The "Old Skool Baller" Thread

[Kenny]

Hersey Hawkins was good back in the day. Great perimeter threat in his prime.

[Clueminati017]

Woolridge had an impressive entry in the 1984 dunk contest, wrapping the ball behind his back before going up for a between-the-legs dunk. He never seems to get credit for that (I don't think he even got close to a 50 for it, though my memory could be letting me down there), everyone talks about players bringing it into the contest in the last ten years or so but he did it way back then.

He received a 48.

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Seriously... Who was the judges? It's not like it was done before with the names of Julius Erving, David Thompson, and George Gervin.

[Jeffx]

Where's the love for Jamal Wilkes and Orlando Woolridge? These guys were an exceptional role players just like Sam Perkins.

Jamaal(formerly Keith) "Smooth as Silk" Wilkes! Had a fine college career at UCLA, and won championships with Golden State and the "Showtime" Lakers. He had that weird but deadly slingshot 'J'. In the greatest game of Magic's career(Game 6 of the 1980 Finals), people forget Silk had 37 points behind Magic's 42.

He also did some acting - anyone remember "Cornbread, Earl & Me" featuring a very young Lawrence Fishburne?

[Andrew]

He received a 48.

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Seriously... Who was the judges? It's not like it was done before with the names of Julius Erving, David Thompson, and George Gervin.

Ah, my mistake. Been a while since I watched that one. But yeah, I don't get how that couldn't be a 50 when it was certainly fresh at the time. These days the between-the-legs has gotten a bit like the free throw line dunk in the early 90s, it's been done a few times so unless someone does something really impressive with it, it's not getting a big score. But like you said, it hadn't been done before in the ABA contest or earlier in that first NBA contest.

[el badman]

Cherokee Parks, Mike Peplowski, Andres Guibert, John Crotty,...

But more seriously, Kemp was my favorite player after MJ. One of the most exciting players ever I think.
Also Petrovic, Reggie Lewis (RIP to both), and Mitch Richmond were all amazing shooters.
Rolando Blackman was quite the sharpshooter too.
Loved LaPhonso Ellis, the dude was as intense as it gets.
Who else...well, I'll think of more.

[jonthefon]

Was LaPhonso Ellis' block where he ripped the ball out of the guy's hands not the baddest block ever? That was beastly.

[el badman]

Was LaPhonso Ellis' block where he ripped the ball out of the guy's hands not the baddest block ever? That was beastly.

Yeah, that one was fucking epic
I also remember taking his own offensive rebound on his missed free throw and slamming it as if his life depended on it...From what I remember, that's another player whose career was somewhat cut short because of injuries, sad stuff.

[Andrew]

I guess it was. He did play 11 years in the NBA but after playing in 82 and 79 games his first two seasons, he only played in six games in 1995, 45 in 1996 and 55 in 1997 as it always seemed he was suffering a season ending injury before the year was through.

[Jackal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUsnIyJuz5E

Awesome-ness.

[Jeffx]

Anyone remember these cats?

Harold 'Baby Jordan' Miner
Charles & Ed O'Bannon
Miles Simon
God Shammgod
Shawn Respert
Khalid El-Amin
Mateen Cleaves
'Popeye' Jones

[benji]

Yes, but we try to forget them.

[Andrew]

[Kenny]

Wouldn't exactly call Mateen Cleaves an old skool baller, but if you're still wondering, he's in the D-league at the moment I believe.

Harold Miner as I said before, his career turned out to be remarkably average.

Not sure about Charles, but Ed's now a car salesman.


...not quite sure about the rest though.

[benji]

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Barkley.

[Clueminati017]

He also did some acting - anyone remember "Cornbread, Earl & Me" featuring a very young Lawrence Fishburne?

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That's all I got to put...

"They killed Cornbread!!!"

Then everyone in the ghetto starts fighting the police. Another Blacksploitation film...

[Hoyasaxa]

Cleaves was more of a college player. Interesting how so many of the top college pros fade fast these days. Interesting that we don't even hear about Adam Morrison, J.J. Redick, Josh McRoberts, and [likely] Tyler Hansbrough or their achievements.

[Clueminati017]

Tyler Hansbrough becoming UNC's all time scorer is something to hear about, but you're right when you mentioned that in the NBA world. Chances are he may be a lower pick, and the only player that stood in school that had a high draft pick was Tim Duncan I believe. Look at Shane Battier when he went out. The year before he went out he was a high pick, but when he came out he wasn't a high pick. So, you're right when you mentioned Hansbrough because he may be a mid-late 1st Round Pick.

I wouldn't mind seeing the names Khalid El-Amin and God Shamgod on the court once again.

[shadowgrin]

Bumpage.

Wandered off into Shamsports.com (long time since I visited that site) and found some articles regarding the draft picks of '94 and '95.

Haven't finished it yet but this one caught my attention:

32nd pick: Jim McIlvaine (Washington Bullets) - McIlvaine, presumably still swimming in money, last played in 2000 and is now a colour commentator for Marquette games. Here is his really tall wife, whom he met over the internet after offering her a place to stay when she lost her home in Hurricane Katrina:

(True story, by the way.)

It is. McIlvaine you bastard. First the money and probably started the destruction of a franchise, then having that woman. God loves him.