[EspressoParticipant]

 What the hell, I am so intrigued by all these could have been stupid like Lemay Cook and Bias. If only I would’ve gotten full gameplay of either to truly tel just how good they were. Anyhow, I ran into this youtube video called "Len Bias, the man who was better than Jordan" and it included quotations from coach K such saying he was on a Jordan level.

I think it’s very easy to say "so and so had so much potential, so he would’ve been great had he not died". 

Looking at the bigger picture, I realize that most top players are extremely hard working, for example Jordan and Kobe. EXTREME HARD WORKERS, would’ve Lennon had the will power?

Disregarding ‘will power’, I ask of you old heads, Just How Good Was Bias? Was he really an insanely good prospect?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ChrispyParticipant]

 Basically, he was Lebron with a seriously beautiful Jumper. He was 6’8", 230 (before the modern weight pumping years). He could ISO, shoot from college 3 easily, elevate in traffic and run lanes. He was a monster on defense because he could defend in the post, help weakside and switch on guards. So, he was Lebron 1, not Jordan 2. Different positions, different players. He WOULD have revolutionized the now-typical stretch 4, big 3 position. Lebron would be considered Bias 2.0 (maybe better, maybe worse, but still in relation).

-Chris

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 They were both 6’8 athletic specimens but that’s where the comparison ends.  Bias couldn’t nearly do what LeBron does now as far as creating, playmaking and attacking off the bounce. Bias’ ball skills were minimal. He was more liable to take 1 dribble then elevate than take 2+ and change directions on the move. His footwork wasn’t even all that developed either because he relied on his elevation so much.  He was MUCH more of a player who finished plays as opposed to one who created them.  You can forget about him running point, creating from 3 point line extended or being the primary playmaker for a team like LeBron though. Also different era, with more conservative, generic and more zone defenses being played, but Bias wasn’t exactly a defensive playmaker either.

Mid to mid-long range face up, pick and pop, over the top option and finishing plays created for him, that’s where his bread was buttered. IMO, he had way more in common with a pre-injury McDyess than a LeBron.  

 

[tuck243Participant]

You right.  I would say he was more Melo than LeBron as well. 

[EspressoParticipant]

Ive said in this site so many times how important it is for me, having a go-to scorer on a championship team, a guy who as a coach, you can give the ball to and say, get me buckets.

 

 

I was talking with my boy about it last night, hence the typos in op. Bias, albeit being a better pure shooter, in highlights looks more like Dominique Wilkins than LeBron or Jordan.

There is no doubt he would’ve been good considering his athleticism and J. I don’t mean to sound negative or anything but had he not died, there is always the chance that he might been a regular cociane user, which ultimately would’ve hurt his potrntial…. I think!, because who knows what other stars have done in the past considering cocaine leaves your system in like 4 days. A player can easily go out one weekend, sniff coke, and have his system clean by tuesday. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 Pretty much agree with GBee, it’s pretty spot on. I remember watching all the old Maryland games with Bias on YouTube, which is like five or six, and coming away not overly impressed with Bias’ game. He never really dribbled the ball much to go down hill and his footwork was so skilled where he’d seem like an elite scorer in the NBA. 

Also, I use to go on LexisNexis to read old articles about the NBA Draft and 1986 was considered a really down year, regardless of how we look at it now with all the drug stories but in basketball terms, it wasn’t seen as great neither. And a pretty good Brad Daughtery, who don’t get me wrong was great but wasn’t a physically freak or defensive anchor ended being the number one pick over him makes me look at that as a indictment on Bias’ game if he was really as good as everyone says.

[HitsterParticipant]

Len was considered extremely NBA ready when he was drafted, don’t forget he was 22 so you’d be looking at someone who was effectively the same age as someone from the 2013 draft age wise and he’d have soon got up to speed with the NBA.

Also he was going onto the Champions and so would be on a powerhouse team from day one. It was assumed he’d play around Bird and McHale for a couple of years before McHale resumed his 6th man role. Having the younger Bias there would have allowed Bird in particular to manage his minutes and hand the team’s mantle over to Bias in due course.

Don’t forget that Boston also drafted the equally tragic Reggie Lewis the next year who could have been Bias’s running mate in the post Bird era.

[holefillers1Participant]

 I would take Shawn Kemp or Larry Johnson over him any day. 

[publius2481Participant]

 I have no question about his work ethic. Bias was into weightlifting before it became popular for basketball players. The big question I have is how big of an advantage would that have been. The 80’s was when some NBA players began focusing on weight training, so the training advantage he had at 22, may not have existed by the time he was 26. 

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Wow, what a question, my take is personal. Big Celtic fan and in 1986, Boston became one the BEST teams ever and all I could think about is Boston having Seattle’s pick and Len Bias was a possibility.

I made sure to watch every single Maryland game possible and studied him as much as I could. He was a beast. the decsription some of you guys made are dead on. IMO he was a less creative but bigger stronger Jordan. His game may be simple but amazingly beautiful and efficient. He could rise up so high on his jumper. He had a good first step. There was no wasted motion. He got to where he needed to go. He didn’t rely on multiple dribble of fakes. He could post up smaller players and shoot over both shoulders. He didn’t need to shoot many 3s but could if that was needed. Had he had the chance to play with Bird and Mchale, he would have meshed unbelievably well. IMO he could have easily played the 2-3and 4 man position because of his Size althletic combination.

I went to the draft and remember seeing Len shaking hands with 7’1 center Brad Daugherty. and all I can remember is how Bias’ hand easily engulfed Brad’s hand with how big it was. 

I was in basketball heaven. The NY Post back page read, "the rich just got risher"

Can you imagine a team with the most stacked talent (at that time) coming off a title and getting what many (Bobby Knight included) called one of the most talented players ever???

2 days later the Dream come true turned into a nigtmare. I can only hope that somewhere, someone STOPPED taking or DIDN’T start taking drugs because of this tragedy.

In conclussion Bias may or may not have achieved "all-time status. No one will ever know, but based on all what I have seen, his talent was unreal for that generation and at minimum would have been a certain All-star level player for many years.

 Now excuse me while I go cry somewhere all over again (insert sad emoji)

 

 

 

 

  

[HitsterParticipant]

 The point that CU Lions raises is an excellent one, the Cetics lost in the finals the next year, conference semi finals in 1988 and won over 50 games each season between 1989-1992 so if you had added a young Len Bias into the first two situations and a Len Bias reaching his peak into the later then you just wonder how many extra titles the Celtics may have added in that time. I’d guess a couple at least.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

 If someone wants to see how ridiculously athletic Bias was, go to Len Bias highlites on Youtube and around the 52 second part in the video, Len Bias from a standstill position, on defense, under the rim, jumps up and blocks a layup attempt at the TOP of the backboard.

Again, from a standstill position, to the top of the backboard !

 

 

 

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