[ChrispyParticipant]

Just curious. The forum topic about what player you would most like to see in his prime got me thinking. I noticed all the big guns listed by some of the younger crowd, but multiple exciting players were unlisted. This is mostly because they were overshadowed at their respective positions by other players. What player did (note past tense) you like the most who never got his just due and why? For me it has to be Clyde Drexler. He SHOULD have been the most exciting 2 guard of his day but for that pesky…whatshisface?…oh, Michael Jordan. Drexler had it all- a silky J, amazing athleticism and lock down D. But for Jordan and the relative anonymity of Portland he would be far more loved than he is (and he does get his props). Thoughts?

[NastyDHLParticipant]

he played in Portland :/ not much exposure there even with a finals run

[NastyDHLParticipant]

he played in Portland :/ not much exposure there even with a finals run

[sammybuckeye13Participant]

Bernard King.

He was in his prime in the mid-80-s, with his best seasons in 83-84 (26.2 points) and 84-45 (32.9 points), and was unfortunate for having to go up against Bird and Dominque in the East, who also had better supporting casts. He was the perfect SF (6-7/205), an amazing athlete and top-notch shooter. His nose for the basket isn’t matched by anyone today. Nine 20+ scoring seasons in 10 years, shined in the biggest, more pressure-laden market in the world, known for outrageous scoring outbursts (60 on Christmas against the nets, 50 points on 20-23 shooting one game) and if he had just slightly better players around him he would be regarded as top 35. 

[sammybuckeye13Participant]

Bernard King.

He was in his prime in the mid-80-s, with his best seasons in 83-84 (26.2 points) and 84-45 (32.9 points), and was unfortunate for having to go up against Bird and Dominque in the East, who also had better supporting casts. He was the perfect SF (6-7/205), an amazing athlete and top-notch shooter. His nose for the basket isn’t matched by anyone today. Nine 20+ scoring seasons in 10 years, shined in the biggest, more pressure-laden market in the world, known for outrageous scoring outbursts (60 on Christmas against the nets, 50 points on 20-23 shooting one game) and if he had just slightly better players around him he would be regarded as top 35. 

[surveParticipant]

Drexler was in the shadow of MJ but I think a lot of people appreciated him more after he retired.  He was a very good all around player.  I think he had a quadrouple double once.

[surveParticipant]

Drexler was in the shadow of MJ but I think a lot of people appreciated him more after he retired.  He was a very good all around player.  I think he had a quadrouple double once.

[surveParticipant]

I agree about B-King, he was really overshadowed as you mentioned because of Bird and Dominique, but also, King’s career started slow and just as he came online…thats when the phenomenon known as "AIR" was making his entry and taking the league by storm.

[surveParticipant]

I agree about B-King, he was really overshadowed as you mentioned because of Bird and Dominique, but also, King’s career started slow and just as he came online…thats when the phenomenon known as "AIR" was making his entry and taking the league by storm.

[ChrispyParticipant]

I’m from New York and Bernard was an awesome player. Good call.

[ChrispyParticipant]

I’m from New York and Bernard was an awesome player. Good call.

[drk3351Participant]

kevin mchale and james worthy

[drk3351Participant]

kevin mchale and james worthy

[ChrispyParticipant]

get tons of props because of their talent and where they played as well as with whom they played.

[ChrispyParticipant]

get tons of props because of their talent and where they played as well as with whom they played.

[GottaFeedTheFamParticipant]

Gary Payton nevers gets enough credit to me, this guy was the best pg in the league after Magic retired and imo was the best defensive guard I have ever seen. The glove absolutely smothered people, including containing MJ in the 1996 Finals for the last 3 games (no one had ever contained MJ for 3 games in a row in the Finals ever), honestly you couldnt score on this guy, he completely disrupted the flow of offense with his on ball defense and was always a threat to steal the ball, deflect passes, or jump passing lanes and create easy fast break buckets. He was more than just great defense though he was a 20ppg scorer, with a very good midrange jumper, a quick fist step that let him get to the hole all the time, and he abused smaller/weaker pgs in the paint with one of the best post up games any pg has ever had. Payton could also run a team efficiently and usually he made all the right passes and had a very good balance between his scoring and providing scoring opportunities for his team. He was a great leader with very good size for his position (6’4”), he played with a confidence that few players have ever played with, and while he wasnt the one pf the flashiest players during his time he was one of the most physical. He was no Magic Johnson but he was better than Jason Kidd and John Stockton and he deserves more credit than he gets.

Karl Malone is another guy that gets overshadowed, but for a good reason because everyone that wasnt a Jazz fan (including myself) hated him. As much as I didnt/still dont like the Mailman he was a great player and was the rock on the most consistent winning team in basketball for almost 2 decades. He was a dirty player but he also averaged 25 and 10 for his career. Im not the right person to really sum up Malone’s career because I cant stand him, but this guy was great and is rarely mentioned with the great players during his time, everyone talks about the Shaqs, KGs, and Chris Webbers but rarely is Malone mentioned.

 

[GottaFeedTheFamParticipant]

Gary Payton nevers gets enough credit to me, this guy was the best pg in the league after Magic retired and imo was the best defensive guard I have ever seen. The glove absolutely smothered people, including containing MJ in the 1996 Finals for the last 3 games (no one had ever contained MJ for 3 games in a row in the Finals ever), honestly you couldnt score on this guy, he completely disrupted the flow of offense with his on ball defense and was always a threat to steal the ball, deflect passes, or jump passing lanes and create easy fast break buckets. He was more than just great defense though he was a 20ppg scorer, with a very good midrange jumper, a quick fist step that let him get to the hole all the time, and he abused smaller/weaker pgs in the paint with one of the best post up games any pg has ever had. Payton could also run a team efficiently and usually he made all the right passes and had a very good balance between his scoring and providing scoring opportunities for his team. He was a great leader with very good size for his position (6’4”), he played with a confidence that few players have ever played with, and while he wasnt the one pf the flashiest players during his time he was one of the most physical. He was no Magic Johnson but he was better than Jason Kidd and John Stockton and he deserves more credit than he gets.

Karl Malone is another guy that gets overshadowed, but for a good reason because everyone that wasnt a Jazz fan (including myself) hated him. As much as I didnt/still dont like the Mailman he was a great player and was the rock on the most consistent winning team in basketball for almost 2 decades. He was a dirty player but he also averaged 25 and 10 for his career. Im not the right person to really sum up Malone’s career because I cant stand him, but this guy was great and is rarely mentioned with the great players during his time, everyone talks about the Shaqs, KGs, and Chris Webbers but rarely is Malone mentioned.

 

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

Joe Dumars is a player I consider overshadowed by Isiah Thomas, the rest of his teammates, and was somewhat of an outcast amongst his teammates because he played with some of the biggest trash talkers, dirty players, and he was the only one on that “Detroit Badboys” squad that took the quiet, professional approach. Dumars is more known as a GM, than he was as a great player. Defensively he was one of the greatest at his position, and offensively he was a great penetrator and shooter, similar to what Eric Gordon is now offensively. 

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

Joe Dumars is a player I consider overshadowed by Isiah Thomas, the rest of his teammates, and was somewhat of an outcast amongst his teammates because he played with some of the biggest trash talkers, dirty players, and he was the only one on that “Detroit Badboys” squad that took the quiet, professional approach. Dumars is more known as a GM, than he was as a great player. Defensively he was one of the greatest at his position, and offensively he was a great penetrator and shooter, similar to what Eric Gordon is now offensively. 

[Author]

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