Tough blue-collar defender, but no King has ever pissed me off more.
Most Underrated Kings Players of All Time?
- Thread starter Lionheart
- Start date
Section 101
All-Star
Thorpe was up for a contract and they didn't have the money to afford him.
Elektrik
Starter
We got fleeced on that one.
I thought so, Thorpe didn’t have the best supporting cast here, but he did average better than 20 10 and 3 his final year.
Rather or not Sac felt they could afford to keep in a contract year, not sure about that.
I felt it was more a two okay players for one good one mentality.
This is a good choice, I was a huge fan but he just didn't want to be in Sac ? Were there any talks about him signing a second deal or was he just gone the moment he hit FA? This was when I was in Boston and I wasn't able to track the situation like we can today.
I remember he just wanted to move on to what appeared greener pastures. Portland did make him a pretty ridiculous offer though so even if he was okay to be here it would have been a hard thought to match.
It was a huge loss that was mitigated by bringing Vlade and Webber here.
But I remember the drop off being around 10 wins that year after finally feeling like we had something to be excited about in 95 and 96.
Livinthedream
All-Star
Ha! The guy who irritated me the most was Olivier Saint-Jean (Tariq Abdul-Wahad). I really wanted him to be good.
Same.
Telemachus
Starter
I'm beginning to think the correct answer is Sabonis.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Was just about to post the same.
coolhandluke
Starter
Damn you, Anthony Peeler!
Vinny Basketballerino
Starter
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.
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Vinny Basketballerino
Starter
I think you're the only one that understands the game lol. Every one else is listing fan favorites LOL.
Vinny Basketballerino
Starter
I always felt Otis Thorpe was under appreciated by the coaches. Was just an all around solid player and borderline all star in his best years.
This post needs more marinara.
Vinny Basketballerino
Starter
Correct. But that's a general observation that can be applied to all things in life.
Happy New Year fellow Kings fans. We are blessed with a great team this year. The only thing that could have made the Jazz win better was....
More marinara. 
NewArena
All-Star
yup
Insomniacal Fan
Starter
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.
Insomniacal Fan
Starter
Meanwhile the kingsfans consensus seemed to be that we'd get better from cutting him, that it'd be addition by subtraction.
WCS never had success in his other NBA gigs, and he might not have been a long term asset for the Kings, but he was an important part of a fairly successful lineup.
Löwenherz
Starter
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.
Livinthedream
All-Star
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.
ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
I didn't think Wahad was that good. John Barry and Vernon Maxwell were better shooting guards for that team
Yeah, I had high hopes for him and he was a Petrie pick.
From what I remember he just didn’t live up to expectations so I don’t consider him underrated, maybe underachiever.
DesertFox
Starter
Achieved enough to get a 7 year contract extension. I thought he was useless, but I didn't appreciate defense much back then.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
To be fair, teams were just handing out long-ass contracts like candy back then. It’s why we’re still stuck with Kenny Thomas 15 years after he retired.
Löwenherz
Starter
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.
Löwenherz
Starter
The whole Bench Mob of Mad Max Vernon Maxwell, Berry, Pollard, and Funderburke (and Peja that year) deserves celebration.
Folsomkingsfan
Starter
I still love Vlade, always will, but because so much time has passed since he was here as a player the 3 things I remember him most for now are the tip to Horry, passing on Luka, and the Stauskas trade to the 76ers lol
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