Biggest "What If" Players in NBA History
Basketball Legends like Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Lebron James will go down in the history books as the greatest players to touch a basketball. If you are willing to work in this business, you will be successful. However, the players in this list were some of the greatest players before one thing or another happened, that halted their momentum. Even if their downfall was their doing, people still wonder to this day... "what if?"Whether it be injury, or just an altercation that forces them into riding the pine, here is the list of the greatest players that we simply always wonder, "what if?"
Don't do drugs, kids
This one is SURE to get me some hate, but I will justify it. Rose has not been the same ever since his first knee injury, and because of this, has never been able to reach his full potential as a basketball player. If Derrick never got injured, the answer could be simple; he would go down as one of the greatest players of today.
He could have been one of the greatest players of all time if he wouldn't have injured his knee
Was a 1997 All-NBA First Team selection over Scottie Pippen, Glen Rice, Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton, John Stockton, Shaquille O'Neal and much more. If it wasn't for injuries, this man would be a Jordan-esk player and maybe could've won more rings than Jordan alongside Tracy McGrady and Dwight Howard
One of the greatest scorers since Pistol Pete.
Tragically died on the court, in the middle of a game.
Possibly the third-greatest big man in history, behind only Wilt and Kareem, and actually ahead of Shaq. Due to the cold war, he was stuck on the USSR national team. By the time the USSR fell and he was able to join the NBA, he was old, nearly crippled by the year-round schedule and multiple hack surgeries he had endured, and yet still managed to have a solid career virtually playing on one leg, his massive size and high basketball IQ serving him well; sort of like a much larger version of Tim Duncan.
Don't take drugs- ever.
A beast at scoring, midrange game and offensive rebounding tenacity will never be seen again, by anyone of this caliber. He sadly died of an enlarged heart in his prime, much like Hank Gathers.
He died in a car crash in his prime.
He was a beast before his injury but he is making a comeback with the indiana pacers.