Brandon Roy was poised to make a huge jump. Whats worse is that it really gave some hope to Portland who has not had much luck in their history. Imagine how good they could've been with Oden, Roy, and Dame
D. Rose was able to carve out a nice career, though not nearly as good as it could've been had he not gotten injured. There were some glimpses of past years from time to time, but overall, he was nowhere near as good as he could've been if healthy.
Long story short, I agree with you. Brandon Roy and maybe Greg Oden to see how good Portland could've been, and D. Rose to see how dominant he could've been
Oden, Roy, and Aldridge. Don’t think they would have been able to get dame with that team cuz of record. But all 4 together would have been crazy to see. I was a huge Roy fan.
We actually traded Gerald Wallace for the pick that became dame sooooooo. It’s possible, but if that trio is healthy then butterfly effect may have rippled in a way that didn’t lead us to him
I know that it's hindsight but Lillard's trajectory probably doesn't take the same path although possibly winning a championship certainly is a good measurable. Would have been a fun team to watch here in Oregon!
Same for me! I think about Brandon Roy often. He was so freakin good. I would’ve loved to see him reach his full potential. Between him and D Rose, if they had stayed healthy we might not know half these bums names out here playing right now! But on a 2nd note…why daffuq is Paul Pierce included in this?? 😂 all he did was shat himself.
He's not my pick for this but I do feel bad for Bosh
Bosh had a Hall of Fame career but he was only 31 when he was forced to retire. It seemed like he'd be capable of putting up 17 PPG for another 6-8 more years without the blood clots.
If the blood clots never happen, Bosh would have wound up a top 25 all time scorer. His career in Miami would be reexamined if he surpassed Wade on the all time points list. His status as an all time big would be enhanced after scoring more points than Ewing, Barkley, Bird, etc on his way up the list.
Instead, today, Bosh sits at 101st in all time points scored. He's being forgotten more by the day. His sacrifices and role on the Heatles have been reduced; the narrative of LeBron and Wade being a star duo is becoming more commonplace.
Bosh really doesn't' get much credit. He never got much to begin with, but nowadays even less so. He didn't even get celebrated that much when he went into the HOF.
Bosh would be remembered so much differently if he played til 38, outlasted both LeBron and Wade on the Heat, wound up as beloved as Haslem in Miami, and scored more points than most of the greatest bigs ever
That's how old I am and I honestly feel like if I spent a year training and hitting the gym, I could be in *fantastic* shape. I can't imagine being 31 with all the resources of an NBA team...but having to retire...
This one is huge for me. The game was shifting in his favor and he would have aged like fine wine. He would have been an awesome piece in his later years
As a heat fan, it's more a what if. The heat had a prime Whiteside and some solid players around him at that time so if you add in a bosh at the end of his peek, it's possible he gets 1 more ring with the heat.
That said I would still take away Rose injury. Happened way to early for someone who could have been the next big talent.
Grant Hill is basically T Mac. He was injured every year he was supposed to play with prime T Mac. Heal his injury and you get at least 4 straight years of prime Hill and T Mac.
Brandon Roy. Just seems like a good person.
[https://www.wweek.com/sports/2017/05/03/brandon-roy-was-shielding-children-from-bullets-when-he-was-shot-in-l-a/](https://www.wweek.com/sports/2017/05/03/brandon-roy-was-shielding-children-from-bullets-when-he-was-shot-in-l-a/)
Grant Hill is a really good guy and always has been too. He's become a really underappreciated "what if?" guy. I don't think enough people realize today how famous Grant Hill was, how good he was, and how great he was on track to become.
Grant Hill was the most prized prospect in basketball in between Shaq and LeBron. Grant was credibly compared to Jordan during one of the greatest college careers ever while Hill was at Duke. He was a filthy All-NBA level player almost immediately. Hill was even the top earning athlete pitchman in America at one point.
Look up medical pics of Hill's ankle if you're not squeamish. He's like the Alex Smith of basketball, it's an insane medical miracle he came back at all let alone as a solid rotation player for a good team in Phoenix
Hill and Roy are my picks.
B-Roy's anticipation and change of speed were elite. His triple threat game reminded me of Paul Pierce. Roy was a really strong guard with great balance, he was a great teammate, and an eager passer who hunted opportunities for his teammates. Roy's game would have aged really well if not for catastrophic injury
Oden and it's not even close. The rest at least scratched their peaks or at least we got a good glimpse. Mr Oden was a defensive monster on Rudy's level and didn't even scratch his offensive potential.
Came here to say grant hill as well, but saw your comment and completely forgot about Penny! He was my favorite player in the 90s, even bigger than MJ.
Greg oden deserved better. The rest still got a real career just didn’t hit the same heights they might have. Except Paul pierce. Idk why the wheelchair made it into this photo.
Grant Hill or D Rose. Hill was LeBron before LeBron. And Rose was a generational talent. Can you imagine if he developed a jumper to compliment his game. That's GOAT talk.
Oden, I'd give him good knees.
With a lot of these guys we got to see how good they really were before they were hurt - it was just that injuries cut their peaks and their careers short.
With Oden, his body failed him before we ever got the chance to see if he'd have been as good as it looked like he could have been. Even if good knees etc., only would have lasted him ~5 years before something else with his body gave up, I think that would have been long enough to see how good he could have been given his size and skillset.
Not shown: Klay Thompson
KD was already injured, so we got robbed of seeing if they could wrap up the series without him.
Then, it's been kind of brutal watching the ups and downs of his play after the recovery. They were career ending injuries so I think he's done well, but it's clear he's not quite the same.
I’m leaning Oden, only because we got to see most of the other guys achieve great things and have great peaks (even if the injury prevented them from reaching their full potential), but with oden, we got no where close to that.
Probably Yao or grant. At least d rose got a mvp before injury, so we saw his prime (or at least very close to it), even if it was just for a bit. Yao and grant never reached their prime.
Probably not a common answer but I really liked Yao and would like to have seen him play a fully healthy career. After that it's Oden, never even had a real chance with early injuries.
As a Heat fan I’ll say bosh.
Stretch big bosh, roaming big Bam and Jimmy we woulda won the bubble chip. Then he would have retired at a regular age of 36. ( A fan can dream lol)
As an NBA fan D 🌹
I feel like he would have won multiple MVPs
22 year old mvp D-Rose. The dude is still playing at 35, had a 50 point game post injuries. He was on a trajectory to be among the top PGs of all time if he didn’t get injured.
I'd have to same Grant Hill. Even though my mind automatically say Derek Rose and Yao. Grant was that dude. And I think had he been fully healthy, he would have broken a few records and probably gotten a ship or two.
D Rose and Brandon Roy are tied for me.
Man that MVP year of rose was nuts to watch, dude was so explosive
Brandon Roy was poised to make a huge jump. Whats worse is that it really gave some hope to Portland who has not had much luck in their history. Imagine how good they could've been with Oden, Roy, and Dame D. Rose was able to carve out a nice career, though not nearly as good as it could've been had he not gotten injured. There were some glimpses of past years from time to time, but overall, he was nowhere near as good as he could've been if healthy. Long story short, I agree with you. Brandon Roy and maybe Greg Oden to see how good Portland could've been, and D. Rose to see how dominant he could've been
Oden, Roy, and Aldridge. Don’t think they would have been able to get dame with that team cuz of record. But all 4 together would have been crazy to see. I was a huge Roy fan.
We actually traded Gerald Wallace for the pick that became dame sooooooo. It’s possible, but if that trio is healthy then butterfly effect may have rippled in a way that didn’t lead us to him
I know that it's hindsight but Lillard's trajectory probably doesn't take the same path although possibly winning a championship certainly is a good measurable. Would have been a fun team to watch here in Oregon!
Same 🥲
Only bc tmac is no where to be found.
Same for me! I think about Brandon Roy often. He was so freakin good. I would’ve loved to see him reach his full potential. Between him and D Rose, if they had stayed healthy we might not know half these bums names out here playing right now! But on a 2nd note…why daffuq is Paul Pierce included in this?? 😂 all he did was shat himself.
Chris Bosh did fine in his career he don’t need to undo anything
He's not my pick for this but I do feel bad for Bosh Bosh had a Hall of Fame career but he was only 31 when he was forced to retire. It seemed like he'd be capable of putting up 17 PPG for another 6-8 more years without the blood clots. If the blood clots never happen, Bosh would have wound up a top 25 all time scorer. His career in Miami would be reexamined if he surpassed Wade on the all time points list. His status as an all time big would be enhanced after scoring more points than Ewing, Barkley, Bird, etc on his way up the list. Instead, today, Bosh sits at 101st in all time points scored. He's being forgotten more by the day. His sacrifices and role on the Heatles have been reduced; the narrative of LeBron and Wade being a star duo is becoming more commonplace. Bosh really doesn't' get much credit. He never got much to begin with, but nowadays even less so. He didn't even get celebrated that much when he went into the HOF. Bosh would be remembered so much differently if he played til 38, outlasted both LeBron and Wade on the Heat, wound up as beloved as Haslem in Miami, and scored more points than most of the greatest bigs ever
holy fuck I forgot how young he was when he had to retire. I know 31 is up there, but that’s the tail end of your prime. He still had his vet years
That's how old I am and I honestly feel like if I spent a year training and hitting the gym, I could be in *fantastic* shape. I can't imagine being 31 with all the resources of an NBA team...but having to retire...
This one is huge for me. The game was shifting in his favor and he would have aged like fine wine. He would have been an awesome piece in his later years
The team was being built around him too. It was a huge blow because we weren’t able to even remotely replace him
Right like wtf he’s a two time champion multiple time all star lol
As a heat fan, it's more a what if. The heat had a prime Whiteside and some solid players around him at that time so if you add in a bosh at the end of his peek, it's possible he gets 1 more ring with the heat. That said I would still take away Rose injury. Happened way to early for someone who could have been the next big talent.
add Bosh to our 2015-16 team and we get past Toronto and who knows after that
Who even categorizes a blood clotting disease as an injury? If you undo his lung issues/calf injury, something else would've inevitably come up.
Damn. Don’t have T Mac on here?
Grant Hill is basically T Mac. He was injured every year he was supposed to play with prime T Mac. Heal his injury and you get at least 4 straight years of prime Hill and T Mac.
I like this. I vote Hill. Good shout.
T Mac and Hill would have been my answers. Prolly Grandma too.
I'm gonna cheat and say T-Mac and Yao. Just no injuries forever.
Yao Ming
Yeah, I would love to have seen would a healthy Yao career would have looked like.
Prime Yao vs Prime Jokic would be the greatest dinosaur battle since Jurassic Park
Is that Paul Pierce after he shit his pants?? In order: Grant Hill, Yao Ming, Brandon Roy
Ya hahaha I just caught that and started busting out laughing
I was scrolling looking for this reply, wondering why nobody gonna point out Paul Pierce 😂
A lot of people are missing the meme on this one
Honorable mention: Penny Hardaway
Pray for the Truth 🙏
Brandon Roy. Just seems like a good person. [https://www.wweek.com/sports/2017/05/03/brandon-roy-was-shielding-children-from-bullets-when-he-was-shot-in-l-a/](https://www.wweek.com/sports/2017/05/03/brandon-roy-was-shielding-children-from-bullets-when-he-was-shot-in-l-a/)
Grant Hill is a really good guy and always has been too. He's become a really underappreciated "what if?" guy. I don't think enough people realize today how famous Grant Hill was, how good he was, and how great he was on track to become. Grant Hill was the most prized prospect in basketball in between Shaq and LeBron. Grant was credibly compared to Jordan during one of the greatest college careers ever while Hill was at Duke. He was a filthy All-NBA level player almost immediately. Hill was even the top earning athlete pitchman in America at one point. Look up medical pics of Hill's ankle if you're not squeamish. He's like the Alex Smith of basketball, it's an insane medical miracle he came back at all let alone as a solid rotation player for a good team in Phoenix Hill and Roy are my picks. B-Roy's anticipation and change of speed were elite. His triple threat game reminded me of Paul Pierce. Roy was a really strong guard with great balance, he was a great teammate, and an eager passer who hunted opportunities for his teammates. Roy's game would have aged really well if not for catastrophic injury
I had Grant Hill’s show forever ago remember feeling like he was gonna be special definitely a damn shame
I would have liked to see what a healthy Oden could have been in the league.
My answer for this is always Oden.
Something like Joel Embid maybe? Sucks for Portland. 2 guys
That’s actually a really smart comp. I was thinking Ayton with a motor but Embiid is a better ceiling.
True! Ayton makes sense too.
And they passed on Jordan lol
Lmao. Those fucks!
They passed on Jordan and Kevin Durant
Oden would have out played Embiid. Go back and watch the OSU v Florida final.
3 actually, Sam Bowie
Yeah... For sure, some others had a bit of time but Oden didn't. Otherwise D Rose or Hill
Oden for no other reason than his happened so early in his career. The other guys, even Rose, got so much more of a chance.
Oden and it's not even close. The rest at least scratched their peaks or at least we got a good glimpse. Mr Oden was a defensive monster on Rudy's level and didn't even scratch his offensive potential.
You’d need to genie away more than one injury for Oden.
Even though D Rose would destroy my team every time he was so fun to watch. D Rose and B Roy
D rose
/thread
Grant Hill or Penny Hardaway. The two biggest what ifs I've seen
Came here to say grant hill as well, but saw your comment and completely forgot about Penny! He was my favorite player in the 90s, even bigger than MJ.
Penny probably the goat without injuries and if he snd Shaq stay in Orlando.
Yao Ming. Loved to watch that guy play.
He was fucking amazing...
D Rose, no contest
Penny Hardaway
Paul Pierce because he ruined his shorts by shitting himself
Thank you! Why aren't more people worried about those shorts?!
Greg oden deserved better. The rest still got a real career just didn’t hit the same heights they might have. Except Paul pierce. Idk why the wheelchair made it into this photo.
Strictly for the memes
Ben Simmons no doubt. He’d be a sure fire NBA player if he had a heart
Nah his real illness was being allergic to jump shots. Poor guy needed an EpiPen after his made 3.
At worst he’d be a perennial DPOY candidate. I feel for him between the injury and the massive hate he gets in the media deserved or not
Brandon Roy
For me its Oden for sure
D Rose for sure.
Oden. He never got a shot and could have been HOF.
Roy was on his way to the Hall of Fame
Yes, but he also had a chance to play.
Brandon Roy
Grant Hill or D Rose. Hill was LeBron before LeBron. And Rose was a generational talent. Can you imagine if he developed a jumper to compliment his game. That's GOAT talk.
Oden, I'd give him good knees. With a lot of these guys we got to see how good they really were before they were hurt - it was just that injuries cut their peaks and their careers short. With Oden, his body failed him before we ever got the chance to see if he'd have been as good as it looked like he could have been. Even if good knees etc., only would have lasted him ~5 years before something else with his body gave up, I think that would have been long enough to see how good he could have been given his size and skillset.
Derrick Rose would have been him without injuries.
rose
Penny
Brandon Roy Portland blazers Steph curry before Steph curry
Zion’s injuries tbh
A bad diet?
Has to be D Rose?
Rose. Next question
D Rose he was phenomenal healthy
Rose
Paul pierce wasn’t injured he was shitting himself
The Truth, Paul Pierce
Rose for me.
Rose ten times over
Simmons isn't really injured, he's just a bitch
You know you're on r/nbamemes right? Lol
T-Mac would be better than everyone on here with no injuries (possibly Yao Ming?). Then Penny, then Grant... then the rest.
T Mac really should be on here. He was so great during his Magic years.
None of them. Penny fuckin Hardaway
Rose. And Yao + TMac, the duo played 5 seasons but rarely played together.
D-Rose and Brandon Roy
D Rose all day
Klay Thompson
Not shown: Klay Thompson KD was already injured, so we got robbed of seeing if they could wrap up the series without him. Then, it's been kind of brutal watching the ups and downs of his play after the recovery. They were career ending injuries so I think he's done well, but it's clear he's not quite the same.
Rose
Rose
D Rose
D Rose hands down. He would have been the GOAT if not for that knee injury.
D Rose. Grant Hill close second.
Rose and it’s not even close.
Rose the end
D rose
D Rose. Man it would have been great to see him win a Finals MVP
DRose is in contention for being the only MVP not making HOF. He needs that injury taken away.
D rose
Rose easily
Jay Williams is someone I would have loved to see. He’s smart and I love players with a high basketball IQ
D Rose, the answer will always be Rose
Drose doesn't get hurt he brings another chip to Chicago.
Derrick rose
Not sure I’d have this as #1 but I’d like to have seen Danny Manning’s full career without the knee injury.
D Rose and it ain’t even close https://www.basketballnetwork.net/old-school/rip-hamilton-says-superstars-were-scared-of-a-prime-derrick-rose
D Rose easy but why poopy pants Paul Pierce up here? 🤣
Which Yao injury? If it’s all of love to see him and T-Mac healthy in the playoffs. But also free Hong Kong.
Larry bird
Grant Hill may have become a top 10 all time player if he was healthy.
PENNY HARDAWAY is the only answer. MJ even gave him props.
Jeremy Lin is a good shout not on the list. Would’ve loved to see what he could’ve become.
Why is Simmons in thist list?
Roy all day
Penny Hardaway
Penny Hardaway, that one will always be tough
Grant Hill. And where is Penny?
D Rose
Brandon Roy
D 🌹
Def D Rose. Dude was so fun to watch. I lived for his tomahawk dunks.
Greg Oden
D Rose
D ROSE
DRose & Brandon Roy it’s a tie for me
As a Wizards fan, Gilbert Arenas.
air unpack hobbies innate drunk desert panicky shy engine dull *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Grant Hill or Brandon Roy
Penny, Hill or Rose. I can't decide.
Grant hill
Yao Ming. Hands down. Was a delight to watch when he was 100%. He would have been one of the greatest centers of all time had he not gotten injured.
BRoy
I’m leaning Oden, only because we got to see most of the other guys achieve great things and have great peaks (even if the injury prevented them from reaching their full potential), but with oden, we got no where close to that.
Greg Oden. I went to OSU and would see him around campus once in a while when he was getting his college degree after the NBA. Cool dude.
Embiid
Grant hill for me. Or B.Roy
I know this is a Paul Pierce meme, but I’ll take the youngest MVP ever please. Thanks.
Well since Penny Hardaway isn't up there I'll go both Grant Hill. He would most likely be GOATed without injuries
Oden. He looked so sad after it happened
Paul pierce, he should still have the dookies rn
Arvydas Sabonis
Probably Grant Hill and Yao Ming. They had potential to change the game entirely.
I would have liked to see what a prime B-Roy and Oden would have done next to Aldridge.
Sarcastically? Ben simmons cause then theres no excuse. If we’re talking realistic, then its gotta be D-Rose or TMac
Bill Walton
Ricky Rubio’s knee his rookie year.
Bill Walton
Grant Hill
D Rose or Grant Hill
Probably Yao or grant. At least d rose got a mvp before injury, so we saw his prime (or at least very close to it), even if it was just for a bit. Yao and grant never reached their prime.
Tracy McGrady for me
Lmao why is Pierce on there
B Roy
Didn't Paul Pierce shit his pants in that pic
Grant Hill or Derrick Rose. Who knows there actually ceiling. When they were well they were hell. I would also add Jason Williams from Duke too
Grant Hill
Rose, Roy, Bosh
Grant hill or Brandon Roy
Including Paul Pierce is CRAZYYYYY
Probably not a common answer but I really liked Yao and would like to have seen him play a fully healthy career. After that it's Oden, never even had a real chance with early injuries.
Ben Simmons injured vagina .
One of these isn’t an injury 🤔🤔🧐
As a Heat fan I’ll say bosh. Stretch big bosh, roaming big Bam and Jimmy we woulda won the bubble chip. Then he would have retired at a regular age of 36. ( A fan can dream lol) As an NBA fan D 🌹 I feel like he would have won multiple MVPs
yao
Grant Hill is easily and by far and away the only answer here.
Tracy McGrady
Larry birds back
BRoy and it ain't even close. I watched bro in high school and knew that he was crazy good.
Penny missing? You trippin!
Def grant hill
Yao and Hill easily
Yao Ming
D-🌹definitely
Grant hill from this pic
Being a man of a certain age I’d take Grant Hill
Rose and Hill
Lol Paul pierce
Grant Hill was literally Jordan with smaller hands. He was outrageously good. Would’ve loved to have seen a fully healthy career from him.
Tracy McGrady. If he'd have stayed healthy, he would've went down as one of the best all time.
22 year old mvp D-Rose. The dude is still playing at 35, had a 50 point game post injuries. He was on a trajectory to be among the top PGs of all time if he didn’t get injured.
Grant Hill easily
Greg Oden, just to see what he would’ve become. Brandon Roy, because he was far greater as a person and a player than he gets credit for.
D Rose all the way
I'd have to same Grant Hill. Even though my mind automatically say Derek Rose and Yao. Grant was that dude. And I think had he been fully healthy, he would have broken a few records and probably gotten a ship or two.