Basketball fans love to debate the greatest “what-if” scenarios, sparking some of the most passionate discussions in the NBA community. These hypothetical situations make us wonder how different the league might be if just one decision or event had played out differently.

Whether it’s a missed trade, an untimely injury, or a superstar staying with their original team, these conversations fuel endless debates about alternate realities in basketball history. Fans also debate about what-if scenarios involving players.

5 Former NBA Stars Who Could Have Changed The Game

Derrick Rose

Few NBA “what-if” stories are as heartbreaking as Derrick Rose’s. By his third season, he had already won an MVP, but devastating knee injuries derailed what could have been a legendary career. After turning 22, he made just one more All-Star appearance and never earned another All-NBA selection—an outcome that’s hard to believe in hindsight.

His MVP win wasn’t without controversy. Voter fatigue and backlash against LeBron James, who had just left Cleveland for Miami, played a role. Still, Rose led the Bulls to a surprising 62-win season, securing the No. 1 seed in the East and giving voters a compelling alternative.

• TRENDING NEWS

---

Former Bulls Star Accuses The Franchise Of Getting Cheap Liquor For His Retirement Party, Reveals How Derrick Rose Saved The Day

The Entire Internet Is Saying The Same Thing After The Memphis Grizzlies Shockingly Released Their Star Player

---

That year felt magical and had Rose stayed healthy; he might have rivaled Stephen Curry as the point guard of the 2010s. As the youngest MVP in history, another trophy wasn’t out of the question. But instead, injuries cost him nearly two full seasons, and when he returned, he was never the same. It remains one of the NBA’s most painful what-ifs.

Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google!Follow Us

Celtics Lab NBA Basketball Podcast

Talking COVID-19, vaccination and the NBA with In the Bubble’s Andy Slavitt

Much of the conversation ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season circulating in the NBA media has revolved around something that isn’t necessarily a basketball conversation, though it has pervaded virtually all aspects of contemporary life. We are of course talking about COVID-19 vaccination in the league, and in particular some especially vaccine-resistant players who occupy positions of considerable influence. But rather than making the story about those individuals, the hosts of the “Celtics Lab” podcast Justin Quinn, Cam Tabatabaie, and Alex Goldberg dug deep in the hopes of re-setting the narratives a bit surrounding how we should engage those persons and the issue of vaccine hesitancy (and more pernicious anti-vaccine sentiments) in society more generally. It can be hard for some of us in the media to see Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and others resistant to making choices for the common good, but a steady stream of fan and media ire is almost certainly going to do little to change their minds on how they can best use their platforms (and bodies) to make us all safer (and teams perhaps more successful) in the midst of a pandemic.  To that end, we were incredibly lucky to have Andy Slavitt of the “In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt” podcast to talk on the intersection of public health in an era of COVID-19, the NBA and society at large. Andy has worked with the last three presidents on issues of public health, most recently serving as President Biden’s COVID-19 advisor. We hope you find this podcast as informative and helpful in coping with and making progress on this viral scourge affecting all of our lives as we did. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/celtics-lab-nba-basketball-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Play Episode

68min

Celtics Lab NBA Basketball Podcast

Celtics mystique, Showtime Lakers, frustrating starts with Anthony Irwin

The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers is one of the oldest and most celebrated in all of sport, and for good reason. Somehow, nearly seven decades into the heated competition for dominance in greatness between the two storied franchise, the tally remains at a tie after the Lakers’ most recent title, with each club now at 17 titles each. This Friday, Nov. 19, the two teams will meet again on the Celtics’ home court of TD Garden, but this time around the two teams will not exactly be arriving at the tilt in the best of shape in terms of records, with each club struggling a bit early in the 2021-22 NBA season. On this episode of the CLNS Media podcast “Celtics Lab,” your usual hosts of Cameron Tabatabaie, Alex Goldberg, and Justin Quinn are joined by special guest Anthony Irwin of Silver Screen and Roll and the “Locked on Lakers” podcast to talk about what’s behind each club’s slow start, and what we can expect to see Friday among several other topics.  If you’re of the ilk with tribalistic hatred for all things purple and gold, this might not be the pod for you, but if you want an honest look at both clubs as they are this season, hit play on the clip embedded above. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/celtics-lab-nba-basketball-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celtics Lab NBA Basketball Podcast

CLPod 032 -Calling BS On The Cavs, And A Little On Camp Signings

The Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to shake down the Boston Celtics, and it’s not going to work. Join Mark Allison and Justin Quinn as they break down the fiasco of a situation that’s been brewing ever since word leaked to the press that new Cleveland general manager Koby Altman and company might want “additional compensation” after Isaiah Thomas had his physical. We break down what we know, what we don’t, and what might end up happening depending on how this deal goes down (or doesn’t). We also talk about some guys the Celts are looking at for training camp and possibly the end of the bench, so whether you’re just re-entering the world of NBA madness or riveted by this latest drama, we’ve got you covered.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/celtics-lab-nba-basketball-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celtics Lab NBA Basketball Podcast

Boston beats the odds again, turns garbage to gold to force Game 7

Once, a wise man told the fans of the Boston Celtics that anything was possible. And in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals as the Celtics could have let their title aspirations and their season slip through their fingers as Jimmy Butler made free throws to put the Miami Heat up 1 with just 3 seconds left, Boston’s Derrick White remembered that fact. A miraculous tip-in won the game for the Celtics and put Boston in a position to be the first team in the history of the NBA to overcome a 0-3 series deficit on their way to punching a ticket to face the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals and another chance at winning Banner 18. They will do it on Monday at home, playing for history on their home court of TD Garden. The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast sat down postgame to talk over a memory that will live on in Celtics lore for the ages. As well as what they expect to see in the best thing the NBA playoffs has to offer — a Game 7. The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Fan Duel and Better Help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Also Read: Former NBA Veteran Reveals One Big Reason Why Derrick Rose Belongs In Hall Of Fame

Len Bias

Few “what-if” stories in NBA history are as devastating as Len Bias’. A dominant college player at Maryland, he was drafted second overall by the Celtics in 1986, expected to be the franchise’s future. His combination of size, athleticism, and skill made him a potential superstar, and Boston—fresh off a championship—had every reason to believe they’d secured their next great player.

Joining an already stacked team meant Bias wouldn’t have faced immediate pressure. Instead, he could have developed at his own pace before eventually leading the Celtics into the next era. With Larry Bird still playing at an elite level, the duo could have created some unforgettable highlights together. In fact, Bird later admitted he would have retired earlier if Bias had been there to take over, allowing him to go out on top rather than grinding through injuries.

Without Bias, Boston struggled to maintain its dominance. They fell short in the next two seasons, losing to the Lakers in 1987 and the Pistons in 1988. It’s impossible to know how things would have played out, but the loss of Bias remains one of the NBA’s greatest tragedies.

Grant Hill

Many younger fans may not realize how special Grant Hill was. Seen as a LeBron James prototype, he dominated early in Detroit, piling up accolades and looking destined for MVP honors.

In 2000, he joined Orlando to team up with Tracy McGrady, but severe ankle injuries derailed his career. Surgery complications led to a life-threatening infection, keeping him sidelined for years.
By the time he returned, McGrady was gone, ending what could have been a legendary duo. Though he reinvented himself as a veteran, his prime was lost—one of the NBA’s biggest what-ifs.

Also Read: Grant Hill Shares ‘Nasty’ Story About Shaq Being In The Shower With Other Players (VIDEO)

Maurice Stokes

Maurice Stokes’ story is one of the NBA’s saddest. A rising star, his career took a tragic turn in 1958 when a hard fall during a game led to a seizure days later, leaving him permanently paralyzed.

Former teammate Jack Twyman became his legal guardian, caring for him until Stokes passed away in 1970 at just 36. Before his injury, he was an elite player, earning All-Star and All-NBA honors.

Posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, Stokes’ impact was undeniable. His injury not only ended a brilliant career but may have altered NBA history entirely.

Anfernee Hardaway

Anfernee Hardaway’s career started with immense promise, earning multiple All-Star selections and proving himself as an elite guard alongside Shaquille O’Neal. By the mid-’90s, he was at his peak, excelling in scoring, playmaking, and defense.

But a 1996 playoff injury changed everything. A knee issue worsened over time, led to surgery, and sapped his athleticism. He remained productive the next season, but a major injury in 1997-98 derailed his trajectory. Once dominant, he never regained his brilliance and faded into a lesser role by his early 30s.

Hardaway seemed destined for the Hall of Fame, but injuries turned him into more of a nostalgic figure. Had he stayed healthy, Orlando’s future might have been very different.

Also Read: 10 NBA Players Who Went Broke And Lost It All