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25 years today since one of the best players to ever play basketball passed away, Len Bias. Never played a day in the NBA but already has his jersey hanging from the rafters in Boston and could never prove to people that he was miles ahead of Jordan.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DGVlXxG2Pk&feature=pl...)

Bias was a great college player...but lots of college players don't live up to their potential, especially those into drugs. Also see Chris Washburn selected by the Warriors with the next pick.

BTW, if he was the best player ever, why was he selected behind Brad Draughtery?

Well, Michael Jordan was selected behind Hakeem (which is still understandable) and Sam Bowie (which isn't). And Dirk Nowitzki was selected 9th.

I'd also say it's a pity he didn't get the chance, and he easily might have been one of the greatest of his generation or even of all time, but there's simply no way to know now.

Well, Michael Jordan was selected behind Hakeem (which is still understandable) and Sam Bowie (which isn't). And Dirk Nowitzki was selected 9th.

I'd also say it's a pity he didn't get the chance, and he easily might have been one of the greatest of his generation or even of all time, but there's simply no way to know now.

yes but Mj proved then wrong, when bias would be the best of all time depending on his college achievement he should be considered as the best of his age group by all - or atleast only behind players who are also in this comparision.
And professional athletes who die on drug abused(not even enhancing ones), lack the right mentality to be the best in my eyes. So i think Bias goat status is biased.

He might have been - but counterfactuals just lead nowhere. We don't know what consequences his drug consumption might have had on his psyche or his physical prowess.

I am however willing to consider him as the greatest talent drafted in the second half of the 80es. It sure is sad that he never got the chance to play in the NBA.

or maybe he was a talent like Adam "Ammo" Morrison, and you couldn't tell me that it is a good sign when someone takes lot of drugs who earns his money with his body and coordination. And i don't think it was suicide, so that he intentionally takes an overdose.
And i won't put him on a throne, without him proving that he deserve his honour and dying from an overdose isn't exactly the way to show that he is headed in the right direction for it eitther an "unlucky" dead where you should judge in his favour.

Sorry, I think I misunderstood you. I'd say we're on the same page regarding this topic ;)

i don't even agree on the greatest draft of the late 80tys ;) Because Boston was very confident to get him with the second pick they got from seatle. I believe he even wasn't an all american as college. Yes he was an outstanding athletic beside his drug problem, but if that is enough i doubt it.

Let's just put it that way: talent is not the same thing as greatness. He was athletically talented like few others, but that might not mean much in terms of greatness and success (just ask LeBron James... he sure is athletically gifted, but he has failed to win it all for eight years now - and I'm not seeing much of a progress there. He's becoming a better player with his developing Jump Shot, but his behaviour on and off the court tell me he doesn't have the right mindset - yet?)

Last edited by Mathcorejay at 6/20/2011 8:37:36 AM

i think LeBron is even a different story then Bias, i think i am not the biggest LeBron fan but he was clearly the best of his draft class and is probadly the best individual currently in the NBA. And yes he wasn't that good in the final, but overall he was pretty strong in the playoffs, and not just this year(he achieved quite a lot for the Cavs with a relative weak team around him, Miami wasn't that bad either and he wasn't choking against Boston and Chicago).

I believe putting him already in the looser category would be wrong, and could mislead like putting Nowitzky into it(who is one of four players who average 25+points and then Rebounds, already at the time he got this stamp) and even Michael Jordan was considered to be to egomaniac to win a title in his first years he played. But yes i wouldn't put Lebron in MJ shoes, because it isn't that clear that he even is the best of his team(but i believe we had another thread for this discussion).

So personal i would rank:

Bias < james < MJ

to make it fit to this thread, and all those comparision are quite clear for me.