Great analysis! I think what really made Bias a huge “what-if” is his incredibly rapid progression as a player. He was getting better every season in college and by the time he was drafted he was still a very raw talent.
Another good one, I loved Lenny B growing up in Bmore watching the Terps play in the ACC. Len was a terror he was getting better each year and yes 👍 I also think he woulda been better than Nique. Heres a question I have for you one that I often ask. The next year they drafted another guy I saw play in high school at Dunbar and that is Reggie Lewis who averaged 17 ppg ik n his second year. We don't know what Lenny would havw been averaging. My conclusion is if both Lenny B and Reggie Lewis lived either Detroit, or Chicago would have been missing a ring . Detroit's second and perhaps Chicago's first ring may have never been, what do you think ?
The league would have gone from Magic vs Bird to Jordan vs Bias. Their rivalry would’ve been legendary. Also the Celtics wouldn’t have fallen off in the 90’s as well
Probably...and lets not forget about Reggie Lewis. Those two guys could've easily been built around and be that bridge to 90s championships. Reggie Lewis was a legit all star level player. Tragic.
Most of the comments that are saying Bias would have been a huge history changer had he lived to play in the NBA are not taking note of the fact the man had a serious drug problem. He hung out with guys who would have gotten him in trouble constantly. It was those guys who got him killed. You cannot make an educated assessment of what Bias would have been in the NBA without factoring in how his drug problem would have affected his game. Once he started making NBA money he would have had access to more expensive drugs. He would have been experimenting with everything a person could snort, inject and smoke. A few years of this and his skills would have deteriorated. He would have likely been out of the NBA by 1990 and considered the biggest bust of all time. The path Bias was on was not going to lead to him becoming the GOAT. His untimely death is all the proof you need.
In fairness to Larry Johnson, he was much better prior to his back problems. It's actually a testament to LJ that he was talented enough to change his game after his injuries and become a successful perimeter player.
I would rank Reggie Lewis up there with him too. Imagine Lewis and Bias together. That would have been a better 1-2 punch then jordan and pippen. Being that Lewis blocked Jordan's shot 5 times in one game both had it on both sides of the ball.
Len would have shined in the association. His early years he would been mentored by Bird and McHale on how to win. He would have at least 2 or maybe 3 chips with them. Then in the 90's its Bias vs Jordan that's would've been fun to watch because Bias was special very special. 😓
such great points, you got a great insight on the NBA man, would love feedback like that on my channel, check it out if you can would love the support!
@Briscoe17555 highly doubtful, the moment that monster played his first scrimmage, the whole team including coaches would’ve known Bias was an Alpha Apex predator. Bird played Power Forward as well so it’s likely Bias would’ve started at Small Forward with Bird at the 4.
@Briscoe17555 Your reply made absolutely ZERO sense. If McHale is the 6th man of the year, it means he's already coming from the bench and if you knew anything about how Larry Bird was used you'd know he split time between PF and SF. Bias would've made him move to PF permanently. Also to note, McHale and Bird dealt with a ton of injuries in 1987 so Bias would've had plenty of playing time.
I remember exactly where I was when I heard the unbelievable news Bias had passed away. I was absolutely devastated. He was destined for absolute greatness in the same vein as MJ
I remember where I was when Reggie Lewis died. I was at a basketball camp. The news broke around 6pm and so I went down to the courts to shoot around. Myself and one of the other better players were the first kids to shoot around that night. 4yrs later and ironically enough I was recruited to play at that kids high school. We ended up winning a state title during my sophomore year and his senior year. During my senior season we won another state title. *Wow! Trip down memory lane*
Len Bias joining the Celtics in '86 was eerily similar to James Worthy joining the Lakers in '82. A championship team who, by virtue of great management, was able to secure an elite wing to add to an already stacked, potential dynasty team.
I always believed that the Celtics getting Bias was the balancing of the Lakers getting Worthy. The cruelest thing ever that we didn’t get to see it happen.
@@libertydrive4388 couldn't agree more with you. Len Bias plus Reggie Lewis was a double tragedy. If it goes the other way, the Celtics rule the late 80s/early 90s as far as an elite Eastern conference contender. And I'm saying this as a Knicks fan. We lost in the 1st round to the '88 Celtics which was a championship level team...imagine Len Bias and Reggie Lewis on that team.
I often thought that Bias would be that type of player that Worthy was for the Lakers. And James was a special player but I think he'd agree that Bias was destined to be special like he was.
Len Bias came in at the beginning of the end of the Celtics run in 80s. Bird's injuries started in '87 as did Mchales in part due to their string of deep playoff runs since '81. The Celtics were wearing down even if they were still dangerous. So Bias would have added elite level talent and youth to a squad that needed both to continue their dominance. Boston played team basketball and could really pass the basketball so you know Bias would have gotten easier shots and would have learned how to pass much better himself even if that meant just finding the open man. I believe the Celtics would have continued their run for at least another 5 years.
Bias could've helped Bird, like Magic helped kareem, you got great insight and input on the NBA boss, would love your support and feedback on our channel!
Instant impact to Celtics...Lakers would have had problems...I saw Len Bias up close playing pickup ball when I attended College Park. He style was similar to Shawn Kemp and Dominique Wilkins but could shoot the mid-range shots. He may have grown an additional inch or two.
And then the rest of the league doubtlessly would respond, stockpiling talent to compete - but only the Lakers would succeed. Jerry West was the only GM that could give Auerbach and his successor a run for their money. Pistons, Bulls would win just one title each, MJ probably demands a trade, ends up, I say with Knicks and wins one more.
Would have been very good, but he could not handle the ball. He could run the floor and had a great jumper and power. He would been more like a smaller version of Karl Malone or a James Worthy type player. as a lifelong ACC fan and a player who watched Lynn buys play in the ACC I can surely tell you that my assessment is fairly correct For those who are saying what would have been maybe maybe not you never know A lot of people said but other people could have been and then they didn't achieve so it's just speculation. And here we are 37 years after the fact still trying to decide how good the Boston Celtics would have been with him fact is it didn't happen so there's no assessment other than he was one of the greatest college players. B
Yep, I was 16 when he was drafted and IMHO, would have been better than both Wilson & Gathers. He averaged over 36pts, 10 reb, and shot almost 55% from the field and 85% from the FT line as senior. If I'm not mistaken, he led NCAA men's basketball in all those categories! Players in the ACC just don't have those type of numbers. Those are numbers that the greatest NBA players of all-time have. P.S. He wasn't a great play maker, but would have developed that playing with the Celtics. Such a sad story and missed out on a all-time great IMO!
This is probably the best video I've seen on Len Bias. All facts here. Him getting drafted to the Celtics after they won championship was like Bulls drafting Iverson after 96 season, or Lakers drafting Blake Griffin or Steph Curry after 2009 season.
@@AX5Terminator i said Iverson only because he was best player coming out. Kobe was best later on. Also 12 teams wouldn't have passed up on Kobe if they knew how good he would be. Or Hornets wouldn't have traded him just for Vlade. Just like Rodman was best player from 1986 draft but no one knew that at the time.
@NBA Spotlite true but they didn't win championship year before. They did make it to eastern conference finals. That's only reason I mentioned other teams.
I think if he stayed healthy his whole career he would be an average player at worst, if he can go head to head with MJ in college I doubt he'd be a bust
People also forget how great Reggie Lewis was. He gave Jordan more trouble than any 2-guard in the league. With a healthy Bias and Lewis and healthier McHale and Bird (playing fewer minutes) they win some championships instead of the Pistons and Bulls.
@@marknorton8803 They were great, but I think it's silly to think that either could have had a career like Jordan, no one really could ever expect that even with extreme talent. Even in college Jordan was better than Bias by a little bit, he won the player of the year and Bias never did, and Jordan was no where near the player in college that he was in the NBA, not even remotely close. There were several players that had better college careers than Jordan, but it didn't matter as Jordan destroyed them in the NBA. Jordan improved so much between college and the NBA, it was almost hard to believe, and even in the NBA itself. It really showed you how hard MJ worked at his game. If Bias and Lewis played on the same team they could have potentially given the bulls or really any team difficulty. I wouldn't doubt that Bias could MAYBE have been as good as Pippen for his career, but even that would have been quite difficult I think even given his talent, it's just very very difficult to have a career like Scotties, thing have to go really well for you. Scottie was a beast as well. I think if Bias became say a top 20 or top 30 player of all that then that would been a very successful career for him realistically, and it would been tough. Bias was EXTREMELY talented though, and his passing away from drugs was a tragedy without a doubt.
@billj4525 I really think Scottie was over rated let's say he went to the nuggets I don't think he would be considered top 100. It's bc he was on the team with Jordan that made his stock rise. There's better defensive player than scottie like, Smart, Gary payton, meta, Bradley Pippen was the second option bc really there wasn't another option after him on the offensive side. Most team were defending Jordan making scotties scoring easier, don't mistake me for say easy it was just easier then it would be with him. Scottie was a top notch role player at best
I can't like your post enough. Players develop and get stronger, that helps the college game. You get more ready made NBA players and that makes it much easier for bad teams to rebuild. It's a win-win for college and the NBA.
College careers: Jordan [3 years] = 17.7 ppg (.540 fg%), 5.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.7 bpg, 30.8 mpg Bias [4 years] = 16.4 ppg (.536 fg%), 5.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.7 bpg, 32.8 mpg North Carolina Tar Heels vs Maryland Terrapins on January 12, 1984: Bias = 24 pts, 4 rebs Jordan = 21 pts, 12 rebs (7 off), 2 blks, at least 4 stls Highlights of the game was uploaded by starks23 (stats provided in the description), which ended with Jordan's iconic cradle dunk at the buzzer. Both men played each other four times overall. The first two in '83, Bias wasn't a starter yet. The last one was on February 19th the next year where Jordan scored 25 and Bias had 18.
@@shiranuiaensland1442 Hard to guess about the FG%. SFs and PFs tend to have higher percentages than shooting guards while Jordan shot far above the norm for his position. Arguably the best in history at the 2 but finished at .497 (.505 with the Bulls). It's not at all unusual for a 3 to shoot at those percentages and Bias shot .536 in college (vs .540 for Jordan). Would have been close with a decent chance Bias would have edged him out.
@@madcapper6 We were strictly referring to their college stats. And yeah, it is a big plus for a guard to have been more efficient from the field than a forward. The best at the 2 in history is not really arguable at this point.
As a Freshman in college, you could see that he was going to be great. His life was cut short and would not be able to see how great he would have been.
This was a brilliant and outstanding piece of work. I have been uttering these exact points about Len for 35 years. Len Bias and Hank Gathers were very special players.
I feel like if he made it to the nba he would have a good 16 year career with like 3 mvps 14 time all star 4 time champ and career averages of 26.6 points 8 reb 2 assists 1.5 blocks and 0.4 steals , truly a tragedy his career ended before it started rip Len
Top 10? I always said top 20 or even to 30 would have been a huge success for Bias. Top 10 all time is just really really hard even with extreme talent. I know he was insanely talented, so I know it's possible. Would have been interesting to see. Sad he passed away for sure, would have been great to see him play.
italian water ice Doing tainted drugs while celebrating the biggest achievement of your life is hardly a drug problem I guarantee you, a lot of people you think of as heroes do a decent amount of recreational drugs, he got unlucky it happens, it’s sad, but it’s not the guys fault.
I’m 49 years old and still think Len Bias was the greatest college basketball player I’ve ever seen. Len Bias going to the Celtics would have extended Larry’s career. The Celtics would have RULED the 90’s (or at least been the rivalry the Bulls needed) if Reggie Lewis would have lived as well.
Josh, I love that you do profiles on players that were good to great and have been forgotten by many fans. Here is my list: Buck Williams, Shawn Kemp, Michael Ray Richardson, Arvydas Sabonis, World B Free, Chris Webber, Chris Jackson aka Mamoud Abdul-Rauf, Chris Mullin.
Shawn Kemp and Chris Webber are my two favorites from the list, I also love the lost Earl "The Goat" Manigault, man could've been great, we got similar videos boss if you don't mind checking us out and letting us even know what you think and wanna see next.
How about Lloyd Daniels? I guess he falls more into the 'what if' category like Bias. Thought by some to have Jordan-like upside, it's hard not to wonder what he could have been without all the bad stuff.
@@inthepaint2907 I always felt Kemp never reached his true potential. He was starting to get close in '96 until his career started going downhill because of his personal issues but even in '96 he still had upside. I think he was only 25 that year and a player's best seasons usually fall around age 25-30.
"My favorite college basketball player of ALL TIMES!" Hands down VERY good comparison to Dominque WITH also a defensive mindset. Cocaine could have derailed his star😢 The guy was special
It hurts after all these years to remember how excited I was to watch Len Bias--and then even more excitement for the NBA draft as a Celtics fan--and then the total heartbreak when the news hit the air.... :(
Don't forget the lost reggie lewis in his prime in 1993 at the age of 27 and he was 6-7 long arms and a outstanding two way player and all-star reggie lewis Len bias they would have. gave..the bulls some problems in the 90es
Reggie was a fine player who could score and defend it was a tragedy what happened to him. Celts went through some tough times when they lost these two fine thoroughbreds. Tremendous athletic dynamic individuals who were versatile as hell. I don't think I've ever gotten over what might have been.
Love this Johnny, great what if story. Maybe Bird would have won 1 or 2 more and Magic won 1 or 2 less? Idea; you mentioned at the end of the video cocaine affecting NBA player's careers, if you haven't yet, you should do a deep dive on Michael Ray Richardson. Best basketball channel on TH-cam.
Maybe we'll do it :), love your insight on the NBA boss, would love your input and feedback on our channel, we'd greatly appreciate for you to even check it out, we're currently working on another star lost to overdose Earl "The Goat" Manigault.
Great TH-cam on Len, he was my favorite Basketball player of all time, also I grew up in Landover,Md like Len. I agree he would have been a very special player in the NBA because of his physique and basketball skills. His leaping ability was out of this world with his alley oops from Kieth Gatlin. I think if focus he would have been better than Jordan, because he was a bigger version of Jordan and had a better mid range shoot , before Jordan developed his in the mid 90’s. He was definitely a all time great and I still to this day haven’t seen someone play like him!!!!!
One issue with this.. Bird was planning to retire when Len Bias stepped in as his replacement. He only stayed because of Bias' death. So You have to take into account it would have been a Birdless team with a rookie Len Bias playing with an experienced used-to-each-other Boston team.
I've been watching NBA youtube for a long-time now and I have to say you are one of the best I have seen up to this point. No BS just straight into the video into the basketball stats and information. Keep up the great work Jonny👍💪
Great video. I would even add he had a similar game to James Worthy. The Celtics would have won in 1987 with Bias providing solid defense and efficient scoring coming off the bench. Its the bench that killed the Celtics teams in 1987 and 1988.
No doubt, Walton and Wedman were done. Starters playing heavy minutes and hurt. If Bias lived, he would have solidified their bench. The terrible Ainge trade doesn't happen.
Jonny... Thank you, thank you , thank you for doing a video on the Greatest Player never to play in the NBA. I’m a Lakers Fan like yourself. I know very well had Len Bias not passed away, it would have been the Celtics and not the Lakers with 5 Rings in the 80’s. In the near future, please make a video for Hank Gathers as well. The LMU Lion would have made a large impact once in the NBA had it not been for his Heart issue.
Bird would have more chips, especially head to head, than Magic if Bias had been able to play. I think they would have beat the Lakers in the finals in the 87-88 finals, a series that should have went 7 games even without Bias
One of the 'what ifs' involving Bias would have been the fate of the Celtics in the '90s. They were long past their peak years of the mid '80s and when the Bulls' championship window opened up in '91, Dennis Johnson was gone while Bird and McHale were approaching the end of their careers and Parish was getting a bit long in the tooth too. They'd have needed a lot more than just Bias to hang with the Bulls into the '90s, even if Bias had become a Jordan-level talent. And given the fact that few (if any) had reached Jordan's level in the 75-year history of the NBA, while possible, it's a stretch to think it would have been likely. Even Jordan himself wasn't expected to reach Jordan's level as he vastly exceeded the level he played at in college. MJ may have been expected to be an elite player but to be as good as he was, becoming a strong GOAT candidate? Those expectations are pretty unrealistic to put on any player. I kinda like your comparison to Dominique. Dominique with defense ain't a bad place to be at all. And now that I think of it, Dominique with defense is getting very close to Jordan territory. The only thing left to close the gap would be consistency and longevity, the ability to maintain that level year in and year out.
I agree with everything. Awesome video. I don't think drugs would've been an issue for him on that vet led team. I think they would've gotten rid of that crap. I'm also gunna guess that playing with Bias would've been more fun than Bird is anticipating. I think he prob stays a year or 2 longer than he said. With that, I believe not only would they have won in '87, but more than likely also the next 2 years at least. Bias could've extended the older players careers by a year or 2, and saved them minutes in the reg season to be better in the playoffs.
In a word, he would have been spectacular, he could jump outta the gym, he could shoot the jumper with uncanny efficiency, he would have been as good or better than MJ . He and his family lived about 5 minutes from my sister and her husband and son. Good dude met him at Garfinkle's which was an upscale Washington DC department store he was talking to a "10" she was stunning. Side note; his mom went on a crusade going around to high schools trying to educate kids about the dangers of COCAINE and other drugs, She suffered another crushing blow when Len's younger brother Jay was brutally murdered by a jealous thug in the parking lot of a Maryland Mall after an argument about a young lady.
Great video and spot on. This was such a tragic death and all due to one night of bad decisions. I agree the 87 Celtics with Bias win that series as Bias would give Boston exactly what it needed = young legs, quickness, athleticism, even more defense and another terrific scorer. Depending on what happened during the course of the 87 season ( If McHale does not break his foot) and If Parish did not get a severe ankle sprain and IF Walton had not hurt his feet Boston may even had a chance at a ring in 88?? Len Bias could have given the Boston front line a lot of rest and that is a scary thought.
Bird & McHale might have played a few more years due to having less wear & tear on their bodies from fewer mins. I watched Bias play in HS & at Md. That guy improved each year in college while growing into a true physical specimen with a near perfect jump shot. I remember exactly where I was & what I was doing when I learned of his death. That was all the office could talk about. Few HS & undergrad college players are physically & mentally prepared for the rigors of the NBA.
I remember Len and I remember his game. He would prowl the backline- sideline to sideline. You had to guard him close because he had this little pet shot deep in the back corner that would have been a 3 later on , perfect for the NBA. He didn't really shoot much from the outside but he could nail it from there. Naturally if you followed him too close he would dart toward the basket , lose the defender and throw down an embarrassing dunk. That was his basic game. It allowed him great rebounding position too. He was explosive on the offensive glass. He also had a more active role where he would curl out from the baseline to a high elbow post. He could shoot it well enough from there but he normally put the ball down and drove to the basket. He would sometimes drive all the way through and finish with a nifty layup or a big dunk but usually he would pull up and leap into the stratosphere- just rediculously high in the air- and shoot the jumper. It's hard looking back on it to remember if the actual shot was good or not, all I remember is the air and waiting for him to land and join the rest of us back here on earth. It must have been pretty good, he scored a lot of points off it. Defensively he was quick and a great leaper. He would have been a great help defender in the NBA, coming off his man to block shots in the paint. He would have been sublime. He could fill the wing on a fast break when it happened. He didn't have great handles, but he could have worked on it and been effective in transition. He was a good defensive rebounder and a great finisher. I'm not sure who his best comp would be.. Dominique is the best physical match, maybe Rodman. It's harder to figure how his skillset would play out. I guess it would depend on his coach and system. Len didn't have a finished game, he was definitely still learning. It just makes the potential and the heartbreak even bigger. `
Another way to look at it is to take a look at the number 2 picks for the next 10 years after Bias. Every single one of them had good (and long) NBA careers. He would have helped keep Bird and Mchale healthy. In all likeliness the Pistons never pass the Celtics. And the Jordan/Bad Boys rivalry becomes the Jordan vs Bias rivalry. He's the greatest "what if?" in NBA history.
Yes we have heard alot of stories about Len Bias I know I have Len Bias was my first boyfriend I knew Len very well but I must say this was a very good story about his basketball career at Maryland hopefully people will learn something from this when u have a problem of any kind please get help rest in peace Len 🦋🦋🌷🌷🌷❤❤😘😘
Jordan was on another level mentally. There is no evidence that Bias was as competitive as Jordan. Bias didn't take his game seriously. The proof of that is he fooled around with drugs which is something Michael Jordan was exposed to early in his career however he chose to avoid them. Bias was promising but his reckless life off the court would have derailed his game eventually. His stay in the NBA would have been short. You can't do hard drugs and be a success at anything in life. Bias did himself a favour by dying before ever stepping foot on the professional basketball court. He saved himself from a lot of years of drug abuse and misery. He saved himself from being another player who retired from the game and ended up broke. No matter how you slice it Bias was heading for disaster. More money would have meant more problems for him. There was always going to be only one Michael Jordan.
Its funny how Jordan is the only player/superstar who didn't have a player rivalry it was always him vs teams The 90s shouldve been Jordan vs Bias Thabk god for 2k allowing us to try it
It was said, he could leap and pick quarters off the top of the backboard, he had that much elevation. But what always amazed me, as a player, his baseline jump shots. To me that is the toughest shot. No chance of the backboard helping you. Depth perception. Yet, he was just so fluid with it.
You said what I was thinking throughout the whole video at the very end. Very tragic story but if he was already doing cocaine in college, it’s hard to imagine he would have lasted long and had the type of NBA career like Wilkins, Johnson and especially not Jordan
I don't think Bird would've retired in 88. Yeah, he said he would in that interview, but I think he'd have had so much fun playing with Bias, getting him the ball and such, that he would've stuck around at least as long as he did in our timeline, maybe longer. Remember, Bird never got a chance to properly rehab his back injury, but with Bias around, he would've. Maybe he takes a year off after winning three, but I can see him coming back in 89 or 90 like Jordan did in 95, coming off the bench to try and win a few more.
I watched Bias play. Just missed getting on the court with him at a park in Temple Hills, MD. His game was smooth and powerful but his weakness was ballhandling. I think he would have needed a great guard to succeed at the highest level like Karl Malone or Kareem. Bias was not Magic or Bird. And of course the whole drugs scenario begs to question his mental fortitude. I love him though. He was the only player I idolized.
Bias being there in 87; big 3 play less minutes & perhaps McHale doesn’t get broken foot, or Parish doesn’t play on 2 sprained ankles. Bird says he’d have retired after 1988, but he was having Achilles pain then (costing 89) - maybe his decreased minutes that doesn’t happen & add Reggie Lewis - big 3 could have just been a compliment to Big 2
You also have to remember that when Jordan was a JR I’m college Bias was freshman but what they won’t tell you is that they both are the same age and born in the same year. Jordan been light years ahead in all aspects and years
For those who were around during that time, the leech of an associate named Brian Tribble was common around DC/MD/VA sports celebrities who connected the party scene. People should always remember that Len actually drank the cocaine in a glass of hard liquor. The autopsy report suggested that he never was a drug user previously.
The MJ comparison is silly. Jordan was held back by in college because he had to play in coach Dean Smith's rigid team oriented system. The joke was that the only man who could hold MJ to less than 30 ppg was Dean Smith.
If MJ watched Dr. J and learned a lot from him, Bias probably did the same with Wilkins. Very similar kind of player. Even down to Bias' jumpshot being high off the ground and a little awkward but still very effective.
Yoo!! I just heard the trade about len bias is from seattle to boston. Imagine if that trade didnt happen it could have Bias,GP and Kemp and if sonics didnt trade pippen damn!!! 🔥
I am same age as Bias, he was my favorite player to watch, after his passing I would never consider cocaine, hopefully he had that effect on others too.
Great analysis. I do believe that Len Bias stats could have been similar to Dominique's. Dominique Wilkins was a better scorer and Bias a better rebounder. He could have possibly averaged 23 points and 8-9 rebounds if he managed to play in the NBA.
Its because a large portion of the script from the first 3 minutes of the video came from another video of mine that I made 2 years ago (10 Greatest What Ifs). Once I'm done explaining the story leading up to his passing, its all new from there.
Len bias best small forward in college basketball and had it all. Jordan would not of won 6 rings if bias played. Jordan never talks about bias as it would dim Jordans accomplishment to mention that bias would have changed history.l
PS, bias made mistakes with drugs like a lot of people did in the 80's but besides how great he was he always sounded humble and that's what I also liked about him! Him and Jordan were both cut from making there high schools teams in the beginning and they worked to become great!
Jordan vs Len would have been crazy. Hell, Prime uninjured Penny vs Len would have been crazy. It would have been the most insane rivalry in nba history.
Len bias would have been an amazing addition to the celtics. And being young and fresh comma he would have given extra life to the celtics who would have continued strong and really challenged the early nineties bulls
Great analysis! I think what really made Bias a huge “what-if” is his incredibly rapid progression as a player. He was getting better every season in college and by the time he was drafted he was still a very raw talent.
The GOAT Jimmy
Oh hey jxmy
I didnt know you watched Johnny Jimmy, you should shout Johnny out
Jxmy! Thanks for the feedback, bro! Your recent Bias video was excellent
Another good one, I loved Lenny B growing up in Bmore watching the Terps play in the ACC. Len was a terror he was getting better each year and yes 👍 I also think he woulda been better than Nique. Heres a question I have for you one that I often ask. The next year they drafted another guy I saw play in high school at Dunbar and that is Reggie Lewis who averaged 17 ppg ik n his second year. We don't know what Lenny would havw been averaging. My conclusion is if both Lenny B and Reggie Lewis lived either Detroit, or Chicago would have been missing a ring . Detroit's second and perhaps Chicago's first ring may have never been, what do you think ?
The league would have gone from Magic vs Bird to Jordan vs Bias. Their rivalry would’ve been legendary. Also the Celtics wouldn’t have fallen off in the 90’s as well
Big facts
It would be like MJ vs LeBron in the 90s
Probably...and lets not forget about Reggie Lewis. Those two guys could've easily been built around and be that bridge to 90s championships. Reggie Lewis was a legit all star level player. Tragic.
Brian Pederson i actually hate the Celtics, but I have to be honest with the talent Bias had
Most of the comments that are saying Bias would have been a huge history changer had he lived to play in the NBA are not taking note of the fact the man had a serious drug problem. He hung out with guys who would have gotten him in trouble constantly. It was those guys who got him killed. You cannot make an educated assessment of what Bias would have been in the NBA without factoring in how his drug problem would have affected his game.
Once he started making NBA money he would have had access to more expensive drugs. He would have been experimenting with everything a person could snort, inject and smoke. A few years of this and his skills would have deteriorated. He would have likely been out of the NBA by 1990 and considered the biggest bust of all time.
The path Bias was on was not going to lead to him becoming the GOAT. His untimely death is all the proof you need.
In fairness to Larry Johnson, he was much better prior to his back problems. It's actually a testament to LJ that he was talented enough to change his game after his injuries and become a successful perimeter player.
Well said!
Those guys were all 3 significantly better rebounders than Bias in college. He shouldn't just cherry pick stats and ignore others.
It's been 34 years and Bias still remains maybe the saddest story in sports history. Len R.I.P...
I would rank Reggie Lewis up there with him too. Imagine Lewis and Bias together. That would have been a better 1-2 punch then jordan and pippen. Being that Lewis blocked Jordan's shot 5 times in one game both had it on both sides of the ball.
Not quite the saddest.. ex-players have murdered their pregnant wives or girlfriends.
Yeah a huge loss for his family, fans and himself.
lol and himself @@nzingabee79
Len would have shined in the association. His early years he would been mentored by Bird and McHale on how to win. He would have at least 2 or maybe 3 chips with them. Then in the 90's its Bias vs Jordan that's would've been fun to watch because Bias was special very special. 😓
such great points, you got a great insight on the NBA man, would love feedback like that on my channel, check it out if you can would love the support!
@Briscoe17555 highly doubtful, the moment that monster played his first scrimmage, the whole team including coaches would’ve known Bias was an Alpha Apex predator. Bird played Power Forward as well so it’s likely Bias would’ve started at Small Forward with Bird at the 4.
@Briscoe17555 Your reply made absolutely ZERO sense. If McHale is the 6th man of the year, it means he's already coming from the bench and if you knew anything about how Larry Bird was used you'd know he split time between PF and SF. Bias would've made him move to PF permanently. Also to note, McHale and Bird dealt with a ton of injuries in 1987 so Bias would've had plenty of playing time.
@Briscoe17555 you do realize teamates don't only interact within NBA games right?
@Briscoe17555 is that NBA players especially teamates doing only interact within games
I remember exactly where I was when I heard the unbelievable news Bias had passed away. I was absolutely devastated. He was destined for absolute greatness in the same vein as MJ
I remember where I was when Reggie Lewis died. I was at a basketball camp. The news broke around 6pm and so I went down to the courts to shoot around. Myself and one of the other better players were the first kids to shoot around that night. 4yrs later and ironically enough I was recruited to play at that kids high school. We ended up winning a state title during my sophomore year and his senior year. During my senior season we won another state title.
*Wow! Trip down memory lane*
Len Bias joining the Celtics in '86 was eerily similar to James Worthy joining the Lakers in '82. A championship team who, by virtue of great management, was able to secure an elite wing to add to an already stacked, potential dynasty team.
I always believed that the Celtics getting Bias was the balancing of the Lakers getting Worthy. The cruelest thing ever that we didn’t get to see it happen.
@@libertydrive4388 couldn't agree more with you. Len Bias plus Reggie Lewis was a double tragedy. If it goes the other way, the Celtics rule the late 80s/early 90s as far as an elite Eastern conference contender. And I'm saying this as a Knicks fan. We lost in the 1st round to the '88 Celtics which was a championship level team...imagine Len Bias and Reggie Lewis on that team.
I agree.
I often thought that Bias would be that type of player that Worthy was for the Lakers. And James was a special player but I think he'd agree that Bias was destined to be special like he was.
Len Bias came in at the beginning of the end of the Celtics run in 80s. Bird's injuries started in '87 as did Mchales in part due to their string of deep playoff runs since '81. The Celtics were wearing down even if they were still dangerous. So Bias would have added elite level talent and youth to a squad that needed both to continue their dominance. Boston played team basketball and could really pass the basketball so you know Bias would have gotten easier shots and would have learned how to pass much better himself even if that meant just finding the open man. I believe the Celtics would have continued their run for at least another 5 years.
Bias could've helped Bird, like Magic helped kareem, you got great insight and input on the NBA boss, would love your support and feedback on our channel!
coffeeinthemorning I think that the bulls would’ve never gone to the finals 6 times and Michael probably wouldn’t have retired because of Len.
Brian Lin so crazy what couldve happened
Instant impact to Celtics...Lakers would have had problems...I saw Len Bias up close playing pickup ball when I attended College Park. He style was similar to Shawn Kemp and Dominique Wilkins but could shoot the mid-range shots. He may have grown an additional inch or two.
And then the rest of the league doubtlessly would respond, stockpiling talent to compete - but only the Lakers would succeed. Jerry West was the only GM that could give Auerbach and his successor a run for their money. Pistons, Bulls would win just one title each, MJ probably demands a trade, ends up, I say with Knicks and wins one more.
Len Bias is one of the greatest what-if stories alongside with Ben Wilson and Hank Gathers.
Would have been very good, but he could not handle the ball. He could run the floor and had a great jumper and power. He would been more like a smaller version of Karl Malone or a James Worthy type player. as a lifelong ACC fan and a player who watched Lynn buys play in the ACC I can surely tell you that my assessment is fairly correct For those who are saying what would have been maybe maybe not you never know A lot of people said but other people could have been and then they didn't achieve so it's just speculation. And here we are 37 years after the fact still trying to decide how good the Boston Celtics would have been with him fact is it didn't happen so there's no assessment other than he was one of the greatest college players.
B
Yep, I was 16 when he was drafted and IMHO, would have been better than both Wilson & Gathers. He averaged over 36pts, 10 reb, and shot almost 55% from the field and 85% from the FT line as senior. If I'm not mistaken, he led NCAA men's basketball in all those categories! Players in the ACC just don't have those type of numbers. Those are numbers that the greatest NBA players of all-time have.
P.S. He wasn't a great play maker, but would have developed that playing with the Celtics. Such a sad story and missed out on a all-time great IMO!
P.S. The numbers I listed were his NCAA tournament numbers, which led the nation, not his regular season numbers.
@@anthonyzarate9807 Yeah. What a tragedy!
I know hank gathers, but who is ben Wilson
This is probably the best video I've seen on Len Bias. All facts here. Him getting drafted to the Celtics after they won championship was like Bulls drafting Iverson after 96 season, or Lakers drafting Blake Griffin or Steph Curry after 2009 season.
Correction: Bulls drafting Kobe in the 96 season where Jordan instead of Bird passes the torch.
@@AX5Terminator spot on
Facts
@@AX5Terminator i said Iverson only because he was best player coming out. Kobe was best later on. Also 12 teams wouldn't have passed up on Kobe if they knew how good he would be. Or Hornets wouldn't have traded him just for Vlade. Just like Rodman was best player from 1986 draft but no one knew that at the time.
@NBA Spotlite true but they didn't win championship year before. They did make it to eastern conference finals. That's only reason I mentioned other teams.
Would Bias have been one of the greatest ever?
Yes
Most likely
As a Celtics fan I think he would have been a Lebron type player
I think if he stayed healthy his whole career he would be an average player at worst, if he can go head to head with MJ in college I doubt he'd be a bust
Yes for sure
People also forget how great Reggie Lewis was. He gave Jordan more trouble than any 2-guard in the league. With a healthy Bias and Lewis and healthier McHale and Bird (playing fewer minutes) they win some championships instead of the Pistons and Bulls.
I totally agree. I just made the point about Lewis on another video. The luck of the Irish ran out for the C's with those 2
I'd have to agree the Lewis bias 1-2 would have been better than the pippen Jordan 1-2
@@marknorton8803 They were great, but I think it's silly to think that either could have had a career like Jordan, no one really could ever expect that even with extreme talent. Even in college Jordan was better than Bias by a little bit, he won the player of the year and Bias never did, and Jordan was no where near the player in college that he was in the NBA, not even remotely close. There were several players that had better college careers than Jordan, but it didn't matter as Jordan destroyed them in the NBA. Jordan improved so much between college and the NBA, it was almost hard to believe, and even in the NBA itself. It really showed you how hard MJ worked at his game. If Bias and Lewis played on the same team they could have potentially given the bulls or really any team difficulty. I wouldn't doubt that Bias could MAYBE have been as good as Pippen for his career, but even that would have been quite difficult I think even given his talent, it's just very very difficult to have a career like Scotties, thing have to go really well for you. Scottie was a beast as well. I think if Bias became say a top 20 or top 30 player of all that then that would been a very successful career for him realistically, and it would been tough. Bias was EXTREMELY talented though, and his passing away from drugs was a tragedy without a doubt.
@billj4525 I really think Scottie was over rated let's say he went to the nuggets I don't think he would be considered top 100. It's bc he was on the team with Jordan that made his stock rise. There's better defensive player than scottie like, Smart, Gary payton, meta, Bradley Pippen was the second option bc really there wasn't another option after him on the offensive side. Most team were defending Jordan making scotties scoring easier, don't mistake me for say easy it was just easier then it would be with him. Scottie was a top notch role player at best
@billj4525 also UNC had a better team and coach. Worthy,perkins, Jordan, Kenny Smith Brad Daugherty. Maryland was all bias.
Lowkey believe the nba would be better if guys came in at 21 or 22.
Well, of course it would be better, teams wouldn't waste roster spots on projects.
I can't like your post enough. Players develop and get stronger, that helps the college game. You get more ready made NBA players and that makes it much easier for bad teams to rebuild. It's a win-win for college and the NBA.
Ikr
1000000 percent agree players can still develop at 21-23
agreed
Bird was so confident in Bias, that he was going to give him the keys and leave the Celtics in 88
Lenny dropped 41 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists on Duke. Dude was a Jordan level stud.
College careers:
Jordan [3 years] = 17.7 ppg (.540 fg%), 5.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.7 bpg, 30.8 mpg
Bias [4 years] = 16.4 ppg (.536 fg%), 5.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.7 bpg, 32.8 mpg
North Carolina Tar Heels vs Maryland Terrapins on January 12, 1984:
Bias = 24 pts, 4 rebs
Jordan = 21 pts, 12 rebs (7 off), 2 blks, at least 4 stls
Highlights of the game was uploaded by starks23 (stats provided in the description), which ended with Jordan's iconic cradle dunk at the buzzer. Both men played each other four times overall. The first two in '83, Bias wasn't a starter yet. The last one was on February 19th the next year where Jordan scored 25 and Bias had 18.
jp3813 same stats
@@HeenaPatel253 For blocks, yes. Jordan takes scoring, fg%, assists, and steals; while Bias takes the rebounding category.
@@shiranuiaensland1442 Hard to guess about the FG%. SFs and PFs tend to have higher percentages than shooting guards while Jordan shot far above the norm for his position. Arguably the best in history at the 2 but finished at .497 (.505 with the Bulls). It's not at all unusual for a 3 to shoot at those percentages and Bias shot .536 in college (vs .540 for Jordan). Would have been close with a decent chance Bias would have edged him out.
@@madcapper6 We were strictly referring to their college stats. And yeah, it is a big plus for a guard to have been more efficient from the field than a forward. The best at the 2 in history is not really arguable at this point.
@Party God
The only iconic thing that Bias ever did was die of an overdose. That's what most people know him for. The legacy of the weak-willed.
How Good Would Len Bias Have Been? Answer: Everybody would have been calling high school Lebron as the next Len Bias.
man would've changed the game
Nah, their games are nothing alike...just the body type. LeBron is a souped up Magic and Bias is closer to Dominique/Antonio McDyess type player.
@@Israel-nb7ip Bias can shoot the ball
@@damienkirksey7026 but he couldn't handle or pass like LeBron.
@@Israel-nb7ip jimmy butler
As a Freshman in college, you could see that he was going to be great.
His life was cut short and would not be able to see how great he would have been.
I feel so sorry for his family and friends, imagine a talented loved one dying, especially if it was unexpected
His friends should have been looking out for him
Wowz facts
And take into account that his brother also died a few years later.
sad sad thing
@@PhillipCummingsUSA True. But Bias made his own decision. Very sad.
This was a brilliant and outstanding piece of work. I have been uttering these exact points about Len for 35 years. Len Bias and Hank Gathers were very special players.
I feel like if he made it to the nba he would have a good 16 year career with like 3 mvps 14 time all star 4 time champ and career averages of 26.6 points 8 reb 2 assists 1.5 blocks and 0.4 steals , truly a tragedy his career ended before it started rip Len
As a Celtics fan I think he would’ve been top 10 greatest of all time. No doubt. My dad was so heart broken he died
man had so much potential, RIP
Top 10? I always said top 20 or even to 30 would have been a huge success for Bias. Top 10 all time is just really really hard even with extreme talent. I know he was insanely talented, so I know it's possible. Would have been interesting to see. Sad he passed away for sure, would have been great to see him play.
If he didn’t pass away, Bird would have more than 3 rings
Probably 4
crazy to think about, we got great videos like this t0o man let us know what u think
he had a drug problem,,so i doubt it
italian water ice Doing tainted drugs while celebrating the biggest achievement of your life is hardly a drug problem I guarantee you, a lot of people you think of as heroes do a decent amount of recreational drugs, he got unlucky it happens, it’s sad, but it’s not the guys fault.
Joe Baer well said
I’m 49 years old and still think Len Bias was the greatest college basketball player I’ve ever seen.
Len Bias going to the Celtics would have extended Larry’s career.
The Celtics would have RULED the 90’s (or at least been the rivalry the Bulls needed) if Reggie Lewis would have lived as well.
Not even close
He was a good player, but there were definitely better college players. A lot in fact.
Josh, I love that you do profiles on players that were good to great and have been forgotten by many fans. Here is my list:
Buck Williams, Shawn Kemp, Michael Ray Richardson, Arvydas Sabonis, World B Free, Chris Webber, Chris Jackson aka Mamoud Abdul-Rauf, Chris Mullin.
Shawn Kemp and Chris Webber are my two favorites from the list, I also love the lost Earl "The Goat" Manigault, man could've been great, we got similar videos boss if you don't mind checking us out and letting us even know what you think and wanna see next.
How about Lloyd Daniels? I guess he falls more into the 'what if' category like Bias. Thought by some to have Jordan-like upside, it's hard not to wonder what he could have been without all the bad stuff.
@@inthepaint2907 I always felt Kemp never reached his true potential. He was starting to get close in '96 until his career started going downhill because of his personal issues but even in '96 he still had upside. I think he was only 25 that year and a player's best seasons usually fall around age 25-30.
"My favorite college basketball player of ALL TIMES!"
Hands down
VERY good comparison to Dominque WITH also a defensive mindset.
Cocaine could have derailed his star😢
The guy was special
facts the man had so much to show, check out us too boss, you may like it we got similar videos, let us even know what you wanna see next
It’s impossible to say how Len Bias would have faired in the NBA. But at the very least he would have kept the Celtics relevant throughout the 90’s
Man could've changed NBA history forever along with MJ's legacy
Fax, they wouldn't have to wait 8 years for Paul Pierce, and wait 9 years to win.
It hurts after all these years to remember how excited I was to watch Len Bias--and then even more excitement for the NBA draft as a Celtics fan--and then the total heartbreak when the news hit the air.... :(
Don't forget the lost reggie lewis in his prime in 1993 at the age of 27 and he was 6-7 long arms and a outstanding two way player and all-star reggie lewis Len bias they would have. gave..the bulls some problems in the 90es
Reggie was a fine player who could score and defend it was a tragedy what happened to him. Celts went through some tough times when they lost these two fine thoroughbreds. Tremendous athletic dynamic individuals who were versatile as hell. I don't think I've ever gotten over what might have been.
The NBA would be so different
Yeah. Butterfly Effect.
Ikr
Love this Johnny, great what if story. Maybe Bird would have won 1 or 2 more and Magic won 1 or 2 less? Idea; you mentioned at the end of the video cocaine affecting NBA player's careers, if you haven't yet, you should do a deep dive on Michael Ray Richardson. Best basketball channel on TH-cam.
Maybe we'll do it :), love your insight on the NBA boss, would love your input and feedback on our channel, we'd greatly appreciate for you to even check it out, we're currently working on another star lost to overdose Earl "The Goat" Manigault.
Great TH-cam on Len, he was my favorite Basketball player of all time, also I grew up in Landover,Md like Len. I agree he would have been a very special player in the NBA because of his physique and basketball skills. His leaping ability was out of this world with his alley oops from Kieth Gatlin. I think if focus he would have been better than Jordan, because he was a bigger version of Jordan and had a better mid range shoot , before Jordan developed his in the mid 90’s. He was definitely a all time great and I still to this day haven’t seen someone play like him!!!!!
Dominique with superior defense is an excellent description. Was 17 when that happened and celts were my favorite team.
One issue with this.. Bird was planning to retire when Len Bias stepped in as his replacement. He only stayed because of Bias' death. So You have to take into account it would have been a Birdless team with a rookie Len Bias playing with an experienced used-to-each-other Boston team.
I've been watching NBA youtube for a long-time now and I have to say you are one of the best I have seen up to this point. No BS just straight into the video into the basketball stats and information. Keep up the great work Jonny👍💪
great take on what could've been
such a sad death- i remember coming home from school that day & watching the Breaking News on TV - shed some tears
Bias and Reggie Lewis were suppose 2 hold the Celtics down during the 90’s. That was going 2 b r duo. R.I.P 2 both of them 👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿
Answer: He would have been an absolute BEAST in the NBA
Facts, check out our channel boss, we got similar content
Great video. I would even add he had a similar game to James Worthy. The Celtics would have won in 1987 with Bias providing solid defense and efficient scoring coming off the bench. Its the bench that killed the Celtics teams in 1987 and 1988.
No doubt, Walton and Wedman were done. Starters playing heavy minutes and hurt. If Bias lived, he would have solidified their bench. The terrible Ainge trade doesn't happen.
Bias would have had the versatility to defend 2-4 in the NBA which at the time was very rare
My high school coach in 1997 & 98, told me he felt Bias would've been better than Michael Jordan possibly
This video was really needed thanks!
awesome video, we got similar stuff if you wanna take a look and even tell us what video you want to see, would love the support man!
could've been one of the GOATs
This analysis is top notch. I love your insight
Jonny...
Thank you, thank you , thank you for doing a video on the Greatest Player never to play in the NBA.
I’m a Lakers Fan like yourself. I know very well had Len Bias not passed away, it would have been the Celtics and not the Lakers with 5 Rings in the 80’s.
In the near future, please make a video for Hank Gathers as well. The LMU Lion would have made a large impact once in the NBA had it not been for his Heart issue.
Would've been one of the all time greats
for sureee
Bird would have more chips, especially head to head, than Magic if Bias had been able to play. I think they would have beat the Lakers in the finals in the 87-88 finals, a series that should have went 7 games even without Bias
I remember at the Adidas Junior phenom camp the director telling the story of Len bias , so tragic how one moment can change everything
One of the 'what ifs' involving Bias would have been the fate of the Celtics in the '90s. They were long past their peak years of the mid '80s and when the Bulls' championship window opened up in '91, Dennis Johnson was gone while Bird and McHale were approaching the end of their careers and Parish was getting a bit long in the tooth too. They'd have needed a lot more than just Bias to hang with the Bulls into the '90s, even if Bias had become a Jordan-level talent. And given the fact that few (if any) had reached Jordan's level in the 75-year history of the NBA, while possible, it's a stretch to think it would have been likely. Even Jordan himself wasn't expected to reach Jordan's level as he vastly exceeded the level he played at in college. MJ may have been expected to be an elite player but to be as good as he was, becoming a strong GOAT candidate? Those expectations are pretty unrealistic to put on any player.
I kinda like your comparison to Dominique. Dominique with defense ain't a bad place to be at all. And now that I think of it, Dominique with defense is getting very close to Jordan territory. The only thing left to close the gap would be consistency and longevity, the ability to maintain that level year in and year out.
Bias & Lewis Celtics vs. Jordan & Pippen Bulls. What could have been.
Tyler Riley chill out
Bias would probably shut down pippen
Tyler Riley on what basis?
CPGoat #3 🙄
Glenn Robinson? Bernard King? Vince Carter? Those 3 come to mind as similars.
Gret video! Bias would have definitely been the bridge between the Bird era and the 90's Celtics!
Great video brother 🤜
Len bias would of been a guy with these stats in he's prime seasons for sure...27ppg, 8rpg, 4ast, 2stls and about 1-2 blocks per game on 50% shooting
I agree with everything. Awesome video. I don't think drugs would've been an issue for him on that vet led team. I think they would've gotten rid of that crap. I'm also gunna guess that playing with Bias would've been more fun than Bird is anticipating. I think he prob stays a year or 2 longer than he said. With that, I believe not only would they have won in '87, but more than likely also the next 2 years at least. Bias could've extended the older players careers by a year or 2, and saved them minutes in the reg season to be better in the playoffs.
In a word, he would have been spectacular, he could jump outta the gym, he could shoot the jumper with uncanny efficiency, he would have been as good or better than MJ . He and his family lived about 5 minutes from my sister and her husband and son. Good dude met him at Garfinkle's which was an upscale Washington DC department store he was talking to a "10" she was stunning. Side note; his mom went on a crusade going around to high schools trying to educate kids about the dangers of COCAINE and other drugs, She suffered another crushing blow when Len's younger brother Jay was brutally murdered by a jealous thug in the parking lot of a Maryland Mall after an argument about a young lady.
excellent analysis on one of my all time favs!!!
Great video and spot on. This was such a tragic death and all due to one night of bad decisions. I agree the 87 Celtics with Bias win that series as Bias would give Boston exactly what it needed = young legs, quickness, athleticism, even more defense and another terrific scorer. Depending on what happened during the course of the 87 season ( If McHale does not break his foot) and If Parish did not get a severe ankle sprain and IF Walton had not hurt his feet Boston may even had a chance at a ring in 88?? Len Bias could have given the Boston front line a lot of rest and that is a scary thought.
He definitely would have been the standard at forward. I think he had more athletic ability than LeBron.
a shame to see that man go, check us out too man we got great videos also! would love the support!
It was really close athletic ability..
Bird & McHale might have played a few more years due to having less wear & tear on their bodies from fewer mins. I watched Bias play in HS & at Md. That guy improved each year in college while growing into a true physical specimen with a near perfect jump shot. I remember exactly where I was & what I was doing when I learned of his death. That was all the office could talk about. Few HS & undergrad college players are physically & mentally prepared for the rigors of the NBA.
I remember Len and I remember his game.
He would prowl the backline- sideline to sideline. You had to guard him close because he had this little pet shot deep in the back corner that would have been a 3 later on , perfect for the NBA. He didn't really shoot much from the outside but he could nail it from there. Naturally if you followed him too close he would dart toward the basket , lose the defender and throw down an embarrassing dunk. That was his basic game. It allowed him great rebounding position too. He was explosive on the offensive glass.
He also had a more active role where he would curl out from the baseline to a high elbow post. He could shoot it well enough from there but he normally put the ball down and drove to the basket. He would sometimes drive all the way through and finish with a nifty layup or a big dunk but usually he would pull up and leap into the stratosphere- just rediculously high in the air- and shoot the jumper. It's hard looking back on it to remember if the actual shot was good or not, all I remember is the air and waiting for him to land and join the rest of us back here on earth. It must have been pretty good, he scored a lot of points off it.
Defensively he was quick and a great leaper. He would have been a great help defender in the NBA, coming off his man to block shots in the paint. He would have been sublime. He could fill the wing on a fast break when it happened. He didn't have great handles, but he could have worked on it and been effective in transition. He was a good defensive rebounder and a great finisher.
I'm not sure who his best comp would be.. Dominique is the best physical match, maybe Rodman.
It's harder to figure how his skillset would play out. I guess it would depend on his coach and system. Len didn't have a finished game, he was definitely still learning. It just makes the potential and the heartbreak even bigger.
`
This almost brought me to tears
Another way to look at it is to take a look at the number 2 picks for the next 10 years after Bias. Every single one of them had good (and long) NBA careers. He would have helped keep Bird and Mchale healthy. In all likeliness the Pistons never pass the Celtics. And the Jordan/Bad Boys rivalry becomes the Jordan vs Bias rivalry. He's the greatest "what if?" in NBA history.
Yes we have heard alot of stories about Len Bias I know I have Len Bias was my first boyfriend I knew Len very well but I must say this was a very good story about his basketball career at Maryland hopefully people will learn something from this when u have a problem of any kind please get help rest in peace Len 🦋🦋🌷🌷🌷❤❤😘😘
what yr?
Jordan was on another level mentally. There is no evidence that Bias was as competitive as Jordan. Bias didn't take his game seriously. The proof of that is he fooled around with drugs which is something Michael Jordan was exposed to early in his career however he chose to avoid them. Bias was promising but his reckless life off the court would have derailed his game eventually. His stay in the NBA would have been short. You can't do hard drugs and be a success at anything in life. Bias did himself a favour by dying before ever stepping foot on the professional basketball court. He saved himself from a lot of years of drug abuse and misery. He saved himself from being another player who retired from the game and ended up broke.
No matter how you slice it Bias was heading for disaster. More money would have meant more problems for him. There was always going to be only one Michael Jordan.
this man was a monster
Len would been 10× all star, 7 x first defensive time,4 x Nba Myp,and 5x champion
🏀🏆💯🔥👍🌟🥇
Its funny how Jordan is the only player/superstar who didn't have a player rivalry it was always him vs teams
The 90s shouldve been Jordan vs Bias
Thabk god for 2k allowing us to try it
It was said, he could leap and pick quarters off the top of the backboard, he had that much elevation.
But what always amazed me, as a player, his baseline jump shots. To me that is the toughest shot. No chance of the backboard helping you. Depth perception. Yet, he was just so fluid with it.
he was suppose to be Jordan true rival like LBJ v. Curry/KD, Kobe v. LBJ, Shaq v. TD, Bird v. Magic, KAJ vs. Doc, and Russell v. Chamberlain
This man was basically Lebron without the passing before there was a Lebron
A million dollar athlete with a 2 cent head. Boston lost a draft pick, but would have lost more when he crapped out.
Do a How good was Arvydas Sabonis Is
You said what I was thinking throughout the whole video at the very end. Very tragic story but if he was already doing cocaine in college, it’s hard to imagine he would have lasted long and had the type of NBA career like Wilkins, Johnson and especially not Jordan
Jonny, I've a got a suggestion for you, an 1960's-70's player. How good was Jerry Lucas, really.
I don't think Bird would've retired in 88. Yeah, he said he would in that interview, but I think he'd have had so much fun playing with Bias, getting him the ball and such, that he would've stuck around at least as long as he did in our timeline, maybe longer. Remember, Bird never got a chance to properly rehab his back injury, but with Bias around, he would've. Maybe he takes a year off after winning three, but I can see him coming back in 89 or 90 like Jordan did in 95, coming off the bench to try and win a few more.
Can we get a Tim Hardaway video next 🔥
maybe we'll do it... check us out too man would appreciate the support!
I watched Bias play. Just missed getting on the court with him at a park in Temple Hills, MD. His game was smooth and powerful but his weakness was ballhandling. I think he would have needed a great guard to succeed at the highest level like Karl Malone or Kareem. Bias was not Magic or Bird. And of course the whole drugs scenario begs to question his mental fortitude. I love him though. He was the only player I idolized.
Very educated analysis. Just presented possibilities
Bias being there in 87; big 3 play less minutes & perhaps McHale doesn’t get broken foot, or Parish doesn’t play on 2 sprained ankles. Bird says he’d have retired after 1988, but he was having Achilles pain then (costing 89) - maybe his decreased minutes that doesn’t happen & add Reggie Lewis - big 3 could have just been a compliment to Big 2
You also have to remember that when Jordan was a JR I’m college Bias was freshman but what they won’t tell you is that they both are the same age and born in the same year. Jordan been light years ahead in all aspects and years
If Len bias and Reggie Lewis would have never died Jordan would have never won a ring js I’m just saying cuz Celtics would have had a stacked up team
For those who were around during that time, the leech of an associate named Brian Tribble was common around DC/MD/VA sports celebrities who connected the party scene. People should always remember that Len actually drank the cocaine in a glass of hard liquor. The autopsy report suggested that he never was a drug user previously.
your educated guesswork is better than TV analysts 20 years older than you
Can you make a how good was he on Dwade
maybe we'll do it man, we got similar videos if wanna check us out, would love the support!!
Great job again on this video. Can you do a Ben Wilson video next?
The MJ comparison is silly. Jordan was held back by in college because he had to play in coach Dean Smith's rigid team oriented system. The joke was that the only man who could hold MJ to less than 30 ppg was Dean Smith.
If MJ watched Dr. J and learned a lot from him, Bias probably did the same with Wilkins. Very similar kind of player. Even down to Bias' jumpshot being high off the ground and a little awkward but still very effective.
Yoo!! I just heard the trade about len bias is from seattle to boston. Imagine if that trade didnt happen it could have Bias,GP and Kemp and if sonics didnt trade pippen damn!!! 🔥
I am same age as Bias, he was my favorite player to watch, after his passing I would never consider cocaine, hopefully he had that effect on others too.
Great analysis. I do believe that Len Bias stats could have been similar to Dominique's. Dominique Wilkins was a better scorer and Bias a better rebounder. He could have possibly averaged 23 points and 8-9 rebounds if he managed to play in the NBA.
Why do i feel that I already saw this content before?
Its because a large portion of the script from the first 3 minutes of the video came from another video of mine that I made 2 years ago (10 Greatest What Ifs). Once I'm done explaining the story leading up to his passing, its all new from there.
@@jonnyarnett right, I thought I was trippin. Love your contents tho.
every point was spot on
Very well done!
Len bias best small forward in college basketball and had it all. Jordan would not of won 6 rings if bias played. Jordan never talks about bias as it would dim Jordans accomplishment to mention that bias would have changed history.l
Crazy how this showed me how underrated a Larry Johnson what if would’ve been instead
I really like the logical breakdown.
PS, bias made mistakes with drugs like a lot of people did in the 80's but besides how great he was he always sounded humble and that's what I also liked about him! Him and Jordan were both cut from making there high schools teams in the beginning and they worked to become great!
Since he was so dominant in scoring, he could have been named "The one sided".. Len "The one sided" Bias
frrrrr
Jordan vs Len would have been crazy. Hell, Prime uninjured Penny vs Len would have been crazy. It would have been the most insane rivalry in nba history.
Len bias would have been an amazing addition to the celtics. And being young and fresh comma he would have given extra life to the celtics who would have continued strong and really challenged the early nineties bulls