On The Brink: The Ceiling Was Sky-High For Brandon Roy

ON THE BRINK is a series of articles on NBA players who appeared destined for superstardom, only to run into injuries that derailed their ascent. Despite the unfortunate turn of events, these players deserve to be recognized for their finest moments.

The 2009 NBA All-Star Game featured a who’s who of superstars from various generations. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were named co-winners of the All-Star Game MVP award, while LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul had proven that they were forces to be reckoned with.

And then, there was Brandon Roy. Remember him?

This All-Star encounter in Phoenix was one of the highlights of Roy’s career. At that point in time, he was a star on the rise, a 20-points-per-night type of threat from the shooting guard position. Rubbing shoulders with all the blockbuster personalities that night, Roy had 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the 2009 All-Star Game. His scoring output, by the way, matched that of Paul (who was a starter on the Western Conference squad), Tony Parker, and Pau Gasol.

A few months after the All-Star Game, Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers squared off against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. For Roy, the sixth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, it was his first time seeing action in the postseason. Though the Blazers lost to the Rockets in six, Roy announced his arrival, averaging 26.7 points per game on 45.9% shooting from the field.

Usually, getting to play with future Hall of Famers and putting up great numbers in the playoffs are two signs of a bright future. But it was not to be for Roy.

In the 2010–11 season, Roy started to be seriously bothered by the lack of cartilage in his knees, which had already endured plenty of wear and tear in his college days. He ended up playing just 47 games for Portland that season, coming off the bench 24 times.

Then, prior to the start of the 2011–12 campaign, Roy shocked the world by announcing that he would be retiring from basketball due to the degeneration of his knees. He’d played just five years in the league, and now, his health was forcing him to walk away.

Roy would actually attempt a comeback in the 2012–13 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. After playing five regular-season games with his new team, he underwent a right knee procedure that led to the abrupt end of his final season in the NBA.

In the late 2000s, the ceiling was sky high for Roy. With his scoring proficiency, he had the potential to approach the heights of the luminaries that he shared the court with on that night in Phoenix. To this day, how far Brandon Roy would have gone is still a massive “What if?” that fans can’t stop thinking about.