Seven of the Most Frustrating Talents in the NBA

1 of 9

MILWAUKEE - FEBRUARY 18: Bango, the mascot of the Milwaukee Bucks, is forced to watch a game between the Bucks and the Chicago Bulls from a seat after injuring his knee during NBA All-Star festivities on February 18, 2009 at the Bradley Center in Milwauk

One never hopes for any player on their beloved team to get injured, but everyone knows there is that one guy who nobody would mind casting behind the bench. Maybe freeing up playing time for a budding star, or allowing the team to run a different scheme on offense or defense.

Just as the NBA didn't really care when the Bucks mascot took himself out of the All-Star festivities, there are some NBA stars that help their respective teams out by being injured, or on the bench.

Allen Iverson - Detroit Pistons

CLEVELAND - FEBRUARY 22: Allen Iverson #1 of the Detroit Pistons looks on from the bench during a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 22, 2009 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 99-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressl

The key to ending the Pistons 8 game losing streak? Losing A.I. to a sore back.

Elton Brand - Philadelphia 76ers

Why do they have winning streaks when he is injured? Because he slows this young team down.
Who knew Chris Kaman was a 20-10 man?
Nobody, until Brand took a seat in LA.

Josh Howard - Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS - JANUARY 02: Forward Josh Howard #5 of the Dallas Mavericks makes the shot and draws the foul by Al Harrington #3 of the Golden State Warriors on January 2, 2008 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowle

The Mavericks cringe whenever Dirk or Jason Terry is out, but when Howard is out, it just gives them an excuse to teach Josh how to properly dress himself and behave in public.

Greg Oden - Portland Trailblazers

$PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 10: Greg Oden #52 of the Portland Trail Blazers, who is out for the season after under going micro fracture surgery in his knee, sits on the bench to watch a pre-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Rose Garden on Oc$

Dollars earned per minutes worked, Greg Oden is the highest paid man in the world. Trailblazers have 14 losses in 39 games playing with Oden (64% winning). Without Oden they have lost 5 of 22 (77% winning).
Aren't first round, first picks usually supposed to make your team better when they play?

Jermaine O’Neal - Toronto Raptors / Miami Heat

NEW ORLEANS - FEBRUARY 06: Jermaine O'Neal #6 of the Toronto Raptors shoots a free throw during the game against the New Orleans Hornets on February 6, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloa

How do you loose 11 of 14 games? Jermaine O'Neal starts every one of them.
I can not bash O'Neal too much though as he has teamed up with D Wade for a change of scenery. O'Neal is taking fewer shots in Miami, making more of them, and dishing out twice the assists.

Baron Davis - LA Clippers

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Baron Davis #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers scratches his head as he reacts to Clippers blow out loss, 142-119, to the Phoenix Suns at the Staples Center February 18, 2009, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expr

When someone shoots 36 percent from the floor, and 29 percent from beyond the arc, it's best that they take as few shots as possible. Unfortunately for the Clippers, Davis has been relatively durable for his standards, only missing 13 games thus far. However, the Clippers are so bad they need Davis to jack up around 20 field goals a night for them to win.

Gilbert Arenas - Washington Wizards

CLEVELAND - APRIL 30: DeShawn Stevenson #2 and Gilbert Arenas #0 of the Washington Wizards celebrate a 88-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on

The Wizards made the playoffs without him last year, and then rewarded him with a monster contract because Wizards owner Abe Pollin has a soft spot for Arenas. Whenever there is any talk of Arenas ever playing again, or practicing with the team as he is now, the Wizards inevitably play awful.

Now the last place team in the East would definitely be better off with agent Zero on the floor to win a couple of games, but in previous years, his selfish play hurt the team overall. He probably will not play a second this year, and help his team achieve the number one spot in the lottery.

Begin Slideshow