Isaiah Rider: He had ALL THE TALENT IN THE WORLD but couldn’t get out of his own way | FPP

He could have been one of the best of his generation; a pure scorer with a complete offensive game, but not enough guidance to help him maximize it. He dropped out of high school and one JuCo before a year at a second JuCo got him a spot with Jerry Tarkanian and the UNLV Runnin Rebels. Sanctions from the NCAA left Rider unable to showcase his talent on a national stage as a Junior, but once his senior year came, he showed he was one of the best players in the nation. But his college career ended in a scandal which was foreshadowing for his NBA career. He was a lone bright spot for a relatively Minnesota Timberwolves team, but his issues off the court didn’t make his on the court contributions worth it, as Minnesota didn’t want to taint their rookie star, Kevin Garnett. He spent three seasons with the Portland Trailblazers where he didn’t stay out of trouble, but would be a great piece to the beginnings of the late 90s and early 2000s Blazers Western Conference Finals Teams, featuring players like Rasheed Wallace, Arvydas Sabonis, Kenny Anderson and Damon Stoudamire. He helped the team to their first conference finals, but was traded after the season in favour of veteran leadership. And once he arrived in Atlanta, he quickly destroyed what was left of any positive reputation he had. The Lakers took a chance on him the next year and he was able to get a ring, even though he was kept off the playoff roster, but after 10 games with Denver he was out of the league at 30 years old. If you’re talking talent alone, Isaiah Rider is one of the best, but he had no motivation or discipline to work to improve on that talent and wasn’t able to get out his own way. And because of that, his career has become a what if and his life after basketball has become a lesson to the younger generation. But if Isaiah Rider could have gotten on the right path, we would be talking about a possible hall of famer.
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[@deebrown4744]

He truly is the definition of a player who stood in his own way

[@VincentBeville]

NO. The definition of the slave plantation system concerning black college players in the NCAA, and the NBA, stood in his way. Shut the fuck up, white boy

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Yeah he was a great player

[@maschinemoses6276]

Yup

[@ObjectiveEthics]

That is so true.

[@the80sguy80]

Loved watching this guy in his prime. A shame he couldn`t stay out of trouble and realize his full potential. Thanks for posting!

[@billblaski9523]

Man Isiah Rider and KG, what could have been...

[@Dantana773]

Salute For doing Jr Rider He is one of my Favorite players from the 90's. Also in college him at the head of that press UNLV ran on defense was epic. For all his flaws he is still a very underrated player He gave crazy work to some of the best NBA players at his position including Michael Jordan. I also have to add that when mangement of a team cant control a player or really have no clue of how to run a top tier team issues will arise and the players will take the blame before mangement will especially in the 90's when players who were not media favorites had no outlet to explain their side of the story the narrative was always one sided.

[@russellgeorge433]

He was my favorite player in college

[@EricCKeys]

Not sure it's a 1 sided narrative if trouble followed him everywhere he went.

[@kjhenry100]

I get where you are coming from but you gotta understand that he took everything as a slight. If you made a joke, just ribbing him, he would catalog it and hold it against people. Then as he acted out his grudge he blamed others for responding to him.

[@MrOctober44]

Keep making excuses for him. That will help. If you actually watched the video you'd see had problems everywhere and after basketball. That's not bad luck, that's him. If he was a normal guy you wouldn't be excusing his behavior

[@KB8Killa]

@@kjhenry100yikes. With a mindset like that it’s a miracle he made it this far. Talk about talent.

[@master-kq3nw]

His shoot behind back against kings is the best shoot ever

[@shadow7577]

LOVE your channel dude! hoping you could cover these guys in the future Mookie Blaylock, Laphonso Ellis, Rodney Rogers, Robert Pack, Stacey Augmon, Dajuan Wagner, Derek Anderson,

[@SatoshiHODL]

He still had a crazy good career. Always loved Isaiah Rider and his game.

[@Vermazing]

Thank you for doing this! he was one of my favs going up! I remember a few times he would shake his defender then point and laugh before draining the shot. He was always a joy to watch and to play with in video games. I hope at some point you cover Brandon Roy, he is now a forgotten player but Brandon Roy would so fit on this channel

[@Modeek6]

Brandon roy is far from a forgotten player. You may have forgot about him. But hes still talked about heavily. As one of the greatest what ifs

[@Vermazing]

@Modeek6 i never see anyone talk about Brandon Roy Ever... literally when ever i bring him up in conversations people dont know who he is. Like he never went toe to toe with kobe... every basketball game I played that has a created player I make Brandon Roy and add him on my teams I'm just mad I was never able to buy his jersey

[@Modeek6]

@@Vermazing clearly the people you talk to that don’t know brandon roy don’t know basketball 🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

[@滋榎本]

Isaiah Rider is an underrated NBA player. Rider's dunk at the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest was truly amazing. After that, I started watching Wolves games, and I was really surprised by his skills, speed, and shooting sense.

[@GHOST91141]

We need one on Sean Elliott from the Spurs

[@IsaacHowardJr-mi2ws]

Good answer.

[@GABRIELA-ACEVEDO.]

He was playing great for Spurs in 93 season, then got traded to Detroit for Rodman. Didn't do too good with Pistons. Glad he came back to Spurs the following year. Glad he got a ring there. Hate using the word underrated that gets used a lot now, but that word would definitely apply for Elliott.

[@isiahbraun8704]

A very bouncy player with a solid good skillset.just was head case in da locker room.

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Yeah it’s sad

[@cvz14]

J.R used to show up to my old neighborhood when I was a kid around 2004 to visit a friend of his . They would smoke a bunch of blunts by his Bentley and kick it on the block He was super cool and would buy us ice cream and sign autographs

[@handsomeblackman255]

He was a beast!

[@marcvanosch6358]

That block on Ewing is crazy

[@generalclutch6979]

So much research. So in depth. Love this series. Uncle Cliffy please?

[@jasonic-ks2tm]

Awww! 93 was a good year as I walked into a new hs wearing my Minnesota twolves sweater! Loved those teams back then

[@konasavage]

Your video series is fantastic. I remember when I was young, the rumor was that he switched to J.R. because someone spelled Isiah wrong writing an exam for him at UNLV.

[@kjhenry100]

Dang, total flashback on that rumor!

[@mastermindmartialarts]

He was fun to watch. He should have been a Multiple time all star but just couldn't help himself it seems. So talented too.

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Yeah he had plenty of talent

[@rickybobby7326]

My favorite player back in the day..

[@ramonew7815]

Kenny Anderson is literally connected to all of these players.

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Why you say that

[@jamiahwilson3901]

Thank you . This video was right on time.. Jr was one of my favorites when i was a kid!

[@TogetherEvery1AchievesMore]

#TogetherEvery1AchievesMore TEAM‼️

[@shuleofficial5996]

this dude played exactly like jr smith, athleticism off the charts, deadly three point shooter, and hit ridiculously difficult shots

[@mannedi8665]

He was really awesome and could've been more. In today's game, he is like the prototype Dwyane Wade

[@arthurman6129]

Not much of a team player and probably a net nagative most of the time, but Rider can be a really fun iso player to watch. I remember seeing him completely destroy Eddie Jones in the post over and over. Jones was an all defensive stopper at the time but there was nothing he could do when Rider bullied him in the post.

[@Seba-lk4hp]

Yoooo... was that when Eddie was on Charlotte or Miami?

[@arthurman6129]

@@Seba-lk4hp around 1997 when Rider was on the Blazers and Eddie Jones on the Lakers

[@lashgoshotwheels1127]

Thank you 🙂

[@philb.1502]

Dude made the NBA, played in the league 9 years and averaged double figures in 7 seasons. He was a career 35% three point shooter and 81% free throw shooter. 16.7 points a game for his career is respectable! Rider wasn't a bust or anything.

[@DRV404]

IR truly was must watch tv back in the day!

[@masterofnull9695]

He made one of the craziest shots i've ever seen

[@charliehorse543]

J.R. was a Monster, in college and the pros.He was the best in college.

[@Pennybags37]

I’d love to see a video on Christian Laettner one of these days.

[@ethanniedorowski116]

Ya I'd love to see that good rookie year for sure lol

[@ethanniedorowski116]

Fat lever an I agree

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Why you say that

[@eugenedantzler4485]

Ok... We gonna have to put you on a 2 video a day minimum💯💯!!!!

[@anadvocate7310]

,Isiah Rider is during just fine after his pro career. He married he coaching his Sons bball team. he during wonder for growth of the game.When NBA legends travel.overseas

[@Gl6619]

1:54 “he never left the knuckleheads behind”….that sentence has probably been repeated for many hardluck cases

[@lijon912]

I know his career was short, but if he had changed his personality and "behaved", he wouldn't of been this badass player that we all loved.

[@ramonew7815]

He didn't need to change his personality. He just needed to stop making dumb decisions.

[@CSDonohue11]

Slangin chipped cell towers phones 😁

[@MrOctober44]

​@@ramonew7815His dumb decisions were because of his personality

[@thehylianloach9473]

and it's that dumb-ass 'street-cred' mentality that led him down the path he ended up on.

[@dougfredricks2017]

​@@MrOctober44Retarded Arrogant Person😮

[@ethanniedorowski116]

Fat lever the first walking triple double

[@perfectblue8443]

What a good video. This guy had great potential

[@CloudSpirals]

Brother, I would love it if you could do Dee Brown 👌

[@deebrown4744]

Yes sir!!!!!!

[@KB8Killa]

Jacob pullen

[@CloudSpirals]

@@KB8Killa Has nothing to do with my post...

[@KB8Killa]

@@CloudSpirals I was reminded of pullen by your post

[@CloudSpirals]

@@KB8Killa Cool story... but it's still irrelevant to my post.

[@tamarbo71]

Keep them coming we do next I'm going to get Buck like Milwaukee cuz like Sam I can Sam Cassell?

[@ForgottenPlayerProfiles]

Did one on him already

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Now we need that video asap

[@robranko5931]

Love this cat..looks cool

[@Modeek6]

I just came across your content a week ago and I’ve already watched every video. You do a great job💪🏾. I look forward to these videos now. You should do one on Antonio Mcdyees, kerry kittles, michael dickerson, othella harrington, just to name a few

[@sparksup327]

I love this channel

[@konstantinkoverchenko9587]

If fuck it was a person. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@MultiChaim]

awsome upload ma man !! i guess Rasheed Wallace Chris Webber Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill are next ? he he he... keep crushing it !!

[@Ebotoman79]

Sheeed!!!

[@ethanniedorowski116]

C webb sheed do a day in Atlanta lol fat lever is my pick

[@PunisherNYCC]

When you say Isaiah Rider, the first thing most people visualize is his through the legs slam dunk. First one to do it in the NBA

[@the80sguy80]

Nope, it was Orlando Woolridge... kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ_Cm4Glj9GfndU&ab_channel=RyanVanDusen

[@snubdawg1386]

you are wrong buddy, it already happened 10 years before ....i just learned that few years ago myself ....kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ_Cm4Glj9GfndU

[@two7code536]

Orlando Woolridge was big dawg

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Wow he was the first one to do it

[@DorkVaderDaThugzta]

Yup.

[@luisvaldes1568]

"I wanted a chocolate shake, not vanilla!" I remember watching a Lakers game on national TV and rider was sitting on the bench and when he saw the camera on him he gave it the middle finger.

[@CSDonohue11]

He’s most definitely The Coulda Woulda Shoulda Series

[@iloveyoumadhuri]

My only criticism of the video is the lack of mentioning of how and why he was waived by Denver. Other than that, JR Rider is Mr. Cautionary Tale himself.

[@marqueswilliams345]

I’m disappointed Rider never made a few all star games

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

That’s insane he never made it

[@anadvocate7310]

He should have been allstar in 98

[@GABRIELA-ACEVEDO.]

​@@anadvocate7310definitely should've that year. They had 3 Lakers guards make allstar game, Rider should've been over one of them. Kobe wasn't Kobe yet, and only made allstar game averaging 15 a game because he was voted as a starter by the fans, same as Penny Hardaway that only played like 15 games and was a starter for the east.

[@ryanjohnson3414]

My uncle hates him. He was an assistant manager at a Myrtle Beach McDonald's around 92-93. Good ole JR came in late one night while blitzed on alcohol and cocaine, completely trashed their bathroom, demanded food without paying, made lewd comments towards the women working there and was just an all around asshole. Haven't heard the story in years but this reminds me to ask again.

[@FuShengAlex]

Wow!! I wouldn't doubt this story from him.

[@KB8Killa]

6 5 215 guard in college is beastly

[@Alajuwon]

Damn! I never ever ever knew he was supposed to go to my alma mater K-state. That would've been outstanding to see him go there.

[@CSDonohue11]

Yeaaa…. Let’s Go

[@kareemmoreland9119]

That's when the Jailblazers era began when he, Rasheed n Kenny Anderson all got to PDX the same year.

[@kellyprince2552]

He was the first one to do that move at 12:28-30.

[@heathRocco]

The Step back shot

[@DanielSong39]

At the very least he could have been an effective rotation player for the Lakers in the 2001 Playoffs Fortunately the Lakers got it done without him

[@tobznoobs]

Lakers took the less problematic option in Lue, who even if AI torched him in game 1 of the finals was still vital in defending him, and the fact that Fisher came back from injury in the final games of the season, they had him fresh legs for the playoffs and he was in midseason form and on fire for 2 months. Jackson probably knew this knowing he got fisher back and he wouldn't need Rider's offense but he'd rather have fisher's defense, and being their third leading scorer was a bonus.

[@billblaski9523]

Isiah Rider, Adrian Dantley, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony; all players who were obviously talented AF and would give you 30 pts a night. But thats it; thats all they wanted, was to get the most points, have the ball on every play, and only want to run iso plays, just take their man 1-on-1. They werent invested in team success only individual success

[@anadvocate7310]

Adrian Dantley was efficient tho.

[@jessesarabia5060]

Muy buen canal

[@jay5286]

Counseling for smoking weed 😂😂😂 what I'm glad that's no longer an issue in the nba

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Ayooooooo🤣😂😭

[@atiyyahbeyah2356]

Imagine JR rider, KG and stephon Marbury all on the same team oh wait, that really did happen

[@FuShengAlex]

Rider was traded by the time they drafted Marbury

[@mattdrake2065]

@@FuShengAlexYeah that’s what I thought. Shit woulda been wild tho…

[@jpmnky]

Saw his entire career. He was taken right after Jamal Mashburn in the loaded 1993 NBA Draft. All the talent in the world means nothing if you’ve got a bad attitude.

[@omarpage]

Hey do a video on dragan bender, kristaps Porzingis and Devin Harris as well. Also do a Derrick rose one

[@gws259]

He was just made example of

[@rerun40807]

If jr "isiah" rider had half the disapline as Kobe, he would have been a hall of fame player. Just sucks we didnt see his full potential

[@chrise.9806]

Kobe came out early because of KG, however it was still Shaq and Penny at the time. This could only be what if!

[@sunriseeternity300]

My favorite "waste of talent" player of all-time. Living here in Portland, I got to really watch him. Amazing passer, great defender, back down game top-notch. Obviously a #1 offensive option talent (although he never really took that step). He lost a lot of my respect when he landed in ATL on a contract season. He could have been a league leader in scoring on that bad team, plenty of garbage stats to put up. But, he chose to self-destruct his career. Never got another big contract and was never a rotation player again.

[@RE1GN_BLOOD]

He’s was coaching out here in Phoenix not too long ago. He should’ve been Anthony Edwards first.

[@MoeJaxon]

I liked rider. His career was too short though. Dude had potential

[@moreycleveland2472]

& I ALSO REMEMBER JR RIDER & PHIL JACKSON GOING BACK & 4TH AT EACH OTHER JR EVEN CALLED PHIL PHILLIP NO CAP

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Ayoooooo🤣😂😂

[@EricCKeys]

Never would've guessed he left the league with a career average of 16ppg. Shame he didnt develop into an All Star.

[@snubdawg1386]

thx

[@paddle_my_mad_laddle]

Do a Jack Sikma video! The Sonics need more recognition!

[@dionheard4274]

Harold miner would be a good one

[@HFH-Official]

I've been a fan since his college days. JR was a beast. However, his attitude was horrible. He is one of the biggest underachievers in the history of the NBA.

[@curtisstover6129]

Funky Fresh in the flesh

[@godsfavoritt771]

that dunk on pippen after he made Jordan look crazy yikes

[@tauryalex9333]

The 7'0" KG

[@str8dropboy469]

Do one ☝️ on BJ Armstrong. I’m from Chicago and he was one of my favorite point guard back in the early 90’s

[@oddballskull1941]

SCOTT SKILES

[@wellitsherenow]

ppg is skewed now that the nba has turned into a shell of what it used to be. 19 was pretty good before when they played defense

[@rg3_inc]

PERHAPS THE BIGGEST WHAT IF IN NBA HISTORY

[@sickofguysnamedtodd2293]

Nah that would be Len Bias.

[@himgod6495]

I ran into Brian grant at the mall of America in 1998 ,I think he was playing for the heat at the time, some other white teammate was with him, but I'm not sure who he was

[@AwoL205]

That's cool but what does that have to do with anything? Lol Just kidding. Funny though

[@lilpenny1982]

Isiah Rider reminds me of Dwayne Wade at Isiah's best. But Isiah didn't have the discipline and dedication of Wade.

[@dy120481]

Their games are literally nothing alike.

[@boardammo1593]

Imagine having Garnett, Laettner, Gugliotta, JR Rider and only winning 20 games 🤷‍♂

[@bjnt922]

So talented but so undisciplined

[@kevinlawrence1212]

what are you talking about. 21-8 is a successful season.

[@kjhenry100]

He took everything as a slight. If you made a joke, just ribbing him, he would catalog it and hold it against people. Then as he acted out his grudge he blamed others for responding to him.

[@tylerriley2587]

Running into the law messed him up

[@moreycleveland2472]

A FOOL & HIS MONEY & TALENT SHALL PART ONE DAY IF ZION DOES WATCH IT HE COULD BE THE NEXT JR RIDER NO CAP

[@kanebanner]

peopel that abuse fast food employees are always scumbags

[@oaklandwarriors9129]

My uncle is good friends with him

[@southbeachtalent]

I understand that elite basketball players shouldn't be made to go to school when they are physically ready to play pro ball. However, the shortcuts and cheating they take in schools show a huge lack of maturity and their attitude in general towards what it takes to be a success.

[@chengyman]

as a wolves fan i wish he had the right attitude. smh

[@christophertifre2018]

Lakers gave him a ring even tho he was kicked off the postseason roster 😮

[@ItsBenRoyboy]

My main man, J. R Rider....just wouldn't take the game serious

[@billblaski9523]

Lmao yo getting your teams practice changed from 10AM to 5PM just to accommodate one player?

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Now that’s insane lol

[@moreycleveland2472]

A FOOL & HIS MONEY SHALL PART ONE DAY

[@moreycleveland2472]

I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS WHEN JR ISIAH RIDER USE 2 PUNK THE THE SH#T OUT OF EDDIE JONES

[@mcoeif]

Don't care what people say, prime JR Rider would have beaten Kobe in practice. Rider at Lakers was an over the hill, out of shape ring chaser.

[@dy120481]

That's one of the dumbest things ever written on KZbin. Congratulations.

[@courtneyvaldez7903]

I dunno guys, I think this guy might’ve gotten in his own way…

[@VisualTedium]

Closet case that caused him to act out