Who are the greatest NBA players to come out of the CBA/D/G league?

Post #1 » by **penbeast0** » Sun Aug 4, 2019 10:49 pm

Who are the best players to come out of the NBA minor league system . . . not guys under contract with an NBA team when they played there but guys who got an NBA chance because of the minor leagues.

btw, just in case someone was going to go there, European or other overseas basketball leagues are not minor leagues for this question.

John Starks was the first player to come to mind for me.

Ainosterhaspie · Post #2 » by **Ainosterhaspie** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 7:42 pm

Interesting topic. I can't think of anyone.

First guy that came to mind was Whiteside since he spent two years bouncing around those leagues and overseas before really breaking through when the Heat pulled him up. But his two years with a combined 111 minutes with the Kings before that disqualifies him.

Post #3 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 8:19 pm

I'd say Anthony Mason fits the spirit of the thread quite well, even though he had a tiny stint with the nets before playing in the CBA/USBL (21 games at 5.7 MPG). Via wikipedia:

In the 1990–1991 season, Mason played 26 games for the CBA's Tulsa Fast Breakers, with whom he averaged 29.9 points and 14.8 rebounds per game in his only season in the league.[1][2]

Also in 1991, Mason played as a power forward for the Long Island Surf of the USBL. In his one season with the Surf, Mason was named to the All-USBL First Team, averaging more 27.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, and he set a league record with 28 rebounds in a game. Ed Krinsky, general manager of the Surf, said, "I really believed he could play in the N.B.A. He was a huge guy with backcourt skills".

Later that year, Mason was already on the New York Knicks' summer league roster, with Pat Riley as coach.[3][4] In the year 2000, in celebration of the USBL's 15th anniversary, USBL fans voted on the "All-15 Team," a collection of the best USBL players from 1985 to 2000, many of whom went on to become renowned NBA stars, with Mason included among the 15.[5]

Will come back with some others if I get a chance later.

LKN · Post #4 » by **LKN** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 8:23 pm

John Starks! Not sure he technically came out of the CBA though

eminence · Post #5 » by **eminence** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 8:37 pm

Danny Green and Matt Barnes are two guys who come to mind for me who haven't been mentioned yet.

Rich Michmond · Post #6 » by **Rich Michmond** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 8:40 pm

Langston Galloway, Tyler Johnson, Chris Andersen

Post #7 » by **penbeast0** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 8:41 pm

Ainosterhaspie wrote:Interesting topic. I can't think of anyone.

First guy that came to mind was Whiteside since he spent two years bouncing around those leagues and overseas before really breaking through when the Heat pulled him up. But his two years with a combined 111 minutes with the Kings before that disqualifies him.

No, I'm good with both Whiteside and Mason as long as they weren't under contract with a team WHILE they were playing in the CBA and had their NBA prime AFTER their CBA stint. Jeremy Lin? ?

wojoaderge · Post #8 » by **wojoaderge** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 9:28 pm

Ok then, definitely Rickey Green

Post #9 » by **penbeast0** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 9:36 pm

OK, we have:

Whiteside / C. Hayes
Mason / Birdman / M. Barnes
S. Jackson / Bell / Elie
D. Green / Starks / T. Johnson
R. Green / Lin / Watson

eminence · Post #10 » by **eminence** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 10:21 pm

I want to say CJ Watson had a career path along those lines?

CumberlandPosey · Post #11 » by **CumberlandPosey** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 10:53 pm

Coach has to be phil jackson
Mario elie deserves a mention

Edit -- man i forgot a real legend.harthorne wingo was mvp once in the eastern league aka cba.

Post #12 » by **Fadeaway_J** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 11:00 pm

Raja Bell?

Post #13 » by **penbeast0** » Mon Aug 5, 2019 11:14 pm

Looked up the CBA all time league, lots of legit NBA rotation players:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Continental_Basketball_Association_award_winners_and_successful_alumni

Not sure about other Eastern League players but Mike Riordan played there though he isn't as famous as Hawthorne Wingo (better NBA player though!)

Narigo · Post #14 » by **Narigo** » Tue Aug 6, 2019 2:17 am

Julius Erving

Rich Michmond · Post #15 » by **Rich Michmond** » Tue Aug 6, 2019 7:12 am

Chuck Hayes and Seth Curry

Post #16 » by **rrravenred** » Wed Aug 7, 2019 12:05 am

Stephen Jackson comes to mind.

H2tObes · Post #17 » by **H2tObes** » Wed Aug 7, 2019 10:32 am

Robert Covington?

Owly · Post #18 » by **Owly** » Wed Aug 7, 2019 11:54 am

Most of those I would mention (thinking mainly CBA) have been said.

Brad Davis is one I would add and perhaps Vincent Askew. I was wondering what Johnny Moore did between being drafted and playing in the NBA, whether he might be eligible, but apparently he was an assistant coach in college.

Post #19 » by **penbeast0** » Wed Aug 7, 2019 12:27 pm

Davis is a good one. Askew I looked at when doing some research and his numbers look like a rotation player but I just can't for the life of me remember how he actually played. Was he a good defender or a sieve? Was he an intelligent hustle guy or Swaggy P?

Owly · Post #20 » by **Owly** » Wed Aug 7, 2019 1:03 pm

penbeast0 wrote:Davis is a good one. Askew I looked at when doing some research and his numbers look like a rotation player but I just can't for the life of me remember how he actually played. Was he a good defender or a sieve? Was he an intelligent hustle guy or Swaggy P?

D was his calling card.

The Pro Basketball Bible [after 92-93 season] wrote:But for his defense he probably wouldn't be in the league ... Likes to play it and is very good at it ... Tough, physical , versatile ... Held his own last season against quick 1s but can also go in the trenches and battle 4s.
Defense grade: AA

Graded defensively (year of preceding season and publication rather than title given - Barry publications)
1991 A
1992 B+
1993 AA
1994 AAA
1995 AAA
1996 AA

Contributed to some good defensive Seattle teams. But had some "headcase" to him.