Alright, so you wanna know why Schea Cotton, that boy everyone was gabbing about, didn’t make it big in the NBA, huh? Well, lemme tell ya, it ain’t as simple as missin’ a shot. Life ain’t a straight road, ya know? It’s got more twists and turns than a country lane.
The Early Days, All That Hype
See, back in the day, Schea was the bee’s knees. A real hotshot, they say. Folks were callin’ him the next big thing outta California. Even got his mug in that Sports Illustrated magazine when he was just a young’un. Sixteen years old, can you believe it? His brother, James, he even played in the NBA for a bit, with them Seattle SuperSonics. So, Schea had the blood, ya know? The talent.
But talent ain’t everything, that’s for sure. Life throws ya curveballs, and sometimes, ya just can’t hit ’em outta the park.
- He was a star, no doubt about that.
- Folks thought he was destined for greatness.
- But destiny, well, it’s a fickle thing.
Too Short, Too Slow, That’s What They Said
Now, I ain’t no basketball expert, but from what I hear, Schea, he grew up but not in the way they wanted. He got too short to be playin’ down low with the big fellas, but not quick enough to keep up with them speedy guards. And his shootin’? Well, they say it wasn’t up to snuff for the NBA. Dribblin’ too, wasn’t the best. Seems like he got stuck in between. Not tall enough, not fast enough. Like tryin’ to fit a square peg in a round hole, ya see? It just don’t work.
The College Shuffle and That “Perception” Thing
Then there was all that mess with college. Ended up at Long Beach City College, not exactly a straight shot to the NBA, ya know? And folks started talkin’. They started whisperin’ about his attitude, about whether he was really dedicated. That “perception” thing, they call it. Once people get an idea in their head, it’s harder than gettin’ a mule to move.
Short Stints, But No Stickin’ Power
He did get a few cracks at the NBA, mind you. A little bit with the Jazz, the Suns, and the Grizzlies. But it was always short and sweet, never really stickin’. He bounced around, played in some development league, even went overseas to China and Turkey. But the NBA, that dream, it just kinda slipped through his fingers. Kinda like tryin’ to hold onto smoke.
Whispers in His Ear, Leadin’ Him Astray?
And some folks, they say it was the people around him. “Influencers,” they call ’em, whisperin’ in his ear, maybe leadin’ him down the wrong path. I don’t know the truth of it, but it makes ya think. Sometimes, havin’ too many voices tellin’ ya what to do is worse than havin’ none at all. Like too many cooks in the kitchen, just spoils the broth.
The “Best That Never Was” Story
So, why didn’t Schea Cotton make it in the NBA? Well, it’s a whole mess of things, ain’t it? His size, his speed, the college stuff, maybe those whispers, maybe just plain bad luck. He’s one of those “best that never was” stories, the kind that makes ya scratch your head and wonder what coulda been. Life’s just full of “what ifs”, ain’t it? He had the talent, that’s for sure, but the NBA, it’s a tough world. Takes more than just talent, ya know? It takes grit, determination, and a whole lotta luck. And sometimes, even that ain’t enough.
It just wasn’t meant to be, plain and simple.
He is still a reminder of how high school talent does not always translate to NBA success.
Tags: [Schea Cotton, NBA, Basketball, Sports, What If, High School Phenom, California, Undrafted]
