Vintage Hoops

🏀 ON THIS DAY — AUGUST 29, 2020

On August 29, 2020, former NBA All-Star Clifford Robinson passed away at the age of 53.

Affectionately known as “Uncle Cliffy,” Robinson carved out an incredible 18-year NBA career, playing in 1,380 games from 1989 to 2007.

Robinson was a key piece of those powerhouse Portland Trail Blazers teams of the early 1990s before developing into an All-Star with the franchise.

Who remembers this game? When Philly found their guy 😎👌

🏀 GM EDITION 🏀

Your roster is almost complete, but you still need a starting small forward.

Only TWO players remain:

☘️ Paul Pierce
🗽 Carmelo Anthony

Both in their primes.

You only get ONE.

Who are you taking to fill the SF spot — Pierce or Melo? 👀

Is he HOF worthy?

Remember —“Everybody can make that shot. That's a lucky shot, that's all. You don't need to have skill in that kind of situation. Just throw it and if it goes in it goes in”

Nick Anderson deserves to be remembered for more than one painful moment.

Mike Mitchell | San Antonio’s forgotten scoring machine

The Iceman was impressive but so was Mike Mitchell.

He averaged 20+ ppg for multiple seasons along side George Gervin.

“WHAT IF HEADS HAD WON?”

Chicago wins the 1979 coin flip.
Magic Johnson becomes a Bull.

Magic + Reggie Theus + Artis Gilmore.
Orlando Woolridge potentially joins them in 1981.

Showtime never exists as we know it.

And five years later… Michael Jordan almost certainly isn’t drafted by Chicago.

One coin flip potentially changes two NBA dynasties and the careers of the two most iconic players of their respective decades.

In 1979, a 43-year-old Wilt Chamberlain seriously considered coming out of retirement to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland’s first-year GM, Ron Hrovat, was tasked with hand-delivering contract paperwork to Wilt’s home in Bel Air.

There was just one problem — Wilt wasn’t home.

Hrovat reportedly tucked the paperwork into the gate of Wilt’s estate and left. By the time Wilt returned home, the wind had scattered pages of the contract across his lawn.

Wilt was furious.

He called Cavaliers coach Stan Albeck and reportedly told him:

“Forget it, Little Man… I can’t play for a team that handles its businessz like that.”

And just like that, the negotiations were over.

Albeck later said Wilt had been “this close” to making an NBA comeback.

At 43 years old. Six years after his final NBA game.

Remember when Bonzi Wells turned into a SUPERSTAR for six playoff games? 😂🔥

Wells averaged 23.2 PPG and 12.0 RPG against San Antonio in the 2006 playoffs while shooting over 60% from the field. Sacramento still lost the series in six.

Orlando Woolridge 🏀

Could you imagine Orlando’s highlights if he played in an era with social media? 😳