Former Clipper Keyon Dooling Retires

[Clips/Roxfan]

Former Clipper Keyon Dooling Retires

By Steve Perrin

Keyon Dooling, who spent the first four seasons of his 12 year NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers, has decided to retire. Dooling played a key role off the thin Boston Celtics bench in the playoffs last season, but was waived by the Celtics on Thursday and will call it a career.

Dooling began his career as a Clipper as part of one of the great trades in Clipper history. In fact, when we examined great Clipper trades earlier this year, I included it in the list of top five Clipper trades of all time.




June 28, 2000; Corey Maggette, Derek Strong and Keyon Dooling for a protected first round pick -- this amazingly one-sided trade is often overlooked. Orlando was clearing cap space to sign Grant Hill and Tracey McGrady and they gave away Maggette and Dooling because of it. Furthermore, the protections on the pick kept it with the Clippers until 2006, the year they had their best record in L.A., so it ended up being 22nd overall. People have mixed emotions about Maggette, but the bottom line is he is one of the most prolific scorers in Clippers history, and they got him for a pick that became Marcus Williams (the UConn point guard).

Dooling was a member of some very exciting Clippers teams in the early 2000s and at one point seemed to have a very promising future. But as it happens, his rookie season was his best as a Clipper, and among the best of his career. It seems strange to say, but a severe high ankle sprain suffered during his second season may have altered his career trajectory. Perhaps it's just Clipper fan enthusiasm coupled with Clipper fan paranoid fatalism, but Dooling never seemed as athletic after that injury.

In fact, I'll always remember the game during his rookie year when he dunked on Dikembe Mutombo. Dooling was a 20 year rookie playing in his sixth NBA game, Motumbo had already won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and was on his way to his fourth that season; he was the most feared shot blocker in the league. Dooling blew by Roshown McLeod at the top of the circle and flew down the lane where Mutombo awaited him at the rim. Dooling rose up and threw down on Mount Mutombo -- and then broke out the finger wag that the shot-blocking legend had made famous. Dooling deservedly drew a technical foul for his taunt, but it was by far the coolest thing he did in his entire NBA career.


http://www.clipsnation.com/2012/9/21...ooling-retires

Video of Dooling dunking on Mutombo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P_qZ...layer_embedded

[mig0s]

BREAKING NEWS!! he shouldve retired after his rookie season. even that dunk on deke was meh

[BDswangHTX]

scrub. good riddance.

[RMGEEGEE]

He had a decent run with the Celtics in the postseason...

Should have stuck it out for one more run with Boston.

[CantBeRight]

Good luck Rev, we'll miss you.

[Jontro]

I've forgotten what he looked like.

[tolerance]

Originally Posted by BDswangHTX scrub. good riddance.

I don't have any idea about who you are or what you stand for but based on this post I dislike you.

[knote32]

Originally Posted by tolerance I don't have any idea about who you are or what you stand for but based on this post I dislike you.

Have some tolerance!!!

[oakdogg]

Clippers suck.

Sorry, the Rockets fan in me just had to say it.

Why is the title of the thread "Former Clipper......"? This isn't a Clipper site. How about just "Keyon Dooling retires." Keep that Clipper propaganda outta here!!!!

[ScolaIsBallin]

Originally Posted by oakdogg Clippers suck. Sorry, the Rockets fan in me just had to say it. Why is the title of the thread "Former Clipper......"? This isn't a Clipper site. How about just "Keyon Dooling retires." Keep that Clipper propaganda outta here!!!!

yeah... take that **** to the clippers forum

[MONON]

Originally Posted by oakdogg Clippers suck. Sorry, the Rockets fan in me just had to say it. Why is the title of the thread "Former Clipper......"? This isn't a Clipper site. How about just "Keyon Dooling retires." Keep that Clipper propaganda outta here!!!!

This is the DISH, where you talk about non-Rockets players & teams. Me thinks ur weggie's toooo tight!

[diehardNFFL]

Could the moderators please close the thread? The discussion is starting to get a bit out of hand.

[Classic]

Keyon, you'll always be remembered.

[The Rock MVP]

Didn't realize I was old at the tender age of 23 years of age when I think people that post on this site are absurdly immature.

1. Dude retired.
2. Yes, I am sure you are a Rockets fan...Cool

But what the hell did the guy ever do to you where you can call him a scrub or say **** about him.

He made it to the NBA and you didn't. /thread

[oakdogg]

Originally Posted by MONON This is the DISH, where you talk about non-Rockets players & teams. Me thinks ur weggie's toooo tight!

Um, perhaps it wasn't clear, but that was meant to be tongue-in-cheek.

I look forward to stories about former Clipper Cuttino Mobley in the near future.

[MambaJoe]

This is the so called AMAZING dunk..... It was ok, not great really.

[Jontro]

I'd say he's more of a former Celtic legend, than ex-clipper.



Probably had the best shooting form in the history of the universe.