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07-29-2009, 02:24 PM
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Trading places: NBA stars that have changed their roles
By Stephen Knox, Special to NBA.com
Posted Jul 29 2009 1:56AM
Allen Iverson is widely considered one of the greatest "little" men to ever play in the NBA. He has won an MVP award, and has the fifth-highest scoring average in history. Last season, he was asked to come off the bench for the Detroit Pistons, and he openly was not happy about it.
Iverson is now a free agent and wherever he goes, he will likely take a more diminished role than he is used to, perhaps even coming off the bench. Below is a list of five current and four former NBA stars who have taken reduced roles later in their careers.
Grant Hill
Hill started out his NBA career on fire. He was the first rookie to ever lead the NBA in All-Star voting and was co-Rookie of the Year in 1995. He was considered one of the best wingmen in the league for the next six seasons.
Related Story
Check out NBA.com's photo gallery of NBA stars who took on decreased roles later in their careers. Read Full Article
After signing with Orlando as a free agent in 2000 and dealing with injuries while with the Magic, Hill signed with Phoenix in '07. He re-signed with the Suns this summer and he'll likely finish his career in Phoenix. Last season, he played in all 82 games for the first time in his career. He rotated between starting and coming off of the bench and averaged 12 points.
Jermaine O'Neal
O'Neal was one of the key contributors on the title-contending Pacers teams earlier this decade. He made six straight All-Star teams (2001-07), and averaged 20 and 10 for three straight seasons. A 25-game suspension in 2004-05 and assorted injuries have caused his numbers to fall. He was traded twice last season, going to Toronto before the season started and was later dealt to the Heat at the All-Star break. He averaged 13 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Heat and was clearly Miami's No. 2 option behind All-Star Dwyane Wade.
Jerry Stackhouse
Stackhouse, a two-time All-Star, was a dynamic scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons early in his career. In the 2000-01 season, he averaged 29.8 points for the Pistons, second only to Iverson (that season's MVP). The Pistons traded him to Washington before the 2002-03 season for Richard Hamilton. Stackhouse spent two seasons with the Wizards. A knee injury slowed Stackhouse in 2003-04, and he was dealt to Dallas before the next season, where his career took off. With the Mavs, he came off the bench for five seasons, and was a key contributor in the team's run to the 2006 NBA Finals. Stackhouse was included in the multi-team Hedo Turkoglu/Shawn Marion sign-and-trade deal this summer, where he landed in Memphis and was later waived by the team.
Michael Finley
Finley was a two time All-Star for the Mavericks. He averaged 20-plus points for five consecutive seasons and led the Mavs to the Western Conference Finals in '03. Before the 2005-06 season, he signed with the Spurs, where he took a secondary role behind Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli. His long-range shooting and defense gave the Spurs better depth, helping them win the NBA title in '07.
Ray Allen
Allen is widely considered one of the best shooters in the history of the NBA. He holds the record for most 3-pointers made in a season (269) and has made 2,299 treys in his career, second only to Reggie Miller. The nine-time All-Star was a go-to player during his days in both Milwaukee and Seattle, but found team success after he was dealt to the Celtics prior to the 2007-08 season -- sacrificing his scoring for the good of the team. Teaming with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, Allen's scoring dropped nearly 10 points, but he won his lone NBA championship.
ALL-TIME
Bill Walton
Walton was one of the more highly touted No. 1 draft picks ever. In 1977, his third NBA season, he led the Trail Blazers to their only NBA championship and was named MVP of the series. He seemed to be on the rise the next season, as he won the MVP and led Portland to its first 50-win season. But he broke his foot later that season and injuries would mar the majority of his career. Before the 1985-86 season, he signed with the Celtics and was the Sixth Man of the Year and collected his second NBA title.
Scottie Pippen
Pippen was a three-time All-NBA First Team performer and made the All-Defensive First Team eight times as a member of the Bulls. He was the No. 2 man behind Michael Jordan during Chicago's run to six NBA titles. In his one full season without Jordan, he was the MVP of the '94 All-Star Game and finished third in the MVP voting. After the sixth title in Chicago, he signed with Rockets in '98, where he joined Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. His lone season in Houston was hardly memorable, as his stats dropped off in almost every category. He found new life a season later, though. He was traded to the Trail Blazers before the '99 season and helped them take the Lakers to the brink of elimination in the classic 2000 Western Conference Finals.
Bob McAdoo
McAdoo was one of the best players in the NBA during the 1970s. The five-time All-Star is the last player to average 30 points and 15 rebounds in a season (1973-74). He was the '73 Rookie of the Year and was named MVP in '75 after averaging 34.1 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 2.12 blocks. He also led the league in scoring from 1972-75. Yet despite his success as a member of the Buffalo Braves, McAdoo wound up spending the late '70s and early '80s playing for five different teams, many of which had bad records. He found a second life after a trade to the Lakers in the middle of the 1981-82 season. In 1983-84, McAdoo's 13.1 points led all non-starters in the league and was the Lakers' sixth man from 1982-85. In L.A., he won two championships and played in four straight NBA Finals.
Gary Payton
Payton is considered by some to be the best defensive point guard ever. He made the All-Defensive First Team nine consecutive times. In '96, he was the first guard in eight years to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Although he made his name with Seattle and led the Sonics to the '96 NBA Finals, Payton was eventually traded to Milwaukee in the middle of the 2002-03 season. From there, Payton was on a quest for a title to close out his career, but it was a lengthy path.
He signed with the Lakers the following season (as did former All-Star Karl Malone) in hopes of a run at a title. While L.A. reached the '04 Finals, it lost to Detroit in five games. After spending the 2004-05 season in Boston, Payton was a free agent and chose to join the Heat.
Payton finally realized his title dream, serving as a backup point guard for Miami as it reached the '06 Finals. Payton made his mark in the Finals, too, hitting crucial jumpers in Game 3 and Game 5.
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iverson262-072809.jpg
Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images
Trading places: NBA stars that have changed their roles
By Stephen Knox, Special to NBA.com
Posted Jul 29 2009 1:56AM
Allen Iverson is widely considered one of the greatest "little" men to ever play in the NBA. He has won an MVP award, and has the fifth-highest scoring average in history. Last season, he was asked to come off the bench for the Detroit Pistons, and he openly was not happy about it.
Iverson is now a free agent and wherever he goes, he will likely take a more diminished role than he is used to, perhaps even coming off the bench. Below is a list of five current and four former NBA stars who have taken reduced roles later in their careers.
Grant Hill
Hill started out his NBA career on fire. He was the first rookie to ever lead the NBA in All-Star voting and was co-Rookie of the Year in 1995. He was considered one of the best wingmen in the league for the next six seasons.
Related Story
Check out NBA.com's photo gallery of NBA stars who took on decreased roles later in their careers. Read Full Article
After signing with Orlando as a free agent in 2000 and dealing with injuries while with the Magic, Hill signed with Phoenix in '07. He re-signed with the Suns this summer and he'll likely finish his career in Phoenix. Last season, he played in all 82 games for the first time in his career. He rotated between starting and coming off of the bench and averaged 12 points.
Jermaine O'Neal
O'Neal was one of the key contributors on the title-contending Pacers teams earlier this decade. He made six straight All-Star teams (2001-07), and averaged 20 and 10 for three straight seasons. A 25-game suspension in 2004-05 and assorted injuries have caused his numbers to fall. He was traded twice last season, going to Toronto before the season started and was later dealt to the Heat at the All-Star break. He averaged 13 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Heat and was clearly Miami's No. 2 option behind All-Star Dwyane Wade.
Jerry Stackhouse
Stackhouse, a two-time All-Star, was a dynamic scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons early in his career. In the 2000-01 season, he averaged 29.8 points for the Pistons, second only to Iverson (that season's MVP). The Pistons traded him to Washington before the 2002-03 season for Richard Hamilton. Stackhouse spent two seasons with the Wizards. A knee injury slowed Stackhouse in 2003-04, and he was dealt to Dallas before the next season, where his career took off. With the Mavs, he came off the bench for five seasons, and was a key contributor in the team's run to the 2006 NBA Finals. Stackhouse was included in the multi-team Hedo Turkoglu/Shawn Marion sign-and-trade deal this summer, where he landed in Memphis and was later waived by the team.
Michael Finley
Finley was a two time All-Star for the Mavericks. He averaged 20-plus points for five consecutive seasons and led the Mavs to the Western Conference Finals in '03. Before the 2005-06 season, he signed with the Spurs, where he took a secondary role behind Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli. His long-range shooting and defense gave the Spurs better depth, helping them win the NBA title in '07.
Ray Allen
Allen is widely considered one of the best shooters in the history of the NBA. He holds the record for most 3-pointers made in a season (269) and has made 2,299 treys in his career, second only to Reggie Miller. The nine-time All-Star was a go-to player during his days in both Milwaukee and Seattle, but found team success after he was dealt to the Celtics prior to the 2007-08 season -- sacrificing his scoring for the good of the team. Teaming with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, Allen's scoring dropped nearly 10 points, but he won his lone NBA championship.
ALL-TIME
Bill Walton
Walton was one of the more highly touted No. 1 draft picks ever. In 1977, his third NBA season, he led the Trail Blazers to their only NBA championship and was named MVP of the series. He seemed to be on the rise the next season, as he won the MVP and led Portland to its first 50-win season. But he broke his foot later that season and injuries would mar the majority of his career. Before the 1985-86 season, he signed with the Celtics and was the Sixth Man of the Year and collected his second NBA title.
Scottie Pippen
Pippen was a three-time All-NBA First Team performer and made the All-Defensive First Team eight times as a member of the Bulls. He was the No. 2 man behind Michael Jordan during Chicago's run to six NBA titles. In his one full season without Jordan, he was the MVP of the '94 All-Star Game and finished third in the MVP voting. After the sixth title in Chicago, he signed with Rockets in '98, where he joined Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. His lone season in Houston was hardly memorable, as his stats dropped off in almost every category. He found new life a season later, though. He was traded to the Trail Blazers before the '99 season and helped them take the Lakers to the brink of elimination in the classic 2000 Western Conference Finals.
Bob McAdoo
McAdoo was one of the best players in the NBA during the 1970s. The five-time All-Star is the last player to average 30 points and 15 rebounds in a season (1973-74). He was the '73 Rookie of the Year and was named MVP in '75 after averaging 34.1 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 2.12 blocks. He also led the league in scoring from 1972-75. Yet despite his success as a member of the Buffalo Braves, McAdoo wound up spending the late '70s and early '80s playing for five different teams, many of which had bad records. He found a second life after a trade to the Lakers in the middle of the 1981-82 season. In 1983-84, McAdoo's 13.1 points led all non-starters in the league and was the Lakers' sixth man from 1982-85. In L.A., he won two championships and played in four straight NBA Finals.
Gary Payton
Payton is considered by some to be the best defensive point guard ever. He made the All-Defensive First Team nine consecutive times. In '96, he was the first guard in eight years to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Although he made his name with Seattle and led the Sonics to the '96 NBA Finals, Payton was eventually traded to Milwaukee in the middle of the 2002-03 season. From there, Payton was on a quest for a title to close out his career, but it was a lengthy path.
He signed with the Lakers the following season (as did former All-Star Karl Malone) in hopes of a run at a title. While L.A. reached the '04 Finals, it lost to Detroit in five games. After spending the 2004-05 season in Boston, Payton was a free agent and chose to join the Heat.
Payton finally realized his title dream, serving as a backup point guard for Miami as it reached the '06 Finals. Payton made his mark in the Finals, too, hitting crucial jumpers in Game 3 and Game 5.