what players have u seen that had the best talent that you've ever seen and coulda been somehting special but threw it away because there attitute or work ethic.
JR Rider. I thought this guy was going to be a star in the league but his attitude was his achilles heel. Even now he still looks for a job in the league but his reputation has preceded him every time. Just goes to show that no matter that no matter how much talent you have, your attitude is what makes you or breaks you. Others I can think of: Derrick Coleman, Dennis Rodman, Lenny Cooke
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">JR Rider. I thought this guy was going to be a star in the league but his attitude was his achilles heel. Even now he still looks for a job in the league but his reputation has preceded him every time. Just goes to show that no matter that no matter how much talent you have, your attitude is what makes you or breaks you. Others I can think of: Derrick Coleman, Dennis Rodman, Lenny Cooke</div> how can you put Rodman on this list? He is nothing like these other guys. The lazy label was never attached to him. He was aloof off the court but on the court there wasn't a better teammater to have. He went all out for his team. In Detroit he was loved. His playing style and attitude were great in Detroit. When he got to SA neither Lucas nor Hill liked him because of what they had heard and he started off in the hole from the get go in Texas. Rodman is a 5-time NBA champ. Defensive player of the year. Multiple time ALL-Defensive team and Rebounding champ. Dennis Rodman wasn't a disappointment. Far from it. To look at where he started then look at where he ended up....he's very special.
I just thought he could have still been playing to this day had his reputation and attitude not scared anyone away. Its dissapointing because I thought he was an amazing player that could still be in the league.
exactly....if you've read Rodman's bio youd know how hard it was for him to come up first of all.... #2....it was only in detriot where he cared about scoring....as soon as he landed in SA and Chicago, he excelled in one thing only: rebounding and he become argueably the best rebound in the game....i think there was a season where he averaged 18 per game....and dont say "anyone can do it, if thats all u focus on", not true... he was 6'9 and in his prime he used to jump OVER people (centers, PF's) to get rebounds....if you've seen him play u kno how much work ethic he had (not counting hhis freethrows which he didnt even look at the rim when he shot em) and how talented he was...
Huh? What are you talking about? I'm not discounting any of that at all. I'm just saying that because of his ATTITUDE he stopped playing prematurely. As stated in my previous post I thought he could still be playing today had his attitude and bad behaviour not get the best of him. I never said that he was not a special player. He was actually one of my more favourite players back in the day.
Being from Minnesota, Joel Prisbilla (sp?) and high school fenom Chris Humphries. Both thought they were smarter than the coach. Prisbilla is sitting on a bench somewhere (I want to say Memphis) serving water, and re-buttoning warm ups. Humphries I'm pretty sure, is entering the draft, and will most likely end up like Joel...On the bench of some team, all because they couldn't shut their mouth. Humphries could have played for Duke, but decided to shoot his mouth, and ended up at the U of M... Way to blow a chance...
i actually agree with the Rodman suggestion...he did so much on pure talent, and yes he did work hard, but he didnt put all his effort into being the best rebounder/defender he coulda been...he could've been soooooo much more, but unfortunately he will always be remembered for his immature antics than for his astounding basketball skills... JR Rider and Derrick Coleman also come to mind immediately when I first saw this...
Eddie Griffin had lots of potential until he screwed his career up with his stupid mistakes off court and eventually ended in court (No pun intended).
Sam Bowie of all-time. Getting drafted just before MJ and just couldn't stop being injured. The first time I seen him play I would've never thought he was a 2nd pick that produced the greatest player of all-time MJ and a top 10 player IMO Hakeem Olajuwon.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting HoustonHoopa33:</div><div class="quote_post">i actually agree with the Rodman suggestion...he did so much on pure talent, and yes he did work hard, but he didnt put all his effort into being the best rebounder/defender he coulda been...he could've been soooooo much more, but unfortunately he will always be remembered for his immature antics than for his astounding basketball skills... JR Rider and Derrick Coleman also come to mind immediately when I first saw this...</div> I respect your opinion but I just don't agree. Rodman OVERACHIEVED if anything. Look at alot of the players he was thrown in against and then look at all he has accomplished. More times than not he got the toughest front court defensive assignment and still managed to always control the boards. I think people look down on Rodman because he didn't score,and if thats the case it's a shame.
Among the current players still active, I would have to say Michael Olowokandi. In his early years with the Clippers I absolutely loved watching him because I kept thinking that he would develop into a huge star. He has the quickness, size, and skill to become one and I really was looking forward to watching him become an All-Star. He is still fairly young at just turning 29, but I don't think there is any chance he will become half the player I expected. That's really a disappointment because I had so much expectation for this guy, and it seemed like he wasn't even trying 90% of the time he was on the floor. It's real unfortunate to see talent go to waste because the guy doesn't have the will to fulfill their potential.. Especially if the guy with so much potential is a 7 footer with great size.
Juan Dixon. Such a great person and player, he had so much potential. Too bad that size matters and he gets needlessly slaughtered in the NBA.
I know that if Eddie Robinson had a better attitude he could probably score like 16 ppg but hes lazy and has the worst attitude I've ever seen in a professional athlete. He's got great athleticism, good defense, and a nice jumper. Makes me angry when people have something that special and they don't even use it to the fullest.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Among the current players still active, I would have to say Michael Olowokandi. In his early years with the Clippers I absolutely loved watching him because I kept thinking that he would develop into a huge star. He has the quickness, size, and skill to become one and I really was looking forward to watching him become an All-Star. He is still fairly young at just turning 29, but I don't think there is any chance he will become half the player I expected. That's really a disappointment because I had so much expectation for this guy, and it seemed like he wasn't even trying 90% of the time he was on the floor. It's real unfortunate to see talent go to waste because the guy doesn't have the will to fulfill their potential.. Especially if the guy with so much potential is a 7 footer with great size.</div> It has alot to do with him not playing basketball all that long. For most of his life, he was an English soccer player, and someone saw the potential you did. They brought him in, and he started learning very fast, when he was with the Clippers. He developed into a starter, then was traded to Minnesota. His game plummeted a bit with all the adjustments, but if you were to watch him now, and then compare that to the beginning of the season, you would see a huge improvement. Kevin McHale has made a huge impact on Candy Man. If you watch his footwork, and his touch, it's cleaner and softer. His shot has become decent, and is still improving. I personally think, with so many great influences around him, he could still prosper.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Dre:</div><div class="quote_post">I respect your opinion but I just don't agree. Rodman OVERACHIEVED if anything. Look at alot of the players he was thrown in against and then look at all he has accomplished. More times than not he got the toughest front court defensive assignment and still managed to always control the boards. I think people look down on Rodman because he didn't score,and if thats the case it's a shame.</div> I don't think anyone in this thread looks down on Rodman due to scoring (lack thereof), and if they do then they just don't understand what he's about. I think the fact is that he could still be producing in the league to this day if his attitude and reputation didn't get in the way. I thought he had a lot more game left in him after he left Chicago but not every team was willing to deal with his antics like the Bulls were. That led to his ultimate demise.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think anyone in this thread looks down on Rodman due to scoring (lack thereof), and if they do then they just don't understand what he's about. I think the fact is that he could still be producing in the league to this day if his attitude and reputation didn't get in the way. I thought he had a lot more game left in him after he left Chicago but not every team was willing to deal with his antics like the Bulls were. That led to his ultimate demise.</div> Well I think it's pretty unfair to say that against him. When he finally left the league he was 38 years old played for 14 seasons. He may have left on sort of a bad note but to say he could still be producing today is kinda farfetched. Everyone's body breaks down and ages eventually and I think the Dennis of today is very indicative of what he would be like on the court. old and past his prime.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Dre:</div><div class="quote_post">Well I think it's pretty unfair to say that against him. When he finally left the league he was 38 years old played for 14 seasons. He may have left on sort of a bad note but to say he could still be producing today is kinda farfetched. Everyone's body breaks down and ages eventually and I think the Dennis of today is very indicative of what he would be like on the court. old and past his prime.</div> I agree that I may have overexaggerated about Rodman still being able to play, but I still hold on to the fact that his career ended prematurely. It was a known fact that he could still play at a high level after leaving Chicago but his attitude got in the way of continuing his career. I'm not denying his accolades and saying that he is the most dissapointing player. But to say I'm not dissapointed at the way his career ended would be a lie.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree that I may have overexaggerated about Rodman still being able to play, but I still hold on to the fact that his career ended prematurely. It was a known fact that he could still play at a high level after leaving Chicago but his attitude got in the way of continuing his career. I'm not denying his accolades and saying that he is the most dissapointing player. But to say I'm not dissapointed at the way his career ended would be a lie.</div> I agree his career ended prematurely. No doubt about it. He coulda had a couple of really good seasons after leaving Chi-town. I just thought it strange someone would lump Rodman with these other guys,especially considering what the first post said..... "what players have u seen that had the best talent that you've ever seen and coulda been somehting special but threw it away because there attitute or work ethic." ...like I said Rodman was very special and he had a long,distinguished career.
