Chris Webber: Despite Name, W’s Never Happened

During his career, Chris Webber scored points and headlines. He passed expertly. He never won. In Michigan, Golden State, Washington, Sacramento, Philadelphia, and Detroit…Webber failed. Despite immense talent, his individuality eclipsed.

On Wednesday, Webber retired. Despite Webber’s deficiency, Golden State Warriors General Manager Chris Mullin praised him. “If you ask me, he was one of best players of his era,” Mullin said. “When he was in Sacramento, they were right there among the top teams. He was in the center of all of that. He was the guy who made it all go. He had a tremendous career. I had the pleasure of watching him come in as a 20-year-old rookie and watched his career all along the way.”

In seventeen NBA seasons, Webber averaged 20.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. In Golden State, Webber averaged 16.1points and 8.5 rebounds per contest. In Washington, he chalked 20.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest. In Sacramento, he racked 19.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest. In Philadelphia, he recorded 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest. In Detroit, he registered 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest.

Webber’s legacy is not unique. Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Tony Gwynn, and Dan Marino never won championships. However, they were professionals. They epitomized their franchises. Webber was childish, petulant, and self-indulgent. Ultimately, his greed trumped greatness.