Every franchise has that fluky All-Star player that has a terrific season and then he never reaches that level again. For the Philadelphia 76ers, that came in 2001 when big man Theo Ratliff was selected as an All-Star before going down with an injury and was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Dikembe Mutombo.
Ratliff averaged a career-high 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks in 50 games before the trade and he never reached that level again. Mostly due to injuries and age, but the 2001 season was special for the big man.
He was named a fluke All-Star of the 2000’s decade by Bleacher Report as they said:
Most of his success came on the defensive side of the ball, as the 6’10” big man averaged double digits in scoring just four times in his career.
His offensive production and team success both hit a peak in 2001, however, as playing with Allen Iverson on a 56-win, Finals-bound team helped Ratliff get a little more recognition.
Putting up 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks and shooting 49.9 percent from the field, Ratliff was a surprising All-Star, but unfortunately he never even got to play in the game because of an injury.
Ratliff was a key member of that Sixers team despite not being able to be a part of the playoff run to the Finals. His early-season production allowed the Sixers to acquire an upgrade in Mutombo and Philadelphia did make the most of the deal. [lawrence-related id=33750,33740,33730]