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Chris Webber he was a controversial figure during the preservation of the NBA early in his career. A proud, game-changing member of the Fab Five at the University of Michigan, Webber was a household name before arriving in the NBA, although many fans did not like Webber's antics, or his Michigan teammates.
Regardless, in the early 2000s, Webber was a popular player for the Sacramento Kings and one of the most powerful forwards in the NBA. Webber was supposed to be a member of the USA Olympic Team in 2000 or 2004. However, his involvement in a nasty legal battle involving Ed Martina former Michigan basketball booster who was eventually convicted of tax evasion and embezzlement, definitely put him out of the running.
Webber was indicted for perjury before a grand jury in 2002. He eventually pleaded guilty to contempt for lying about his role in accepting the illegal loan from Martin, receiving a lesser sentence. In fact, Martin's death in early 2003 may have actually kept Webber from getting into more trouble, as Martin had to testify about what happened between himself and Webber financially at the trial before his death.
Anyway, the veteran NBA writer Marc Stein wrote about Webber wanting to play for Team USA in the 2004 Olympics but not being able to because of his legal troubles at the time:
Sacramento's Chris Webber is back on the brink of the MVP derby, despite a 15-game ankle injury, but he's not back on USA Basketball's radar. Not yet. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding Webber's legal status, as ESPN.com reported in December, has kept him out of Team USA consideration until now. …. Although Webber said in November that he wanted to represent his country, the selection committee is reluctant to discuss the idea because of Webber's perjury case that will come to light this summer. The trial is scheduled to begin on July 8 despite the recent death of former University of Michigan student Ed Martin, the prosecution's star witness, at the age of 69. …. It remains to be seen whether Webber's official cloud will lift in time for him to emerge with the national team, which is openly looking for big men.
Another famous NBA reporter, David Aldridgehe similarly wrote about Webber's Team USA history, saying the Hall-of-Fame big man also missed the 2000 Olympics because of his legal problems related to Martin:
It is clear to me that if not for his involvement with Martin, Webber would have been on the 2000 US Olympic team, which won the gold medal in Australia, and – another possible feather in his cap that would have strengthened his Hall of Fame credentials.
Regardless, it's clear that Webber would have made the Team USA roster if it weren't for his legal troubles, especially in the early 2000s when USA Basketball was in dire straits and in need of top talent. Lest we forget, the 2004 USA Basketball Team lost three games in the tournament and finished with the bronze medal.
Webber doesn't tend to be scorned, however, as the big man often missed All-Star and All-NBA berths in his prime, earning MVP votes in five different seasons but having only five All-Stars and All- NBA five. (just one of them Team 1) to show you that. Fewer players have more All-Star nods than Webber despite his insane highs, which saw him average 23.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.7 blocks on 48.5% shooting over seven years from 1996 to 2003. .
All in all, Webber will go down as one of the best American zero-headers on USA Basketball's elite team.
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