okay... then lets add Manute Bol, Dkimba Matumbo, Hakeem Olajuwon....
why?
Africa
Name 5 NBA players who have changed or influenced the sport in the last 50 years. We all know MJ is one of them whose the other 4?
- Thread starter geechiedan
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why?
Africa
This is how I feel about Kobe. How did he change the game if all he did was imitate MJ??Lebron is the jack of all trades, but the master of none. Good all around athlete, great longevity and team player, but did not influence or change the game at all. Kobe had way more influence internationally than Lebron, but I think Lebron had a much better overall career.
There is no aspect of his game that you could use a teaching tool to another young player. He is an above average passer, that's about it, outside his athleticism.
And to wear tattoos and have different hair. Dudes rarely had tattoos back then.
Ok for me Dr. J and Michael Jordan are the same player. Jordan Is just the next generation. Then Kobe is a clone Jordan not necessarily better just Younger.
I Know??
Did you see Dr.J play when he was in the ABA?Ok for me Dr. J and Michael Jordan are the same player. Jordan Is just the next generation. Then Kobe is a clone Jordan not necessarily better just Younger.
I Know??
Who was heavily influenced by Connie Hawkins.
He is my number 2 after GOAT Kareem.
Kwame Brown
Adam Morrison
Greg Oden
Darko Milicic
Adam Morrison
Greg Oden
Darko Milicic
This, but I would throw in Lebron because he held the NBA down for years by himself.
MJ was the face of basketball globalization and is regarded as the GOAT. And of course the shoe culture that exists today. Here is the transition of the big man is the best to guards are better.
George mikan - widden the lane, goaltending, hook shot, 24 second shot clock and he initiated the 3 points line in the ABA because he felt sorry for the small guys he used to dominate.
Wilt - offensive goal tending, widened the lane again, He was the original hack a shaq. im not old enough to see him play but my highschool coach said he would stand at the back of the key and take a step and jump from the free throw line to make free throws. So that's why we had to stand behind the free throw line. Also cool story my HS coach said he guarded pistol Pete in high school and held him to 52 points. Lol.
Iverson changed the style of the NBA and I feel like it ushered in the new generation.
Spencer Haywood - sued the NBA and opened the door for high schoolers and college kids to enter the draft early. Just imagine how this altered NBA history.
Id say the magic/bird combo was a major influence the sport. They paved the way for Jordan to be the face of the game as TV began to take it worldwide in the 90s.
Some other good comments in here. But alot where better versions of others before them. You had big guards before magic like big O.
Steph the best to shoot it but Ray Allen and Rashad Lewis are the original splash brothers.
Dirk ain't the 1st big athletics foreigner. Akeem was all around better. Dirk may have been a better shooter but you had Arvedas Sabonis, sam Perkins and Im sure there were others.
Look up the UTEP two step.
Anthony Mason and Scottie Pippen facilitated a lot of the offense in the 90s. I considered them point forwards.
And now for the most controversial statements. Duncan was better than Kobe but he was a big and won't ever get the credit. And Robert Horry clutch shooting changed the course of NBA history. He shot the rockets, Lakers and Spurs to championships 5 PPG at a time.
And unfortunately I think Harden gets in here somewhere. Dude was a scoring anomaly. . . until you trapped him at the half court line
George mikan - widden the lane, goaltending, hook shot, 24 second shot clock and he initiated the 3 points line in the ABA because he felt sorry for the small guys he used to dominate.
Wilt - offensive goal tending, widened the lane again, He was the original hack a shaq. im not old enough to see him play but my highschool coach said he would stand at the back of the key and take a step and jump from the free throw line to make free throws. So that's why we had to stand behind the free throw line. Also cool story my HS coach said he guarded pistol Pete in high school and held him to 52 points. Lol.
Iverson changed the style of the NBA and I feel like it ushered in the new generation.
Spencer Haywood - sued the NBA and opened the door for high schoolers and college kids to enter the draft early. Just imagine how this altered NBA history.
Id say the magic/bird combo was a major influence the sport. They paved the way for Jordan to be the face of the game as TV began to take it worldwide in the 90s.
Some other good comments in here. But alot where better versions of others before them. You had big guards before magic like big O.
Steph the best to shoot it but Ray Allen and Rashad Lewis are the original splash brothers.
Dirk ain't the 1st big athletics foreigner. Akeem was all around better. Dirk may have been a better shooter but you had Arvedas Sabonis, sam Perkins and Im sure there were others.
Look up the UTEP two step.
Anthony Mason and Scottie Pippen facilitated a lot of the offense in the 90s. I considered them point forwards.
And now for the most controversial statements. Duncan was better than Kobe but he was a big and won't ever get the credit. And Robert Horry clutch shooting changed the course of NBA history. He shot the rockets, Lakers and Spurs to championships 5 PPG at a time.
And unfortunately I think Harden gets in here somewhere. Dude was a scoring anomaly. . . until you trapped him at the half court line
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Also, they raised the rim to 11 feet because of Mikan. After they realized how stupid it was, they lowered it back to 10 feet.
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