The Tragic NBA Story Of Dajuan Wagner
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2023
- Dajuan Wagner was once considered the greatest prospect across the nation. He was drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2002 with the #6 pick, but his career was set to fail before it even began.
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Unfortunate basketball career but with $11 million and being responsible with it by not splurging and not being broke? This man has won at life. He's a bigger winner than someone like Antoine Walker
True, but he still had all the difficulties of his past
@@Jonathan-A.C.at least he got a way out. Just imagine how many of his peers from back then are still stuck in that life.
Oof what happened to Walker?
@@johndotcue
He basically washed his money away via fiscal irresponsibility, although he had some other issues that affected him before that point, AFAIA
Antoine Walker had some property deals that went south during the GFC.
If there's more, please let us know
This story is actually uplifting in a way. He spent his money wisely, is doing okay today, and has a son who is the #6 prospect in the class of 2023 and is about to start playing at Kentucky. Not everyone who goes through as many difficulties as Wagner comes out on the other side.
For people that don’t know him his son is a top NBA prospect for next years draft.
Ohhhh, DJ damn hopefully history doesn't repeat itself
Malika would definitely mention this during the draft
@@bunsdarius9223definitely especially the drug case
Is it DJ Wagner? Am I right?
@@insanity9413 👍🏽
As someone who suffers with colon and gastrointestinal disease I feel for him. That shit happens and ruins your entire life. Nothing is ever the same.
_Let’s see how many times Malika Andrews brings up Wagner’s story when his son gets drafted next year…_
I watched the NBA free agency special yesterday. She's busy hosting the show, Woj breaks a signing, and then later on they give her co credit for breaking the story. No wonder Rachel Nichols was so salty when she left. They are just bending over backwards at ESPN to prop this woman up and make her look good.
I really don’t understand the hate for her.
@@RampagingChipmunk she relies on stereotypes of black players. Like when a player succeeds, she would bring something up to put the down
@@RampagingChipmunk
She’s shits on players and NBA people and talks about things unrelated to basketball, while otherwise not being very entertaining
@@RampagingChipmunk It comes down to basically ESPN pushed her into Rachel Nichols job and true or not, it was perceived as a woke affirmative action type thing. IDK what went down and have no opinion on that but that's probably where it started from. Personally, it's pretty shady that she gets to take credit for someone elses work plain as day on national TV and he just has to sit and take it. If the shoe was on the other foot and that man was trying to take credit for her work, there would be a lot more "hate" as you put it. To me it's just legitimate criticism.
He may not have made in the NBA, but it seems like he’s a standup guy, and that he’s made it in life 🙏
A player that really could never catch a break in his career.
This is actually a very inspirational story. He is more responsible than most pro athletes. My mom always told me God loves those who love their families.
i know all about Wagner, mainly cause i grew up 5 minutes outside of Camden. he also dropped that 100 points in my alma mater. there's always that "what if" for him with all of his injuries and unfortunate, but he is doing right for his son like his agent (Leon Rose) did for senior. that 11 million dollar rookie deal Wagner sign was fully guaranteed. Rose knew about Wagner's health issues and make sure that Wagner and his family would be okay. you can find Wagner around Camden and trying to keep the youth on the right path away from the dangers of the city. truly a role model and stand staying guy. a lot upside for his son too considering DJ is in the same class as his old teammate's son: Bronny James.
Exactly. I went to Wilson. Arch rivals, and I rooted for him heavily. It ain't nothing tragic about Juanny. He's living his best life while giving back to the community and elevating his own son to NBA stardom. This is a terrible video.
Dude was gonna be a better (controlled jump off 2 feet) version of AI w that same flash, handles, scoring, swag etc. @ that time! I know he was 1-2 classes ahead of me & blew up after that 100pt game nationally! dude was like a prophet back then! I’ve been to Camden 2007 got lost before gps trying to get to Philly.. ended up in N CMD/cooper point amongst other neighborhoods. Been to a lot of so called hoods on the west coast. Nothing really compared to Camden. So damn right I’d say anyone that makes it out of that town is winning & successful! & an athlete that managed his $? Unheard of in this era! I modeled my game after him, AI, white chocolate & Ben Gordon’s wing game there 4 a min. It would have been the coolest thing ever to see a healthy DW along w a young lebron & Rickey Davis’s athleticism. It would have something we can always say “what if” but DW won! Stop hating & making ludicrous things about the man’s life. Could he have accomplished more.. of course! He had his fn colon removed & couldn’t do anything like he said for 6mo’s! Ulcerative colitis is no fn joke & was DW downfall & would take almost anyone out & unable to play at a before pro level sport that depends on strength cardio athleticism etc. He managed his finances & is a great great idol prophet still & great father & providing for the 3rd generation of Wagner & doing like most parents do.. “want better for his son”. If that’s not winning, then idk what is!? 🤷🏻♂️
The coolest part of this story is he lived out his dream to play in the nba and when it was all said and done he wasn’t broke. I’d say it was a success.
thanks for sharing; I'm just glad he didn't end up in a bad place after everything he went through. He has such a strong soul, wish him the best.
Clearly a great man with a very strong story to tell. I’d love if he made a book
I remember DaJuan “Juani” Wagner.
I actually read about him in 2002, on the pages of Viva Basquet, a mexican magazine.
Always ask me what happen to this wonder boy.
Very sad history. 😢
😢
I'm here in Memphis and was already at the university of Memphis when he showed up. He was a good guy
I'm still proud of him for never giving up.
I remember seeing him play in the NBA back in the day. Didn’t think much of him but this puts things into perspective.
I actually played against him in high school. That Camden School might as well have been a prison. You couldn't play there without being threatened by the mob. That 100 point game was against a local vocational tech school That should not even have had a basketball team. The majority of those high schools in South Jersey we're not good that he played against.
so basically he's sadly overrated?
@@BossmanStyles
No definitely not overrated. He should have stayed in college another year or two but if you watch the video you would understand his serious medical conditions. They were regularly winning New Jersey state tournaments in high school. Camden's regular season was against trash teams.
they won the TOC in 2000 tho so they were areally good squad all things considered
@@mad555555 Lol stayed in college another year or two? He made the money he made because he didnt stay in college. He was ready but his body was never gonna last.
@@gobot581 He absolutely was not ready. Did you watch the video? His body would have been more prepared to play in the NBA with men but I understand why It was a no-brainer for him to get that money as soon as he could.
I've just remembered that I read about him in some basketball magazine just before his rookie season, which said he was promising, but I got a bit disappointed to watch him playing. Didn't know about his off-court issues. Tragic.
You can still see this guy in the neighborhood sometimes he never let his son forget where they came from 💯
I still have this cat's NBA jersey. Only real hoopers know how real this guy was!
Thank you Andy for another great video!!
Cleveland lowkey was probably happy Dajuan didn't pan out. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gotten Lebron.
As a cavs fan, drafting him I thought we had a future star on our hands. Sadly it didn’t pan out
His son is a 5 star recruit who committed to Kentucky. It will be interesting how his son's career develops.
i heard dajuan wagner earlier when i was a kid didn't know who he has but when i heard the story of his he is my inspiration to play basketball because not all had a healthy to play basketball unfortunately many out there can't play hoop like wagner, i love to heard the this story again
True legend had a chance to meet him during our high school career he was King 👑 on the court and off court. Salute my G for putting on for jersey
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
What a great guy he is! Heartbreaking to hear him go through such a rough time.
People in comments saying he earned his money so he is good are delusional and have no clue what it means to go through career and life altering injuries and coming out on top. Money is only good to pay for doctors at that point. Means fuck all when most time spent every year almost is in recovery. Battles in his head at those times...Poor kid.
So yeah, it is heartbreaking considering how good of a kid he was. He deserved much more.
He never should have left Memphis so soon. I remember watching his college games. I always thought he needed a little more development
Was dealt with a blessed hand of cards, played it badly at the start but discipline enough to finish it alive.
$11 mil and didn't splurge as much as the normal NBA player + his son DJ Wagner is at Kentucky now and probably would end up #6 or so at next year's draft.
Injuries and illnesses aside, I wouldn't consider this a tragic/tragedy.
haven't heard his name in years. but I remember the hype back then. His son is a top prospect now too.
I remember Dajuan Wagner from an episode of Streetball on espn. I think “50” was confused how he was able to get drafted so high, made them think they could have gotten drafted too.
Lmao
Hey, respect to this man❤ cause most would give up
I knew about his injuries but not the off court stuff,too stressful.I had rookie cards,was excited about him,didn't see downfall coming!!
Thanks for this; I've been wondering what happened to him.
Definitely surprised you didn't mention his son at all, though I did peep the picture at the end.
I'm from Camden NJ and I remember when he was Young Brother Man playing street ball. Growing up in Camden was not easy for so many reasons and it's hard to handle everything off the Court.
I live in Australia, I remember reading about him in a slam magazine back in the day.
Sad story...I was wondering about him. I had read about him in Slam Magazine back in the day.
I started following the NBA the year this dude came up. The hype was huge, but LeBron came into the league swinging from day one the next season and stole it from him. To the same team too.
I remember his name from an episode of “Streetball” in 2002. Skip To My Lou was watching the draft and Wagner got selected.
Lebron James is so great that he made everyone forget about one of the most tragic careers in NBA history
😂
Leforget
Really ?" I think you're the only person who thinks that !" I've actually seen players who were considered as good and proven ot in the NBA . I've also seen someone who was unquestionably better ,who proved it with 30.5 points a game ,49.7 percent shooting , 6 finals MVP'S and far better defender !""
Crazy to think him and Lebron came in a year apart and Bron will probably be sharing a court with Bronny and DJ in a couple years
his son probably can be the better version of himself
I'm a Kentucky fan and his son this year has had a below average season for being top 10 prospect. DJ will never be the player Dajuan was
I remember bro from NBA BALLERS back in 07
I saw him one time in the NBA and he was awesome… Then never saw or heard of him again…. Was like a Donavan Mitchell type and hit every shot he put up that game….
I remember hearing about him in high school. I didn't know he went to college and played in the NBA.
he never gets sick, cavs never get Lebron. simple as that..
He earned my respect!
Very sad I’m from Cleveland too I forgot about him.
What's interesting about this story is he didn't have any of HIS OWN off court issues -- just all injuries/sickness and people around him
From NZ we got no info on players back when there was no net.
I read about Wagner in Slam magazine.
Thank-you Slam.
My Daughter's middle name is Juanny.
After Dajuan Wagner.
Juanny Wags.
Hope you talk about Sebastián Telfair next
Actual proof that the best players are not all or have been in the NBA...it seems health issues caught him...I remember watching him at Memphis State ... regardless of everything he had going on personally he became a decent person and thats not tragic so to speak....thats just life
God I feel so old. I watched him in HS. And now here I am watching his son (not to mention the kids of other players whose parents i watched play)
other than injuries his family and friends are to blame if they loved him
they would’ve never allowed him to take on the pressure of dealing with his stepfathers trial or anything else that distracted him from basketball
thie guy's life needs a movie
He was NICE, I was excited to see him and Bron.
Yo Andy, do this cat from New Orleans I believe around 1988-92...HE WAS AWESOME!!!...CANT REMEMBER DUDE NAME BUT HE WAS FIRE ON THE COURT...HE WENT LSU, THEN NBA FOR A YEAR OR TWO...
I went to school in NJ. Dujuan wagner was insanly good. Like dropped 40 in the second half against my hs. What his real down fall was that organ issue. He would of been a good pro if that didnt sap his energy.
I remember him im from Morse st out east Camden
Another one of my what ifs.
Imagine what if Dajuan Wagner stayed healthy and never had health issues and the same time the off court problems involving his family also never happened and most of all still perform consistently after 10 games, would that alter history for the Cavs and would still draft LeBron James? And if ever the Cavs still draft Bron, would they be Cleveland's 1-2 punch in the making?
Still glad he's doing ok and wisely saved some of his NBA earnings.
It's okay his son is the nicest an is still keeping his father's dream Alive that's a fact!!!
I remember playing him NBA Live 2003.
I wouldn’t have been going to no damn court cases if I was him. Your own people bring you down with they bs💯
hes from my hometown , he is a legend in our area him and his son are the truth !!!!! #Camden
I know he's happy his son is way better than he was.. brilliant
His son DJ will continue his legacy. Although I still believe he's so much better than his son ever was in highschool.
I had NBA Card of him before. Wondering who this was before. Sad story
_"That career high would remain the same for the rest of his career."_
Really Einstein ?? 😆
As a longtime Cavs fan, I know all about Dajaun Wagner all too much 😅
Andy i would love to see a richard dumas video
High school dajuan wagner or prime bob cousy in a 1 on 1? Who you got
I live in Louisville KY an watched his dad play every game milt got hurt in 1985 an the news interviewed him after his surgery an he said Louisville will win the NCAA championship in 86 an they did just that an he was the leading scorer through out the yr an milts grandson is at KY an since the Rick Pitino scandle I'm a uk fan an I can't wait to see him an the rest of the number 1 recruiting class to play
He was a great player he was drafted by the cavs, got hurt, and then lebron came next year we was waiting for him and lebron to play together.Btw he didn't fail like Ja Morant is doing no street life stuff and I'm from Philadelphia Camden New Jersey is right over the bridge at that time it was not the place to be at with the sun up.
All the guys that make it to the NBA developmental League and top colleges were all great in high school
Best HS Basketball Player I ever saw. People need to understand his best year was his freshman year at Camden HS! Very skilled and polished as PG. Became a high scoring assassin after his Frosh Year. 💯
Memphis knows who he is 🙌🏾
The worst start to an nba career has to be lenny bias.
CMD 🐐.. DJ next!!!
His son gone take that spot his son going to realize those dreams
I remember the cavs draft him they said he had hiv and i never saw him since nobody brung him up
UC fuked up my boxing and basketball career ..it's way under control and in remission ect but it was bad back then.
this health problems in year 3 are signs of the colon illness. he was lucky to get his health back. in the 2024 draft his son will be a lottery pick at least :)
Damn imagine he didn’t go through all that and him and LeBron played together seriously..
Could you do one on Darius Washington III?
Do a story about the whole family
I no of him well since I'm from memphis.i remember him in college at memphis.its sad because I remember looking forward to seeing him in the NBA then he got sick.wagner and lebron would of been a great combo for years and LeBron title runs would of been different
Taking about looking out for other people and forgetting about yourself. Smdh This poor child
You should look into David Henderson one of the greatest football players out of San Francisco California
I remember dude.
Good to know that he's spending his money wisely and also played enough year's in the league to receive a decent pension also..
Camden we here!
His son will put the family name back in the spotlight
D Wag was a beast 😢
This man couldn’t catch a break fr
The what if with this dude for me is on the docs not diagnosing his condition at that time that’s the fucgggin tragedy of this whole situation
On top of the mountain, only for a short time unfortunate story
Wagner and Eddie griffin a jersey and Philly legends.. dajuan was a beast but got sick and Eddie was nasty but died
What a terrible story. I remember how thrilled I was at the idea of LeBron and Dajuan playing together when the Cavs won that draft lottery. He's gotta be doing something right though having raised a son who is a top prospect with a scholarship offer from Kentucky.
He was insane