Of course, most fans know Chris Webber best from either his current role as a color analyst for TNT, his college career at Michigan (specifically, this moment) or his time with the Sacramento Kings. But the five-time All-Star spent four seasons in Washington, where he developed into one of the league’s best power forwards.
The former No. 1 overall pick had many talents. He was a great rebounder, could handle the ball well for someone of his size and was a gifted passer (all on display in this game). However, Webber’s ability to put the ball through the net is what made him such a special player.
Washington acquired the talented forward via a trade with the team that drafted him in the Golden State Warriors. Webber became available largely due to irreconcilable differences between him and then-Warriors head coach Don Nelson, as Nelson wanted Webber to play out of position in a traditional center role.
Webber felt that such a role was a waste of his talents. Despite some attempts to smooth things over, Webber and the Warriors agreed to a sign-and-trade after one season.
During his four years with the Bullets/Wizards, which reunited him with fellow “Fab 5” member Juwan Howard, Webber averaged 20.9 points per game — which places him ninth on the franchise’s all-time list — with a .501/.336/.560 shooting line (he would improve on his free throw shooting later in his career).
His efforts helped the team end an eight-year playoff drought in the 1996-97 season, although they were promptly swept by the Chicago Bulls in the first round.
Like a lot of players on this list, Webber saw even better success once he left D.C., but it was here where he began to live up to his high expectations.