[slamonline]For Old Time’s Sake: Vernon Maxwell

SLAM sucks. If I wrote for SLAM, I'd instantly become the greatest SLAM writer of all time.

 

Man, that music in that video is SWEET.

 

not one dunk in highlights

 

I wonder what Maxwell is doing now.. Just curious.

 

Horry got pushed into the power forward spot after Carl Herrera dislocated his shoulder, which made room for Elie as the starting small forward. I want to say that was a game after Maxwell's departure. Even more miraculous than winning as the #6 seed is the fact we lost two major rotation guys in the first round against the second best team in the league.

 

Looking back at it again, can see how Drexler coming in would upset Maxwell considering all what was at stake for Maxwell, and the team success he was coming off of as a legit starter on an NBA Champion team.

It seemed Drexler was abruptly brought in, Maxwell quickly sent to the bench with no real discussions about it beforehand. I really don't know the ENTIRE scoop still, but maybe they could have given Maxwell some consultation beforehand. Maxwell's disapproval wouldnt have prevented the trade but he could have gotten the token gesture.

The What-Ifs -
Didnt know at the time, but Maxwell's career after Houston was lackluster. He was never a full time starter again. Perhaps Rockets could have paid Maxwell his same money retaining his services, but as a super-sub. It wasn't like they couldn't USE Maxwell. Maybe in keeping him they coulda gotten by the Jazz and there wouldn't have been a Stockton last second shot, and woulda finally faced the Bulls in the Finals. Max vs Jordan woulda been epic. I'da liked to have kept a "Jordan stopper" around. Maybe even Drexler coulda played small forward in an ideal world instead of being entitled HOF'er, but that wasn't happening.

Thats why you consider trading out your current guy for the incumbent starter instead of keeping "assets" around.

 

The beat just makes the video perfect. What's the song?

 

I'm not saying anything about the tinman here, but the title of the youtube was posterize. Really? Two open, unguarded dunks are posterizing? You make the NBA from that era look weak. They were anything but.

 

As for being abrupt, according to Rudy, the decision to bring Drexler in was made less than 3 weeks before the trading deadline. Before that, he had thought they'd finish the season as-is, with pretty much the same nucleus. When Maxwell went up into the stands to go after that fan, they knew something had to be done. Rudy said he didn't believe Max could be relied upon (by that, I think he meant he was a time bomb that seemed to be going off multiple times during the season).

Rudy kept talking to Max after the trade trying to get him to compete and to play hard, saying the minutes would be available, he would still be getting shots, etc., but Max kept saying he couldn't get into a rhythm with his shot or play an off-the-bench role. None of the pep-talks Rudy gave him helped matters any. One night he was told by the other coaches that Max had been ripping into him from the bench. Rudy told Max he hadn't heard it, but that if it happened again, he'd take action. Max responded before the next game by telling Bob Weinhauer that he was injured and wouldn't play that game. He didn't show up for shootaround. That was what basically broke Rudy and they all decided they were done with Max.

As for the backup role, Rudy said he had hoped Max's competitiveness would cause him to compete for the job at PG. He would've entertained a backcourt of Max and Drexler. He thought Max could play the point if he improved his ball handling a bit. He had hoped Max would see it that way, too, but, of course, that's not the way it turned out. So as far as what you said about them not keeping him or using him, that was entirely Max's fault. Rudy wanted to do exactly that, but Max's ego and/or mentality wouldn't allow it.

 

Is he still spreading STDs?

Wait, isn't he in prison?

 

MadMax was the man on the court... somewhat of a ron artest with better skills... would stand up for anyone on the team... my fav. rocket all time hands down

 

Right, thats what I meant by circumstances. Maxwell was straight trying to capitalize off the success as ANY self-respecting player SHOULD do, to get PAID. Then Drexler coming in rained on his parade.


(the Wafer situation was a semi-similar situation looking at it again. 2 volatile players in Now-Or-Never mode who fizzled)

 

Well, that answered THAT!

I know coaches and player's arent totally oblivious to each other. Like they only engage each other in activities when they appear on our TV screens. But things can happen fast even behind the scenes. I remember some of the Rudy recollections of the events but never paid attention to the Maxwell portions. Thanks for clarifying.

I attended a game that year with Drexler and Maxwell on the court.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199503210HOU.html

And what do you know, Drexler starting at small forward, Kenny and Maxwell starting backcourt, why did I forget about that. For for the time being, egos were in check.

I DO remember they lost cuz Maxwell was bricking to much. The last seconds they let Maxwell go iso to tie the game, as a show of respect for his abilities, and he forced up a bad layup that he missed. He got criticized a little from the fans. That was probably the beginning of the end. 4 games later he was inactive lol.

 

how long you guys are gonna live in the past?