I have compiled a list of basketball players who's promise was robbed due to injuries or laziness. This is my list of the Top 10 players that never was.
1. Ralph Sampson C Houston Rockets
The most dominant college player of all time with 3 National Player of the Years to his credit, Sampson was a giant at 7'4" and a shoe in for the Hall of Fame. Sampson hit the ground running in the NBA winning ROY and making All Star teams his first 4 years in the league The Olajuwon-Sampson led Houston Rockets were one of the youngest teams in NBA history to make it to the NBA Finals. That was the peak of Sampson's dominance. Injuries wrecked his promising career and the promise of the Rockets being remembered as a dynasty along with the Bulls, Celtics, and Lakers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgrqJnX7VwY&feature=related
2. Derrick Coleman PF/C New Jersey Nets
It's unbelievable that the top player on the list has career averages of nearly 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. That speaks to the tremendous skills of Derrick Coleman. Coleman was never motivated to be great, rather his motivation was the NBA pay check. Never really suffered a significant injury but averaged around 50 games per year. Coleman makes the list because his averages made him a boderline All Star, but he left the title of Greatest Power Forward of All Time on the table due to his laziness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5WNITeDTh0
3. Grant Hill SF Detroit Pistons
There was a time that Grant Hill was the standard at the SF position. He repeatedly led the NBA in All Star votes making 6 All Star games in his first 7 years. In a league with Michael Jordan in his prime, Hill in his 3rd season finished 3rd in the MVP vote while nearly averaging a triple double (21ppg, 9rpg, 7apg). His run came to an end with a rash of injuries nearly a decade ago. Slowly memories of his stunning ability began to fade, and all talks about Hill being a top 10 all time player faded away as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhd5SWS8u4Y
4. Len Bias PF Boston Celtics
Not many people know this but the closest thing to Michael Jordan never played a game in the NBA. Bias died of a cocaine overdose two days after he was selected by Boston with the 2nd overall pick in 1986. Bias was a more polished version of Dominique Wilkins formerly of the Atlanta Hawks. Bias along with 20 ppg scorer Reggie Lewis who died several years later would have rivaled Jordan's Chicago Bulls if both had lived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DGVlXxG2Pk
5. Larry Johnson PF Charlotte Hornets
Everyone knows Charles Barkley, a guy who dominated the paint and gave up 6 inches on a nightly basis. Larry Johnson was in the same mold, unlike Barkley injuries hit Johnson early and robbed him of his explosiveness. He led UNLV to a national title and hit the ground running in the NBA earning 2 All Star nods in his first 4 seasons. At 6'6" he dominated the paint, could make plays, and shoot the three. He was well on his way to being one of the most dominant power forwards til the injury bud derailed that path. He finished his career as a spot shooter that had a penchant for making clutch shots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bla7mRQIWBw&feature=related
6. Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway PG Orlando Magic
Many tried to emulate Magic Johnson, but only one player has been able to pull it off. Penny Hardaway was becoming along with Grant Hill the face of the NBA. Both were going to take the torch from Michael Jordan and usher in the new decade. Penny at 6'7" played the point magically in Orlando, making 4 All Star games, 2 All NBA first teams in his first 5 seasons in the NBA. About 5 seasons was all we seen from a healthy Penny. After injuries he never returned to form, robbing the NBA of one of the most unique talents of this generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOdnOlifZz8
7. Ron Harper SG Cleveland Cavaliers
Michael Jordan credited Harper as the player that guarded him the best and one of the reasons they ended up being teamates. Hey if Jordan respects you, so will I. Outside of the defense at his best he averaged 22 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast, 2.5 stl, 1.5 blk during the early part of his career. Harper never made an All Star team, but at his best had better numbers than many All Stars. Like most on this list injuries robbed him and many don't remember the explosive player he was when he entered the league.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw9X1HX35qQ
8. Tim Thomas SF/PF Milwaukee Bucks
Ray Allen once said of Thomas, "he could be the best player in the NBA if he wanted to". Similar to Derrick Coleman Thomas has collected millions by half ass'n' his way through the NBA. Thomas had all the gifts and they would briefly show themselves from time to time. He could handle like a guard, post, rebound when motivated, shoot, and just flat out score. Many teams have made the mistake of falling in love with his abundant skills yet all of them got the same result. Thomas finished his career as a 12 ppg scorer but had the potential, if motivated to double those averages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CfoiqoSn9o
9. Antonio McDyess PF Denver Nuggets
McDyess is nothing much more than a journeyman these days. Roughly ten years ago he was on of the most exciting players in the NBA. McDyess was a dynamic power dunker who was just beginning to refine his game before injuries took his explosiveness. At his best during the 2000-01 season he was putting up averages of 20 pts and 12 rebounds. He got his first All Star nod that year and many more were on the horizon. Unfortunately his dominance would not begin and essentially ended that year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNtY7uBRb8I&feature=related
10. Yao Ming C Houston Rockets
Ming is a little fresh in our memory. The Rockets have been plagued by losing franchise Centers too early with them losing Sampson 20 years ago. Ming was nearly unstoppable at his best when he put up 25 ppg during the 2006-07 season. His body simply broke down and as a result so did the fortunes of a promising franchise in Houston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8STO24L_NY
