Rasheed Wallace, most talented player ever?

[jzmagik]

A while back, Dean Smith said Rasheed was the most talented player he's ever coached and that's including MJ. I think no one can deny that he had some serious god given talent, but how high was Rasheed's ceiling? Why didn't he become one of the alltime greats, was it laziness or lack of focus?

[studcrackers]

he just never cared about being THE guy and was content with his position as a great role player

[Patterns]

He's KG with a 3pt shot and better post up moves.

I wouldn't be mad if someone told me that Sheed is the most talented player ever.

He just doesn't have the mindset to dominate.

[Rerisen]

Is he even more talented than Derrick Coleman?

[sabi]

Weed

[Silk Wilkes]

People like Sheed are a frustration to everyone who watches them. I honestly believe no one could have ever come close to Sheed if he had the right mindset. Not MJ, Kobe, Bird, etc. Maybe Wilt in terms of stats though.

[kooldude]

talented? I don't think he's that physically superior to anyone. Average athleticism and size.

By skill-wise, he has to be one of the most skilled players.

[NO-KG-AI]

He's not more talented than KG even. STRETCH.

[sabi]

He USED to be dominant

[Wizards2Lottery]

i dont think its a stretch at alll. For a guy his size he can almost everything. Just never had the mindset.

[conleyorbust]

He isn't as skilled as Dirk offensively.

He isn't as athletic as KG or as strong as Duncan.

He does have a really soft touch but he isn't always strong enough to hold position and he doesn't have a super-quick first step or prodigous handles.

He certainly could have been more of a force on offense or the boards if he'd wanted to but there is always a temptation to overate the ceiling of an underachiever.

[richboy]

Come on. Are you kidding me. Rasheed is very talented but most talented ever?

He not much of a ballhandler. He is a okay passer. Not much of a midrange game. He not that good of rebounder. He is a okay shot blocker. He is a great post defender but mediocre defender when he has to guard the perimeter. There are definitely more talented players.

[Patterns]

Who can stop his post up fadeaway? That shot is money every time he does it. I were coaching Sheed, I'd have him post up every single possession.

[HarlemHeat37]

VC..

[The_Believer]

No, just no

[Joseph17]

He's not even close to being the most talented player ever. He's not even the most talented PF in the NBA right now. KG is more talented than him. KG can shoot 3s and hit them if he wanted to. Unlike Rasheed, KG knows that he's more effective when he's not shooting 3s. I would say that he's about as talented as Dirk.

[mattg]

KG is the most overrated player of his generation...a career loser and someone who doesn't want the ball in crunch time is what I see when I look in his eyes, and some yelling to try and cover that up.

Sheed can do everything. Defensively he is phenomenal, sick post moves, 3 point shooting, good passing, the only thing that holds him back is the desire to dominate. He doesn't want that...all he cares about is winning. If he has MJ's mindset and work ethic there is no doubt in my mind that he would be arguable for the GOAT.

[NBALakerLegends]

There is a player more talented on the Lakers than Rasheed Wallace and his name is not KObe. LAMAR ODOM!

Wow...Rasheed could be a lot better than he is as of now, but no way in hell is he the most talented. He is so overrated in the aspect that he has so much talent to do this and do that. There have been many talented players that never reached full potential. Talent means nothing without the right mindset and work ethic.

Saying Rasheed could be GOAT if he had the right mindset is true, but also true for many other players. Almost Any player can be GOAT if they wanted to be, as long as they had the will, desire, and belief. Larry bird wasn't really athletic, but he worked hard on his game to become pretty close to the GOAT.

Also, Rasheed's game isn't really that special compared to the other superstars in the league. He can't put the ball down and take it to the hole like KG or Amare. He has a nice post game and three, but Dirk and KG have those as well. KG is definitely a better passer, rebounder, and defender. Rasheed always seems to be in foul trouble and he is sometimes rendered to 5-10pts on many nights. There are dozens of players in the NBA right now with more talent than rasheed and don't get sucked into that Reggie Miller BS "Rasheed Could Be The Best Player." Odom, Kwame, Darius Miles, Olowokandi, all COULD have too.

[Slava]

^^Well said! Lamar was built to play basketball with his nimbleness, size, reach and length. haven't seen many that are as natural as he is with the ball in his hands.

[NO-KG-AI]

KG is the most overrated player of his generation...a career loser and someone who doesn't want the ball in crunch time is what I see when I look in his eyes, and some yelling to try and cover that up.

Sheed can do everything. Defensively he is phenomenal, sick post moves, 3 point shooting, good passing, the only thing that holds him back is the desire to dominate. He doesn't want that...all he cares about is winning. If he has MJ's mindset and work ethic there is no doubt in my mind that he would be arguable for the GOAT.

Even if you think KG is overrated, he is still a much more accomplished player than Rasheed.

Prime KG is taller, longer, stronger, faster in the open floor, a more explosive leaper, leaps and bounds better as a ball handler and passer, a better post defender, a better perimeter defender, a better help defender, a far better rebounder, can do anything Rasheed does in the post, and is about equally as good a shooter, better inside 20 feet, worse from outside.

He's not far better in all of those categories, but there is nothing Rasheed can do that KG can't, and he's not bigger or a better athlete, so I don't see how he can be more talented.