Situation and luck are two giant factors that determine the trajectory of any NBA player’s career. The randomness of injuries and the supporting cast around athletes can either maximize or decimate even the most gifted athlete’s potential.
For some, injuries become a blip on the radar in what turns out to be a stellar career. Joel Embiid missed the 2014 and 2015 season with foot problems and just finished second in MVP voting this season.
Some aren’t as lucky. Look no further than the man picked right before Embiid, Jabari Parker, who has been dealt bad hands since his first days on NBA rosters.