Sabonis, still carved up the NBA as an old man with dodgy back and limbs

If he got to play in his mid 80's condition he would have gone down as one of the greats of all time.


Throw yo grandma ma Larry Johnson in there as well, back injuroes always stopped him being 100% but still found ways to contribute.

Chris Webber only had one really good year? He was meant to be the greatest PF of all time.

Larry Johnson (Charlotte Hornet days)
He was so much fun to watch, big (not tall, wide), fast, athletic, and he enjoyed the game so much. Then his back (I think?) let go, and he couldn't jump anymore, and became a lame jump-shooting 3 man, instead of the explosive, undersized 4 he was meant to be.

oh crap, beaten to it....well done Kent !!

Can i throw Latrell Sprewell in their surely a Doc somewhere could show that his brain has been injured since 1995.

Dont think that Sprewell is the only athlete that has that problem

What brain?

Bernard King - Unfortunately doesnt get the kudos he probably deserves. Was still good, but could have been great had he not injured his knee!

I'm with Kent on Sabonis. He would have dominated the NBA in his prime. Would have changed the game forever, too.

The late Derek Smith. Came into the league the same year as Jordan (IIRR) and apparently was every bit as good... until he tore up his knee.

The thread was top players, not mediocre.

If you look at Darius Miles' career, it is mediocre at best.

Hahaha...Quagmire, I remember Bryant Reeves...wasn't he the Vancouver Grizzlies first round draft pick when they entered the league?

Yes he was, and Toronto picked Mighty Mouse that year.

Drazen Petrovic and Reggie Lewis ... just reaching their primes when they got injured in a big way

for me lil penny was the standout,he just slowly faded. As well as hurley, interesting comparison to reddick. Anon what about darren milane from collingwood, quality afl player whose career ended early.

Ricky Berry, Sacramento Kings
Len Bias, Boston Celtics
Jason Collier, Atlanta Hawks
Terry Furlow, Utah Jazz
Eddie Griffin, Minnesota Timberwolves
Wendell Ladner, New Jersey Nets, ABA
Reggie Lewis, Boston Celtics, NBA
Conrad McRae, Orlando Magic summer league
Dra~en Petrovi, New Jersey Nets
Bobby Phills, Charlotte Hornets
Malik Sealy, Minnesota Timberwolves
Nick Vanos, Phoenix Suns

Earl the goat (still seen as one of the greats) but did not play much NBA due to drugs and the like.

Going a fair way back now, but Ralph Sampson was one.

Yeah definitely Penny Hardaway - i watched a game from the '95 finals a few weeks ago, and it made me pretty sad... Given the way his career ended up - when he was healthy he was nigh on unstoppable - and a game changer... He was the complete package - athletic, long, and had a great BBIQ...

Brad Daugherty (back)
Richard Dumas (needlestick)

Jayson Williams (the gun enthusiast one)... Not his injury but still an injury nonetheless...

Interesting fact about him - i have heard/read that when he was traded to New Jersey by the 76ers there was a clause which limited how long they could play him per game (for a certain period of time)... I can remember back in the early/mid 90's the the guy had ridiculous per 40 min rebounding numbers (but was getting virtually no PT - thats when i found out about the clause...)...

Agree with most of the other picks but Grant Hill and Ralph Sampson for sure. If Grant Hill could have remained injury free throughout his career I think he would have gone down as an all time great. Sabonis did reach his potential, just not in the NBA, and he still kicked some arse there.

No one else has mentioned Jonathon Bender so i'll put his name out there. Huge potential, had NBA scouts raving at the time because of his workouts from memory. Never got a good go of it because of injury. Not a champion by any means but a definite 'how good could he have been' type.

Ron Harper - Was ridiculously athletic before tearing up his knee - only came back as a role player

Im going with my man Eddie Griffin.

Although it wasnt injuries that robbed him of his prime (more so a lack of givin a shit about trainin, playing a=or anything to do with his team) but he had so much potential an then drove his car into a train in a suspected suicide. So sad.

Also i know we said no drugs or stupidity...but Isiah "dont call me JR" Rider could have been so good.


RIP EDDIE

Not basketball but very topical, an English footballer was awarded £4m yesterday (AU$8m) as a result of a career ending tackle inflicted many years ago while he was a Manchester United junior. He was cut from the same cloth as Beckham, Giggs and co by all accounts, but never even got off the ground in professional football as a result of his injuries from the tackle.

The payment is due from the club he was playing against when the tackle was made.

yeah saw that billo. Quite interesting - he was described by Sir Alex as being a very very promising player and was said to have missed out on a 3 year pro contract he was due to sign the following year due to the tackle.

As an Arsenal supporter (and one going to the season opener this week at the Emirates v West Brom yeeeoooww) I really hope Eduardo can make it back from his horrifying leg injury last year. He could be something special for sure and lets hope he doesn't make it into this thread.