The 20 biggest 'what if?' careers in NBA history

Bias had a standout college career at Maryland and was a top prospect going into the 1986 NBA Draft, when the Celtics drafted him second overall. The team hoped he could lead the franchise's next era after Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. Tragically, though, Bias died of a cocaine overdose just two days after he was drafted.

Walton ticket a lot of boxes in his first four seasons. In 1977, he led Portland to a championship and was named Finals MVP, and he won the regular-season MVP award the next year. But, his feet and ankles didn't hold up and he missed seasons at a time, although he did later win a Sixth Man Of The Year award with the title-winning Celtics in 1986.

Rose was ready to be one of the most impactful players of his generation. At just 22 years old, he became the youngest MVP in the history of the league, and that season, he powered the Bulls to a deep postseason run. After a 2012 ACL injury, though, Rose still enjoyed a long career but was ultimately never a star-level player again.

Hill was ready to be a superstar: In his sixth season, he averaged over 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per night. Over the next four seasons, though, he was constantly nagged by injuries, only appearing in 47 games over those four campaigns. After being robbed of his prime, Hill settled into a lengthy career as a productive supporting piece as a veteran.

The 6'10" point-forward was seen as potentially the future face of not just the 76ers, but the NBA as a whole. After missing his first season with injury, Simmons emerged as a talent, even earning three All-Star selections. But a mix of injuries, an apparent unwillingness to shoot, and what seemed to be mental blocks in high-pressure moments led to him never reaching his lofty potential.

Unlike most what-if players, Sabonis was awesome and lived up to his potential. In terms of his impact on the NBA, though, it was reduced by international tensions: Portland picked him in the 1986 NBA Draft, but Soviet authorities didn't allow him to play in the US. Sabonis only made it to the NBA in his 30s, after spending his prime as one of the best overseas players of all time.

Hardaway had an incredibly promising early career, such as when he and Shaquille O'Neal led the Magic to the Finals in 1995. Like other players on this list, though, injuries ultimately cut into his prime and took away his invaluable athleticism. Still, he hung around the league as a role player into his mid-30s.

Roy became the face of Portland basketball in the 2000s, earning three consecutive All-Star selections in his 20s. Sadly, though, he dealt with degenerative knee issues, which forced him into retirement when he was just 27 years old. He attempted a comeback in Minnesota but only played in five games before needing surgery.

The No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft, Oden was primed to be the best big man of his generation. He has real trouble with his knees, though, missing his rookie campaign and playing sporadically over the next two seasons before calling it quits and attempting a short-lived comeback. There were flashes of his potential, but it was ultimately unrealized for any significant stretch.

After the tragic death of Len Bias, in the very next draft, the Celtics landed Lewis, who would prove to be another franchise cornerstone. By his fifth season, he was an All-Star and ready to be the new face of the team as Larry Bird reached the end of his career. During an offseason practice in 1993, though, Lewis collapsed and died of cardiac arrest, cutting a promising career and life short.

From the 2015 to 2018 seasons, Cousins was an All-Star each year and averaged about 26 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists per night, earning a couple of All-NBA selections during that stretch, too. After an Achilles tear in 2018, though, he sat out a whole season. When he returned, there were flashes of his old self, but he never fully got back to form.

Fultz is another guy who has been defined by the players picked after him, a list that includes stars Jayson Tatum, Lauri Markkanen, and Donovan Mitchell. However, Fulz dealt with a mysterious shoulder injury and an equally puzzling loss of his shooting form. Perhaps a case of the "yips," Fultz flamed out in Philly before having an OK second act in Orlando.

As a talented 6'7" point guard, Livingston showed a ton of promise in his first three seasons with the Clippers. Then, he destroyed his knee in one of the more gruesome on-court injuries in league history. He did make it back to the league and enjoyed a long career, but he was more of a veteran than the star he might have become.

Bynum entered the league at just 18 years old, and by his third year, he averaged a double-double as the Lakers' starting center. Taking on a bigger role, he helped win titles in 2009 and 2010, and by the 2021 season, he earned his first All-Star selection. But, he faced knee issues (and, as some believe, an underwhelming work ethic) and was ultimately out of the NBA by the time he was 26.

After a legendary college career at Gonzaga, Morrison was set to be the face of the Bobcats after they selected him with the third pick. He showed promise early, but eventually lost his starting spot and had a relatively pedestrian rookie campaign. He tore his ACL the next pre-season, missing the entire 2008 season and not doing much upon his return.

After some time in Europe, Petrović made it to the NBA in the late '80s, and by the 1992 season, he was a 20-a-game scorer. In 1993, he made an All-NBA team. Tragically, that summer, he died in a car accident, just as he was becoming an NBA star.

The 7'4" Sampson was part of an imposing duo alongside Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston. However, between regular injuries and falling out of favor with coach Bill Fitch, Sampson ultimately experienced a steep decline after his first four years in the league, during which he was an All-Star all four seasons.

A big man with skill, White had a lot of potential, which the Rockets saw when they drafted him in 2012. However, White found himself uncomfortable with the NBA lifestyle due to severe anxiety and a fear of flying. He never suited up for the team and ended up logging just nine career minutes during a brief stint in Sacramento.

Due to being drafted ahead of legends like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade, Miličić has been labeled as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history. Darko never became a star, in part because early in his career, he didn't get much playing time on the deep, talented Pistons teams. While he managed a ten-year career, his time in the NBA has ultimately been defined by a relative failure to launch.

Williams has settled into a very successful TV career as a basketball analyst, but once upon a time, he had a standout college career at Duke. In the 2002 draft, he was the No. 2 pick and hopes were high. In 2003, though, he had a motorcycle crash that ended his playing career after just one season.