Isaiah "J.R." Rider. Once a man with a promising NBA future is now struggling to catch on anywhere for one last shot at glory. Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft, his career started with so much promise. Capturing the slam dunk title at All Star weekend as a rookie seemed like a prelude to bigger things.The problem was he couldn't stay out of his own way. Frequent tardiness, run ins with coaches, and various legal problems derailed his career.I remember when he played with the Lakers, where he did win a championsip ring, but left off the playoff roster, he was suspended for a home game against the Indiana Pacers for what else, being late. Craig Sager interviewed him after the game and asked him "with his family and friends watching wasn't he embarrassed by not playing that night.His reply to Sager was "aren't you embarrassed by your clothes". To me, that moment and the east bay funk dunk that won the slam dunk championship were my favorite memories of him. Now he's trying to catch on overseas or anywhere right now.He's playing for the North Texas Fresh of the American Basketball Association.For more on his trials and tribulations you can follow this link.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-rider102309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
No comments:
Post a Comment