Yesterday’s NBA trade deadline had basketball fans checking their favorite team’s roster and their pulse at the same damn time. In doing so, yours truly was reminded of an interesting fact — once prominent players in the league have become afterthoughts.
photo: WENN
That said, Hip-Hop Wired lists 10 players who are surprisingly still employed by the NBA. Hit the jump to see who’s listed. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
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Photo: YouTube
Drew Gooden
Gooden is a Kansas product and has managed to keep the checks coming in.
Rasual Butler
Hailing from Philadelphia, the sharp-shooter’s abilities are still intact. But he’s the true definition of a journeyman, having played for seven NBA team and even did a stint in the NBA D-League.
John Salmons
Salmons is one of those players you forgot existed, though his years in Sacramento were filled with buckets.
Shaun Livingston
Drafted fourth overall out of high school in 2004, Livingston was a young poised 6’7”point guard with a 6’11” wingspan. But his career trajectory immediately changed after he suffered a debilitating knee injury in 2007.
Though many counted Livingston out, he managed to return to the NBA. He recently earned a three-year, $16 million contract with the Golden State Warriors.
Jason Richardson
After winning the two best post-Vince Carter dunk contests, public perception of Richardson’s developing talents became skewed. Simply put, people wanted to see more dunks as he developed other aspects of his game. When the dunking stopped (and the guard was traded to a dismal Philadelphia team), he was largely forgotten about.
Luke Ridnour
It was all downhill from here. Also, never forget Ridnour’s good moments.
Kenyon Martin
Cincinnati Bearcats (and New Jersey Nets) era Kenyon looked so promising, man. Now, it’s whatever.
Marvin Williams
Williams was drafted number two after demolishing cats during his University of North Carolina days (one season). The lies careers can tell.
Chris Andersen
Andersen had a well-documented battle with substance abuse, which got him kicked out of the league back in 2006. Luckily, he managed to return after spending two years in purgatory.
Shawn Marion
Quite frankly, we thought Marion would last another season or two, at most, after winning an NBA Championship. This also happens to be his last year.
