The Whoops Factor: Reggie Williams
Nobody reading this probably knows who Reggie Williams is, and that is precisely the point. Reggie was picked just ahead of Scottie Pippen in the '87 draft. I would be willing to bet money that you know who Pippen is.
The Clippers are who drafted Williams, who was coming off 24 PPG at Georgetown his Senior season. That seems like a pretty good selection for the 4th pick. Pippen on the other hand, was a virtual unknown, who was actually booed when he was drafted. (It also needs pointed out that the Sonics are the ones who drafted Pippen before trading him that night for nothing in the same stratosphere as Pippen's talent. Whoops factor on that trade: 5! This is a double whoops scenario.)
Williams topped out at 18.2 PPG in the '92 season, which was inflated due to being on the "run and gun" Nuggets of the early 90's. He was in actuality a 10-13 PPG scorer the majority of his career, which ended in '97. (Just for the record, in 1992 Pippen was winning his second championship, on the All NBA 2nd Team, All Defensive 1st Team, and won a gold medal.)
Had the Clippers drafted Pippen it would have dramatically changed the NBA's landscape. Obviously Jordan's career would have been totally different. The Bulls would have desperately searched for a wing-man for Jordan, but it's impossible to guess if they would in fact have gelled with MJ like Pip did.
Would Pippen have saved the Clippers from being a laughingstock for the next 20+ years? It would have been a tough job that's for sure. But one the Clippers organization are kicking themselves for not trying.
Whoops factor: 5 out of 5
The Clippers are who drafted Williams, who was coming off 24 PPG at Georgetown his Senior season. That seems like a pretty good selection for the 4th pick. Pippen on the other hand, was a virtual unknown, who was actually booed when he was drafted. (It also needs pointed out that the Sonics are the ones who drafted Pippen before trading him that night for nothing in the same stratosphere as Pippen's talent. Whoops factor on that trade: 5! This is a double whoops scenario.)Williams topped out at 18.2 PPG in the '92 season, which was inflated due to being on the "run and gun" Nuggets of the early 90's. He was in actuality a 10-13 PPG scorer the majority of his career, which ended in '97. (Just for the record, in 1992 Pippen was winning his second championship, on the All NBA 2nd Team, All Defensive 1st Team, and won a gold medal.)
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| You don't see any Reggie Williams statues do you? |
Would Pippen have saved the Clippers from being a laughingstock for the next 20+ years? It would have been a tough job that's for sure. But one the Clippers organization are kicking themselves for not trying.
Whoops factor: 5 out of 5
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