What if #1: Derrick Coleman: A Story of a Missed Opportunity…
When we think of the best power forwards in the National Basketball Association a few names come to mind: Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and a whole lot more. But one man could’ve been the greatest Power Forward in the history of the NBA. That man is Derrick Coleman.
After a successful college basketball career for Syracuse University, Derrick Coleman was selected first overall in the NBA’s 1990 draft, a draft class that also included the Naismith Hall of Fame inductee, Gary Payton. Coleman, as expected got off to a strong start as he went on to win Rookie of the Year in 1991, averaging 18.4 points per game on 46% shooting and averaging an impressive 10.3 rebounds per game alongside this. In his last three of his five seasons with the New Jersey Nets, Derrick Coleman consecutively averaged more than 20 points per game and over 10 rebounds per game. Along with this, Coleman is one of only three players to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks in a game. (The other two being Hakeem Olajuwon and Draymond Green.) Coleman was also a member of the United States of America national team penned ‘Dream Team II’ alongside other NBA stars such as Dominique Wilkins, Reggie Miller, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal.
So what went wrong? Why do many young NBA fans not know the name, Derrick Coleman? How did Coleman become one of the games biggest what-ifs?
Throughout the early 1990s, Derrick Coleman was highly considered the best power forward in the NBA not named Karl Malone or Charles Barkley. He was a good rebounder, had the advantage of being left-handed and he could shoot from beyond the three-point line. Standing in at six foot and ten inches, weighing two hundred and thirty pounds, he had a well-rounded skill set which many men his size didn’t possess at the time. He could score from the perimeter, he could finish at the rim, handle the ball and had great court vision to go along with it, for the 90s, this skillset for a Power Forward was ahead of its time, embracing the stretch four position before it was even a thing. But unfortunately, Colemans personal problems soon became a recipe for disaster. Attitude problems on and off the court, a long list of recurring injuries and an on-going alcohol abuse problem played a huge role in preventing Coleman’s growth to the top.
Sports Illustrated once wrote:
Derrick Coleman throughout his career was so involved in a number of on-court physical altercations, even being suspended in the final season of his NBA career for his part in the infamous Malice at the Palace.
According to the NBA Crime Library, Derrick Coleman is the all-time leader in “Career arrests” with seven. With the first being in 1994 for assault during his time in New Jersey, and the last being eight-years later in 2002 for driving under the influence, something he would be arrested for numerous times throughout his career.
Despite his well-known problems with alcohol abuse, only one can speculate what else played a role in Coleman not reaching his full potential. Some believe that Coleman was perhaps too immature to handle the money and the fame that came with being a star in the National Basketball Association. Or who knows? Maybe he was angry about having to wear these uniforms on a daily basis.
Even though he never reached his full potential, it’s clear that Derrick Coleman was, in fact, a solid player with a solid skillset at his disposal. A good modern-day comparison is perhaps, DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins and Coleman both share some similarities. Apart from the obvious being the D.C. initials, both men were born in Mobile, Alabama and they’re both uncommonly skilled for their size and power and unfortunately, Cousins is now getting his share of injury issues which may prevent him from ever reaching his full potential. But one of the most common similarities; on-court antics. Cousins, at times, has been known for his bad attitude on the court, coming across as a prima donna. Something Derrick Coleman was often criticized for during his playing days. If we look at their stats, we can see they are nearly identical in their first five years.
When Derrick Coleman was drafted he went to a young team that didn’t offer much veteran leadership. So instead of any real guidance, Coleman was thrown into the deep end and expected to turn a failing franchise into a winner all by himself, just as what was expected from DeMarcus Cousins during his tenure with the Sacramento Kings. When asked about any regrets during his NBA career, Coleman said:
“One of the things I would have changed… being drafted in New Jersey, and being the number pick going to a struggling team. And I thought the biggest challenge for me was that I never had a mentor there that would take me under his wing and teach me the ropes… And, then you’re like the face of a franchise… to be pushed out there. You’re on this plank by yourself, and you’re supposed to save a franchise that hadn’t been to the playoffs in probably seven or eight years. I wish I would’ve just had a mentor there with me to tell me, ‘Hey, Derrick don’t say this. Say it this way. Do this, do that.’ I don’t have that.”
Derrick Coleman should always be remembered for his contributions to the game of basketball. A true stretch four, a stat stuffer who could get the job done. He may not have lived up to his potential but he sure as hell was a good basketball player. Today, Coleman is now sober and giving back to the community, helping other people any way he can. Despite being portrayed as a villain throughout his career, we must remember that just like us and everyone else in the NBA, he is a human being. Coleman has experienced many highs and lows throughout his life, but now he can use his fame and fortune to help others and improve lives, maybe even improving his own life along the way. No matter how much the mainstream media wants to distort the narrative, Derrick Coleman was never a villain and he was never a bust. Despite not being up there with other first overall picks, Coleman was a game-changer. He wasn’t Karl Malone and he wasn’t Charles Barkley. But he was still an NBA superstar. I believe, if he stayed healthy and reached his full potential, NBA fans around the world would be debating where Coleman ranks on their list of top five Power Forwards of all time.
