5 Players who’s career got derailed by injuries

great list!

i still have some hope for oden left. roy will still have his monents (like against dalles in the playoffs!) here and there but all in all portland really had some bad luck with their knees!

i possibly would have mixed in T-Mac somewhere because he really was awesome before his body went down… could have been the best scorer of his generation! 

great list!

i still have some hope for oden left. roy will still have his monents (like against dalles in the playoffs!) here and there but all in all portland really had some bad luck with their knees!

i possibly would have mixed in T-Mac somewhere because he really was awesome before his body went down… could have been the best scorer of his generation! 

Nice list but there was a topic like this not even a week ago.

Nice list but there was a topic like this not even a week ago.

You could throw in Andrew Bogut. Sure he’s been solid, but it seems like every year he has an injury that sets him back. IMO it’s the main reason he’s never developed a consistent offense game – or dominated on a regular basis, one night he could go for 25/15/3 (pts/rbs/blks), then the next night disappear. 

You could throw in Andrew Bogut. Sure he’s been solid, but it seems like every year he has an injury that sets him back. IMO it’s the main reason he’s never developed a consistent offense game – or dominated on a regular basis, one night he could go for 25/15/3 (pts/rbs/blks), then the next night disappear. 

Gilbert Arenas also deserves some mention. He was one of the most, if not the most explosive scorer in the NBA.

Gilbert Arenas also deserves some mention. He was one of the most, if not the most explosive scorer in the NBA.

 You guys for real? Where the h e double hockey sticks is Penny Hardaway?????!!!!!!

 You guys for real? Where the h e double hockey sticks is Penny Hardaway?????!!!!!!

With the exception of Yao, im guessing this is based off of ACTIVE players..

With the exception of Yao, im guessing this is based off of ACTIVE players..

I think Oden gained too much weight. I think his body is too big for his frame. He looks so filled out especially in the upper body He needs to shed a few pounds so he body can carry its weight better, and I think it’s the main cause of his injuries. Even Trailblazers coach Nate McMillan said he was concered that Oden gained so much weight after his first microfracture surgery.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3115030

I saw an article saying that Oden got too strong for his own good. It said that he got so strong in the lowere body, and that’s wht his patella split. Even in college and the Summer League, he looked much more bouncier and more athletic when he wasn’t carrying all that weight.

Poirtland made a big mistake trying to get Oden to bulk up like Shaq.

I think Oden gained too much weight. I think his body is too big for his frame. He looks so filled out especially in the upper body He needs to shed a few pounds so he body can carry its weight better, and I think it’s the main cause of his injuries. Even Trailblazers coach Nate McMillan said he was concered that Oden gained so much weight after his first microfracture surgery.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3115030

I saw an article saying that Oden got too strong for his own good. It said that he got so strong in the lowere body, and that’s wht his patella split. Even in college and the Summer League, he looked much more bouncier and more athletic when he wasn’t carrying all that weight.

Poirtland made a big mistake trying to get Oden to bulk up like Shaq.

 I agree with the list, but how can you not add Tmac? The dude was an absolute beast without injuries and could’ve been one of the greatest.

 I agree with the list, but how can you not add Tmac? The dude was an absolute beast without injuries and could’ve been one of the greatest.

that was a bad mama jamma when he was on fire! I forgot how much of an assassin he really was pre-injury.

Add Antonio McDyess to the list as well. He was good for about 20 and 10 from 1995 to 2001 and played a majority of the games for Denver. Then, from 2001 to 2004, he missed a huge amount of time due to injuries. He even missed an entire season. He regained a nice little role with the Pistons and Spurs since then but he could have had a special career if he did not get injured. 

Brief highlight reel for all the youngsters out there lol

that was a bad mama jamma when he was on fire! I forgot how much of an assassin he really was pre-injury.

Add Antonio McDyess to the list as well. He was good for about 20 and 10 from 1995 to 2001 and played a majority of the games for Denver. Then, from 2001 to 2004, he missed a huge amount of time due to injuries. He even missed an entire season. He regained a nice little role with the Pistons and Spurs since then but he could have had a special career if he did not get injured. 

Brief highlight reel for all the youngsters out there lol

I’d take Tracy McGrady in his prime over all the players you listed.

I’d take Tracy McGrady in his prime over all the players you listed.

When he was playing. That knee injury destroyed his career. Yall forgot him

When he was playing. That knee injury destroyed his career. Yall forgot him

Mcdyess could have been a special player, one the most athletic big men to ever play the game. Mcdyess and Jason Caffey were a force inside at University of Alabama. Injuries quickly derailed his career and people forget that this guy was like a Blake Griffin before Blake Griffin.

Mcdyess could have been a special player, one the most athletic big men to ever play the game. Mcdyess and Jason Caffey were a force inside at University of Alabama. Injuries quickly derailed his career and people forget that this guy was like a Blake Griffin before Blake Griffin.

 Dajuan Wagner????????????????

 Dajuan Wagner????????????????

TJ Ford, picked 8th in the 03 draft 7 ast in his first season with the bucks, 2nd team all rookie then madsen sends him to the floor falling on his tailbone and suffers a contusion there (career threatening)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUy7_nUptXE…

Misses full season but then he comes back playing really well …Toronto signs him and he is starting to really come into his own averaging 14 and 8 in 30 minutes and then this happens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaZdJzsHeZk

TJ Ford, picked 8th in the 03 draft 7 ast in his first season with the bucks, 2nd team all rookie then madsen sends him to the floor falling on his tailbone and suffers a contusion there (career threatening)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUy7_nUptXE…

Misses full season but then he comes back playing really well …Toronto signs him and he is starting to really come into his own averaging 14 and 8 in 30 minutes and then this happens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaZdJzsHeZk

 Penny Hardaway

 Penny Hardaway

 real rap im with steviechillz… dajuan wagner would be a top 10 scorers possibly top 5 if he wanted to be in the league today. And he would of served as an excellent running mate with Lebron…

 real rap im with steviechillz… dajuan wagner would be a top 10 scorers possibly top 5 if he wanted to be in the league today. And he would of served as an excellent running mate with Lebron…

I would of loved to been able to see him develop.    I think Wagner had the potential to be a Bigger, Stronger Allen Iverson.   

I would of loved to been able to see him develop.    I think Wagner had the potential to be a Bigger, Stronger Allen Iverson.   

  um Penny was never the best player in the game considering Michael Jordan was in the league basically during his whole career. Penny wasn’t even the best player on his team, some dude named Shaq played with him I think…

  um Penny was never the best player in the game considering Michael Jordan was in the league basically during his whole career. Penny wasn’t even the best player on his team, some dude named Shaq played with him I think…

You’re obviously young…

Jordan was out of the game for 2 odd years… During that time Penny WAS 1 of the top players in the NBA…  The argument could have been made that he was the best…  Half of the reason Shaq got mad and left Orlando…

Scout4Real- I’m with you bro…

Its Penny, Grant Hill, Oden, Tracy, then Eddy Curry (Head Injuries)…

You’re obviously young…

Jordan was out of the game for 2 odd years… During that time Penny WAS 1 of the top players in the NBA…  The argument could have been made that he was the best…  Half of the reason Shaq got mad and left Orlando…

Scout4Real- I’m with you bro…

Its Penny, Grant Hill, Oden, Tracy, then Eddy Curry (Head Injuries)…

I can’t seem to do it…

I can’t seem to do it…

obviously so are you b/c Jordan was only out of the league for 1 full year partner, he only played in 17 games in 94-95 but that’s still not missing "2 odd years"….do ur research, plus that dude said, and i quote " Penny Hardway was the best player in the game at 1 point", not "one of", he said THE best.

obviously so are you b/c Jordan was only out of the league for 1 full year partner, he only played in 17 games in 94-95 but that’s still not missing "2 odd years"….do ur research, plus that dude said, and i quote " Penny Hardway was the best player in the game at 1 point", not "one of", he said THE best.

 and to add insult to injury homie, Penny was a ROOKIE the one full year MJ missed, and even then he finished 2nd in ROY voting behind Chris Webber and then in 94-95 Penny finished 10th in the MVP voting with Jordan finishing only 1 SPOT behind him while only playing those 17 games and Penny only beat him in 1 statistical catagory, which was assists and Jordan only trailed him by 2per. And from that point forward, I think everyone on this website and anyone who has knowledge of basketball, Jordan was once again king until he retired after ’98. At that point, Penny was on the Suns in ’99 and his injuries and decline go on from there…

I may be young, but I know my ish…..

 and to add insult to injury homie, Penny was a ROOKIE the one full year MJ missed, and even then he finished 2nd in ROY voting behind Chris Webber and then in 94-95 Penny finished 10th in the MVP voting with Jordan finishing only 1 SPOT behind him while only playing those 17 games and Penny only beat him in 1 statistical catagory, which was assists and Jordan only trailed him by 2per. And from that point forward, I think everyone on this website and anyone who has knowledge of basketball, Jordan was once again king until he retired after ’98. At that point, Penny was on the Suns in ’99 and his injuries and decline go on from there…

I may be young, but I know my ish…..

Grant Hill, Diceman, Yao and even T-Mac are all excellent choices. If you are looking at younger guys then Jay Williams could be added to Oden and co.

One other that sprang to mind was Kenyon Martin who the Nuggets signed to a huge deal in 2004 to effectively become Melo’s running mate. Whilst he is still an active player and brings veteran leadership to the Nuggets, he never became the sort of beast that they had hoped he would be and like Diceman was limited to only one all star game.

Grant Hill, Diceman, Yao and even T-Mac are all excellent choices. If you are looking at younger guys then Jay Williams could be added to Oden and co.

One other that sprang to mind was Kenyon Martin who the Nuggets signed to a huge deal in 2004 to effectively become Melo’s running mate. Whilst he is still an active player and brings veteran leadership to the Nuggets, he never became the sort of beast that they had hoped he would be and like Diceman was limited to only one all star game.

Equates to the 1.75  years Jordan didn’t play… I’m sorry… The ODD part wasn’t stressed… #1 Penny WAS considered by some to be the best player in the league, ESPECIALLY when he went head to head w/ MJ in #45 and outplayed him… 

So, sit yo young a$$$$$ down… Giving me stats that you looked up TODAY… 

Equates to the 1.75  years Jordan didn’t play… I’m sorry… The ODD part wasn’t stressed… #1 Penny WAS considered by some to be the best player in the league, ESPECIALLY when he went head to head w/ MJ in #45 and outplayed him… 

So, sit yo young a$$$$$ down… Giving me stats that you looked up TODAY… 

How did I forget about Jayson Williams?  *Triggers memory* O… He was an a$$$… Changing his name to Jay not be called Jayson anymore… But he was a special talent… He’s my 5th then…

How did I forget about Jayson Williams?  *Triggers memory* O… He was an a$$$… Changing his name to Jay not be called Jayson anymore… But he was a special talent… He’s my 5th then…

he ws the original Blake Griffin back in the early 90’s and his back injury made him a jump shooter since then

he ws the original Blake Griffin back in the early 90’s and his back injury made him a jump shooter since then

whatever man, "2 odd years" equates to 2+ years in my vocab, could be wrong. And atleast I had statistics to back my arguement. I love Penny and he played a part of me falling in love with bball, but don’t critisize my knowledge of the game b/c I’m 23 years old….Also, do you hear yourself??? B/c of your pride, you’ve convinced yourself Penny was better than Jordan, 3/4 of a season. That’s dumb bro and you know it. Penny wasn’t better than MJ even for a second of his life

whatever man, "2 odd years" equates to 2+ years in my vocab, could be wrong. And atleast I had statistics to back my arguement. I love Penny and he played a part of me falling in love with bball, but don’t critisize my knowledge of the game b/c I’m 23 years old….Also, do you hear yourself??? B/c of your pride, you’ve convinced yourself Penny was better than Jordan, 3/4 of a season. That’s dumb bro and you know it. Penny wasn’t better than MJ even for a second of his life

 man…..

i was watching arenas’ 54 point output against phx in 07

this guy has one of the prettiest strokes in the nba

and i love how he scores

arenas is a guy who i liked to watch when he was healthy

scoring machine…

a thing of beauty man… so sad to see his knees are just not the same anymore

 man…..

i was watching arenas’ 54 point output against phx in 07

this guy has one of the prettiest strokes in the nba

and i love how he scores

arenas is a guy who i liked to watch when he was healthy

scoring machine…

a thing of beauty man… so sad to see his knees are just not the same anymore

Things like this… 

"B/c of your pride, you’ve convinced yourself Penny was better than Jordan, 3/4 of a season. That’s dumb bro and you know it."

Jordan EVEN stated himself that he was going to work harder after that season because young players like Penny and J-Kidd was killing him…  He even switched back to 23 after that… Unless you were blind those years or never seen when Jordan came back, Penny WAS better than MJ…  Am I the only one who remembers people saying Jordan lost it after that series with Orlando?  Penny was the man dude…

I really hate stats when it comes to basketball because the game is much more than numbers… Its a jab step, a fade away, a sky hook, its being down the whole game and scoring 81, its getting a key block on Reggie Miller, its more than just what Hollinger equates to greatness…  If his formula is correct why hasn’t LeBron been able to win a championship?  Because different scenrios in basketball brings different results… Roles on teams play a viable role to players stats…  Some players play for stats ie Wilt, if you just look at stats Wilt is the Greatest of All-Time…   

Things like this… 

"B/c of your pride, you’ve convinced yourself Penny was better than Jordan, 3/4 of a season. That’s dumb bro and you know it."

Jordan EVEN stated himself that he was going to work harder after that season because young players like Penny and J-Kidd was killing him…  He even switched back to 23 after that… Unless you were blind those years or never seen when Jordan came back, Penny WAS better than MJ…  Am I the only one who remembers people saying Jordan lost it after that series with Orlando?  Penny was the man dude…

I really hate stats when it comes to basketball because the game is much more than numbers… Its a jab step, a fade away, a sky hook, its being down the whole game and scoring 81, its getting a key block on Reggie Miller, its more than just what Hollinger equates to greatness…  If his formula is correct why hasn’t LeBron been able to win a championship?  Because different scenrios in basketball brings different results… Roles on teams play a viable role to players stats…  Some players play for stats ie Wilt, if you just look at stats Wilt is the Greatest of All-Time…   

everytime i see something like this it upsets me, cause i wish i could see these great talents play an entire career without these types of injuries, and the fact that it happened to dudes who where class acts like hill, broy and yao makes it even worse.

everytime i see something like this it upsets me, cause i wish i could see these great talents play an entire career without these types of injuries, and the fact that it happened to dudes who where class acts like hill, broy and yao makes it even worse.

I came into this thread to mention Antonio McDyess (already mentioned above) and Bill Walton.

Although Walton deservingly went down as a great with a regular season MVP as well as a NBA Finals MVP, over 10 NBA seasons he played 468 out of 820 games (57%). And even when he did play, he was often significantly hampered by his constant foot injuries.

I came into this thread to mention Antonio McDyess (already mentioned above) and Bill Walton.

Although Walton deservingly went down as a great with a regular season MVP as well as a NBA Finals MVP, over 10 NBA seasons he played 468 out of 820 games (57%). And even when he did play, he was often significantly hampered by his constant foot injuries.

kerry kittles and popeye jones

kerry kittles and popeye jones

Great list. At least we got a chance to see most of those guys play in their prime. 2 guys that need to be on that list that we never even got a chance to see how good they could be are Jay Williams and DuJuan Wagner. I don’t think either would have been a bust in the league. Williams had a chance to be a GREAT point guard as he really understood what it means to play that position. Wagner could flat out fill it. There were Iverson comparisons coming of college; I guess we’ll never know.

Great list. At least we got a chance to see most of those guys play in their prime. 2 guys that need to be on that list that we never even got a chance to see how good they could be are Jay Williams and DuJuan Wagner. I don’t think either would have been a bust in the league. Williams had a chance to be a GREAT point guard as he really understood what it means to play that position. Wagner could flat out fill it. There were Iverson comparisons coming of college; I guess we’ll never know.

That was a great throwback video of Mcdyess, he was one of my favorite players back then. Dude was a straight up beast, but got injured and became a dead eye mid-range shooter. That’s the epitome of a professional basketball player, he lost the athleticism but he worked on a jump shot. Most players now days aren’t as willing to expand their game.

That was a great throwback video of Mcdyess, he was one of my favorite players back then. Dude was a straight up beast, but got injured and became a dead eye mid-range shooter. That’s the epitome of a professional basketball player, he lost the athleticism but he worked on a jump shot. Most players now days aren’t as willing to expand their game.

Does Drazen Petrovic count? I mean it wasn’t exactly injuries but unfortunate circumstances nonetheless.

Brad Daugherty, who retired when he was 28 due to back problems.

Danny Manning who somehow put together a 15 year career (including two all-star appearances) despite 3 major reconstructive knee surgeries on both knees.

Does Drazen Petrovic count? I mean it wasn’t exactly injuries but unfortunate circumstances nonetheless.

Brad Daugherty, who retired when he was 28 due to back problems.

Danny Manning who somehow put together a 15 year career (including two all-star appearances) despite 3 major reconstructive knee surgeries on both knees.

 1 dude i must say injuries did wrong was BILL WALKER. I seen him live a few times and he was on route to being a special talent but due to like 2 or 3 knee surgeries dating back to like the 8th grade, was never on the ball court enough to actually develop the other parts of his game… In my eyes all he would need was an above avg. handle and tighten up his jumper and he would of been one of the top young talents in the league today.

 1 dude i must say injuries did wrong was BILL WALKER. I seen him live a few times and he was on route to being a special talent but due to like 2 or 3 knee surgeries dating back to like the 8th grade, was never on the ball court enough to actually develop the other parts of his game… In my eyes all he would need was an above avg. handle and tighten up his jumper and he would of been one of the top young talents in the league today.

 Ok, well annnnnyyyyways, I’m the one who brought up Penny in this thread in the 1st place

 Ok, well annnnnyyyyways, I’m the one who brought up Penny in this thread in the 1st place

dwags

dwags

 @I’m just so offended

Kiddo, numbers don’t mean everything. You said Jordan finished 1 place behind Penny playing 17 games. Take  a look at the name in which yo a using. Jordan, the guy could have played like garbage and he was always going to be in a conversation for MVP. He did nothing outrageous for that Bulls team in his 17 games back. Pippen had kept them afloat the entire time. Penny was the best 2 guard in the L for those 2 years. 

I can’t stand that argument, well he wasn’t even the best on the team Shaq was. Dude, every guard Shaq plays with has to take a backseat for the big fella and eventually their talent shines through making him upset and jealos ultimately leaving. Happend with penny, Kobe, and Wade. Probably would have happened with LBJ too had Shaq not already been humbled. 

Just like someone stated before Jordan said himself that he had to do extra work to catch back up qith Penny,kidd, Hill etc. Just accept it. The simple fact that you’re even arguing this point is obsured. Jordan scored 457 points  in the season he came back whie shooting a piss poor 41%. Just because a guy finished with only one MVP share less than another doesn’t mean it was deserved. Hell, in 06′ PJ Brown finished with one MVP vote more than Kobe. Doesn’t mean it was deserved.

Fact of the matter is Penny was one of the best players in the L that year(his second). To some he was the best which was a very valid opinion., but one thng that was certain was that during that year, the best player in the game most certainly wasn’t Mike even though one could debate him as such.

 @I’m just so offended

Kiddo, numbers don’t mean everything. You said Jordan finished 1 place behind Penny playing 17 games. Take  a look at the name in which yo a using. Jordan, the guy could have played like garbage and he was always going to be in a conversation for MVP. He did nothing outrageous for that Bulls team in his 17 games back. Pippen had kept them afloat the entire time. Penny was the best 2 guard in the L for those 2 years. 

I can’t stand that argument, well he wasn’t even the best on the team Shaq was. Dude, every guard Shaq plays with has to take a backseat for the big fella and eventually their talent shines through making him upset and jealos ultimately leaving. Happend with penny, Kobe, and Wade. Probably would have happened with LBJ too had Shaq not already been humbled. 

Just like someone stated before Jordan said himself that he had to do extra work to catch back up qith Penny,kidd, Hill etc. Just accept it. The simple fact that you’re even arguing this point is obsured. Jordan scored 457 points  in the season he came back whie shooting a piss poor 41%. Just because a guy finished with only one MVP share less than another doesn’t mean it was deserved. Hell, in 06′ PJ Brown finished with one MVP vote more than Kobe. Doesn’t mean it was deserved.

Fact of the matter is Penny was one of the best players in the L that year(his second). To some he was the best which was a very valid opinion., but one thng that was certain was that during that year, the best player in the game most certainly wasn’t Mike even though one could debate him as such.

I dont think we got enough of Vince Carters explosiveness. Dont forget even in his last season as a Raptor he was a mere image of himself. At the same age guys like Kobe, and MJ were in their prime, but Vince Carter the best dunker ever to grace NBA courts was learning how to not reinjure himself, becoming less agressive, and slowly turning himself into a jumpshooter/passive slasher. Although his injury was not career ending, or completly "derailing" as the thread suggests it definitely was career altering, and depressing to see half man half amazing turn into just a man.

I dont think we got enough of Vince Carters explosiveness. Dont forget even in his last season as a Raptor he was a mere image of himself. At the same age guys like Kobe, and MJ were in their prime, but Vince Carter the best dunker ever to grace NBA courts was learning how to not reinjure himself, becoming less agressive, and slowly turning himself into a jumpshooter/passive slasher. Although his injury was not career ending, or completly "derailing" as the thread suggests it definitely was career altering, and depressing to see half man half amazing turn into just a man.

 I agree, though to me, it honestly seemed like he just gave up on you guys. He wasn’t 48 inch vert Vince anymore, but he was STILL an electrifying player in his own right.

But I agree, Vince was one of my fav’s with Toronto, and I always wondered why his athleticism wasn’t at that same Jaw Dropping HOLY SHIT!!! level after such few years.

 I agree, though to me, it honestly seemed like he just gave up on you guys. He wasn’t 48 inch vert Vince anymore, but he was STILL an electrifying player in his own right.

But I agree, Vince was one of my fav’s with Toronto, and I always wondered why his athleticism wasn’t at that same Jaw Dropping HOLY SHIT!!! level after such few years.