Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

[PaulGeorgeHill]

Ok, since it's the offseason, I figured we could have a discussion about who y'all think the biggest Pacers bust and the most surprising to ever represent the Blue & Gold. Sorry if there has ever been a thread about this but I kinda buzzed through the forum and didn't see one recently. Enjoy!!!


Biggest bust: J. Bender- Dude had amazing potential but a career shortened by injuries.
Runner up: D. Harrison- Had the size but no heart (wish we could have put Hibbert's heart into this man's body).
Honorable mention: Jim O'br....eh sorry everybody!!!

Most Surprising: Larry Bird- Face it, most NBA Hall of Fame players don't make good coaches or executives, it was a surprise what he did as a coach and then as an executive, turning around this Pacers franchise.
Runner up: Jermaine O'neal- From hardly ever being used in Portland to one of the best Pacers players ever.
Honorable Mention: Rik Smits- Turned out to be a very good center, considering the beginning of his career.

[OlBlu]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

Ok, since it's the offseason, I figured we could have a discussion about who y'all think the biggest Pacers bust and the most surprising to ever represent the Blue & Gold. Sorry if there has ever been a thread about this but I kinda buzzed through the forum and didn't see one recently. Enjoy!!!


Biggest bust: J. Bender- Dude had amazing potential but a career shortened by injuries.
Runner up: D. Harrison- Had the size but no heart (wish we could have put Hibbert's heart into this man's body).
Honorable mention: Jim O'br....eh sorry everybody!!!

Most Surprising: Larry Bird- Face it, most NBA Hall of Fame players don't make good coaches or executives, it was a surprise what he did as a coach and then as an executive, turning around this Pacers franchise.
Runner up: Jermaine O'neal- From hardly ever being used in Portland to one of the best Pacers players ever.
Honorable Mention: Rik Smits- Turned out to be a very good center, considering the beginning of his career.

There are a number of busts and Bender's was caused by serious injury. I would put several ahead of him for that reason alone.....

[PGisthefuture]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

Jermaine had to have been one of the biggest surprises, he was a bench warmer on the Trail-Blazers before coming here.
I think Reggie is also an obvious choice for a big surprise.

[Steagles]

I have to say Roy. Even though he was mid 1st, he was the 3rd big man taken, where big men are at an all time premium.


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[idioteque]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

These just come to mind but probably aren't the biggest:

Bust: Haskin
Surprise: Antonio Davis

[OlBlu]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

Ok, since it's the offseason, I figured we could have a discussion about who y'all think the biggest Pacers bust and the most surprising to ever represent the Blue & Gold. Sorry if there has ever been a thread about this but I kinda buzzed through the forum and didn't see one recently. Enjoy!!!


Biggest bust: J. Bender- Dude had amazing potential but a career shortened by injuries.
Runner up: D. Harrison- Had the size but no heart (wish we could have put Hibbert's heart into this man's body).
Honorable mention: Jim O'br....eh sorry everybody!!!

Most Surprising: Larry Bird- Face it, most NBA Hall of Fame players don't make good coaches or executives, it was a surprise what he did as a coach and then as an executive, turning around this Pacers franchise.
Runner up: Jermaine O'neal- From hardly ever being used in Portland to one of the best Pacers players ever.
Honorable Mention: Rik Smits- Turned out to be a very good center, considering the beginning of his career.

After some thought, I have my pick for the biggest bust but it goes back a lone way. Rick Mount......

[PaulGeorgeHill]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

There are a number of busts and Bender's was caused by serious injury. I would put several ahead of him for that reason alone.....

He was still a bust, it doesnt matter if its because of injury or because lack of interest...yes its not his fault because his body was built the way it was but coming into the league he was being compared to Kevin Garnett with more range and, because of injury, he didn't live up to expectations or even come close.

[PaulGeorgeHill]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

A lot of busts come to mind pretty quick...Tinsley, Bender, D. Harrison, Shawne Williams, Peja & E. Dampier(LOL) etc...its a lot more difficult, in my opinion, to come up with the surprises but, yes, J. Oneal has to be probably the biggest.

[OlBlu]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

A lot of busts come to mind pretty quick...Tinsley, Bender, D. Harrison, Shawne Williams, Peja & E. Dampier(LOL) etc...its a lot more difficult, in my opinion, to come up with the surprises but, yes, J. Oneal has to be probably the biggest.

I don't understand your list. Tinsley has had a long career. Shawne Williams is still in the league, Peja was a star and E. Dampier had a very long NBA career.......

[speakout4]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

George McLoud--

Picked 7th in the first round and his contract was not renewed.

[idioteque]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

Don't think Dampier was a bust really, he got us Chris Mullen and had a decent career.

[RomanGabriel]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

Most pleasant surprises; Don Buse, Dale Davis, Jalen Rose. Busts; George McCloud

[PaulGeorgeHill]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

I don't understand your list. Tinsley has had a long career. Shawne Williams is still in the league, Peja was a star and E. Dampier had a very long NBA career.......

What don't you understand??? Tinsley had a hell of a lot more talent than he showed, same with Shawne Williams...So if Lebron would have came into the NBA and just had a long average career accomplishing nothing he wouldnt be a bust? And show me some stats that prove what Peja and Dampier did for THE PACERS because most people really don't care what they did for other teams, they were a bust for the Pacers (See Thread Title)

Also when I think of a bust, my thinking is a person who doesnt reach his potential in a big way. (i.e. Tinsley, Williams, Bender etc.)

Thanks

[OlBlu]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

What don't you understand??? Tinsley had a hell of a lot more talent than he showed, same with Shawne Williams...So if Lebron would have came into the NBA and just had a long average career accomplishing nothing he wouldnt be a bust? And show me some stats that prove what Peja and Dampier did for THE PACERS because most people really don't care what they did for other teams, they were a bust for the Pacers (See Thread Title)

Also when I think of a bust, my thinking is a person who doesnt reach his potential in a big way. (i.e. Tinsley, Williams, Bender etc.)

Thanks

Well, there you go, we don't see "bust" in the same light. I view someone as a bust who had a short career or didn't even make the team in his first or second year. A player who has a long NBA career can hardly be considered a "bust" in my view. You might call him an underachiever but "bust" should be reserved for people like Ryan Leaf and Jamarkus Russell. I consider Adam Morrison a bust but I view Kwame Brown as a slight under achiever (he has had a long NBA career and could fill a role with about any team).....

[joew8302]

Re: Biggest Pacer's Bust and Surprise in History????

I am not sure we have had any humongous busts. I mean we have never had any high lottery picks, so I am not sure where to go with that.

Bender can't count due to injuries. Williams and Harrison I don't think were picked high enough to be considered true "busts". Dampier played forever on some very good teams. Considering he was drafted 11 I think he did pretty well for himself to have a long, productive career.