Who is the most disappointing NBA player in history?

[freshinthehouse]

I never saw him play, but Maurice Stokes' story is a sad one.  Dude was a beast right out the gate, putting up impressive numbers across the board.  He was Elgin Baylor before Elgin Baylor.  He was on his way to being one of(if not the) the greatest power forwards of all time when in the final game of his third season, he fell hard on his head while going to the hoop.  After being woken up, he returned to the game.  Three days later, after a first round playoff game, he had a stroke and lapsed into a coma.  Dude was bedridden the rest of his life.

Here's an article about him.
http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/stokes_maurice.html

Is there anyone around celticsblog that was watching basketball in the 50s?  It'd be cool to hear a first hand account of Stokes' game.

[thirstyboots18]

A. Iverson

[KG_ended_Bias]

Undoubtedly Len Bias! Was a better athlete and in my eyes a better player than Jordan was in college.  Dominant, strong and polished player who was going to dominate the league and maybe diminish Jordan's brand by beating him. Just hate we didn't get to see it, he cheated us out of NBA HISTORY!

[Bahku]

Man, there's a lot of them, don't know if I could vote on just one ... Laettner, "Penny", Carrol, Steve Francis, Glenn Robinson, Jerome James, Greg Oden (so far), Juwan Howard, Austin Croshere, Chris Webber, Gerald Green, Eric Montross, Greg Minor, T-Mac, Billy King, Isaiah Rider, Tim Thomas, Grant Hill, Marbury, Allan Houston, Vin Baker, "Tractor", Olowakandi, Eddy Curry ... many more.

[moiso]

  Micheal Ray Richardson. Incredible talent lost to drugs. Roy Tarpley (alcohol). John "Hot Plate" Williams (overeating). JR Ryder (attitude). Harold Miner (original "next MJ").

This is the best list of the thread.  Also Oliver Miller and Richard Dumas.  Not sure if Miner was actually NBA talented, but Tarpley should be #1.
Another guy who didn't establish himself enough to have a huge fizzle is Mike Sweetney.  He could have been a multi time allstar if he could take care of the body.

[StartOrien]

I've always thought that it was disappointing that Kevin Garnett had to play as long as he did with the Timberwolves. The ultimate team player, and the best guy he played with before coming to Boston was Wally Szerbiak or Latrell Sprewell. He endured through Minnesota, and then only got about a year and a half of good health surrounded by actual talent.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Lebron James.  For all of his talent I never once thought that he actually cared about basketball nearly as much as he cares about his image or side-businesses. 

[boscel33]

Most people except us older guys won't know this name but it has to be LaRue Martin. He was a number one pick in 1972 and center from Loyola that gave UCLA's vaunted Bill Walton everything he could handle in their games in the early 70's.

He was a complete and utter NBA flop on a scale bigger than Darko and Kwame. So much of a flop that 2 years later Portland, the team that drafted him because he played so well versus college superstar player Bill Walton, again got the number one pick and ended up taking.....that's right....Bill Walton.

I was going another old timer, JBC - Joe Barry Carroll.  Although a disappointment to Golden state, he netted us Parish and McHale.

[Snakehead]

For me personally:

1) Len Bias has to be number one, especially for a Celts fan. So much potential.  Guys like John Salley have said he would of been Jordan-esque... such a shame.

2) Shawn Kemp.  One of the best finishers ever and just fell apart with personal issues.  I lived in Cleveland when he was there and him becoming a fat joke after he arrived was a sad, sad thing.

3) Allen Iverson, always wished he had a better attitude.  Some of that was what made him so good but it also held him back from being better and especially late in his career.  Allen Iverson could be one of the best 6th men in the NBA if he wanted to, a scoring SG off the bench in the vein of Crawford and Terry, but he won't accept it.

4) Greg Oden.  Everyone talks about Durant, and he's great and will be even better, but IF Oden was healthy you would see one of the best C's in the NBA, playing at the level of Dwight Howard.  I am a Buckeyes fan and enjoyed watching Greg in college more than anyone.  He is a great guy and I really hope he gets healthy because he can be such a good player.  He was in his short healthy stretch last year.

[WeMadeIt17]

Umm you guys are naming some guys that were really good. T-mac in his prime was amazing. Allen Iverson?? He was 6 foot tall 160 soaking wet and brought his team all the ways to the finals by himself. How is he disappointing? Come on Grant Hill has not had the career he could of had but he was injured. I would say disappointing are people like Kwame,Darko,Green,Minor guys like that cause they never amounted to anything. I mean T-mac and Iverson? They were considered 2 of the top 4 players in the league at some point. Just cause they didn't win a title does not mean there are a disappointing.

[BirdNerd]

Can't believe he hasn't been mentioned yet, but I feel this should end the debate.

Ralph Sampson.    Physically, there has not been anyone like him before or since.   Had all the post moves, touch, and was a gazelle at 7'4".   

He was to rewrite the game, but injuries got him.

[Snakehead]

Umm you guys are naming some guys that were really good. T-mac in his prime was amazing. Allen Iverson?? He was 6 foot tall 160 soaking wet and brought his team all the ways to the finals by himself. How is he disappointing? Come on Grant Hill has not had the career he could of had but he was injured. I would say disappointing are people like Kwame,Darko,Green,Minor guys like that cause they never amounted to anything. I mean T-mac and Iverson? They were considered 2 of the top 4 players in the league at some point. Just cause they didn't win a title does not mean there are a disappointing.

It's not just because they didn't win a title.  Allen Iverson could have been better in his prime with a better attitude and less selfish game.  Part of that made him great but if he was smarter about it could of made him even better.

Both T-Mac and Iverson have not handled the later parts of their career well.  T-Mac had major injuries and was unable to cope and AI more just unable to accept a diminished role.  Again, if AI was smart and could accept a bench role he would be one of the best 6th men in the NBA.

[WeMadeIt17]

I get that about AI but your talking about a guy that just struggled for the last 3 years how about his 11 before that? No one could ever tell me his was a dissapoinment becuase of what he has done latley. And yes he was a selfish player but I gurantee you ask anyone that played with them would they have gone anywhere without him. They would say no. The guys is seriously one of the best players ever to play the game all things aside. A six foot tall player how averaged 26 points and 6 assist in his carrer is not a dissapointment. He couldn't manage his last 3 season I give you that but was considered one of the best in the other 11.

[Roy Hobbs]

Some names that didn't get the most of their talent, due to attitude, commitment, or injury:  Glenn Robinson, Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Kenny Anderson, Derrick Coleman, Pervis Ellison, Bill Walton, Ralph Sampson, Vince Carter

[WeMadeIt17]

Also Iverson played with mutiple injuries. He was one player that went out and gave it his all everynight. He has reason to be burnt out at the end because of the effort he gave all those other years.