Most Underrated Kings Players of All Time?
- Thread starter Lionheart
- Start date
One of the best humans to ever play for this Kings.
Quick story about Tis. When I was about 11 years old, was going down the highway (as a passenger) and we look over and see Waymon Tisdale in his red Mercedes talking on a first generation car phone. We waved like crazy and he looked over with that big smile and waved back. Made our day and much more.
Years later I found out he was a super devout Christian, and of course we all know about the Emmy Award winning Jazz album he put out. An incredible guy.
Quick story about Tis. When I was about 11 years old, was going down the highway (as a passenger) and we look over and see Waymon Tisdale in his red Mercedes talking on a first generation car phone. We waved like crazy and he looked over with that big smile and waved back. Made our day and much more.
Years later I found out he was a super devout Christian, and of course we all know about the Emmy Award winning Jazz album he put out. An incredible guy.
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I think there's probably a grey zone between a player being underrated and a player being unfairly maligned.
One player I think belongs in there was Willie Cauley-Stein on the 2019 team. Not the shot blocker we wanted him to be, but as a lob threat he was an important part of the offense, and he did a fair job on the boards.
One player I think belongs in there was Willie Cauley-Stein on the 2019 team. Not the shot blocker we wanted him to be, but as a lob threat he was an important part of the offense, and he did a fair job on the boards.
I might be tilting at windmills here … but here goes (again).
The last time I had the audacity to defend Abdul-Wahad (and by defend, I mean merely suggest he wasn’t a complete bust) I got verbally accosted and accused of not understanding the general concept of math.*
I’m not especially interested in being his apologist; I really just want to ensure my memory isn’t faulty. And if that memory truly serves, during his short 2 year stint in Sac, he was … fine. That’s it; perfectly adequate, if replaceable.
The fifth scoring option on a starting 5 of CWebb, Vlade, JWill, and Corliss, and arguably its best defender (which admittedly isn’t saying much).
In fact, I distinctly remember a minor controversy during the playoff series against the Jazz, that Adleman stuck with Peja over Tariq down the stretch when the Kings needed a defensive stop.
I’ve never really cared about Abdul-Wahad, I lost track of him when he left (although I see his career completely fell off a cliff almost immediately afterward), and when he was traded my only comment was “Oh cool, Nick Anderson.”
I’ve simply been taken aback by the consistent consensus of disgust in this fanbase for an 11th overall pick in a weak draft who contributed to a playoff team as a starter for one lockout shortened season, before being traded for value.
I mean, at this point I feel like I’m being gaslit here. Granted, after he left, he was absolutely terrible. But while he was here, he was … fine.
The last time I had the audacity to defend Abdul-Wahad (and by defend, I mean merely suggest he wasn’t a complete bust) I got verbally accosted and accused of not understanding the general concept of math.*
I’m not especially interested in being his apologist; I really just want to ensure my memory isn’t faulty. And if that memory truly serves, during his short 2 year stint in Sac, he was … fine. That’s it; perfectly adequate, if replaceable.
The fifth scoring option on a starting 5 of CWebb, Vlade, JWill, and Corliss, and arguably its best defender (which admittedly isn’t saying much).
In fact, I distinctly remember a minor controversy during the playoff series against the Jazz, that Adleman stuck with Peja over Tariq down the stretch when the Kings needed a defensive stop.
I’ve never really cared about Abdul-Wahad, I lost track of him when he left (although I see his career completely fell off a cliff almost immediately afterward), and when he was traded my only comment was “Oh cool, Nick Anderson.”
I’ve simply been taken aback by the consistent consensus of disgust in this fanbase for an 11th overall pick in a weak draft who contributed to a playoff team as a starter for one lockout shortened season, before being traded for value.
I mean, at this point I feel like I’m being gaslit here. Granted, after he left, he was absolutely terrible. But while he was here, he was … fine.
Hmmm. It was a strong draft. Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Chauncey Billups, Keith Van Horn, etc.
However, I don't dislike Abdul Wahad. To the contrary, I was hoping he'd be a star. He had the tools, but something was missing or something got in the way.
Sounds like your underrated player is Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Good choice.
However, I don't dislike Abdul Wahad. To the contrary, I was hoping he'd be a star. He had the tools, but something was missing or something got in the way.
Sounds like your underrated player is Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Good choice.
All picked before 11th.
At the back end of the lottery that year, you’re in Austin Croshere, Derek Anderson, Kelvin Cato and Brevin Knight range. Role players and journeymen, much like what the Kings got from Abdul-Wahad for 2 seasons.
It could be argued any one of them would have been bettter on the Kings than Abdul-Wahad, but decisively so? Eh. None of them exactly set the world on fire.
The only other player of note I can find in the latter part of that draft is Bobby Jackson (or Pollard), and sure, I’d take 3 extra years of Bobby J in Sacramento over Abdul-Wahad … but that’s some impressive use of hindsight.
I never really hoped he’d be a star. My hopes were he’d develop into a reliable outlet scoring option and lockdown defender. And as you said, he showed some tools for that, but didn’t take the leap forward. Kind of the malformed prototype to what Christie would bring in the golden era.
I mean, I guess. Never really intended for that to be the case. I don’t think he deserves praise, per se, simply he doesn’t deserve such vitriol hate, at least for his time in Sacramento.
Dallas and Denver certainly are justified.
At the back end of the lottery that year, you’re in Austin Croshere, Derek Anderson, Kelvin Cato and Brevin Knight range. Role players and journeymen, much like what the Kings got from Abdul-Wahad for 2 seasons.
It could be argued any one of them would have been bettter on the Kings than Abdul-Wahad, but decisively so? Eh. None of them exactly set the world on fire.
The only other player of note I can find in the latter part of that draft is Bobby Jackson (or Pollard), and sure, I’d take 3 extra years of Bobby J in Sacramento over Abdul-Wahad … but that’s some impressive use of hindsight.
I never really hoped he’d be a star. My hopes were he’d develop into a reliable outlet scoring option and lockdown defender. And as you said, he showed some tools for that, but didn’t take the leap forward. Kind of the malformed prototype to what Christie would bring in the golden era.
I mean, I guess. Never really intended for that to be the case. I don’t think he deserves praise, per se, simply he doesn’t deserve such vitriol hate, at least for his time in Sacramento.
Dallas and Denver certainly are justified.