Curse of the Fab Five

ESPN has a new 30 for 30 documentary coming out on Sunday about the Michigan “Fab Five.” The Fab Five are considered one of the greatest recruit classes in all of college basketball. Comprised of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, Michigan’s Fab Five made back to back NCAA National Title games in ‘92 and ’93.

The Michigan Fab Five

There impact went far beyond their accomplishments on the court. They played the game with a distinct and unseen flare. The hip hop influence that is so prevalent in today’s game can almost all but be traced back to the Michigan Fab Five. Being the first to wear baggy shorts and black socks, the Fab Five’s impact on the game of basketball is evident heavily in today’s game.

However, despite all of their talent and groundbreaking accomplishments, the Fab Five are notoriously known for failure. As freshmen the Five made the NCAA title game and were blown out by 20 by the Duke Blue Devils. Their second trip to the title game provide a much more memorable moment in sports history. Unfortunately for the Fab Five, Webber in particular, it was a fatal mistake that would make the game a classic. Webber’s timeout with none left in the final minutes cost the Five a title.

Two losses in the NCAA finals were easily forgotten as four of the five went on to have careers in the NBA. Webber, Rose and Howard would even go on to have highly effective careers.

The Miami Heat’s recent struggles despite their juggernaut of a team have been very well documented this year. By narrowly pulling out a win against the Lakers on Thursday evening, the Heat avoided losing their sixth game in a row. As I watched the game on ESPN, something suddenly occurred to me… Juwan Howard plays for the Heat.

I know what you’re thinking, “Big deal, where have you been?” While it does seem very miniscule, Howard’s presence on the Heat may be what is causing the Heat’s struggles and could eventually be the determining factor for the Heat’s failure to win the NBA championship.

Why am I picking on Juwan Howard? It’s not just Howard. Since 1994, the Fab Five members have been to NBA teams what the cursed gold pieces in the first Pirates of the Caribbean were to the Pirates. For years I have felt that the Fab Five members are cursed. Could it be that Dr. Naismith isn’t happy about the changes they made to his game and he has cursed them from the grave? Whatever the reason for their unfortune, the members of the Fab Five are a curse to any team they are on.

This is much more that a crazy conspiracy that I have created. After extensive research, try to digest these few stats. Of the four Fab Five that had NBA careers, the players have combined for 6 All-Star appearances, 6 All-NBA appearances, 1 Rookie of the Year, 1 Most Improved Player, 46,450 points scored and over 1800 regular season games won. Now consider these stats as well, just 3 conference finals appearances, 1 finals appearance, 11 first round exits, 21 seasons of missed playoffs and the four players combined to play for 21 NBA teams.

 

The Fab Five have played on some very talented NBA teams. Webber was the leader of Sacramento Kings teams that helped define the 2000’s. Rose played for quality Pacer teams and a 61 win Suns team. Howard has played an integral part on several teams that were considered title contenders.

Team	Record	Post Season
Chris Webber
94 Warriors	50-32	Swept in first round
95 Bullets	39-43	No playoffs
96 Bullets	44-38	Swept in first round
97 Bullets	42-40	No playoffs
98 Kings	27-23	Out in first round
99 Kings	44-38	Out in first round
00 Kings	55-27	Swept in second round
01 Kings	61-21	West Finals (Horry shot)
02 Kings	59-23	Out in second round
03 Kings	55-27	Out in second round
04 Kings	50-32	Out in first round
05 76ers	43-39	Out in first round
06 76ers	38-44	No playoffs
07 76ers	35-47	No playoffs
Jalen Rose
94 Nuggets	41-41	Swept in first round
95 Nuggets	35-47	No playoffs
96 Pacers	39-43	No playoffs
97 Pacers	58-24	East Finals
98 Pacers	33-17	East Finals
99 Pacers	56-26	Finals (Lost to Lakers)
00 Pacers	41-41	Out in first round
01 Pacers	42-40	Out in first round
02 Bulls	30-52	No playoffs
03 Bulls	23-59	No playoffs
04 Raptors	33-49	No playoffs
05 Raptors	27-55	No playoffs
06 Knicks	23-59	No playoffs
06 Suns	61-21	Out in the second round
Juwan Howard
94 Bullets	21-61	No playoffs
95 Bullets	39-43	No playoffs
96 Bullets	44-38	Swept in first round
97 Bullets	42-40	No playoffs
98 Bullets	18-32	No playoffs
99 Bullets	29-53	No playoffs
00 Bullets	19-63	No playoffs
01 Mavericks	57-25	Out in second round
02 Nuggets	17-65	No playoffs
03 Magic	21-61	No playoffs
04 Rockets	51-31	Out in first round
05 Rockets	34-48	No playoffs
06 Rockets	52-30	Out in first round
07 Mavericks	51-31	Out in first round
08 Bobcats	35-47	No playoffs
09 Blazers	50-32	Out in first round
10 Heat	Unknown	Shakey season
Jimmy King
95 Raptors	21-61	No playoffs
96 Nuggets	21-61	No playoffs

Maybe their losing has just been a product on unlucky timing. Webber’s King's run was also concurrent with the Shaq and Kobe era in L.A. The Kings were a lucky bounce right to a wide open Robert Horry away from making an appearance in the finals. Rose’s runs to conference finals were interrupted by, um? MICHAEL JORDAN and his stint with the Suns was plagued by a freak nose injury to Steve Nash in the playoffs. Howard toiled away on Washington teams and has only recently played on contenders in the twilight of his career. Their failures may just be unfortunate timing. Or maybe the fluke things like Horry’s shot and Nash’s nose were caused by the Fab Five’s curse.

Who decided getting Jalen
Rose was a good idea?

No matter the reason, the Fab Five appear to be cursed. Sorry for Miami Heat fans but your acquisition of Howard may have doomed your season. While we may look back on the Heats first year struggles in retrospect and blame it on a lack of cohesion or poor coaching, at this very moment, I’m putting the blame on Howard and the Fab Five curse.