NBA Careers Ended Early

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is made up of many up-and-coming stars. Most of these players get to fulfil their contracts and go on to do great things in their careers. A small number of players meet a different fate, some through no fault of their own. We often hear of the legends who passed on like Kobe Bryant, John Havlicek, Cal Ramsey, Jo Jo White, Connie Hawkins, and Nate Thurmond. But what of the others?

Today, it's worth remembering those talented players who never got the chance to live out their dreams, reach incredible milestones, or go on to achieve lasting greatness through their basketball performances. This commemorative post pays tribute to those exceptional NBA players who could have made a tremendous impact on the sport, but failed to carry that torch through to the end of their careers.

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* Clifford Rozier

Clifford Rozier was a first round draft pick #16 in 1994. He was drafted to GOS, stayed with them from 1994/1995, and 1995/1996. He then moved on to different teams including TOT, TOR, GSW, and MIN where he ended his career in 1997/1998. He averaged 4.8 points per game, 5.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists. He was nicknamed Florida Mr Basketball. Thanks to his incredible performances at Louisville, he was drafted to Golden State Warriors as a first-round pick. Throughout, he competed in 173 NBA games, but he died on 6 July 2018 following a massive heart attack at the age of 45. Unfortunately, he was gravely ill with severe addiction problems including drugs and alcohol, and he suffered from schizophrenia. Luckily, Rozier managed to live out his NBA dream.

* Tyler Honeycutt

Tyler Honeycutt was drafted to the NBA in 2011/2012.  He was a 2nd round pick #35 for SAC. He played in 15 games in his first season, scoring 1.3 points on average, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists. In his second season in 2012/2013, he played in 9 games, averaging 0.9 points, with 0.2 assists, and 1.1 rebounds. After Sacramento, he was traded to the Houston Rockets – but he never played with them. He didn't have a great time with the Sacramento Kings either, as evidenced by his limited on-court time. Unfortunately, Honeycutt got embroiled in all sorts of felonious conduct and he was found dead in a Sherman Oaks, California, after a shootout with the police. Police responded to a call out about a man with a gun, and when surrounded by the police Honeycutt fired at the officers, after barricading himself in his house. A tragic end to a promising career.

* Ricky Berry

#34 Ricky Berry was a Sacramento Kings player. He was drafted in 1988/1989 in Round #1 as #18. He averaged 11 points per game, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. At the age of 24, he had managed to play 64 games during the season, with an average of 22 minutes per game. His season high was 34 points versus Golden State Warriors on 9 February 1989. This professional basketball player had his jersey retired, and is only 1 of 3 players from San Jose State to have done so. A self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head ended his life and his promising NBA career way too early, just shy of his 25th birthday.

* Terry Furlow

Terry Furlow played for several different teams during his NBA career. He was a first-round draft pick in 1976, #12. Prior to being drafted, he played at Michigan State. The Cleveland Cavaliers player averaged 10.7 points per game, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. In 1976/77 he was drafted to PHL at the age of 22, where he played in 32 games. He then moved on to CLE for the 1977/1978 season, then to TOT for 1978/1979, and CLE in 1978/1979 too. The greatest number of points he scored was 37 versus Washington on 5 January 1980 and against Denver on 25 December 1979. Unfortunately, he was killed in a car crash on Interstate 71 in Ohio on 23 May 1980. The medical examiner's report found that he had high levels of Valium and cocaine in his system at the time of his death.

* Conrad McRae

Conrad McRae was selected by the Washington Bullets during the second round of the draft in 1993. He was the #38 pick. He died on 10 July 2000 at a practice match with the Orlando Magic at the University of California. The autopsy didn't find any cause of death, but he suffered from arrhythmia. His name isn't found in the NBA annals, since he never played in this professional league, however he did play 8 games for the CBA.

* Nick Vanos

Nick Vanos had a relatively short career with the NBA. He played with the Phoenix Suns. Drafted in 1985 during round #2 as pick #32, he averaged 3.3 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. The highest number of points he scored in his 2 seasons with the NBA was 14 versus Sacramento April 14, 1987. The most rebounds he managed was 13 versus Portland on April 9, 1987. This story ended in tragedy when he and his fiancée, Carolyn Cohen died in a plane crash, Northwest Airlines flight 255, 154 passengers including crew members perished in the crash. His was yet another promising career cut short.

This is a tribute post to players who had lots of potential, but for various reasons were taken away too soon.

Fortunately, we've got plenty of talent on the courts ready to take up the challenge. Follow the NBA action all the way to the final moments with live in-play betting right here at 888sport.

* Photo courtesy of Gerald Herbert and AP