Who is the most disappointing NBA player in history?

[guava_wrench]

I'd leave out Iverson and McGrady, because they had some all-star level years. No one expected much from Mcgrady and he was really good with Orlando.

I'd say people like Ron Mercer, Kwame, Darko,D Wagner, D Miles.. Anyone drafted in the top 5 shoulda done something, and when you see several guy drafted after them that are quality players. Anyone drafted after pick 10 you really can't be too disappointed.

I would also leave out injured guys like Dukies, J. Williams, Shawn Livingston, Bobby Hurley. You really don't know how good they could have been.

I remember when McGrady was with Toronto -- he exceeded expectations upon leaving Toronto.

I feel like some people are too caught up in the "next Jordan" hype and are throwing random all star players who didn't become HOF players or who didn't win it all, ignoring all the development they experienced to get to what they became.

[guava_wrench]

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

JR Ryder was a good example of a guy clearly good enough to still be in the league but with a character that kept him out.

Miner was only considered a "next MJ" because he was such a great dunker in college.

[guava_wrench]

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!

Len Bias was never an NBA player. He never signed a contract. So, technically he doesn't qualify.

Edit:
(ah, I see someone made this reply already)

[housecall]

Artis Gilmore (imo)

[Arok325]

I have to say the most disappointing players to me over the past few years have been T-Mac, Steve Francis, Eddy Curry, Jermaine O'Neal, Yao Ming, T.J Ford, Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Allen Iverson and Gilbert Arenas.

Most of you will probably disagree with me on a few of these:

Many of these players' problems can be directly attributed to injuries of which many of them didn't have any control.  In the cases of T-Mac, Francis, O'Neal and Brand this is certainly true.  However, I think with Curry, Ford and Davis they are simply lazy and just didn't live up to their potential.

Iverson and Arenas are different because their attitudes and behavior has led them to disappointing careers.  I can't really complain about the numbers they've put up but their actions (ie. refusing to accept a bench role, complaining, chemistry issues with teammates, bringing guns in to the locker room, etc) are too much for me to ignore.  These guys could be great professionals but now neither is contributing to a NBA team.  

Ming on the other hand has had great success though he disappoints me because of his lack of dominance.  He's had a pretty good career but has never performed the way everyone knows he's capable of.  Now his injury may end his career.  I don't know what it is about him but he's never been what I thought he could be.

[Redz]

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!

Len Bias was never an NBA player. He never signed a contract. So, technically he doesn't qualify.

Edit:
(ah, I see someone made this reply already)

Trying to think up a rebuttal for this and can't.  So I guess technically you're right, but still...come on!  He was pretty flippin' disappointing.

[TBreezy]

This should be at least three threads

1) Which player got the least out of their talents, because of injuries

2) Which player got the least out of their talents, because of attitude

3) Which player got the least out of their talents, because of lifestyle

some good people in here and a number of interpretations of disappointing.  Its hard to compare the lack of success of Penny (bum knee) to that of Hotplate Williams or even that of Leny Bias (you owe it to yourself to see the ESPN documentary on his death).

They are all such different cases.  I mean as a BC fan I am very disappointed in Bill Curley's career - not because he should have been better - but because I wanted him to be.How about Doug West (Villanova) first ever draft pick of the TWolves - lol.  He kicked around for a few yrs...

Dang.

[vgulab]

J.R Giddens   

[thirstyboots18]

Rubio?

[LB3533]

Did anyone mention Robert Swift?

[cdif911]

the Kandi Man - drafted ahead of Pierce, Nowitski, Vince Carter, Antwan Jamison, White Chocolate, Bibby, the list goes on...

[Witch-King]

the Kandi Man - drafted ahead of Pierce, Nowitski, Vince Carter, Antwan Jamison, White Chocolate, Bibby, the list goes on...

LOL, Olowakandi wasn't that bad -- the Timberwolves were actually a formidable team for a few seasons early last decade, though you are right about him being drafted waaay too high.

[jr_3421]

Just thought of one. Damon Stoudamire.

He was the 1995 ROY but never improved from there on. He scored 50 pts in a game WITHOUT an assist!!! I thought he was going to be what AI became, except with a more PG mentality but he never recovered from his "Jail" Blazer days.

[Fan from VT]

I have to say the most disappointing players to me over the past few years have been T-Mac, Steve Francis, Eddy Curry, Jermaine O'Neal, Yao Ming, T.J Ford, Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Allen Iverson and Gilbert Arenas.

Most of you will probably disagree with me on a few of these:

Many of these players' problems can be directly attributed to injuries of which many of them didn't have any control.  In the cases of T-Mac, Francis, O'Neal and Brand this is certainly true.  However, I think with Curry, Ford and Davis they are simply lazy and just didn't live up to their potential.

Iverson and Arenas are different because their attitudes and behavior has led them to disappointing careers.  I can't really complain about the numbers they've put up but their actions (ie. refusing to accept a bench role, complaining, chemistry issues with teammates, bringing guns in to the locker room, etc) are too much for me to ignore.  These guys could be great professionals but now neither is contributing to a NBA team.  

Ming on the other hand has had great success though he disappoints me because of his lack of dominance.  He's had a pretty good career but has never performed the way everyone knows he's capable of.  Now his injury may end his career.  I don't know what it is about him but he's never been what I thought he could be.

I think Iverson's true problems have come post-prime in terms of disappointment and attitude. He had a spectacular career on the court that would be remembered quite differently if he were quieter or said "sir" and "mam" more.


Here's two cases similar to one and other:

Michael Sweetney
Robert "Tractor" Traylor

[celticsclay]

It was a little before my time so I didn't really get to see him play, but I believe Mel Turpin, drafted the year of Michael Jordan was a pretty big disappointment. Tragically, I believe he died earlier this year at a pretty young age. However, he was the second most disappointing player in that class behind the injury riddled Sam Bowie