Micheal Jordan- Increased popularity, and changes the game play.George Mikan- First star in the league.Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Changed the game play of there positions.Red Auerbach- First great coach and changed the view. Also first ever to draft a black player.Earl Lloyd- First black player in the league.Elgin Baylor- First big time dunker.Julius Erving- Revolutionized dunking in the league.Allen Iverson/Tim Hardaway- Revolutionized crossovers.
Nice list there.If I had to choose one of those it would be Jordan. In no other sport does someone stand out so far as the best at their respective game.
Here comes Tony with his 'Jumpin Joe Fulks made the jump shot' post.After reading the newest Slam, I can say that Terry Cummings, Karl Malone, and Charles Oakley changing the PF position to a more gritty position.
Wilt and Bill Russel completely changed the center spot and made it a position were you could dominate with defense and rebounds.
Completely agree with TheAnalyst's post.I realize this is "old school," but I have to say Kevin Garnett for ushering in the whole high school to the NBA jump again. Also the new breed of power forwards who can step outside and shoot the jumper, run the floor, and their excellent display of athleticism (see Amare Stoudemire).
I'll add a fewjumpin' joe - jumperJerry Lucas/Bob Mcadoo/Bob Lanier - Shooting power forwardPistol Pete - Don't give me none of that bob cousy BS, Pistol Pete was the first guy with mad handlesRed Holtzman - For the first time in almost fifteen years, red holtzman coached a team that allowed less than a hundred points per game. And won the championship. This was the beginning of the league's two decade shift towards defensive playThe Bad Boy Pistons - Showed that defense wins ringsMoses - Signed first million dollar contractBig O - Original triple double
come on peopleDirk Nowitzki - completely top to bottom revolutionized the PF position, as well as ushering in an era of European talent into the NBA.
Bird vs. Magic, Celtics vs Lakers era of the 80s really started to bring basketball back into the national spotlight after it took a hit during the 70s. Their rivalry really injected new life into the NBA in which Jordan came along a few years later and took the game to an entire new level. Without them I don't think Jordan could have made the impact he did.The play of Steve Nash and Jason Kidd reviving the lost art of the pure point guard. The impact guys like Vlade Divac had in introducing the NBA/basketball to other cultures.
What about the ABA? without the ABA there likely wouldn't be teams in Memphis, San Antonio, Indiana, Salt Lake, Miami, or Dallas. there wouldn't be the three-point line either, and if it wasn't for the rivalry between the two the NBA could have gone under because in the late 60s the league began to go stale.
I can't necessarily disagree with anything that anyone has said, as those are all very influential people in the league. But where in God's name is Bill Russell at? Where's Wilt Chamberlain at? These two seceded George Mikan and completely dominated the game, paving the way for centers like Alcindor in the first place. Russell was the epitomy of a winner, with 11 championships in 13 years and was the first black coach ever. Wilt the Stilt was simply dominant, a scoring and rebounding machine who set records that will never be broken.Also, Moses Malone was mentioned but for the wrong reason. What about him becoming the first player to jump from high school into the pros in the ABA? Also, you've then got to consider Kevin Garnett. After Poodle Willousghby had got screwed, people had stomped jumping. Once KG did it, however, it inspired Kobe, T-Mac, Jermaine O'Neal to do it the very next year and started an enormous movement.
I'd say one of the biggest non-player influences would be the entire Colangelo family. Jerry Colangelo was the first GM in the nba to draft a European player, and to set up a seperate part of his organization for European scouting. Now his son, Bryan Colangelo who picked the Italian Andrea Bargnani with the first overall selection in the NBA Draft. This made Bargnani the first European selected first overall in the history of the NBA Draft. He also signed Jorge Garbajosa, and Anthony Parker who are also european.
Jordan. He showed that a GUARD CAN WIN championships by themselves. Never has happened before, and since him, it's yet to happen.
By himself? Jordan never won anything until Scottie Pippen came to Chicago. I'm not at all trying to take away from Jordan's accomplishments, but he certainly didn't win on his own. A lot of those Bulls squads, in the second 3peat especially, were STACKED with talent.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MaRdYC26 @ Jan 2 2007, 07:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Jordan. He showed that a GUARD CAN WIN championships by themselves. Never has happened before, and since him, it's yet to happen.</div>MJ wasn't quite by himself, you could argue wade won it all "by himself" by that logic
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hoops Junkie @ Jan 2 2007, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>By himself? Jordan never won anything until Scottie Pippen came to Chicago. I'm not at all trying to take away from Jordan's accomplishments, but he certainly didn't win on his own. A lot of those Bulls squads, in the second 3peat especially, were STACKED with talent.</div>To have a swingman like Pippen is one thing, to have a guy like Shaq is another.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dsounG @ Jan 2 2007, 04:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Earl Boykins and all the other people under 6 foot.</div>Should give that credit to Mugsy Bougues and Spudd Webb also.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>To have a swingman like Pippen is one thing, to have a guy like Shaq is another.</div>Why would you bring Shaq into this? I never mentioned Kobe or DWade or anyone like that. Shaq wasn't on every championship team besides Jordan's. To have a swingman like Pippen was a LOT. Scottie was an excellent player, and my only point is Jordan never won a championship on his own. Furthermore, there were teams other than the Bulls that won titles without a great big man. Look at Rick Barry's Warriors for instance. Like I said, I'm not trying to knock Jordan, but NO ONE won rings on their own.
