Thursday, April 21, 2011

What Ever Happened To...?


Every season, year and decade in the NBA, we see superstars come and go. Sometimes it's a great ending to an amazing and spectacular career, and sometimes it’s a heart-breaking injury which ruins a career full of hope and potential. Here’s a list of some of the NBA All-Stars that just well...went missing.
Tracy McGrady: An athletic 6’8 that can play the guard or forward position, Tracy ‘T-Mac’ McGrady has always been one of the best scorers in the NBA, and a fan favourite. In his prime T-Mac was a match-up nightmare. He can use his quickness to take it hard to the rim for another highlight reel dunk or just pull up in the defenders grill and swish yet another jumper. In his prime at Orlando, McGrady took out 2 NBA scoring titles (32.1ppg in 02/03 and 28.0ppg in 03/04) McGrady also took part in 7 all-star games. A career with so much hope, McGrady ended up being played by injuries and is now on has 3rd team, in 2 years. We will always be wondering, what else T-Mac could do.
Allen Iverson: The Answer. Only 6 foot 0, on his tippy toes, Allen Iverson was truly the answer....well for most things. Many people well say that, yet only being 6’0 or less, Iverson is one of the, if not the, greatest scorer in NBA history. With killer crossovers that no one could guard, and the jumpshot of a champion, Iverson was a four time NBA scoring leader, and he ranks sixth in the highest ppg in NBA history. Iverson averaged 26.7ppg, 6.2apg and 3.7rpg. Now what? Nursing an injury in...Turkey? I am sure I am not alone when I say this.....I hope Iverson’s NBA days are over.   
Gilbert Arenas: An always fan favourite in Washington, Agent Zero (for  his old jersey number) or Hibachi (for his ability to hit shots and heat up in a hurry) Arenas was the Wizards franchise for a while, carrying the team to the playoffs and make EA Sports NBA covers. After going for 29.3ppg for Washington in 05/06, Arenas planted his spot as an NBA superstar. But then injuries caught up on Arenas and a ‘gun in the locker room’ scandal last season, really put Arenas’ career off track. Now in Orlando averaging 10ppg, Arenas’ career is one gone because of injuries and one very silly and immature mistake. Yes Gilbert, no one knew what you could have been.
Steve Francis: Steve ‘The Franchise’ Francis exploded on the NBA in 1999, averaging 18.0ppg, 6.6apg and 5.3rpg, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Francis was living the American dream, earning dunk contest invites and All-Star berths. With his high-flying, street-savvy game, Francis killed defenders with his lethal crossover, and gravity-defying hops. In his third year in the league with Houston, Francis averaged 21.6ppg, 7.0rpg and 6.4apg, great stats for a 6’3 guard. Then what happened? Francis was killed by bum knees and was out of the league by the age of 30. But does anybody know where Francis is? I guess he just disappeared.  
Grant Hill: The next Michael Jordan. That is how high NBA experts rated Grant Hill, coming out of Duke. Hill’s career was right on track from his rookie of year winning season in 94’ all the way to averaging 25.8ppg in 2000. Then injuries came along and ruined Hill’s career. From ’94 to ’00 Hill averaged over 22ppg, and in season 00/01 Hill averaged 13.8ppg. From that point on Hill didn’t become the next MJ. He didn’t become the NBA’s best scorer either. He just became a very solid starter for Orlando and Phoenix. But yet a career that could of been.....
Jason Williams: Chris Webber remembers that ‘crossover on Gary Payton.’ Yep that’s right. The rookie Jason ‘White Chocolate’ Williams pulled of one of the greatest crossovers of all time on one of the best defenders of his time, Gary Payton. Jason Williams well always be remembered for his dazzling passing and killer crossovers on helpless defenders (Gary Payton) just to name one victim. Williams’ career numbers don’t jump out, 10.5ppg, 5.9apg and 2.3rpg, but Williams was one of them players where the stats mean nothing. Always the floor leader, Williams won his only ring with the HEAT in 2006. It was great to see Williams retire in Memphis, seeing that’s where he made a statement in the league in the early 2000’s. Williams just couldn’t break out in the Orlando line-up which is a shame.

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