Denny Hocking All-Stars Inductee: Stanley Roberts

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Talk to any Wolves fan who grew up watching the fledgling franchise in the 90s and they can rattle off the many failed experiments at the Center position.  Luc Longley, Felton Spencer, Stacey King, Mike Brown, Thurl Bailey, Paul Grant and Stoyko Vrankovic.  It was perhaps because of this long list of failure that many Wolves fans, including yours truly at STS, developed a soft spot in their heart for many an over-matched center donning the Timberwolves uniform.  It is in that tradition that we induct former Wolves great...er good...er mediocre...center Stanley Roberts into the Denny Hocking All-Stars. 

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Acquired for the aforementioned Stoyko Vrankovic prior to the 97-98 season, "Big Stan" started 44 games for Wolves, averaging 6.2 pts and 4.9 rebs per contest.  And while he may not have solved the Wolves problems at the Center position, there's at least one former pudgy post player who can still recall December 11, 1997 watching the Kevin Harlan call the game as Big Stan put up 20 pts and 8 boards against Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks.

Sadly, things went south soon after the 97-98 season for Roberts.  Released by the Wolves, he signed with the Rockets and then 76ers in the 1999 season before being banned from the NBA for drug use.  He made a couple of brief stops the next couple of years overseas but drug use and weight problems ultimately ended his career. 

We at Shoot That S!  salute Big Stanley Roberts, newest member of the Denny Hocking All-Stars.