They then went out to find their Tim Duncan, so that they could fashion a team culture modeled after the Spurs. Influence Along with having won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award, he's a 7-time NBA All-Star, and arguably one of the 50 greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. His antitrust lawsuit, Robertson v. NBA, destroyed the reserve clause that tied a player to an NBA team in perpetuity.". Not a game. The NBA superstar and 2-time MVP, Stephen Curry, is among the most influential and respected players in the NBA today. Won 6 NBA titles, 5 MVP awards, two … That's a distinction that will carry a great honor for him as he has always wanted to be known as a playmaker and not just as a scorer. After he ruptured his Achilles, he looked Lakers trainer Gary Vitti in the eye and asked whether he could still play. Along with his rival Magic Johnson, who played a much glitzier style of ball in Los Angeles, Bird brought a beautiful game featuring ball movement back to a league that had lost favor with fans. We don't blink when Kobe and LeBron launch their own movie studios. Cincinnati Royals (1960-70), Milwaukee Bucks (1970-74). But there are so many answers to why "The Answer" was a game changer. We're counting down the 100 most influential players in NBA history. Most Influential Basketball Trainer of the Decade Being an NBA skills coach used to be a job until Chris Brickley turned it into a lifestyle. And being white on the harlem globetrotters. Houston Rockets (1984-2001), Toronto Raptors (2001-02). Our NBA panel -- with members from across ESPN, including TV, radio, ESPN.com, The Undefeated and ESPN The Magazine -- voted more than 11,000 times to select the top 90 game-changers, and a smaller committee of writers and editors selected the final 10. Baylor's reply summed up his determination to see the strike and labor movement through: "Tell Bob Short to go [expletive] himself." But the Knicks' physical, all-defense approach was extremely influential, contributing to a subsequent decline in NBA scoring and fan appeal. Influence Unlike many other coaches, the "Zen Master" believed in guiding players with a light, almost spiritual touch, as spelled out in influential books like "Sacred Hoops" and "More Than a Game.". One of Boston's best clutch athletes of all time." -- Arnovitz. Philadelphia 76ers (1984-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-96), Houston Rockets (1996-2000). In 2007, after the Lakers failed to build a contender, he angrily requested a trade, but reversed course after the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol in 2008 and won titles in 2009 and 2010, declaring himself a Laker for life. Barkley was also a Dream Teamer (and pal of Michael Jordan) who ran roughshod in the Olympics, and he averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for his NBA career. It also helped Auerbach to have Russell coming from the weak side to deflect shots into the hands of Sam Jones or John Havlicek when the Celtics' defense broke down. Mike D'Antoni might have been the intellectual godfather of the "7 Seconds or Less" movement, but two-time MVP Steve Nash was the engine that propelled it. Unlike with baseball and Jackie Robinson, integration in the NBA hinged not on a single player but on multiple players arriving in 1950, three years after Robinson's MLB debut. Kobe Bryant followed in the footsteps of Michael Jordan, but he was also a maverick -- a brilliant, driven talent who made his own path and got tens of millions of fans to follow. Practice." But we're still not precisely there on why Oscar Robertson is foundational to basketball history. Counting stats are a tribute to longevity, but his game-changing hasn't been just about volume. More active NBA players have waded into the waters of political advocacy in recent years. In the halfcourt, the crossover was his signature move, most memorably against Michael Jordan and Tyronn Lue, when he scored on Lue in the Finals and stepped over him. O'Neal's massive, media-friendly, hyperbolic personality and dozens of nicknames found their way into movies, albums and commercials at a pace unlike any seen before in the NBA, and he remains a household presence on TNT. And Garnett is a regular on TNT's broadcast from his "Area 21" set. And, yes, it does help to have a guy like Kobe who can create when the offense breaks down. At just over 6-foot-4, he played power forward with incredible speed, power and skill. Iverson led the league in scoring four times and steals three times, and those skills went hand in hand, as he gambled and scored fearlessly. In the playoffs, he's already the all-time leader in scoring, second in steals and third in assists. To note that he won national college player of the year, three MVP awards, three NBA titles and a gold medal as an aging member of the Dream Team seems almost beside the point. By Eduardo Villalpando January 9, 2021 2:04 AM ESPN recently put together a list of the top 100 most influential NBA players of all time. Bill Russell. This list will pay homage to the top 10 most influential figures in sports history. At just over 6-foot-4, he played power forward with incredible speed, power and skill. The hard brevity of "Shaq!" And he was a freelancing terror off the ball, pilfering over 2,000 steals and racking up nearly 2,000 blocks. But more than any particular accomplishment, it was his personality that seemed most magnetic and influential. -- Harris, Teams Jokic should go down as one of the most influential players of all time. For years, every short power forward was compared to Barkley, known as "The Round Mound of Rebound" for his physique. As a young player, Bryant had a knack for blowing minds on the court with spectacular basket forays and annoying traditionalists with his self-centered play, later known as Hero Ball. Influence As Stephen Curry, LeBron James and other stars create a brand-new NBA before our very eyes, we decided to present the 5 most influential NBA players of all time. He was MVP in 1964 and NBA champion in 1971. Adande captured the essence of his impact: "He has celebrated almost 18 birthdays -- the equivalent of a legal coming-of-age -- since that Nov. 7, 1991, news conference in which he announced he was HIV-positive. Iverson led the league in scoring four times and steals three times, and those skills went hand in hand, as he gambled and scored fearlessly. Obviously shots were blocked before Russell, but he turned the act into a psychologically and physically devastating art form. • Game Changers: 75-51 "As former Jackson assistant Jim Cleamons told The New York Times, 'Every situation that Phil has coached in, the team hadn't won before he got there. Influence -- Webb, "Dr. J set the standard for NBA style, combining originality, huge hands, hang time and elegance to show future generations the kind of artistry possible in basketball. After his career as a role player and a short stint as a broadcaster, Riley took over the Showtime Lakers and led them to four championships, quickly gaining popularity as a stylish sideline manager -- indeed "The Winner Within" is one of the most successful sports-based management books ever. When questioned why he'd do such a thing, he defiantly responded, 'Why? With 11 NBA titles -- the last two as the first black coach in pro sports -- plus back-to-back NCAA titles, and an Olympic gold medal, Russell has an untouchable track record of team success.". He has starred on TNT's "Inside the NBA" for years, and is outspoken on racial issues and every other topic that comes to mind. As Ramona Shelburne wrote: "He traded everything -- his friends, his family, his identity, his body, ultimately his humanity -- in pursuit of basketball immortality. He won Olympic gold in 1960. Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James are some of the most influential players in the NBA. Influence The four highest all-time NBA single-season scoring averages all belong to Chamberlain…in his first four professional seasons. Influence At just 6-feet, Iverson was still one of the most dynamic scorers in NBA history -- more relentless and improvisational than refined, and able to get buckets on fast-break dunks, impossible layups and jumpers from any spot on the floor. Influence Influence Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10), Miami Heat (2010-14), Cavaliers (2014-present). "Jordan transformed the style and substance of basketball, expanding the scope and meaning of athletic achievement. Kobe Bryant followed in the footsteps of Michael Jordan, but he was also a maverick -- a brilliant, driven talent who made his own path and got tens of millions of fans to follow. -- Harris, Teams That one's untouchable. So he was groundbreaking with that move because it was a hesitation into the crossover that nobody had really done before. But there are so many answers to why "The Answer" was a game changer. "Basketball is, and always has been, a huge, huge part of me, the canvas I tried to paint each time I stepped on the court and never stopped trying to perfect," West wrote in his autobiography "West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life," published in 2011. Unreachable. When he tore his right rotator cuff, he just started shooting left-handed. Without those well-rounded skills, he might be remembered as a circus act. Regardless of the quirks, Baylor is a titan of the sport and human dignity. Bursting off a drag screen in transition, then probing into the gut of a backpedaling defense, Nash created the chaos and then delivered the pinpoint passes that found his 3-point shooters and empowered the small ball that defined an era. "The triple-double. Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-2007), Boston Celtics (2007-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15), Timberwolves (2015-16). At the time of his retirement, he was an 11-time NBA All-Star. He has developed six NBA Draft picks, six All-Americans, three conference Players of the Year, and 21 all-conference selections during his time with the Irish. • #NBArank: Best players ever Curry has a tremendous and loyal following as he is not only a fantastic basketball player but has also done amazing work off of the court through charity, donations, and public service. But there's more. ), "We're into the second generation of his influence now, the players who grew up watching the players who grew up watching Magic, something that didn't dawn on me until I asked 24-year-old Trevor Ariza about Johnson and he said, "Baron looks up to him a lot, and I look up to Baron." 10. As Steve Kerr told Chris Haynes, "The crossover, in my mind, changed the way players played. We still see his influence in ways big and small: kids wagging their tongues; the raging popularity of basketball in China; post-up players leaning backward into defenders before making their move. Exemplifying his domination was a famous marquee at Madison Square Garden declaring "George Mikan vs. the New York Knicks." Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird -- first as hated rivals, then as friends -- did more than any other pair of players to bring the NBA into the modern era we still enjoy today. The hard brevity of "Shaq!" His mindblowing athletic talent -- including overpowering strength, an outlandish wingspan, supreme speed, and uncanny leaping ability -- and outgoing personality gave him a presence unlike any in sports. His game-changing ability -- particularly on defense, for which he made 12 All-Defensive teams -- was constantly apparent in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves still haven't made a postseason trip since 2004, the year he won the MVP award and three years before Garnett initially left the franchise via trade. His entire career was built upon accepting nothing. • Game Changers: 100-76 ", "Riley's reach across the decades has shaped and reshaped the NBA. The NBA in recent years has become a staple of entertainment not just in the United States but globally as well. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. For years, every short power forward was compared to Barkley, known as "The Round Mound of Rebound" for his physique. As Ramona Shelburne wrote: "He traded everything -- his friends, his family, his identity, his body, ultimately his humanity -- in pursuit of basketball immortality. From the 1950s to the present, he gave interviews, wrote articles and books, and now is on Twitter addressing the flaws of American society. • Game Changers: 50-26 With 11 NBA titles -- the last two as the first black coach in pro sports -- plus back-to-back NCAA titles, and an Olympic gold medal, Russell has an untouchable track record of team success. But the science was moving ahead of the society. "The magnitude of Abdul-Jabbar's prolific contributions to basketball, both as player and citizen, are unparalleled. The triple-double. Playing 48.5 minutes a game for an entire season. Influence Though Chuck Cooper was the first black player drafted, Earl Lloyd was the first to play in an actual game. Even if a player didn't participate majorly in off-the-court issues, a player's influence on the game can be felt by growing the sport's popularity worldwide or re-shaping the game as far as how it's being played. Each of the players in our list forever changed the way we talk about basketball, the way we play basketball, and even the way we bet on basketball . His play saved the Lakers franchise financially, and yet when he gracefully retired early in the 1971-72 season, that's when the team went on a record-setting win streak and finally won the championship. Pistol Pete is definately on the most influential BASKETBALL players in history. One of Boston's best clutch athletes of all time." As perhaps the most popular sports broadcaster of today, Barkley is entertaining whether he's saying something provocative, hurling an insult or dropping a hilarious or self-deprecating line. Despite his Hoosier State roots, Bird will forever be associated with Celtic Green. Don Barksdale was the first black All-Star and before joining the NBA was the first black NCAA All-American and first black player to win gold in basketball at the Olympics. According to one shoe executive, Bronny is the most influential high-school athlete of all time, as reported by 247sports.com. A generation of NBA executives recognized that Duncan's emotional intelligence was the connective tissue that helped Popovich execute the vision in San Antonio. His agility and ability at his size made every team lust for a player like Shaq, even with his memorably poor free throw shooting and occasional brushes with teammates. Five time NBA champion with the Lakers, Kobe Bryant has spent his entire career with the Lakers, where he is the top scorer with 33,643 points. ... in Duke basketball history. We expect Jay-Z to be "a business, man." '", "West was a paragon of consistent excellence who was an All-Star in each of his 14 seasons, and helped guide the Lakers to nine Finals appearances. In those early days of AIDS awareness we did not think he would make it to 40, let alone to 50. But he formed an uneasy alliance with Shaquille O'Neal and Phil Jackson to win three straight NBA titles, giving Bryant the superstardom and success he craved. But those are the individual numbers that feed into the superficial Russell vs. Chamberlain debate that always depended on simply seeing Wilt as selfish. After he ruptured his Achilles, he looked Lakers trainer Gary Vitti in the eye and asked whether he could still play. Over the years, his unique talent helped the Dallas Mavericks to put up some of the most efficient offensive numbers in history and allowed coach Rick Carlisle to create innovative schemes with more shooting on the floor, culminating in an NBA title in 2011. Vitti and Lakers coach Byron Scott had to yank him out of the game. That combination of kinetic energy, creative passing and sharpshooting endures as a blueprint for the prototypical point guard in the modern, high-pace era of NBA basketball. On the other end, West was a rugged, handsy competitor, whose defensive crouch and laser focus tormented opposing guards. Without further ado, here are the 20 most influential NBA players ever. , "He epitomized qualities the city of Boston loves: fearless, gritty, arrogant, passionate and relentless. Influence • Game Changers: 100-76 • Game Changers: ... are unparalleled. He was an unstoppable force, whether on the break or on the boards, and he could pass and score. But it was Chamberlain's spectacular persona that mattered as much as his accomplishments. He's the NBA's all-time leading scorer, a six-time champion and most valuable player, and he patented the skyhook. In live games, Curry's unconscionable pull-ups from ungodly distances, his step-backs under extreme heat, bombs that materialize out of nowhere thanks to his handles and lightning-quick release -- all of them nearly impossible or entirely ill-advised for most NBA shooters, but high-percentage looks for the two-time NBA champion and Most Valuable Player. -- Spears. -- Arnovitz, Teams Bird won three championships but could have easily had a handful more had his teammates matched his intensity ... and if his body hadn't so cruelly betrayed him in his final years. Just as teams used to look for another Michael Jordan or another Tim Duncan, they now have their sights set on finding another Nowitzki, from no matter where. While it's one thing to debate over who are the greatest players in NBA history based upon on-court accomplishments and skill, it's another thing to debate "influence." As the third president of the NBPA and a civil rights activist, Robertson fought for over a decade to secure pensions and free agency for players. And stardom did follow quickly, as Bryant was voted the youngest All-Star starter in history even before he was a Lakers starter. "When we first got Steve, it was like, 'OK, let's run,'" D'Antoni says, "But he's already going. However, his career wasn't defined by his NBA playing. During his career and in retirement, Abdul-Jabbar has established himself as sports' most imminent renaissance man and its most measured voice. He has a chance to move into the top 50 all time in total rebounds next season as well. The list of James' accomplishments since entering the league are well known, but he's continuing to write his story and refine his legacy. James changed the paradigm for what a basketball prodigy was, and there still hasn't been anyone quite like him since. 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