(01-30-2019 11:33 AM)450bench Wrote:  Larry was the most important. Penny was the most talented and most successful.
Rose and Kenon as well.
But Keith Lee was one of greatest college players ever and was the best college player some of us have ever seen here. His numbers are incredible. Points, rebounds, blocks etc.He's the best.

Lee was here for 4 years too. Lee was one of the best players I have ever seen. It's really hard to put players like Rose and Kenon in there who were only here a year with Lee. Penny only played 2 years but being from here was always rooted here.

I am convinced that Tiger Basketball did more to unite this city than anything else back when Finch was playing and he was the face of that team. For that and coming back to coach he certainly gets the most important.

(01-30-2019 10:02 AM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(01-30-2019 09:20 AM)tigers0830 Wrote:  

(01-30-2019 09:09 AM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 08:41 PM)Keeper Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 07:59 PM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  Bring a title home and Penny can squash that debate...

You don't get it do you? It is about much more than winning a basketball game. When the time comes, and I hope it does come, Penny will make the best argument for Larry, and Larry would make the best argument for Penny. Wining is important, but not all. At least not in the Tiger Nation I grew up in. Before Larry became the greatest Tiger of all time that discussion was wide open. Right now there is only one possible contender, and the reason he is a contender is because we could not at this time even consider anyone could be a better Tiger than Larry. It is because of guys like the Wilfongs, Penny, and Larry that it really matters. Ask Dwight Boyd, ask Elliot Perry, ask Tony Madlock they know why it matters.

You are misconstruing my argument and assuming my position is only looking at winning.

- The best high school player to ever come out of Memphis. Penny
- Arguably the best player to ever wear a Memphis jersey. Penny
- The best NBA career of any former Tiger. Penny
- The most well known former Memphis player of all time. Penny
- The only former Memphis player with his own brand. Penny
- Despite being a millionaire set for life, came back to coach his former teammates middle school team because of illness. Penny.
- Won at every level of Memphis basketball. Penny
- A fantastic and classy representative for Memphis. Penny

My argument is not just about winning. It is simply that winning is all he has left to do. If he became the first coach to win a title for Memphis then what else could the guy possibly do for the City and the Program? He is already in the running with the greatest, if he wins a title and reaches the peak for Memphis then IMO it absolutely squashes the debate. He would be the greatest because he is already at the top and the title would absolutely push him over the top.

I think an argument could be made for Rose having the best NBA career. Not saying it is Rose, but you could definitely make an argument for him.

Rose very possibly could have and was definitely on pace to. However, the injuries severely sidelined his career far too early into his career. This year he is having an incredible comeback year though.

Rose still avg. more points and assists in his career than Penny. Is the youngest to ever win MVP.

Again I'm not saying it's Rose, but he definitely has an argument.

To me personally their careers are similar. Both had crushing injuries that really derailed their careers.

(01-30-2019 09:41 AM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  Penny hands down had the greatest NBA career of all former Tigers.

Rose 100% has an argument for that claim.

Youngest ever MVP. Rookie of the year. Currently has a higher career pts and assists avg. than Penny.

Both though have major what ifs when it comes to their NBA careers.

(01-30-2019 10:03 AM)cmt Wrote:  

(01-30-2019 09:41 AM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  Penny hands down had the greatest NBA career of all former Tigers.

Kenon was named Missouri Valley player of the year after his year at Memphis State.

Larry Kenon played with Julius Erving on the ABA New York Nets, they were nicknamed Dr. K and Dr. J, of course, Dr. J is the one we remember. But Kenon averaged 15 pts and 11 rbs per game as a rookie for the ABA Nets and won the ABA championship that year. He was ABA All Star 3 times (every year he played in the ABA)

After a couple of trades he went to the NBA when San Antonio was brought into the NBA where he played for several teams and was an all star twice, averaged 17 pos per game over his NBAcareer.

We remember Finch first and then Robinson. But Kenon is why we were in the final four.

Hardaway played in the NBA a couple more years than Kenon. Was an All Star 4 times. You can argue either way, but Kenon took us to the final four and had a great pro career. I just didn't want us to forget the man who took us to our first final four. Hardaway will get us to our fourth and maybe our first championship.

Not forgetting Kenon at all. He was my hero. But Penny could do it all and made it look so effortless. As far as Rose goes, he is special but the injury bug caught him early.

(01-29-2019 08:41 PM)Keeper Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 07:59 PM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 07:55 PM)Keeper Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 07:54 PM)Hernando Hills Tiger Wrote:  Larry did so much more than just being a great player and coach. I don't think it's fair to compare the two.

Not yet, but Penny's actions may some day put him in that conversation.

Bring a title home and Penny can squash that debate...

You don't get it do you? It is about much more than winning a basketball game. When the time comes, and I hope it does come, Penny will make the best argument for Larry, and Larry would make the best argument for Penny. Wining is important, but not all. At least not in the Tiger Nation I grew up in. Before Larry became the greatest Tiger of all time that discussion was wide open. Right now there is only one possible contender, and the reason he is a contender is because we could not at this time even consider anyone could be a better Tiger than Larry. It is because of guys like the Wilfongs, Penny, and Larry that it really matters. Ask Dwight Boyd, ask Elliot Perry, ask Tony Madlock they know why it matters.

I never met Larry in person. By all accounts he was a class act.
Comparing one of our Tiger bests to another Tiger best to decide who is the better best...welp that is difficult. Larry was one of the bests. Penny is one of the bests. Keith Lee too.

Put them all together and we have the best of the best! lol

(01-30-2019 01:37 PM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  

(01-30-2019 10:03 AM)cmt Wrote:  

(01-30-2019 09:41 AM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  Penny hands down had the greatest NBA career of all former Tigers.

Kenon was named Missouri Valley player of the year after his year at Memphis State.

Larry Kenon played with Julius Erving on the ABA New York Nets, they were nicknamed Dr. K and Dr. J, of course, Dr. J is the one we remember. But Kenon averaged 15 pts and 11 rbs per game as a rookie for the ABA Nets and won the ABA championship that year. He was ABA All Star 3 times (every year he played in the ABA)

After a couple of trades he went to the NBA when San Antonio was brought into the NBA where he played for several teams and was an all star twice, averaged 17 pos per game over his NBAcareer.

We remember Finch first and then Robinson. But Kenon is why we were in the final four.

Hardaway played in the NBA a couple more years than Kenon. Was an All Star 4 times. You can argue either way, but Kenon took us to the final four and had a great pro career. I just didn't want us to forget the man who took us to our first final four. Hardaway will get us to our fourth and maybe our first championship.

Not forgetting Kenon at all. He was my hero. But Penny could do it all and made it look so effortless. As far as Rose goes, he is special but the injury bug caught him early.

What did Penny do in the NBA that Rose hasn't done? About the only thing I can think of is go to the finals. Other than that their pro careers are similar.

Not trying to change your mind bro. Like you said Penny went to the finals and was a 4 time all star. Drier was Greg too. But in MY opinion, Penny was better.

(01-30-2019 03:38 PM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  Not trying to change your mind bro. Like you said Penny went to the finals and was a 4 time all star. Drier was Greg too. But in MY opinion, Penny was better.

I'm not saying Rose has had the better NBA career. All i'm saying is that it's not clear cut that Penny is the former player with the best NBA career.

(01-30-2019 03:45 PM)tigers0830 Wrote:  

(01-30-2019 03:38 PM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  Not trying to change your mind bro. Like you said Penny went to the finals and was a 4 time all star. Drier was Greg too. But in MY opinion, Penny was better.

I'm not saying Rose has had the better NBA career. All i'm saying is that it's not clear cut that Penny is the former player with the best NBA career.

We are all entitled to our opinions.

(01-30-2019 09:56 AM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 09:58 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  Larry may have done things for the program which no other coach has ever done. But he is far from the greatest coach ever. He was given a lot of leeway in his tenure and most likely any other coach would have been fired years earlier than he was.

Any other coach would have been fired after the 92-93 season.

His teams were ranked in final AP poll just once and never finished season in top 15. And most years his teams never made it into the top 25.

Wasn't Larry fired 15 months after his team was ranked in the top 5. I don't think Pastner earned a ranking at all and he lasted a bunch of years.

Ranked #3 in January of 96 Fired in March of 97...Not sure how you can argue he was given more rope than anyone else.

Larry won more games in the tourney in 92 than Pastner won in his entire career yet you feel he should have been fired the next year...Insane.

Anyone who thinks he shouldn't have been fired is insane. Par for the course for you.

(01-29-2019 09:05 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 08:41 PM)Keeper Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 07:59 PM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 07:55 PM)Keeper Wrote:  

(01-29-2019 07:54 PM)Hernando Hills Tiger Wrote:  Larry did so much more than just being a great player and coach. I don't think it's fair to compare the two.

Not yet, but Penny's actions may some day put him in that conversation.

Bring a title home and Penny can squash that debate...

You don't get it do you? It is about much more than winning a basketball game. When the time comes, and I hope it does come, Penny will make the best argument for Larry, and Larry would make the best argument for Penny. Wining is important, but not all. At least not in the Tiger Nation I grew up in. Before Larry became the greatest Tiger of all time that discussion was wide open. Right now there is only one possible contender, and the reason he is a contender is because we could not at this time even consider anyone could be a better Tiger than Larry. It is because of guys like the Wilfongs, Penny, and Larry that it really matters. Ask Dwight Boyd, ask Elliot Perry, ask Tony Madlock they know why it matters.

It was in the era I grew up in. Speaking of winning, any thread like this that doesn't mention Mr. Keith Lee is short-sighted.

Big difference in that Lee was paid to come here so it taints his legacy. Dana basically outbid Nelson Catalina in Jonesboro.