Im Still Ballin
06-10-2023, 11:03 PM
A true 6'11" with long arms, great agility, and a 39" vertical jump. Do you think he had a legitimate chance to become a Tracy McGrady-level guy without the injuries? Or would he have been like Travis Outlaw?
"Jonathan Bender is more talented than all these guys put together." - Larry Bird
“Of all the guys I’ve ever seen in this league, in 20-plus years, in terms of basketball ability he’s in the top 1 or 2 percent,” said Dallas Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle.
The Raptors drafted Bender with their 5th pick, then traded him to Indiana for power forward Antonio Davis — one of the strongest and toughest players in the league and the complete opposite of Bender. During the first practices and camp, Bender impressed the Pacers’ staff, including Larry Bird, who was shocked by Benders ability to “jump pretty well.”
“He took off, jumped with the ball in his right hand, in midair switched to his left hand and did a windmill dunk from the free-throw line,” Bird recalled with a hearty laugh. “I couldn’t believe it.”
He averaged 23.1 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 assists in high school and scored 31 points in 31 minutes in the McDonald’s All-American Game, breaking a record held by Michael Jordan.
In his early practices with the Pacers, Bender routinely made plays — a rebound, a block, a dunk — that left teammates awestruck.
“The other guys would stop and go, ‘Did you see what he just did?’ ” said Walsh, who is now the Knicks’ president. “The whole team would stop.”
In his N.B.A. debut, Bender scored 10 points in 13 minutes, helping the Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. But like most teenage stars, he needed time to grow and adapt to the N.B.A. game and played sparingly as a rookie.
There were flashes of greatness in his second year, including a 20-point, 5-rebound, 4-block game against Orlando, in just 24 minutes. He scored 19 points in 19 minutes in a 2004 playoff victory over Boston, and helped lock down Paul Pierce.
But injuries defined most of Bender’s career. He missed 36 games in 2002-3 because of a torn calf muscle. His knee problems, which began in high school, became more debilitating over time. Bender played just 21 games in 2003-4 and 7 the next season. He played only two games in 2005-6 before retiring.
“It was heartbreaking for everyone,” Carlisle said.
When he retired in February 2006, Bender could hardly walk a flight of stairs without intense pain. He had lost most of his cartilage in both knees and had played in just 30 games over his final two and a half seasons. But he never fully surrendered.
His outstanding attributes are shooting range and quick-jumping ability, the former extraordinary for someone his size, the latter essential for a shot blocker. Bird told him during their meeting in Indianapolis that his value lies in his versatility."
Coach said he wanted four players who could play every position but center," says Bender. "He has me, Jalen and [second-year forward] Al Harrington, and he wants to get a fourth somewhere."
The major criticism of Bender's game is that he's soft, but that's a predictable comment. Stringy types who are comfortable on the perimeter--it's hard to imagine a 6'11" guy talking seriously about playing four positions with center not being one of them--and who have Bender's placid disposition on the court are always labeled soft. Maybe they are, to a degree.
The challenges for Bender are to develop a back-to-the-basket game, play aggressively but under control, and do the dirty work that earns teammates' respect. If he does a poor job on those things, he'll become the next Brad Sellers. If he does a fair job, he'll become the next Derrick McKey. If he does a great job, he'll become the next Kevin Garnett.
Bender's teammates had similar sentiments. They were witness to practice performances that were often the buzz of the franchise but rarely translated into games.
"Some days that people didn't get to see, some days in practice, he looked like the best player on this team," said Fred Jones. "He's that athletic. He's that skilled. It's really unfortunate he's not able to showcase everything he's been blessed with."
"Jonathan Bender is every bit 6-11 and he is long. Bender is a wonderful athlete that can stroke it from beyond the 3-point line, and can really run the floor. He has a nice touch and has shotblocking ability. Bender is a player that would have benefitted from a year or two of college in order to get stronger, but will be a lottery pick because of his potential.
Bender is slim and is not particularly strong. Bender can post up, but does not have great footwork or power moves. Because he is a superior athlete with perimeter skills, he often floats to the perimeter instead of establishing himself in the post. Defensively, Bender can block and change shots, but does not have the bulk to keep most NBA big men off the block or to deny the post. Bender will not be an immediate impact player, but could wind up maturing much the way Tracy McGrady has in Toronto."
-- ESPN's Jay Bilas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egt9rfvrOak
"Jonathan Bender is more talented than all these guys put together." - Larry Bird
“Of all the guys I’ve ever seen in this league, in 20-plus years, in terms of basketball ability he’s in the top 1 or 2 percent,” said Dallas Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle.
The Raptors drafted Bender with their 5th pick, then traded him to Indiana for power forward Antonio Davis — one of the strongest and toughest players in the league and the complete opposite of Bender. During the first practices and camp, Bender impressed the Pacers’ staff, including Larry Bird, who was shocked by Benders ability to “jump pretty well.”
“He took off, jumped with the ball in his right hand, in midair switched to his left hand and did a windmill dunk from the free-throw line,” Bird recalled with a hearty laugh. “I couldn’t believe it.”
He averaged 23.1 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 assists in high school and scored 31 points in 31 minutes in the McDonald’s All-American Game, breaking a record held by Michael Jordan.
In his early practices with the Pacers, Bender routinely made plays — a rebound, a block, a dunk — that left teammates awestruck.
“The other guys would stop and go, ‘Did you see what he just did?’ ” said Walsh, who is now the Knicks’ president. “The whole team would stop.”
In his N.B.A. debut, Bender scored 10 points in 13 minutes, helping the Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. But like most teenage stars, he needed time to grow and adapt to the N.B.A. game and played sparingly as a rookie.
There were flashes of greatness in his second year, including a 20-point, 5-rebound, 4-block game against Orlando, in just 24 minutes. He scored 19 points in 19 minutes in a 2004 playoff victory over Boston, and helped lock down Paul Pierce.
But injuries defined most of Bender’s career. He missed 36 games in 2002-3 because of a torn calf muscle. His knee problems, which began in high school, became more debilitating over time. Bender played just 21 games in 2003-4 and 7 the next season. He played only two games in 2005-6 before retiring.
“It was heartbreaking for everyone,” Carlisle said.
When he retired in February 2006, Bender could hardly walk a flight of stairs without intense pain. He had lost most of his cartilage in both knees and had played in just 30 games over his final two and a half seasons. But he never fully surrendered.
His outstanding attributes are shooting range and quick-jumping ability, the former extraordinary for someone his size, the latter essential for a shot blocker. Bird told him during their meeting in Indianapolis that his value lies in his versatility."
Coach said he wanted four players who could play every position but center," says Bender. "He has me, Jalen and [second-year forward] Al Harrington, and he wants to get a fourth somewhere."
The major criticism of Bender's game is that he's soft, but that's a predictable comment. Stringy types who are comfortable on the perimeter--it's hard to imagine a 6'11" guy talking seriously about playing four positions with center not being one of them--and who have Bender's placid disposition on the court are always labeled soft. Maybe they are, to a degree.
The challenges for Bender are to develop a back-to-the-basket game, play aggressively but under control, and do the dirty work that earns teammates' respect. If he does a poor job on those things, he'll become the next Brad Sellers. If he does a fair job, he'll become the next Derrick McKey. If he does a great job, he'll become the next Kevin Garnett.
Bender's teammates had similar sentiments. They were witness to practice performances that were often the buzz of the franchise but rarely translated into games.
"Some days that people didn't get to see, some days in practice, he looked like the best player on this team," said Fred Jones. "He's that athletic. He's that skilled. It's really unfortunate he's not able to showcase everything he's been blessed with."
"Jonathan Bender is every bit 6-11 and he is long. Bender is a wonderful athlete that can stroke it from beyond the 3-point line, and can really run the floor. He has a nice touch and has shotblocking ability. Bender is a player that would have benefitted from a year or two of college in order to get stronger, but will be a lottery pick because of his potential.
Bender is slim and is not particularly strong. Bender can post up, but does not have great footwork or power moves. Because he is a superior athlete with perimeter skills, he often floats to the perimeter instead of establishing himself in the post. Defensively, Bender can block and change shots, but does not have the bulk to keep most NBA big men off the block or to deny the post. Bender will not be an immediate impact player, but could wind up maturing much the way Tracy McGrady has in Toronto."
-- ESPN's Jay Bilas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egt9rfvrOak