NBA Comeback Players for 2011
By Anonymous
Sat, 09/18/2010 - 1:03am
by Sam Littman
The NBA retired its Comeback Player of the Year honor in 1986, but that hasn't prevented writers and analysts from projecting who will return from an injury the strongest. Each one of these players missed the majority of the 2009-10 campaign, and all are looking to make a major impact this year, some looking to even reinvent themselves.
10. Kelenna Azubuike
A versatile 6-5 swingman, Azubuike started off the 2009-10 season very strong but a torn patella tendon sidelined him after just 9 games. Performances such as his 31-point handling of Minnesota - in which he played just 29 minutes - led to his finally getting noticed around the league, and he's just happened to have landed in the ultimate capital of recognition. He won't be a shoo-in to start, likely splitting time with Wilson Chandler, but he's a perfect fit in D'Antoni's system and will be an impact player for a team that for years has been filled with players who just want to chuck the ball.
9. Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady
He could easily return to classic form and become a nearly unstoppable scorer, and even if he manages to produce just 60% of what he used to be counted on for, his signing will be regarded positively. One wonders, however, how much playing time the 2-time scoring champion can expect. If the Bulls rejected his demands of hefty playing time - when they did not have a starting shooting guard - one wonders what kind of run McGrady will get playing in Detroit with a core of wings that features Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, Ben Gordon and Tayshaun Prince. McGrady has a chance to dramatically resuscitate his career by taking the Pistons back to the playoffs, though he might not be allotted the playing time he needs to make a sizable impact.
8. Raja Bell
Though he missed a whopping 76 games last season, Bell could not possibly be in a better situation. The notoriously tough competitor is back with a perennial playoff team in the Jazz, and looks to become the highly talented squad's much-needed veteran leader. One of the league's best man-to-man defenders, Bell is also a very underrated weapon on offense (he led the league in three-pointers in 2006-07 and is a career 41.1% shooter from range), and is hungry for another shot to shut down Kobe in the playoffs. The two have a longstanding rivalry, and Bell's return to a potential contender could means he might be in for one of his best seasons yet.
7. Anthony Randolph
The lanky 6-10 forward has had difficulty staying healthy in his first two seasons in the league, appearing in just 33 games in his sophomore campaign due to ankle and back injuries. There is no telling whether or not he will be any more durable this year, but should he stay injury-free, the Knicks can expect the future All-Star to play hungry. After receiving very erratic playing time under Don Nelson's guise, Randolph will play a major role in the Knicks future and looks to get significantly more minutes next year, which would suggest that he should come close to averaging a double-double while finishing among the league leaders in blocks.
6. Andris Biedrins
The Warriors center has struggled with various injuries throughout his career, but looks to potentially put together a career year this upcoming season despite missing nearly two-thirds of the 2009-10 campaign. A six-year veteran who is just 24 years young, Biedrins will again be anchoring the Warriors defense, although this year he will be blessed with more responsibilities. Though they added an All-Star power forward in David Lee, they also lost a key front court contributors in Anthony Randolph, Anthony Tolliver and Ronny Turiaf and will be without their top draft pick, 6-10 combo big Ekpe Udoh, for at least a few more months. Biedrins should see major minutes as the team's only reliable center and could be good for 13 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks while shooting close to 60% from the field.
5. Josh Howard
A knee injury suffered in March might cause Howard to miss the beginning of the season, but it isn't severe enough to discount him from rankings such as this. Howard was simply miserable last year, averaging just 12.5 points per game in 31 games for Dallas (he had averaged at least 18 points in each of the three previous seasons) before being shipped off to Washington where he played just four games before injuring his knee in a game against the Bulls. When he returns he could potentially make a major impact now that he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulder and alongside an electrifying point guard in John Wall. With Arenas returning from his suspension and center JaVale McGee primed for a major breakout year, some have pegged the Wizards as a dark horse playoff team. There are a ton of variables with this squad, but their fate this year might ultimately lie in Howard's ability to play up to his full potential.
4. Travis Outlaw
After a fine 2008-09 campaign in which Outlaw averaged 12.8 points off the bench for the 54-win Trailblazers, everything simply went wrong. Outlaw suffered a stress fracture in his foot in early November, and was dealt to the Clippers, for whom he played just 23 games. Now he finds himself in New Jersey, surrounded by a bevy of talent, and the Nets aren't paying him $35 million not to start him. New Jersey may well be the perfect landing spot for the talented 6-9 swingman, whose skills will be expertly utilized by Avery Johnson, and he will finally have the security of a starting job. He will get plenty of great looks and could become the dynamic offensive weapon that scouts projected he could be out of high school, which would certainly qualify him as a top candidate for this year's unofficial comeback player of the year honor.
3. Tyler Hansbrough
Few people realize that this UNC legend, who endured so much heat regarding his future as a pro, could easily have been on the All-Rookie First Team if it weren't for an unfortunate inner ear infection. His rookie year didn't pan out quite how he had hoped, though he now finds himself in a great position to prove everybody wrong. Since the season ended, the Pacers dealt starting power forward Troy Murphy and acquired a potential superstar in Darren Collison, who averaged 18.8 points and 9.1 assists in 37 games as a starter last year (compare to T.J. Ford, who averaged 10.3 points and 3.8 assists). Hansbrough, who averaged 12 points and 6.3 rebounds in the last 10 games prior to his injury, has been handed the reigns to the power forward position on a talented young team where his looks will certainly increase and his minutes will skyrocket. Playing next to one of the league's worst rebounding centers in Roy Hibbert shouldn't hurt, either, meaning he could be in for a monster year.
2. Greg Oden
Greg Oden
Entering his fourth year as a pro and already a fixture on these lists, Oden could still be the anchor of a Blazers team that expects to contend for a title in the next few years. Oden averaged 16.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per 36 minutes next year, numbers that many would have actually expected of him in his third season. There's no reason to think he isn't capable of posting those numbers if he's allotted 36 minutes a night and stays healthy, though the odds of that happening are slim. Even if he does stay healthy, he will have Marcus Camby, one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers of the past decade, in his shadow (they didn't give him a lucrative two-year extension for nothing). While he might not put up sensational numbers across the board, he could still dethrone Dwight Howard as the league's leader in blocks, but more importantly he would be integral to the Blazers' success in taking that leap forward.
1. Yao Ming
In an era in which many formerly beloved superstars are villains of sorts, here is a tremendous talent that everyone can root for. Many doubt Yao's ability to return at full strength, while some predict he might never play another professional game due to a foot injury that proves to be especially harmful to a man his size. Yao missed the entire 2009-10 campaign and has not played more than 57 games since the 2004-05 season, but should he return to form this upcoming year, the dividends for the Rockets would be indescribable. Due to his size, post skills, shot-blocking ability and ridiculous efficiency from the stripe (he's a 82.3% career free throw shooter), Yao is the league's best center when healthy, even better than Dwight Howard; his ability to dominate on the offensive end (lest we forget his averaging 25 points per game in 2006-07) while still contributing 10 rebounds and 2 blocks makes him a greater all-around force. If the Rockets managed 42 wins without Yao, it is not hard to envisioning them winning 50-55 games if played his usual 50-something games. His returning from that debilitating foot injury would make for a great story, but catapulting the Rockets to the top of the West would make him a legend.
The NBA retired its Comeback Player of the Year honor in 1986, but that hasn't prevented writers and analysts from projecting who will return from an injury the strongest. Each one of these players missed the majority of the 2009-10 campaign, and all are looking to make a major impact this year, some looking to even reinvent themselves.
10. Kelenna Azubuike
A versatile 6-5 swingman, Azubuike started off the 2009-10 season very strong but a torn patella tendon sidelined him after just 9 games. Performances such as his 31-point handling of Minnesota - in which he played just 29 minutes - led to his finally getting noticed around the league, and he's just happened to have landed in the ultimate capital of recognition. He won't be a shoo-in to start, likely splitting time with Wilson Chandler, but he's a perfect fit in D'Antoni's system and will be an impact player for a team that for years has been filled with players who just want to chuck the ball.
9. Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGradyHe could easily return to classic form and become a nearly unstoppable scorer, and even if he manages to produce just 60% of what he used to be counted on for, his signing will be regarded positively. One wonders, however, how much playing time the 2-time scoring champion can expect. If the Bulls rejected his demands of hefty playing time - when they did not have a starting shooting guard - one wonders what kind of run McGrady will get playing in Detroit with a core of wings that features Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, Ben Gordon and Tayshaun Prince. McGrady has a chance to dramatically resuscitate his career by taking the Pistons back to the playoffs, though he might not be allotted the playing time he needs to make a sizable impact.
8. Raja Bell
Though he missed a whopping 76 games last season, Bell could not possibly be in a better situation. The notoriously tough competitor is back with a perennial playoff team in the Jazz, and looks to become the highly talented squad's much-needed veteran leader. One of the league's best man-to-man defenders, Bell is also a very underrated weapon on offense (he led the league in three-pointers in 2006-07 and is a career 41.1% shooter from range), and is hungry for another shot to shut down Kobe in the playoffs. The two have a longstanding rivalry, and Bell's return to a potential contender could means he might be in for one of his best seasons yet.
7. Anthony Randolph
The lanky 6-10 forward has had difficulty staying healthy in his first two seasons in the league, appearing in just 33 games in his sophomore campaign due to ankle and back injuries. There is no telling whether or not he will be any more durable this year, but should he stay injury-free, the Knicks can expect the future All-Star to play hungry. After receiving very erratic playing time under Don Nelson's guise, Randolph will play a major role in the Knicks future and looks to get significantly more minutes next year, which would suggest that he should come close to averaging a double-double while finishing among the league leaders in blocks.
6. Andris Biedrins
The Warriors center has struggled with various injuries throughout his career, but looks to potentially put together a career year this upcoming season despite missing nearly two-thirds of the 2009-10 campaign. A six-year veteran who is just 24 years young, Biedrins will again be anchoring the Warriors defense, although this year he will be blessed with more responsibilities. Though they added an All-Star power forward in David Lee, they also lost a key front court contributors in Anthony Randolph, Anthony Tolliver and Ronny Turiaf and will be without their top draft pick, 6-10 combo big Ekpe Udoh, for at least a few more months. Biedrins should see major minutes as the team's only reliable center and could be good for 13 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks while shooting close to 60% from the field.
5. Josh Howard
A knee injury suffered in March might cause Howard to miss the beginning of the season, but it isn't severe enough to discount him from rankings such as this. Howard was simply miserable last year, averaging just 12.5 points per game in 31 games for Dallas (he had averaged at least 18 points in each of the three previous seasons) before being shipped off to Washington where he played just four games before injuring his knee in a game against the Bulls. When he returns he could potentially make a major impact now that he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulder and alongside an electrifying point guard in John Wall. With Arenas returning from his suspension and center JaVale McGee primed for a major breakout year, some have pegged the Wizards as a dark horse playoff team. There are a ton of variables with this squad, but their fate this year might ultimately lie in Howard's ability to play up to his full potential.
4. Travis Outlaw
After a fine 2008-09 campaign in which Outlaw averaged 12.8 points off the bench for the 54-win Trailblazers, everything simply went wrong. Outlaw suffered a stress fracture in his foot in early November, and was dealt to the Clippers, for whom he played just 23 games. Now he finds himself in New Jersey, surrounded by a bevy of talent, and the Nets aren't paying him $35 million not to start him. New Jersey may well be the perfect landing spot for the talented 6-9 swingman, whose skills will be expertly utilized by Avery Johnson, and he will finally have the security of a starting job. He will get plenty of great looks and could become the dynamic offensive weapon that scouts projected he could be out of high school, which would certainly qualify him as a top candidate for this year's unofficial comeback player of the year honor.
3. Tyler Hansbrough
Few people realize that this UNC legend, who endured so much heat regarding his future as a pro, could easily have been on the All-Rookie First Team if it weren't for an unfortunate inner ear infection. His rookie year didn't pan out quite how he had hoped, though he now finds himself in a great position to prove everybody wrong. Since the season ended, the Pacers dealt starting power forward Troy Murphy and acquired a potential superstar in Darren Collison, who averaged 18.8 points and 9.1 assists in 37 games as a starter last year (compare to T.J. Ford, who averaged 10.3 points and 3.8 assists). Hansbrough, who averaged 12 points and 6.3 rebounds in the last 10 games prior to his injury, has been handed the reigns to the power forward position on a talented young team where his looks will certainly increase and his minutes will skyrocket. Playing next to one of the league's worst rebounding centers in Roy Hibbert shouldn't hurt, either, meaning he could be in for a monster year.
2. Greg Oden
Greg OdenEntering his fourth year as a pro and already a fixture on these lists, Oden could still be the anchor of a Blazers team that expects to contend for a title in the next few years. Oden averaged 16.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per 36 minutes next year, numbers that many would have actually expected of him in his third season. There's no reason to think he isn't capable of posting those numbers if he's allotted 36 minutes a night and stays healthy, though the odds of that happening are slim. Even if he does stay healthy, he will have Marcus Camby, one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers of the past decade, in his shadow (they didn't give him a lucrative two-year extension for nothing). While he might not put up sensational numbers across the board, he could still dethrone Dwight Howard as the league's leader in blocks, but more importantly he would be integral to the Blazers' success in taking that leap forward.
1. Yao Ming
In an era in which many formerly beloved superstars are villains of sorts, here is a tremendous talent that everyone can root for. Many doubt Yao's ability to return at full strength, while some predict he might never play another professional game due to a foot injury that proves to be especially harmful to a man his size. Yao missed the entire 2009-10 campaign and has not played more than 57 games since the 2004-05 season, but should he return to form this upcoming year, the dividends for the Rockets would be indescribable. Due to his size, post skills, shot-blocking ability and ridiculous efficiency from the stripe (he's a 82.3% career free throw shooter), Yao is the league's best center when healthy, even better than Dwight Howard; his ability to dominate on the offensive end (lest we forget his averaging 25 points per game in 2006-07) while still contributing 10 rebounds and 2 blocks makes him a greater all-around force. If the Rockets managed 42 wins without Yao, it is not hard to envisioning them winning 50-55 games if played his usual 50-something games. His returning from that debilitating foot injury would make for a great story, but catapulting the Rockets to the top of the West would make him a legend.
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