Players who wouldve been bigger stars if they were with a different organization

[husky429]

The number one answer up here should be Kemba. He gave the Hornets everything, including his knees.

He left the leage with 200 million in pocket. Not many PGs at a generous 6' pull that off. Could be a lot worse. But kan imagine if he had started his career with the Celts instead of heading there hobbled. They'd have won a chip or two more

 

[hansonel-amin]

Ryan Gomes

very well played!

 

[storrsroars]

Wesley Walker great Jets WR who played with terrible QB's and mostly bad teams. He was always open. Put him on those great Steeler teams and he would be far more famous than Lynn Swan as he was a much better player.

Kenny O'Brien was definitely not a horrible qb

As the old Jets joke goes, O'Brien had a winning record vs Marino and the same number of Super Bowls.

Also, during the period of Walker's career, other than 78-79, the Stillers weren't a very good team. Only 3 wins better than the Jets during the 80s.

 

[Yankees32123]

Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson, Mike Trout, Chris Webber, and Felix Hernandez come to mind

 

[Lafayette]

As said - Mike Trout (if on the Yankees) would be Mantle 2. Any UConn player that went to Charlotte (sorry Liam...get that trade!), Barry Sanders (as a Lions fan, pains me) - if in Dallas he would have run for the mile.

Nolan Ryan - imagine him on the Reds mind 70s?
Clyde Drexler a Laker?
Joel Embiid on the Celtics?
any Whalers player to Edmonton or Montreal
Charles Barkley on the Knicks?

 

[Lafayette]

Come on man that is some crazy recency bias foe the A’s, Royals or Pirates. Reggie, Henderson, Brett, Bo, Clemente, Parker, etc etc.

Yeah, and don't fall for those $28.99 WS rings on ebay - good to look at but not authentic. Especially 1979 Pirates.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Come on man that is some crazy recency bias foe the A’s, Royals or Pirates. Reggie, Henderson, Brett, Bo, Clemente, Parker, etc etc.

I guess it depends on your definition of recent because most of those guys peaked in what, the 70’s and 80’s or as kids my son’s age call it “the late 1900’s”? Lol. It’s 2025, we’re closer to 2050 than 2000. Young players with talent on those teams are generally counting the hours until free agency but there are obviously exceptions.

 

[Matrim55]

Great question.

Start with UConn NBA players:

Rudy Gay - could have some rings if he played on right team

If Smitty had ended up on the Suns or Rockets he'd have been a super valuable bench guy.

Put him in the league today and he'd be a Pritchard-type 6th Man of the Year candidate.

 

[John]

Marcel Dionne on the LA Kings

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Kenny O'Brien was definitely not a horrible qb

As the old Jets joke goes, O'Brien had a winning record vs Marino and the same number of Super Bowls.

Also, during the period of Walker's career, other than 78-79, the Stillers weren't a very good team. Only 3 wins better than the Jets during the 80s.

O'Brien was a very good quarterback that had a death wish. He would sit back there for what seemed like 10 seconds waiting for someone to get open downfield when the throw away or dump off was the right play. Some of the hits that guy took were incredible.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

If NBA had started expansion 5-7 years later, Mourning and Shaq would not have gone to Charlotte and Orlando. Glenn Rice would not be on Miami and JR Rider would not be in Minnesota. Imagine what the 90's would have looked like with Mourning next to Ewing in New York or Shaq on Boston with Antoine Walker. What if that Dougherty/Price Cleveland team had a defensive 2 guard like Kendall Gill to d-up Jordan, instead of Craig Ehlo?

 

[Jaydumo20]

Kenny O'Brien was definitely not a horrible qb

As the old Jets joke goes, O'Brien had a winning record vs Marino and the same number of Super Bowls.

Also, during the period of Walker's career, other than 78-79, the Stillers weren't a very good team. Only 3 wins better than the Jets during the 80s.

Good points
The Steelers have enjoyed continued success since the mid 90s pretty much but everything is cyclical. They were invisible in the 80s.
There are teams in all sports that the new generation of fans would be shocked had some really awful chunks of years.
Chiefs, Yankees, Warriors, Packers, Phillies, Eagles, Cowboys, /// Penn State, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Tennessee etc etc etc

 

[lateralous]

Patrik Elias - I think he's the most underappreciated hockey player during the 40 years I've watched the sport and I think a lot of it has to do with him playing in NJ, despite winning two cup. Came to the Devils after they already wore the reputation of being a trapping team with no offense so I don't think he ever got the credit he deserved for anchoring two of the best offensive lines in the NHL during the early part of his career (A-Line and EGG Line). When he did play for an offensive minded coach, he was third in the league in scoring while playing a good two way game and penalty killing. He did everything and was also clutch as hell in the playoffs.

I also suspect if his prime occurred during the age of analytics it would have helped. He would have been an analytics darling.