You can name NBA guys or street players....
I'll start with Derrick Coleman....This guy did not care about the game like he should have. He didn't take care of his body and he still got 20pts and 10 rebounds even when he got fat while playing in Philly. He could have had a hall of fame career. He had moments where he looked dominant and you wonder why he never gave a damn.
I meant to say pissed away their careers....damn sure type
Note to martin: any way to let the OP edit the topic title?
Earl The Goat Manigault
Shawn Kemp
Coleman qualifies to some extent but I think a lot of names people forget about like Isaiah Rider are more glaring.
JR Smith, this guy should be having a much better career. I always believed this guy has Kobe like talent but lacks the devotion to the game.
Vmart wrote:JR Smith, this guy should be having a much better career. I always believed this guy has Kobe like talent but lacks the devotion to the game.
Yeah, you could find a lot of good examples by browsing through our rosters from the past 10 years!
Bonn1997 wrote:Vmart wrote:JR Smith, this guy should be having a much better career. I always believed this guy has Kobe like talent but lacks the devotion to the game.
Yeah, you could find a lot of good examples by browsing through our rosters from the past 10 years!
Tim Thomas jumps out....dude should have been a All star every year. He just never got better. I think once the season was over I don't think the guy even looked at a basketball.
Vin Baker too....He fell to alcoholism. He was 20/10 also with I think 4 straight all star appearances. Shame
Bonn1997 wrote:Coleman qualifies to some extent but I think a lot of names people forget about like Isaiah Rider are more glaring.
That's why I started the tread....name guys and explain a little.... You mentioned isiah rider so post the back story.
EnySpree wrote:Bonn1997 wrote:Coleman qualifies to some extent but I think a lot of names people forget about like Isaiah Rider are more glaring.
That's why I started the tread....name guys and explain a little.... You mentioned isiah rider so post the back story.
Oh, all I know is that he had loads of talent but didn't achieve much and was out of the league by 30. I don't know the personal life details. I didn't realize you wanted that.
jrodmc wrote:
Earl The Goat Manigault - weed, heroin, never made it to even the ABA. 6'1" freak whose stories all start and end with Kareem giving witness.Shawn Kemp - another possibly truly stellar career derailed by fat.
Is it too early to throw Royce White out here?
I'll be shocked if another team gives him a serious chance after the circus he put Houston through. I can appreciate OCD will make things more challenging, but that was much more ego than disease that hampered White's early career.
EnySpree wrote:You can name NBA guys or street players....I'll start with Derrick Coleman....This guy did not care about the game like he should have. He didn't take care of his body and he still got 20pts and 10 rebounds even when he got fat while playing in Philly. He could have had a hall of fame career. He had moments where he looked dominant and you wonder why he never gave a damn.
I've always wondered what Coleman could have accomplished if he'd been in shape. However, to be fair, just because you're talented at something, it doesn't mean you have to do it. If his heart wasn't in it, it wasn't in it. If I was great at basketball I don't know if I could put in the level of effort and commitment it requires- I'd probably end up like Mike Sweetney.
MaTT4281 wrote:Is it too early to throw Royce White out here? I'll be shocked if another team gives him a serious chance after the circus he put Houston through. I can appreciate OCD will make things more challenging, but that was much more ego than disease that hampered White's early career.
The worst thing about Royce White was he kept making out he was some sort of spokesman for mental health! He had a lousy attitude and that was his downfall.
smackeddog wrote:EnySpree wrote:You can name NBA guys or street players....I'll start with Derrick Coleman....This guy did not care about the game like he should have. He didn't take care of his body and he still got 20pts and 10 rebounds even when he got fat while playing in Philly. He could have had a hall of fame career. He had moments where he looked dominant and you wonder why he never gave a damn.
I've always wondered what Coleman could have accomplished if he'd been in shape. However, to be fair, just because you're talented at something, it doesn't mean you have to do it. If his heart wasn't in it, it wasn't in it. If I was great at basketball I don't know if I could put in the level of effort and commitment it requires- I'd probably end up like Mike Sweetney.
Totally. Just making it to the NBA as a first round pick and having like $7 mil guaranteed sounds really freaking sweet to me. Maybe I'd actually love the game and be motivated on my own to have fun getting better at it. (Or maybe not.) I wouldn't be motivated just to make some fans in NY state happier though. If the player wants to chill and just live off of the interest on that money, I can totally respect that decision.
Marbury's career went down the toilet in the blink of an eye
Ha how can we forget Marbles!
Pass off Eny!
I remember Derrick Coleman driving to the lane and running into a double team and passing the ball behind the back over his right shoulder, and found someone cutting behind him to his left for the bucket. It was a throwaway move, never saw him do it again, but it spoke volumes to what the man could do on the floor when he was on his game. Damn shame his demons got the best of him.
EnySpree wrote:You can name NBA guys or street players....I'll start with Derrick Coleman....This guy did not care about the game like he should have. He didn't take care of his body and he still got 20pts and 10 rebounds even when he got fat while playing in Philly. He could have had a hall of fame career. He had moments where he looked dominant and you wonder why he never gave a damn.
It starts with Lenny Bias I think -- also throw Marvin Barnes in there -- and some Michael Ray Richardson. David Thompson was apparently an abuser --- how about Chris Washburn (NC State). Many more that I can't think of right now.....
EnySpree wrote:You can name NBA guys or street players....I'll start with Derrick Coleman....This guy did not care about the game like he should have. He didn't take care of his body and he still got 20pts and 10 rebounds even when he got fat while playing in Philly. He could have had a hall of fame career. He had moments where he looked dominant and you wonder why he never gave a damn.
True Story:
When Nets used to play in Piscataway on Rutgers campus crowds were small and tickets were easy to get. My friend and I are going to watch Nets vs. Suns in Bernard King and Walter Davis's rookie years I believe. We are running late and standing in line to get into the arena about 10 mins before game time. A guy taps me on the shoulder and says excuse me. I turn and look at it is Bernard in a dirty grey pin-strip suit - getting to the game minutes before tip-off.
All I remember of the game was that Bernard went for 39 I believe and Walter Davis I think 37.
Both Bernard and Walter had some substance issues in their careers - Bernard got hold of his and Walter flamed out earlier than he should have.
