Greatest One-Hit Wonder of a Season?

[tsherkin]

What causes a wild outlier? Does it take too much focus and concentration and then the player is too tired from that year of concentration and can't repeat it?

Shooting variance coupled to opportunity and teams not really caring because the team you're on sucks...

Raptors where also a really bad team that year, who payed no attention to defense, and had no perimeter creators. Mike James was given free reign on offense, there's a reason he fell off a cliff the next season.

That's what I meant when I said "opportunity," yes.

Morris Peterson (a fine 3&D wing) averaged 17 a game, Chris Bosh with 23/9/2.5, Charlie V off the bench averaging 13/6, but yet the team only won 27 games.

Yes, well, while we were 5th on offense, we were the 2nd-worst defense in the league, Bosh took forever in isolation and wasn't a good playmaker. And he missed 12 games. We traded Jalen Rose halfway through the season, and reacquired Antonio Davis so he could end his career with us. Calderon missed 18 games. We STARTED Rafael Araujo for 34 games. Alvin Williams played ONE game for us as he tried to come back from injury (then 2 more the year after with the Clippers before retiring).

It was a disaster, man. Ugh.

There are few seasons in Raptors history I disliked more than 06.

[XTC]

A lot of great picks here. But and this is questionable one, but 1999 Darrell Armstrong.

13th in WS, 13th in PER, and 8th in VORP.

The counter of course is he was pretty darn good in 2000, outside the top 20 in the first two but still a solid 15th in VORP. But man did he come out of nowhere for that year and he never really kept it up.

77 Walton is one I'd like to use, I know he won MVP in 78 but he also only played 2 playoff games and under 60 games that year.

In both cases not true "one hit".

The last guy I think is much more the case. Larry Hughes.

Now he was a good 18 a game guy in 2004 but BPM had him at 0.9. Suddenly in 2005 he leads the league in steals, ups his offense, and turns out a 21.6 PER, .157 WS/48 and a 4.3 BPM. Then falls off a cliff with Lebron in Cleveland the next year.

Agree that Armstrong had a surprising season; here is some of the context.

He came late to the NBA, didn't become a regular rotation piece until that strike shortened 1999 season when he won MIP and 6MOY at the age of 30. However, the next season at age 31 he backed it up with pretty similar stats, started every game, and actually finished a couple slots higher in MVP voting (13th v 15th the year before) -- so that makes Armstrong a "2 season" wonder.

After those 2 seasons, Armstrong came back down to earth.

I get where you guys are coming from, but Darrell Armstrong was genuinely a good player. He was a monster in 1999, but he was really good in 2000 & 2001 as well. He almost carried the 2000 Magic to the playoffs.

Guy was a dawg offensively & defensively. He came into the NBA too late, and he wasn't given an opportunity until later in his career. If he was given an opportunity at a younger age he would be looked at similiar to Kyle Lowry/Chauncey Billups. Short prime, but atleast he got honored by being inducted into the Magic hall of fame.

I honestly loved that 2000 Magic team, Bo Outlaw is one of the most underrated defenders & role players in NBA history.

[SkyBill40]

Richard Dumas - 92-93 Phoenix Suns

Dumas was suspended for what would have actually been his rookie season (91-92) for substance issues which followed him from his time at OK State.

After getting himself right, he then stormed into the NBA as a second year rookie and solidified himself as a key contributor on a team that fell just short of winning the NBA title. Dumas was elected to the All Rookie 2nd team that season, having averaged 15.8 PPG.

Unfortunately, he couldn't shake his substance issues and found himself suspended for the 93-94 season. While he returned for the 94-95 season, he wasn't the same player from that Finals team and found himself on the outs, being waved after 15 games. He wasn't picked up for the remainder of the season but signed as a free agent with PHI for the 95-96 season. His problems with substances continued as did his subpar play, which led to him being cut for a final time after 39 games. He didn't play in the NBA again.

While it might not be seen as the "greatest" in the eyes of many, it certainly was a one hit wonder season for us Suns fans. It also became a cautionary tale of how easily and quickly a promising career can be derailed by drugs and demons that can't be shaken.

[gavran]

On a much lesser scale than most of the guys mentioned but Year 1 Landry Fields.

Fields had a carrier ending injury after his first season. Had the potential to be an ATG role player.

[gavran]

A lot of great picks here. But and this is questionable one, but 1999 Darrell Armstrong.

13th in WS, 13th in PER, and 8th in VORP.

The counter of course is he was pretty darn good in 2000, outside the top 20 in the first two but still a solid 15th in VORP. But man did he come out of nowhere for that year and he never really kept it up.

77 Walton is one I'd like to use, I know he won MVP in 78 but he also only played 2 playoff games and under 60 games that year.

In both cases not true "one hit".

The last guy I think is much more the case. Larry Hughes.

Now he was a good 18 a game guy in 2004 but BPM had him at 0.9. Suddenly in 2005 he leads the league in steals, ups his offense, and turns out a 21.6 PER, .157 WS/48 and a 4.3 BPM. Then falls off a cliff with Lebron in Cleveland the next year.

Agree that Armstrong had a surprising season; here is some of the context.

He came late to the NBA, didn't become a regular rotation piece until that strike shortened 1999 season when he won MIP and 6MOY at the age of 30. However, the next season at age 31 he backed it up with pretty similar stats, started every game, and actually finished a couple slots higher in MVP voting (13th v 15th the year before) -- so that makes Armstrong a "2 season" wonder.

After those 2 seasons, Armstrong came back down to earth.

I get where you guys are coming from, but Darrell Armstrong was genuinely a good player. He was a monster in 1999, but he was really good in 2000 & 2001 as well. He almost single handily carried the 2000 Magic to the playoffs when Penny was out for the season.

Guy was a dawg offensively & defensively. He came into the NBA too late, and he wasn't given an opportunity until later in his career. If he was given an opportunity at a younger age he would be looked at similiar to Kyle Lowry/Chauncey Billups. Short prime, but atleast he got honored by being inducted into the Magic hall of fame.

I honestly loved that 2000 Magic team, Bo Outlaw is one of the most underrated defenders & role players in NBA history.

Penny wasn't out for the season in 2000. He was traded in 1999.

[CodeBreaker]

19 years old Tatum

[bonita_the_frog]

19 years old Tatum

That's true, Tatum shot .434 downtowners as a rookie, and since then he's shot .366

[XTC]

Agree that Armstrong had a surprising season; here is some of the context.

He came late to the NBA, didn't become a regular rotation piece until that strike shortened 1999 season when he won MIP and 6MOY at the age of 30. However, the next season at age 31 he backed it up with pretty similar stats, started every game, and actually finished a couple slots higher in MVP voting (13th v 15th the year before) -- so that makes Armstrong a "2 season" wonder.

After those 2 seasons, Armstrong came back down to earth.

I get where you guys are coming from, but Darrell Armstrong was genuinely a good player. He was a monster in 1999, but he was really good in 2000 & 2001 as well. He almost single handily carried the 2000 Magic to the playoffs when Penny was out for the season.

Guy was a dawg offensively & defensively. He came into the NBA too late, and he wasn't given an opportunity until later in his career. If he was given an opportunity at a younger age he would be looked at similiar to Kyle Lowry/Chauncey Billups. Short prime, but atleast he got honored by being inducted into the Magic hall of fame.

I honestly loved that 2000 Magic team, Bo Outlaw is one of the most underrated defenders & role players in NBA history.

Penny wasn't out for the season in 2000. He was traded in 1999.

You're right.

It was so long ago, and Penny started breaking down so early. What a shame.

[XTC]

19 years old Tatum

Tatum's still 19

I also heard he grew to 7'1

[dhsilv2]

A lot of great picks here. But and this is questionable one, but 1999 Darrell Armstrong.

13th in WS, 13th in PER, and 8th in VORP.

The counter of course is he was pretty darn good in 2000, outside the top 20 in the first two but still a solid 15th in VORP. But man did he come out of nowhere for that year and he never really kept it up.

77 Walton is one I'd like to use, I know he won MVP in 78 but he also only played 2 playoff games and under 60 games that year.

In both cases not true "one hit".

The last guy I think is much more the case. Larry Hughes.

Now he was a good 18 a game guy in 2004 but BPM had him at 0.9. Suddenly in 2005 he leads the league in steals, ups his offense, and turns out a 21.6 PER, .157 WS/48 and a 4.3 BPM. Then falls off a cliff with Lebron in Cleveland the next year.

Agree that Armstrong had a surprising season; here is some of the context.

He came late to the NBA, didn't become a regular rotation piece until that strike shortened 1999 season when he won MIP and 6MOY at the age of 30. However, the next season at age 31 he backed it up with pretty similar stats, started every game, and actually finished a couple slots higher in MVP voting (13th v 15th the year before) -- so that makes Armstrong a "2 season" wonder.

After those 2 seasons, Armstrong came back down to earth.

Was one of my favorite players at the time. But relative to the league 99 was a better year. Kinda worked that most of the league sucked in 1999 and he was clearly someone who used that break to get better. He had such amazing work ethic from what I hear. But 90% just like bringing him up because he was such a cool story and related to BJ Armstrong as I recall.

[Ritzo]

Timofey MozGOD

[dhsilv2]

A lot of great picks here. But and this is questionable one, but 1999 Darrell Armstrong.

13th in WS, 13th in PER, and 8th in VORP.

The counter of course is he was pretty darn good in 2000, outside the top 20 in the first two but still a solid 15th in VORP. But man did he come out of nowhere for that year and he never really kept it up.

77 Walton is one I'd like to use, I know he won MVP in 78 but he also only played 2 playoff games and under 60 games that year.

In both cases not true "one hit".

The last guy I think is much more the case. Larry Hughes.

Now he was a good 18 a game guy in 2004 but BPM had him at 0.9. Suddenly in 2005 he leads the league in steals, ups his offense, and turns out a 21.6 PER, .157 WS/48 and a 4.3 BPM. Then falls off a cliff with Lebron in Cleveland the next year.

Agree that Armstrong had a surprising season; here is some of the context.

He came late to the NBA, didn't become a regular rotation piece until that strike shortened 1999 season when he won MIP and 6MOY at the age of 30. However, the next season at age 31 he backed it up with pretty similar stats, started every game, and actually finished a couple slots higher in MVP voting (13th v 15th the year before) -- so that makes Armstrong a "2 season" wonder.

After those 2 seasons, Armstrong came back down to earth.

I get where you guys are coming from, but Darrell Armstrong was genuinely a good player. He was a monster in 1999, but he was really good in 2000 & 2001 as well. He almost carried the 2000 Magic to the playoffs.

Guy was a dawg offensively & defensively. He came into the NBA too late, and he wasn't given an opportunity until later in his career. If he was given an opportunity at a younger age he would be looked at similiar to Kyle Lowry/Chauncey Billups. Short prime, but atleast he got honored by being inducted into the Magic hall of fame.

I honestly loved that 2000 Magic team, Bo Outlaw is one of the most underrated defenders & role players in NBA history.

Kinda the IT (celtics) discussion from above. Armstrong had a real case for all nba in 99. The other years not so much, even though he was as yous aid really good in 2000 and 2001. But fully agree he likely doesn't qualify. But others took the better choices already!

[Ritzo]

Gary Harris looked like a future star in 2017

[Lenneth]

Brian "Custondian" Cardinal. He was drafted at 44th pick, and played 28 games in 3 years averaging around 2 points. But, before his chance in NBA ran out, he signed with Warriors for one year, averaged 9.6 pts, 47.2%, 44.4% 3 pts in 21.5 minutes, became a solid back up and a fan favorite. Memphis signed him for 6 years/39 mils, but he never reached that level again.

[celtxman]

Isaiah Thomas "the Little Guy", the "King of the Fourth" on the Celtics. One of the most enjoyable seasons I've ever seen from a player. Every night you had no idea what was going to happen, but you knew it was going to be something special.

He's in his own category because he already was helping Boston win and he already had a couple 20ppg seasons. But that was such a great season, Lillard stole tapping the watch. It has been and will always be IT time.

[Shock Defeat]

Bubble TJ Warren.

IYKYK.

I didn't know, but thanks to you now I know.

Thank you

[Capn'O]

It lasted more than a year but BJ Armstrong when MJ retired the first time.

[balrog27]

mcgrady 02-03, every other year he shot poorly and put up average numbers for an allstar.

[Bad Bart]

Robert "Bubbles" Hawkins.

In 1976-77 the New York Nets had Dr. J. Julius Erving and Nate "Tiny" Archibald on the same roster for a split second, and high ambitions for the season. Tiny was coming off an all-NBA 1st team season, and Dr. J. was ABA MVP and all-ABA 1st team. But they sold Erving's contract to the 76ers to pay the NBA entry fee and Tiny went down with an injury just after the new year.

Up stepped a nobody - 22 year old Bubbles Hawkins - who played SG/PG for the New York Nets the rest of the season. Averaged 19.3 pts/g playing just 28 min/g (27.2 pts/40min) over 52 games. Had a 44 point game against the New Orleans Jazz, scored 20+ points in a game 27 times.

The Nets were the worst team in the league that season (W-L 22-60), ended the season going just 1-15 over their final 16 games.

But by then everybody knew who Bubbles Hawkins was.

Yet he did next to nothing after that.

This may be the only available footage of Mr. Hawkins:

Watch on YouTube

Wow, I think this is the answer. Only played 19 more games in the NBA after that season. Incredible.

[Rainwater]

Victor Oladipo, he had one season (17-18) with huge outlier stats compared to any other season.

This is it for me, dude had one good season and Magic fans made it seem like they traded away a star, lol.