What was Dwayne Washington's downfall?

[dough]

# 1 ranked HS player
Did quite well in college, drafted #13, so expectations weren't severely high.

Got a chance for redemption in Miami after expansion draft.

6-2 but strong build. Was it size? Lack of talent? Not NBA level?

[catzhernandez]

The Shake and Bake didn't transfer to the NBA I guess.

[JMT]

Couldn't defend NBA athletes, nor was he explosive enough to get his own shot against them. In college he played zone exclusively, and scored lots of points on run-outs from the top of that zone.

Never had the quality jumpshot that would have hidden some of his other deficiencies.

His lack of conditioning and love for the nightlife wasn't a big help either.

[dough]

Thanks. I always kind of wondered this, but never cared enoughh to ask about it. I've heard his name pop up more than often in discussions about great college pgs but didnt know enough about his style of play to understand why he never made it big.

[Hammertime]

He was yet another example of a player who had one elite level skill and nothing to go with it. He simply could not blow past NBA defenders like he could blow past college ones. On the other hand, he didn't really have NBA-level passing ability nor did he have a jump shot. Basically, had he been born 10-15 years later, in the era of combo-guards and extreme overprotection of quick perimeter players, he might have lasted longer in the lague.

[JMT]

See reply above. There are loads of posters here who have seen him play. I trust their knowledge and memory over your Wikipedia quotations.

Maybe you should spent less time in the OTC and more time enjoying the game of basketball Sherlock. Tell me which alternative accounts I have. That's right, move on.


JMT, when Sherman Douglas joined the team, was it clear already that Sherman would be the better NBA player? I'm intruiged by this team.

I've never really thought about the comparison between the two, but Douglas was much more physical. Though the two were roughly the same build, Washington shied from contact. You rarely saw Pearl try to take the ball to the hoop.Much more likely to try a pull-up jumper, which is a tough shot in the NBA unless you have quicks and/or range. He really didn't have much of either.

[Shepseskaf]

Was it size? Lack of talent? Not NBA level?
He peaked too soon. When you're a legend at the high school level, you tend to think that you'll always be that much better than your competition.

In addition to the shortcomings already mentioned, "The Pearl" just couldn't deal with not being the absolute best on the floor, in college and in the pros.

The has happened, in varying degrees, to other players like Kenny Anderson and Lloyd Daniels.

[dough]

Kenny Anderson

Funny you mention him, because I was thinking about reasons why Kenny did well and Dwayne did not.

[dough]

I've never really thought about the comparison between the two, but Douglas was much more physical. Though the two were roughly the same build, Washington shied from contact. You rarely saw Pearl try to take the ball to the hoop.Much more likely to try a pull-up jumper, which is a tough shot in the NBA unless you have quicks and/or range. He really didn't have much of either.

Douglas was a tank. And even he didnt do too great (although he did play well for the position he was drafted at) in the NBA. Did Dwayne's struggles make team shy away from drafting Douglas (drafted second round iirc).

[JMT]

Funny you mention him, because I was thinking about reasons why Kenny did well and Dwayne did not.

Anderson's speed was much better suited to the game.

Interesting what the previous poster said about Washington not being able to handle being second fiddle. In Anderson's case, I don't think he ever thought he was anything but the star. Always thought he was The Man.

Sometimes, thinking you're good is almost as good as being good.

[JMT]

Douglas was a tank. And even he didnt do too great (although he did play well for the position he was drafted at) in the NBA. Did Dwayne's struggles make team shy away from drafting Douglas (drafted second round iirc).

Don't think so. Douglas just never had the same pedigree as Washington.

[Shepseskaf]

Funny you mention him, because I was thinking about reasons why Kenny did well and Dwayne did not.
Kenny did ok in the NBA, but many felt he didn't live up to his potential.

In NY, he was a phenom at the prep level. I remember watching him in an AAU all-star game in Harlem when he was a high school junior. His handles were so much more advanced than anyone else on his level.

Ultimately, Anderson was just a better player than Pearl, especially in the quicks department. But both did peak early, and never really got much better - skill-wise - than they were in high school.

[dough]

Don't think so. Douglas just never had the same pedigree as Washington.

But he did lead one of the best college teams in the era. Surely you'd take a chance a bit before the (looked it up) second round 28th pick? Even John Morton was drafted ahead of him. He had double the amoutn of points and assists (or more) in college for a better team.

[dough]

Kenny did ok in the NBA, but many felt he didn't live up to his potential.
Yup, he was the big thing coming in. Him and Coleman suffered the same problems.

[JMT]

But he did lead one of the best college teams in the era. Surely you'd take a chance a bit before the (looked it up) second round 28th pick? Even John Morton was drafted ahead of him. He had double the amoutn of points and assists (or more) in college for a better team.

You've seen enough drafts to know that NBA GM's will take guys who LOOK like NBA players over a too short, too round, limited range college guard, no matter how many championships he may have won. See: Mateen Cleaves.

And more often than not, they end up being right.

[dough]

You've seen enough drafts to know that NBA GM's will take guys who LOOK like NBA players over a too short, too round, limited range college guard, no matter how many championships he may have won. See: Mateen Cleaves.

And more often than not, they end up being right.

But Morton was physically weaker and just an inch longer than Washington while never being quite a player. I know it's hindsight, but wasnt there any discussion about Douglas being a huge steal right there and then? He did quite well in his rookie year too, and had his best year as a soph.

[oarabbus]

Just saw ESPN 30 for 30: The Big East and damn this guy looked incredible in college. Made Georgetown look foolish... hard to believe this guy didn't pan out.

[Bandito]

It's Dwyane

[Xiao Yao You]

Funny you mention him, because I was thinking about reasons why Kenny did well and Dwayne did not.

underachiever