Jamal Mashburn: A top 5 scorer in the NBA at 22 years old, to playing his final NBA game at 31 | FPP

Jamal Mashburn had an all time great college career at Kentucky at a time where scandal and probation was chasing recruits away. Mashburn banked on himself and under coach Rick Pitino, built his NBA draft stock and was selected 4th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 1993, For the next few years, Mashburn would first pair with Jim Jackson and then once Jason Kidd came in the 1994 NBA draft, the three formed a trio known as the Three J’s who looked like they were going to be great. And even though Mashburn didn’t need the spotlight, Kidd and Jackson weren’t the same way and egos drove them apart. Mashburn was acquired by Pat Riley and the Miami Heat during the 1997 season and Mashburn joined forces with the powerhouse Heat teams of the late 90s featuring players like Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway and Dan Majerle, and although MAshburn wasn’t the scorer he was in Dallas, he played his role well and had some of the most efficient seasons of his career, unfortunately he was also plagued by injuries nearly season he spent in Miami, but nonetheless Mashburn was a starter during one of the best NBA rivalries in the tough and scrappy playoff series with the Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell. When the Heat needed a change, they sent Mashburn and PJ Brown to the Charlotte Hornets for Eddie Jones and Anthony Mason, Mashburn would redefine his game a little bit and would have a career resurgence in Charlotte alongside David Wesley and Baron Davis as he would average over 20 points in his first two seasons in Charlotte and then average 20 points for his last two seasons in the league with the New Orleans Hornets, which saw him voted to his first and only NBA all star game in 2003. Sadly, after this season, Mashburn’s knees gave out on him and he never played another game after playing just 18 games in 2004. But during Jamal Mashburn’s time in the league when he was healthy, he gave everyone problems and that’s why he’s the focus of today’s episode of Forgotten Player Profiles https://www.basketball-reference.com/... Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/genuine-colour/b... License code: KM6PUEOIEPBY9PST *Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS