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NBA: 20 Past Players That Would Have Owned Twitter

By Bill Speros

Nov 11, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The NBA Canada Twitter logo is displayed on a signboard and reflected in the floor before the Toronto Raptors game against the Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 104-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The NBA Canada Twitter logo is displayed on a signboard and reflected in the floor before the Toronto Raptors game against the Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 104-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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8 Apr 1997: Guard Isaiah Rider of the Portland Trail Blazers stands on the court during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won the game 87-82.
8 Apr 1997: Guard Isaiah Rider of the Portland Trail Blazers stands on the court during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won the game 87-82. /

19. Isaiah Rider

There was nothing “Easy” about being involved with J.R. Rider, who soon became Isaiah Rider during his NBA playing days. Another terrific talent, Rider’s undoing was due to Rider.

He was spared the scourge of social media in spite of his unusual antics thanks to his playing career with six different teams running from 1993-2001.

Rider quickly impacted the league. He averaged 20.4 points with the Minnesota Timberwolves as an NBA sophomore, won the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest and loved to dunk on anyone and everyone. His self-described “swagger” gave him confidence to face off without fear against the likes of Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler.

But he also feuded with coach Bill Blair so much that the team decided to suspend him. Accusations of tardiness to meetings, practices or flights became part of his rep as a player. He totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to the league.

When he wasn’t playing, his rep was far more insidious.

He physically assaulted a female manager of a sports bar, was arrested for marijuana possession while carrying an illegal cell phone, was nabbed for illegally gambling in Oakland, got suspended three games after spit on a fan sitting courtside and threatened to have Dikembe Mutombo killed.

His most offensive act, at least to one’s ears, was the release of a single called “Funk in the Trunk” in 2004.

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