As I look at the current NBA rosters, I am perplexed as to why certain players are not in the NBA. One of those players is Ed Cota, the former North Carolina point guard. When he was playing in college, he was one of the best, if not the best point guard in the country. People knocked him and said he wouldn't be as good as he was if he didn't play with guys like Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, Antawn Jamison, and Vince Carter. Is it his fault that he played with talented players? He still had to make the passes and run the offense, one of the best in the nation I might add. He was also knocked for not having the best shooting touch. Isn't that what NBA shooting coaches are for? Here is a couple examples of shooting touch. He hit a couple game winners as seen here and here. I searched all over YouTube, hopeful for some old UNC footage, but I came up with only one clip. I also found a compilation of his highlights from the 2003 - 2004 season. His passing is on display with this clip.
I will never be convinced that Ed Cota is worse than guys like Eddie Gill, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Jeff McInnis, Darrell Armstrong, Andre Barret, Jannero Pargo, Mike Wilks, Moochie Norris, etc, etc, etc....the list could go on forever.
If anyone has any information as to where Ed Cota is, please fill me in.
|
Comments
Not dissing him, but he isn't near the caliber of Cota.
Pargo is legit, don't dog him. If he isn't near the caliber of Cota, then why is he in the league but Cota isn't?
The 6' 0", 200-lb. point guard currently plays for Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel.
from his Wikipedia page
There could be numerous reasons why Cota isn't in the league. None that have been shared with either of us.
Pargo's career numbers are 6 points, 2 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game...pretty powerful numbers for a point guard in the NBA. Numbers that Ed Cota could have if given the chance.
Took this off the wikipedia page as well:
"By the time his college career concluded, he had become the first player in NCAA basketball history to score 1,000 points, and have 1,000 assists and 500 rebounds in a career. Additionally, he finished with the third highest assist total in NCAA history."
That was a vintage UNC team, IM still hot that they didnt win at least 1 NC when they went 2 the Final 4 Those 2 years with him.But He is in Poland hoopin for a squad now
Does anyone know where he is right now. He is not in the polish league.
Cota is my favorite tarheel of all-time. That includes jordan,worthy,perkins,ford,jamison,carter,may, felton. He was always so humble. I agree that he should have made a nba roster. At least a back-up point guard. He has had a great career in europe. He won four championships. He also let the euroleague in assist a few years back. Last I read he was playing for atlas poland. He signed a two year deal for $700,000.
Where is Ed Cota?. He is not playing in Poland this year
I have no clue. Your guess is as good as mine right now!
I see that you seem to be a great fan of Cota's... I was wondering if you be able to help me finding memorabilia on him?
Your best bet is probably Ebay. I just googled him and all the memorabilia links led me to Ebay. Good luck!
playin in europe and doing really good, i think hes in poland right now, but he definitly deserves to be in the nba...
This season, Cota is not playing in Poland. Anyone knows where is he now?
looks like he's under contract with the poland team but not currently playing anywhere. european teams "loan" players to other teams, but Easy Ed is currently not playing anywhere. disappointing.
Yes Ed was the man I wish he had the chance to play in nba. He would have been great in N.Y
Whenever my friends and I talk about great point guards I bring up Ed Cota, and am met with blank faces... One of the best of all time for sure, too bad not many people remember him. He had a shot with the Knicks a couple years after college but clearly it didn't work out.
He was terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take away the superhuman all time field goal percentage leader Jamison and he doesn't come close to 1000 assists! He never had a since of urgency when trailing, which is why ultimately they weren't a championship team. He is my second most hated player of all time in UNC history. The first is Ellington - which if he lived up to 70% of his potential makes carolina automatic national champions this year.
you are a complete idiot to say that Ed Cota was terrible. Was John Stockton terrible because he had the 2nd leading scorer of all time on his team in Karl Malone? or one of the best shooters of all time in Jeff Hornacek? Does that mean his assists don't count either because they made shots? How about Steve Nash and his back to back MVPs? was it because he had a stacked team with Amare, Marion, Raja, Barbosa, and the rest? I guess his assists don't count either huh. apparently you never played ball or you would realize that the PG is the main reasons that players have good FG percentages. It's because they set them up for that. They know where they are going to be during each play, then recognizing mismatches, knowing where they like to catch the ball, does NOT give them the ball when they are in no position to do anything with it, and runs the floor on fastbreaks for an easy dumpoff layup or dunk. The reason they didn't win the national championship is because of the bench.. not the starters. Same reason Michigan's Fab Five never won. Depth in a lineup is what wins. Cota had 6 players get solid time with a 7th (Haywood) getting very few minutes of Ndiaye was in foul trouble. and why are you bashing Ellington? I'm pretty sure they won the 'ship this year. Do us all a favor and NEVER comment on something that you clearly have no clue about. It's annoying and you just made yourself look like a complete idiot.
Very passionate words Coach D! I think that sums up what I was thinking.
I'm amazed that this article will be two years old in October of 2009 and it is still getting comments!
Well i guess i'll make this article officially two years old then. and i can say that i played with Ed Cota personally lastnight for about two hours pick up in Charlotte, Nc. not sure if he's living here now, but we play pretty consistanly at this place during the weeks. he still looks pretty good as a player but looks for second whind a bit earlier. but great player, always has always will.
Cota played with us in belgium in the year 2001-2002. Long time ago, but he is still in our hearts. He gave us lot's of fun with his fabulous assists. A couple of examples you can see on the video with zalgiris in Poland. Did he play with Sabonis?!!!
Btw: the euroleague competition is a very strong competition now. The second best in the world I guess. When he played that he led the league in assists.
So he is/was a fine basketballplayer.
Sunday anorther player will come to ostend. Eddy Gill (former pacer) and mentioned above. Let's hope that he has the same inpact on the team as cota did years ago!
Greetz T,
Belgium
Thanks for that Thomas!
I take it you are playing in Belgium currently?
This article is officially two years old now and still getting responses to it...very nice.
ed cota is one of my favorite tar heels. i love ty, but ed is my favorite tarheel pg. what a pg! he could pass like no other.
unfortunately he wasnt quick/fast enough for the nba. but i still think he could have played.
ed cota is the best TRUE point guard to play college basketball ever. Straight out of BK
Ed Cota is alive and well , living in Charlotte, NC with a new baby.
What's wrong with pat riley. Ed cota should be playing in miami right now along with wade bosh aNd lbj.
FYI--Cota played with Vince and Jamison but not Sheed and Stack...
ED COTA one of the best point gaurd to ever play the game & still could put up 30..SERIOUSLY....."Bozi"
Some of these nba scouts cant recgonize talent. I was thinking this the other day where Ed Cota was. Ed Cota was a fucking wizard with the ball. He's a pass first point guard but if he needs to score he can he can get anywhere on the floor he wants with the ball with his sick handle and his court vision is ridiculous. If Ed was in the league and got to play 40-45 mintues a game i swear he could avg close to 20 assist per game favorite pure point guard ever.
There is a reason he is not in the NBA! He is not good enough all the other guys you named are. You are not a scout or a coach you are just some dude who has a crush on Ed Cota, every guy you mentioned is a better player than him, nobody cares about college stats. Look at NBA stats.
this guy plays like rondo in my opinion. teams in the nba need a pass first guard like that so he is a starter in my opinion. idk where he is because i just learned about him but just know a guy like that is hooping right now
Cota was a fantastic player, it really was a shame he never got much of a chance in the nba, but I'd have to assume he didn't capitalize on the chance HE DID get.... Which is what it's all about.
On the topic of top flight pg's... How about this kid Kendall Marshall?! Although he does have some major flaws (athleticism, shooting...), his passing ability, floor vision, and absolute refusal to look anywhere but up when he has the ball is unmatched for his age. Reminds me of Jason Kidd in a way. If he can work a couple of kinks out and get with the right players, he can lead any team on any level.... Hopefully it shows this year and UNC brings home the hardware.
Cota was my guy back in the day. That team with him Jamison, VC, and Shammod Williams hammered everyone (Brendan Haywood maybe too?).
But don't diss Pargo. He can light it up. The rest of those guys i agree with you on.