[FourParticipant]

How about the opposite of the recent post about guys who never lived up to their immense talent.  Who are the guys you love because they made the most of the limited talent that seem to have by working harder than most?  I’ve admired Paul Millsap for that reason for a while – not highly touted, not super athletic but I’d want him on my team every day of the week.

[ChewyParticipant]

 1. Ben Wallace – nothing needed here. He is exactly what you are describing.

2. Mike James- True professional and was rewarded about 5 more contracts than I ever thought he would get. 

3. Kurt Thomas- He has played many different roles in his career as he moved from rookie to starter to rotation big to bench veteren.

4. Andre Miller and Derek Fisher- Proving you don’t have to be lightning fast to be a PG.

 

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 1. Ben Wallace – nothing needed here. He is exactly what you are describing.

2. Mike James- True professional and was rewarded about 5 more contracts than I ever thought he would get. 

3. Kurt Thomas- He has played many different roles in his career as he moved from rookie to starter to rotation big to bench veteren.

4. Andre Miller and Derek Fisher- Proving you don’t have to be lightning fast to be a PG.

 

 

 

[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

 Wesley Matthews

[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

 Wesley Matthews

[HOops1562Participant]

 Big shot Rob man …. wasn’t super talented but found his niche on many championship teams 

[HOops1562Participant]

 Big shot Rob man …. wasn’t super talented but found his niche on many championship teams 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

JJ Reddick – Everybody gave up on him being a horrible defender and a below-average ball handler. He really put a lot of effort in it and is not respectible in those two areas, while still being a very good shooter (same may hold for Korver).

Timofey Mozgov – Came into the league as just the next big guy, now a very solid big men who can play both on offense and defense and is a good option as average starting C I would say. 

Reggie Evans – All he do is giving 100% every second he is on the court, throwing his body around like a maniak and not being affraid to do the dirty work (or make the dirty play you could say). 

Ps: definitely agree on Millsap, he is one of my favourite players in the league these days. 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

JJ Reddick – Everybody gave up on him being a horrible defender and a below-average ball handler. He really put a lot of effort in it and is not respectible in those two areas, while still being a very good shooter (same may hold for Korver).

Timofey Mozgov – Came into the league as just the next big guy, now a very solid big men who can play both on offense and defense and is a good option as average starting C I would say. 

Reggie Evans – All he do is giving 100% every second he is on the court, throwing his body around like a maniak and not being affraid to do the dirty work (or make the dirty play you could say). 

Ps: definitely agree on Millsap, he is one of my favourite players in the league these days. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Gilbert Arenas has to be on this list. He always prided being underated and overlooked. That gave him motivation to work hard and become a superstar.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Gilbert Arenas has to be on this list. He always prided being underated and overlooked. That gave him motivation to work hard and become a superstar.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Eddy Curry. If theres one thing I think of when I think Eddy Curry, it’s hard work. /endsarcasm

Seriously though, JJ Hickson just seems to put up virtual double doubles while playing undersized and out of position. Also, Isaiah Thomas. Not highly recruited, taken with the last pick in the draft, and performed almost as well as the first pick, Kyrie Irving.

 

[Sabdiego12345678Participant]

 jj hickson is a great athlete and a hard worker he doesnt lack talent hes just been thrown into situations that dont suit him he is one of the best rebounders and its crazy considering playing out of position… hes one of my favorite players to watch wish he hadnt gotten hurt though…

[Sabdiego12345678Participant]

 jj hickson is a great athlete and a hard worker he doesnt lack talent hes just been thrown into situations that dont suit him he is one of the best rebounders and its crazy considering playing out of position… hes one of my favorite players to watch wish he hadnt gotten hurt though…

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Eddy Curry. If theres one thing I think of when I think Eddy Curry, it’s hard work. /endsarcasm

Seriously though, JJ Hickson just seems to put up virtual double doubles while playing undersized and out of position. Also, Isaiah Thomas. Not highly recruited, taken with the last pick in the draft, and performed almost as well as the first pick, Kyrie Irving.

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Darren Collison – Although drafted in the First Round no one seen the instant impact coming within his rookie season.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Darren Collison – Although drafted in the First Round no one seen the instant impact coming within his rookie season.

[JordanC20Participant]

 Eric Bledsoe…as a UK fan I never thought he would be as good as he is now.

[XYRYXParticipant]

Crazy thing is the Thunder actually drafted him and traded him on draft day to the Clippers.

imagine what could have been if this never happend…

[XYRYXParticipant]

Crazy thing is the Thunder actually drafted him and traded him on draft day to the Clippers.

imagine what could have been if this never happend…

[JordanC20Participant]

 Eric Bledsoe…as a UK fan I never thought he would be as good as he is now.

[ibe12Participant]

Latrell Sprewell was considered more of a defensive player than a offensive player coming out of college and he ended up being one of the best two way players in the league in his prime.

I don’t think anyone expected Rodman to turn into what he did either.

[ibe12Participant]

Latrell Sprewell was considered more of a defensive player than a offensive player coming out of college and he ended up being one of the best two way players in the league in his prime.

I don’t think anyone expected Rodman to turn into what he did either.

[SteezGawdParticipant]

Gilbert Arenas definitely #1 it’s a reason he wore the number 0.

Joakim Noah #2. He wasn’t talented he just worked his ass off and plays so hard and he ends up with stat lines that make you scratch your head sometimes. 

Chauncey Billups a lot of teams was trading him early in his career next thing you know he’s a finals MVP.

Tony Allen, Anderson Varejao, etc. 

[SteezGawdParticipant]

Gilbert Arenas definitely #1 it’s a reason he wore the number 0.

Joakim Noah #2. He wasn’t talented he just worked his ass off and plays so hard and he ends up with stat lines that make you scratch your head sometimes. 

Chauncey Billups a lot of teams was trading him early in his career next thing you know he’s a finals MVP.

Tony Allen, Anderson Varejao, etc. 

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Dana Barros

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Dana Barros

[HomerKangParticipant]

Aaron McKie, Kevin Ollie, Jeremy Lin, Ben Wallace, George Lynch, Robert Horry, Vlade Divac, Horace Grant, Joakim Noah, Ricky Green, Dell Curry, Elton Brand, Dikembe Mutombo, Robert Parrish, Dennis Rodman, Juwan Howard, just to name a few.  Too many to list without turning into a book, but, for me,  these are prime examples of players who are either one-dimensional, or possess only limited skills but worked really really hard to allow them to last a long time in the league. 

 

[XYRYXParticipant]

I agree and disagree. McKie and Ollie are great examples but guys like Divac, Howard or Brand don’t count here to me. Parish was a borderline star in his prime and played like 25 years. Brand was a former number 1 pick and very good before he got hurt. Mutombo came in and changed the game with his incredible physical tools and Juwan Howard was already a Rockstar when he came into the league. I even think he had somewhat of a disappointing career when you consider that he got a $100 mil contract and his career went wrong from that point and his stats down.

[XYRYXParticipant]

I agree and disagree. McKie and Ollie are great examples but guys like Divac, Howard or Brand don’t count here to me. Parish was a borderline star in his prime and played like 25 years. Brand was a former number 1 pick and very good before he got hurt. Mutombo came in and changed the game with his incredible physical tools and Juwan Howard was already a Rockstar when he came into the league. I even think he had somewhat of a disappointing career when you consider that he got a $100 mil contract and his career went wrong from that point and his stats down.

[HomerKangParticipant]

Aaron McKie, Kevin Ollie, Jeremy Lin, Ben Wallace, George Lynch, Robert Horry, Vlade Divac, Horace Grant, Joakim Noah, Ricky Green, Dell Curry, Elton Brand, Dikembe Mutombo, Robert Parrish, Dennis Rodman, Juwan Howard, just to name a few.  Too many to list without turning into a book, but, for me,  these are prime examples of players who are either one-dimensional, or possess only limited skills but worked really really hard to allow them to last a long time in the league. 

 

[ropeParticipant]

I’d go old school with Bill Laimbeer.  The guy put up some pretty good numbers on good teams and you could probably barely slip a piece of paper under his feet when he jumped.

[ropeParticipant]

I’d go old school with Bill Laimbeer.  The guy put up some pretty good numbers on good teams and you could probably barely slip a piece of paper under his feet when he jumped.

[XYRYXParticipant]

 Dennis Rodman

Has there ever been someone like him who was basically neve given a chance to even make a few years in the league and who ended up beeing a two time defensive player of the year on one of the most badass teams ever? He always played for contenders and the Bulls days in the MJ spotlight showed the world he is not only one of the most versatile big men on the defensive end but the greatest rebounder in the modern era.

To me the prime example of the underdog fighting an uphill battle.

btw I like the Agent Zero mentioning here. Gilbert was not only spectacular but also one of the biggest surprises ever if you consider why he wore the 0 beeing drafted in the 2nd round and no one believed in him which made him go on his mission.

[XYRYXParticipant]

 Dennis Rodman

Has there ever been someone like him who was basically neve given a chance to even make a few years in the league and who ended up beeing a two time defensive player of the year on one of the most badass teams ever? He always played for contenders and the Bulls days in the MJ spotlight showed the world he is not only one of the most versatile big men on the defensive end but the greatest rebounder in the modern era.

To me the prime example of the underdog fighting an uphill battle.

btw I like the Agent Zero mentioning here. Gilbert was not only spectacular but also one of the biggest surprises ever if you consider why he wore the 0 beeing drafted in the 2nd round and no one believed in him which made him go on his mission.

[HOops1562Participant]

Dennis is there too he was 6’6/6’7 and grabbed an unreal amount of rebounds 18 a game? crazy …. dude went from airport janitor too 5 time NBA champion

[HOops1562Participant]

Dennis is there too he was 6’6/6’7 and grabbed an unreal amount of rebounds 18 a game? crazy …. dude went from airport janitor too 5 time NBA champion

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 Rodman and Ben Wallace are the ones that instantly come to mind

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 Rodman and Ben Wallace are the ones that instantly come to mind

[EspressoprodigyParticipant]

 Joel Anthony. Use to have a big deal with the heat.

A guy that learned the game by reading about it. As a pro he had to do ball-catching exercises because he had MASSIVE problems simply catching the ball.

[EspressoprodigyParticipant]

 Joel Anthony. Use to have a big deal with the heat.

A guy that learned the game by reading about it. As a pro he had to do ball-catching exercises because he had MASSIVE problems simply catching the ball.

[Afactor4Participant]

Reggie Evans?

Has no offensive talent whatsoever, no athleticism, and lacks size. His intensity and a little bit of rebounding talent has kept in the league for 12 years now! And he isn’t just some 12th man on most teams. He generally cracks every rotation.

There were at least 20-30 players over the years that may have had the same style with even a little bit more talent than Reggie that have had a crack at the league but were gone within a year.

 

 

[Afactor4Participant]

Reggie Evans?

Has no offensive talent whatsoever, no athleticism, and lacks size. His intensity and a little bit of rebounding talent has kept in the league for 12 years now! And he isn’t just some 12th man on most teams. He generally cracks every rotation.

There were at least 20-30 players over the years that may have had the same style with even a little bit more talent than Reggie that have had a crack at the league but were gone within a year.

 

 

[Sasha4MVPParticipant]

 Never thought Arron Afflalo would be as good as he is.  As a UCLA fan, I thought he would just be a defensive stopper that could knock down a few jumpers.  I would have never guessed he would average 18+ points, albeit for a bad team. 

[Sasha4MVPParticipant]

 Never thought Arron Afflalo would be as good as he is.  As a UCLA fan, I thought he would just be a defensive stopper that could knock down a few jumpers.  I would have never guessed he would average 18+ points, albeit for a bad team. 

[Author]

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