He finished his career with a scoring average of 24.3 points-per-game, and had one of the best shooting lines in basketball history. The iconic image of teammate Scottie Pippen helping him off the floor is burned into the memories of basketball fans the world over. That was fitting because he grew up playing defensive back in Louisiana, and younger brother David played in the USFL. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound Robertson was simply too strong and athletic for any other guards of his era to handle, which is a big part of the reason he finished his career in 11th place on the NBA scoring list with 26,710 points. They got there because they were tough, and that's something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. When it comes to Pete Maravich, people tend to remember his untimely death and the fact that he averaged 44 points-per-game in college, and they just kind of gloss over the fact that he had a heck of an NBA career as well, averaging 24.2 points to go along with 5.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his career. Check back soon for Daily Lineup. Bottom line: Its unfortunate that Allen Iversons career became known for him being an enigma and an unfortunate soundbite ("Practice?") Some of the most legendary players in the history of the NBA include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. The answer is Eric Dickerson, who finished his career with 13,259 total rushing yards. If you. The Dream scored 26,946 points in his 18 seasons, shooting 51.2% for his career as well as 71.2% from the free throw line, a very respectable number for a center whose first athletic love was soccer. In the 1970s, it was Bob Dandridge, who scored more points in the NBA Finals in that decade than any NBA player while winning a title in 1971 alongside Oscar Robertson and Abdul-Jabbar on the Bucks, then alongside Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld on the Bullets in 1978. Bottom line: Nate Thurmond was as ferocious of a rebounder as anyone in NBA history, and just as good at blocking shots and defense. The 6-foot-6 product of UMass spent the first five years of his career in the ABA before becoming arguably the most legendary player in Philadelphia 76ers franchise history, pouring in more than 18,000 points in 11 NBA seasons and over 30,000 points when you include his five seasons in the ABA. The Celtics won the title in seven games. It will be interesting to see how the second half of his career plays out. Key stats: 1,346 G, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44.7 FG%, NBA titles: 5 (2000, 2001. Bottom line: Theres a long lineage of forwards rounding out championship trios in the NBA based on their ability to blend with generational talent and still cut their own swath. Chicago Bulls Trivia! Mean" on his customized license plates when Gary was growing up. Its difficult to decide which is more amazing: the fact that Kevin Durant has already scored nearly 15,000 points in his career, or the fact that hes still just 25 years old. Over two decades after his retirement, Abdul-Jabbars 1,797 career games (including the playoffs) is more than anyone in NBA history. Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18), Miami Heat (2010-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2018-present), Key stats: 1,217 G, 27.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.3 APG, 50.4 FG%. The game of basketball had meager beginnings, with a bunch of athletically awkward guys trying to toss a ball into a peach basket. In addition to starting lineups, this tool will also display Vegas odds, positions and salaries for that day's games on FantasyDraft. Bottom line: Theres always going to be some dispute about what Charles Barkleys actual height and weight were during his playing days, but its safe to say it was an inch or two below the 6-foot-6 he was listed at. Russells mental toughness was on another level. Have a crack at this quiz and see. Learn more about players history or bio after guessing correctly! The toughness wasnt just an act. Show answer I mean I guess you could say Dame's slightly ahead of Curry on advanced stats but not Luka. If the US could boil down to one thing, it would definitely be basketball, and what's a better representation of this glorious sport than the famous (and, paradoxically, infamous) NBA? For the prime example of Jordans mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "The Flu Game." 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. After spending his first two years in the NBA as a sixth man, Love's hard work paid off during the 2010-11 season, when he led the league in . Roundfield earned a reputation for being a physical, tough player, but he had a kind nature that opponents and teammates alike were drawn to. Key stats: 963 G, 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 44.0 FG%, NBA titles: 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969). Please stop with the "Well he deserves another MVP." We've seen plenty of players not win an MVP solely because of voter fatigue. Skiles languished on the bench, somewhat unfairly, for his first three seasons before going to the expansion Orlando Magic, where he set the NBA record with 30 assists in one game and was named NBA Most Improved Player in 1991. A lot of people will be quick to credit much of Karl Malones success to his running mate John Stockton and the way they perfected the pick and roll, but you cant deny the pure consistency that the Mailman showed throughout the course of his career. Shaq shot an incredible 58.2% from the field, which can obviously be attributed to the numerous dunks. What made Larry "The Legend" so hard to guard was his body control and coordination with the timing and release of his shot. The mental aspect is just as important. Over the last 25 years, the next closest per game scoring average was Kobe Bryant's 35.4 points per game in 2005 - 06. 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. Later in his career, Payton managed to shake off his reputation for being brash and became a steady presence in the locker room. They can't add someone like Boeser because of their buyout dead cap space that they have on the books without moving someone else out. In high school, he awoke at 4:30 a.m. to do farm chores and walk two miles to school, where he had basketball practice at 7 a.m. 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. Anthony Edwards is the most intriguing player on the T'Wolves because, despite being only 21 years old, it is unquestionably his team. Bottom line: Most of Americas introduction to Gary Payton came via one of the most iconic Sports Illustrated covers of all time, when he was a senior at Oregon State University in 1990. Consider also that James has played in three Summer Olympics, two FIBA World Championships and, in 17 years of professional basketball, has never had a major injury. As, there are many NBA teams like Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, LA Clippers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks , and Houston Rockets. Don't trust the colours as they have been manipulated. "You'd have a fight a week," Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 1992. Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (2001-07), New York Knicks (2007-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009-17), Sacramento Kings (2017-19). When McHale clotheslined Lakers forward Kurt Rambis during Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals, it shocked teammates and opponents alike and arguably turned the tide of the series. He played on some great teams, but they were during the heyday of both the 76ers with Dr. J and the Celtics with Larry Bird running the Eastern Conference. As the first black superstar in NBA history, he had to endure racism at almost every turn but handled it with grace and aplomb. At 5 foot 3, Muggsy Bogues is the shorted player in the history of the National Basketball Association. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Newspaper headline writers in the 1990s. In no small way, he carried the defensive load for some of the greatest teams of all time, and thats not an offhand remark. France. Key stats: 1,018 G, 16.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 46.0 FG%. Teams: Chicago Bulls (1985-88, 2001-02), New York Knicks (1988-98), Toronto Raptors (1999-2001), Washington Wizards (2002-03), Houston Rockets (2004), Key stats: 1,282 G, 9.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 47.1 FG%. Who was the first ever NBA player to score 2,000 points in a single season? In addition to starting lineups, this tool will also display Vegas odds, positions and salaries for that day's games on DraftKings. His biggest claim to fame came on the New York Knicks teams that won NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, where he cemented his reputation as one of the most physical players of all time. 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. Wilkins was a 6-foot-8 dunking machine and one of the most unfairly athletic wing players to ever step on an NBA court. Perkins wasnt just hired muscle, though. Former 76ers general manager Pat Williams probably described Jones the best: "He gives you two hours of his blood, showers and goes home.". Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1990-03), Milwaukee Bucks (2003), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05), Miami Heat (2005-07), Key stats: 1,335 G, 16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 46.6 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. Johnson won three NBA titles in his career, which is almost entirely associated with his time with the Boston Celtics, but that was his third team after he was run off in Seattle and Phoenix because of clashes with coaches. Bottom line: Opponents underestimated John Stocktons toughness at their own peril throughout his 18 seasons, including 11 in which he was selected first-, second- or third-team All-NBA. He did all of this scoring before the three point line as well, and with the almost unlimited range on his jumper, its not hard to imagine his scoring average jumping up by two or three points-per-game if he played in a more modern era. Magic Johnson, LeBron James. The Penguins acquired a third-rounder in the Blueger deal and upped their available salary cap space to $6.3 million. Teams: Boston Celtics (1970-80), Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83), Key stats: 766 G, 17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 46.0 FG%. 18 amazing levels! These are the toughest players in NBA history. Bottom line: One of 18 children, Steven Adams had a rough childhood in New Zealand after his father died in 2006, but basketball took him off the streets of his hometown and put him in a gym. At only 6-6, Hayes is listed as a center on the Sacramento Kings roster, which means on a nightly basis he's going against players five . Bottom line: When you go down the list of the greatest enforcers in NBA history, make sure you put some respect on Maurice Lucas name. 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. Wallace was named a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 but somehow wasnt voted in, furthering the notion that the Basketball Hall of Fame is a joke and needs a complete overhaul if it wants to stay relevant. He shaved his head and eyebrows because he knew what a disconcerting effect the look would have on opponents. Steph Curry Reggie Miller Ray Allen Larry Bird What is a territorial draft pick? In an alternate universe, Van Lier wouldve been able to pursue his first love of playing quarterback for a big-time college football program, but all of the schools that recruited him wanted him to play defensive back, a throwback to a racist, ignorant era. The Rangers acquired Kane from Chicago in a three-team trade Tuesday night, adding the three-time Stanley Cup champion to their core that reached the Eastern Conference final last year and a couple of recent additions, including prolific scoring winger . On the flip side of that, fans across the country got a chance to see what made Jackson such a special player as he took starring turns for the Clippers and Pacers over the next decade. Will the Warriors be able to reboot and make another run at a title? Because 16.2 rebounds per game is just insane. He became tough growing up in Dallas and playing basketball on the playgrounds. Despite never shooting even 50% from the floor in his career, he was able to use his physical talents to pour in just under 27,000 points in his career. We saw it happen to MJ and Lebron. Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard became the second player to reach the 70-point mark this season, torching the Rockets for 71 points on Sunday, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.Playing for the first time since the All-Star break, Lillard made 13 three-pointers on the night, one short of the NBA record, and reached 41 points by halftime. Which threw even more fuel on his fire. Teams: Phoenix Suns (1996-98, 2004-12), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15), Key stats: 1,217 G, 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 49.0 FG%. If Wilt could have made free throws, theres no telling how many points he would have scored in his career (Ditto for Shaq). The thing that sets Dirk apart is the tremendous skill level he possesses for a 7-footer, possessing a deft shooting touch from long range and a one-footed fade away jumper that is one of the most unguardable moves in NBA history. He never played less than 79 games in his first 13 NBA seasons before abruptly retiring early in the 1993-94 season after a fight with teammate Isiah Thomas. They didnt get that way because they could score or rebound. Key stats: 792 G, 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 43.6 FG%. From 1989 to 1998, he won five NBA titles with two different teams, the Pistons and Bulls, and averaged at least 15 rebounds per game for seven seasons in that stretch. His father died when he was 4 years old, and he was the youngest of 10 children raised by a single mother in rural Illinois. 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. He did all of this by just not being good, but by playing with a unique brand of intensity and skill a combination that was light years ahead of where the NBA was at when he broke in as a 19-year-old in 1995. Patrick Kane is Broadway-bound, and the New York Rangers are far from the only top contender making big moves ahead of the NHL trade deadline. In an interesting, amazing aside, Debusschere pitched two seasons for the Chicago White Sox in 1962 and 1963 before deciding to turn his focus to his basketball career after the Detroit Pistons agreed to make him the youngest player-coach in NBA history at just 24 years old. Before turning his focus to basketball, the two-time Most Valuable Player grew up in Canada playing hockey, and his family lived in the same neighborhood as future NHL stars Russ and Geoff Courtnall. 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. instead of being the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player and an 11-time All-Star. 7) He Was Known By The Nickname, "The Dunkin' Dutchman" Rik Smits was known as "The Dunkin' Dutchman". However, The Iceman went out that night and had 53 points by halftime, cruising to the scoring crown with 63 points at the end of the night. Jim Tucker. Bottom line: John Havlicek is one of just four players in NBA history to win eight NBA titles. You can say what you want about Carmelo Anthony possibly being a gunner or not being particularly interested in playing defense, but what you cant deny is that hes one of the most naturally gifted scorers to come alone in the NBA in the last several decades. In an era of players jumping teams, hes managed to stay with the Miami Heat for his entire career. Bottom line: Bob Pettit was one of the most prolific scorers and rebounders in NBA history, and if you did a double take at his career rebounding average, thats understandable. Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer requires us to wait for a guy with a stick to poke the ball out of the bucket after Dwyane Wade makes a layup, and as the game has evolved, so has the manner in which people have been able to put the ball in the goal. Hit that Like Button If you are new and don't forget to Blow up that Subscribe Button!!!! Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1969-75), Los Angeles Lakers (1975-89), Key stats: 1,560 G, 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 55.9 FG%, NBA titles: 6 (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988). They got there because they were tough, and thats something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. 2. Bottom line: For the entirety of his career, Scott Skiles was listed at 6-foot-1. Can you keep it together when there are tens of thousands of people who want you to fail? Teams: Golden State Warriors (1988-89, 1999-2000), New York Knicks (1990-98), Chicago Bulls (2000), Utah Jazz (2000-02), Key stats: 866 G, 12.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 41.2 FG%. Show answer How many personal fouls does a player get to be ejected from an NBA basketball game? How do you function when everyone is against you? First with his play and then with his legendary trash talk. These players have not only set records but also set the standard of excellence for future generations. Name All These NBA Players (Hard Edition)! Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1976-80), Phoenix Suns (198-83), Boston Celtics (1983-90), Key stats: 1,100 G, 14.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 44.5 FG%. Bottom line: Norm Van Lier had one of the more modest, accomplished careers in NBA history in almost total anonymity. Or how much you can dole out. Faulk was pretty close but only ran for 12,279 total yards. Its hard to argue against listing the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, who possessed the single most unstoppable shot anyones ever seen in the sport of basketball, topping this list. 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). If Kobe is ever able to get healthy again, hell be able to surpass Jordan for third place on the career scoring list, and is currently one of just five players to ever surpass 30,000 points. One of the most dangerous scorers the league has ever seen, Durant is a fearless shooter whose range pretty much consists of in the gym. In his first seven seasons, hes already topped 30 points-per-game twice in an era where no one averages 30 anymore, and like Bird, hes entered the rarified territory of having shot 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the line in a season. The image will become slightly less blurred after each guess. It's that easy! 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%. Roundfield toiled in relative anonymity for his entire career but still managed to make the All-NBA Defensive Team five times and made three consecutive All-Star teams, almost stealing MVP honors in 1980 with 18 points and 13 rebounds. 1 overall and started off his career as a player who made his name by living above the rim. It seems hard to be one without people thinking youre not also the other. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah projects the No. Get used to that, because Adams could play for another 10 years. Two more years at $6.5 million. That included a career-high 18.7 rebounds in 1991-92. Guess the NBA Player in 8 tries. Ok it Get ya. If Durant stays healthy, and considering hes already started excusing himself from USA Basketball activities to remain fresh, theres no telling just how many points he could score. Old-school NBA fans might remember McDaniels signature move on opponents who tried him his gigantic hands around their throats.
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