NBA Players of the Month | Basketball-Reference.com The 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time - Sports Illustrated Most Valuable Player. Just because Paul is not as outspoken as some of the other counterparts on this list doesnt mean that he doesnt belong. He ruined his own best chance at playoff success when he punched Oklahoma Citys Steven Adams in the jaw in Game 6 of a 2014 NBA playoff series and was suspended for Game 7, which the Grizzlies lost. Ranking the top 74 NBA players of all time - Nos. 10-1 - ESPN.com They didnt get that way because they could score or rebound. The 2020-21 NBA season is about halfway through. And he only played one season, his rookie year, with the Baltimore Bullets. Newspaper headline writers in the 1990s. Many people know about Sloans legacy as a coach, but his intensity arrived long before his stint on the sidelines. 19, 3/16/22 vs. BOS) and the second-most for any quarter . Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, 1974-75 MVP, 1972-73 Rookie of the Year, three-time scoring champ, two-time NBA champion. Anyone who watched the Knicks with Oakley saw the team take on a swagger that clubs rarely do anymore. The iconic image of teammate Scottie Pippen helping him off the floor is burned into the memories of basketball fans the world over. Whether a mean stare, a suffocating style of play or a general ability to send electricity into the building, there is no questioning what these currently bring or have brought to the table. Mason was known for the wild designs he would have shaved into his head, sure, but he was more known for a bruising, physical style of play that used every square inch of his 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, three-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 1979-80 Rookie of the Year, 1982 All-Star MVP, three-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, 2017 All-Star MVP, three-time blocks champ, 2020 NBA champion. He helped lead the Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title and set the tone in the NBA Finals by squaring off with Darryl Dawkins (!) Williams spent his first eight seasons with the Nets but became a household name during his seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Bottom line: Wes Unseld was only 6-foot-7 but dominated on the boards like few players in NBA history, thanks to being 250 pounds. Hes already a five-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection (in just eight seasons), NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and has won three NBA titles. When Sprewell choked out former head coach P.J. It has been 25 years since the league unveiled its list of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, which tipped off a season-long celebration of the NBA's 50th anniversary in 1996. He was another talented contributor who wasnt afraid to put his money where his mouth was, and that was evident when he engaged in heated battles. Stockton, the NBA career leader in assists and steals, was as durable as any player in NBA history. Cooper almost always drew the other teams toughest defensive assignment, and Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird called him the "toughest defensive player who ever guarded me." Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 15-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, 2000 All-Star MVP, 1997-98 Rookie of the Year, five-time NBA champion. Stats: 27.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.3 APG in 14 seasons with Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1958-59 to 1971-72). Whats interesting about World Peaces career is that if hed have been born 10 years earlier, he likely would have been a player with comparable success to Dennis Rodman because his physical, tough style of play was more akin to past generations. Teams: Baltimore/Washington Bullets (1968-81), Key stats: 984 G, 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 50.9 FG%. He had his number retired by two of the three places he played in his college and pro career, the University of Evansville and Chicago Bulls. You can also point directly to Bryants introduction to the league, when he got the sort of welcome outside of Los Angeles that you might expect for a 13th-century leper, as other teams' stars tried to "put him in his place.". Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Pete Maravich The 20 Greatest NBA Players of All Time The Sporting Blog Stats: 18.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.1 APG in 15 seasons with Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1949-50 to 1963-64). Because 16.2 rebounds per game is just insane. Stats: 23.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.1 APG in 10 NBA seasons with San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1965-66 to 1966-67; 1972-73 to 1977-78) and Houston Rockets (1978-79 to 1979-80); also played four ABA seasons with Oakland Oaks (1968-69), Washington Capitols (1969-70) and New York Nets (1970-71 to 1971-72). Louis Hawks (1954-55 to 1964-65). Bottom line: Whats amazing about Rick Mahorns career is that, on paper, it appears to have been pretty average. Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum top NBA quotes of the week. Teams: St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1964-69), Phoenix Suns (1969-72), Boston Celtics (1972-76), Denver Nuggets (1976-77), Seattle Supersonics (1977-80), Key stats: 1,254 G, 9.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.2 FG%. NBA legend Michael Jordan. Bottom line: Its unfortunate that Allen Iversons career became known for him being an enigma and an unfortunate soundbite ("Practice?") Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2016-17 MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, three-time assists champ. Bottom line: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA titles and six NBA Most Valuable Player awards and is in the conversation when it comes to the greatest basketball players of all time, which probably automatically puts him in the conversation for toughest players ever, as well. Kick a cameraman in the crotch? As the first black superstar in NBA history, he had to endure racism at almost every turn but handled it with grace and aplomb. Green is one of the more outspoken players in the game today, and its tough to see his legacy as not having his Game 6 suspension from the 2016 NBA Finals front and center alongside his titles. It was the third anniversary team in the league. Bottom line: Possibly the greatest enforcer in NBA history, Charles Oakley was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1985 out of NCAA Division II Virginia Union. Bottom line: There is one statistic that underlines Alvin Robertsons toughness better than all others he is still the NBAs career leader with 2.7 steals per game. NBA History: The Top 50 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time Do I even need to elaborate? Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive Team, 2003-04 MVP, 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year, 2003 All-Star MVP, four-time rebounding champ, 2008 NBA champion. Johnson went to work as a forklift driver after he graduated, while he grew to 6-foot-3 over the next year, and was spotted during a pickup game by a junior college coach because of the intense way he played defense. The NBA standings in the Western Conference are extremely tight. He also was durable, ranking in the Top 25 in games played. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Pettit also was the first NBA Most Valuable Player in 1958 and is tied with Kobe Bryant for most NBA All-Star MVP awards with four. The complete list of players is in alphabetical order below. Stats: 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG in 13 seasons with Baltimore/Capitol/Washington Bullets. Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (2001-07), New York Knicks (2007-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009-17), Sacramento Kings (2017-19). Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, five-time assists champ, two-time MVP. Sixth Man of the Year. Stats: 22.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.9 APG in 11 NBA seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1976-77 to 1986-87); also played five ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1971-72 to 1972-73) and New York Nets (1973-74 to 1975-76). Bottom line: LeBron James could be in the Top 30 NBA career games played at the end of the 2019-20 season and likely will break Robert Parrishs career record of 1,611 games if he plays four more seasons, which hes openly said he wants to do. He was truly one of a kind when it came to his on-court performance. These guys are big, strong, athletic - they look a lot different than Trae Young. PER since 1951-52 Rate statistic requirements NBA/ABA Share & Export Modify, Export & Share Table Get Link to Table About Sharing Tools Video: SR Sharing Tools & How-to Sixth Man of the Year. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1968-69 MVP, 1968-69 Rookie of the Year, 1978 Finals MVP, 1974-75 rebounding champ, 1978 NBA champion. Later in his career, this was a definite disadvantage. Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1969-77, 1981), Washington Bullets (1977-81), Key stats: 839 G, 18.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 48.4 FG%. Bottom line: Dave DeBusschere was one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, making the All-NBA Defensive Team six times in his career. Key stats: 857 G, 7.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 0.9 APG, 48.9 FG%. Are you kidding me? Stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG in 16 seasons with Boston Celtics (1962-63 to 1977-78). Laimbeer is easily the most hated NBA player of all-time. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Stats: 26.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG in 10 NBA seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1976-77 to 1984-85) and Chicago Bulls (1985-86); also played four ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1972-73 to 1973-74) and San Antonio Spurs (1973-74 to 1975-76). A great rebounder, a fantastic shot-blocker and a solid player, Thurmonds intensity isnt one to be looked past. An absolute mountain of a man, Eaton was a dominant shot blocker before the term was readily used to describe players. After he went undrafted in 2002 following a standout career at the University of Florida, Haslem found his only pro opportunity was playing in France, and he showed up weighing almost 300 pounds. Key stats: 1,346 G, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44.7 FG%, NBA titles: 5 (2000, 2001. Stats: 16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.7 APG in 17 seasons with Seattle SuperSonics (1990-91 to 2002-03), Milwaukee Bucks (2002-03), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05) and Miami Heat (2005-06 to 2006-07). Being tough is more than just being physical. The 10 Most Dirtiest NBA Players of all Time - Sportlister A four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP, O'Neal averaged a double-double during a career that spanned almost two decades. Not only was Dawkins downright crazy on the court, but he seemingly thrived off of breaking the backboard. Who are the most athletic players in NBA history? We take - Sportskeeda All Time Leaders. He played in an age where African-American players were fighting for equal rights on and off the floor and was one of the leaders of that movement. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. 50 Most Complete NBA Players of All Time - Bleacher Report Carlesimo, he pretty much cemented his place on this compilation. Stats: 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG in 18 seasons with Indiana Pacers (1987-88 to 2004-05). Teams: Detroit Pistons (1970-1980), Milwaukee Bucks (1980-1984), Key stats: 959 G, 20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 51.4 FG%. For people who want to increase vertical jump fast, you can check this secret tips. Top 10 best NBA players of all time - Sportskeeda Stats: 27.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.2 APG in 14 seasons with Seattle SuperSonics (2007-08), Oklahoma City Thunder (2008-09 to 2015-16), Golden State Warriors (2016-17 to 2018-19) and Brooklyn Nets (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. 1, but some big men are climbing the . Bottom line: Kevin Garnett is the highest-paid player in NBA history, with $326 million in career earnings. Stocktons style of play was physical and attacking. If you want to see a player who never doubted his ability at any moment, look no further than Miller. The 6-foot-1 guard played his last college season for Arkansas in 2007-08, then bounced around foreign pro leagues until 2013, when he made his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets. Teams: Detroit Pistons (1986-93), San Antonio Spurs (1993-95), Chicago Bulls (1995-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1999), Dallas Mavericks (2000), Key stats: 911 G, 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 52.1 FG%, NBA titles: 5 (1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998). Havlicek died in April 2019 at 79 years old. If you want another example of Robertsons toughness, please remember he took a full-on punch from Shaquille ONeal during a game and lived to tell about it. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. He played the first two seasons of his career in the ABA and was a four-time All-Star in both leagues. That included a career-high 18.7 rebounds in 1991-92. Stats: 20.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.0 APG in nine seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1965-66 to 1971-72; 1974-75 to 1975-76); also played two ABA seasons with Carolina Cougars (1972-73 to 1973-74). His obvious passion for the game was clear, and he went hard no matter what the scoreboard read. Stats: 25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG in 19 seasons with Utah Jazz (1985-86 to 2002-03) and Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04). Myself, I liked to get my fight over on Monday or Tuesday and not worry about it the rest of the week.". List of all the NBA and ABA Players | Basketball-Reference.com Although his legacy is defined largely by the infamous malice at the palace, World Peaces placement on this list is about more than just that. The NBA had little luck doing anything close to that over the next 20 years. For someone who made a career for himself as a player who was feared on the court, hes pretty much done the opposite as an executive. In 2009, the NBA named its Finals MVP award after Russell. But as his skills declined, he extended his career by turning into a tough-minded enforcer for the teams he played on. McHale is another player who had no fear in tossing around his elbows, and he had no trouble sending a message to anyone going up against him when he deemed it necessary. He never got in another fight after what happened with Tomjanovich, but hes currently doing six years in federal prison for embezzling money meant for children in Africa. "This is the most passive aggressive relationship I've ever seen in my life," former NFL player Bart Scott said Wednesday on ESPN's "First Take," referring to both Rodgers and Packers management . Or how much you can dole out. Teams: Boston Celtics (2003-11), Oklahoma City Thunder (2011-15), Cleveland Cavaliers (2015, 2018), New Orleans Pelicans (2015-16). Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1950-51 Rookie of the Year, 1952 All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, 1956 NBA champion. Kobe Bryant Net Worth - $350 million The late Kobe Bryant is the only deceased player to make this list. Nobody wanted to challenge him in the lane, and its hard to blame the opposition considering the volume at which he swatted shots away from the rim. Ironically, Iversons rise to fame and the public consciousness was defined by his toughness. Jones toughness meant playing through a variety of debilitating health problems, including asthma, a chronic heart condition and epileptic seizures that once caused a serious injury when he fell in his kitchen. Teams: San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1963-74), Chicago Bulls (1974-76), Cleveland Cavaliers (1976-77), Key stats: 964 G, 15.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 42.1 FG%. NBA 75: At No. 24, Giannis Antetokounmpo has become one of the game's Bottom line: When it comes to Bill Laimbeer, the argument is always going to come down to whether he was a tough player or just dirty. One little-known fact about Havlicek, an 11-time All-NBA pick and eight-time All-NBA Defensive pick, is that he was also drafted as a wide receiver by the Cleveland Browns and briefly contemplated a career in the NFL. Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on the Bulls in the 1990s. Stats: 17.0 PPG, 15.6 RPG, 3.3 APG in 11 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1963-64 to 1969-70), San Francisco Warriors (1969-70 to 1970-71) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1973-74). Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time NBA champion. There was a time during Wallaces career when he was the most feared defender in the NBA. Stats: 18.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.9 APG in 13 seasons with Baltimore Bullets (1967-68 to 1971-72) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1979-80). You know who else thought McDaniel was tough? Weve already watched it a half-dozen times today, in fact. Randolph toiled away for a lot of his career in obscurity. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time NBA champion. There was no player like him during the era in which he played, and there isnt likely to be another one with his championship success. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, four-time MVP, 1972 Finals MVP, 1959-60 Rookie of the Year, 11-time rebounding champ, seven-time scoring champ, 1967-68 assists champ, two-time NBA champion. Stats: 19.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.0 APG in 15 seasons with Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1958-59 to 1972-73). Answer (1 of 21): Scrolling through the answers I see different takes on what the word means. Isaiah Rider Guard Isaiah Rider of the Portland Trailblazers stands on the court. While Barkleys attitude and off-the-court antics had their detractors, one thing no one ever questioned was his toughness. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, 2020 All-Star MVP, 2014-15 steals champ, two-time NBA champion. Stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics (1979-80 to 1991-92). Its not often a point guard is as feisty as Thomas showed throughout his career. A legitimate presence in the middle, Robinson embodied all of the characteristics that make up an ideal center. Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG in 19 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1997-98 to 2015-16). Moncrief had a hard-luck career with the Milwaukee Bucks as far as making it to the NBA Finals. 2022 NBA Playoffs, 2021 NBA Playoffs, 2020 NBA Playoffs, 2019 NBA Playoffs, 2018 NBA Playoffs, 2017 NBA Playoffs, Playoffs Series History. The NBA is a point guard's paradise these days, so let's start All-Time #NBArank with our pantheon points. Throughout his NBA career, Bill Lambier drilled over 200 Three-pointers. They got there because they were tough, and thats something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. The most important thing to remember about Dumars as far as gauging his toughness is that Michael Jordan called him the best defender he ever faced and the "Jordan Rules" established by Pistons coach Chuck Daly in the 1990s centered around Dumars unique defensive ability. Teams: Indiana Pacers (1975-78), Atlanta Hawks (1978-84), Detroit Pistons (1984-85), Washington Bullets (1985-87), Key stats: 813 G, 14.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 48.2 FG%. His aggressiveness was something that he asserted as a strength, and theres no questioning the obvious impact it had in his success. 1 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1991 out of UNLV. NBA's 75 greatest players of all time - The complete list - ESPN.com He has the most regular-season. Kyrie Irving Knows He Must 'Be More Aggressive' For Mavs Stats: 27.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG in 18 seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04 to 2009-10; 2014-15 to 2017-18), Miami Heat (2010-11 to 2013-14) and Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19 to 2020-21)*. Unseld wasted little time putting the league on notice, and joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to win Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Starks may have been a little short on height, but he was never short on heart. In case you hadn't noticed, the Wiz from Wuerzburg has been outscored by only five playersAbdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Havlicek simply wore opponents out with his conditioning, and if you want to teach a young player how to move without the ball in their hands, all you need is to cue up old Havlicek highlights on YouTube. Olajuwon didnt take anything from anybody when it came to where he felt his proper position in the lane was. How do you function when everyone is against you? Stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG in 10 seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75 to 1977-78), San Diego/LA Clippers (1979-80 to 1984-85) and Boston Celtics (1985-86 to 1986-87). 100 Most Decorated NBA Players of All Time - Bleacher Report in Game 2, swinging an elbow at Dawkins head and changing the tone of the series as the Blazers rallied for the championship. Anyone who has never seen some of Birds closest encounters on the hardwood should hit the YouTube channel immediately. How did he do it? Toughness ran in Stocktons family. Bottom line: Norm Van Lier had one of the more modest, accomplished careers in NBA history in almost total anonymity. NBA75: Meet the best players in league history, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, KD: Mavs tilt, Kyrie meeting 'just another game', Owner: Snyder, Fields will bring Hawks success, Isaac has surgery on adductor, done for season, Clips' Powell out at least a week to treat shoulder, LeBron to have tendon injury checked in 3 weeks. Skiles also, famously, took a swing at Shaquille O'Neal in the locker room. And even 40 years after one of the most infamous incidents in pro sports, his name still invokes a certain feeling of uneasiness. An absolute force in the lane, he had very little trouble positioning himself to provide a competitive advantage. Why is Oakley so beloved? Accomplishments: Nine-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1980 All-Star MVP, four-time NBA scoring champ. Exercise is best method to increase vertical jump. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, 1988 Finals MVP, three-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: Two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, seven-time rebounding champ, five-time NBA champion. The most intense players to ever play in the NBA brought a 110 percent effort on every single night. His heroic, limping walk out of the tunnel for warm-ups, followed by scoring the first two baskets of the game (his only points) sparked the Knicks to the win and NBA title. Whats not a mystery is the impact Billups made on almost every team he played on. Western Conference Finals MVP. Stats: 13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG in 19 seasons with Utah Jazz (1984-85 to 2002-03); NBA's career leader in total assists and steals. Accomplishments: 12-time NBA All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, two-time NBA All-Defensive team, three-time NBA MVP, 1983 Finals MVP, six-time NBA rebounding champ, 1983 NBA champion. He shaved his head and eyebrows because he knew what a disconcerting effect the look would have on opponents. Somehow, LeBron James is still No. Jordan retired for the first time at the . To put it in perspective, Foust scored the winning basket for the Fort Wayne Pistons in the lowest-scoring NBA game of all-time, a 19-18 win over the Minneapolis Lakers, a year in which he averaged 13.5 points.
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