How good was Latrell Sprewell?

Cyrusman122000 · Post #1 » by **Cyrusman122000** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 1:20 am

Aside from his incident, How good was he at the peak of his career and prime? Was he good enough to be the second best player on a championship team with the right system and coaching?

GSWFan1994 · Post #2 » by **GSWFan1994** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 1:36 am

He was amazing. My favourite player growing up, after Jordan, for obvious reasons (just check my username...).

Loved his playing style, aggressiveness, the unforgettable jackhammer dunks, the defense. Too bad he choked (spl?) PJ Carlesimo after that...

His 2nd season was outstanding: he was named an All-Star and was All-NBA 1st team too, at the time the youngest player ever to get the nod. Also, if IIRC, he had 140 3pts in that same season, which was also a record at the time.

A Warriors team with a 2nd year Sprewell, a rookie Chris Webber and an oft-injured Chris Mullin had 50 wins in the Western Conference in 1993/1994. They also had Billy Owens, Avery Johnson, etc.

The team's best player, Tim Hardaway, missed the whole season with a torn ACL. You put him as the team's 3rd best player and we were a contender easily. Hardaway was later traded to Miami, was All-NBA 1st team there.

That Warrior team was one of the NBA's greatest what-ifs IMO.

Calvin Klein · Post #3 » by **Calvin Klein** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 1:49 am

I LOVED sprewell. He was amazing in the open court and had the most exciting two handed dunk.

The 99 knicks finals run is one of my favourite nba moments ever.

Look for the video of spree hitting a lay up to ice game 6 of the ECF. He MSG crowd went crazy.

He was also great in the finals. He showed up.

durden_tyler · Post #4 » by **durden_tyler** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 1:53 am

Undersized wing but got the job done with his toughness. Comp for me would be Jimmy Butler, the former tougher on defensive end but the latter having better midrange and 3.

He would have fit the modern NBA, but should work on his long range shots more to be one of the top players today.

jkvonny · Post #5 » by **jkvonny** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 1:55 am

He was fast quick tuffer version of Jimmy Buckets.

Calvin Klein · Post #6 » by **Calvin Klein** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 1:56 am

Watch on YouTube

Blame Rasho · Post #7 » by **Blame Rasho** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:00 am

Great player, in my opinion the best player on the Knicks. Believe it or not, in the MJ retirement era, he got an all nba 1st team nod. He also was underpaid compared to the stupid contract that Allen Houston got.

Speaking of which, he is broke. Renting a house, when he made over 100 million dollars. He lost almost everything due to stupidities. 21 million for 3 years is life changing money but his pride and his “ I got family to feed” attitude really undid him because his last year as a wolve, he fell off hard. He wasn’t even MLE money, and the wolves were willing to give him more than that.

Blame Rasho · Post #8 » by **Blame Rasho** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:01 am

Calvin Klein wrote:

Watch on YouTube

Got to love those 90s scores.

Phreak50 · Post #9 » by **Phreak50** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:02 am

Calvin Klein wrote:
He was also great in the finals. He showed up.

No he was not.

To be fair, the Spurs put the absolute clamps on the whole team but Sprewell didn’t escape that.

9-24, 6 TO
8-22
9-22
9-22
13-27

Not sure in which world 37% chucking is great.

Sprewell was also one of my favourite players at his peak but he always thought he was a better shooter than he actually was.

Calvin Klein · Post #10 » by **Calvin Klein** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:10 am

Phreak50 wrote:
Calvin Klein wrote:
He was also great in the finals. He showed up.

No he was not.

To be fair, the Spurs put the absolute clamps on the whole team but Sprewell didn’t escape that.

9-24, 6 TO
8-22
9-22
9-22
13-27

Not sure in which world 37% chucking is great.

Sprewell was also one of my favourite players at his peak but he always thought he was a better shooter than he actually was.

Well I stand corrected. All I did remember from memory is game 5

Knicks didn’t have a chance.

jehosafats · Post #11 » by **jehosafats** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:12 am

The Warriors had Sprewell, Webber, Hardaway, Mullin, and Blewit.

Post #12 » by **tsherkin** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:17 am

Very good defensive wing in era.

Mostly unimpressive on offense.

JohnnyKILLroy · Post #13 » by **JohnnyKILLroy** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:18 am

He was so **** fast.

theforumblue · Post #14 » by **theforumblue** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:34 am

one of my favorites at the time. he was so angry at the rim.

Bobbymcgee · Post #15 » by **Bobbymcgee** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:39 am

Just remember him having a store that sold rims in my neighborhood called Sprewell Racing. Weird.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-29-sp-sprewell29-story.html

Stannis · Post #16 » by **Stannis** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:47 am

Calvin Klein wrote:
Phreak50 wrote:
Calvin Klein wrote:
He was also great in the finals. He showed up.

No he was not.

To be fair, the Spurs put the absolute clamps on the whole team but Sprewell didn’t escape that.

9-24, 6 TO
8-22
9-22
9-22
13-27

Not sure in which world 37% chucking is great.

Sprewell was also one of my favourite players at his peak but he always thought he was a better shooter than he actually was.

Well I stand corrected. All I did remember from memory is game 5
Knicks didn’t have a chance.

I wish the Knicks were just jacking up threes that series. If you look at the box score, it's surprising to see Houston, Sprewell , Larry Johnson take so little.

Tim Kempton · Post #17 » by **Tim Kempton** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:49 am

He ran the floor at breakneck speed and hardly ever choked. When MJ left, it looked like he was going to have a real stranglehold over the position for years to come. His defense was suffocating and on offense he really knew when to go for the jugular.

Ballerhogger · Post #18 » by **Ballerhogger** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:49 am

jehosafats wrote:The Warriors had Sprewell, Webber, Hardaway, Mullin, and Blewit.

Took them long time recovery from that blunder of mismanagement

Stannis · Post #19 » by **Stannis** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:50 am

Very fun to watch. And on the Knicks he was an undersized wing and usually had to guard the tougher player, while Allan Houston was more spoiled.

However, looking at his stats now, I'm not sure why he is loved so much tbh.

xb3at band1tx · Post #20 » by **xb3at band1tx** » Sat Jul 8, 2023 2:50 am

GSWFan1994 wrote:He was amazing. My favourite player growing up, after Jordan, for obvious reasons (just check my username...).

Loved his playing style, aggressiveness, the unforgettable jackhammer dunks, the defense. Too bad he choked (spl?) PJ Carlesimo after that...

His 2nd season was outstanding: he was named an All-Star and was All-NBA 1st team too, at the time the youngest player ever to get the nod. Also, if IIRC, he had 140 3pts in that same season, which was also a record at the time.

A Warriors team with a 2nd year Sprewell, a rookie Chris Webber and an oft-injured Chris Mullin had 50 wins in the Western Conference in 1993/1994. They also had Billy Owens, Avery Johnson, etc.

The team's best player, Tim Hardaway, missed the whole season with a torn ACL. You put him as the team's 3rd best player and we were a contender easily. Hardaway was later traded to Miami, was All-NBA 1st team there.

That Warrior team was one of the NBA's greatest what-ifs IMO.

Woah, never knew he was first team in his 2nd year!!!

Sounds like a Kyrie level talent but mentally similar haha