Former Big Names Who Languished During NBA Playoffs

Time knows no prejudice and bears no sentiment.

When Mos Def dropped that line 13 years ago, it probably didn't resonate with the stars who dominated the NBA. But now? The league isn't what it used to be, and these playoffs haven't been particularly kind to the big names still remaining from that era.

Players like Tim Duncan and Ray Allen are the exception, not the rule. While those two and a few others have managed to temporarily stall father time, these former big-name players haven't been quite as fortunate. 

Tracy McGrady

Just mention Tracy McGrady's name and the mental images pop up with perfect clarity. 

Who could forget the off-the-backboard jam in the 2002 All-Star game? Or the herculean scoring efforts, like the time he tabbed 13 points in 35 seconds during a miraculous comeback win?

McGrady was truly a transcendent talent that had to be seen to be properly appreciated.

That's part of what makes the end of his career so hard to watch. Seeing him in a San Antonio Spurs uniform, relegated to the end of the bench, brought in only as a human victory cigar like he's Brian Scalabrine?

It's painful, and like the kid in The NeverEnding Story, I keep worrying that these new images of McGrady with the Spurs will push out the old ones and I'll lose them forever. It's a terrifying thought.

Sure, it's nice that McGrady finally got out of the first round, but his greatness was always more about what we saw instead of what was said. And what we're seeing right now looks horribly, horribly wrong.  

Jason Kidd

Yes, that's Jason Kidd. Yes, he had platinum blonde hair at one point. No, he no longer looks anything like he used to.

Kidd's transformation as a player is nothing short of remarkable. Once referred to as "Ason" (because he had no J), Kidd managed to shake his reputation and develop into a deadly spot-up shooter, effectively turning his biggest weakness into his most-notable strength later in his career.

The ability to go from being a risk-taking point guard to a low turnover shooting guard has given Kidd extended life in the NBA, but you can't hide from time forever. 

Sadly enough, Kidd has finally turned into a pumpkin during the playoffs. He's 3-for-24 from the field with as many personal fouls as points. His turnover percentage is nearly double his career average. He has a PER of 5.4. He can't keep up defensively.

Kidd has had a chameleon career, but he doesn't look like any version of himself right now.

Grant Hill

Feel old with me: Grant Hill was the Rookie of the Year the same year Forrest Gump won Best Picture at the 67th Annual Academy Awards.

Hill was robbed of his prime by multiple injuries, but in retrospect, he still had an incredible career. His revival with the warlock trainers in Phoenix was impressive, as he eventually became one of the league's best perimeter defenders while maintaining his trademark court vision he honed in the Detroit days.

We'll always wonder what could have been with Hill, and maybe the Clippers will too. After spending most of the regular season in a suit, Hill didn't see playoff action until the Clippers were faced with elimination.

Hill played good defense in limited minutes against Zach Randolph and scored a few buckets, but he gassed easily and faded into the pack as the game went on. If this really was the last game of Hill's career, the circumstances were sadly fitting.

Richard Jefferson

Remember the high-flying days in New Jersey where Richard Jefferson ran out on the break and crushed lobs from Jason Kidd? Those days have been replaced with towel waving. Lots and lots of towel waving. 

After flaming out in San Antonio as one of the team's rare misses, Jefferson has become a big contract providing tiny production for the Warriors.

In Golden State's epic Game 1 meltdown against the Spurs, Jefferson played a little under three minutes. During that time, he went 0-for-2 from the free-throw line and was a -14. In under three minutes!

Jefferson followed that up in Game 4 by recording no stats in five minutes, save for a single missed field goal.

The loss of athleticism was to be expected, but Jefferson's loss of confidence altogether has him barely deserving of a roster spot these days.

Marcus Camby

If Marcus Camby could have his career in reverse like a basketball Benjamin Button, we would hold him in much higher regard.

When Camby entered the league as a rail-thin shot-blocker, his size was considered a problem. The game was predicated on post play then, and the dinosaurs still roamed the plains. Centers needed to be back to the basket scorers who could bang, and that wasn't Camby at all.

What Camby was, however, was ahead of his time. Rim protection, great high post passing, tap outs on the offensive glass and killer defensive rebounding would make any general manager salivate now, and few combined those skills better than Camby did in his prime. 

Perhaps that's why the Knicks were willing to acquire Camby on a three-year deal this offseason, despite the fact that he'll turn 40 next season.

That decision looks bad with little hopes of getting better, as Camby has been glued to the bench all postseason, playing only three measly minutes. He's essentially an extremely tall assistant coach at this point.

Chauncey Billups

It's hard not to admire the resolve of Chauncey Billups. Traded in his rookie year and undervalued wherever he landed, Billups made a career out of proving doubters wrong. A championship ring, a Finals MVP, and the moniker of "Mr. Big Shot" served as the redemption for all the slights he suffered early on. 

With that backstory in mind, you can begin to understand why the Clippers had such a hard time telling a former great that he wasn't good enough anymore.

Not surprisingly, given the injury he was recovering from, Billups went just 11-for-36 from the field while looking statuesque defensively, ending the playoffs with a PER of 5.7. If Billups was the Clippers' only option on the wing that would be one thing, but with capable players like Jamal Crawford and Eric Bledsoe behind him, that wasn't the case at all. 

Billups probably isn't wired to be aware of his own shortcomings, and unfortunately, that could make for an awkward close to his career.