5 Failed NBA Careers That Ended Up in the D-League
The NBA D-League is a good thing.
It's a place where careers begin. To date, after the Atlanta Hawks called up Ivan Johnson, 138 players have made their way from the D-League to the NBA.
It's a place where hard work pays off.
Just the opposite is true as well, though.
The D-League is also a place where careers go to die.
Here's a look at five failed NBA careers that have ended up in the D-League.
Ricky Davis
1 of 5Yeah, that Ricky Davis.
Davis averaged 13.9 points per game for six different NBA teams from 1998-2009.
He quickly got the reputation as a hot dog and a showboat and is most know for shooting at the wrong basket in order to get a rebound for a triple-double.
He's now trying to get back to the NBA by playing for the Maine Red Claws in the D-League.
Damon Jones
2 of 5Jones was an NBA journeyman that played for 10 different teams in 11 NBA seasons.
He could shoot the three-ball pretty well, but despite finishing with a career three-point percentage under 40 percent, it didn't stop Jones from proclaiming himself "the best shooter in the world."
Jones last played in the NBA in 2009 for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Greg Ostertag
3 of 5Ostertag had a decent NBA career for the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings and hasn't played since 2006, but is attempting a comeback with the Texas Legends.
He struggled with poor physical conditioning and inconsistent play throughout his NBA career and his comeback attempt has shown much of the same so far.
Mike James
4 of 5James played with nine teams in nine NBA seasons and is making a comeback attempt with the Erie Bayhawks.
He was the first undrafted player in league history to average over 20 points per season when he did so in the 2005-06 season as the starting point guard for the Toronto Raptors.
His last stop in the NBA was with the Washington Wizards, but they bought out his contract four games into the 2009-10 season.
Antoine Walker
5 of 5Walker was the No. 6 pick in the 1996 NBA draft, won an NBA Championship and made three All-Star teams.
He averaged 17.5 points per game during a 13-year NBA career that saw him play with five different teams.
Walker is attempting a comeback with the D-League's Idaho Stampede.
