Latrell Sprewell’s forgotten career and what could have been.

For how far Latrell Sprewell’s career went was pretty surprising knowing that he didn’t start playing organized basketball until his senior in high school. When he was drafted, he had glimpses of what could have been greatness. The all-star is arguably a top three shooting guard in the 90s he could have been a great player, but due to personal issues, he will only be remembered for that and not the numbers he put up.

                In 1992, the Golden State Warriors selected Latrell Sprewell with the twenty-fourth overall pick. In his rookie year, Latrell Sprewell had a good year nothing that was eye-popping, but that said bust either. The warriors finished 34-48 and that landed them the tenth placed spot in the conference. Latrell Sprewell got on the all-rookie second team. With 15.4 points per game, 3.8 assists per game and

                The following year in 1993, Latrell Sprewell had a breakout year and so did the warriors they thought they found a star to build around and bring home an NBA title. The warriors had a record of 50-32. Latrell Sprewell played all 82 games and he had 21 points per game, 2.2 steals per game, 4.7 assists per game, and 4.9 rebounds per game. Charles Barkley and the Phoenix suns swept them the conference finals.

                During these two years, people saw greatness in Sprewell during his breakout year. That following year they thought different, but in 1998, the warriors finished with a record of 19-63 under Coach P.J. Carlesimo who we will get to later. Sprewell had many issues with Carlesimo. In just a few years, Latrell Sprewell went from a franchise player to a burden to the organization. The time leading up to this year Sprewell was in many problematic issues. In 1994, his pet pit bull attacked his own daughter and bit off his daughter’s ear! In 1995, he fought a teammate in practice went away came back with a two-by-four, and then threatened to come back with a gun. On December, first 1997 Latrell Sprewell got into an argument with P.J. Carlesimo after Carlesimo told Sprewell to “Put a little bit of mustard” on his pass. Sprewell threatened to kill Carlesimo and Carlesimo said, ''I'm right here.''. Sprewell grabbed him by his throat and teammates and coaches pulled him off Carlesimo. Around 15 minutes later, he came back while the team was practicing and lunged and punched Carlesimo in the throat.

Russ Bengtson interviewed Hall of Famer Allen Iverson and Iverson said, “As far as talent, if I could be one player, I wouldn’t be Michael Jordan, man. I wouldn’t take Michael Jordan’s game, I would take will Latrell Sprewell’s game.” Latrell Sprewell will only be remembered as the player who choked his coach and not by the talent he had or the numbers he put, he will only be remembered for his terrible choices. 

LeBron Finally Caught up to MJ

At age 31, you wonder where the MJ vs LeBron debate is. I think at age 31 LeBron wins because at age 31 both MJ and LeBron won three NBA finals. MJ does have one more regular season MVP’s over LeBron. However, at age 31 LeBron has been to two times more NBA finals than MJ. You can say that going to the finals and not winning does not mean anything but it sure is impressive and something MJ has not been able to do. LeBron has more rebounds by more than 2,000, and has 3,000 more assists, 4,000 more points scored, and finally more than a 1,000 more points in playoff games. In '84 MJ came into the league and won rookie of the year and his team lost in the first round of the playoffs. Next, he broke his leg and they were swept. He came back and they were swept again in the first round of the playoffs.

Losses in the semifinals:
                 Then you have to consider all the losses in eastern conference finals. For the first three years, MJ made the playoffs, the Bulls had a losing record. LeBron wins rookie of the year and the first two years they didn't make playoffs but they had to win a record. Then they lose in the semis in seven. MJ was making to the playoffs with losing records yet LeBron with winning records could not get into the playoffs. In addition, he beat MJ to the NBA finals in his fourth season. LeBron did not go and play college basketball and get preparation like MJ. At age 31 LeBron has been to the finals two times more than MJ, he got their faster. In addition, he took the WORST TEAM in the history of the league to the NBA finals. We look at only Michael’s rings and trophies like we should, but we should also consider how he couldn’t even pass the first round of the playoffs at one point.