Isaiah Rider ’s NBA career, though lasted barely nine seasons, saw him play a significant role for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Portland Trail Blazers . His career began with considerable promise, from averaging 29.1 points per game during his senior year at UNLV to winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in his rookie campaign. However, what initially appeared to be a trajectory toward stardom ultimately devolved into a cautionary tale squandered by behavioral issues.
Rider antics were always troublesome
Selected as the No. 5 overall pick in the 1993 draft, JR lived up to the hyped expectations by averaging 16.6 points per game to earn a nod in the All-NBA Rookie Team. Despite his evident potential, Rider’s lack of professionalism quickly became apparent. The California native was chronically tardy for team commitments, meetings, and practices, including his first team practice.
While his on-court performance remained strong, with him averaging 20.4 points in his sophomore year and 19.6 points in his third year, his off-court conduct got increasingly problematic. Multiple arrests, including charges of horrendous fifth-degree assault and possession of stolen phones, only worsened his reputation.