BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) REGGIE MILLER
There are a few people who could have snuck onto this list that I just didn’t have room for. Easily, Karl Malone and John Stockton come to mind. Never the less, I have a strong love/hate thing for Reggie Miller. He was fun to watch kill the Knicks every year and his shooting style and skills were a pleasure to have witnessed. I remember a time where he scored like 8 points in 11 seconds. That was incredible stuff, but I still have a little hate in me for him being a Bulls fan. He was a very worthy foe. It’s a bummer that Reggie never got a ring, but you have to respect him for sticking with the Pacers for 18 years. That kind of dedication is unheard of in the NBA today.
(THREE) PATRICK EWING
Same story as Reggie. He was a great player. We can argue how great all day, but the dude was good enough to be on the Dream Team so that says something. With the Knicks, Pat was a monster. He averaged just under ten boards and two and a half blocks. He carried the Knicks for years and sadly never got a ring on his finger. I feel bad for him, but at the same time I can’t help but think of Scottie Pippen, smirk and think “serves him right!”
(TWO) CHARLES BARKLEY
He talks as if he was one of the greatest players of all time. He belongs in the Hall of Fame and has many accolades to his credit that are damn impressive. He’s up there, but as much as we’ve been groomed to think of him in the same sentence as a Jordan, Magic, or Bird he’s missing a key ingredient. Barkley never won the NBA Championship. When he was close Chicago shut him and the Suns down. He was with the Sixers for so long and then went to the Suns and I think eventually in Houston. It was just never in the cards for Sir. Charles. Barkley was great.
(ONE) DOMINQUE WILKINS
Like everyone on this list, the main reason Wilkins didn’t get their jewelry was Michael Jordan. He set records, made history, and in these cases ruined lives….The “Human Highlight Film” has to be one of the most underrated NBA players of all time. He had his moments with the bad ass dunks from the old Slam Dunk contests, but he was the shit in game play as well. He averaged about 25 points a game and close to 7 boards. If he had been on a different team than the always average Atlanta Hawks then he’d of been considered one of the all time greats. Imagine if he had been with the Spurs earlier in his career when he and David Robinson were both in their prime. It would have been Spurs vs. Bulls for most of the 90’s if so. Instead, this master of his craft was snubbed for the original Dream Team and never got his ring.
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