In many cases its not that it was just a waste of a player. Not everyone is wired for the demands of the job. We don’t publicly lambast other professionals for not having “passion” like we do athletes. Its a job. Its about having a life and obsessing over their bodies, conditioning, injury maintenance and hours and hours of practice. Tennis pro’s hit balls for hours on end.
Pro sports holds about the top 1% world wide in that sport. A guy makes it to the NBA and we then measure them as “lazy” if they don’t have the passion to make it to the top 100.

GustavBahler wrote:Anthony Randolph. Werent many players when Randolph entered the league who had his combination of length and athleticism. Some players keep finding new ways to get better. AR wasnt one of them. Always looked like he was about to burst into tears, when he sat on the bench.

Good call. Honestly he wasn't that much different than Giannis from a physical standpoint early in their careers. I remember the comparisons to KG. When we had him i was hoping Dantoni could tap into his potential as a frontcourt of Randolph, Stoudemire, and Gallinari could have been scary.

Before he left his job as New Jersey Nets president and general manager, Rod Thorn joked about his very short head coaching days with the Spirits and his relationship with Mr. Barnes.
Mr. Barnes had his own set of rules, and Thorn frequently fined him, saying the figure reached about $30,000.
In an effort to change their relationship, Thorn waited for Mr. Barnes to have a good game, and the two spoke for nearly two hours about the need for Mr. Barnes to be a leader on the team.
The next morning, Mr. Barnes missed the team plane.
“I have never seen a player lose so much talent so fast,” Thorn once said.

Barnes died in 2014. History of Drug abuse and had been arrested. He was an incredible player!!

Often the colorful personality, Barnes once refused to board a plane from Louisville to St. Louis. Because the flight was scheduled to arrive (Central Time) before its departure time (Eastern Time), Barnes famously said, "I ain't getting in no damn time machine." He rented a car instead.

GustavBahler wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:Anthony Randolph. Werent many players when Randolph entered the league who had his combination of length and athleticism. Some players keep finding new ways to get better. AR wasnt one of them. Always looked like he was about to burst into tears, when he sat on the bench.

Good call. Honestly he wasn't that much different than Giannis from a physical standpoint early in their careers. I remember the comparisons to KG. When we had him i was hoping Dantoni could tap into his potential as a frontcourt of Randolph, Stoudemire, and Gallinari could have been scary.

Like the early Giannis comparison. Randolph didnt have the motor that Giannis has.

He was inside his own head. He actually had a nice career in Europe and China

Uptown wrote:If not for injury, Penny Hardaway was on his way to begin the next Magic...He was going to be an all time great...He the Magic beat the Bulls in 95, there were moments when Pennyw as the best player on the floor

I recall very vividly when Penny was in college and being in wonder at what he was doing on the court and just waiting for him to get to NBA

franco12 wrote:whatever happened to Pearl Washington and Jonny Flynn? Those were two PGs highly touted, and then zippo when they got into the league.

Flynn had hip problem and I think maybe went to Europe for year or 2 and that's it

franco12 wrote:whatever happened to Pearl Washington and Jonny Flynn? Those were two PGs highly touted, and then zippo when they got into the league.

The Pearl was must see tv and the 'Cuse!!! Good call on him. NY playground legend and one of the the best Big East players ever. He was better than Mark Jackson and Kenny Smith entering college, yet both had much better NBA career's than he did. Big Daddy pointed out some health issues plus he never developed his jumper....

I never thought Johnny Flynn was a good NBA prospect.