11/28/23

Jay C. Brandriet

In attempting to find the 40 best players of the 1990’s I had to write down about 60 names.

I think of just “how nineties” Penny Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, and Larry Johnson were.

I’d want to honor the names of Reggie Lewis and Drazen Petrovic.

I noted that Dan Majerle and John Starks seem to get a lot of shine.

I naturally started to think about those that didn’t.

Who were some the underrated player of the 1990’s?

I’m not going to count the Hall of Famers who wrapped up their careers in the early portion of this decade.

Nor will I include the future legends who began their careers at the end of this time frame.

I could claim Kevin Johnson, Mark Price, and Mitch Richmond are overlooked.

I won’t because it should be understood they were stars.

Rod Strickland is mentioned so often as underrated, he’s now being rated fairly.

Horace Grant could use a little more credit for his aid in winning three rings in Chicago.

Jeff Hornacek was a shoot, pass, and dribble guy. He mastered crafty shot making.

Otis Thorpe provided efficient, muscular help to Olajuwon’s first title.

Clifford Robinson was 17th overall in scoring and played defense.

Terry Porter always gave off those Stockton/Dumars trustworthy vibes.

If you make four straight All-Star games, but nobody knows it, did it happen? We’d have to ask Vin Baker.

Detlef Schrempf with his versatility and Hersey Hawkins with his shooting both won a lot of games.

It seems like Charles Oakley and Xaiver Mcdaniel get their love. Anthony Mason was the most unique of the group.

There is one name that stands out.

Mookie Blaylock.

It was the early 2,000’s when I’d learned the band Pearl Jam once called themselves “Mookie Blaylock.”

During his playing career?

I knew who he was.

I collected basketball cards. He had a sweet name.

Blaylock began his pro journey in New Jersey. The majority of his career was in Atlanta with the Hawks. He finished up in Golden State.

Mookie was an All-Star in 1994.

Basic career numbers are 13.5 points (41% FG, 73.6% FT, 33.6% 3PT), 6.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds.

He was good.

I can see how he fell into the background to me.

Only appearing in 54 post season games, helped.

What I missed is where he had major impact.

Blaylock was named to six straight All-Defensive teams.

That’s loosely saying he was at least a top ten defender in the NBA, for 60% of the decade.

He led the league in steals twice.

This was the deal breaker.

John Stockton, Michael Jordan, and Maurice Cheeks each averaged two plus steals for ten years in a row.

Only one man did it eleven straight seasons.

Mookie Blaylock!

His nickname was “The Thief.”

Factoring in that I spent his entire run discussing the NBA, but NEVER him?

I now call him, the most underrated player of the 1990’s.

Jay C. Brandriet