10 Greatest What Ifs in NBA History

An in-depth look at the career of one of the most overlooked and forgotten legends the NBA has ever known. This man certainly deserves more credit among the Greats than he regularly gets.
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The game of Basketball has been my passion since I was 5 years old. I grew up as a kid watching my dad's recorded VHS tapes of playoff games through the 70s and 80s, and collected all the Basketball cards. Something about the game and what it represents just hooked me from a very young age.
My love for the game only continues to grow as time goes on. I love studying and analyzing the game, with an unbiased perspective. Feel free to subscribe, follow me on social media, and celebrate this amazing game and it's rich history with me!
I post videos every week on NBA history, predictions, hypothetical scenarios and current NBA topics.
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[@jonnyarnett]

Sorry the links aren’t working at the end of the video! Turns out I need to meet several KZbin subscription requirements before I can put links in the video itself. Links to my Social Media sites are in the description! Make sure to like and subscribe! Also, I apologize for the weird audio change midway through the video. Sounds like I did the 2nd half of the recording in a cave. Lol.

[@victoralexander3767]

Dude. I should do a video entitled why Jonny Arnett is the 🐐(of youtube basketball vids)lol I feel like you provide the best info and POV on great topics of discussion for basketball. Of course I have a critique and it is simply that pippen got cheated out of a finals appearance against the knicks and they could've actually matched up well against the rockets.

[@nocomment1469]

I'm confused as to why you said Carmelo is a NBA champion . Great video though

[@aussieozzysmoothchillrasta4598]

Jonny Arnett -NBA KZbinr Yo my man this was 1 of the best High IQ Basketball Vids I’ve Seen..Why has YT hidden u all these years..anyway peace🙌🏼🤙🏼✌🏻

[@fendertremolo9793]

How many times are you going to say "OKC"?

[@jonnyarnett]

@@nocomment1469 Sorry if I was confusing, I was talking about him being an NBA champion under the alternate reality of him being drafted by the Pistons instead of the Nuggets

[@Ciscoviana]

The fact that you went straight into the count down without a silly intro or sponsorship was great.

[@emperorza5777]

Francisco Vianan I was actually surprised

[@Buttington_Headerson]

This man makes great stuff

[@SmooveShotta]

Shit happened so fast I wasn’t even ready

[@klaytontichenor7412]

I was legit looking for this comment

[@edwardcui7535]

the intro song he has now is great though

[@Zecamilleo]

to this day, i still wake up at night wondering what could have been a healthy prime derrick rose.

[@mobettadenu1325]

Me too..damn I was routing fa D.Rose

[@deadmanlyndon]

D Rose will always be the one that hurt me the most, we were robbed of seeing this man's greatness. Smh. At least he still got life and money.

[@bobnumbderrd7379]

Rose definitely almost A.I. status with no injuries probably better lokey 🤫

[@cloudnein3483]

@@bobnumbderrd7379 I wouldn't put him above Iverson but he'd be damn close

[@michaelandre6157]

I'm pretty excited about Morant, though. I hope he can become the D-Rose 2.0 which we've never had

[@Adrian101882]

A couple I can think of off the top of my head: - what if Shaq stayed in Orlando? - what if Drazen Petrovic never died? - what if Kobe played for the team that originally drafted him (Charlotte)? - what if Tim Duncan joined McGrady & Grant Hill in Orlando as they (the Magic) were aiming for? - what if Lebron never left the Heat?

[@jesuslu2860]

- what if Shaq stayed in Orlando? Win at least one championship - what if Drazen Petrovic never died? maybe the best european ever in the NBA - what if Kobe played for the team that originally drafted him (Charlotte)? is Kobe god, it would be better in statistics but without rings in Hornets - what if Tim Duncan joined McGrady & Grant Hill in Orlando as they (the Magic) were aiming for? a Dinasty - what if Lebron never left the Heat? LeBron win 6 MVP's but withouut rings

[@p-maq]

Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, Grant Hill. That would be a trio.

[@lukecash3500]

What if the Sixers didn't screw Wilt out of the part ownership agreement the deceased owner had made, and that team stuck together?

[@nix420stuntd7]

LeBron Heat vs. Curry and Durant Warriors. It almost happened too. GOD BLESS bro

[@boydbeasley3751]

What if Lynn Bias had lived after he was drafted by the Boston Celtics.

[@jpmnky]

The thing about Len Bias that nobody talks about is the Reggie Lewis tragedy that followed seven years later. I know they're two separate things, but the Celtics were finally looking like they had a future - then tragedy hit them again in June. The Reggie Lewis story is just as tragic. Maybe more even.

[@DOLLAMAC190]

The CP3 trade still pisses me off til this day

[@Rakeemgrant]

Mee too fam. Being from L.A. I was pissed

[@teirynfields8661]

Thank Mark Cuban. He was the one who threw the biggest fit when that trade went down.

[@danielclark6912]

@The Book Of ƬЯXPXP the nba was trying to sell the then Hornets. They knew that if they messed that trade up then the team wouldn't sell. Turns out they made the right decision

[@rdanose6540]

Cp3 got blocked by the league and Stern from getting a Ring...he and Kobe would have been hella match

[@TataShvaler]

Funny thing, so far I haven't seen all too many Hornets fans complaining about that trade being rejected. The ownership made the right decision.

[@SportsTalkWithTroy]

What if Arvydas Sabonis (The Original Unicorn) joins Portland when Drafted in 1986. Joining Clyde Drexler and an already deep Trail Blazers roster.

[@ashwincheekala1566]

Sports Talk With Troy I agree with u 100% easily the greatest player to never have his prime in NBA

[@macewbee]

Dom2k pointed this out

[@brendangilmartin4002]

@Terry Bogard or MJ

[@waliahmad3030]

Good one dude because that would've been scary. I'll add to that and what if they held on to Drozen Petrovic at the same time. And if you remember him then you will probably agree that he was Klay Thompson before Klay Thompson

[@NothinButGame]

Probably would have been the greatest center ever right now

[@chrispage6198]

I'll remember the day Lenny Bias died as if it were a family member. I was crushed and still am. For people that aren't old enough to have seen him play, just go by this quote from coach K. "Michael Jordan and Len Bias are the 2 best college basketball players I've ever watched"

[@FuShengAlex]

I was visiting the USA that summer and I saw that on ESPN as a 10 year old. That scared me, I had trouble sleeping that night android-home i vowed never to touch any kind or drugs. Never been drunk or smoked anything in my life.

[@gun-nut]

Then coach k didn't watch jabbar because jabbar is the greatest college player ever

[@randlemarsh]

Cringe

[@abhaypancharathi3866]

@@randlemarsh what

[@chrisborders2552]

Yes I agree with number 1. If Len Bias and Reggie Lewis didnt pass away, I believe the Celtic winning tradition would have continued through the 90s.

[@cranekraken24]

Yup. There's a very good chance the C's would have banner 20 up in the rafters by now.

[@theeagle7496]

What if Steve Nash never left Dallas mavericks in 2004

[@717jeezy]

I wouldve liked to see if the suns traded for KG but shaun marion didn't wanna go to Minnesota . he must've had a no trade clause in his contract otherwise it wouldn't have been up to him . i remember all the suns fans werw excited to see nash amare and KG when the news broke out but then Marions whiny ass had to ruin it so we traded for a washed up shaq that couldn't even run up the court anymore. Only what if but we'll never know .

[@theeagle7496]

@@717jeezy yeah I would of loved to see that trade it ruined Steve Nash carer the Shaq one

[@717jeezy]

@@theeagle7496 they never even needed shaq what so ever. The suns got bounced out the 1st round of the playoffs following the shaq trade and with a full season with shaq they didn't even make the playoffs due to a tough west. After that failure they got rid of shaq and the following season they would make it all the way to the western conference finals where they would lose go the lakers in 6. That was the last great year of those Nash/Amare suns . If they would've at least kept Marion then perhaps they could've made a finals in one of those last 3 playoffs.

[@danielclark6912]

@@717jeezy he didn't have a no trade clause but his contract was almost up and they wouldn't do the trade without an extension

[@hoodiereborn316]

in dirks shadow forever and simply doesn't have 2 MVPs and has a ring if he stays long enough

[@thewizzkidd]

What if Magic Jhonson never gets HIV

[@PradigyMusicman]

He was already on the end of his career though by 91.....

[@bigworm2129]

@@PradigyMusicman Exactly. He finished 2nd in MVP in 1991 but was on his way down. That whole Laker team was aging quick. A healthy Magic maybe helps LA get a little further but Portland, Phoenix, Houston, and Seattle would have all taken them down eventually.

[@Manny-nm8dh]

@@bigworm2129 Either way the Bulls had taken control of the NBA.

[@realg5276]

The Lakers may have added another player through trade or Free Agency and made a strong run at the title.

[@realg5276]

@@PradigyMusicman He had at least 3 good years left.

[@CLewey44]

I think one of the biggest what-ifs that gets overlooked was when Dr. J was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks and was slated to play alongside Pete Maravich. That could have be a pretty dynamic tandem. Another HUGE what-if that most people aren't aware of was in the mid to late 70s the Buffalo Braves (now the Clippers) were pretty loaded. During that stretch they had THREE ROYs (McAdoo, Ernie D and Dantley), an MVP/3x scoring leader in McAdoo, an iron man in Randy Smith (all-star), monster rebounder in Swen Nater, HOF coach with Jack Ramsay and they actually had Moses Malone for about five minutes. Had this team had a good front office, they could have literally been a dynasty I feel that would have completely changed the landscape of the NBA for the next generation of players. Never understood why Ernie D had such a monster rookie season but then his minutes were immediately cut down to 20-something per game after that. If you look long term, and these trades probably wouldn't have happened, but within a season of the Buffalo franchise moving to San Diego, they also added World B. Free and an injured Bill Walton. Who knows what would have happened with that team.

[@MuddyPoppins]

Yup!

[@kimtaphorn9175]

Great what if, and they liked each other and had a good chemistry im think they had terrorized the league in the 70s

[@deetheoriginal3117]

What if D-Wade never had his meniscus removed

[@khaitranngoc4176]

It's the Clippers, It's the history of the Clippers.

[@jimboslice8800]

What if I made good grades in school..

[@369pendulum]

That's one hell of a what if for me too lol

[@QuinnClips247]

😂

[@edwardjayenaval8245]

3:50 scared the hell out of me

[@menkirdennis6686]

Same, i got shook

[@LegendOfKhaos12]

Bruh same I shook

[@dellbelphine8720]

Same bro

[@letranger7282]

What if YAO and Mcgrady stay healthy

[@Matthew_Broderick]

See the Series against Utah Jazz or Dallas Mavericks. It would be still just the first Round exit!!

[@HMDPlays]

roberto5red5rocky points don’t mean everything... he was a super impactful player clearly you don’t watch ball

[@shanesawyer5103]

Yeah Yao & McGrady didn’t make great sense as a duo. McGrady couldn’t attack the rim with humongous Yao clogging the lane. Even if they both hadn’t gotten injured, I don’t know that they would’ve ever won a championship together. A better one is what if T Mac had stayed in Toronto? A prime Carter & a prime McGrady together from 2000-2010 would’ve been sick.

[@azrielnguyen9586]

McGrady and G Hill

[@dominiqueedwards2847]

@@shanesawyer5103 how u figure? Kobe n Shaq made it wrk....Yao n Tmac def clda won 2

[@stevencolon112]

Once I learned about who Len Bias was, and what happened to him, I've always thought that he would've changed the entire NBA and we could've been talking about him as the GOAT and instead of having the Jordan & James GOAT convo, we could've made a case for Bias as well. Love your content!!!!

[@richardtyler8922]

I remember Len Bias. He was truly a 6'8" Jordan.

[@kimhernandez7645]

The Jordan never leaving basketball part was understandable after watching The Last Dance. He was basically exhausted mentally and, emotionally after the controversy surrounding his gambling scandal, his souring relationship with the Bulls management, and the death of his father. If there's a silver lining in that period , it was the much needed rest that he got and the hunger to win for another championship run. Most likely, if it wasn't for that season, we wouldn't have the 72-10 Bulls, or the Flu Game, or the sixth NBA championship (we never know).

[@yd945]

What if the magic allowed Tim Duncan's family on the team plane that's an underrated what if

[@kaibalfour2318]

What if Brandon Roy never got hurt

[@StandOnBizness5]

Kai Balfour and Tmac

[@717jeezy]

If roy never got hurt and they drafted KD instead of odin .

[@nicochau7982]

Roy was nuuuts

[@roberto5red5rocky85]

Portland would be the same

[@videoorgy]

That's a good one. I think he, Lillard, and Aldridge would've had some overlap as a Big 3. Dude was silky smooth.

[@jlolson53]

Len Bias's death was the greatest WHAT IF by far, in my opinion. Nice video - and good catch acknowledging the amazing possible ramifications of a living Len Bias. One can only hope there are parallel dimensions where that possibility was realized (and two more titles for the Celtics!).

[@bbkyjohnson]

Lenny would have been the second best player in the league and surrounded by the best supporting cast ever in my opinion. He could have taken 2-3 years to fully develop while bird mchale and Parrish continued to do the heavy lifting. Anything less than 4 more titles with that group would have been disappointing in my opinion.

[@jlolson53]

@@bbkyjohnson Your hypothetical legacy might've cemented the Bird Eera Celtics as the greatest team of all time. I'd like the believe that in some parallel universe that happened. But absent that, all we're left with is our glorious dreams. :)

[@ComaAlpha]

Benji is a much bigger What If

[@DingisMaximus]

Melo would have learned how to play defense. Imagine what that would be like.

[@1nf1ni7e_Gamers]

And the Pistons would have added that offense they lacked to actually win more than one time and then they would have gradually gave Melo the keys as the vets aged and Melo grew.

[@hijodejames]

Yup. Billups & Melo made the WCF in 09 imagine what they would've done in the East for several years.

[@alexandermiralles71]

it would be like Klay's 3 and D but a much more superior version

[@SuperIvanGrozni]

What if "The Malice at the Palace" didn't happen? Would Reggie Miller have a ring?!

[@eriklakeland3857]

That 04-05 Pacers team was so strong. Jermaine O’Neal is an underrated star player. Ron Artest was averaging 25pts/game to start the year on top of his great defense (he never reached that level after the Brawl). The trade for Stephen Jackson strengthened them even further. As someone who grew up in Indy, the Malice at the Palace destroyed the image of the franchise. If you ask me the fan support has never been the same. It has certainly recovered quite a bit, but tickets are hella cheap yet they still struggle to consistently fill the arena for good teams under both PG and Oladipo.

[@leskobrandon691]

In my humble opinion...yes!! They were like 6 - 2 coming into that game and had just put an ass whooping on the defending champs. They looked like they were on a mission. But it all certainly fell apart. Tough time being a pacer fan. And even tougher for Reggie!

[@MrDwightsimon]

Malice at the Palace was awesome and it was worth it to have Reggie retire without a ring

[@bubasaba]

what if dražen petrovič didnt die

[@gustavogiacominpinho3987]

I thought the same, was surprised that didn't make the list.

[@SlappedOut]

he died?

[@bubasaba]

@@SlappedOut yes, car crash in germany, not even in his prime imo

[@SlappedOut]

Ron Košak damn thats crazy i see why the kings just fell off

[@lb7164]

isaiah Giro Drazen Petrovic didnt play for the kings bro. You’re thinking of Peja Stojakovic

[@DeepDishPizza]

Rose was so fast and so good. I remember saying back then that no one could sustain that for a long period of time. He knees got to go and they did.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

I can actually think of one "what if" to rival Len Bias. What if BILL WALTON had been healthy for HIS career in the NBA? He had ONE mostly-healthy year at Portland (led them to a championship) and ONE healthy year with Boston (6'th Man of the Year award) which was also the ONLY year he managed to put in more than 65 games in a single season between injuries. Could we have been looking at the only player that DIDN'T play with Bill Russell to get 8+ rings or 4+ in a row?

[@Noname-ni1dy]

Bill Walton biggest what if ever. Could dominate a game without scoring. Arvydas Sabinas coming to league when he was the best player in the world also a huge what if.

[@nza1804]

Clayton Crowley did a great vid on this.Good job

[@petermoss208]

Walton never makes a list because he brought us a ring in Portland before the injury. Where guys like Iverson, TMac and Mark Aguire couldn’t get past their rivals, Walton was able to bring a ring, against Dr. J in his prime. And because Portland is maybe the smallest market in the entire NBA per capita, we have nothing but love and admiration. Although we could have been in the finals conversation every year, he did win a ring, in his prime, with Portland, which is super difficult. Not to mention another one with the 85’ Celtics. I think we feel for him more than he does himself.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@petermoss208 He's still a big what if, though. HOW MANY rings would he have had he had more than one healthy season (1985-1986)?

[@cmattjohnson1692]

Len bias for sure he was gonna be great

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

I think there is something that would have undermined him. He had a bad group around him and he partied with him. Something else would have brought him down.

[@t-god2439]

Why does nobody ever say what if Larry bird never got hurt

[@TheIcemanthomas]

Because that doesn’t change much because they were getting old regardless. Maybe if Len bias and Reggie Lewis didn’t die then it would be a different story.

[@ryanhanna4463]

It 100 percent changes things...bird would have been dominant in his early to mid 30s...prob would need mchale to be healthy as well to win another ring though

[@t-god2439]

CPGoat #3 getting old? Dude was one of the smartest players to ever play and he could shoot probably a top 10 shooter in NBA history I’m tired of hearing about the penny hardaways and t-macs idk if he never got hurt would they have won another chip?

[@t-god2439]

iAmCyber what?????? So what was DR J? He is an amazing althelete no matter what year and bird beat him bro idk if you know how much the bb IQ is

[@manaharav]

If Len Bias had lived, it would have taken pressure off of Bird and McHale, lengthened the bench for KC Jones and reduced the chances of Bird and McHale getting hurt. I always thought that coach for the Lakers, D'Antoni made a tremendous blunder, and overused Kobe, promoting his Achilles' injury.

[@damn.1672]

Just found this channel and it's already one of the best basketball channels on the planet. No gay ass 3d intros, no overly suspenseful Korsemba type voice, and someone who actually talks about basketball past the 90s. Fire. 🔥

[@vaughnrussell5772]

Lol.... I like Mike but he is dramatic. I could see him narrating a movie trailer for an apocalyptic movie....

[@keifer7]

Last year, I started getting into basketball and learning about it; started loving it. All I knew it that D Rose “used to be really good.” My buddy told me the story, showed me a highlight video and I CRIED.

[@adrianp.1195]

Jonny, I don’t know your age but I’m old enough to remember Len Bias. If he doesn’t die of cocaine overdose, here are some theories about events that may have taken place that would change basketball history. Tell me what your thoughts are on this... 1. Boston Celtics repeat as NBA Champions in ‘86 & ‘87 and not the Lakers in ‘87 & ‘88. 2. Detroit Pistons may not be repeat NBA Champions in ‘89 & ‘90. 3. Regardless of his Chronic Back Condition, Larry Bird concedes as the Alpha Dog to Len Bias and Bird’s career is extended in the process as he no longer is required to take on the primary role of the team. 4. Michael Jordan & the Bulls may not have won 6 NBA Championships during the 1990’s. 5. Len Bias’s direct rivalry to Michael Jordan would prevent his Airness from leaving the NBA to pursue Baseball during the middle of his prime years; remember, Michael did not have a direct rival after Bird & Magic retired. 6. Len Bias would have been a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team and not Clyde Drexler or Christian Lettner. 7. Celtics Fans would be collecting Bias Jerseys at the same rate as Bird’s 33; who is the best Celtic ever? 8. Celtics would be the team of the 80’s and not the Lakers. 9. Len Bias today would be in the conversation as the GOAT with Michael Jordan; sorry LBJ. 10. The Boston Celtics would be considered the best Franchise ever bar none; right now the Lakers are the best franchise by a nose.

[@brendankittelson7158]

Well said Adrian

[@jamesmathew6164]

ShadowAng

[@JStarStar00]

Adrian P. Bias was very good but he was very comparable to Chris Webber, who didn't turn his teams into dynasties.

[@mprattyh3]

@ShadowAngel saying the Lakers are "just lucky" is an absurd statement. If it was just the city then why aren't the Clippers, or even the Knicks, rasing banners in every decade? Also, Bias was not drug addict. There are multiple sources that say he was very straight edge and were, absolutely, shocked that he died of cocaine because him using drugs was not like him, at all. Reggie Lewis had a serious heart condition and him using cocaine is still just rumors. Even if he was, or wasn't, getting high his condition was still at the point where he shouldn't have been playing basketball.

[@joeloomis3425]

Have to admitt adding Bias to that 91 celtics team would of made them one hell of a contender for the Bulls-Pistons-Lakers that yr heck ya Got Dee Brown-Brian Shaw-Reggie Lewis-Bird-mchale-Parish still around a young Rick Fox-Big Stojko Vrankovic-Kenny Battle-John Bagley-Joe Kleine lol you get the point..An Reggie was blocking Jordan's shots pretty good at the Time so man oh man never know wat could of Happend Back in those days if he'd of lived..

[@omeribrahim750]

i love how he just jumped into the vid

[@user-rr7bv3fu4b]

Derrick Rose's injuries also hurt Jokham Noah's career, he was a really good NBA center but after Derrick and the bulls ended, everyone forgot about him, he too was a perennial all-star.

[@tygray5764]

Ya missed one, but you were close. In Hakeem Olajuwon's autobiography, he states that Portland wanted Ralph Sampson and was willing to trade their #2 pick and Clyde Drexler. Houston could've had Hakeem, Clyde, and Jordan!!

[@KaxMerg]

jordan ended up being the third pick though of course

[@54raynor]

@@KaxMerg are you suggesting the Rockets would trade for the 2nd overall pick to select Sam Bowie when they had just drafted Akeem Olajuwon with the 1st pick?

[@eliseed8276]

WOW. Jordan might have several more rings... yet his individual legacy might not be what it is today. Joining a contender w/ a veteran SG and Hakeem might have meant he never had to be the one-man show he was for so many years in Chicago.

[@YaboiFitz]

Another 1 is if DWade never had the injury issues like d Rose People underrate how injuries affected his career

[@tjabbar]

The most underrated what-if: What if Maurice Stokes didn't suffer the career-ending injury and was able to have a full career?

[@travisray9113]

For sure this one! Changes the late fifties, the 60's, and maybe even some of the 70's!

[@tj5180]

Never heard of him ? How good is he

[@tjabbar]

@@tj5180 He was a walking triple double

[@Djego2001]

Piston's defense + Carmelo's Dominance on offence would be really interesting

[@petermoss208]

I would still much rather have Sheed. Sheed will go down as one of the most under rated players of all time. He was the greatest scoring power forward of all time after Charles Barkley and Kevin McHale before he was traded to Detroit, where he changed his offensive output to help that team play championship ball. With only one ring people say Carmelo would have helped them get another. But they got to another finals and a bunch of ECF. In my opinion Carmelo did nothing in Denver until CHAUNCEY showed up and he couldn’t lead the knicks. So why would a Piston fan want that? Greed usually leads to missteps. I think Sheed and Tayshaun were perfect and I doubt Larry Brown would have wanted to deal with another volume shooter that late in his career. Greatest dynasty to only win 1 ring.

[@josephbradberry4089]

That will always be the #1 "What If" in basketball. I still remember it like it was yesterday . . . extremely heartbreaking!

[@alienlanes5]

The Detroit draft pick was so insane. It was not even like a risk/reward scenario. It was blindingly obvious there was no way the reward would have been greater the next few players. That one really upset me for years.

[@bigpapavee]

Johnny the what ifs about Hardaway, Hill, and Rose, reminded me similarly to Brandon Roy, then way back to Bernard King. What if Bernard had the benefit of modern arthroscopic knee surgery, let alonewhat if he never gets injured? All these guys were unstoppable prior to their injuries.

[@jonnyarnett]

Yeah for sure. Honestly I could do an entire top 10 what if video based solely on guys who had their careers cut short. TMac, Rose, Hill, Penny, Walton, King, Roy, Oden, Francis, Petrovic, Bias, Sampson, etc. Maybe even a top 15 video? lol

[@bigpapavee]

@@jonnyarnett i like it, why not!? Projected totals based on trajectories...and such.

[@laz0rama]

kudos on the bernard reference. if he doesn't go down with the acl, it's him and patrick ewing to build around. not bad at all. bernard already gave zeke and bird a run for their money in the 84 playoffs.

[@billybaugus1249]

And i agree Len Bias living would have changed everything. Him and Reggie Lewis is the 90s would have made a tough match for Mike and Scottie in the 90s

[@hamburgauthenticsounds7268]

what if len bias was signed by nike and making the "Air" Bias brand.....and Jordan went to adidas?

[@hoodiereborn316]

think about what if never died first

[@datguitarplayer1656]

The world, absolutely the entire world, would look different today.

[@reginaldlott236]

Then everybody would be wearing Adidas instead of Nike. Lol

[@HighTimeQ]

Damn. That number 1 blew my mind

[@JStarStar00]

1. Maurice Stokes (early version of Charles Barkley) I never has his catastrophic brain illness. The Rochester-Cincinnati Royals become a powerhouse in the middle 60s and interrupt the Celtics dynasty. 2. In spring 1979, the Lakers accepted the Pistons offer of the entire team (except for John Long and Terry Tyler), including Bob Lanier, ML Carr, Chris Ford and Kevin Porter, for the draft choice that became Magic Johnson. The Lakers turned down that offer, but it was not a ridiculous offer: Lanier was still averaging 20 ppg, Porter had just led the NBA in assists, and Carr and Ford became solid rotation players for the early seasons of the Bird Celtics. So it's not like the Pistons were offering a pile of trash for Magic Johnson.

[@CLewey44]

The way Tracy Mcgrady played during that 2 or 3 year stretch with Orlando, I thought he was going to come out the best SG of his generation. So big and strong with an unstoppable scoring set.

[@reginaldlott236]

I think the OKC trade of Harden is the biggest and most impact full "What If," in this series. The Bias what if has a lot of working parts such as what if he was a bust or was injury pron, or what if his addiction hindered his career and marketability. The Carter/McGrady "What if," though they were very successful independently, only cover two people. The fact that you had this dynamic trio which could have lead to a major dynasty that rivaled GS and slowed down LaBron as he has made it to, or won in the playoffs a significant amount of consecutive years is more interesting to me. Overall what is more tantalizing is to think, "What if Shaq was on the Bulls with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin and Dennis Rodman?

[@kaqueburlington4278]

Just started watching your channel. Great content! Awesome stuff! It’s tough to put a bigger what than Len Bias. If would’ve filled in a big spot in NBA history: Wilt vs Russel Magic vs Bird MJ vs ____ LeBron vs Kobe

[@TataShvaler]

Mikan vs Kurland and especially Alcindor vs Walton could have been great rivalries as well. Too bad they didn't happen. But I don't consider LeBron vs Kobe a rivalry at all. They never met in the playoffs, their primes didn't collide and the gap between the two players was just too big.

[@bealgates8594]

The CP3 deal still upsets me

[@JohnJohn-dx7ue]

As far as the number 3 choice with Derrick Rose, we should mention not just that he was the youngest MVP but also who he beat that year. LeBron, Wade, Bryant, Howard, and Durant all had monster seasons that year too and he won it as a 22 year old with one year nba experience.

[@ericdickerson3273]

Well Lebron put up 26.7/7.5/7 that year and rose put up 25/4/7.7, so Rose only won it because people were mad at lebron for going to Miami. But I get what you’re saying. As a bulls fan, I wish LBJ had just gone to the Bulls and more than likely Rose doesn’t get hurt in garbage time the following year and we got a second bulls dynasty

[@JohnJohn-dx7ue]

@@ericdickerson3273 Im not disagreeing. But Rose wasn’t not deserving.

[@henrycooper7136]

Great video!!! Very informative!

[@period8705]

Rest in peace Kobe Bryant. Mamba out 😪

[@TheRealRevelation]

You should've added (on #6)... Imagine seeing Carmelo Anthony win a college national championship then see him win an NBA championship the very next year! That would've completely changed how we view C. Anthony!!

[@Quintinnn]

So we not gonna talk about the ball flying towards our faces 😂😂 3:50

[@bmack71]

Dope!!! Very good list and presentation 💯

[@Kiki-lc3ng]

What if: the 3 point line was a semicircle with no corner 3? What if: the 3 point shot had existed since the 60s? What if: the ABA & NBA merged in 1967 instead of 1976?

[@israelmoreno3620]

Kiki White 💥 Power ✊🏿✊🏿

[@734ethan]

@@israelmoreno3620 wtf??

[@israelmoreno3620]

734ethan hell ya !

[@sportstalkwithzo3707]

Pistol pete would've been the top scorer when he retired if it was a 3pt shot

[@christopherray6370]

Well as a Spurs fan Lebron didn't win that second title for 1 thank to Ray Allen, But what do I know.

[@eyedrcarlson]

Great vid. Another what if could be, what if Magic didn't contract the HIV (virus) and retire early?

[@big8dog887]

For one thing, the "Dream Team" would've been a lot different. This hardly gets talked about anymore, but a big reason they were able to get everybody they wanted was because the stars all thought they were giving a dying man his last wish. Fortunately, that turned out not to be the case, but if Magic isn't "on his death bed", Jordan and Bird probably aren't on board, so the team probably still has All-Star caliber players (Magic, Barkley, Robinson, maybe they take Isiah), and probably still easily wins the gold medal, but it doesn't have the rock star image that the rest of the world idolizes and tries to emulate.

[@leemcb7297]

He was considered past his peak after 30, he gained size but was a step slower. He should've been reserve to Isiah Thomas honestly...but MJ couldn't let it be

[@anthonymanila2921]

Awesome video. Great content. Keep it up brother

[@yourdaddy6030]

Great video bro. You've got a new subscriber. I was living in New Hampshire when Boston selected Len Bias as the number 2 pick. Everybody was fucking losing their minds with excitement of the prospect of adding him to an already amazing Celtics Squad. Also everybody was blown away that somehow Red Auerbach put us in that position. Easily one of the top GMs ever. The same guy that drafted Larry Legend a year before he was actually able to play in the league! Anyways dude good luck great video.

[@PoliticusRex632]

The greatest what if in NBA history is what if Red Auerbach had stayed working in his parents' deli!

[@Galvaxatron]

Should have mentioned Drazen Petrovic. That said, solid video.

[@darththomarius6751]

I like your videos. You put a lot of thought into your videos.

[@king_supreme1102]

Glad you started this channel

[@elmascavidal1797]

What if the 1988’ Pistons never got hosed in the finals against the lakers... 3 peat 🤔💭💭

[@realmusicentertainmentcompany]

They we're definitely suppose to win 3 straight if Stern wasn't fixing games for Bird & Magic and later on Jordan after the NBA on NBC Tv deal

[@elmascavidal1797]

Real Music Entertainment Company for real they didn’t want the bad boys winning chips

[@realmusicentertainmentcompany]

@@elmascavidal1797 EXACTLY💯✔ #TrueStory

[@elmascavidal1797]

Hugh pistons win in 6 games... Those bad boys teams were no joke ... they ended the lakers and Celtics run in the 80’s

[@videoorgy]

I love the Pistons but that was nothing more than a bad call. They happen all the time. Definitely sucks though.

[@CiabanItReal]

#5 It's not just that they passed on Jordan for Bowie, it's the other guys they passed on too. They could have defended not taking a rookie Mike since they had current star and future HoF Clyde Drexler if they had drafted a different big man in Charles Barkley. Hell, if they had taken Jordan UNC teammate and borderline HOF Sam Perkins it wouldn't be so bad.

[@Minkah60]

This Segment has Completely Amazing !!!

[@markythelarky6948]

Another What-If: Charles Barkley was going to be traded to the Lakers circa '88 - '90 for a declining James Worthy and a couple of other players. It is said, Magic realized he needed to reinforements and worked hard to get the Lakers to get the deal done. Unfortunetely, the 76ers backed out at the last moment. Barkley played the following game drunk.

[@rickykeefer7081]

That thunder team could have took over the 2010’s through 2020’s I honestly feel like they could have won like 5,6,7 or more in a row with that team, who knows. Not to mention they also had one of the best rim protectors in the league at the time in serge ibaka and had Reggie Jackson who was a star player for the pistons, he could have played 6th man and made okc even more dangerous

[@danielcampbell5603]

People forget about Ibaka when talking about OKC. You have 3 future MVP's, and a defense first big man. You could have filled that roster out with dude's from the Y and they would still be killers. How do you sleep at night blowing that team up, all over 5 million bucks.

[@kouavue5259]

Those 3 wont win shit. They are not winner. They cant carry a team that far.

[@danielcampbell5603]

@@kouavue5259 Ibaka and Durant both have rings. Russ and Harden are MVP's. What are you even talking about?

[@kouavue5259]

@@danielcampbell5603 do you even watch basketball? They are amazing player but they dont have a winner mentality. Like kobe for example he ways find a way to win even with bum. These 3 need a leader for them to win. KD need stephen to win ring but Stephen dont need him because he was already a winner. Russ and harden will never win a ring unless they go chase after a superstar with leadership like lebron currently.

[@CLewey44]

I honestly think Daugherty would have been a better fit in Boston and why Cleveland passed on Bias is beyond me. Who knows, maybe he wouldn't have OD'd had a different circumstance occurred and Cleveland would have been the team of the future. It would have made more sense for a superstar to start out on a young and up coming team like that and build around him. I'm sure Bias would have played a couple of seasons in Boston and then traded somewhere else when he realized he wasn't getting the minutes or touches he wanted on a stacked Boston team.

[@davidwithmory2589]

Great video man

[@nba2kgodz5]

DOPE VIDEO....ENJOYED THIS A LOT

[@Cqogpc]

CP3 and Kobe would of had a chip easy. Stern screwed CP3

[@dontrellmayfieldjr2868]

Kobe would've had his 6th ring.. that's a travesty. Rest in peace to Kobe and David Stern but some reason I still can't get over about David Stern decision to screw CP3.

[@Cqogpc]

Dontrell Mayfield Jr yea RIP to both it was probably something that interfered in the policies

[@dontrellmayfieldjr2868]

@@Cqogpc politics is a waste of time. Politics sucks ass

[@henry7486]

@@dontrellmayfieldjr2868 the dude commented policies not politics

[@henry7486]

@@Cqogpc pretty sure it’s just cos other owners were whining

[@agyemanburns6035]

What if Reggie Lewis didn't die and what if penny hardaway didn't suffer nagging injuies

[@teelyttle2480]

This video just popped up after all these years… great video, even way back then.

[@larrycunningham9171]

As a bulls fan since the late 80s...#3 hits me a little different. That team at the time could've done great things

[@themeparkjunkies8471]

And my #1 what if.... What if MJ never injured his knee in the 2002 season, when he was averaging 25-6-5 and the wizards were #2 in the East behind the Nets???? And Richard Hamilton even missed 19 games. Could have been a Kobe vs Mj final

[@SW1TCHBLXDE]

Woooow

[@chrisstrong7584]

Another beautiful what if

[@romankozelov5078]

Great point

[@jparsons3163]

Game 6 2010 finals What if. Kendrick Perkins doesn't get injured an the Celtics don't lose that game. due to lack of a big man to replace him .

[@lassanadrammeh6209]

The video we never knew we needed.

[@natehoover5266]

Penny and Grant were both up and coming when I was a kid and really into NBA basketball. It bummed me out that they had injuries.

[@TheZayzkidd3]

The league owned the Pelicans at THAT time but now a SINGLE INDIVIDUAL does own the Pelicans.

[@Ebk.xo93]

What if the nba 2020 season was never cancelled?

[@ljbara6795]

Poopoo Cock underrated comment

[@jonathanvelazquezph.d.2719]

For the moment being, it's been suspended. There's a difference. We'll see if it is cancelled, in the near future.

[@BigCheddarr]

Edit: what if Rudy Gobert wasn’t such a dumbass

[@Leonard_Wilson]

The Lakers would be champions. And this is coming from a guy who hates LeBron.

[@jerrylanary4889]

@Poopoo Cock all nba players, staff, owners and fans on live games will all have COVID19 and many of them will DIE

[@alberthernandez7296]

Great channel and great videos

[@mrt9539]

Great video. Straigten out the mj poster lol. Great list. I never got past Len Bias. I hope the celtics took care of his family

[@aclements2812]

What about if Magic stayed healthy?

[@rayray5472]

Kinda of what he never tested positive for HIV... Because that I know of he didn't have injury problems...

[@donmegadonmega3533]

M M -probably couldve won the championship when jordan left for baseball, but who know had magic never been forced to retire it wouldve given more competition to rethink early retirement

[@geezusgeezus4413]

What if Sampson stayed healthy?

[@RaiderGannon12]

Yeah I can see the Lakers winning the Championship in 93, even without Magic Johnson in the 91-92 and 92-93 nba season the Lakers beat the Bulls 3 out of 4 games in the regular season.

[@TheAcer1981]

What if the 2002 WCF weren't fixed by the NBA?

[@shanesawyer5103]

TRUTH

[@hoodiereborn316]

kings easily take down Kobe and Shaq

[@klamathmountainultralight]

As a life-long Lakers, fan I'm sad to say you're right.

[@LessGo7921]

@@klamathmountainultralight True. Kings would have demolished the Nets.

[@melvynsngltn27]

Yeah game 5 was BS refs cheated LA in that game

[@felipedeoliveira1537]

nice video man!!!!!

[@sonk-rays5798]

This is a fantastic!!! Well done you do know your basketball.

[@harveydodd8803]

Can’t see Len Bias being as good as Jordan. Jordan had a focus to win unlike any player at that time. He certainly wouldn’t be snorting lethal doses of cocaine days after being drafted.

[@KermRiv]

I never knew about len bias before this, it's absolutely heartbreaking. Holy shit

[@yourdaddy6030]

From an all-time high getting drafted by his favorite team to dying on the floor of his dorm room. Fucking bullshit. Rumor has it that was the first time he ever did cocaine too. His friends wanted him to celebrate being drafted by the Celtics.

[@alaskaguyd963]

@@yourdaddy6030 Celtics were snakebit. Reggie Lewis could have been on this list too.

[@deeznuttzfrombrooklyn2082]

Honorable mention: what if sprewell sign that contract, what if Malik Sealy didn't die, what if Patrick Ewing wasn't injured in the 1999, what if Alonzo mourning stayed healthy, what if KG & stephon marbury stay together, what if Nick Anderson hit those damn free throws, what if Amar'e stoudemire stayed healthy, what if Drazen Petrovic didn't die in that car crash, what if that referee didn't call all those fouls on the Kings, what if the Knicks drafted Curry😢😢

[@GilbertHorn1]

What if players were allowed to go play professionally after high school instead of after college back in the '50s and '60s? What would Wilt Chamberlain's statistics look like if that existed in his day? Or, steals and blocked shots?

[@kingdeedee]

What is Portland drafted KD? I think that's one of the most underrated what-ifs in NBA history

[@Humbler32]

The obvious what if that you forgot, what if Drazen Petrovic never died.

[@lukascubes9132]

Johnny's Intro: Number 10

[@nikadumbadze8067]

Man you are one of the best youtubers i have ever seen...

[@timsnell9326]

Penny Hardaway such a underrated passer second to no one if u watch not just his highlights but his games

[@rayray5472]

Magic, Stockton,Kidd, Nash and Big O comes to mind right off the bat... wait how heck can forget Pistol Pete...

[@nelsonsulayao7271]

1.What if the bulls 1998 remain intact for the following year. 2.what if kobe didn't trade by the hornets in 1997 draft.

[@petsvideo3132]

1996 nba draft

[@nelsonsulayao7271]

@@petsvideo3132 96-97

[@FuShengAlex]

Kobe Bryant was fixated on LA. He'd have caused issues elsewhere

[@kingdinodragonite3470]

What if the 76ers drafted KG in 1995? They wouldnt probably get AI the next year but they have a shot of drafting Kobe and they probably would because the 76ers were second guessing whether would they pick kobe or ai in the first place.

[@valenciaaegean3591]

This video was really great especially in the #1

[@John-ct9zs]

What if the Rockets traded Ralph Sampson to Portland for the No. 2 pick in 1984? The Rockets would have picks 1 and 2 and taken BOTH Jordan and Olajuwon and been the absolute dominant force of the NBA for the rest of the 80s and 90s. The only thing stopping such a team would be the egos of both MJ and Hakeem possibly clashing, like Kobe and Shaq.

[@ice_man81]

The one nobody talks about is Seattle trading Scottie for Olden in 87 draft. Scottie could of been a Sonic and played with Kemp and Payton. Jordan might not have won anything.

[@asapoluu9885]

Cmon Jordan ? Nah he doesn’t lose

[@hoodiereborn316]

@@asapoluu9885 bro 1-9 without Scottie in the firs round Jordan has 0 rings without Scottie argue with me and bj Armstrong leaves and Horis grant maybe he has 1 but that's all

[@markythelarky6948]

@@asapoluu9885 Thinking like yours is the reason I sometimes get annoyed by the Jordan hype of the 90s which created a narrative about Jordan as this lone player that carried his team to victory. For those of us that are older, we remember the days when Jordan, try as he may, simply could not beat Magic's Lakers, Bird 's Celtics, and Isiah Thomas' Pistons. He was at his peak and could not win a title. Commentators in general would openly scoff at his game play because his method (a team centered around a high scoring shooting guard) was not conducive to success. Jordan needed to learn an important lesson which Magic, Bird, and Thomas knew too well, that it's a team game. It's not about you, you don't play for yourself, you play for the team. You don't play for the stats, you play for the W. It wasn't until he got Pippen that he had the help he needed to win and realized he needed to trust his team. I won't go as far as to say that without Pippen he would have 0 rings, but I doubt he would have 6. Also, remember this, who did he defeat in the finals? Compare his finals opponents to the ones Magic Bird and Thomas had in the 80s. No comparison.

[@ivblizzard3616]

finally someone can actuallly see the truth

[@paulthomas7967]

Jordan made that team and made those guys great . Once pip left MJ he was trash . Jordan won with all role players that played great because of him. There would have been another Scottie and MJ would still be the GOAT because he was so overwhelmingly dominant like no one before or since

[@anttr4601]

I remember Bragging on Myspace that Lakers got CP3.

[@brand88]

That T-Mac and VC staying together could’ve been something great