Who are the greatest basketball players who either didn’t play in the NBA, or didn’t play in the NBA in their prime?
Three who come immediately to mind: Arvydas Sabonis, Connie Hawkins, Oscar Schmidt.
Who else is a “what could have been”?
EDIT: Earl Manigault
I also have vague memories of a three-named playground legend point guard from the 80’s, Billy Something Something I think… anybody know who I’m thinking of?
Re: Greatest non-NBA players
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 5:31 pm
by Flagrant Fowl
Me.
Re: Greatest non-NBA players
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 5:35 pm
by rhylek
Len Bias.
Lenny Cooke.
Earl Manigault.
Benji Wilson.
Ramunas Siskauskas.
Nikos Galis.
Drazen Dalipagic.
Oscar Schmidt.
Who are the greatest basketball players who either didn’t play in the NBA, or didn’t play in the NBA in their prime?
Three who come immediately to mind: Arvydas Sabonis, Connie Hawkins, Oscar Schmidt.
Who else is a “what could have been”?
EDIT: Earl Manigault
I also have vague memories of a three-named playground legend point guard from the 80’s, Billy Something Something I think… anybody know who I’m thinking of?
Yep, Michael Ray Richardson
Re: Greatest non-NBA players
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2023 4:37 am
by The Bobster
How far back do we want to go?
Pre-NBA -
Harry Hough
Jack Inglis
Nat Holman
Joe Lapchick
Bob McDermott
Leroy Edwards
Red DeBernadi
Hank Luisetti
Fat Jenkins
Tarzan Cooper
Willie Smith
Even after the NBA started in 1946 a handful of the best prospects each year still signed with AAU teams because it meant a job for them after basketball. Some would play for AAU teams early on before turning pro (George Yardley, Jim Pollard, Clyde Lovellette, Don Kojis, Flynn Robinson, Roger Brown). The NBA really didn't have a stranglhold on the best talent until the late 1950's after they top black players like Maurice Stokes, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain started choosing them over the Globetrotters, and salaries were enough to lure all the top names away from the AAU. By the 1980s and 1990s the best players outside of the league were probably Europeans, and now even the best Europeans come over to the NBA at a young age (starting with Marčiulionis, Petrovic, Divac, Schrempf, Kukoc, Smits, etc.).
Who are the greatest basketball players who either didn’t play in the NBA, or didn’t play in the NBA in their prime?
Three who come immediately to mind: Arvydas Sabonis, Connie Hawkins, Oscar Schmidt.
Who else is a “what could have been”?
EDIT: Earl Manigault
I also have vague memories of a three-named playground legend point guard from the 80’s, Billy Something Something I think… anybody know who I’m thinking of?
Yep, Michael Ray Richardson
Doug Moe, Hawkins, Roger Brown and Tony Jackson were the top players banned after the college scandals in 1961. Hawkins was the only one of the group to make it to the NBA, although the other three did play in the ABA.
All-American Wayne Estes was killed by a downed power line at the site of a car accident in 1965. He was considered likely to be a high draft choice. Also, there's the untimely death of Hank Gathers in 1990.
Who are the greatest basketball players who either didn’t play in the NBA, or didn’t play in the NBA in their prime?
Three who come immediately to mind: Arvydas Sabonis, Connie Hawkins, Oscar Schmidt.
Who else is a “what could have been”?
EDIT: Earl Manigault
I also have vague memories of a three-named playground legend point guard from the 80’s, Billy Something Something I think… anybody know who I’m thinking of?
Pre-NBA -
Harry Hough
Jack Inglis
Nat Holman
Joe Lapchick
Bob McDermott
Leroy Edwards
Red DeBernadi
Hank Luisetti
Fat Jenkins
Tarzan Cooper
Willie Smith
Even after the NBA started in 1946 a handful of the best prospects each year still signed with AAU teams because it meant a job for them after basketball. Some would play for AAU teams early on before turning pro (George Yardley, Jim Pollard, Clyde Lovellette, Don Kojis, Flynn Robinson, Roger Brown). The NBA really didn't have a stranglhold on the best talent until the late 1950's after they top black players like Maurice Stokes, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain started choosing them over the Globetrotters, and salaries were enough to lure all the top names away from the AAU. By the 1980s and 1990s the best players outside of the league were probably Europeans, and now even the best Europeans come over to the NBA at a young age (starting with Marčiulionis, Petrovic, Divac, Schrempf, Kukoc, Smits, etc.).
Names used to be so cool.
Re: Greatest non-NBA players
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2023 8:45 pm
by SunsRIt
Richard Dumas?
Re: Greatest non-NBA players
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:04 am
by The Bobster
We have seen so many "What If?" players head through Phoenix - Connie Hawkins, Richard Dumas, Oliver Miller, even Penny Hardaway. And of course the career interuptions - Walter Davis, Antonio McDyess, Tom Gugliotta, Curtis Perry, etc.
We have seen so many "What If?" players head through Phoenix - Connie Hawkins, Richard Dumas, Oliver Miller, even Penny Hardaway. And of course the career interuptions - Walter Davis, Antonio McDyess, Tom Gugliotta, Curtis Perry, etc.
Solid list... probably throw Danny Manning in there too?
