Don't get this confused with 'best players ever' or 'greatest players ever'. These are the most significant players ever; they were remarkable players, they resonate with fans to this day, they are well remembered, and their play resulted in some kind of change to the game that we love. I fully expect this list to go over the heads of the average reader who will no doubt petition for Kobe Bryant and Johnny-come-lately while not understanding what it means to be significant (probably because they won't read this paragraph).
The top 10: (in alphabetical order of surname)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Most points in NBA history
Larry Bird - 3 consecutive MVP awards
Wilt Chamberlain - Most rebounds in NBA history
Julius Erving - 16 time ABA/NBA All-Star
Magic Johnson - Highest APG in NBA history
Michael Jordan - Highest PPG in NBA history
Pete Maravich - Most points in NCAA history
George Mikan - Voted Greatest Player of the First Half Century*
Oscar Robertson - Voted Player of the Century in 2000**
Bill Russell - Most championships in NBA history
*Voted by the Associated Press
**Voted by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Toughest omissions:
Elgin Baylor - 10 time All-NBA 1st Team
LeBron James - Youngest player in NBA history to score 15,000 points
Shaquille O'Neal - 15-time NBA All-Star
Others gaining strong consideration:
Rick Barry
Kobe Bryant
Bob Cousy
Tim Duncan
Joe Fulks
Kevin Garnett
John Havlicek
Nat Holman
Allen Iverson
Hank Luisetti
Karl Malone
Moses Malone
Yao Ming
Earl Monroe
Dirk Nowitzki
Hakeem Olajuwon
Bob Pettit
Dolph Schayes
John Stockton
Goose Tatum
Bill Walton
Jerry West
Results 1 to 15 of 63
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07-12-2012, 05:40 PM #1Local High School Star
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The 10 most significant players in basketball history
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07-12-2012, 05:42 PM #23-time NBA All-Star
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Most popular ever would probably go:
Jordan
Magic
Bird
Dr. J
Wilt
Russell
Shaq
AI
Kobe
Lebron
Something along those lines.
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07-12-2012, 05:43 PM #3Canned
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Shaq has to be in there. he changed so many rules with his physicality and dominance.
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07-12-2012, 05:44 PM #4College superstar
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Kobe, Iverson, Shaq, and Lebron should def be in the top 10.
Originally Posted by WillC
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07-12-2012, 05:44 PM #5SONICS FAN SINCE '10
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Jerry West needs to be top 10. Originally Posted by WillC
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07-12-2012, 05:45 PM #6Local High School Star
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Who would you take out? Originally Posted by atljonesbro
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07-12-2012, 05:45 PM #7Extra Cheese
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Maravich. LOL
NCAA is meaningless, low level competition. Nobody cares. (put in Shaq)
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07-12-2012, 05:46 PM #8Next Great White Hope
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Jordan
Bird/Magic
Iverson
Shaq
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07-12-2012, 05:46 PM #9Local High School Star
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
LeBron James - Youngest player in NBA history to score 15,000 points
That
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07-12-2012, 05:47 PM #10Decent playground baller
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Abdul-Jabbar
Bird
Jordan
Chamberlain
Erving
Russell
Magic
Shaq
Kobe
Lebron
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07-12-2012, 05:47 PM #11Local High School Star
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
I think you've overlooked his impact on the game and his popularity back in the day. Originally Posted by LJJ
The man was a God.
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07-12-2012, 05:49 PM #12Not airballing my layups anymore
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Just off the top of my head I would take out AI and replace him with Barkley. He was much better known through the country by people who didn't even know anything about Basketball. Originally Posted by guy
Would also have to take somebody else and put in Jabbar. Just don't know who.
The whole rape thing made Kobe very famous with non basketball watching people. It's a negative, but it made him better known, so I guess despite the reason being something negative, I guess he stays. Don't know if many people know Russel who don't care about basketball, or even kids. So is either him or Lebron that I would take out. Lebron because he's been in the public eye a lot less years.Last edited by Metroid; 07-12-2012 at 05:54 PM.
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07-12-2012, 05:49 PM #13Banned
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Kobe
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07-12-2012, 05:50 PM #14Serious playground baller
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Pete Maravich and George Mikan don't resonate with fans today
Replace them with Kobe.
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07-12-2012, 05:51 PM #15SONICS FAN SINCE '10
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Re: The 10 most significant players in basketball history
Is being the logo of the NBA not sigificant enough to be top 10?
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