10 NBA Players We'd Like to See Make D-League Comebacks

Image via Complex Original

Greg Ostertag (above) and Ricky Davis are currently trying to make comebacks in the NBA D-League. Antoine Walker, D'Sean Butler, and former dunk champ Gerald Green are also attempting to earn a spot on a roster. This got us thinking, what former players do we want to see rise from the bowels of the NBA's minor leagues and land a 10-day contract or something? Dudes that still have something left like Allen Iverson and Keith Van Horn came to mind. How about over-the-hill players like the sworn enemies Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman? We think they could use that old man strength and school a few young'ns. Check out the 10 NBA Players We'd Like to See Make D-League Comebacks....

Shawn Bradley

Career: (1993-2005); 8.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.5 BPG
Teams: Sixers, Nets, Mavs
Why else, if not to get dunked on? Blake Griffin would make the Mozgov dunk look like Amateur Hour after he's done with Bradley. There hasn't been a poster boy for such emasculations since he retired. At 7-foot-6 he'll still be able to get a block or two and he could come in, get blammed on to get the crowd hype, and then be relegated to the end of the bench. The NBA should really consider adding him to the slam dunk contest. Cats could do crazy, ill shit, but it'll only count if they dunk on Shawn Bradley. No? It's a better concept than the 2002 wheel idea at least.

Kwame Brown

Career: (2001-Present); 6.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Teams: Wizards, Lakers, Grizzlies, Pistons, Bobcats, Warriors
Yeah we know he's still in the league, but Kwame needs to work on his game. Unfairly and incompetently drafted by His Airness as the No. 1 pick in the 2001 Draft, he never fit the bill. Just like the rest of America, we could not believe the Golden State Warriors gave this man millions of dollars. In a perfect world, the likes of Jared Jeffries would be getting paid more than him and Kwame would be the highest paid D-Leaguer in history. There is absolutely nothing this bum brings to the game of basketball other than being "almost 7-feet."

Stephon Marbury

Career: (1996-2009); 19.3 PPG, 3 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.2 SPG
Teams: T'Wolves, Nets, Suns, Knicks
Starbury has been exiled to the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) the last three years and has been tearing it up, averaging 24 PPG, 5 RPG, 7 APG, and 2 SPG. He still has game at 34, so an NBA comeback isn't impossible. The question is can Marbury swallow his pride (instead of Vaseline!) and play for a D-League team in Iowa? We would all like a daily dose of insane quotes and antics from Steph, but for now we'll just have to settle for his Twitter feed.

Keith Van Horn

Career: (1997-2006); 16 PPG, 6.8 RPG
Teams: Nets, Sixers, Knicks, Bucks, Mavs
Poor Keith. He wasn't built for rabid sports towns like Philly and New York. He was used to abusing cats at Utah for four years and was drafted with the hopes of turning the Nets around. The media and fans called him soft on a daily basis. Van Horn is only 36 and left basketball with some game left, helping Dallas reach the 2006 Finals vs. Miami. He could definitely rise through the ranks of the D-League and help a team get over the hump.

Rafer Alston

Career: (1999-2010); 10 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.2 SPG
Teams: Bucks, Raptors, Heat, Rockets, Magic, Nets
Skip is only 35 and could help a team that lacks depth in the backcourt. A lot of GMs don't like his attitude and feel his street ball background is a liability, but one thing's for sure: Rafer can handle the rock. He could use his stint in the D-League to finally iron out the kinks in that dreadful mid-range jumper of his. All he needs is a coach to turn him loose and pay some of the refs off, so they won't call a palming violation every time he embarrasses somebody with the "Skip To My Lou." It's really that simple.

Karl Malone

Career: (1985-2004); 25 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG
Teams: Jazz, Lakers
You've seen that Skechers commercial. The Mailman is ready for one last shot at Kareem's scoring record. Seriously, though, Karl keeps himself in great shape and like Rodman would bully his way to a couple buckets in today's NBA. All he needs to do is land on the Suns and have Nash feed him dimes until he catches "Cap." He and his daughter, Cheryl Ford would be the first father-daughter duo in NBA-WNBA history.

Dennis Rodman

Career: (1986-2000); 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG
Teams: Pistons, Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, Mavs
Dennis is 50 years old and is still in great shape. Standing at 6'7", Rodman could pull down a couple boards a game, harass the teams best player and pick up a "T" in limited action. The NBA is soft nowadays, we need a bad guy like "The Worm," to make us appreciate people that don't give a fuck. He'll be out there at 50, straight causing havoc and forcing David Stern into retirement.

Penny Hardaway

Career: (1993-2008); 15.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5 APG, 1.6 SPG
Teams: Magic, Suns, Knicks, Heat
Penny had some of the toughest breaks out of everyone on this list. This was a guy that was headed to the Hall until knee injuries plagued his time in the L. He was so nice, Nike invented the Foamposites for him (arguably the greatest basketball shoe ever made). He remained a class act through it all and still continues to hit us in the head with dope kicks. We want to see him rock those Royal Blue Foams one more time and maybe win a chip riding the pine somewhere. Now all we have left of the old Penny is in NBA 2K12.

Isaiah Rider

Career: (1993-2002); 16.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.7 APG
Teams: T'Wolves, Blazers, Hawks, Lakers, Nuggets
The inventor of the "EastBay Funk" (or is he?) never lived up to his potential. He's been charged with fraud, battery, domestic violence, kidnapping and possession of Mary Jane (among other things) over the years. What better way to make a comeback, than through the D-League? J.R. should have some gas left in the tank at 40 because of all the years he's missed while being a low-life. He could show he's a changed man, and get a little 10-day contract to put some bread in his pocket so his P.O. can finally let him take that coaching gig (allegedly).

Allen Iverson

Career: (1996-2010); 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG
Teams: Sixers, Nuggets, Pistons, Grizzlies
A.I. needs to come back to the NBA. The game hasn't been the same since he left. All these cats bit his style and perverted it. Cornrows and tats was all him, Stern Corleone even changed the dress code because of the god. Too bad he felt he was too good for the Grizzlies' bench, Iverson might've put them over the top during the 2011 Playoffs as their sixth man. He took his talents to Turkey in 2010, but had to return to the states for calf surgery. And rumor has it, he's willing to come back to the L under any role. If fucking Greg Ostertag can make a D-League team, A.I. should be good to go.