biggest what-if players in history if not for injuries

I am going to go with a few more "obscure" examples:

Alonzo Mourning
Larry Johnson
Danny Manning
Jim Jackson (yeah, I'm reaching a bit.....but he was that good before the ankle injury...averaging 25 ppg and dominating games down the stretch)
Chris Webber
Jonathan Bender
Jay Williams
Antonio McDyess

Eddie Griffin (OK, not really)

 

First, I'm gonna start with players who are in the HOF or on their way to HOF. These players could possibly be Top 10 or 20, if not for injuries or shorten career

Bill Walton - he really only was healthy for about 2 -4 seasons.

Bernard King - See Above

David Thompson - See Above, off the court issues and sort of short career.

Pete Maravich - If he was on better teams, he probably be recognized as the 2nd or 3rd best SG of all time, behind M.J., Kobe, and toss-up with West. Compared to others, he really didn't play along time...I think 8 or 9 years.

Patrick Ewing - There were few seasons he missed alot of games, and near the end he had horrible knee problems. You could start to see wear and tear on him even the Bulls and Pacer series...his best years where in the 80s and early 90s. If he wasn't injured 99, I wonder how the Knicks and Spurs series would've turned out.



Casual All-Stars
-----------------------------------------
Danny Manning - His career started off good, but it fizzled in Phoenix.

Derrick Coleman - He was probably slightly above average, but I think without injury and little more twitches in his game...he could've been probably the 2nd or 3rd best PF in the league.

Cedric Ceballos - he had alot of game, but feel off the map.

Peja Stojakovic- he really could be the best SF in the game today, if not for the injuries, I believe if he was healthy and improved his game slightly...he could've been a poor-man's Larry Bird.

Geoff Petrie - He had really good number, but he didn't play along time, which is why he probably won't make it to the hall-of fame.

Isiah Rider - He was really good player, but I think combination of injuries and attitude probably pushed out of the door.

Tom Gugliotta -

Len Bias - Nobody mentioned him yet, surpised about that one.




This last one is going to be controversial among...the Houstonians

Y------a----------o Ming: If Yao only missed 5 or 10 games the last two seasons....He could possibly be 2x All-NBA er with one possible MVP.

 

Maybe Danny Manning...

 

Wagner probably will sign in polish bball club Prokom Trefl Sopot that plays in Euroleague

 

Ralph Sampson
Len Bias
Antonio McDyess
Grant Hill
Larry Bird/Magic?

 

I think about 80% wanted Yao. 10 % wanted Williams, and 10% wanted to trade for odom or a other veteran. Most wanted Yao.

I vote for
Sampson
Petrovic
Walton

 

You can make a reasonable All-NBA team with the players that were suggested:

C- Zo
PF - Kemp
SF - Hill
SG - Houston
PG - Penny

I'd also throw in Richard Dumas who looked like a keeper from Phoenix from way back.

 

HELL NO!!!!!!!! He'd have to beat out T-Mac, Lebron, Carmelo, Ron Artest, and the list goes on and on...

 

It has to be Ralph Sampson

He was already playing at an all star level with his best years still ahead of him.

He had the kind of court vision and smarts that could have kept him in the league for a long time.

 

peja = allan houston

 

Rudy T..

 

My boy Tim Hardaway could have been one of the all-time great point guards if he hadn't shredded his knee.

 

Sampson
Hill
Walton
Penny Hardaway
McDyess

Don't know if these would count:
Petrovic (Arguably the greatest shooter of all time)
Sabonis (He couldn't come to the NBA in his prime. But even over the hill, he could still be a great player had he not blown his knees.)
Bias (Who knows what he could have done)
Kevin Johnson (He had a pretty good career. But if he wasn't injured so much, he could have been one of the best PG of all time.)

 

Ken Griffey, Jr.

 

Bo Jackson

 

I agree. An all-world talent, who fell to injury.

 

In a way, we can add Bonzi Wells, Steve Francis, Kirk Snyder, maybe Mike James to the list if they don't step up next year. This upcoming season is a bounce-back year for all of them.

 

Fairly obscure, but Randy Livingston.

 

Michael Jordan