Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. What Players have become major influences to people from alltime in the NBA.First off, I have to go with Allen Iverson. He is the reason rap and basketball have a connection, or at least a huge reason why. Not much to explain here.Moses Malone is a very influential player. If I'm not mistaken, he made the first jump from high school to pro ball, which lead to many other superstars of today to go. Kobe, KG, Lebron James, Martell Webster, Amare, and Jermaine O'neal all missed College to get the big bucks.Another No-Brainer, Spud Webb. He dunked at 5'7. Not only dunked, but WON THE DUNK CONTEST FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!Micheal Jordan is a influential player. More than likely, if your the best player to ever touch a basketball, your influential. Look at all the people that wear Air Jordan shoes and jerseys. And Hanes underwear. Bob Cousy and Pistol Pete go into the same category. Fancy passers, behind the back, basically influenced and inspired the game of "Streetball."Finally, I have to put Larry Bird into the mix. Inspiration to Caucasions to play a black mans sport, basketball. Bird put your heart to it, hustled for every basketball, and was not selfish at all. Amazing player to do what he could on the court without having the talent. He put tons of time and effort into Bball, and it will never be the same without him.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. George Mikan. Without this guy, most likely the NBA would be composed of short guys, and opened a way for people like Kareem, Shaq, and others to dominate and play a vital role in basketball.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. True, but I'm thinking that the big players would still be big, regardless of Mikan. He is a trail blazer for big men, but not very influential.I guess streetball would have still became streetball, and High school players would still have came out of high school, but, I'm not even sure about whats considered "Influential" or not.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. Any NBA players who have had a rough childhood growing up then later coming to the NBA. Those guys inspire me alot.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. Steve Nash also inspires me.A Canadian in the NBA.It just makes me push myself to the limits to get the the big leagues.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. Kobe Bryant is my greatest influence...when you get caught cheating on your wife buy her a big fat ring and do anything possible to kiss media <Censored>
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. Allen Iverson, Nate Archibald, Earl Boykins, Spud Webb. All for the small guys.Bill Russell, Reggie Miller, Ben Wallace, Bruce Bowen, Grant Hill are others.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. The 2 that influenced me the most were Reggie Miller and Michael Jordan.I got influenced to play basketball by reading Michael Jordans book and was inspired to become a great shooter by Reggie Miller.That guy seriously touched my heart man.Hes a basketball that will always be in my heart and many Pacer fans hearts.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. I think it goes like this:"Jumpin" Joe Fulks- Without him I am not sure if we would be using the jump shot..Bob Cousy- Wrote the book for flashy moves and fancy dribbles. He paved the way for guys like Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, ectLarry Bird/Magic Johnson - The NBA was at a struggle before these 2 arrived. They put the NBA on the map in the 80'sMichael Jordan- No need to explain.Carmelo Anthony/Lebron James/Dywane Wade- Its like the Magic-Bird situation talent in the NBA these days are getting slim. These young guys are adding flair back in the league.I love watching the NBA evolve. My favorite evolution is the dunk contest. When DrJ took off from the foul line he ran to his dunk, Jordan added to that by dribbling his way to the dunk which is much harder, Vince Carter added to that by doing it with 2 hands instead of one.I love this game
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC @ Mar 4 2006, 12:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think it goes like this:"Jumpin" Joe Fulks- Without him I am not sure if we would be using the jump shot..Bob Cousy- Wrote the book for flashy moves and fancy dribbles. He paved the way for guys like Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, ectLarry Bird/Magic Johnson - The NBA was at a struggle before these 2 arrived. They put the NBA on the map in the 80'sMichael Jordan- No need to explain.Carmelo Anthony/Lebron James/Dywane Wade- Its like the Magic-Bird situation talent in the NBA these days are getting slim. These young guys are adding flair back in the league.I love watching the NBA evolve. My favorite evolution is the dunk contest. When DrJ took off from the foul line he ran to his dunk, Jordan added to that by dribbling his way to the dunk which is much harder, Vince Carter added to that by doing it with 2 hands instead of one.I love this game</div>Well, I guess we did have a topic like this. Guys that changed the game and influential plaeyrs are basically the same.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC @ Mar 4 2006, 05:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think it goes like this:"Jumpin" Joe Fulks- Without him I am not sure if we would be using the jump shot..Bob Cousy- Wrote the book for flashy moves and fancy dribbles. He paved the way for guys like Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, ectLarry Bird/Magic Johnson - The NBA was at a struggle before these 2 arrived. They put the NBA on the map in the 80'sMichael Jordan- No need to explain.Carmelo Anthony/Lebron James/Dywane Wade- Its like the Magic-Bird situation talent in the NBA these days are getting slim. These young guys are adding flair back in the league.I love watching the NBA evolve. My favorite evolution is the dunk contest. When DrJ took off from the foul line he ran to his dunk, Jordan added to that by dribbling his way to the dunk which is much harder, Vince Carter added to that by doing it with 2 hands instead of one.I love this game</div> Someone would have discovered the jump shot...come on....Cousy paved the way for Francis and Marbury? What does that mean?
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. He started it. Whether someone would have figured it out sooner or later or not you have to respect the past.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. Yeah...and we have to thank the inventor of the wheel because we might not have ever thought of it.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. There is a simple answer to this: Michael JordanEvery single NBA player, and mediocre JV High School player ever has seen MJ play, and emulated some part of his game. Whether you play his position, play his style, or can even do any of his moves, everyone looks up to him, and everyone uses him to set the bar.
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. I think if you want to talk in terms of off the court, Charles Barkley has affected a lot of people with his views and ideals. Another person who I think has affected alot of people is Dikembe Mutumbo for the work he has done in his home country in the construction of hospitals and educational centers. If you want to talk purely basketball, I think players like Dr.J, Jordan and Iverson have to be mentioned, and obviously present day people like LeBron, Kobe and Vince affect the nationwide audience greatly both in their play and the desire to perform in a manner similar to their greatness as well as their off-court demeanor and their cars, clothing and musical tastes..
Re: NBA's Most Influential Players. I know I love watching Charles talk off the court. Great point Hoops. I disagree and disagree with some of his opinions, but I love hearing them none the less, and he is a positive influence
