biggest what-if players in history if not for injuries

Sampson rings a bell. Probably more so because of what we could have traded him for at the time.

 

Grant Hill. He was arguably one of the top 5 players in the league before going to Orlando and all the injuries hindered his career. He could do it all on the court and he was in the prime of his career.

 

tracy mc......sdhsjhdajdf i can't do it

 

Brad Daughtery. Out of HS Randy Livingston had the sky as his limit.

 

If he doesn't win a championship or continue to play well, I can see some people arguing against his entry into the HOF.

Is Tracy HOF worthy?

Oh yeah and this isn't really an injury but Drazen Petrovic sticks out in my mind.

 

Shawn Livingston. Had all of the physical attributes to be a great PG, was progressing as a player, then totally exploded a knee. Probably will never be the same.

Charles Barkley. I liked the Rockets chances to go all the way in '98, but the Chuckster had a freak triceps injury, after which the Jazz quickly eliminated the ROX.

Shawn Kemp. He was awesome with Seattle. Then he broke the part of his brain that told him to stop eating and not have so many kids. His career went downhill fast after that.

Derrick Coleman. If he hadn't been born without a heart, he could have been an all-time great PF.

 

Does Len Bias count?

 

Arvydas!!! A seven footer with so many skills. He could take you inside then kill you with his accurate long distance firing range.

 

I don't know how big of a what-if, but Bobby Hurley's tale was a sad one.

 

Sam Bowie -- if he had given the Trailblazers something like Robert Parish production in the mid-eighties they probably would've gotten a title.

Livingston -- I was never sold on his game (with today's quick guards I don't know how a point-guard with his height would be able to keep control of the ball ... e.g. Silas' only good move as his coach was to move Lebron out of PG), but it's too bad he hasn't (and likely won't) get a chance to prove himself.

Brad Daugherty could've been as good as Tim Duncan if his back didn't crap out. In college he probably was (though he wasn't as good a shot-blocker as Tim).

Petrovic IIRC had signed with a team in Europe before his tragic death so I don't think he'd have gone back to the NBA.

Dejuan Wagner -- people forget that he scored 100 pts. in a high-school game and was actually pretty good his rookie year.

 

He's still young.. what... 24? 25? I remember maybe last year they said he was ready for a comeback, that he was finally healthy. I wonder why he isn't playing somewhere now. He was good in his one year at Memphis too.

 

Didn't know about this but just found it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2669233

Wagner waived by Warriors in 06.

 

Ralph Sampson
Grant Hill
Drazen Petrovic (I dont know if this counts)

 

Former Seattle big men:
Shawn Kemp
Vin Baker

Another big name:
Jay Williams, someone that people thought would be better than Yao (wouldn't be true even if he never got injured )

 

The only person that thought Jay Williams would be better than Yao was Duke Vitale...

 

What about the BBS? (Wasn't Here)

 

What about Reggie Lewis?

 

I'll skip players I've already seen mentioned, but I'm surprised that so many people have responded to this thread and yet there is no mention of the following:

physical injuries:

Larry Johnson
Danny Manning
Chris Webber
Antonio McDyess
Bill Walton
Sidney Montcrief

drug abuse:

David Thompson
Roy Tarpley

There are probably many, many, many more - but I'm about to pass out.

 

Definitely Penny and G. Hill.

Penny was talking about leading the league in scoring the first year he got hurt. And he probably would have done it too.

Grant Hill was definitely the next Magic Johnson. He could score, slash to the hoop, shoot, defend, rebound, see the floor. One of my favorite non-Rocket ever.