Chris Webber: The Original Joker
Before Nikola Jokic revolutionized the position, Chris Webber opened the basketball world’s eyes to the passing big man.
It’s been said that sports fans typically pick their favourite athlete or team in their adolescence. For me, it was the Michigan Wolverines and the Fab Five. With Chris Webber leading the group of trash-talking, baggy shorts-wearing freshmen, it was easy to fall in love with his game. He was built like a prototypical Power Forward, but handled the rock like a Point Guard.
His unique skill set easily transferred to the bright lights of the NBA. In his rookie season, Webber was top 10 in FG%, blocks, offensive rebound %, and eFG%. He would win Rookie of the Year and lead the Warriors to the playoffs.
Posterizing Charles Barkley was the lasting highlight for many, but for me, it was his passing that sets him apart. His assist numbers were not eye-popping, but they were good enough for what his teams needed.
Webber’s seven seasons with the Sacramento Kings were easily his best years. His assist totals ranged between 4.1 and 5.5 per game. It doesn’t sound like much, but when looking at bigs, only Kevin Garnett consistently averaged more during Webber’s Sacramento days. With Vlade Divac’s own passing expertise at their disposal, the Kings used both bigs in the high post, opening up the paint for cutters, or forcing opposing guards to run through a gauntlet of screens. It’s no wonder Sacramento was top 3 in points per game in each of Webber’s seven seasons. He had the height to look past his defender, the IQ to make the right play, and the speed (pre-knee injury) to run the floor.
In the half-court, Webber worked magic in the 2-man game. The threat of his elbow jumper pulled opposing 4s away from the basket. Webber typically palmed the ball and used his long reach to keep it away from plucky defenders. Those tools were often enough to get a teammate a free path for a layup.
C-Webb’s impact on the teams he played for was felt before he arrived and after he left. After a successful season in Golden State that included a trip to the playoffs, the Warriors traded Webber, then went 12 consecutive seasons without returning to the postseason. During his time with Washington, he led the team to its first playoff appearance in nine seasons. Again he was traded, and again his former team would struggle. The Wizards would not return to the playoffs for another seven seasons. Before arriving in Sacramento, the Kings had one playoff appearance in the previous 12 seasons. They obviously made the playoffs in each of his seven seasons, plus the first season after he left the team. However, this season marks the 14th consecutive season they’ll miss the playoffs.
Webber’s case for the Hall of Fame is solid. He appeared on 5 All-NBA teams, and ranks in the top 100 in traditional stats (career steals, blocks, rebounds, and points) and advanced stats (BPM, defensive rating, and, my personal favourite, VORP). Voters will balk at the booster scandal that revealed he was accepting illicit loans throughout high school and college. While those are serious offenses that shouldn’t be taken lightly, it also should not deter voters from what he did on the court: produce a basketball career that had a lasting positive impact, one that’s still being felt 12 years after he retired.
Comparing Nikola Jokic to Chris Webber seems appropriate because Jokic is known as the Joker. Batman’s arch-nemesis was the villain that everyone loved to hate. But dig a little deeper and you’ll see that his very presence forced the Caped Crusader to become better in his own right. Webber was a menace to guard because he had all the tricks up his sleeve and basketball IQ to stay one step ahead. He was never going to risk losing a battle on the offensive end. Chris Webber needed an ace in the hole, and that was his passing.