Out of nowhere random Jonathan Bender question !

L&H_05 · Post #1 » by **L&H_05** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:53 am

Hey guys, I was wondering what you guys thought of Jonathan Bender ?? Obviously he was injured throughout his career, but I'm sure when he was there he showed flashes here and there..

So I was wondering, hypothetically, what do you believe he could've became if he remained healthy ?? Were you guys high on him to the point where you thought he could have been a true cornerstone to your team ? A potential all star caliber talent ?

I know he was tall and lanky, and preferred the outside shot like Durant does... Do you believe the two could have possibly been comparable ?? Or was Jonathan probably not going to be anything healthy or not ??

chatard5 · Post #2 » by **chatard5** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:21 am

I remembering him being called a tall Tracy McGrady (when T-Mac was really good).

Post #3 » by **Miller4ever** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:22 am

Jonathan Bender was a 6'11" dude and a 3-point shot. I'd actually compare him to Darius Miles. He and Darius Miles both belong in the "OMG, athletic 7-footers with range and dunks but exploding knees" category. Unfortunately, Bender's knee problem was actually a condition, and would've deteriorated no matter how much basketball he decided to play.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #4 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:23 am

I could have seen him being a mix between Garnett and Durant. He was starting to bulk up when his knees gave out, but I could have seen him becoming a PF with range and quickness. He had a ton of potential, its a shame what happened to him, great guy.

cdash · Post #5 » by **cdash** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:03 am

Durant.

basketballwacko2 · Post #6 » by **basketballwacko2** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:29 pm

Yeah if JB had not had a degenerative knee problem he could have been as good as JO or better when JO was at his peak. It was a very sad development the way he ended up. Especially considering what we could have gotten in trade for him after his 2nd season! Everyone wanted the guy! That was back when we had more talent than we knew what to do with it!

Indomitable · Post #7 » by **Indomitable** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 2:42 pm

Why did he not get microfracture surgery?

Dcbaseballer52 · Post #8 » by **Dcbaseballer52** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:28 pm

Miller4ever wrote:Jonathan Bender was a 6'11" dude and a 3-point shot. I'd actually compare him to Darius Miles. He and Darius Miles both belong in the "OMG, athletic 7-footers with range and dunks but exploding knees" category. Unfortunately, Bender's knee problem was actually a condition, and would've deteriorated no matter how much basketball he decided to play.

Darius Miles is only 6'9''..... 3 inches shorter than Bender

cdash · Post #9 » by **cdash** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:42 pm

Man Bender showed some MAJOR flashes too. It really hurts to talk about the "what if" with him..

bballpacen · Post #10 » by **bballpacen** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:58 pm

My favorite all time player... This guy had so much potential and skills that it was freakish... I would say that the closest comparison would have been Tmac... I wish that he would have been blessed with better knees, but he has turned his situation into a positive one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDwEBdcl ... PL&index=9

chatard5 · Post #11 » by **chatard5** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:15 pm

Dcbaseballer52 wrote:
Miller4ever wrote:Jonathan Bender was a 6'11" dude and a 3-point shot. I'd actually compare him to Darius Miles. He and Darius Miles both belong in the "OMG, athletic 7-footers with range and dunks but exploding knees" category. Unfortunately, Bender's knee problem was actually a condition, and would've deteriorated no matter how much basketball he decided to play.

Darius Miles is only 6'9''..... 3 inches shorter than Bender

They were both very athletic guys that came out of high school. Both skinny and tall and long, arms-wise. Bender was a couple inches taller, but they were still very similar besides those 2 or 2 1/2 inches. Plust now they are both busts!

Post #12 » by **count55** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:37 pm

Bender was tall, could jump, and had a decent shot, but he had absolutely no idea how to play basketball.

He was never going to amount to anything, IMO, and probably would've cobbled together a Tim Thomas-type career, without the highlights.

There were plays that maybe nobody before or since could replicate, but he really had no game. No understanding, no learning curve, no court sense. Honestly, the injury was probably a pretty fortunate way to avoid the complete collapse, because he was never anything other than a bad basketball player.

chatard5 · Post #13 » by **chatard5** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:43 pm

He was Santa Clause and only came out on Christmas.

Post #14 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:50 pm

Tell it like it is Count.

The typical fan fervor had Bender held up as a Tracy McGrady type or a Kevin Durant type. However, in all likelihood, he was going to turn out as a Tim Thomas, but with a much better attitude.

Also, Bender's knee issues weren't necessarily cartiledge (spelling?), but rather that his entire knee socket was degenerating. A micro-fracture surgery wouldn't have done anything for him.

chatard5 · Post #15 » by **chatard5** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:57 pm

We were offered T-Mac for Bender and Artest, weren't we? T-Mac isn't that great/always hurt, but he is better than a guy who tries to ruin our franchise and a guy who barely played in the NBA. We probably wouldn't have ended up with Granger, though. Although we may have ended up with Rose or something. Too many ifs and buts.

Post #16 » by **count55** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:15 pm

chatard5 wrote:We were offered T-Mac for Bender and Artest, weren't we? T-Mac isn't that great/always hurt, but he is better than a guy who tries to ruin our franchise and a guy who barely played in the NBA. We probably wouldn't have ended up with Granger, though. Although we may have ended up with Rose or something. Too many ifs and buts.

No, I believe the offer was Artest, Bender, and Harrington, though I think the story was somewhat apocryphal.

At the time, it was certainly arguable that Artest was better than McGrady all by his lonesome.

Post #17 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:52 pm

The rumored offer that Orlando made (that got out in the news) was Tinsley (when he had value), Bender, Harrington, and Artest for McGrady and Juwan Howard. Donnie Walsh turned it down.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #18 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:32 pm

That would have been awful value for us at the time, of course knowing what we know now, woulda been a good trade haha.

Miller, O'Neal, McGrady, and Reggie woulda been a great core, but no PG.

chatard5 · Post #19 » by **chatard5** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:41 pm

Bummer... http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-2 ... Grady.html

That would've been nice.

Post #20 » by **Miller4ever** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:51 pm

I was in high school when he had Bender. My entire memory of the Pacers at that time was warped. I was proud of my Artest jersey, even after the brawl