I can't really think of any troubled players that mature and become stars for the team that drafted them. There are many examples of talented young players that struggled with maturity issues but eventually overcame them and became stars in the NBA. They almost always do it after a couple of stops in the NBA. Can you guys think of anybody that has turned it around and been a star for the team that drafted?
I can't really think of any.
- Thread starter Npliam
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Webber, Rasheed, Zach Randolph are the main ones that come to mind in recent times as far as top talents. Iverson is arguable, yes they made it to the finals that one year, but the East was absolutely dreadful that season, and the 6'er team was a bunch of great defenders and Iverson. Iverson never truly matured, he always wanted to be "the guy" even though he was clearly not.
Charles was a first team NBA for the 76ers from 88-91, 2nd team in 92, All star 87-92, Allstar MVP 1991. Oh was was on dream team in 1992. All before joining the suns.
This all started in his 4th year in the league. He has always credited DR. J and Moses for keeping him in check early on.
In 1991 he spit on a girl (he was aiming for another fan and was cussing him out too). In 1991 his mouth got in him trouble about Magic J getting HIV.
Sound familar? This was in his 6th year, he was 28 years old.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Barkley
On a side note, maybe it's the water in Alabama.
This all started in his 4th year in the league. He has always credited DR. J and Moses for keeping him in check early on.
In 1991 he spit on a girl (he was aiming for another fan and was cussing him out too). In 1991 his mouth got in him trouble about Magic J getting HIV.
Sound familar? This was in his 6th year, he was 28 years old.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Barkley
On a side note, maybe it's the water in Alabama.
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Here's a list of all of the players, who made their NBA debut in the post free-agency era (after 1976, a near-forty year span), to play their whole career with one team, that are currently in the Hall of Fame:
[Kornheiser]That's it. That's the list.[/Kornheiser]
And, it is worth noting that only those last three played for a "small" market. I expect Bryant, Duncan, Pierce, Nowitzki and, probably, Wade, to be added to this list. After that, you might not see anybody, for a while.
- Larry Bird
- Kevin McHale
- Isiah Thomas
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson
- James Worthy
- Joe Dumars
- John Stockton
- David Robinson
- Reggie Miller
[Kornheiser]That's it. That's the list.[/Kornheiser]
And, it is worth noting that only those last three played for a "small" market. I expect Bryant, Duncan, Pierce, Nowitzki and, probably, Wade, to be added to this list. After that, you might not see anybody, for a while.
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I don't recall Hakeem having any problems, but definitely Barkley. Webb had a very troubled beginning, He butted heads with Nellie from the get go. Believe me, Dennis Rodman was no angel either. Gary Payton was a problem child as well. J Will was another one that had a short fuse. He got into it with a fan at a Warriors game that was heckleling him. Does anyone remember Mad Max, who dropped kicked a basketball almost up in the upper deck at arco. My god, Cousins hasn't thrown a punch at anyone, except maybe Greene, and I can't verify that. Corliss went after another player as he was walking off the floor. Bobby Jackson got into it with McGrady. Christie threw an uppercut.
You want to know the difference between those guys and Cousins? They were all on winning teams!!!!!!!! Fans have a tendency to be more tolerant of behavior when the team is winning. But when the team is losing, well, we won't tolerate that.
You want to know the difference between those guys and Cousins? They were all on winning teams!!!!!!!! Fans have a tendency to be more tolerant of behavior when the team is winning. But when the team is losing, well, we won't tolerate that.
Agree on all those examples as well as their situations. Most of the examples also had good veterans on their teams. Hakeem was almost traded in the early 90s to to conflicts with management. He fought with them over contract issues and the team constructed. Also developed a little reputation as a cheap shot artist.
