J.R. Rider — 2001 Los Angeles Lakers
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J.R. Rider came to the Lakers as a star. He had scored more than 18 points a game in seven seasons in the NBA with the Timberwolves, Blazers, and Hawks, though he knew he would be taking on a smaller role with the defending champion Lakers. Rider scored just as frequently per minute but only got to play 18 minutes off the bench since, you know, a guy named Kobe Bryant kind of needed a lot of playing time.
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Rider played even less in the playoffs — as in, not at all. The Lakers decided Rider had given them enough in the regular season and went on to win their second straight title without him. But he’ll always have that Eastbay Funk Dunk, the winner in the 1994 Slam Dunk contest.
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