Greatest What If (Injury Edition)

[Ed Monix]

Please note, I have intentionally left off two players:

Jay Williams: His career ending injury was stupid and self inflicted.

Brandon Roy: Apparently during his draft physical, doctors noted his knees were already on their way out and he would have a very short career (best case scenario).

[Roy H.]

Greatest potential?  Easily Walton.

[nickagneta]

Greatest potential?  Easily Walton.

Yup, that's pretty easily the answer.

[Chief]

Len Bias

[Surferdad]

Len Bias

Yes, or Reggie Lewis for that matter.

[Jiri Welsch]

I voted Grant Hill -- rather than Walton -- because I actually saw him play. He was an incredible talent.

[Moranis]

I think it is Greg Oden.  He was such a dominant force in his one college season.  I mean he nearly matched by himself both Horford and Noah in that title game.  In his short bursts he was able to play in the NBA he was dominant.  I think the entire Blazers fortunes are altered significantly if he could have stayed healthy (he and Aldridge could have been a championship duo). 

Walton was certainly great, I mean he won the MVP after all, but I feel like Oden is the guy that you have no idea about, while Walton you knew. 

[Birdman]

1. Bill Walton
2. Len Bias
3. Greg Oden

Way it looks, Zion may be on this list pretty soon

[JBcat]

Penny Hardaway has to be up there.

Maybe deserving of some mention Derrick Rose, Danny Manning, Shaun Livingston, Ralph Sampson.

The book isn’t over yet for former #1 pick Markell Fultz, but his injury woes.

What about Larry Johnson. His chronic back problems totally changed his game from being super explosive.

Demarcus Cousins career got derailed.

The sad story of Drazen Petrovic.

Arvaydas Sabonis.

What if KG didn’t blow out his knee in 09.

[RJD1974]

Not an injury in the purest sense, but I was in awe of Roy Tarpley. He was a beast. If not for his battles with addiction, he would've redefined the power forward position. A before-his-time, 5-tool big man.

[liam]

Len Bias

Sadly yes.

[Donoghus]

Len Bias

Sadly yes.

Is a cocaine overdose an injury?

I went with Walton.

[Who]

Penny Hardaway was better than Grant Hill. I do not understand people picking Grant Hill over Penny. Grant Hill's dodgy jump-shot holds him back from challenging Penny.

Penny was so dominant offensively with his outside shooting, midrange shooting, post up play, driving game, transition game, ball-handling & exceptional vision and passing game. He was the total package. He had everything. He was the next dominant guard in the NBA after Jordan and Magic.

[RJD1974]

Penny Hardaway was better than Grant Hill. I do not understand people picking Grant Hill over Penny. Grant Hill's dodgy jump-shot holds him back from challenging Penny.

Penny was so dominant offensively with his outside shooting, midrange shooting, post up play, driving game, transition game, ball-handling & exceptional vision and passing game. He was the total package. He had everything. He was the next dominant guard in the NBA after Jordan and Magic.

Plus, he had Lil Penny.

[Who]

Walton is the clear choice because he was the MVP of the NBA when he got hurt. He was young and on his way to challenging for a place in the top 10 if not top 5 players ever to play basketball.

Some other guys like Ralph Sampson or Oden might have reached that level or they might not have. Walton did reach that level. To fulfill that potential and prove he was that. The other guys are maybes / possibilities. Walton was established.