Shell of Their Former Selves

Posted by Dante Peterson on Dec 5, 2010 in NBA | 0 comments

Pokémon cards…. Throwback jerseys…. Autotune…. These are all fads that have lost their respective luster. Some of you shed a tear just at the thought of your once handsome collection of Mitchell & Ness Dr. J, Dominique Wilkins & Elgin Baylor jerseys (it’s okay, it was painful memories for me just writing about it). But even more depressing is the fact that some players’ game aren’t what they once were. Can a player’s skills become a fad?!? Here at HoopSmack, let’s take a trip down Memory Lane to bring back fond memories of games that once were….

In 476 regular season games for the Sacramento Kings: 17.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.4apg
In 210 regular season games for the Atlanta Hawks: 12.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.7apg

Mike Bibby – If you are a Laker hater, then by default you were in love with the clutch shooting of Mike Bibby. You can see it now, Chris Webber with the high screen, Bibby curls off and launches…. SWISH!!! For a second, we all thought the Lakers were going down. Even the die-hard Laker fans can’t deny dreading to see this guy shoot that shot (open or not). But what happened?!? Now Bibby’s an afterthought. Nothing more than any overpaid role player whose game is decaying by the season. Bibby, if you can, please show us you’re capable. All I’m asking for is one game-winner! JUST ONE!

In 398 regular season games for the Chicago Bulls: 18.5ppg, 3rpg, 3apg
In 79 regular season games for the Detroit Pistons: 13.7ppg, 2rpg, 2.6apg

Ben Gordon – Rewind the clocks back to April 2009. Arguably the greatest playoff series in NBA history was in the making and a star was being born (or we thought). Was there any shot Ben Gordon wouldn’t take (and couldn’t make)?!? Hand in his face…. SO! His feet weren’t set…. SO! Game 7 hadn’t tipped off by he somehow had 10pts already…. SO! Sooooo what happened? Ben Gordon goes to Detroit and vanishes from the face of the Earth. Has anyone gone from Hero to Zero quicker? Ben Gordon, if you’re listening, for Eric Gordon’s sake, stop making the name look bad. GET IT TOGETHER!

In 377 regular season games for the Orlando Magic: 15.8ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.7apg
In the 2007-08 season (played all 82 games) for the Orlando Magic: 19.5ppg, 5.7rpg, 5apg
In the 91 games Post-Orlando Magic: 11.1ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.8apg

Hedo Turkoglu - I have been a Turkoglu fan from his rookie season (2000-01) till his last year in Orlando. Remember the 2008 playoff run to the Finals?!? My personal saying was, “Hedo what he do!” cuz he did da dang thang! A 6’10″ forward facilitating, shooting the clutch shots, dishing to right passes, outplaying teammate Rashard Lewis for the fraction of the cost! Hedo was the man! Since, he’s two teams removed in as many seasons and Hedo’s ballin’ days are numbered. There’s no hard evidence as to what the hell happened to his mojo, but when your wife publicly has say-so on the future of your career….. shootout to Jackie Christie! HEDO, GETCHA BALLS BACK!

In 660 regular season games for the Phoenix Suns: 18.4ppg, 10rpg, 2apg, 1.9spg, 1.4bpg
In 177 regular season games Post-Phoenix Suns: 12.4ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, 0.9bpg

Shawn Marion – The Matrix! He was unanimously #1 like Neo in terms of fantasy basketball back in his day. He was like Josh Smith with 3-point shooting and better percentages! Tell me you remember his jumpshot?!? The bunny-hop form that was money! Since his days in the desert, he’s shooting 19.5% from beyond the arc. He was a player for the theatrical! It wasn’t odd seeing a Nash-to-Marion alley oop on the Top 10 highlights! Now….. Shawn Marion in a highlight reel is unreal. The Matrix Revolution needs an alter ending. SHAWN, TAKE THE RED PILL!

In 421 regular season games for the Washington Wizards: 20.8ppg, 8.9rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1spg
In 38 regular season games for the Cleveland Cavaliers: 14.5ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.3apg, 0.9spg

Antawn Jamison – Before there was a “Big Three” assembled in Miami… Before the Big Three in Boston fell into Danny Ainge’s lap (thankfully not literally)… A Big Three was born in Washington with Jamison, Butler & Shooter McGaven. Reflecting on what Wizards created (not schemed to obtain) deserves a well-deserved kudos. Caron, Gilbert & Antawn were the Wizards, NO QUESTION! Of course in hindsight we all can claim it was a disaster but give credit were credit is due… The one thing keeping me from being a Wizards’ fan was Deshawn Stevenson. And now look at what’s become of ‘Twan! He comes off the bench behind Joey Graham! OBAMA, GET JAMISON A BAILOUT AND GET HIM BACK TO DC!!!

In 183 regular season games for the New Jersey Nets: 16.3ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.6apg,1.8bpg
In all 82 games in the 2009-10 season for the New Jersey Nets: 18.8ppg, 8.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.7bpg
In 19 games this season for the New Jersey Nets: 19.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.2apg, 1.7bpg

Brook Lopez – I know you look at the stats and ask, “Why is he on here?!?” It’s way too early to discuss the glory days of Brook… assuming he’ll ever have glory days to discuss. But he’s on the list as one with the potential to do great things on the basketball court and plummet soon thereafter. His start to this season is proof after a solid sophomore season! Can your game regress this early in a career? BROOK, WE KNOW HE’S YOUR BROTHER BUT STOP WORKING OUT WITH HIM DURING THE SUMMER!!! IT SHOWS IN YOUR WORK AND HIS….. BLAKE STAYS AWAY FROM TAYLOR FOR A REASON!