Isaiah Rider used to give out buckets when he was known as J.R. Rider.
To hear the name Isaiah Rider is this day and time, he is just remembered for his exploits in the All-Star slam dunk contests back in the 90s. Sure plenty of past winners (Nate Robinson, Harold Miner, Desmond Mason etc.) didn’t transfer that dynamic to regular-season games, but Rider did.
Rider started his NBA career strong, finishing the 1993–94 season as a member of the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team. He won the 1994 NBA Slam Dunk Contest that he said on draft day he’d win! The dunk that started a phenomenon that lives to this day was the between the legs dunk that he called “The East Bay Funk Dunk.”
In Minnesota, Rider was known for two plays. Considering the Timberwolves were worse than they are now, it’s safe to say that Rider actually kept them relevant.
Remember that miraculous shot against the Sacramento Kings? After losing control of the ball with it going out-of-bounds, he threw the ball over his shoulder and the ball went in. The TV announcer called it the play of the decade. Multiple times. Did we fail to mention that it was 1994 and the decade wasn’t halfway over yet?
Then this move here. Lake Show Life would like to say sorry to Willie Anderson for bringing up old stuff.
The announcer at the time was Kevin Harlan, who is considered the voice of the NBA today. Isaiah Rider owes Harlan a lot of credit for his shine as well. Every time Rider would fly in for a dunk, you would hear Kevin Harlan scream “WHOAAAAA EAAAAASSSSSSY RIDERRRRRRRRR!”
Three years later, Rider played his way out-of-town to Portland and Atlanta before playing himself off the playoff roster with the Lakers. When Stephen A. Smith would yell “Stay off the weed!” to athletes, Rider was on the list. Marijuana and other things derailed his career.
In Minnesota:
- He was found to be insubordinate towards Timberwolves management.
- Rider was involved in an incident in which he kicked the female manager of a sports bar for which he ultimately was convicted of fifth-degree assault.
- Just before the trade to Portland Rider was arrested for marijuana possession.
In Portland:
- Rider sealed his fate in an incident in which he allegedly spat at a fan and an employee back 1997.
- He refused to talk to security about it and got suspended for three games and was fined $10,000.
In Atlanta:
- After reports surfaced that Rider had smoked marijuana in an Orlando hotel room, the NBA demanded that he attend drug counseling. He refused and was fined a total of $200,000 until he agreed to attend. He was suspended numerous times by the Hawks and fined a total of $200,000 by the them as well.
- Rider was known to be tardy for games and practices, prompting the Hawks to threaten a three-game suspension for another incident.
- It didn’t work. Rider showed up late for a March game in Detroit, and rather than serve a three-game suspension, he demanded his outright release. The Hawks dropped him before he finished his request.
With all of this history here, it makes sense why Shaq would actually go to Rider to do the dirty work.