Starting PG
Penny not only has some of the best looking basketball shoes there is, he could of been the 2nd best pg of all time outside of Magic Johnson. He seemed to be 5 seconds ahead on every play, could pass with the best of them, and could get to the basket at will and finish. Being a 6'7 PG has its advantages. He had no weakness and it seemed like destiny him and Shaq would be running the NBA for years to come as one of the best C/PG tandem ever.
Starting SG
T-Mac has turned into a contract, a joke, and the guy who couldn't get out of the first round of the playoffs (He finally did, but was on the bench the whole time due to injury). People are quick to forget 13 points in 33 seconds, or 33 PPG, .457 shooting, 6.5 rpg, and 5.5 apg year. He did have a chance to shine, but it was short and on talentless teams that were on his back. I don't think he has or ever had the drive Kobe had, but he is more physically talented and could of been a first ballot hall of famer if injury did not shorten his career.
Starting SF
Before there was Lebron James, there was Grant Hill. He was the original lead the team in every category possible player. Of everyone on this list, his potential was the highest. Although you have to give the man all the credit in the world for staying relevant, playing back to back healthy season, and contributing on a playoff team, his career is not close to what it could of been. His second year in the league he was averaging 20, 10 rpg, and 7 apg. In his prime he could attack you from everywhere on the floor regardless where he received the ball and was one of the top passing non-PG ever. He could of been a top 10-15 player ever. Easily.
Starting PF
McDyess was the definition of a beast. He is what Shawn Kemp could of been with the right attitude and less wings and alcohol. McDyess easily would of had a career avg of 20 and 10 and brought the type of toughness to a teams defense that made coming into the paint a scary thing. He could of been in the 5-10 range of all time PFs in NBA history.
Starting Center
The list of centers is never ending, but Yao still takes this award pretty easily. You have to wonder what could of been if Yao and McGrady could of both stayed healthy for the Rockets. Yao was virtually unstoppable on the offensive side when he was aggressive, and was finally beginning to understand the physical nature a big man needs to play with in the NBA. He could of had countless 25/10 years in NBA and been the center piece for any NBA franchise. His body was just too big and his legs/feet could not withstand the pounding.
Honorable Mentions: Drazen Petrovic, Danny Manning, Len Bias, Reggie Lewis, Ralph Sampson
1 comments:
I must admit, I thought you were reaching when I first read that Hardaway "could of been the 2nd best pg of all time outside of Magic Johnson." But after looking back at his stats, I stand corrected. Here's a good article on Hardaway's career: http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=4647.
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