Though his peak came later, his Game 6 vs. Philadelphia in still has an argument for the greatest Finals game of all-time. Johnson was the best player in the series averaging just over 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists in the Finals. Unlike Bryant, Magic never won without his superstar running mate but he was able to secure three of the five ever elusive Finals MVP awards during their run together. Though at times a questionable teammate, an insane competitor obsessed with all the numbers and all the records, it was a given that Chamberlain would finish very high on the list.
When he got called selfish, he allegedly just decided to lead the league in assists. Coming in at number three is Cap. Every year, in line with mock draft etiquette, fans will claim that the next college phenom is going to be the best player ever, the next Bryant, Nowitzki, or James but that was likely true of young Lew Alcindor from the moment he stepped on the court. He won MVP awards nine years apart and won three more titles in his late thirties.
Not unlike many of the top 20, his exact peak is hard to locate because he was exceptional for so many years. That said, the most iconic moment of his career is not. After falling down against the Warriors, James and the Cavaliers seemed hooped. The most staunch James fans were understandably pessimistic and then, with his back against the wall, it just appeared like he hit another level. He smashed the most iconic block in the history of the sport, Kyrie Irving nailed the shot and the story of the season got a last minute rewrite.
One of the greatest point guards ever, Jason Kidd could make the flashy pass or the simple play with the best of them while also loving to hightail it in transition to wear opponents down in transition. Also used his ridiculous basketball IQ to rack up steals and defend at a high level.
He even became an adept outside shooter later on in his career, which really added to his longevity. James Harden already has a Hall-of-Fame resume thanks to his unreal scoring ability and playmaking. His crossover and stepback jumper make him impossible to slow down when he gets going, as does his strong shoulder on drives to the rim. Harden has a chance to add to his legacy in a major way over the coming years. An old-fashioned big man who was really strong and aggressive, especially on defense.
Hayes was called the Bionic Man because he was relentless, rarely missing a game until he was Perhaps the greatest point guard defender of all time, Gary Payton had unnatural strength for his size, quick feet and elite hands and timing to help him lock down foes one-on-one as well as rack up the steals. He was also an excellent playmaker and a solid scorer, who used a solid mid-range game to get buckets. One of the most explosive players of all time, Dominique Wilkins was more than just a dunker.
He could score with the best of them, using his physical advantages and unreal athleticism to torture opponents in the deep-to-short mid-range area. NBA rank: 8th in steals, 32nd in scoring, 34th in assists, th in rebounds, nd in blocks. One of the best 2-guards ever, Clyde Drexler was a fantastic scorer, rebounder and playmaker for his position, while also using his athleticism well defensively. A smooth operator on the wing as a scorer, George Gervin could fill it up with the best of them despite lacking much of a three-point shot.
The first truly dominant NBA big man, George Mikan used his massive size to his advantage along with the unusually soft touch he had for a player of his era. Mikan could finish ably with either hand in the paint. A player who could move up this list in a major way as his career progresses, Anthony Davis already has Hall-of-Fame credentials despite having a lot of his prime still to go. Davis is extremely skilled for his size, able to shoot and dribble, as well as being ridiculously mobile, which, coupled with his otherworldly length, make him an elite defender.
Worthy was especially terrific in transition as a member of the Showtime Lakers. NBA rank: 10th in scoring, 85th in rebounds, th in steals, th in assists, th in blocks. One of the smoothest scorers in the wing the league has ever seen, Carmelo Anthony has become renowned for his jab step in the mid-range, but he had many more moves than that. Melo also likes to bully smaller defenders and hit them with turnaround fadeaways. NBA rank: 16th in scoring, 20th in steals, 78th in assists, 84th in rebounds, th in blocks.
Paul Pierce has become underrated by younger fans due to his post-playing days media career, but make no mistake: Pierce was a beastly scorer in his prime, one who could fill it up from all three levels and score on even the most elite of defenders.
Pierce was also quite clutch, hitting a ton of big shots in his day. A monster-scoring big man who led the league in scoring three consecutive seasons, including once at Of course, like with any active player on this list, Damian Lillard could see himself outperform his ranking depending on how the rest of his prime goes.
Even as is, however, Lillard is one of the best score-first point guards ever, with outstanding shooting ability and clutch shots galore on his resume already. Despite standing just 6-foot-7, Wes Unseld was one of the most physically imposing centers ever thanks to his incredible strength and stout frame. Unseld was one of the best rebounders in NBA history, averaging One of the finest shooters ever, Reggie Miller ranks third in league history in made three-pointers 2, He was also extremely clutch about his shot-making, with a career highlight tape featuring multiple game-winning threes from high-pressure postseason contests.
Celtics legend Kevin McHale was known for putting opponents in something called the torture chamber, which basically meant when McHale would post up, it was torture for foes to defend due to his sharp elbows, long arms and ridiculous array of moves in the paint.
Still, Allen carved out a Hall-of-Fame career in his era anyway as one of the best shooters ever, and arguably owns the biggest shot in league history under his belt from Game 6 of the Finals. One of the greatest international NBA players of all time, Pau Gasol was a menace in his heyday, a supremely skilled big man who could shoot, dribble a bit, pass and create for teammates, and use his long limbs well when tasked with protecting the rim.
Walt Frazier , remembered partly by his cool nickname Clyde, was one of the smoothest point guards of his era, one who could also take over the bulk of the scoring load for the Knicks.
Frazier was also one of the best point-guard defenders ever, making a ridiculous seven 1st Team All-Defenses in his career. The starting center on those legendary Celtics teams of the s, Robert Parish was a great complement to the likes of Bird and McHale, willing to do all of the dirty work down low while still providing a solid scoring punch in the paint.
Parish ranks in the Top 10 in both career rebounds and blocks. Best-known for limping out onto the court for Game 7 of the Finals for New York and hitting his first two shots on a bad thigh, Willis Reed is now widely considered one of the greatest Knicks of all time, a big man slightly short on stature but not on talent and sheer will.
Reed was a monster rebounder and shot-blocker despite standing just 6-foot Schayes could also dribble past opponents and drive to the hoop on hard closeouts. Chet Walker. George Yardley. Kevin Porter. Richie Guerin. Norm Van Lier. Willie Naulls. Zelmo Beaty. Marques Johnson. Jo Jo White.
Jack Sikma. Tom Chambers. Dick McGuire. Maurice Cheeks. Ben Wallace. Chauncey Billups. Bailey Howell. Lou Hudson. Rudy Tomjanovich. Deron Williams. Guy Rodgers.
Anfernee Hardaway. Phil Chenier. Charlie Scott. Bob Davies. Harry Gallatin. Maurice Lucas. Larry Foust. Michael Cooper. Paul Silas. Tony Parker. Metta World Peace. Paul Westphal. Phil Smith. Amar'e Stoudemire. Vern Mikkelsen. Rudy LaRusso.
Red Kerr. Terry Cummings. Gus Williams. Shawn Kemp. Horace Grant. Shawn Marion. Gene Shue. Yao Ming. Mark Price. Rasheed Wallace. Calvin Murphy. Bobby Wanzer. Bobby Jones. Mark Jackson. Otis Birdsong. Johnny Green. John Drew. Tom Gola. Larry Nance. Randy Smith. Terry Porter. Rolando Blackman. Andy Phillip. Clyde Lovellette. Chris Bosh. Bill Bradley.
Larry Johnson. Jermaine O'Neal. Andrew Toney. Reggie Theus. Elton Brand. Jerry Sloan. Jamal Mashburn. Bob Rule. Derrick Coleman. Gilbert Arenas. Joe Johnson. Joe Caldwell. Norm Nixon. Mark Aguirre. Micheal Ray Richardson. Archie Clark. Jimmy Walker. Doug Collins. Kiki Vandeweghe.
Larry Kenon. Alvin Robertson. Sam Cassell. World B. Stephon Marbury. Fat Lever. Baron Davis. Bill Bridges. Lamar Odom. Kelly Tripucka. Wayne Embry. Mookie Blaylock. Alvan Adams. Carlos Boozer. Don Ohl. Marcus Camby. Rod Strickland. Carl Braun. Jeff Malone. Danny Manning. Charles Oakley. Sidney Wicks. John Williamson. Arnie Risen. Cedric Maxwell. Darrell Griffith. Ray Scott. Cazzie Russell. Dale Ellis. Reggie Lewis. Richard Hamilton. Michael Redd. Latrell Sprewell.
Derek Harper. Steve Francis. Mickey Johnson. Jason Richardson. Purvis Short. Orlando Woolridge. Austin Carr. Max Zaslofsky. Bill Laimbeer. Antawn Jamison. Clark Kellogg. Antoine Walker.
Jim McMillian. Truck Robinson. Jeff Ruland. Walter Dukes. Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Quinn Buckner. Glenn Robinson. Log In. From the Vault See Another. You Might Also Like NFL Top Players Remove Ads.
Get the best of Sporcle when you Go Orange. This ad-free experience offers more features, more stats, and more fun while also helping to support Sporcle.
0コメント