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Chris Webber Webber was somewhat of a controversial figure early in his NBA career, due to the much more conservative nature of the time. As one of the Fab Five at the University of Michigan, the braggart and game-changing player was well-known even before he reached the NBA, but many fans were not a fan of the antics of Webber and his Michigan teammates.
Either way, by the early 2000s, Webber had become a star for the Sacramento Kings and one of the best power forwards in the NBA. Webber was expected to be a member of the U.S. Olympic team in either 2000 or 2004. Ed MartinThe former University of Michigan basketball booster, who was convicted of tax evasion and robbery, certainly took him out of the running.
Webber was charged with lying to a grand jury in 2002. He eventually pleaded guilty to criminal contempt for lying about taking illegal loans from Martin and received a lighter sentence. In fact, Webber might not have gotten into further trouble if Martin had died in early 2003, because Martin was scheduled to testify about what happened financially with Webber at his sentencing hearing before his death.
Still, veteran NBA reporter Mark Stein Weber wrote that he wanted to play for the U.S. Olympic team in 2004 but was prevented from doing so by legal troubles at the time.
Sacramento’s Chris Webber has returned to the fringes of the MVP Derby despite missing 15 games with an ankle injury, but he’s not back on USA Basketball’s radar. Not yet. As ESPN.com reported in December, ongoing uncertainty about Webber’s legal situation has, to date, kept him out of consideration for the U.S. team. … Webber said in November that he would like to represent the country, but the selection committee has been hesitant to even discuss the idea with Webber’s perjury trial looming this summer. The trial is scheduled to begin July 8, despite the recent death at age 69 of the prosecution’s main witness, former University of Michigan benefactor Ed Martin. … It remains to be seen whether Webber’s legal issues will clear up enough for him to have a chance to make the national team, which openly covets big-bodied players.
Another legendary NBA reporter, David Aldridgewrote about Webber’s history with the U.S. national team as well, noting that the Hall of Fame big man also missed the 2000 Olympics due to Martin-related legal issues.
Without his involvement with Martin, Webber certainly would have been a part of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team and won a gold medal in Australia, another feat that could further enhance his Hall of Fame eligibility.
Either way, it is clear that had Weber not had legal issues, he would have been selected to be a member of the U.S. team, especially in the early 2000s, when U.S. basketball was in a slump and needed top talent. Let’s not forget, the 2004 U.S. basketball team lost three games in the tournament and finished with the bronze medal.
But Webber is used to being ignored. The big man often missed out on an All-Star or All-NBA spot during his prime. Though he was voted MVP five seasons, he was selected to the All-Star or All-NBA only five times (only one of those was first team). Webber averaged 23.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.7 blocks while shooting 48.5 percent from the field over a seven-year span from 1996-2003, yet far fewer players received as many All-Star nominations as Webber.
Overall, Weber will be remembered as one of the best American players, despite never being selected for the senior USA Basketball team.
