The 30 Best NBA Careers Ruined by Injuries

[jeffx]

Thought you cats might be interested in checking out this list. IMO, Bill Walton should be #1.

http://dimemag.com/2013/08/the-30-best-nba-careers-ruined-by-injury/

 

[G-men]

Really shocked that Greg Oden isn't higher on the list.

 

[Raidersabc123]

Someone post the list please

 

[red33]

happy to see livingston on the list. Showed flashes as a young player, avg 9/5 before getting injured. dude was supposed to be the next big thing, 6'11 PG.

 

[Argath]

This list is seriously lacking some Len Bias :shifty:

 

[dell71]

Interesting stuff. Some thoughts...

29. T.J. FORD (2003-2012)
T.J. Ford’s ability to see a play before it happened was once compared to Magic Johnson’s and Larry Bird’s.

What? Who made that comparison? What were they on?

26. GREG ODEN (2007-present)
Steve Kerr once described Greg Oden as a “once-in-a-decade player.”

I just never got the hype surrounding this guy. He was a solid big man in college but nothing he did while watching him made me think he was going to be the next big thing. I couldn't understand why on Earth Portland even entertained the idea of taking him ahead of Durant let alone actually doing it. When I watched KD in college he looked like something special. He was literally the smoothest player I could remember actually seeing play (I only really remember highlights of the guy they compared him most to - George Gervin). And standing near 7' made it all the more impressive. On the other hand, Oden had "project" written all over him. I don't think he was even as good as the guy they took that landed at #20 on this list. Can't for the life of me figure what Steve Kerr and plenty of others were seeing.

25. FAT LEVER

Used to love watching this guy play.

24. ALLAN HOUSTON (1993-2005)
The only reason someone would not like Allan Houston is if they are a Miami Heat fan and they are still upset about “The Runner.”

This is not true. I'm a Knicks fan and couldn't stand him even when he was healthy. "The Runner" was the only shot he ever made that mattered. I don't think anyone who has ever played in the NBA scored more meaningless points other than Mitch Richmond.

22. JAY WILLIAMS

A shame. Got to meet him a couple years ago when I took my son to a camp he had near Duke's campus. Seemed cool, a little shorter than listed though. Like him on TV.

21. DANNY MANNING

Should be higher.

19. BARON DAVIS

Also should be higher.

16. BRAD DAUGHERTY

I forgot his career was so short. Excellent big man when he played.

15. ARVYDAS SABONIS

I might have to work him into the top 10.

14. JERMAINE O’NEAL

What a beast back in his heyday.

9. LARRY JOHNSON

Another monster when he was young/healthy. I'm forever grateful to him for the 4-point play.

5. GRANT HILL

Ahhhh...what could've been. His first 6 seasons...

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	Pos	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
1994-95	22	DET	NBA	SF	70	69	38.3	7.3	15.2	.477	0.1	0.4	.148	5.3	7.3	.732	1.8	4.6	6.4	5.0	1.8	0.9	2.9	2.9	19.9
1995-96	23	DET	NBA	SF	80	80	40.8	7.1	15.3	.462	0.1	0.3	.192	6.1	8.1	.751	1.6	8.2	9.8	6.9	1.3	0.6	3.3	3.0	20.2
1996-97	24	DET	NBA	SF	80	80	39.3	7.8	15.7	.496	0.1	0.4	.303	5.6	7.9	.711	1.5	7.5	9.0	7.3	1.8	0.6	3.2	2.3	21.4
1997-98	25	DET	NBA	SF	81	81	40.7	7.6	16.8	.452	0.0	0.3	.143	5.9	8.0	.740	1.1	6.5	7.7	6.8	1.8	0.7	3.5	2.4	21.1
1998-99	26	DET	NBA	SF	50	50	37.0	7.7	16.0	.479	0.0	0.3	.000	5.7	7.6	.752	1.3	5.8	7.1	6.0	1.6	0.5	3.7	2.3	21.1
1999-00	27	DET	NBA	SF	74	74	37.5	9.4	19.2	.489	0.5	1.3	.347	6.5	8.2	.795	1.3	5.3	6.6	5.2	1.4	0.6	3.2	2.6	25.8

4. BOB McADOO

Not entirely sure he counts. He was still awesome for quite a while.

Anyhoo, Walton & Maravich should've been 1 & 2.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

The answer I always come up with this is either Penny Hardaway or Grant Hill.

 

[FedEx227]

I honestly think Sabonis should be way higher. If you look at what he was able to do, at his peak, against US competition you'll see just where he could've gone. Definitely could have revolutionized the center position years before it eventually did. Obviously though you could argue age and the Iron Curtain held him back more than injuries but I feel they both played a huge part.

 

[Senser81]

I honestly think Sabonis should be way higher. If you look at what he was able to do, at his peak, against US competition you'll see just where he could've gone. Definitely could have revolutionized the center position years before it eventually did. Obviously though you could argue age and the Iron Curtain held him back more than injuries but I feel they both played a huge part.

Highlight of Sabonis' career...after leading Lithuania to a Bronze Medal game win over the hated "Russian Federation" in 1992, Sabonis celebrates the victory by going to the Russian Federation Female Athlete dorm and having sex with all the women.

As for the list, Travis Ford and Allan Houston were POS players who were overrated even when healthy.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'm with Dell, I never understood the Greg Oden hype. Watching him at Ohio St he always looked like a big stiff who would get eaten alive by more athletic players in the NBA. I figured at best he'd be a good defensive player who would struggle to put up 10.0 ppg. When they were in college at the same time, I always thought Roy Hibbert would end up being the more complete player, because even though Hibbert was super raw until his senior year, he always brought more to the table offensively and wasn't any worse defensively. He just took longer to fill out his body. Hibbert is still a a little soft, Oden was 40 when he was 18.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Unless I missed him, surprised to see no Kenny Anderson on the list. His career was never the same after John Starks broke his wrist with that cheap foul on that Saturday on NBC. Nets best season of the Anderson/Coleman/Petrovic era was derailed right there.

 

[shag773]

I was actually interested in reading this, than I saw Andrew Tony was left off the list...

 

[Len B]

First name that popped into my head was Grant Hill. Glad he was that high.

 

[Agent]

 

[BigBucs]

He is #1 :crybaby:

 

[jeffx]

Anyhoo, Walton & Maravich should've been 1 & 2.

If not for injuries, Bill Walton would be one of the top 10 greatest NBA players of all time. When healthy, he played the center position as well as anyone. Sadly, he only had 1 1/2 years of truly great play, but he was amazing in 1977. Scary thing is, that Portland team was better the year AFTER they won the title, but injuries killed them in the playoffs.

He's in the HOF more on his college career - easily one of the greatest top five of all time.