Star players lacking that extra drive

 I agree with Arenas that Carter lacked thta extra oomph in his passion to be great. VC  had all the talent and skills to be an all-time great, but instead ended up being ‘just’ a really really good/borderline great player. Still had a phenomenal career and probably a HoF lock at this point, but never was the transcendent player he could and should have been. JR Smith, to me, never had that kind of potential. His ceiling was a career borderline all-star, and while he never reached even that level, his ceiling was never that high to begin with.

I actually agree Lotto Stud, that doesnt happen often..! JR Smith in particular really had some tools. He could get up, had the long ball and could really score. Vince Carter in Toronto was right on the cusp there but just never seemed to have that drive in him to get there further. That may be unfair, but I thought he was so close and just seemed like 80 percent was always good enough. Its not just stars, its even average NBA guys. Theres a few hundred guys in the world that can make the league, but it seems just making the league and doing what they can with what they have seems to happen more often than guys working their ass off to be the best they can be.

Theres a few guys that had pretty average careers that I thought really couldve excelled if they worked harder. One guy was Elden Campbell. He was never more than a role player for the Lakers but he really did have the skills all big men wanted in that era, the lights just wouldnt switch on for him. Steve Smith for mine didnt get the most out of himself either. He was ultra talented and made an all star team, won with the USA team but just seemed like he underachieved.

Right now, Im looking across the league and Victor Oladipo would have been high on my list to point my finger at had he not performed the way he did this year. He has had it in him, but it hadnt clicked. This year, finally, the move to Indiana did it for him. Theres a few guys that I think could really do more – Derrick Favors, Michael Beasley, Andrew Wiggins, Hassan Whiteside. Carmelo wouldve been on this list but he’s gone past the peak and has dropped off the other side for mine – he missed his chance to make the most of what he had.

Andrew Wiggins is near the top of the list for the current NBA. He should and could be close to what Kawhi has become but for one reason or another just hasn’t put it all together. He has all the tools to be a top tier offensive and defensive talent but instead is a 3rd option on an 8th seed

Lamar Odom. Guy absolutely had 1st-option skills. He had the handles, a good stroke, athleticsm and footwork all in a 6’11 lean body. Too bad he was too passive a player and like you said, didn’t have that "killer" instinct.

I was living in OKC at the time the Hornets temporarily moved there back when JR was a sophomore. This guy was an absolute stud, he had some of the craziest hops I’d seen and could just do it all. I remember thinking this kid was going to be special, maybe even Kobe Bryant special. I’m not sure what happened, whether it was a lack of drive or what, but instead of utilizing his full skillset he became a resident chucker for most of his career.

Jason Richardson is another guy very similar to JR Smith that had all of the tools in the world to be great. Richardson had a better career than JR Smith but not by much, and definitely not as good as it could have been. Again this was a super athletic guy that could also shoot and do it all. I was very high on him in my younger days and would have swore he’d end up something special, but at the end of the day his career was just "meh".

Lamar Odom is an interesting one as he played for many years with great success as a running mate of Kobe’s did he sacrifice some of his personal success to help the team’s greater good I wonder. He never reached the individual heights he once promised but he did help his team to great success over the years.

Vince Carter at the Nets never seemed to have his Toronto peak despite still being an All Star and having the best creative PG at that time in Jason Kidd alongside him.

 Shaq is one of the first guys to come to mind. Although he was still one of the most dominant players ever, he was blessed with a combination of size, speed and athleticism never seen before. He dominated strictly off his athletic gifts and when they began to go, his career went downhill pretty fast. Imagine if he had really kept himself in shape and worked on developing his game in the offseason. Imagine if he could make free throws at a respectable rate. He’s a legend no matter what, but I still think he ultimately underachieved. He could’ve been the greatest ever imo.

 Kevin Durant has the drive to win scoring titles, make clutch shots in high-pressure moments, take over playoff games, and to elevate a franchise from bottom-feeder to perennial contender status.

He does not, however, have the drive to elevate a franchise from perennial contender status to championship-winning status. He needed to join a 73-9 team, 13 months moved removed from winning a title for that.

Wiggins and D’Angelo Russell are those guys to me currently

 Andrew Bynum always comes to mind. A 24yo all-star who was out ot the league two years later.

 As a 21 y/o Shaq averaged 29.3 pts, 13.2 reb, 3.2 blocks & a .600 FG%

In his first 12 seasons from 20 to 31 years old Shaq Avg 28.1 ppg, 11.3 Reb, 2.5 blocks & a .578 FG%

His advanced Stats like per 100 possession #’s over that same time period are even More insane – 37.5 pts, 16.3 reb, 3.2 blocks .578 fg% & his playoff stats are Identical

Shaq’s Orlando Magic was the Only team in a 8 stretch to knock Jordan’s Bulls out of the playoffs & he did that in his 3rd season when he led the expansion Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals 

Shaq is the ONLY person in NBA history other than Michael Jordan to win 3 straight NBA Titles & 3 straight NBA Finals MVP’s 

Shaq won 4 NBA Championships & led 3 Diff Franchises to 6 NBA Finals 

After Shaq left LA – the Lakers next 3 seasons w/ a in his Prime Kobe Bryant & Phila Jackson as coach won an Avg of 39 games & ZERO playoff series 

And the idea that Shaq did Not dominate until other great centers like Hakeem, Robinson & Ewing retired is just Laughable – Shaq Dominated these players & teams from the moment he entered the NBA 

This myth arises b/c as a 22 y/o in the NBA Finals Hakeem’s Rockets swept Shaq’s Magic & Hakeem had a Monster series as a 32 y/o in his Prime Veteran MVP winner & World Champion avg 32 pts 11 reb & 2 blocks but listen to Shaq’s #’s 28.5 ppg, 12.5 reb, 2.5 blocks, 59.5% FG% & 6.3 ASSISTS!!!!

Shaq at 35 dropped down suddenly & drastically to about a 15 ppg 8 reb 28 min per game player b/c the guy was a Monster weighing 325 lbs in his prime & almost Def 350+ lbs b/c that is what happens when you Age & a Lot of players hit the wall at 35 – Kobe hit the wall shortly after 35 too – Shaq NEVER missed Practice – NEVER dogged it on the court & was Dominant at Both ends

In his prim Shaq Avg close to 40 minutes per game & Dominated! from 20 to 34 years old. The game I always tell people to go watch if you want to get a sence of how DOminant Shaq was is Game 7 on the road in Sacramento w/ the Lakers 3 peat on the line in the Western Conference Finals – in the games last 2 minutes plus 5 minutes of Overtime Kobe does NOT TOUCH the ball even one time – Phil threw it into the post & Shaq took the Lakers home & that’s how it Always was – in the Modern NBA – 1980+ Shaq was the Most Dominant force the NBA has ever seen & historically Only Wilt & Jordan compare & surpass him 

Shaq belongs NO Where Near this Topic

 How come no one has mentioned Carmelo Anthony ?