Six NBA players that retired too soon

NBA fans waiting for the resumption of the season can get the best deals for casino games at live dealer roulette NJ. In addition to enjoying digital experiences, fans also continue to debate who are some of the greatest basketball players to have exited stage right before their time. 

Yao Ming

The first pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Yao Ming came to the league with a stellar reputation after five years with the Shanghai Sharks in the CBA. The Chinese star lived up to the hype during his nine-year stint at the Houston Rockets, where he was named Rookie of the Year and helped the franchise to the NBA Play-offs on four occasions.

Ming’s exceptional rebounding and blocking ability saw him become an eight-time NBA All-Star. Still, after playing all 164 games in his first two seasons, injuries started to regularly hamper his game time. After suffering a fractured left ankle in the 2010/11 season, Ming decided to retire at just 30-years of age. 

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson was one of the three best NBA players in the 1980s alongside Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, but his career came to an abrupt end in 1991 when he was diagnosed with HIV. Johnson is still regarded as the best point guard to have played the game, and he backed up his talent with five NBA Championships between 1980 and 1989.

After twelve years with the Los Angeles Lakers, the then 31-year-old retired to become an advocate for HIV and AIDS prevention, though he did win an Olympic gold medal for the US as part of “The Dream Team” in 1992. Johnson briefly returned in 1996 for a 32-game stint with the Lakers, but fans are still left wondering what might have been if he had been able to continue playing in his prime.

Michael Jordan

Still regarded as the greatest player to ever play basketball, Michael Jordan retired twice in his career after securing infamous “three-peats” with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan started a new career in Minor League Baseball in late 1993 before returning to the Bulls in 1995, where he went on to secure NBA Championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998 before retiring for a second time at 35 years of age.

With the Bulls still in the ascendency at that time, commentators have speculated that Jordan and the Bulls could have continued its dynasty and dominated the Eastern Conference for a few more years if he and teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman had stayed together. ‘Air Jordan’ returned for a third and final stint with the Washington Wizards before retiring for good in 2003.

Brandon Roy

Shooting guard Brandon Roy was the sixth pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and was named Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Portland Trail Blazers. However, he was never able to fulfill his potential due to an ongoing knee problem. Roy averaged 19 points a game with the Blazers over five seasons before joining the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The then 27-year-old had already undergone six surgeries in an attempt to fix the problem, but he was unable to hold out any longer and eventually retired in 2011. A brief comeback in 2012/13 also ended after five regular-season games as Roy succumbed to another knee injury.

Gilbert Arenas

Gilbert Arenas is still considered to be one of the best second-round draft picks. After joining the Golden State Warriors in 2001, ‘Agent Zero’ was named the most improved player in the league after the 2002/03 season and continued to make a name for himself as a leading point guard after being traded to the Washington Wizards.

A career-high record of 29.3 points followed soon after. Unfortunately, things took a turn in the late 2000s when a knee injury and a controversial incident involving a handgun resulted in an indefinite suspension from the NBA. Arenas was never quite the same again, and he retired at 30-years of age in 2012.

Tracy McGrady

Florida-native Tracy McGrady can be considered an NBA journeyman after playing for seven teams during his 16-year career, but many still believe he may have left the game too soon. McGrady, the ninth pick for the Toronto Raptors in the 1997 NBA Draft, really came into his own during a four-year stint with the Orlando Magic in the early 2000s, where he was a two-time NBA scoring champion.

McGrady was a seven-time NBA All Star between 2001 and 2007 before back and knee injuries started to eat into his natural talent and dull the shooting streaks for which he was renowned. He eventually retired at 32 years of age.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the NBA Finals MVP.  This time we went back to basketball, and the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is given to the player who shows the most outstanding service and dedication to the community.

While this is generally given to star players, we will not dissect the season in question as the award is not meant to be defined by stat lines and on court accomplishments.  Please also note that players do not always win this award, and those will be marked with an asterisks. 

So how many J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winners have made the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the J. Walter Citizenship Award who are eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets 1974-75                       

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Dave Bing, Washington Wizards 1976-77                       

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.

Bob Lanier, Detroit Pistons 1977-78                              

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Calvin Murphy, Houston Rockets 1978-79                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers 1982-83                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Dan Issel, Denver Nuggets 1984-85                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons 1986-87                          

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Alex English, Denver Nuggets 1987-88                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers 1991-92                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons 1992-94                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Vlade Divac, Sacramento Kings 1999-00                        

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks & Philadelphia 76ers 2000-01       

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat 2001-02                          

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs 2002-03                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers 2003-04                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves 2005-06          

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns 2006-07                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

The following are the players who have won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award who are eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Slick Watts, Seattle SuperSonics 1975-76                      

Eligible Since 1985.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

Austin Carr, Cleveland Cavaliers 1979-80                      

Eligible Since 1987.  Ranked #66 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Glenn, New York Knicks 1980-81                          

Eligible Since 1992.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kent Benson, Cleveland Cavaliers 1981-82                    

Eligible Since 1992.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Frank Layden, Utah Jazz 1983-84                                

Non-Player.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers 1985-86 Co-Winner   

Eligible Since 1996.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rory Sparrow, New York Knicks 1985-86 Co-Winner      

Eligible Since 1998.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Thurl Bailey, Utah Jazz 1988-89                                    

Eligible Since 2005.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Doc Rivers, Atlanta Hawks 1989-90                               

Eligible Since 2002.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns 1990-91                          

Eligible Since 2006.  Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Terry Porter, Portland Trail Blazers 1992-93                 

Eligible Since 2002.  Ranked #72 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Joe O’Toole, Atlanta Hawks 1994-95                            

Non-Player.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Dudley, Portland Trail Blazers 1995-96                

Eligible Since 2009.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

P.J. Brown, Miami Heat 1996-97                                    

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith, Atlanta Hawks 1997-98                             

Eligible Since 2011.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Grant, Portland Trail Blazers 1998-99                  

Eligible Since 2012.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eric Snow, Cleveland Cavaliers 2004-05                        

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons 2007-08                    

Eligible Since 2018.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers 2008-09             

Eligible Since 2019.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Metta World Peace, Los Angeles Lakers 2009-10            

Eligible Since 2021.  Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?        

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in the NBA who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:

Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls & Cleveland Cavaliers 2013-14

Eligible in 2023.

The following are the players who have won the NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award who are still active.

Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers 2011-12

36 Years Old,Free Agent.

Kenneth Faried, Portland Trail Blazers 2012-13

29 Years Old,Playing in China.

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls 2014-15

34 Years Old,Playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Wayne Ellington, Brooklyn Nets 2015-16

32 Years Old,Playing for the New York Knicks.

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers 2016-17

34 Years Old,Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

J.J. Barea, Dallas Mavericks 2017-18

35 Years Old,Playing for the Dallas Mavericks.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers 2018-19

29 Years Old,Playing for the Portland Trail Blazers.

This is an award based more on character, and will likely continue to yield winners all over the ability spectrum.

So, what is up next?

We return to the NFL with a similar award to this one, and the last one we will look at in that league: The Walter Payton Man of the Year.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

Hall of Fame related news continues for us, as Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame has announced that six athletes and five builders will be entering their Hall.

The six new athletes are:

Jackie Barrett: Barrett won 13 Gold Medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Sonja Gaudet: Gaudet won three Gold Medals at the Paralympics (2006, 2010 & 2014) in Wheelchair Curling.

Diane Jones-Konihowski:  Competing as a Pentathlete, Jones-Konihowski won the Gold Medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games. 

Lorie Kane: From Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Kane won four tournaments on the LPGA Tour with seven other significant wins.  She was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2016.

Eric Lamaze and Hickstead:  Lamaze was a successful showjumper and with his horse, Hickstead won the Olympic Gold Medal in Individual Jumping in the 2008 Olympics and the Silver in Team Jumping.  Hickstead passed away in 2011, and Lamaze won a Bronze in Individual Jumping at the 2016 Olympics with his new horse, Derly Chin De Muze.

Steve Nash:  Nash played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association playing for Phoenix, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers.  The Point Guard blossomed in the second half of his career, where he was a two-time MVP, three-time First Team All-NBA, eight-time All-Star and five-time Assists Leader.  Nash won the Lou Marsh Trophy in 2005, and the Lionel Conacher Award three times (2002, 2005 & 2006), and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

The five new builders are:

Duncan Campbell:  A teenage athlete from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Campbell broke his neck while diving at age 17, breaking his neck and paralyzing from the waist down.  Campbell co-invented “murderball”, which morphed into wheelchair rugby.  Nicknamed the “Quadfather”, Campbell was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Sheldon Kennedy: Kennedy had a ten-year career in the National Hockey League.  Late in his career, he came forward with how he was sexually abused by his junior hockey coach. Following that admission, he raised awareness for sexual abuse victims, which included rollerblading across Canada. He was named to the Order of Hockey of Canada this year, and remains a leading advocate in fighting sexual abuse.

Judy Kent:  Kent was a past President of Commonwealth Games Canada.

Willie O’Ree:  O’Ree was the first black hockey player to reach the National Hockey League, participating in 41 Games with the Boston Bruins.  The trailblazer from Fredericton, New Brunswick was chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Ross Powless:  Powless was a Mohawk lacrosse player of Six Nations, and he helped build the sport across the country.

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame has been in existence since 1955, and is currently housed in Calgary, Alberta.  With this impending induction, the Hall will now house 681 Athletes and Builders.  Due to COVID-19, the induction gala that would normally happen this fall, has been postponed until 2021.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Entering the American League as an expansion team in 1998, the Rays were originally the “Devil Rays”, before dropping the demonic portion of their name in 2008.  Saddled in the ultra-competitive American League East, Tampa has managed to make the playoffs five times, including an American League Pennant in 2008.  They have yet to win the World Series to date. 

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the American League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2019 Season.

The complete list can be found here, but as always we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. Evan Longoria

2. Carl Crawford

3. Ben Zobrist

4. David Price

5. Kevin Kiermaier

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for our All-Time Top 50 Boston Red Sox coming next!

As always we thank you for your support.