Players who passed you by due to your dislike

 *Lebron haters hands quivering over keyboard*

I was young at the time and still really liked him, but defintely wish I watched more games of Steve Francis other than the rare few and all-star appearances.  Just such an exciting plaayer to watch. 

 *Lebron haters hands quivering over keyboard*

I was young at the time and still really liked him, but defintely wish I watched more games of Steve Francis other than the rare few and all-star appearances.  Just such an exciting plaayer to watch. 

I never liked him. When the Twolves lost to the Lakers in the WCFinals ten years ago, I hated him. But now that he’s old and bald; now that his contemporaries have faded away; now that he’s almost gone, I’ve gotta say that I’m going to miss him.

This pretty much sums it all up

And I hope I never forget this

I never liked him. When the Twolves lost to the Lakers in the WCFinals ten years ago, I hated him. But now that he’s old and bald; now that his contemporaries have faded away; now that he’s almost gone, I’ve gotta say that I’m going to miss him.

This pretty much sums it all up

And I hope I never forget this

this is a real interesting topic

I find myself trying to scour my brain to come up with names of past players that I took their time playing this game for granted. But the only name that keeps popping up is Shaq. I honestly was never a big fan of his. Even as a laker fan, I always hated his work ethic and was on team kobe whenever it came to picking sides. I could write quite a few things describing why I didn’t care for shaq. Him stating that the lakers would never win with kurt rambis as coach because he refused to play hard for him was one of the most asinine things I could imagine a pro athlete making 20+ million dollars could ever say. But when all is said and done, that guy might have been the last truly dominant big man we have seen. Of course there is Duncan as well, but shaq at his best was beyond Duncan at his best. Shaq abused everyone.

in the 2000 finals, shaq averaged 38 pts and 17 rbs

in the 2001 finals, shaq averaged 33 pts and 16 rebs

in the 2002 finals, shaq averaged 36pts and 12 rebs

I mean those are insane numbers that really make you realize how far ahead shaq when motivated was vs just about anyone else. I mean tex winter who is the inventor of the triangle offense and coached both shaq and Jordan said himself that Jordan would have never averaged 30 pts per game or been the go to man had he played with a prime shaq. And shaq never cared about hurting anyone’s feelings. He threw punches when he got fouled hard. He talked shit. He was a giant who knew how to be a giant.

One of the true greats and im lucky to have watched his entire career.

this is a real interesting topic

I find myself trying to scour my brain to come up with names of past players that I took their time playing this game for granted. But the only name that keeps popping up is Shaq. I honestly was never a big fan of his. Even as a laker fan, I always hated his work ethic and was on team kobe whenever it came to picking sides. I could write quite a few things describing why I didn’t care for shaq. Him stating that the lakers would never win with kurt rambis as coach because he refused to play hard for him was one of the most asinine things I could imagine a pro athlete making 20+ million dollars could ever say. But when all is said and done, that guy might have been the last truly dominant big man we have seen. Of course there is Duncan as well, but shaq at his best was beyond Duncan at his best. Shaq abused everyone.

in the 2000 finals, shaq averaged 38 pts and 17 rbs

in the 2001 finals, shaq averaged 33 pts and 16 rebs

in the 2002 finals, shaq averaged 36pts and 12 rebs

I mean those are insane numbers that really make you realize how far ahead shaq when motivated was vs just about anyone else. I mean tex winter who is the inventor of the triangle offense and coached both shaq and Jordan said himself that Jordan would have never averaged 30 pts per game or been the go to man had he played with a prime shaq. And shaq never cared about hurting anyone’s feelings. He threw punches when he got fouled hard. He talked shit. He was a giant who knew how to be a giant.

One of the true greats and im lucky to have watched his entire career.

just wanted to add since the op brought up jay Williams, for those who didn’t watch him, I truly think he would have been great. I watched his college career and thought for sure he was a superstar in the making. His rookie year was average, but I have very little doubt in my mind he would have been an all nba caliber player year in and year out had he not hurt himself.

just wanted to add since the op brought up jay Williams, for those who didn’t watch him, I truly think he would have been great. I watched his college career and thought for sure he was a superstar in the making. His rookie year was average, but I have very little doubt in my mind he would have been an all nba caliber player year in and year out had he not hurt himself.

 …..Grant Hill coz he would help Duke beat my Fab 5 back in the day, especially during the year that Michigan played Duke in the NCAA championship game.  That year, him and Christian Laetner would eventually beat my Wolverine team led by Chris Webber and Jalen Rose.  Then, when Grant Hill came out for the draft that year,  I think my Sixers had a chance to pick him or worked out a deal to get him,  but they didn’t get it done.   Suffice it to say, he went on to become the great player that he was and made the Sixers regret they ever passed him over,  and fans like me wondered why we ever "hated" the guy and wished the Sixers could’ve acquired him.

 …..Grant Hill coz he would help Duke beat my Fab 5 back in the day, especially during the year that Michigan played Duke in the NCAA championship game.  That year, him and Christian Laetner would eventually beat my Wolverine team led by Chris Webber and Jalen Rose.  Then, when Grant Hill came out for the draft that year,  I think my Sixers had a chance to pick him or worked out a deal to get him,  but they didn’t get it done.   Suffice it to say, he went on to become the great player that he was and made the Sixers regret they ever passed him over,  and fans like me wondered why we ever "hated" the guy and wished the Sixers could’ve acquired him.

 As a rockets fan, I hated dirk, especially when they beat the rockets in the playoffs in 2005. Now that I’m older, I’ve grown to appreciate basketball more and it made me realize how pretty and rare dirk’s game is. With no outstanding athleticism, he uses his size and shooting ability to his advantage. He’s been making a living in the mid range where most people are going away from. He may flop from time to time but on one can deny that he’s a sure fire hall of famer. 

 As a rockets fan, I hated dirk, especially when they beat the rockets in the playoffs in 2005. Now that I’m older, I’ve grown to appreciate basketball more and it made me realize how pretty and rare dirk’s game is. With no outstanding athleticism, he uses his size and shooting ability to his advantage. He’s been making a living in the mid range where most people are going away from. He may flop from time to time but on one can deny that he’s a sure fire hall of famer. 

 I never really liked Joakim Noah but I’m starting to really appreciate him 

 I never really liked Joakim Noah but I’m starting to really appreciate him 

 I always hated Tim Duncan.  I never understood how a player with average to below average athleticism could be so dominant.  If you;re looking for a player with flash, elite athleticism and hi-light reel dunks, Duncan wasn;t the player for you.  He dominated with a high basketball IQ and a ridiculous skill-set.  That bank shot he loves used to drive me crazy.  I now admire him and acknowledge that he’s the greatest ower forward to ever play the game.

 I always hated Tim Duncan.  I never understood how a player with average to below average athleticism could be so dominant.  If you;re looking for a player with flash, elite athleticism and hi-light reel dunks, Duncan wasn;t the player for you.  He dominated with a high basketball IQ and a ridiculous skill-set.  That bank shot he loves used to drive me crazy.  I now admire him and acknowledge that he’s the greatest ower forward to ever play the game.

 I try not to be biased as much as possible but as a Bulls fan and huge DRose fan, I hated John Wall and Russell Westbrook. Early on in their careers I began to hate Russ because people compared the two. I said he is not a true point, takes shots away from KD, can’t shoot, and all of that noise. Then there is Rose, 2 HS State championships (one in which he only 2 points, and not because he played a bad game), epic playoff series with Boston, youngest MVP ever, the kid is special. The next draft people were saying Wall would be the next best PG and perhaps better than Rose. Again I thought people were crazy and began to despise Wall. He plays with no pace, OC, doesn’t win, can’t shoot – is what I said about him. 

I hate that I thought that way about those players due to my own bias. Some of the questions I had and negatives I saw in thier games were valid, but they are incredible players. I just didn’t want to admit it. Now I’m crossing my fingers that Rose can still be a productive player in the league, while the other two are possibly both Top 5 PG’s. 

 I try not to be biased as much as possible but as a Bulls fan and huge DRose fan, I hated John Wall and Russell Westbrook. Early on in their careers I began to hate Russ because people compared the two. I said he is not a true point, takes shots away from KD, can’t shoot, and all of that noise. Then there is Rose, 2 HS State championships (one in which he only 2 points, and not because he played a bad game), epic playoff series with Boston, youngest MVP ever, the kid is special. The next draft people were saying Wall would be the next best PG and perhaps better than Rose. Again I thought people were crazy and began to despise Wall. He plays with no pace, OC, doesn’t win, can’t shoot – is what I said about him. 

I hate that I thought that way about those players due to my own bias. Some of the questions I had and negatives I saw in thier games were valid, but they are incredible players. I just didn’t want to admit it. Now I’m crossing my fingers that Rose can still be a productive player in the league, while the other two are possibly both Top 5 PG’s. 

 I could never stand Chris Webber or Steve Nash, and I am not entirely sure as to why. Looking back they were both intriguing players that I would certainly watch play in a heartbeat but when I was younger I just could not fathom being a fan of those guys.

 I could never stand Chris Webber or Steve Nash, and I am not entirely sure as to why. Looking back they were both intriguing players that I would certainly watch play in a heartbeat but when I was younger I just could not fathom being a fan of those guys.

 I used to have a strong dislike for the both of them. I never hated them on the level that a psycho sports fan would hate them but I guess I was the whole "Kobe’s a Ballhog" and "LeBron isn’t clutch" type of guy back in the day. But one day I had an epiphany and I started to appreciate their talent way more as 2 of the greatest players of their respective generations. 

 I used to have a strong dislike for the both of them. I never hated them on the level that a psycho sports fan would hate them but I guess I was the whole "Kobe’s a Ballhog" and "LeBron isn’t clutch" type of guy back in the day. But one day I had an epiphany and I started to appreciate their talent way more as 2 of the greatest players of their respective generations. 

 *insert any successful Duke NBA players name here*

 *insert any successful Duke NBA players name here*

 Not sure why i dislike him so much but looking back you have to respect the numbers he was putting up in Minny

 Not sure why i dislike him so much but looking back you have to respect the numbers he was putting up in Minny