The Best To Never Get There

The Main Event · Post #1 » by **The Main Event** » Fri May 30, 2008 6:42 pm

Don't know if this subject has been broached or not but i'll put it out there anyway.
In your own opinions, who was the greatest basketball player that never came to be?

(a) Pee Wee Kirkland - In the ABL scored 135 points in a game. Declined offer by the Bulls to play for them as his illegal activities were more lucrative. Nate Archibald was cited as saying that Pee Wee was the toughest opponent he had ever faced.
Drugs led to his downfall (dealing).

(b) Len Bias - led the Terrapins to a National Championship. Coach K had said that MJ and Len were the two best players to come through the ranks of the ACC.
Drugs led to his downfall (overdose).
Many believed that the inclusion of Bias could have allowed for the Boston Celtic organization's continued dominance well into the 1990s

(c) Earl Manigault - rumored to b able to retrieve dollar bills and quarters from the top of backboards. Could execute the double dunk. After Kareem Abdul Jabbar had his jersey retired in LA, he was asked who was the greatest player he had ever played with or against. He replied, Earl Manigault.
Drugs led to his downfall (addiction).

The Main Event · Post #2 » by **The Main Event** » Fri May 30, 2008 6:57 pm

As expected, i guess not too many people know that much about these guys.

celticfan42487 · Post #3 » by **celticfan42487** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:02 pm

well gosh darn you're right. Now you can go jack off to the black and white pictures of players that only you're superior knowledge can identify.

Kweli · Post #4 » by **Kweli** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:02 pm

I'd like to add Connie Hawkins.

Even though he eventually made it to the NBA (after his prime).

If he came up in the same situations as a lot of players during his time where he could go straight from college to the pros, he would of had an amazing NBA career.

hermes · Post #5 » by **hermes** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:08 pm

don't do drugs kids

SD Willie · Post #6 » by **SD Willie** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:10 pm

Kimbo Slice- I'd pay good money to see him guard the paint

The Main Event · Post #7 » by **The Main Event** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:12 pm

celticfan42487 wrote:well gosh darn you're right. Now you can go jack off to the black and white pictures of players that only you're superior knowledge can identify.

Thanks for your input. I appreciate you using your words like a big boy. :clap:

gusman · Post #8 » by **gusman** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:15 pm

grant hill

darko

Post #9 » by **penbeast0** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:16 pm

Bob Kurland . . . great Olympic athlete and college player but didn't go PRO because he didn't think the money and lifestyle were right for him (obviously it was the 1960s) . . . went head to head with Mikan in college winning the NCAA titles in both 45 and 46 and was responsible for the rule against defensive goaltending because he used to just leap above the rim and grab opponent's shots so often.

Don't know much about Kirkland but the nickname and that fact he was face to face with Tiny implies he was a small player during a period where there were few if any small guards because of the lack of a three point shot and corresponding focus on post scoring for efficiency.

Manigault was purely an inside player dunker type but without big man size and probably wouldn't be as effective in organized league play.

Bias was a 2nd pick and great talent but hardly had the hype of a Mikan/Chamberlain/Jabbar/Walton/Shaq type the way Kurland did . . . more a Carmelo Anthony.

Now, if you are going to include Connie Hawkins, you are talking a guy who proved in limited time that he was an Elgin Baylor type talent (ABL, first two years in ABA, even early NBA career) so he might be the best but street legends are often grossly exaggerated. (See ABA players like Fly Williams, Helicopter Hentz, etc.)

The Main Event · Post #10 » by **The Main Event** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:20 pm

penbeast0 wrote:Bob Kurland . . . great Olympic athlete and college player but didn't go PRO because he didn't think the money and lifestyle were right for him (obviously it was the 1960s) . . . went head to head with Mikan in college winning the NCAA titles in both 45 and 46 and was responsible for the rule against defensive goaltending because he used to just leap above the rim and grab opponent's shots so often.

Not a clue about Kirkland but Manigault was purely an inside player dunker type but without big man size (like Earl "the Helicopter" Heinz and other street legends) and probably wouldn't be as effective in organized league play while Bias was a 2nd pick and great talent but hardly had the hype of a Mikan/Chamberlain/Jabbar/Walton/Shaq type the way Kurland did . . . more a Carmelo Anthony.

True. But when he faced Jordan in the NCAA tournament he outplayed him and led his team to a Championship, which says alot.

Post #11 » by **rsavaj** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:27 pm

Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell?

The Main Event · Post #12 » by **The Main Event** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:34 pm

rsavaj wrote:Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell?

YAHH!!! thanks man. i was trying to remember that guys name all day. :clap:

Rocky5000 · Post #13 » by **Rocky5000** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:34 pm

every basketball fan will love this movie.
Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault

It's awesome!

The Main Event · Post #14 » by **The Main Event** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:40 pm

Rocky5000 wrote:every basketball fan will love this movie.
Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault

It's awesome!

Definitely ordering that.
This one looks good too.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389010/

Warspite · Post #15 » by **Warspite** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:42 pm

Hank Gathers: A left handed CP3.

Reggie Lewis: Although a 20ppg scorer he shared time with Bird and was just about to begin his prime.

Derrick Coleman gets my vote as well (along with most Syracuse Alumn like Owens, Moten) as cronic underachievers. 1 allstar game appearance and considered a top 5 player when motivated. I played against him several times in pick up games back in detroit. Coleman could dominate a Doug Smith/C Webb one game and get schooled by a high school player the next.

Point forward · Post #16 » by **Point forward** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:53 pm

I would have loved to see Marques Haynes and Goose Tatum (Globetrotter legends) in the NBA, too bad it was segregated. Regarding streetball legends, I would say Raymond Lewis, who was almost signed by the Sixers in the 1970s. But then the Sixers management allegedly tried to scam him, and Lewis never went pro. Lewis is said to have scored 50 on Michael Cooper (yes, THAT Michael Cooper) in scrimmage tourneys.

Kobay · Post #17 » by **Kobay** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:57 pm

Hey I know Len Bias, the guy used to be my coke dealer.

RJM · Post #18 » by **RJM** » Fri May 30, 2008 8:33 pm

This thread just shows that it takes more than skill to make the League. Your mind's got to be right as well...I've been hearing about these street legends that just couldn't break the addiction. You see this all the time on the AndOne Mixtape Tours on ESPN.

The Main Event · Post #19 » by **The Main Event** » Fri May 30, 2008 8:39 pm

^^^ x 2

It's crazy to think how dedicated you have to be to become a pro athlete. It's not just having crazy talent, you have to devote your entire life to the sport.

knicksNOTslick · Post #20 » by **knicksNOTslick** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:35 pm

How about Arvydas Sabonis. He should've went to the NBA earlier in his career.