that is crazy. i remember thinking the kid was going to be a pretty good player. he definitely showed glimpses. maybe my memory is getting confused, but wasn't he competeing neck and neck with Al Harrington for minutes at Indiana a few years back? i remember thinking that both of those guys would be pretty good.
I remember a couple years back when Ron Artest would be asked who's the best defender in the league he'd always say (while being completely serious) Jonathan Bender. Don't know about that but the guy definitely has skill so it sucks he couldn't ever get over his injuries. But its hard to feel too bad for a guy that at 25 doesn't ever have to work another day in his life and will still be a multi-millionaire.
Some of you guys are being mean. This isn't Kwame retiring, or Darko. The guy's been plagued by very real degenerative conditions in his knees. He's been rehabing for virtually 24 months straight. He just realizes it's futile. As far as being set for life, I'll bet you good money he's bitter and broke before 50. Evan
He's our Eddie Griffin, but it's hard to dislike him nearly so much for giving us nothing. At least unlike EG he won't go somewhere else and help THEM. Recall that Antonio Davis in his prime was traded for Bender, and that was BEFORE the Pacers went to the finals and lost in six to LA with Bender not playing, of course. He would have been a decent enough player if he were ever healthy enough to actually learn how to play the game. If we only had Marion... :cry:
