Sixth Man of the Year. Key stats: 792 G, 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 43.6 FG%. He was intense when it came to his ability to dominate in the low post, and thats something that few big men have been able to properly emulate since he retired. The 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, also referred to as NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, were chosen in 1996 to honor the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Teams: New Jersey Nets (1981-1989), Portland Trail Blazers (1989-1996), New York Knicks (1996-1998), Key stats: 1,307 G, 12.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 54.9 FG%. Stats: 20.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.0 APG in 12 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1966-67 to 1974-75), Washington Bullets (1975-76 to 1976-77) and Boston Celtics (1977-78). Stats: 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG in 11 seasons with Milwaukee/St. And that's what makes Trae an outlier; he's the smallest, and probably the frailest player on this list, yet he's behind only SGA and Luka in drives per game. Jordan played in an NBA era where you had to essentially fight your way out of games, with every opponent he faced trying to physically break him. He was teased and bullied mercilessly as a child and through high school because he stuttered, and it got so bad he had to leave several schools. Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG in 19 seasons with Orlando Magic (1992-93 to 1995-96), Los Angeles Lakers (1996-97 to 2003-04), Miami Heat (2004-05 to 2007-08), Phoenix Suns (2007-08 to 2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10) and Boston Celtics (2010-11). Havlicek died in April 2019 at 79 years old. He had game-changing skills, and thats not something we talk about when discussing point guards very often. Bottom line: Nate Thurmond was as ferocious of a rebounder as anyone in NBA history, and just as good at blocking shots and defense. NBA Odds: Grizzlies vs. Nuggets prediction, pick, how to watch - 3/3/2023.
The 20 Greatest NBA Players of All Time The Sporting Blog Nash was the featured player on one of the most exciting Offensive teams to watch in NBA History. 49. The complete list of players is in alphabetical order below. McDaniel combined toughness with intimidation to a maximum degree. Bottom line: Kenyon Martin was the last college senior to be picked No. 15 15.
RANKED: the Top NBA Players Right Now - Insider His obvious passion for the game was clear, and he went hard no matter what the scoreboard read. Louis Hawks (1954-55 to 1964-65). 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. Bottom line: NBA fans who got to know Dennis Rodman in the 1980s, when he first joined the league, were able to appreciate his innate toughness before his life off the court overshadowed his game. 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. instead of being the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player and an 11-time All-Star. With a psychotic work ethic and completely unafraid to call out anyone (including his teammates), it doesnt get more intense than Bryant among modern day players. Bottom line: Michael Jordans toughness was the stuff of legend, and the five-time NBA Most Valuable Player was legendarily hard on teammates. 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. Bottom line: John Havlicek is one of just four players in NBA history to win eight NBA titles. Stats: 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 BPG in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics (1980-81 to 1992-93). Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1972-73 MVP, 1973 All-Star MVP, 1970-71 Rookie of the Year, two-time NBA champion.
He was capable of controlling the defensive rebound and dribbling the length of the court for a ferocious finish at the rim. Bottom line: Xavier McDaniel set a baseline for what it meant to be tough when he was still playing for Wichita State University and became the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in points and rebounds in 1984-85. More importantly, with the Blazers, he acted as the "touch him Ill touch you" guy for star Bill Walton, a fellow vegetarian. Stats: 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 APG in 16 season with San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968-69 to 1971-72; 1981-82 to 1983-84) and Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972-73 to 1980-81) . If you ever happened to catch a game that Skiles played in, you know thats spotting him at least 2-3 inches. Or the likes of Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter. 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. 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.". He had a presence on defense that he rarely gets credit for, but its worth noting because its just not something that all players can achieve.
List of all the NBA and ABA Players | Basketball-Reference.com There was a reason he was the No. Bottom line: Steve Nash seemed like he was made of pure scrap iron for most of his NBA career, bouncing around the court and off of other players like he was inside of a pinball machine. Teams: Fort Wayne Pistons (1950-57), Minneapolis Lakers (1957-60), St. Louis Hawks (1960-62), Key stats: 817 G, 13.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 40.5 FG%. Most Improved Player. Randolph toiled away for a lot of his career in obscurity. You never wanted to challenge Mount Mutombo. Stockton, the NBA career leader in assists and steals, was as durable as any player in NBA history. Stats: 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG in 20 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1996-97 to 2015-16). | Getty Images Mahorn certainly wasnt afraid to body up; that is what earned him his nickname. Whether a mean stare, a suffocating style of play or a general ability to send electricity. For anyone who has never seen Cowens on the court, it would be fitting to look up some of his best days while he was still in the league. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1993-94 MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Finals MVP, two-time rebounding champ, three-time blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time NBA champion. He may have often looked out of place when he played, but thats because he was far ahead of his time. He never backed down from anyone regardless of the situation, and his dunk over both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen will be one of the most iconic of all time. Key stats: 1,018 G, 16.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 46.0 FG%. The 6'9" Johnson (making him the NBA's tallest point guard) not only posted the best assists-per-game mark in league history (11.2) but had a tremendous all-around game, as well. He had a very riled up rivalry against Bill Laimbeer, and neither sought to back down from the other, which only heightened the distaste between them. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1995-96 Defensive Player of the Year, 1995-96 steals champ, 2006 NBA champion. Just because Paul is not as outspoken as some of the other counterparts on this list doesnt mean that he doesnt belong. Defensive Player of the Year. Seriously, 11 championships in 13 seasons is arguably the most intense thing to ever be accomplished in league history. An enforcer, McDaniel did well when it came to boosting the energy of whatever roster he was on. The two were unexpectedly caught in rough waters, and he was swept away by the current after getting her to safety. Throughout his NBA career, Bill Lambier drilled over 200 Three-pointers. 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).
Ranking the greatest 75 NBA players of all time: Nos. 25-1 - USA Today These are the toughest players in NBA history. Perhaps one of the most searched for athletes on YouTube thanks in large part due to the fights he found himself in, Johnson didnt do anything to eschew his reputation of being a tough guy around the league. Get used to that, because Adams could play for another 10 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. Not only was Dawkins downright crazy on the court, but he seemingly thrived off of breaking the backboard. in Game 2, swinging an elbow at Dawkins head and changing the tone of the series as the Blazers rallied for the championship. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, five-time MVP, six-time Finals MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, 1987-88 Defensive Player of the Year, 1984-85 Rookie of the Year, 10-time scoring champ, three-time steals champ, six-time NBA champion. 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. If any other player had dressed up like grandmamma, they probably wouldnt have been able to live it down, but nobody dare challenged Johnson like that. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, 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. Stats: 24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.5 APG in 15 seasons with Atlanta Hawks (1982-83 to 1993-94), LA Clippers (1993-94), Boston Celtics (1994-95), San Antonio Spurs (1996-97) and Orlando Magic (1998-99). He was dominant at both ends of the floor, and his mean mug was enough to scare the opposition before he entered the lane. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1973-77), Boston Celtics (1977-78), San Diego Clippers (1978-79), Portland Trail Blazers (1979-82), Golden State Warriors (1987), Key stats: 507 G, 9.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 52.6 FG%. All Time Leaders. 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. Apart from handing out aggressive fouls, Bill Lambier was also at the center of most flagrant splays at the time. Still one of the most underrated centers of all time despite his production, Ewing is one of the best to ever play the position. 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. Jordan scored 38 points despite playing with a fever and recovering from a stomach virus. Nash was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2018. Stats: 20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG in 15 seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (1983-84 to 1994-95) and Houston Rockets (1994-95 to 1997-98). Being tough on the basketball court isn't only a physical thing. Western Conference Finals MVP.
Third Quarter Dubs Strike Again as Warriors Defeat Clippers | NBA.com NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Player Efficiency Rating First with his play and then with his legendary trash talk. Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on the Bulls in the 1990s. Hes also the author of one of the single greatest moments in NBA history which revolved around his toughness. The most intense players to ever play in the NBA brought a 110 percent effort on every single night. Van Lier died unexpectedly in 2009 at 61 years old, the same day as former Bulls coach Johnny "Red" Kerr. 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). Let us know more about the 5 most aggressive chess players of all time- Garry Kasparov; Garry Kasparov, currently the chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, is a Russian chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, writer and much more. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. He asserted himself no matter what the situation, and his leadership on the court was integral in Houston winning back-to-back titles. 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. 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. Stats: 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG in 17 season with Chicago Bulls (1987-88 to 1997-98; 2003-04), Houston Rockets (1998-99) and Portland Trail Blazers (1999-00 to 2002-03). Thats when America got to know his trademark goggles (and beard) on the way to NBA Finals losses to the Bulls and Pistons. 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. The moment Thomas toughness was no longer in doubt was at the end of his tenure with the Celtics, when he was on the verge of getting close to a max contract in free agency in the offseason. Starks may have been a little short on height, but he was never short on heart. Stats: 20.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 4.5 APG in eight seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (2013-14 to 2020-21)*.
The 25 Most Hated Players in NBA History - Sportscasting Oakley squared up with a whos who of NBA tough guys and had an epic series of throwdowns with Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. Somehow, LeBron James is still No. Myself, I liked to get my fight over on Monday or Tuesday and not worry about it the rest of the week.". 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. One of the most prolific forwards to ever play, Barkley stuck to his beliefs when it came to what he believed to be rightfully his on the hardwood.
Legends profile: Michael Jordan | NBA.com In the NBA, some of the greatest players of all time have also been some of the toughest as well as some of the most beloved. 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). But no one who ever watched the man play would classify it as such. There are just not players like Sprewell who come along everyday, and his stint with the Knicks came with the vow that he was a changed man. With the NBA celebrating its 75th anniversary this season, USA TODAY assembled a panel of NBA experts to rank the greatest 75 NBA players of all time. Although he never won an NBA title in 14 seasons. After missing Game 6 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers with a torn thigh muscle, Reed was almost certainly a scratch for Game 7. 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%. 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. In his first 13 seasons, he missed just four games and only missed 22 in his career, with 17 of those coming at the start of the 1997-98 season as he recovered from an injured MCL. Along with Detroits Joe Dumars, NBA legend Michael Jordan said Moncrief was one of the two toughest defensive players he ever faced. He brought immediate toughness and stability to the roster. Robertson was found not guilty of human trafficking in 2015, five years after he was arrested and after authorities discovered the accuser made up the whole story. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, five-time assists champ, two-time MVP. Its a shame that the Knicks decided to trade Jackson to the Clippers in 1992 and split up what was just becoming a playoff contender with a nucleus of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Jackson. For the prime example of Jordans mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "The Flu Game."
100 Most Decorated NBA Players of All Time - Bleacher Report