Peter May column on Iverson, Marbury & Walker

[Andrew]

Saw this on Yahoo! NBA today, thought it was a good read: ’96 stars beginning to see their careers 86ed

It's a good look back at the 1996 draft class and how Iverson, Marbury and Walker have very quietly left the league despite establishing themselves as big names in the league and being pegged as having so much promise all those years ago. Seems Walker is trying to resurrect his career in Puerto Rico though, with an eye to making it back to the NBA. Seems a long shot but good luck to him all the same if he's still serious about playing professional basketball. Seems he's still in need of the money.

[NovU]

Seems like many good players came out from '96 class. Just a shame how 3 of them had/has to go like that.

[shadowgrin]

Seems like many good players came out from '96 class.

*slaps NovU*
Kobe Bryant bitch!

Ray Allen, Steve Nash.

[Andrew]

Just a shame how 3 of them had/has to go like that.

As far as Iverson and Walker's money troubles are concerned, it think it shows that there needs to be a better support system or advice made available to professional athletes and other celebrities. Granted, everyone is entitled to blow all their money and make their own decisions in life - good or bad - but it's staggering how people who make so much money can lose so much through being irresponsible, having a large entourage leach off them, being swindled by their representation and perhaps just basically being ill-prepared for the lifestyle and career in the public eye in which they find themselves. That's assuming that no one ever gave Iverson or Walker good advice that they ignored, that's obviously a possibility, but I wonder how many people they had/have truly looking out for their best interests.

[Fresh8]

I read this yesterday. Enjoyed the read. It's always interesting to see how players end up after 10-15 years time.

[Andrew]

That's something else that struck me upon reading it, that fourteen years have gone by since they were drafted. It doesn't feel like it was that long ago, yet here we are in 2010. Time flies.

[Rip32]

I actually think the NFL has an Alumni division for retired players, but the NBA could go with that idea and try to shape it into a adviser type role where if guys are having a problems they can go see people (some former NBA players would be a part of it) and try to figure things out before they turn into an AI/Walker situation.

[Andrew]

Yeah, not a bad idea. As difficult as it might be, some athletes and celebrities should be encouraged to drop certain members from their entourages; anyone who sticks around just to get a free ride off your success is hardly a true friend.