Is Kemba the most important player to come through UCONN and go to the NBA?

[husky429]

I said as now. Recruits probably don’t know who Donyell is and Rip has been away for awhile. You could argue for Ray. He is also in movies and got lebron a ring. But as of right now for UCONN, Kemba is the guy.

we could have dion waiters or MCW....

I'll agree that kids aren't familiar with Donyell or Rip as much as they used to be. Ray is still a household name. They talk about him on the Heat, but kids remember the shot in game 6. Everyone does.

 

[Kenny11]

I said as now. Recruits probably don’t know who Donyell is and Rip has been away for awhile. You could argue for Ray. He is also in movies and got lebron a ring. But as of right now for UCONN, Kemba is the guy.

we could have dion waiters or MCW....

as of now Kemba is number 1 to recruits and the only one we have. Even bigs don’t want to be like Drummond.

 

[Vuce]

Looking at the original question in this thread my mind immediately went to Ray. He was a bonafide NBA star, Hall of Famer, and even crossed over into movies. So yeah it’s Ray Allen/Jesus Shuttleworth and that’s no slight to anyone else.

 

[CTBasketball]

It’s gotta be Ray! He starred in a movie!

Kemba needs a few titles to catch up to him.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Still Ray Allen. Probably Cliff and Rip next. Cliff had a hugely productive and long career. Rip was on some very good Pistons teams. Kemba can and probably will move past Cliff and Rip. If his knee holds up.

 

[Ratso]

ray

 

[Dove]

That would still be Ray Allen.

There is no other answer.

 

[Ewekon]

Certainly not at the very top; but not listed so far is Emeka. At the time he was everything a program could want as a student athlete and that played real well for him AND the university on TV. He and we got The Ring. Media darling. He sure was a much bigger and more impactful name than was Jimmer Fredette in his wettest dream.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I think the "most important" is where the real success started so I'd say the 89-90 team combined since there was no singular superstar. They put UConn on the map. Without them, Donyell, our first big time McDonald's All-American recruit may not come here to help sustain it, then Ray, then Rip, etc taking it to the next level year after year. I.e. without that team taking down the so called elite teams every week and "The Shot", etc we might not even be having this conversation.

Ray's full body of work is the most impressive but without Huskymania in 89-90, I doubt he even considers coming to Uconn...

 

[Huskybass]

Ray was no complimentary player. He was the focal point. No ifs ands or buts.

Certainly not on the Celtics Championship team. You are delusional if you really think otherwise.

 

[Jbirdp5]

I’m not saying most successful right now, but most important to UCONN as of now

I’d what you meant to ask was most important right now then there’s no point even debating. But the way it was phrased I’d go ray, rip, then Kemba.

 

[formerlurker]

In a few years I wouldn't be surprised if the real answer isn't Caron.

OP didn't say it had to be limited to on court importance.

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

I love Kemba, but its Ray, and it's not close.

 

[the Q]

I think the "most important" is where the real success started so I'd say the 89-90 team combined since there was no singular superstar. They put UConn on the map. Without them, Donyell, our first big time McDonald's All-American recruit may not come here to help sustain it, then Ray, then Rip, etc taking it to the next level year after year. I.e. without that team taking down the so called elite teams every week and "The Shot", etc we might not even be having this conversation.

Ray's full body of work is the most impressive but without Huskymania in 89-90, I doubt he even considers coming to Uconn...

Yeah, this is basically my thought as well.

Unless “important” is referring to helping us currently.

 

[HuskylnSC]

When Wade, Lebron and Ray went to Miami they all sat for a joint interview. The final question was, "With one shot to win the game, who takes the shot?" Ray answered, "the open man". Wade and Lebron just pointed to Ray. That proved prophetic:

I vote with Wade and LeBron

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I think the "most important" is where the real success started so I'd say the 89-90 team combined since there was no singular superstar. They put UConn on the map. Without them, Donyell, our first big time McDonald's All-American recruit may not come here to help sustain it, then Ray, then Rip, etc taking it to the next level year after year. I.e. without that team taking down the so called elite teams every week and "The Shot", etc we might not even be having this conversation.

Ray's full body of work is the most impressive but without Huskymania in 89-90, I doubt he even considers coming to Uconn...

Just reread the title of the thread so my rant makes no sense. I apologize. That said, Ray Allen is the answer here I think with Donyell and Cliff up there paving the way.

 

[Captbluefin]

It’s Ray

I find is shocking how so many younger people do not understand how freakin good Donyell was. A couple free throws and he would be immortal in the state of CT

 

[Scoe]

Of course the answer is Ray being a HOF and being in the spot light for nearly 20 years. Being Jesus Shuttlesworth in he got game. Cliff and Rip are a huge impact as well being on a lot of nationally televised games being in the Finals a couple of times.

I wouldnt even wanna know where this program would stand without Kembas impact to this program. Our history would look ancient to recruits if not for 2011 and 2014. His 2011 run led to Shabazz winning a title in 2014. Despite the lack of success after 2014, Kembas name has over shadowed those down years some what. Everyone who watches the NBA and see him play they remember Cardiac Kemba, its great that hes back into the spot light in Boston and playing just down the road. Hopefully he can get to the ECF and possibly get to the Finals that would really enhance his legacy.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I would go with Donyell. His joining the program was incredibly 'important'. Nadav stunned the program when he left and Calhoun had to prove that the team was not a fluke. They had a nice recruiting class coming in, but getting Yell changed the recruiting outlook forever. After him, nobody was off the table.
Then he came and developed into one of the best college players, was drafted high and had a very solid NBA career. The fact that he developed under Calhoun and staff was big.

 

[Ts5034]

Ray is the only Hall of Fame player that ever came through the mens basketball program at UConn, so he is number 1 right now. Kemba has a real shot at making the HOF as well. If he can play at this level for the next 4-5 years, and maybe add an NBA Championship, then he will be a lock.

And by the way, Don't sleep on Andre Drummond either. He's another one where if he continues putting up the same rebounding numbers over the next 5 years, then he will be one of the best rebounders in NBA history. I just feel that Drummond kind of flies under the radar because he's played on very average teams at best with very few prime time games so he does not get the exposure.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Ray is my favorite ever UConn player to watch in the NBA and I tend to agree that his impact as a long-time star on two teams, then part of a big-3 on a title team and then a supporting player who made arguably the biggest shot in finals history makes him the most important.
But Cliff needs his due. Cliff' career was perfectly on brand for the up & coming UConn program. As soon as Cliff fell in the draft, Cliff became synonymous with don't sleep on the Huskies. Then Cliff immediately contributed to contending teams while UConn began contending for titles, soon Cliff played on multiple NBA finals teams. Cliff's NBA play was perfectly emblematic of UConn.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

In a few years I wouldn't be surprised if the real answer isn't Caron.

OP didn't say it had to be limited to on court importance.

Surprised that Caron hasn't been mentioned more. Tuff Juice is incredibly well respected throughout the league, on the board for NBA retired players association, might eventually have his own Marky Mark film, and is starting to become more visible as an analyst

Even got a shout out from Giannis recently...granted for depressing subject matter...on how to act as a black man walking the streets in the US.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Surprised that Caron hasn't been mentioned more. Tuff Juice is incredibly well respected throughout the league, on the board for NBA retired players association, might eventually have his own Marky Mark film, and is starting to become more visible as an analyst

Even got a shout out from Giannis recently...granted for depressing subject matter...on how to act as a black man walking the streets in the US.

Caron had a very good NBA career, arguably as good as RIP, but he didn't play on a title team (gets a title but DNP with Dallas), he was never on an all-NBA team and he bounced around the league a lot leaving small footprints everywhere but not a definitive identity for non-hardcore NBA fans. Caron's legacy is more of a great teammate, good on both ends, never had a transcendent season so a solid upper middle of pack NBA player.

 

[Waquoit]

And by the way, Don't sleep on Andre Drummond either. He's another one where if he continues putting up the same rebounding numbers over the next 5 years, then he will be one of the best rebounders in NBA history. I just feel that Drummond kind of flies under the radar because he's played on very average teams at best with very few prime time games so he does not get the exposure.

I think with Andre it's a chicken or egg thing.

 

[Dogdeacon]

I think with Andre it's a chicken or egg thing.

Amongst NBA afficionados, AD has a bad-to-neutral rep as a losing player, below average defender (gets murdered in pick-n-roll) and can't play at end of close games. That's his rep, he has spurts that refute that rep but over time it has been sustained. He is two dimensional (rebounds and inside scoring) and at risk of getting Roy Hibberted into Bolivian for lack of shooting/can't defend outside of the paint.

 

[Travelman6]

No, that honor goes to Ray, followed by RIP. You can place him on the next tier with Caron, Gordon, and Cliff with a great shot of joining the top tier in the next half-decade to a decade.

BTW, it is absolutely CRIMINAL RIP was only invited to 3 all-star games in his career. He was an all-star in 2006, 2007, and 2008. He should have been an all-star in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2010. At the very least those 3 allstar appearances should be doubled.

Also, that 2009-10 Pistons team had RIP, Gordon and Villaneuva but sadly only won 27 games an in 2010-11 only won 30 .

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Caron had a very good NBA career, arguably as good as RIP, but he didn't play on a title team (gets a title but DNP with Dallas), he was never on an all-NBA team and he bounced around the league a lot leaving small footprints everywhere but not a definitive identity for non-hardcore NBA fans. Caron's legacy is more of a great teammate, good on both ends, never had a transcendent season so a solid upper middle of pack NBA player.

I won't argue the playing career. In the husky family we all know he's a legend, but an outsider would not necessarily know who he is purely from his NBA career

My take on the OP is "most important player" does not necessarily mean best player.

 

[BGesus4]

Amongst NBA afficionados, AD has a bad-to-neutral rep as a losing player, below average defender (gets murdered in pick-n-roll) and can't play at end of close games. That's his rep, he has spurts that refute that rep but over time it has been sustained. He is two dimensional (rebounds and inside scoring) and at risk of getting Roy Hibberted into Bolivian for lack of shooting/can't defend outside of the paint.

 

[QDOG5]

Ray
Rip
Kemba
Kemba may replace Rip at #2 someday but he'll have to work hard and have some good fortune to move Ray.
If Ray had won a championship at UConn he'd be permanently enshrined at #1

 

[Mr. French]

Pretty easy to say Kemba is more an equal piece of a 3-headed group of 1B's with Tatum and Brown. He's not "The Man" for Boston; they don't have one.

He is their leader, but I agree with you totally. Also, I hate when people denigrate his role on those Celtics teams. I'd say the exact same thing about his role on the Celtics: 1 of a 3-man band.

He was one of 3 HOF players, not a "complementary" piece. He was a complementary, albeit important starter, on the Heat. Ray was on the downside but still in his peak from 08-10, he just happened to have the game and the ego to step to the side a bit. It's easier being viewed as a complementary piece when you're the greatest shooter and also not a me-first guy. Paul Pierce needed the ball in his hands, so their roles were different. If Ray stayed in Seattle he still could have been putting up 27/game.

That's my opinion and a big bugaboo of mine when people discuss those teams. He didn't have a lesser role b/c he wasn't as good or was declining compared to the other 2 HOFers.