Basketball fans love to debate the greatest “what-if” scenarios, sparking some of the most passionate discussions in the NBA community. These hypothetical situations make us wonder how different the league might be if just one decision or event had played out differently.
Whether it’s a missed trade, an untimely injury, or a superstar staying with their original team, these conversations fuel endless debates about alternate realities in basketball history. Fans also debate about what-if scenarios involving players.
5 Former NBA Stars Who Could Have Changed The Game
Derrick Rose
Few NBA “what-if” stories are as heartbreaking as Derrick Rose’s. By his third season, he had already won an MVP, but devastating knee injuries derailed what could have been a legendary career. After turning 22, he made just one more All-Star appearance and never earned another All-NBA selection—an outcome that’s hard to believe in hindsight.
His MVP win wasn’t without controversy. Voter fatigue and backlash against LeBron James, who had just left Cleveland for Miami, played a role. Still, Rose led the Bulls to a surprising 62-win season, securing the No. 1 seed in the East and giving voters a compelling alternative.
That year felt magical and had Rose stayed healthy; he might have rivaled Stephen Curry as the point guard of the 2010s. As the youngest MVP in history, another trophy wasn’t out of the question. But instead, injuries cost him nearly two full seasons, and when he returned, he was never the same. It remains one of the NBA’s most painful what-ifs.
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Also Read: Former NBA Veteran Reveals One Big Reason Why Derrick Rose Belongs In Hall Of Fame
Len Bias
Few “what-if” stories in NBA history are as devastating as Len Bias’. A dominant college player at Maryland, he was drafted second overall by the Celtics in 1986, expected to be the franchise’s future. His combination of size, athleticism, and skill made him a potential superstar, and Boston—fresh off a championship—had every reason to believe they’d secured their next great player.
Joining an already stacked team meant Bias wouldn’t have faced immediate pressure. Instead, he could have developed at his own pace before eventually leading the Celtics into the next era. With Larry Bird still playing at an elite level, the duo could have created some unforgettable highlights together. In fact, Bird later admitted he would have retired earlier if Bias had been there to take over, allowing him to go out on top rather than grinding through injuries.
Without Bias, Boston struggled to maintain its dominance. They fell short in the next two seasons, losing to the Lakers in 1987 and the Pistons in 1988. It’s impossible to know how things would have played out, but the loss of Bias remains one of the NBA’s greatest tragedies.
Grant Hill
Many younger fans may not realize how special Grant Hill was. Seen as a LeBron James prototype, he dominated early in Detroit, piling up accolades and looking destined for MVP honors.
In 2000, he joined Orlando to team up with Tracy McGrady, but severe ankle injuries derailed his career. Surgery complications led to a life-threatening infection, keeping him sidelined for years.
By the time he returned, McGrady was gone, ending what could have been a legendary duo. Though he reinvented himself as a veteran, his prime was lost—one of the NBA’s biggest what-ifs.
Also Read: Grant Hill Shares ‘Nasty’ Story About Shaq Being In The Shower With Other Players (VIDEO)
Maurice Stokes
Maurice Stokes’ story is one of the NBA’s saddest. A rising star, his career took a tragic turn in 1958 when a hard fall during a game led to a seizure days later, leaving him permanently paralyzed.
Happy Birthday in Heaven Maurice Stokes Aka the best WHAT IF in #NBA History 🕊️
— Yvan Montgury, The Gravedigger (@YvanMontgury) June 17, 2024
📽️ : @WiltCArchive pic.twitter.com/3qoBGux1xO
Former teammate Jack Twyman became his legal guardian, caring for him until Stokes passed away in 1970 at just 36. Before his injury, he was an elite player, earning All-Star and All-NBA honors.
Posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, Stokes’ impact was undeniable. His injury not only ended a brilliant career but may have altered NBA history entirely.
Anfernee Hardaway
Anfernee Hardaway’s career started with immense promise, earning multiple All-Star selections and proving himself as an elite guard alongside Shaquille O’Neal. By the mid-’90s, he was at his peak, excelling in scoring, playmaking, and defense.
But a 1996 playoff injury changed everything. A knee issue worsened over time, led to surgery, and sapped his athleticism. He remained productive the next season, but a major injury in 1997-98 derailed his trajectory. Once dominant, he never regained his brilliance and faded into a lesser role by his early 30s.
Hardaway seemed destined for the Hall of Fame, but injuries turned him into more of a nostalgic figure. Had he stayed healthy, Orlando’s future might have been very different.
