Back in 1998, the Clippers used the # 1 overall pick on a unknown center out of college powerhouse Pacific University named Michael Olowakandi(or The Kandi Man as he was known to the the two people who followed him in college). Who could the Clippers have taken instead? I thought you'd never ask! How about a pair of All-Americans out of North Carolina named Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter? How about a combo guard/forward out of the University of Kansas named Paul Pierce? Perhaps you'd like a NCAA championship winning point guard like Mike Bibby? Or if you're looking for some international flavor, how about the German stylings of Dirk Nowitzki?
All in all, injuries forced Olowakandi out of the NBA by 2006, leaving his career averages to just under 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.....not quite what you'd expect for a man taken over 6 NBA All-Stars.
So, there you go, Clippers fans, a little history to reflect on before your big night comes up again in a little more than a month. But hey, that was 11 years ago, a lot has changed sinc.......ok, nevermind, you're screwed. At least enjoy Blake Griffin for the next three years before he bolts for Oklahoma City.
Hey, Baron Davis says this means the curse of the Clips is over. And he should know, right?
ReplyDeleteThe Clippers might be cursed forever. I feel sorry for Blake Griffin....or whoever they draft. Have you seen the frontpage of their website? It's got Griffin and the Spanish kid in a promo to sell season tix. There is still more than a month until the draft and they are already starting down the path of the wrong decision.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happens, they've just guaranteed that the guy taken no. 2 will be a Hall-of-Famer. If I were Memphis I'd be licking my chops.
The curse won't end as long as Donald Sterling and Mike Dunleavy are running the team. Winning the lottery and presumably selecting Griffin automatically makes the Zach Randolph trade one of the worst deals in NBA history. Not only is Randolph a Grade A knucklehead but he might be the only athlete more untradeable than LeBron James. If I'm the Clippers, and I know Griffin is the only "sure thing" in this draft, I'm auctioning this pick for a proven veteran and someone willing to take Randolph off my hands.
ReplyDelete--Dave