Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is another list of potential comebacks that would’ve been fun to play with in video games.

As I’ve taken a few more trips around the sun, I’ve developed stronger opinions about veterans seemingly being shooed out of the NBA. It just doesn’t feel right when long-tenured players – especially former All-Stars – end their careers so unceremoniously. Of course, as Jackie MacMullan discussed in a column some ten years ago, veteran NBA players don’t always know when their time has come, and when to let go. She cited R.C. Buford, who recalled an embarrassing 15-minute workout by an unnamed former Spurs player after they expressed an interest in returning midseason.

Mind you, some players do retire too soon, while others have shown that they can still be productive in their late 30s and even into their 40s. There have also been successful comebacks, even if those players weren’t quite as good as they were in their prime. As much as “Wizards Michael Jordan” is a meme, that stint is slightly underrated, as MJ was finding his groove prior to his knee injury. With that in mind, I’m in favour of players making or even just considering comebacks. There are some fascinating What Ifs with the ones that almost happened, and they could’ve been a blast in video games, too. And so, here are five more comebacks that would’ve been fun for hoops gamers!

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: New York Knicks (Or Maybe, the Detroit Pistons?)

It’s surprising that this isn’t one of the bigger stories when it comes to NBA What Ifs. At the very least, it flew under my radar for a long time! Perhaps it’s because it didn’t come all that close to actually happening, but the possibility of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar returning in 1991 should be mentioned alongside the potential comebacks of Wilt Chamberlain and other Legends. Nevertheless, Kareem did indeed consider making a comeback in the wake of Magic Johnson’s announcement that he was retiring due to his HIV diagnosis. On top of generating positive buzz and helping to raise awareness, he also intended to donate a portion of his salary to help with HIV/AIDS research.

There were no discussions with any teams, though naturally once Kareem floated the idea, there was interest. His former coach Pat Riley was very open to having him on the Knicks, and then-Pistons GM Jack McCloskey wouldn’t rule anything out. Both are intriguing scenarios, especially with the Knicks already poised to contend for the title in 1992. Though Kareem had obviously slowed down and taken a back seat to Magic in his later years, he could still play. As Riley noted, he kept in fantastic shape, and could’ve been a solid backup to Patrick Ewing. That Knicks team may still fall to the Bulls, but they’d be great in video games, especially as a retro squad nowadays.

2. Magic Johnson: The Two Comebacks That Didn’t Happen

Speaking of Magic Johnson, he did end up making a comeback in 1996; just another event that made that legendary season special! There were other potential comebacks, though. The first was in 1992, after winning gold with the Dream Team. Magic suited up for the Lakers in the preseason and played well, but in the early 90s, there was still a lack of understanding about HIV/AIDS. As such, other players – most vocally Karl Malone – were concerned about the risk of infection, despite the unlikelihood. When Magic suffered a cut in a game against the Cavaliers (actually just a scratch that didn’t even bleed), the reaction to the incident contributed to his decision to remain retired.

Magic’s eventual comeback in 1996 has an interesting and complicated legacy, but if nothing else, it allowed him to walk away on his terms. The Lakers renounced their rights to him when he retired again, which helped clear cap space to sign Shaquille O’Neal. Unsurprisingly, the idea of playing with Shaq appealed to Magic, leading to thoughts of another comeback. It would’ve had to wait until January 1997 because of his rights being renounced, but we realistically could’ve had a Lakers team featuring Shaq, Magic, and a rookie Kobe Bryant! That squad would be a blast to use in any of the 1997 video games, and I’d absolutely want them as a classic team in NBA 2K.

3. Carlos Boozer: San Antonio Spurs

In the aforementioned Jackie MacMullan article, it’s revealed that there was mutual interest in Carlos Boozer joining the Spurs in 2016, after he remained unsigned the previous season. However, the team wanted him to participate in their June minicamp, which the former All-Star declined. Boozer also subsequently decided against joining the Spurs’ Summer League squad, and by the end of July he’d signed on to play in China. His best days were behind him, but he’d still been solid for the Lakers in 2015. I’m not saying he would’ve made the Spurs contenders, but he could’ve shored up their bench. It’s also the kind of depth that makes teams more fun to use in video games.

Furthermore, it could’ve set a great example for other veterans who may be eyeing comebacks. Look, I’m sure it was a blow to the ego of a former All-Star and once-coveted free agent to be asked to prove himself alongside draftees and other NBA hopefuls. I can see how it would feel disrespectful. However, as R.C. Buford said, he’d sat out a year, and they wanted to evaluate him. Whereas Antoine Walker and Baron Davis were willing to play in the D-League when attempting their comebacks, Boozer seemingly let pride get in the way of an even better opportunity. Had he not, it could’ve illuminated a path back to the NBA for other veterans seeking one more shot.

4. Jerry Stackhouse: Toronto Raptors

MacMullan’s article also includes some insights from Jerry Stackhouse, who at the time was an assistant for the Raptors, and just a few years removed from being that aging player whose career was petering out. Stack recalls how he initially earned more minutes than he anticipated as a veteran mentor when he outplayed some of his much younger Nets teammates, but ended up being benched following a coaching change. He was therefore rusty when called upon in the Playoffs, and his final games were unimpressive to say the least. Stack’s skills didn’t just disappear though, and as an assistant for the Raptors in 2016, he held his own against their players in practices.

Needless to say, thoughts of a comeback crossed Stack’s mind; particularly when the team was in search of a stretch four. Personally, I’d have loved to see that happen! On top of making the virtual Raptors interesting in video games, it could’ve destroyed a bunch of ignorant narratives. It would’ve been beautiful to watch people who assert that the 90s were lacking in skill, and that 6’7″ forwards from that era would be small guards today, tie themselves in knots whenever they were asked to explain why a 6’6″ swingman drafted in 1995 was not only knocking down threes, but capable of playing power forward in a supposedly “evolved” modern NBA…and at the age of 42, no less!

5. Clyde Drexler: A Contender in the Early 2000s

Even as we were entering the mid 2000s, it still seemed possible that we might see stars of the 90s making comebacks. While some were proactively pursuing a return, others were merely open to the idea. To that point, unlike Dennis Rodman, Clyde Drexler wasn’t looking to make a comeback circa 2004. He was still receiving offers from teams though, and while he stated that it’d take a strong pitch from a contender to lure him out of contented retirement, he also didn’t completely shut the door on the idea. In fact, The Glide opined that he could still be effective in limited minutes off the bench as a player-coach, and even called the prospect of being a role player “fun”.

It could’ve been fun for us basketball fans and gamers, too. Had he signed on with any of the contenders from the early 2000s, there would’ve been plenty of interest in how well he played, and if he could make a positive contribution in a smaller role. Though he’d obviously have lower ratings, his virtual counterpart would also make that team novel to use on the virtual hardwood. Among other What Ifs, I also wonder if it might have made it more acceptable for other stars to either stick around as player-coaches when they’re past their prime, or consider making comebacks in such a role. We often see it as sad, but I think Drexler could’ve shown it can be done with dignity and grace.

Do you wish these comebacks became a reality? Are there any other rumoured returns that I haven’t yet covered that you would’ve been keen to see? Have your say in the comments, and as always, feel free to take the discussion to the NLSC Forum! That’s all for this week, so thanks for checking in, have a great weekend, and please join me again next Friday for another Five.