The 5 Best NBA Careers Ruined by Injuries

[jontaejones]

Grant Hill has got to be at the top of this list. If he had not gotten injured I'm 100% sure right now we'd be talking about him as possibly a top 15 player of all time. He was that good. He was Lebron before Lebron.

I watched the Pistons a lot when Hill was in his prime.

He was soft. He's definitely near the top of this list, but he couldn't have led a team to a title as the best player IMO.

Closer to Pippen than LeBron.

 

[CitySushi]

I watched the Pistons a lot when Hill was in his prime.

He was soft. He's definitely near the top of this list, but he couldn't have led a team to a title as the best player IMO.

Closer to Pippen than LeBron.

Soft??? You must remember a different Grant Hill. Watch his youtubes of him bashing on all the great bigs in the NBA at the time. Plus I have no idea how you say he couldn't lead a team to a title. Look at his Detroit teams. His teams were garbage, he was facing constant double teams and still doing work.

 

[jontaejones]

Soft??? You must remember a different Grant Hill. Watch his youtubes of him bashing on all the great bigs in the NBA at the time. Plus I have no idea how you say he couldn't lead a team to a title. Look at his Detroit teams. His teams were garbage, he was facing constant double teams and still doing work.

He was regarded as soft yes.

This was back in the day when anybody 6'5" to 6'8" was compared to MJ, and compared to MJ he was soft.

They couldn't get out of the first round.

I remember one year, they had a chance to win and it was up to Hill to score and he drove to the hole for a dunk and Mutombo stuffed his sh@t so bad it was embarrassing.

I don't know why I remember that play, but I do.

Of course, as you know, NBA labels are temporary...

 

[tducey]

Can't fault that list at all. Thanks for sharing. Rose was quite amazing when healthy.

 

[Rockinkuwait]

Nice lists... Nice to see Penny on there, he was my favorite growing up.

Not saying he's deserving of top 5 but one I don't see there.

Antonio McDyess. Was coming into his own, a 21-12 big that could block shots, and athleticism like Kemp.

Then those devastating injuries. Still became a really good defender, smart space guy, great midrange, glue guy for some really good teams.

And one that didn't ruin a career with what he'd already done but sure ended one was Kobe's achilles. Yeah he was 34, but was scoring 27-6-6 and still had his athleticism that made him tough to guard and able to defend on the perimeter. I mean it was kinda like where Lebron's career is today.... still Lebron. Imagine if this is the last season we see that, and everything else is a shell of himself.

 

[CitySushi]

Nice lists... Nice to see Penny on there, he was my favorite growing up.

Not saying he's deserving of top 5 but one I don't see there.

Antonio McDyess. Was coming into his own, a 21-12 big that could block shots, and athleticism like Kemp.

Then those devastating injuries. Still became a really good defender, smart space guy, great midrange, glue guy for some really good teams.

And one that didn't ruin a career with what he'd already done but sure ended one was Kobe's achilles. Yeah he was 34, but was scoring 27-6-6 and still had his athleticism that made him tough to guard and able to defend on the perimeter. I mean it was kinda like where Lebron's career is today.... still Lebron. Imagine if this is the last season we see that, and everything else is a shell of himself.

Totally forgot about McDyess. Not him in general, but I more remembered him for his stellar play rather than his mediocre seasons after that. I had to look it up and saw he only had a few peak seasons, although in my mind I remembered more. Funny how that works.

 

[CitySushi]

He was regarded as soft yes.

This was back in the day when anybody 6'5" to 6'8" was compared to MJ, and compared to MJ he was soft.

They couldn't get out of the first round.

I remember one year, they had a chance to win and it was up to Hill to score and he drove to the hole for a dunk and Mutombo stuffed his sh@t so bad it was embarrassing.

I don't know why I remember that play, but I do.

Of course, as you know, NBA labels are temporary...

So your premise on that Grant Hill is soft is because and all time great defensive center and probably one of the best in NBA history blocked his shot one time. I guess that's one way to see it.

 

[jontaejones]

So your premise on that Grant Hill is soft is because and all time great defensive center and probably one of the best in NBA history blocked his shot one time. I guess that's one way to see it.

No, I'm saying he was soft because I was watching and rooting for the Pistons back then and he couldn't get it done.

Are you saying he wasn't because you saw some Youtube highlights of him dunking on guys?

Vince Carter could throw down too.

Doesn't mean he could bring it when the game was on the line.

 

[CitySushi]

No, I'm saying he was soft because I was watching and rooting for the Pistons back then and he couldn't get it done.

Are you saying he wasn't because you saw some Youtube highlights of him dunking on guys?

Vince Carter could throw down too.

Doesn't mean he could bring it when the game was on the line.

No I remember watching Grant Hill thinking he was an amazing player. He could do it all with ball in his hands. I thought to myself he was a scoring version of Scottie Pippen (minus the defense of course) and his upside was crazy. I remember being pretty shocked that he left Detroit for Orlando, because it was rumored Duncan was going to be headed there. They eventually ended up with him and TMac.

He was right in the prime of his career when he hurt his ankle. He was coming off his best year as a pro and lead a shit Pistons squad to the playoffs. Seriously, look at who his teammates were.

 

[Inimical]

Shaun livingston, and Grant Hill.

 

[Rockinkuwait]

Totally forgot about McDyess. Not him in general, but I more remembered him for his stellar play rather than his mediocre seasons after that. I had to look it up and saw he only had a few peak seasons, although in my mind I remembered more. Funny how that works.

I had just moved to Denver when he showed up and it was pretty exciting then to see him. Reminded me so much of Shawn Kemp with that explosiveness, but a better defender IMO. At least he was able to adjust well to that new role.

 

[Mebert]

Chris Webber?

 

[CitySushi]

Chris Webber?

Chris Webber is tough for me. Even though he suffered a pretty major injury, he was 30 at the time. He only had maybe 3-4 great years left. After he came back he still put up 18.7/8.7/4.6 followed by 19.5/9.1/4.7 and 20.2/9.9/3.4. You could tell he was possibly a little bit slower, but he still was very productive in those years. After that it was a sharp decline at 33. But I feel like overall, he might have been able to play at 15/8 line for another 2-3 years if he was still healthy, with slightly better numbers in his few years back from injury.

 

[Mebert]

Chris Webber is tough for me. Even though he suffered a pretty major injury, he was 30 at the time. He only had maybe 3-4 great years left. After he came back he still put up 18.7/8.7/4.6 followed by 19.5/9.1/4.7 and 20.2/9.9/3.4. You could tell he was possibly a little bit slower, but he still was very productive in those years. After that it was a sharp decline at 33. But I feel like overall, he might have been able to play at 15/8 line for another 2-3 years if he was still healthy, with slightly better numbers in his few years back from injury.

I can agree with this, but I thought he was on a clear trajectory for first ballot, and while he still ended with a very good career he is for sure not getting into the Hall.

 

[CitySushi]

I can agree with this, but I thought he was on a clear trajectory for first ballot, and while he still ended with a very good career he is for sure not getting into the Hall.

Webber absolutely deserves to be in the HOF. If Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill make it (which I believe both are deserving) Webber needs to be there. I think he'll get in next year, which doesn't have a particularly strong class, IMO.

2019 Hall of Fame Candidates | Basketball-Reference.com

 

[Wamu]

Chris Webber?

fuck meeeechegan!

 

[Mebert]

Webber absolutely deserves to be in the HOF. If Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill make it (which I believe both are deserving) Webber needs to be there. I think he'll get in next year, which doesn't have a particularly strong class, IMO.

2019 Hall of Fame Candidates | Basketball-Reference.com

I am a believer that if the class is weak nobody gets in. Out of that group I would go Moncrief, Billups, Kevin Johnson

 

[Cyder]

He still had a solid career but just how scary would Bernard King have been without all the injuries?

 

[CitySushi]

I am a believer that if the class is weak nobody gets in. Out of that group I would go Moncrief, Billups, Kevin Johnson

If I had a vote I would go Webber, Moncrief, Marques Johnson and Jack Sikma

Other considerations for me would be KJ, Tim Hardaway, Ben Wallace, Lou Hudson and Bob Dandridge.

Outside the box pick: Stephon Marbury, including his contributions internationally which are considered heavily as well.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Len Bias

That was cold.

First name I thought of was Penny Hardaway but Grant Hill should be there as well. Bill Walton, man if you ever go back and watch those Blazer teams that was just a beautiful way to play the game of basketball.