What if Larry Bird wasn't as focus as he was and strayed off the path of basketball?

What if Olajuwon quit early and decided to focus on a career in Team Handball?

What if Kevin Garnett had Kwame Brown's motor?

What if Shaq didn't have the childhood he had with a caring but strict step-father?

What if Michael Jordan was addicted to drugs and we were never able to see him come into fruition?

What if Bill Russell succumbed to the racism he faced daily?



So often we take NBA players for granted. Many, many, many fall apart before they can reach their potential. The combination of athleticism, skill, and hard work that HOFs have showed us is something we need to value and cherish. People often generalize basketball players these days as people who have the gift of being tall or being athletic. The truth is, there have been thousands and thousands of aspiring young tall/athletic people. Only the ones with the drive and the focus become Hall of Famers.

Whenever you see one in action, it's always nice to recognize the fact that they have worked harder than everyone else to achieve that status.