Kemp Not the Only One to Flounder

We all know what the Reign Man used to be all about. The high-flying "throw it up there and I'll go get it" thundering tomahawks. That sleek spin in the post that resulted in a reverse throw down. The consistent 16-footer. The throwing of weak ass lay-ups up into the lights and into the third row. Yes, we all remember those seven entertaining seasons in Seattle, when this 6-foot-10 man-child was considered one of the best players in the game. And then we remember how things took a turn for the worst. The seven kids from six different women. The ballooning to 350-plus pounds. The coke problem. It's sad to say, but Shawn Kemp's recent check-in to a drug rehab clinic only adds the finishing touches to a career worth forgetting.

Here's a look at several NBA players who once seem destined for stardom but who instead floundered into obscurity. In ten years these players will be remembered for… actually… they won't be remembered at all.

ROD STRICKLAND
If you were to examine Strickland's career numbers you'd be surprised to find that they aren't far off from those of John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Tim Hardaway, Mark Jackson and Gary Payton. Check these career averages:

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Turnovers	Steals	FG%	FT%
Stockton	13.2	2.7	10.8	2.9	2.2	52	83
Kidd	14.1	6.2	9.4	3.3	2.1	41
Hardaway	18.6	3.4	8.6	3.0	1.7	44	78
Jackson	10.4	4.0	8.5	2.6	1.4	45	77
Payton	17.6	4.1	7.1	2.5	2.2	47	72
Strickland	14.6	4.0	7.9	2.8	1.6	46	72

Stockton is a lock for the Hall of Fame and Hardaway and Jackson are probably easy shoe-ins. Barring a dramatic fall-off or great controversy, Kidd and Payton will undoubtedly get there as well. But what about Rod? Here's a guy, who in his best years (1990-1998), averaged 16.3 points, 8.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, but somehow never came to mind when you and your buddies were naming the top five point guards in the league. Strickland easily makes that list if he plays on a better squad. But more than that, Strickland makes that list if he wasn't so much of a hot head. His reputation for being a guy who doesn't care for practices and other team functions has overshadowed his indisputable basketball talents. Throw in a couple of court cases, DUI charges, and a poor PR job, and what you get is another wasted talent.

DERRICK COLEMAN
When the New Jersey Nets selected Derrick Coleman with the first overall pick in 1990, they thought they were getting the next Sir Charles or Karl Malone. Coleman was the NCAA all-time leading rebounder, and was the first player in NCAA history to record over 2,000 points, 1,500 rebounds and 300 blocks in a career. The 6-10 forward could do it all: Post up, hit the midrange J, nail spot up 3's, find open teammates when double-teamed, and defend the league's best big men. DC did just that easily winning Rookie of the Year honors while providing optimism to a struggling Nets franchise. DC went on to lead the Nets to the playoffs three times in his first five seasons in the Jersey swamps. During those five seasons, DC only missed 62 games due to injuries and amassed all-star averages of 19.9 points, 10.6 rebounds per game and shot 46 percent from the field. Unfortunately, the talented power forward's "whoop dee damn do" attitude eventually forced the Nets to dump him in a six-player trade with Philly. The rest is history. The injury prone and foul-mouthed Coleman would miss 192 of his next 460 games. During that span he averaged only 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while shooting a woeful 41.7 percent from the field. In his three seasons with Charlotte, the Hornets are 35-8 without him in the lineup and 61-64 with him in it. The next Barkley? The next Malone? Yeah right. The next forgotten memory.

LARRY JOHNSON
After averaging 19.2 points and 11 boards per game in his first season at Charlotte, it came as no surprise when LJ was crowned NBA Rookie of Year. Even though he was considered a tweener at 6-7 (really more like 6-5) playing the four spot, Grandmama was a thoroughbred who was too quick for his position and too strong for small forwards to handle. In his first two seasons, LJ averaged just over 20 points and 10.5 boards per game while shooting 51 percent. More than just numbers, LJ brought leadership to a 4-year-old franchise that had never won more than 25 games. In 1992-1993, LJ and rookie Alonzo Mourning carried the Hornets to a 44-38 record and a first round playoff victory, marking the team's first winning season and playoff birth. Despite winning 41 games, the Hornets suffered a disappointing 1993-1994 season. Their high-flying superstar power forward streak of 190 consecutive games played was broken as Johnson missed 31 games due to a career threatening back injury. Questions whether LJ could ever return to full strength served as the heart of discussion at dinner tables throughout the state. LJ would return but as a different player. It was obvious that LJ had lost his explosiveness, posting up less and spotting up more. That year, he attempted 210 three pointers, 96 more than he attempted in first three seasons combined. But despite his new approach to the game, LJ was still effective, consistently putting up 20 and 8. However, Charlotte was well aware that the new LJ wasn't deserving of the 12-year, 84 million-dollar contract that the old LJ had earned. After five seasons in a Hornets uniform, LJ was traded to New York where he would average only 12.2 points and 5.5 boards over the next five years. This year LJ is shooting 40.8 percent from the field. LJ never developed into a great player. Sadly, it wasn't his fault.

HONORABLE MENTION

KENNY ANDERSON
"The Kid" was nice back in the day, averaging 16.9 points and 8.5 assists per game during his first six full seasons. After that, his attitude dropped along with his numbers, which plummeted to 11.5 points and 5.3 assists per game. Now, he's just remembered as the guy who complained during the strike year that his insufficient $12,000 a month spending plan caused him to sell off one of his eight luxury cars.

PENNY HARDAWAY
Once he was considered the Second Coming of Magic Johnson. Now, he isn't even the best player on his own team (Jason Kidd). If Penny doesn't come back with a vengeance he will undoubtedly be considered one of the most overrated players in NBA history.

TIM THOMAS
Wasn't this guy supposed to go pro right out of high school and dominate the league? He's in his fifth season and still isn't an everyday starter. He is still young and talented, but I question his desire.

ISAIAH RIDER
Superstar idiot.

ANTONIO DANIELS
Have we forgotten that this 26-year-old was the fourth overall draft pick in 1997?