Richard Dumas...what could have been

ron_dasun — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:55:20 -0000

I remeber as a kid, watching the Sun's trade for Charles Barkley in the summer of 1992. I was so excited thinking about the potent line-up we would run out on the floor. Mark West, Charles Barkley, Cedric Ceballos, Dan Majerle, and Kevin Johnson would be the team I felt could finally dethrone DA BULLS. This team was fully of savy vets and a couple of rookies that were trying to crack the rotation. Oliver Miller from Arkansas was one rookie ( I knew him well being from the South) and Richard Dumas from Oklahoma State ( I wasn't familiar with him at all). As well as Oliver Miller played that year, Richard Dumas was far and away the Suns best rookie. He even unseated Cedric Ceballos for the starting small forward spot. Now Ced was super athletic, but Dumas a freak and quickly gained his teams respect with his abilities. Dumas was Shawn Marion with a nice jumper. He had pogo sticks for legs and believed in finishing emphatically at the rim. The Suns were so impressed that they sent Ceballos packing to the Lakers over the Summer of 1993. Sadly a drug suspension cut short Dumas career with the Suns. Dumas bounced around the league to a couple other teams, but never was able to recapture or build upon his outstanding rookie year. Richard Dumas could have been something special if only he could have exercised his demons. This is another moment in Suns history that didn't quite turn out the way we thought.

game 5 of 1993 finals Richard Dumas at his best

BATTLE CRY "REMEBER THE KNICKS '99!!"

ron_dasun — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:07:06 -0000

I think we all can agree that the Suns do look very lost and unispired right now. They are definately a team that many aren't expecting to go very far if we do even make the playoffs. Well fellow Suns fans, I want you to focus your attention on a team that was in even more disarray than our squad; the New York Knicks of the '99 season. I say the '99 season because it was the strike shorten season and all the games were played that season and none in 1998. That Knicks team had a mixture of savy vets and some very raw young talent, but were able to put together one of the most improvable runs to the finals ever. Now once there they did lose to the most hated San Antonio Spurs in what was the Spurs first title in Tim Duncans second year in the league, but that's more of a side note. They were an eighth seed that UPSET the top seeded Miami Heat, then they went on to upset the Atlanta Hawks and the Indiana Pacers. The point I want to convey is, just get to the playoffs by any means possible. Once there anything can and will happen. I know it would be against the hated Lakers or the Spurs most likely as a first round draw, but like Rick Flair used to say..." In order to be the best you have got to BEAT the best". If the lowly Knicks whick no one gave a chance to could shock the world, well then why not us.

SB Nation User Blog: ron_dasun

Richard Dumas...what could have been

BATTLE CRY "REMEBER THE KNICKS '99!!"