photo: sculu.com
The Dunk! The Ram! The Slam! The Bong! Whatever you want to call it, it’s an art form, birthed on the playground, that has revolutionized the way the game is played. And few players excelled at it with the stealth and sizzle of Isaiah “JR” Rider.
A product of the Oakland, California projects, JR was raised, along with a sister and two brothers by his mother Donna. His refuge from the mayhem around him, which included his mom’s tumultuous relationship with his father, Isaiah Rider Sr., was the asphalt courts and athletic fields. JR became a playground phenom as well as an excellent football and baseball prospect at Encinal High School.
However, due to poor grades, his hoops skills could not be displayed during his senior year, at least on the prep scene.
“I was lazy,” Rider told Sport’s Illustrated’s Phil Taylor in 1997. “That’s the one rap against me that was deserved, that I didn’t take school seriously.”
He never graduated from Encinal, eventually earning his GED at Allen County Community College in Kansas.
After separate stints at two junior colleges, he landed at UNLV, where his personality seemed perfectly suited for the Runnin’ Rebel reputation. Aside from his off-court missteps, the young man was a beast on the court during his two years in Vegas. A second team All-American as a senior in ‘93, Rider was selected with the fifth pick in the ‘93 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But, as an indicator of how his career would eventually crumble, he was hours late for his first practice. His talent was never in question, exemplified by his three consecutive 30-point outburts during December of his rookie season. His “East Bay Funk Dunk” stole the show that year in the dunk contest and JR finished on the league’s All-Rookie team.
But despite the brilliant episodes that he displyed on the court, his career was defined by trouble with the law, clashes with coaches, insubordination and a penchant for lateness and unexcused absences. His own personal demons derailed the great accomplishments that he was capable of, given his remarkable talent. He did earn a ring, in a reverve role with the Lakers in 2001. But even then, he was left off the playoff roster.
photo: rankopedia.com
It’s a shame that today, outside of his familiarity with the criminal justice system, he’s really only known for his ability to make eyes pop out with his dunks. He could’ve been one of the game’s greats. But like many others – would’ve, could’ve and should’ve plus $5.00 will only get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
His last NBA game was in 2002, when Rider played 10 games for the Denver Nuggets at the age of 30. JR recently signed to play with the North Texas Fresh in the ABA and today, at the age of 37, claims to have learned his lesson. It’s a shame that never happened when he had the world at his feet.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
illest says:
an absolute crying shame. disgraceful.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
ali says:
the cat could do so many things, he had the explosiveness, the jimmy, a freight train in the open court, could battle for boards and was just real fun to watch when he was in his groove.
he could have been an unstoppable force. but some dudes just don’t get it, there’s an entirely different aspect called professionalism and a standard that must be met. it’s not a lot for an employer to expect you to do something so simple as be to work on time. money really threw everything away over some bull-dookey.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
ali says:
yo illest,
off topic, but are you ready to come over to my side on the chris paul argument? i assert again, even though he’s just getting started, he’a already in that penthouse category of all-time pg’s. he gave kidd, terry and barea the bizness last night, 39 joints, 7 assists and 5 boards. he’s the closest thing we’ve had to tiny since zeke.
and it’s only a matter of time for rudy gay to hit some greener pastures. he put it in last night. speaking of putting it in, ben gordon is going to that next level and him, stucky and will bynum, though a smallish backcourt, are very dangerous.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Sho-Nuff says:
Funny how Kobe and J-Rich bit his dunk and acted like no one saw it before….Yeah J-Rich put a little something extra on it, but if I’m not mistaken Kobe did the exact same dunk.
JR Rider had a problem leaving the streets. While I enjoy bootleg stuff, you can’t get caught with chipped up Motorolas and think it’s OK. Dude was a little off….
November 5th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
ali says:
no doubt sho-nuff. gotta leave them streets alone, they ain’t going nowhere. JR is the NBA poster boy for “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong.”
November 6th, 2009 at 9:39 am
illest says:
sho-nuff….actually larry nance did that between the legs in 84 in the first nba dunk contest (not those halftime dunk contest in the 70s). it wasnt as smooth since nance is 6′11′ but he still did it.
ali….ummmm the chris paul scenario. im not surprised thae he gave those cats the business. he gives all cats the b.i. if you want to put him there you can. i cant do that yet. james seems to be put in the best ever class already too, even though all hes done is put up numbers. the problem is tiny and zeke have rings. pauls numbers are already there. that chip just validates you.
that keeping it real is phony. isaiah was already real being in the NBA. these guys think its cool to hang out all night and have to be seen. these guys live the dreams as pro athletes that we all have had at one point and are already cool.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:52 am
ali says:
so illest,
following that reasoning, stockton, malone, ewing, barkley, clyde “the Glide, pistol pete, elgin baylor aka “the original skywalker”, the human highlight film, bernard king, reggie “don’t call me cheryl” miller and allen iverson, among others are not among the best ever? in the words of my homie mike tyson, “that’s ludicrith!”
it ain’t the destination, it’s what you do on the journey. the ring does not validate you, it’s the icing on the cake. elgin baylor and the rest of ‘em need no validation.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am
illest says:
ali….drexler has a ring. those guys you mentioned are among the best ever no doubt. but i will not put any of those guys with magic, bird, jordan, russell, and jabbar. i cant. but as ive stated the chips separates those guys. i agree those guys you mentioned careers are validated as hofamers and great players. but there is no way im putting a malone or a ewing or a barkley with a bird or a jordan. give me the icing and the cake…you can have the cake.
can paul play a few more years though, ali? im not saying he wont get there but hes only played a few years. and you say hes the closest thing to tiny since zeke. what makes nate better than isiah?
November 6th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
ali says:
some mental flatulation on drexler illest, my bad. you can’t put the great elgin baylor w/ those guys? you’re buggin’!
i’m not saying nate was better than zeke. they occupy the same rareified air, as does chris paul, youth notwithstanding.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Sho-Nuff says:
illest, I’ll believe you on that. I don’t remember that one as well as TV gave us spotty coverage of that back in the day.
ali, JR also had that little smokey boy problem. Dude LIVED across the street from the practice facility in ATL and was STILL late for practice and shootarounds, etc. Can be any more clear than that.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
ali says:
JR was never on time. the joke was that he’d probably be late to his own funeral. don’t know if it was too much icky sticky or just extreme narcissism, on some “practice starts when i get there!” type stuff. But when he ran out of chances, he was walking around w/ a joystick sticking out of butt cause he definitely played himself.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
illest says:
ali…i can put elgin there indeed. thats why i didnt mention his name there. he definitely was the og of it all.
i wish iverson would grow up one day. why cant he just teach mayo and gay and conley how to be a pro and stop trying to relieve his past? a shame. he could learn from iceman who came off the bench with the bulls and taught mike some things. and ice still averaged 16 off the bench. could you imagine and a.i. on the celts or spurs putting in 15 a game off the bench? iverson is still more worried about self instead of a title.
rider was a disgrace with all of that talent. remember that john thompson interview. john didnt believe jr was ready to change. i didnt either.
November 6th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
ali says:
word, i remember big john sitting jr down. shame indeed. another shame that iverson is going down in a petulant ball of fire. he’s playing good ball too. unfortunate that this is how it’s going to end for him b/c i don’t see a lakers, spurs, cavs, celts or magic riding him into the sunset. teach the babies AI and make this a better place, a la teddy, harold melvin and the bluenotes!
November 9th, 2009 at 9:52 am
illest says:
ali….indeed ali. now he leaving for personal reasons. i lost all respect for a.i.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
ali says:
everyone said that he didn’t have the temperament to go into this situation and succeed. he has to realize that it’s not about him any more. i won’t go so far as saying i’ve lost any respect, but it does speak to his stubbornness, which has served him very well over the years in terms of fighting through tough situations.
looks like the same thing that made him great, his mental resolve to make things work in his favor, will now be his undoing. we’re often the last to realize things, like a cheating spouse or an impending firing, b/c we want to trick ourselves into believing otherwise.
for AI, he has to see that the league and the teams are moving forward. he has to either get in where he fits in, like ice tutoring mike in his own twilight, or keep it moving. it is kind of sad for this to be the end of his road. would’ve been great for him to come off the bench for a championship team, but the writitng’s on the wall – he’s not wanted by those upper echelon teams b/c they’re not willing to disrupt an established, winning chemistry.
i hope the last chapter of the AI story is not this.
November 9th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
illest says:
ive lost respect. last year his back hurt when he didnt like how he was handled in detroit. now detroit did do a bad job. but he didnt have to act like that either. now hes quitting the grizzles. why does he care about starting for memphis? let mayo since. hes been a spolied athlete (i dont mean his high school years) and hasnt realized that its about winning and not stats and accolades. he has the latter. get a ring, allen. learn from bob mcadoo, an all time great scorer who came off the bench to win titles. mcadoo also had a selfish reputation at buffalo, and the knicks, and celts and pistons. hes is the PERFECT one to talk too.
i blame memphis for this as well. they knew iverson wasnt going to change and wanted to start. why even go there?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
funkalot says:
Illest,
You are right about Memphis. However, I would say that AI has to assume some culpability , as well. Both sides should have had an open understanding of the scenario, prior to engagement. It is obvious that they did not and the resultant is disappointment.
But AI, has taught the shorties how to be smart about their money, unlike Antoine ” can a brother spare a dime” Walker, where he has saved all of his NBA checks and lived off of his endorsement monies.
Probably, his smartest play.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
illest says:
funk…it would be great to see iverson come off the bench for a spurs or a boston. but he feels he has to prove how good he is. he doesnt.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
funkalot says:
Illest,
AI is too inner-directed, at this career juncture, to help anybody but himself. He should just keep it real and play for himself and just relax. He can collect buckets and move up the all-time list.
But to win, entails sacrifice, which his ego (nothing wrong with that) will not permit him to do. Cool, do you son, after all it’s entainment y’all. And he is one of the best.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:17 am
illest says:
funk…..you are right on that. that makes it more disgraceful. each one teach one. i guess winning isnt everything.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:45 am
ali says:
wilbon asserts, in today’s washington post, that iverson could thrive coming off the bench in cleveland, giving them some quick burst offensive weaponry when things bog down. he believes shaq and bronni have the credibility to get iverson on board w/ his bench role.
don’t know. still think he would look at the starting guards and say “i’m better than those scrubs. why ain’t i starting?!”
November 11th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
illest says:
whichever team that is championship caliber he could help. he can look at starting guards and think he should be starting and still not win anything.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
funkalot says:
Illest and Ali,
Your insights are accurate about AI. It is not in his “napoleonic DNA” to suppress his normal urge for immediate shine. I don’t forsee any scenario where it works for him as a sated back-up.
However, I could envision him supplanting Mario Chalmers in Miami or Russell Westbrook in OKC, as Mario is an understudy, at best and Russell is not a real PG.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
illest says:
funk….but westbrook, the understudy, is averaging 18 and 6 assists right now. iverson has never been a real point guard either. thats been his problem. and chalmers had a good season last year and is a good compliment for wade. and the heat are 6 and 1.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
funkalot says:
Illest,
Yeah, Westbrooks numbers look good, but when I see him he struggles and Chalmers is a good compliment to Wade, like E Snow was to AI.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
ali says:
can’t see the answer acquiescing to dwade. he’s never stepped aside, nor really had to. not in his ‘napoleonic dna’ as his royal funkiness put it.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
illest says:
ali….true but wade is an nba champion and a.i. isnt. oneal acquiesed. a different scenario but it worked. i knew it wouldnt work for ai anywhere unless he wanted to change. so this is no surprise.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
ali says:
can’t say i’m surprised either. i just wish, for someone who we’ve rooted for throughout his career, through the ups and downs, that he’d go out with dignity and respect. he’s acting like a petulant, spoiled brat and i don’t want that to be the last memories of his brilliant body of work.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
illest says:
ali…unfortunately it looks like he doesnt have the answer this time.