I posted a similar article before but this is a bit different. I added/took away a few things.
Added a took away a few things.
What makes a forgotten star? Is it the overshadowing by more media frenzy players? Is it the fact that youngsters today just simply do not remember the great players before there time?
For those who did not get a chance to watch the NBA of the past and get to see these guys in action. Stay tuned.......
Sidney Moncrief
One of the games best perimiter defenders of all time. He was more of an explosive scorer than his 15 per night stats showed. Moncrief could score with the best of them. He is Two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Four-time All-NBA First Team, Five-time NBA All-Defensive Team, and a Five-time All-Star but yet not many remember who he is.
He was so strong and quick he had no choice but to become a good defender. He could bench his body weight plus 30 pounds which not only made him a great interior defender, but made him capable of banging inside with the big men.
I remember him most for shutting down Larry Bird as his Milwaukee team swept the Boston Celtics in the semifinals. The Celtics team were one of the best teams in NBA history and Moncrief and his team stopped them.
Quote:
"When you play against Moncrief, you're in for a night of all-around basketball. He'll hound you everywhere you go, both ends of the court. You just expect it."
-Michael Jordan
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Walt Frazier
A top 5 point guard of all time in my opinion.He was such a great scorer and playmaker that people overlook the fact that he was a top notch defender as well. One of the greatest defensive guards in league history.
He was the best player on one of the best teams in history. He dominated Jerry West in the 1970 NBA finals. He frustrated West with his tough defense and unstoppable jump shot.
Frazier had one of the best stat lines in NBA history. In game 7 of the 1970 NBA finals against the great Laker team that consisted of Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Wilt Chamberlian. Frazier scored 39 points, dished out 19 assists, and had 5 steals. Just his points and assists alone combined for 77 of his teams total points
Those great numbers are overshadowed because of the great heroics of Willis Reed who surprised the world by limping onto the court with a major leg injury. Had this been any other night people would still be talking about Fraziers amazing performance.
Maurice Stokes
Is there anything this man couldn't do? He scored, rebounded, and dished out assists at will.
He was one of the NBA's best rebounders averaging over 17 boards a game. He did this while being among the NBA's assist leaders and scoring in double figures.
He was just a monster who played every game as if it was his last... However one night that statement become true. In the final regular-season game in his third year as a pro, the Cincinnati Royals all-star fell to the floor, hit his head and was knocked unconscious. He was revived a few minutes later and actually returned to the game. That shows what kind of heart this made had for the game. The sad thing is, He did not know that fall would end his life in a matter of hours.
A few days later the 24-year-old went into a coma and was permanently paralyzed, his career over just as fast as it had started.
In 1970 Stokes died of a heart attack. Maurice Stokes was only 36 years old.
Bobby Wanzer, who coached and played with him for a couple years said, "If things had worked out differently, Maurice would have become one of the top 10 players of all time."
I cant say I disagree with that.
Andrew Toney
If you looked up the word overshadowed in the dictionary you would see a picture of Andrew Toney. He played for the same 76ers team as greats Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, and for a short while Charles Barkley.
He was the complete package. He had very little flaws in his game.The most impressive thing about Toney was his ability to take over in late game situations.
He is one of the most clutch players in NBA history yet not many remember who he was or what he did. The Celtics actually traded for great defender Dennis Johnson just to guard Toney in the playoffs. Of course it didn't work. He still lit the Celtics up on the scoreboard which is why he is called the "Boston Strangler"
Current Miami Heat coach Pat Riley once said, "He's the greatest clutch player I've ever seen. The hell with Jerry West!"
Thats coming from a Hall Of Fame type coach.
Reggie Theus
He is the definiton of underrated. He was solid and he rarley sat out NBA games because of injury. He was a 2 time NBA all star but his teams leading scorer 6 times. He is overlooked often because he had bad luck when it came to playing for losing teams. He played on some really horrible teams. Heres a shocker for guys who doesn't know who Reggie Theus is. He scored more points than hall of famers Isiah Thomas,Bob McAdoo, and many others. He has more assists than hall of famers Jerry West,Larry Bird,Walt Frazier, and many others
The guy gets no love. In my opinion he is one of the most underrated players in league history.
There are only four players among the top 40 all-time scorers and top 20 all-time assists leaders: Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Isiah Thomas, and ....... Reggie Theus.
Career stats:18.6 ppg 4.7 apg 1.2 spg 3.3 rpg and he shot a pretty solid 47%
Mark Aguirre
How many players that averaged over 29 points in a season do we forget? Not many.
Well Mark Aguirre averaged over 29 points per game in the 1983-1984 NBA season. He finished the season with 2,330 total points. Both Mavericks single-season scoring records still stand today. One of the league's most flashy and prolific scorers. He actually averages over 20 ppg for his entire 13 year NBA career.
Most that do remember him remember his days in Dallas teaming with Rolando Blackman. However he helped lead the Detroit Pistons to 2 consecutive NBA titles.
Not to be forgotten:
Bernard King
Artis Gilmore
Dennis Johnson
Article by me: Forgotten Stars
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