Best Players With Slow Start to NBA Careers

This topic contains 48 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by surve 14 years, 11 months ago.

Author
Posts
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 12:50pm #32667

surve
Participant
Kobe Bryant
Gary Payton
John Stockton
Tracy McGrady
Downtown Freddie Brown
Alex English
Kevin Garnett

0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:02pm #590904

starpy
Participant
Jermaine O’Neal
Ben Wallace
Chauncey Billups
Gerald Wallace
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:02pm #590927

starpy
Participant
Jermaine O’Neal
Ben Wallace
Chauncey Billups
Gerald Wallace
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:02pm #590481

starpy
Participant
Jermaine O’Neal
Ben Wallace
Chauncey Billups
Gerald Wallace
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:33pm #590910

BothTeamsPlayedHard
Participant
Gotta love that NBA All-Star at age 19 "slow start."
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:33pm #590933

BothTeamsPlayedHard
Participant
Gotta love that NBA All-Star at age 19 "slow start."
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:33pm #590486

BothTeamsPlayedHard
Participant
Gotta love that NBA All-Star at age 19 "slow start."
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:38pm #590913

Aztecs Fan
Participant
He was the NBA slam dunk Champion and he was in the western conference playoffs in crunch time. I’d say that’s a pretty fast start
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:38pm #590936

Aztecs Fan
Participant
He was the NBA slam dunk Champion and he was in the western conference playoffs in crunch time. I’d say that’s a pretty fast start
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:38pm #590489

Aztecs Fan
Participant
He was the NBA slam dunk Champion and he was in the western conference playoffs in crunch time. I’d say that’s a pretty fast start
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:40pm #590919

I May Be Wrong
Participant
his first 4 seasons were slow but then he got his nod in Dallas and blossomed into a good PG and then like fine wine, got way better over time. Truly one of the greatest players to "start slow" in their careers
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:40pm #590942

I May Be Wrong
Participant
his first 4 seasons were slow but then he got his nod in Dallas and blossomed into a good PG and then like fine wine, got way better over time. Truly one of the greatest players to "start slow" in their careers
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:40pm #590495

I May Be Wrong
Participant
his first 4 seasons were slow but then he got his nod in Dallas and blossomed into a good PG and then like fine wine, got way better over time. Truly one of the greatest players to "start slow" in their careers
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:45pm #590928

surve
Participant
lol, hey, Kobe didnt come in like MJ, LBJ, or Magic…it was a slow start nontheless when a high pick doesnt avg double figures or a lot of minutes….because after that type of start its hard to say the next year or two will be a breakout season. it was a slow start, but didnt take him long to break out.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:45pm #590951

surve
Participant
lol, hey, Kobe didnt come in like MJ, LBJ, or Magic…it was a slow start nontheless when a high pick doesnt avg double figures or a lot of minutes….because after that type of start its hard to say the next year or two will be a breakout season. it was a slow start, but didnt take him long to break out.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:45pm #590504

surve
Participant
lol, hey, Kobe didnt come in like MJ, LBJ, or Magic…it was a slow start nontheless when a high pick doesnt avg double figures or a lot of minutes….because after that type of start its hard to say the next year or two will be a breakout season. it was a slow start, but didnt take him long to break out.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:52pm #590931

surve
Participant
when I say slow start, I am talking Evan Turner as opposed to John Wall, Derrick Favors as opposed to Demarcus Cousins…Vince Carter came blasting out the gate…Antawn Jamison didnt. Your rookie season does count as the start of your career doesnt it?
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:52pm #590954

surve
Participant
when I say slow start, I am talking Evan Turner as opposed to John Wall, Derrick Favors as opposed to Demarcus Cousins…Vince Carter came blasting out the gate…Antawn Jamison didnt. Your rookie season does count as the start of your career doesnt it?
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:52pm #590507

surve
Participant
when I say slow start, I am talking Evan Turner as opposed to John Wall, Derrick Favors as opposed to Demarcus Cousins…Vince Carter came blasting out the gate…Antawn Jamison didnt. Your rookie season does count as the start of your career doesnt it?
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 2:35pm #590952

aamir543
Participant
Clyde Drexler

0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 2:35pm #590975

aamir543
Participant
Clyde Drexler

0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 2:35pm #590528

aamir543
Participant
Clyde Drexler

0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 2:38pm #590959

llperez
kobe could have averaged 20 a game his rookie season if he went to a bad team but he was playing on a veteran contender team behind 2 all-star gaurds. But he had the one on one skills to get points from day 1. He demonstrated that in the rookie game where he led the game in scoring and lloked like the best scorer on the court. He also dropped 30 on jordan his rookie year. He just didnt get the type of minutes most rookies get.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 2:38pm #590981

llperez
kobe could have averaged 20 a game his rookie season if he went to a bad team but he was playing on a veteran contender team behind 2 all-star gaurds. But he had the one on one skills to get points from day 1. He demonstrated that in the rookie game where he led the game in scoring and lloked like the best scorer on the court. He also dropped 30 on jordan his rookie year. He just didnt get the type of minutes most rookies get.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 2:38pm #590534

llperez
kobe could have averaged 20 a game his rookie season if he went to a bad team but he was playing on a veteran contender team behind 2 all-star gaurds. But he had the one on one skills to get points from day 1. He demonstrated that in the rookie game where he led the game in scoring and lloked like the best scorer on the court. He also dropped 30 on jordan his rookie year. He just didnt get the type of minutes most rookies get.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 5:26pm #590635

surve
Participant
not talking about what Kobe couldve done and why he couldnt…just stating that he had a slow start, he was playing behind Eddie Jones. in some cases it may not matter what team you go to, if you are ready, you are ready…if he was ready completely right then, he wouldve replaced Jones in the lineup. Yeah, he couldve scored 20ppg, but this post is just recognizing the fact that some guys didnt come out the gate smoking…regardless of the reason.
Look at Duncan….he came to a very good team…dont be fooled by the poor record the year before because their best player missed nearly the entire season. When Timmy got there Robinson was ready to go and they were viewed as a major threat…Duncan came in and avg 21ppg and 12rpg on a team that won 56 games!!!
Magic when to a team that had just won 47 games…avg 18ppg, 7rpg, 7apg…won 60 games that year and the title.
other players that avg double figure numbers or more than 25 min in their rookie seasons for teams that were not "bad"…
Yao Ming (43 win Rockets)
Beasley (43 win Heat)
Amare (44 win Suns)
Carmelo (43 win Nuggets)
Wade (42 win Heat)
Ben Gordon (47 win Bulls)
Deron Williams (41 win Jazz)
Al Horford (nearly a double double on a team that was better than their record and made the playoffs)

0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 5:26pm #591061

surve
Participant
not talking about what Kobe couldve done and why he couldnt…just stating that he had a slow start, he was playing behind Eddie Jones. in some cases it may not matter what team you go to, if you are ready, you are ready…if he was ready completely right then, he wouldve replaced Jones in the lineup. Yeah, he couldve scored 20ppg, but this post is just recognizing the fact that some guys didnt come out the gate smoking…regardless of the reason.
Look at Duncan….he came to a very good team…dont be fooled by the poor record the year before because their best player missed nearly the entire season. When Timmy got there Robinson was ready to go and they were viewed as a major threat…Duncan came in and avg 21ppg and 12rpg on a team that won 56 games!!!
Magic when to a team that had just won 47 games…avg 18ppg, 7rpg, 7apg…won 60 games that year and the title.
other players that avg double figure numbers or more than 25 min in their rookie seasons for teams that were not "bad"…
Yao Ming (43 win Rockets)
Beasley (43 win Heat)
Amare (44 win Suns)
Carmelo (43 win Nuggets)
Wade (42 win Heat)
Ben Gordon (47 win Bulls)
Deron Williams (41 win Jazz)
Al Horford (nearly a double double on a team that was better than their record and made the playoffs)

0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 5:26pm #591084

surve
Participant
not talking about what Kobe couldve done and why he couldnt…just stating that he had a slow start, he was playing behind Eddie Jones. in some cases it may not matter what team you go to, if you are ready, you are ready…if he was ready completely right then, he wouldve replaced Jones in the lineup. Yeah, he couldve scored 20ppg, but this post is just recognizing the fact that some guys didnt come out the gate smoking…regardless of the reason.
Look at Duncan….he came to a very good team…dont be fooled by the poor record the year before because their best player missed nearly the entire season. When Timmy got there Robinson was ready to go and they were viewed as a major threat…Duncan came in and avg 21ppg and 12rpg on a team that won 56 games!!!
Magic when to a team that had just won 47 games…avg 18ppg, 7rpg, 7apg…won 60 games that year and the title.
other players that avg double figure numbers or more than 25 min in their rookie seasons for teams that were not "bad"…
Yao Ming (43 win Rockets)
Beasley (43 win Heat)
Amare (44 win Suns)
Carmelo (43 win Nuggets)
Wade (42 win Heat)
Ben Gordon (47 win Bulls)
Deron Williams (41 win Jazz)
Al Horford (nearly a double double on a team that was better than their record and made the playoffs)

0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 5:37pm #590641

surve
Participant
also, its easy to say Kobe wouldve avg 20ppg his rookie season in hindsight…but I can think of 12 other teams that year that couldve used those 20 points…and they werent all contenders.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 5:37pm #591067

surve
Participant
also, its easy to say Kobe wouldve avg 20ppg his rookie season in hindsight…but I can think of 12 other teams that year that couldve used those 20 points…and they werent all contenders.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 5:37pm #591090

surve
Participant
also, its easy to say Kobe wouldve avg 20ppg his rookie season in hindsight…but I can think of 12 other teams that year that couldve used those 20 points…and they werent all contenders.
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 6:34pm #591142

llperez
im not dissagreeing with any of that. Just pointing out that there is more depth to this issue then just stats. If kobe had played on most teams in the league, he would have put up numbers. You mentioned john wall and demarcous cousins as not having slow starts, but the difference is pretty much playing time/freedom for bad teams vs playing time/fredom on a good team. That doesnt mean im dissagreeing that his start was slow, just expanding on an issue that might suggest some guys were not nba ready when they were. And just becasue kobe couldnt start over an all-star doesnt mean he wasnt ready. Do you think wall and cousins would have sent all-stars to the bench last year?
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 6:34pm #591165

llperez
im not dissagreeing with any of that. Just pointing out that there is more depth to this issue then just stats. If kobe had played on most teams in the league, he would have put up numbers. You mentioned john wall and demarcous cousins as not having slow starts, but the difference is pretty much playing time/freedom for bad teams vs playing time/fredom on a good team. That doesnt mean im dissagreeing that his start was slow, just expanding on an issue that might suggest some guys were not nba ready when they were. And just becasue kobe couldnt start over an all-star doesnt mean he wasnt ready. Do you think wall and cousins would have sent all-stars to the bench last year?
0
Posted on: Wed, 08/17/2011 - 6:34pm #590714

llperez
im not dissagreeing with any of that. Just pointing out that there is more depth to this issue then just stats. If kobe had played on most teams in the league, he would have put up numbers. You mentioned john wall and demarcous cousins as not having slow starts, but the difference is pretty much playing time/freedom for bad teams vs playing time/fredom on a good team. That doesnt mean im dissagreeing that his start was slow, just expanding on an issue that might suggest some guys were not nba ready when they were. And just becasue kobe couldnt start over an all-star doesnt mean he wasnt ready. Do you think wall and cousins would have sent all-stars to the bench last year?
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:30am #591199

surve
Participant
I got you, I thought you were saying he didnt have a slow start. I do think some players could command big minutes regardless of where they played however…like MJ, LBJ, Magic, etc…
the fact is, a lot of players would start fast even if they played with decent teams, but…reality is, the best players usually go to bad teams…I used Duncan as an example, but he was a rare exception of a top guy that went to a team that was basically a contender.
Now as far as Wall, I see your point there too, and I am not disagreeing, but…do you remember when everyone was speculating what would happen if the Nets got Wall? Had that happened, its almost certain that Harris (an All Star) wouldve been traded immediately after. Harris would have no chance of being the future PG for the Nets…the same fate was cut out for Eddie Jones…its just that the Lakers had the luxury of taking a slower pace with Kobe.
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:30am #591222

surve
Participant
I got you, I thought you were saying he didnt have a slow start. I do think some players could command big minutes regardless of where they played however…like MJ, LBJ, Magic, etc…
the fact is, a lot of players would start fast even if they played with decent teams, but…reality is, the best players usually go to bad teams…I used Duncan as an example, but he was a rare exception of a top guy that went to a team that was basically a contender.
Now as far as Wall, I see your point there too, and I am not disagreeing, but…do you remember when everyone was speculating what would happen if the Nets got Wall? Had that happened, its almost certain that Harris (an All Star) wouldve been traded immediately after. Harris would have no chance of being the future PG for the Nets…the same fate was cut out for Eddie Jones…its just that the Lakers had the luxury of taking a slower pace with Kobe.
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:30am #590771

surve
Participant
I got you, I thought you were saying he didnt have a slow start. I do think some players could command big minutes regardless of where they played however…like MJ, LBJ, Magic, etc…
the fact is, a lot of players would start fast even if they played with decent teams, but…reality is, the best players usually go to bad teams…I used Duncan as an example, but he was a rare exception of a top guy that went to a team that was basically a contender.
Now as far as Wall, I see your point there too, and I am not disagreeing, but…do you remember when everyone was speculating what would happen if the Nets got Wall? Had that happened, its almost certain that Harris (an All Star) wouldve been traded immediately after. Harris would have no chance of being the future PG for the Nets…the same fate was cut out for Eddie Jones…its just that the Lakers had the luxury of taking a slower pace with Kobe.
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:36am #591202

J-Bo
Participant
Zach Randolph and Gilbert Arenas
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:36am #591225

J-Bo
Participant
Zach Randolph and Gilbert Arenas
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:36am #590774

J-Bo
Participant
Zach Randolph and Gilbert Arenas
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:57am #591208

surve
Participant
I had Nash, Drexler, J. O’Neal on my list too, I just didnt want to name a lot of people to give others a chance to participate…but some others are…
Pippen
Moncrief
Kemp
Dirk
Mark Price

0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:57am #591231

surve
Participant
I had Nash, Drexler, J. O’Neal on my list too, I just didnt want to name a lot of people to give others a chance to participate…but some others are…
Pippen
Moncrief
Kemp
Dirk
Mark Price

0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 2:57am #590780

surve
Participant
I had Nash, Drexler, J. O’Neal on my list too, I just didnt want to name a lot of people to give others a chance to participate…but some others are…
Pippen
Moncrief
Kemp
Dirk
Mark Price

0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 3:06am #591223
mikeyvthedon
Participant
With less than stellar rookie years. I mean, there have been a lot of players who have had rookie years well below the next run of time in their careers. Every once in a while, there will be players who have rookie years they never duplicate for the rest of their careers.
Some other "slow start", guys:
- Dirk Nowitzki (8.2 ppg)
- Michael Redd (2.2 ppg)
- Allan Houston (8.5 ppg)
- Peja Stojakovic (8.4 ppg)
- Baron Davis (5.9 ppg)
- Manu Ginobili (7.6 ppg)
- Tony Parker and Kevin Johnson (9.2 ppg)
- Rashard Lewis (2.4 ppg rookie year, 8.2 ppg 2nd year, of course, most HS players had a "slow start" by their normal career standards)
- Jamal Crawford (4.6 ppg, 9.3 ppg 2nd year)
- Corey Maggette (8.4 ppg)
- Stephen Jackson (8.2 ppg, 3.9 ppg 2nd year)
- Scottie Pippen (7.9 ppg)
- Jason Terry (8.1 ppg)
- Sam Cassell (6.7 ppg)
- Al Harrington (2.1 ppg, 6.6 ppg 2nd year, 7.5 ppg 3rd year)
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 3:06am #591246
mikeyvthedon
Participant
With less than stellar rookie years. I mean, there have been a lot of players who have had rookie years well below the next run of time in their careers. Every once in a while, there will be players who have rookie years they never duplicate for the rest of their careers.
Some other "slow start", guys:
- Dirk Nowitzki (8.2 ppg)
- Michael Redd (2.2 ppg)
- Allan Houston (8.5 ppg)
- Peja Stojakovic (8.4 ppg)
- Baron Davis (5.9 ppg)
- Manu Ginobili (7.6 ppg)
- Tony Parker and Kevin Johnson (9.2 ppg)
- Rashard Lewis (2.4 ppg rookie year, 8.2 ppg 2nd year, of course, most HS players had a "slow start" by their normal career standards)
- Jamal Crawford (4.6 ppg, 9.3 ppg 2nd year)
- Corey Maggette (8.4 ppg)
- Stephen Jackson (8.2 ppg, 3.9 ppg 2nd year)
- Scottie Pippen (7.9 ppg)
- Jason Terry (8.1 ppg)
- Sam Cassell (6.7 ppg)
- Al Harrington (2.1 ppg, 6.6 ppg 2nd year, 7.5 ppg 3rd year)
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 3:06am #590795
mikeyvthedon
Participant
With less than stellar rookie years. I mean, there have been a lot of players who have had rookie years well below the next run of time in their careers. Every once in a while, there will be players who have rookie years they never duplicate for the rest of their careers.
Some other "slow start", guys:
- Dirk Nowitzki (8.2 ppg)
- Michael Redd (2.2 ppg)
- Allan Houston (8.5 ppg)
- Peja Stojakovic (8.4 ppg)
- Baron Davis (5.9 ppg)
- Manu Ginobili (7.6 ppg)
- Tony Parker and Kevin Johnson (9.2 ppg)
- Rashard Lewis (2.4 ppg rookie year, 8.2 ppg 2nd year, of course, most HS players had a "slow start" by their normal career standards)
- Jamal Crawford (4.6 ppg, 9.3 ppg 2nd year)
- Corey Maggette (8.4 ppg)
- Stephen Jackson (8.2 ppg, 3.9 ppg 2nd year)
- Scottie Pippen (7.9 ppg)
- Jason Terry (8.1 ppg)
- Sam Cassell (6.7 ppg)
- Al Harrington (2.1 ppg, 6.6 ppg 2nd year, 7.5 ppg 3rd year)
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 3:27am #591244

surve
Participant
good point. there can always be a better title. my title prob implied that these guys were not very good in their rookie seasons…and that was NOT my intent. good list too, forgot about some of those guys rookie years.
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 3:27am #591267

surve
Participant
good point. there can always be a better title. my title prob implied that these guys were not very good in their rookie seasons…and that was NOT my intent. good list too, forgot about some of those guys rookie years.
0
Posted on: Thu, 08/18/2011 - 3:27am #590816

surve
Participant
good point. there can always be a better title. my title prob implied that these guys were not very good in their rookie seasons…and that was NOT my intent. good list too, forgot about some of those guys rookie years.
0
Author
Posts

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.