire.
ISAIAH
RIDER Superstar
idiot.
ANTONIO
DANIELS Have
we forgotten that this 26-year-old was the fourth overall draft pick in
1997?
