Forgotten Greats

[The Explorer]

Gail Goodrich
Walt Bellamy

[Notanoob]

Dave Debusschere, stud defensive combo-forward, super-nice human being, seriously underrated.

Bob Lanier, excellent center with a very nice career.

Maurice Stokes, the game's first point-center, all the way back in the 50s. Died tragically due to brain damage suffered in his third season.

Arvydas Sabonis, potentially a competitor for goat center if the USSR had let him come over and hadn't forced him to play through injuries.

[Notanoob]

George McGinnis. He should be in the Hall of Fame. No idea how he isn't.

Guy averaged 29.8 points per, 14.3 rebounds per, 6.3 assists per and 2.6 steals per game in a season. Hell in the playoffs (18 games) one year he averaged 32 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals per game, losing in the finals. Yeah, just let those numbers all sink in. It's absurd.

His career averages were 20.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.9 steals per. He won 2 titles in the ABA, was an All Star several times in the ABA and NBA both. He shared the MVP with Dr. J in 1975.

Somehow time has forgotten this man, but no idea why.

Because he's what LeBron would look like if he didn't care that much about basketball. The dude just never worked on his game or tried on defense, which just goes to show you how absurdly gifted he was.

On topic, basically every post-up SF of the 80s deserves a mention here, they were all excellent scorers who often simply couldn't be stopped one on one. Dantley, Aguire, English, and King all leap to mind.

[snoopdogg88]

basically everyone on those 78-79 NBA Finals teams.

Elvin Hayes
Wes Unseld
Jack Sikma
Dennis Johnson

[baki]

Kevin Johnson almost single-handedly beat the Lakers in the 89 playoffs. At his peak, like a quicker Chris Paul.

I love KJ, didn't know he could leap until he did that dunk on Olajuwon.

[Hoopstar23]

fat lever

This. In 88-89 put up 19.8 pts, 9.3 reb, and 7.9 assists. I also don't think people talk about Elgin Baylor enough.

this should be /thread

[Johnlac1]

Andrew Toney... he was really good but he injuried badly and finished his career too early.

If there was a top ten list of great players who had their careers severely shortened by injuries, Toney would be on it. Along with Bill Walton, Ralph Sampson, and a number of others.

[JohnFreeman]

Chris Webber

[Johnlac1]

Some greats of the 70s:

Lou Hudson - arguably a better NBA player than his famous teammate Pete Maravich, 6 time All-Star, averaged 25.1 PPG over 465 consecutive games (over 6 seasons).

Charlie Scott - averaged 27.3 PPG over 5-year stretch, between 1971 and 1975, including 33/5/5 in his second season, in '72, 5 time All-Star.

Mel Daniels - two time MVP in the ABA (one of 14 players who won more than one MVP in NBA/ABA history (15 if you add George Mikan, he definitely would've won multiple MVPs had they been awarded when he played), 7-time All-Star.

Spencer Haywood - ABA MVP in 1970, which is one of the most underrated/overlooked seasons in professional basketball history - 30 points and 19 rebounds on very good efficiency, led the league in both categories.

Paul Westphal - now mostly known as a coach, but in the late 70s, he was one of the best guards in the league, a 25 PPG scorer on excellent efficiency for a guard in that era, and a pretty good playmaker. OP mentioned Walter Davis, and Westphal was his teammate - together they formed a pretty good backcourt in Phoenix, in the late 70s.
5-time All-Star.

One sg left out of many discussion is Geoff Petrie. Many people thought he had a chance to be the best sg of the seventies. He severely hurt his knee his second year in the league, and that cut his mobility thereafter. But still had some excellent seasons for Portland. It was his misfortune to leave Portland the year before Portland won their first title.

[hodgy#11]

A couple of Seattle Supersonic Legends

Xavier McDaniels
Dale Ellis
Ricky Pierce
Detlef Schrempf
Sam Perkins

[SactoKingsFan]

Detlef Schrempf

Prime (90-98) Per 100: 24.8 PTS, 10.8 REB, 6.0 AST

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LjuWEZJnis[/youtube]

[Christine-In-AZ]

I was just thinking about some of the players that get mentioned in historical chats about eras gone by and those that get forgotten for some reason. Often times it is not overall talent or the best careers that get remembered for some reason.

The one I think of is Walter Davis. It is almost impossible to find Youtube clips of the guy and he really was an awesome star to watch. I remember Brent Musberger doing late Friday night games of west coast teams usually and when Davis would jack up his rainbow jumpers Musberger would shout Walterrrrrrrrrrr and wait for the ball to come down from the rafters, then finish the call with a Davissss as it went through the net. Not many people know that Walter Davis was Jordan's all time favorite player .

Who are guys that you think have been unfairly forgotten about?

I saw the topic...immediately thought of Walter Davis...and then boom! You started out the discussion with an accounting of Walter's game.

I've been a Suns fan since age 8...1970. Nash, Paul Westphal and Walter Davis are on my Suns Mt. Rushmore (not sure who's #4).

If NBA fans today could watch a bunch of Davis's games from the '80's, they'd quickly pick up and be wowed by how great (and effortless) his 8 to 18 foot jumper was. The mid-range, offensive game isn't what it used to be...or even wanted (it seems). Walter Davis was a mid-range monster....sorry...a mid-range maestro!

Michael Jordan saw the excellence in Walter's game as a young player, and I'm sure that recognition played a positive role in MJ's "ascent".

[jehosafats]

Vinnie The Microwave Johnson

[LeonSmith]

Moses Malone is mentioned by almost no one and is one of the all time greats

Came here to say Moses. When I first started following the NBA I thought he was an overrated bum because I caught him in the "Shaq in Boston" phase of his career. Wasn't until I did some research that I realized he was an absolute beast.

[Mich3006]

Vin Baker as Milwaukee Buck

[sisibilio]

basically everyone on those 78-79 NBA Finals teams.

Elvin Hayes
Wes Unseld
Jack Sikma
Dennis Johnson

Dennis Johnson is widely remembered, for his stint with the Celtics though.

Not a superstar but Marques Johnson fits, you rarely heard/read anything about those early 80s Bucks and when you do is all about Moncrief.

[brownbobcat]

Definitely Adrian Dantley. Had a 7 year stretch where he averaged nearly 30 PPG on 56% shooting - absolutely ridiculous as a non-big.

[triple_threat]

Not a "great", but antawn Jameson wad a good player

[Chuck Newhouse]

I was just thinking about some of the players that get mentioned in historical chats about eras gone by and those that get forgotten for some reason. Often times it is not overall talent or the best careers that get remembered for some reason.

The one I think of is Walter Davis. It is almost impossible to find Youtube clips of the guy and he really was an awesome star to watch. I remember Brent Musberger doing late Friday night games of west coast teams usually and when Davis would jack up his rainbow jumpers Musberger would shout Walterrrrrrrrrrr and wait for the ball to come down from the rafters, then finish the call with a Davissss as it went through the net. Not many people know that Walter Davis was Jordan's all time favorite player .

Who are guys that you think have been unfairly forgotten about?

I saw the topic...immediately thought of Walter Davis...and then boom! You started out the discussion with an accounting of Walter's game.

I've been a Suns fan since age 8...1970. Nash, Paul Westphal and Walter Davis are on my Suns Mt. Rushmore (not sure who's #4).

If NBA fans today could watch a bunch of Davis's games from the '80's, they'd quickly pick up and be wowed by how great (and effortless) his 8 to 18 foot jumper was. The mid-range, offensive game isn't what it used to be...or even wanted (it seems). Walter Davis was a mid-range monster....sorry...a mid-range maestro!

Michael Jordan saw the excellence in Walter's game as a young player, and I'm sure that recognition played a positive role in MJ's "ascent".

How about KJ for that last spot.

[SactoKingsFan]

Mookie Blaylock

Great defender and averaged 20-24 PTS, 10+ AST, 3.7 STL per 100 for a few seasons.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nsQ3qA-AzA[/youtube]