Brian Williams, who would later come to be known as Bison Dele, is one of the most talented players on this list. When this guy was on, he was ON, and he had the ability to greatly impact the game. That is a big reason why he was drafted tenth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.
But he never really thrived early on in his career. He bounced around from the Magic to the Nuggets to the Clippers to, well, nobody. He was a free agent going into the 1996-97 season, and he just didn't get signed. He was a good player who could have helped a team, but his asking price was too high for a team to take a chance on him, so he just sat out. It wasn't until April 2, 1997 that he finally signed on with the Chicago Bulls. It would turn out to be a great decision for everyone involved.
Since he was signed so late in the year, he would only appear in nine games during the regular season. He was a little rusty with his shot but still played well, and the Bulls were certainly happy to have him as he played over 15 minutes per game.
But where Dele mattered was in the playoffs. When the bench shrinks down, many players lose their role, but Dele actually got more playing time once the playoffs hit. He played in every playoff game as he provided a needed spark off the bench. Also of note is that they started him off slow in the early rounds, but his playing time took an uptick as the importance in games grew, averaging over 20 minutes in the NBA Finals.
Why the uptick? Because he was a reliable big man, not something those Chicago Bulls teams were known for. His stats didn't stand out, but he filled a valuable role. The Bulls would finish the Jazz in six games, with Dele playing 23 minutes in that clinching game. He only had four points, but he also chipped in with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal.
It was enough for the Pistons to sign him to a seven-year $47 million dollar contract that following offseason. I know I talked about how talented the man was on the court, but he was also just a pretty impressive person all around. He played the saxophone, violin, and trumpet. He earned his pilot's license. Hell, he even dated Madonna. He retired at age 30, leaving $36 million on the table just because he could.
Unfortunately, Dele is the subject of the most tragic story of any player involved in the Bulls dynasty. He and his girlfriend (and the boat captain) were lost at sea in the South Pacific in 2002 at the age of 33. There was significant evidence against his brother, but it will remain a mystery as his brother overdosed on insulin during the investigation and died in a California hospital.
Usually, I try to end these with something lighthearted and fun, but it's tough to transition to something fun with an ending like that. If you'd like to read more about Dele, I'd recommend Tim Keown's piece in ESPN The Magazine. Dele lived life right; I just wish he would have had more time to do it.
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