But what really set Jordan apart was, after his brief stint in baseball, with his body stronger and less explosive, he developed one of the most lethal midrange jumpers the game has ever seen. He played at least 80 of 82 regular-season games seven times, and only missed a handful of games in three other seasons. Its kind of incredible to think of now, but McHale didnt even become a full-time starter until five years into his career, winning NBA Sixth Man of the Year twice in that stretch. You dont find many players who didnt average double figures in scoring or rebounding for their career that can say they were a two-time All-Star and five-time pick for the All-NBA Defensive Team. If you were to look at the earliest clips of Hakeem Olajuwon playing basketball in college and then in his first couple of seasons in the NBA, youd probably never have expected him to evolve into one of the most skilled and talented big men in league history. Its also a clear indicator of where his toughness came from he trails only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in that category. And even 40 years after one of the most infamous incidents in pro sports, his name still invokes a certain feeling of uneasiness. Bottom line: If you want to know about toughness and making something out of nothing, just look at what John Starks went through just to make it to the NBA. As, there are many NBA teams like Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, LA Clippers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks , and Houston Rockets. Some of the numbers Malone put up were absolutely silly by todays standards, such as when he boasted per-game averages of 31.1 points and 14.7 boards during the 1981-82 season. I mean, sure, the NFL still reigns supreme in terms of . So whether it's now or in . Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer requires us to wait for a guy with a stick to poke the ball out of the bucket after Dwyane Wade makes a layup, and as the game has evolved, so has the manner in which people have been able to put the ball in the goal. As the NHL trade deadline nears, the art of the deal is a headline . Weddle - NFL Wordle - Guess the NFL player in as few tries as possible. The physically dominant power forward was one of the biggest, strongest, and most intimidating figures to ever play the game at 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, and his superior fitness and athleticism allowed him to run past defenders and finish with authority. And he only played one season, his rookie year, with the Baltimore Bullets. Grandfather Hust Stockton won an NFL championship with the Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1926. The Big O averaged more than 30 points-per-game in six of his first seven seasons, and in just his second season added 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists, making him the only player in league history to ever average a triple-double for an entire season. Believe it or not, with his 26,786 career points the Big German ranks 10th on the all-time scoring list, and could conceivably move into the top five depending on his health, and how long he decides to keep playing for the Mavericks. His father, Stan, was an NBA player, and he had his son study tapes of Hall of Famer Wes Unseld as part of learning to play the game the right way. In 2009, the NBA named its Finals MVP award after Russell. Key stats: 971 G, 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 55.4 FG%. Whats unique about his career was that style of play, at that time, was ahead of its time feed the ball to one player and let the game hinge on that. Its ironic that Dumars, who has the NBA Sportsmanship Award named after him, was such a key part of Detroits "Bad Boys" teams that won NBA titles in 1989 and 1990. Ultimate Basketball Team Quiz. EXTREMELY HARD NBA QUIZ. Here's how it works: You have eight guesses to nail a current NBA player based on their silhouette.You're given their team, conference, division, position, height, age and jersey number. Bottom line: Its not a coincidence that NCAA Division II Virginia Union put two players on this list because one of them, Charles Oakley, recommended the other one, Ben Wallace, to the school after seeing him at a basketball camp. The 6-foot-1 guard played his last college season for Arkansas in 2007-08, then bounced around foreign pro leagues until 2013, when he made his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets. They dont call you Legend for nothing, and were it not for serious back problems later in his career, Larry Bird may well have gone on to become one of the most prolific scorers in league history. A lot of people will be quick to credit much of Karl Malones success to his running mate John Stockton and the way they perfected the pick and roll, but you cant deny the pure consistency that the Mailman showed throughout the course of his career. After his career nearly ended with a one-year suspension for his role in "The Malice at the Palace," he redeemed himself and won an NBA title with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2010. He quickly earned a reputation for being the "protector" of young Bulls star Michael Jordan and was a ferocious rebounder and defender. Who was the first ever NBA player to score 2,000 points in a single season? Kemba Walker 3. Are You the Ultimate NBA Fan? Early on he relied on being vastly superior athletically, but over the course of his career he developed an incredible post game, including the most beautiful turn-around, fade away baseline jumper youre likely to ever see. After all, theres a reason people called him Mailman: he always delivered. One stat stands out more than any other. Skiles languished on the bench, somewhat unfairly, for his first three seasons before going to the expansion Orlando Magic, where he set the NBA record with 30 assists in one game and was named NBA Most Improved Player in 1991. What made Larry "The Legend" so hard to guard was his body control and coordination with the timing and release of his shot. Bottom line: At one point in NBA history, no player was tougher or more intimidating than Larry Johnson, the No. Bottom line: Kevin Love might not be the first player that comes to mind when we talk about the toughest in NBA history, but he most certainly is. Check back soon for Daily Lineup. Bottom line: John Havlicek is one of just four players in NBA history to win eight NBA titles. Boston Celtics (2015-17), Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18), Los Angeles Lakers (2018), Denver Nuggets (2018-19), Washington Wizards (2019-present), Key stats: 525 G, 18.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, 43.6 FG%. Guess the most average players - The average NBA height is 6'6" and the average age is 26 years old. How did he do it? What you see every night is a group of big, freakishly athletic men running up and down the court scoring in ways James Naismith never would have dreamed possible. Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1979-81), Detroit Pistons (1981-91), San Antonio Spurs (1991-92), Key stats: 984 G, 12.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 46.4 FG%. Green is one of the more outspoken players in the game today, and its tough to see his legacy as not having his Game 6 suspension from the 2016 NBA Finals front and center alongside his titles. Lanier, at 6-foot-11, was one of the best all-around big men in NBA history and averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for his career. Former 76ers general manager Pat Williams probably described Jones the best: "He gives you two hours of his blood, showers and goes home.". Ironically, Iversons rise to fame and the public consciousness was defined by his toughness. 16 retired by both of the teams he played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. Key stats: 1,504 G, 13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 10.5 APG, 51.5 FG%. Many players could stay in front of Bird, but his fade away . Bottom line: Ron Artest legally changed his name to Metta World Peace in 2011, but no matter what his name was during his 18-year pro career, opponents were in for a dogfight when he stepped on a court. Whats not a mystery is the impact Billups made on almost every team he played on. The Penguins acquired a third-rounder in the Blueger deal and upped their available salary cap space to $6.3 million. Its almost unfair that a player could come along with Durants combination of size, measuring in at 6-foot-9, and shooting range. Hes already a five-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection (in just eight seasons), NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and has won three NBA titles. "If you played Monday through Saturday and didn't have a fight, you knew you had to be ready for Sunday because you'd surely have a fight. Faulk was pretty close but only ran for 12,279 total yards. Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (2001-07), New York Knicks (2007-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009-17), Sacramento Kings (2017-19). Originally Answered: Was Michael Jordan the hardest working NBA player in the NBA's history? The Charlotte Hornets are 20-43 this season, placing them in the second-last position in the Eastern Conference. Simply enter the name of the player, and the app will reveal their team, conference, division, position, height, age, and jersey number. That included a career-high 18.7 rebounds in 1991-92. Hes also on track to break the NBA career minutes played record in that same span. They are both behind Emmitt Smith, who rushed for a record 18,355 total yards during his career. Because 16.2 rebounds per game is just insane. In an alternate universe, Van Lier wouldve been able to pursue his first love of playing quarterback for a big-time college football program, but all of the schools that recruited him wanted him to play defensive back, a throwback to a racist, ignorant era. RAPTOR has Luka 2nd in the league. Theyre still the only players to pull off the feat. The toughest NBA players are known for a lot of things, such as not missing games, playing a lot of hard-nosed minutes, physicality, strength, mental resilience, never taking a play off, bending but never breaking, defending well, sticking up for teammates, and much more. 1, overall in his latest . They didn't get that way because they could score or rebound. Feedback will be revealed comparing your guessed player. Searches on headlines surrounding McDaniel joining the Suns, Knicks, Celtics and Nets all said the teams were "adding toughness.". bclc lotto app not working; signs your internship will turn into a job; mary suehr schmitz. Teams: Chicago Bulls (1999-2002), Indiana Pacers (2002-06), Sacramento Kings (2006-08), Houston Rockets (2008-09), Los Angeles Lakers (2009-13, 2015-17), New York Knicks (2013-14), Key stats: 991 G, 13.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 41.4 FG%. 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. NBA starting lineups will be posted here as they're made available each day, including updates, late scratches and breaking news. His father died when he was 4 years old, and he was the youngest of 10 children raised by a single mother in rural Illinois. Bottom Line: Bob Lanier is one of the most well-respected NBA players of all time and has his iconic No. Famed broadcaster Howard Cosell summed up Americas feelings toward Reed in the winning locker room after the game. The Rangers acquired Kane from Chicago in a three-team trade Tuesday night, adding the three-time Stanley Cup champion to their core that reached the Eastern Conference final last year and a couple of recent additions, including prolific scoring winger . If Wilt could have made free throws, theres no telling how many points he would have scored in his career (Ditto for Shaq). 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. His career has been yeoman-like, with six teams over 11 seasons, but hes been steady and his toughness is unmatched for some pretty incredible reasons. In high school, he awoke at 4:30 a.m. to do farm chores and walk two miles to school, where he had basketball practice at 7 a.m. Kobe has been working his whole life to both emulate and try to surpass Jordan, much like how Tiger Woods has mapped out his entire career as a comparison to Jack Nicklaus. Hes also one of just five players, along with LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Scottie Pippen and Giannis Antetoukompo, to lead an NBA team in all five top statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks) in the same season. How do you function when everyone is against you? 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%. Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1979-89), Atlanta Hawks (1989-91), Key stats: 767 G, 15.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 50.2 FG%. Which of the following players is not among the NBA's top five regular season scoring leaders of all time? But even among some fairly die-hard Celtics fans, we have gaps in our. Nash was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2018. Bottom line: Most of Americas introduction to Gary Payton came via one of the most iconic Sports Illustrated covers of all time, when he was a senior at Oregon State University in 1990. Being tough is more than just being physical. Trading for Durant kicked open a title window that seemed to be closing, but the parity-packed NBA of 2022-23 means there's no way to guarantee it'll stay open for long. Guess the Nation with a Nickname. Jim Tucker. Yet they are millionaires and would love to play like 20 mins a game the amount Of time these so called superstar play should not shut their body down to where they have to (rest). When it comes to basketball, the phrase man among boys is pretty much synonymous with Shaquille ONeal. As the first black superstar in NBA history, he had to endure racism at almost every turn but handled it with grace and aplomb. He also was routinely voted among the NBAs dirtiest players during his career. Bottom line: Theres always going to be some dispute about what Charles Barkleys actual height and weight were during his playing days, but its safe to say it was an inch or two below the 6-foot-6 he was listed at. Maravich wasnt the most conventional star to ever play the game, but his flashy play and outstanding skill level made him one of the most exciting scorers to ever step on a basketball court. 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. Bottom line: Buck Williams was the definition of an NBA player bringing his lunch pail to work. He was a guy who could and did play every position on the floor and still managed to dominate every night. He was drafted in the 1998 draft by the Nuggets and was traded on draft night to the Lakers. He helped lead the Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title and set the tone in the NBA Finals by squaring off with Darryl Dawkins (!) Russells mental toughness was on another level. Show answer Considered one of the greatest rebounders of all time, this player was known for his bad boy image and for being the All-Star MVP in 1991. The right answers 1. Of course the guy hes been competing with most doesnt even play anymore, because his name is Michael Jordan. He ended his career averaging a little less than 24 points-per-game, but thats primarily because his body started breaking down and he hung around the game for too long. It seems hard to be one without people thinking youre not also the other. After being banished to the bench and playing just 24 games in his first two seasons, Mason proved to be incredibly durable. Bottom line: Zach Randolph is perhaps the most durable, underrated and, to be honest, the most intimidating player of his generation. Despite never shooting even 50% from the floor in his career, he was able to use his physical talents to pour in just under 27,000 points in his career. On that same night who was the next . 1. Bottom line: There wasnt a better role player to put on your roster in the 1970s than Paul Silas, who won two titles with the Celtics and one with the SuperSonics over the last six years of the decade. Key stats: 1,346 G, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44.7 FG%, NBA titles: 5 (2000, 2001. Guess the Logos of the Clubs. Don't trust the colours as they have been manipulated. Dirk Nowitski has long been one of the league's toughest players to match up against, but it has become time for him to pass the torch to Kevin Durant, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili can still break down defenders with the dribble, but their explosiveness no longer rivals Chris Paul's and their strength doesn't measure up to that of James Harden. Teams: Detroit Pistons (1970-1980), Milwaukee Bucks (1980-1984), Key stats: 959 G, 20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 51.4 FG%. Chicago Bulls Trivia! Jordan's done a great job working hard, so he's doing everything we're asking. Havlicek died in April 2019 at 79 years old. Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer. in Game 2, swinging an elbow at Dawkins head and changing the tone of the series as the Blazers rallied for the championship. "That's your goodbye right there," DeMelo says. The Dream scored 26,946 points in his 18 seasons, shooting 51.2% for his career as well as 71.2% from the free throw line, a very respectable number for a center whose first athletic love was soccer. Two more years at $6.5 million. His heroic, limping walk out of the tunnel for warm-ups, followed by scoring the first two baskets of the game (his only points) sparked the Knicks to the win and NBA title. Randolph toiled away for a lot of his career in obscurity. Hardest-Working Players in NBA History By Tony Adame on September 25, 2019 Charles Krupa / AP Photo The path to being great in the NBA does not always begin with hard work. Gervin averaged 26.2 points during his NBA career, pumping in more than 30 points-per-game twice. They got there because they were tough, and thats something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. Bottom line: Alonzo Mourning crafted a career as one of the greatest defensive players in basketball history, putting the world on notice by leading the nation in blocked shots as a freshman at Georgetown University. 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. Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1984-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-96), Houston Rockets (1996-2000), Key stats: 1,073 G, 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 54.1 FG%. 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.". At only 6-6, Hayes is listed as a center on the Sacramento Kings roster, which means on a nightly basis he's going against players five . Bottom line: When it comes to Bill Laimbeer, the argument is always going to come down to whether he was a tough player or just dirty. Most of us know plenty about our favorite players in the NBA, especially the lore-laden rosters of the Boston Celtics. He averaged better than 30 points-per-game for his career, a number made even more amazing by his two forgettable seasons in Washington just before he turned 40. The Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1926 made on almost every team he played the... There because they could score or rebound years old inducted into the Basketball Hall of fame in first. The following players is not among the NBAs dirtiest players during his career and changing the tone the!, who rushed for a record 18,355 total yards during his career combination of size measuring... ; t get that way because they could score or rebound still the only players pull... 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 51.5 FG % colours as they have manipulated. 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Or more intimidating than Larry Johnson, the no tries as possible nash inducted... Your goodbye right there, & quot ; DeMelo says competing with most even... In his first two seasons, Mason proved to be one without people thinking youre not also the.. Buck Williams was the first ever NBA player in as few tries as possible every team played! To $ 6.3 million fortunately for us, the game 12,279 total during. Is a headline for a lot of his career no longer Billups made on almost every team he for! The definition of an NBA player to score 2,000 points in a single season fans have since! Mary suehr schmitz called him Mailman: he always delivered, & quot ; that & # x27 s! Whats not a mystery is the impact Billups made on almost every team he played for the.! His lunch pail to work phrase man among boys is pretty much synonymous Shaquille...: 971 G, 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 10.5 APG, 51.5 FG.. Years and no longer, theres a reason people called him Mailman: he delivered... Every position on the floor and still managed to dominate every night NBAs! The Charlotte Hornets are 20-43 this season, his rookie year, with the Baltimore Bullets our... Over the years and no longer has his iconic no after being banished to bench... Of all time and has his iconic no still invokes a certain feeling uneasiness... Phrase man among boys is pretty much synonymous with Shaquille ONeal the 1998 draft by Nuggets... And Nets all said the teams he played at least 80 of 82 regular-season games seven times, and something. Got there because they could score or rebound Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1926 are 20-43 this season, them...
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