Editor’s note: List does not include active players and does not include players whose career started before the 1976 merger (e.g., Pete Maravich, George Mikan, Bill Walton, Willis Reed)

16) Drazen Petrovic

Already 25 years old by the time his NBA career started and 27 by the time it really got rolling with the Nets, Petrovic was destined for a relatively short career even before his tragic death. It could have been an all-timer even in a short window, as evidenced by his successful club career in his native Yugoslavia (later Croatia) and his time with the national team, which included two Olympic medals and a FIBA World Cup title. In his final two seasons with New Jersey, Petrovic averaged 21.4 points per game, was named 3rd-Team All-NBA, and helped the team reach the postseason for the first time in six years. In the summer of 1993 Petrovic was in Berlin, suiting up for his national team in a series of qualifying matches for the FIBA EuroBasket when he was killed tragically in a highway collision. His 22.1 points per game in ’92-’93 still stands as the NBA record for highest scoring average in a player’s final season.

15) Billy Owens

In a classic “be careful what you wish for” scenario, Owens (rightfully) recognized an undesirable situation in the Sacramento franchise that drafted him and forced his way into a seemingly glamorous but ultimately treacherous circumstance with Golden State. Traded from the Kings to the Warriors in exchange for Mitch Richmond, Owens found an icy reception in Oakland, where fans were vexed by the dissolution of “Run-TMC.” Anything less than multiple All-Star appearances and postseason success would be considered a disappointment, and Owens was unable to deliver either. But he was solid in his first five seasons, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and arguably could have had a much better career if he landed on a more apt roster. But injuries were an issue for Owens almost immediately, starting with a knee cartilage tear in his second season from which he never fully bounced back. Though the back half of his 10-year career (which included, ironically, a stint with the Kings) was a struggle, Owens still finished with respectable career averages of 11.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

14) Andrew Bynum

It was a real speed run of an eventful career for Bynum. He was the youngest player in NBA history, making his debut just a few days after his 18th birthday, and barely played as a rookie. Two years later, Bynum was already the starting center on a team that reached three consecutive NBA Finals and won two. He was simultaneously becoming what can only be described as “intensely injury prone,” suffering through seemingly endless knee injuries and complications. ’11-’12 was a peak for Bynum, averaging 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game and making his All-Star debut, but it was also essentially the end of his career. Traded that offseason to the 76ers, Bynum would ultimately play just 26 games in his final two seasons due to further knee problems, supposedly exacerbated by an offseason bowling incident. He was finished as an NBA player at age 26, having averaged 11.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in just 418 total appearances across eight seasons.

13) Wally Szczerbiak

When you’re staring down the barrel of a fourth knee surgery and doctors are telling you this would potentially cripple you for life, hopefully most of us would retire from the NBA too. That was the choice for Szczerbiak in 2009, who opted to end his career after just 10 seasons. Born in Spain while his father Walter was forging a legend with Real Madrid, Szczerbiak caught the eye of NBA scouts when he carried Miami (OH) on a Cinderella run through the 1999 NCAA Tournament. The Timberwolves drafted him sixth overall and Szczerbiak made an instant impact, perfectly complementing Kevin Garnett as an athletic small forward who could shoot from anywhere. Szczerbiak was an All-Star in 2002 and a key part of the Minnesota team that reached the 2004 Conference Finals. But a hard fall during those playoffs cracked three vertebrae and the rest of Szczerbiak’s career was likewise unfortunately hampered by major injuries, not just to his back and knees but also his ankles. After making the wise decision to retire, Szczerbiak became a long-time television analyst for the Knicks.

12) Mehmet Okur

Part of a versatile and dangerous front court with Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko, Okur was developing into a star player for the Jazz in the mid ’00s. He was honored as such in 2007, becoming the first Turkish player to be named an NBA All-Star. Prior to that, he had also become the first Turkish player to win an NBA title, playing solid minutes off the bench for the Pistons in 2004. During a four year prime with Utah, Okur averaged 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and was a paragon of consistency. But in the first game of the 2010 playoffs, Okur suffered a torn Achilles’ which left him sidelined for eight months (it also prevented him from representing host nation Turkey at the 2010 FIBA World Cup). He came back midway through ’10-’11 but then began to struggle with a disc issue in his back, which again left him unavailable for a lengthy period. By the time Okur came back again at the start of the ’11-’12 season, he was now with the Nets and no longer effective, struggling through 17 appearances before undergoing career ending back surgery.

11) Roy Tarpley

A lot of the players on this list land here by virtue of uncontrollable injuries or accidents but Tarpley has only himself to blame. He seemed well positioned for stardom at age 23 after an ’87-’88 in which he averaged a double-double, earned Sixth Man of the Year, and helped Dallas to a surprise Conference Finals run. But that would turn out to be the final season of Tarpley’s career without a major suspension and/or sabbatical due to alcohol and drug abuse. A voluntary rehab stint in January 1989 was “strike one” for Tarpley under the NBA substance abuse policy. A DWI arrest in November 1989 was “strike two,” and a refusal to take a drug test before the ’91-’92 season got him suspended for life. Tarpley was reinstated in 1994 and returned to the Mavericks for 55 games before another indefinite suspension for violating the terms of his aftercare agreement. As it stands, Tarpley finished his career with 12.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, going down as the only player in NBA history to play in 250 or more games and average a career double-double.

10) Roy Hibbert

There’s no official story to explain how Hibbert went from NBA All-Star to also-ran just two years later, his career essentially over before his 30th birthday. There were no major injuries, no suspensions, no known off-court issues or distractions. It seems as if the game just passed Hibbert by, fans watching in real time as the 7’2″ traditional center was rendered obsolete. They just don’t make ’em anymore like Hibbert, a defense and rebounding specialist with post moves but no jumper, no play making abilities, and a distinct lack of athleticism. He lucked into landing with the best situation possible, getting drafted by a throwback Pacers team that was built to win by spreading the ball around on offense and locking teams down defensively. Hibbert was an All-Star twice, finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in ’13-’14, and was anchor of the Indiana teams that made back-to-back Conference Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014. But as soon as he left Indiana via trade in 2015, Hibbert looked downright archaic in short stints with the Lakers, Hornets, and Nuggets, before retiring in 2017. Amongst players whose career started post-merger, only Brandon Roy, Jeff Ruland, and Joakim Noah scored fewer career points than Hibbert while making multiple All-Star appearances.

9) Steve Francis

There was a confluence of factors that limited Francis’ once ascendent NBA career to just nine seasons. One was his propensity for being disgruntled. It started even before he played his first NBA game, as Francis forced a trade to the Rockets from the Grizzlies team that owned his draft rights. In his first five seasons with Houston, Francis averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, made three All-Star appearances and was co-winner of Rookie of the Year. He also occasionally missed stretches of games due to an inner ear disease that caused severe migraines, struggled with foot injuries, and clashed with coach Jeff Van Gundy. Francis had a career year in ’04’-05 after a trade to the Magic, but also openly derided the team’s front office after they traded away his good friend Cuttino Mobley, leading to suspensions and mistrust. With his migraines continuing, and major injuries compounding to his knee and quadriceps, Francis struggled through his final three seasons and found decreasing opportunities due to his attitudinal reputation.

“When asked to reflect on a career that included teaming up with all-time legends Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley once remarked that [Andrew] Toney was the best player he ever had as a teammate”

8) Reggie Lewis

Early in game one of a first round Celtics series against the Hornets, Lewis had 17 points when he suddenly collapsed on the court. He stood back up after a few seconds, seemingly dizzy and confused, as if he had suffered a concussion. Boston inexplicably sent Lewis back out on the court later in the game only to pull him quickly after he complained of shortness of breath. He was soon after diagnosed as cardiomyopathic, meaning that strenuous exertion could prove fatal and his basketball career should be over. But Lewis was able to seek a second, more benign opinion, granting him license to continue his career. Just a few months later he was dead, collapsing on the court during an off-season workout and, this time, unable to be revived. After a quiet rookie campaign, Lewis steadily improved in each of his next five seasons, becoming a fan favorite as he was seemingly bridging the gap into the Celtics’ post-Larry Bird future. Lewis was a first-time All-Star in 1992, and in ’92-’93 averaged a career high 20.8 points per game, which is the fifth highest final season output in NBA history.

7) Arvydas Sabonis

By the time he became of the oldest NBA rookies of the modern era, making his long awaited debut with the Trail Blazers at age 31, Sabonis was already considered one of the greatest players in the sport’s history. A legend in his native Lithuania and in Spain, where he starred for Real Madrid in his prime, Sabonis had been playing at an elite level for a long time and those were some hard years. When he first reported to camp for the Trail Blazers in 1995, almost a decade after they drafted him, Sabonis was reportedly so brittle that the team doctor claimed he could qualify for a handicapped parking spot. But the immense skill that Sabonis possessed was still undeniable, and he finished second in both Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year voting in ’95-’96, then in his first four seasons averaged 14.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Coach Mike Dunleavy refocused the offense around the slick passing big man and the Blazers came up just short of NBA Finals appearances in 1999 and 2000 as a result. Sabonis ultimately played seven seasons in the NBA before returning to his hometown club Zalgiris for one year and then retiring at age 39.

6) Brandon Roy

Long before an NBA career was even a possibility, Roy had knee surgery in high school, his first of an eventual six procedures due to an arthritic condition that caused cartilage loss. When his knees manage to cooperate, Roy was incredible on the court, a fearless scorer and all-around threat who was Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star, 2nd-Team All-NBA, and averaged 20.2 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game in his first four NBA seasons. But as if his knee troubles weren’t enough, Roy suffered a hamstring injury in ’09-’10, which spelled the beginning of the end. He gave Blazers fans one last tantalizing display of what could have been in the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals, scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead a furious comeback win over the Mavericks. A platelet-rich plasma procedure gave Roy a chance to make a brief comeback in ’12-’13 with the Timberwolves but he lasted just five games before retiring again for good. Amongst players whose NBA career lasted six seasons or less, only Alex Groza, Clark Kellogg, and Geoff Petrie had higher career scoring averages than Roy’s 18.8 points per game.

5) Michael Ray Richardson

Not only did his lifetime suspension for violating the substance abuse policy cost Richardson a lengthier career, it also may have cost him an NBA record. With 2.63 career steals per game, Richardson was the all-time leader in that category when he played his final NBA game in February 1986. But a positive drug test (reportedly for cocaine) was a third strike for Richardson, who found himself out of the league entirely and his steals per game record soon after surpassed by Alvin Robertson. It was an ignominious end for a brilliant talent after eight seasons, two All-Star appearances, two All-Defensive team designations, and three times leading the league in steals. In ’79-’80, Richardson became the first player in NBA history to average 10+ assists and three-plus steals per game in the same season, something only John Stockton has since accomplished. Under the conditions of the CBA, Richardson could have petitioned for NBA reinstatement in 1988, but opted to instead spend the remainder of his career in Europe.

4) Andrew Toney

When asked to reflect on a career that included teaming up with all-time legends Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley once chose Toney as the best player he ever had as a teammate. That was no faint praise and Barkley was not alone in that sentiment. Before stress fractures in his feet forced him to retire at age 30, Toney was one of the premier scorers in the NBA, drawing esteem not just from Barkley but other high profile adversaries like Larry Bird and Sidney Moncrief. Toney also improved under the highest pressure situations, garnering the nickname “Boston Strangler” for his otherworldly performances against the Celtics in the 1981, 1982, and 1983 Conference Finals. His foot issues started during the ’84-’85 season and likely could have been mitigated if Sixers management could even pretend to care. Instead, they ignored Toney’s complaints of foot pain, claiming he was “cleared” by team doctors and threatening fines and other retribution if he didn’t play. When Toney was finally able to get a second opinion, doctors informed him that he had been playing on two broken feet and the damage was compounded exponentially. Comeback attempts over the next three seasons failed and Toney was done by 1988, finishing with a career average of 15.9 points per game, two All-Star appearances, and one championship.

3) Brad Daugherty

He played just eight seasons in the NBA, all of them with one of the league’s most cursed franchises, but Daugherty made the most of it before retiring at age 28. A two-time All-American at North Carolina and still only 20 years old on draft day, Daugherty was a coup as the #1 overall pick for the Cavaliers in 1986. He was immediately given the starting center job and held it down for his entire career, finishing with averages of 19.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. It’s not clear exactly what caused Daugherty’s nagging back and foot issues (as a cherry on top, he also suffered from vertigo) but we do know they began as phantom “spasms” early in his rookie season. He played valiantly through the pain throughout his career, even after he underwent foot surgery in 1989 to remove inflamed nerves, making five All-Star teams, averaging a 20/10 three times, and leading the Cavs on a deep playoff run in 1992. A disc issue was discovered in Daugherty’s back during the ’93-’94 season and that was that for the talented center. He attempted comebacks in ’94-’95 and ’95-’96 but to no avail, as his back pain continually flared up. Even with the abbreviated career, Daugherty was considered the consensus greatest Cavaliers player of all time up until LeBron James arrived.

2) Ralph Sampson

Thanks to his size (7’4″), skills (incredible play maker), and NCAA accolades (one of just two players ever to win multiple Naismith Awards), Sampson was a no brainer as the #1 overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft and was expected to ascend to the throne of all-time center greats. Things started off strongly, with Sampson earning Rookie of the Year, playing in the All-Star Game in his first four seasons, and teaming up with Hakeem Olajuwon as the “Twin Towers,” leading the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals. But Sampson suffered a hard fall late in that ’85-’86 season and never recovered, physically or mentally. His career was already on a downfall by age 27, with late, unsuccessful, injury-riddled stops following in Golden State, Sacramento, and Washington before retiring in 1992 after nine seasons. Despite the disappointment and brevity of his NBA career, Sampson still went down as an all-time legend and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2012.

1) Yao Ming

Though he was the #1 overall pick of the Rockets in 2002, expectations were low for Yao’s rookie season due to lingering questions about his attitude, his toughness, his offensive polish, and his cultural adjustment. But the great Chinese hope proved the doubters wrong, announcing his presence with 26 double-doubles over the course of the season, earning Rookie of the Month twice, and finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. Unfortunately, the concerns about his body maintenance as a 7’6″ giant ultimately proved correct. Yao missed just two games total in his first three NBA seasons but entered ’05-’06 with a mysterious toe infection that eventually required surgery and caused him to miss six weeks of action. He subsequently suffered a broken left foot in April 2006, a broken tibia in December 2006, a stress fracture in his left foot in February 2008, a broken left foot again in May 2009 that left him sidelined for 18 months after surgery, and finally a stress fracture in his left ankle in November 2010. That last injury was the death knell, forcing Yao to retire at the conclusion of the ’10-’11 season, which he essentially missed in its entirety. With career averages of 19.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, Yao went down as one of just three players in NBA history to play in less than 500 games but compile over 8,000 points and over 4,000 rebounds, alongside George Mikan and George Yardley. He joined those two in the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2016.

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