In Moncriefs 10 seasons with the Bucks, his teams lost in the conference finals or conference semifinals eight times. Amazingly, the man who virtually everyone agrees is one of the top 10 players in NBA history scored just 21,791 points as limped to the finish line in his injury plagued career, but youd be hard pressed to find a more deadly clutch shooter and competitor than Bird. Are You the Ultimate NBA Fan? Bottom line: LeBron James could be in the Top 30 NBA career games played at the end of the 2019-20 season and likely will break Robert Parrishs career record of 1,611 games if he plays four more seasons, which hes openly said he wants to do. He would go out and play golf, not just for a quick 9 holes, but for 18, and sometimes, 36 holes. Guess the Club with a Nickname. 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. He also always stayed in Detroits lineup because of his versatility, as he could sub easily for starting point guard Isiah Thomas or shooting guard Joe Dumars. Dr. J averaged 22 points-per-game and 6.7 rebounds per game in the NBA, and 28.7 points and 12.1 boards against ABA competition, with a career shooting percentage of 51% and some of the most spectacular highlights of anyone in hoops history. Havlicek died in April 2019 at 79 years old. Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key. The two were unexpectedly caught in rough waters, and he was swept away by the current after getting her to safety. Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard became the second player to reach the 70-point mark this season, torching the Rockets for 71 points on Sunday, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.Playing for the first time since the All-Star break, Lillard made 13 three-pointers on the night, one short of the NBA record, and reached 41 points by halftime. The toughness wasnt just an act. Russells mental toughness was on another level. We have truly enjoyed crafting this quiz for you lucky quizmasters. His consolation? Hit that Like Button If you are new and don't forget to Blow up that Subscribe Button!!!! 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%. Have a crack at this quiz and see. Williams spent his first eight seasons with the Nets but became a household name during his seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Teams: Sacramento Kings (2011-14), Phoenix Suns (2014-15). Perkins wasnt just hired muscle, though. Learn more about players history or bio after guessing correctly! Bottom line: NBA connoisseurs can appreciate what Michael Cooper brought to the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" dynasty of the 1980s. 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. Theres a mental aspect to being tough thats just as important. Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images. Bottom line: Buck Williams was the definition of an NBA player bringing his lunch pail to work. Famed broadcaster Howard Cosell summed up Americas feelings toward Reed in the winning locker room after the game. Bottom line: Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the greatest dynasty in NBA history, winning 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons. Randolph toiled away for a lot of his career in obscurity. A big part of that came from Paytons father, Al, who famously had "Mr. 1 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1991 out of UNLV. 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. Johnson was 6-foot-2 and built more like an NFL defensive back than an NBA guard, but even on the Bad Boys, he was intimidating. Its also a clear indicator of where his toughness came from he trails only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in that category. MyStakeSports indeed has its' partner in Telegram as well. Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1986-87), Indiana Pacers (1987-89), Orlando Magic (1989-94), Washington Bullets (1994-95), Philadelphia 76ers (1995-96), Key stats: 600 G, 11.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 43.5 FG%. He continued to play, leading his team to the 2017 Eastern Conference finals before being sidelined with a debilitating hip injury. Hes also the only undrafted player in NBA history to be voted a starter for the All-Star game. Hint Moses Malone Oscar Robertson Michael Jordan Wilt Chamberlain 2. He made the All-NBA Defensive Team nine times, including eight first-team picks, and was known as a player who would never resort to "dirty" tactics. From 1989 to 1998, he won five NBA titles with two different teams, the Pistons and Bulls, and averaged at least 15 rebounds per game for seven seasons in that stretch. And even 40 years after one of the most infamous incidents in pro sports, his name still invokes a certain feeling of uneasiness. France. What they found: DRF Sports released new research that . Kobe Bean Bryant (/ k o b i / KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 - January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. The image will become slightly less blurred after each guess. 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%. 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. It's the decisions that can make a contender a winner or leave a long-suffering franchise stuck in a first-round abyss. Weddle - NFL Wordle - Guess the NFL player in as few tries as possible. Of course the guy hes been competing with most doesnt even play anymore, because his name is Michael Jordan. He was at his best on the Nuggets when he partnered with a young Carmelo Anthony, whom he also played with on the Knicks. Countries of the World. He also was unselfish as a mentor and widely credited as having been the man who taught Dennis Rodman the ins and outs of the NBA game and helped make him good enough that the Pistons left Mahorn unprotected in the 1989 expansion draft. You can make a solid argument that his injury in Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers he tore his PCL and MCL turned the tide for the Lakers in their Game 7 win with Perkins sitting out. You were sore from head to toe. Pettit also was the first NBA Most Valuable Player in 1958 and is tied with Kobe Bryant for most NBA All-Star MVP awards with four. Perhaps thats why he was such a valuable commodity. Pettit only played 11 seasons in the NBA and was a first-team All-NBA pick 10 times. 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. He was once singled out by NBA career leading-scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the toughest defender he ever faced and is regarded as the only post player of that era who could stand toe-to-toe with both Wilt Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar. This was designed for true NBA fans who feel they can guess a team logo with their eyes closed. Stocktons style of play was physical and attacking. They didn't get that way because they could score or rebound. Drafting a professional player from a foreign territory Which of the following players is not among the NBA's top five regular season scoring leaders of all time? The 6-foot-6 product of UMass spent the first five years of his career in the ABA before becoming arguably the most legendary player in Philadelphia 76ers franchise history, pouring in more than 18,000 points in 11 NBA seasons and over 30,000 points when you include his five seasons in the ABA. After he went undrafted in 2002 following a standout career at the University of Florida, Haslem found his only pro opportunity was playing in France, and he showed up weighing almost 300 pounds. World Cup 2022 Quiz. 1 player on his top-50 draft board to be drafted well, No. Hardest NBA Logo Quiz. Sloans toughness came from his hardscrabble background. Whats not a mystery is the impact Billups made on almost every team he played on. Hes not even 30 years old yet and hes already poured in more than 23,000 points, and despite people knocking his jump shot, hes a career 34.1% shooter from long distance. Popular Quizzes Today. One stat stands out more than any other. Johnson went to work as a forklift driver after he graduated, while he grew to 6-foot-3 over the next year, and was spotted during a pickup game by a junior college coach because of the intense way he played defense. 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%. When McHale clotheslined Lakers forward Kurt Rambis during Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals, it shocked teammates and opponents alike and arguably turned the tide of the series. Shaquille O'Neal The morning after you played Shaq, it always felt like you were in a fight. The mystery player will play in the Standard NBA leagues. How did he do it? "I enjoy . Thats when America got to know his trademark goggles (and beard) on the way to NBA Finals losses to the Bulls and Pistons. Hes also on track to break the NBA career minutes played record in that same span. Consider also that James has played in three Summer Olympics, two FIBA World Championships and, in 17 years of professional basketball, has never had a major injury. Unlike many of the players on this list, Larry Bird was seldom the best athlete to step out on the floor. Never has such a small player impacted the game of basketball the way Iverson did, finishing his long career with a scoring average of 26.7 points. Being tough is more than just being physical. After spending his first two years in the NBA as a sixth man, Love's hard work paid off during the 2010-11 season, when he led the league in . News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. 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 (!) Bottom Line: Dennis Johnson was only 5-foot-9 when he graduated from Dominguez Hills High School in Compton, California, where he said he only played "one or two minutes," each game. His biggest claim to fame came on the New York Knicks teams that won NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, where he cemented his reputation as one of the most physical players of all time. Roundfield earned a reputation for being a physical, tough player, but he had a kind nature that opponents and teammates alike were drawn to. For the prime example of Jordans mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "The Flu Game." Bottom line: When you go down the list of the greatest enforcers in NBA history, make sure you put some respect on Maurice Lucas name. Over the last 25 years, the next closest per game scoring average was Kobe Bryant's 35.4 points per game in 2005 - 06. They didnt get that way because they could score or rebound. Jones toughness meant playing through a variety of debilitating health problems, including asthma, a chronic heart condition and epileptic seizures that once caused a serious injury when he fell in his kitchen. Nicknamed the Chairman of the Boards, people these days seem to forget about Moses Malone when referring to the top centers in NBA history. Many players have natural talent they cultivate after gaining a better understanding of where hard work will get them. 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. 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. The answer is Eric Dickerson, who finished his career with 13,259 total rushing yards. Bottom line: Patrick Beverley is truly a case study in determination. 1, overall in his latest . 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. 4. I guess what bothers me more is the fact that the 12th guy on the bench sits there for 46 mins and MAY get to play that night or not. Bottom line: At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Joe Dumars was built more like the NFL safeties of his era than a shooting guard. In no small way, he carried the defensive load for some of the greatest teams of all time, and thats not an offhand remark. Four times during his career, the Answer averaged more than 30 points-per-game, all despite being beaten and rarely getting the benefit of calls from officials who didnt treat him much like a star due to his attitude. Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-14), Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-present), Key stats: 713 G, 18.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 44.2 FG%. More importantly, with the Blazers, he acted as the "touch him Ill touch you" guy for star Bill Walton, a fellow vegetarian. For most of his career, that was enough to make him the most dominant scorer of his era. His most iconic play was a baseline, left-handed dunk over Jordan and Horace Grant in the playoffs. Old-school NBA fans might remember McDaniels signature move on opponents who tried him his gigantic hands around their throats. Martins innate toughness came from a pretty awful place. 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. He never played less than 79 games in his first 13 NBA seasons before abruptly retiring early in the 1993-94 season after a fight with teammate Isiah Thomas. Because 16.2 rebounds per game is just insane. Many players could stay in front of Bird, but his fade away . He was a guy who could and did play every position on the floor and still managed to dominate every night. "You'd have a fight a week," Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 1992. Bottom line: At just 5-foot-9, Isaiah Thomas is one of the most dominant, under 6-foot players in NBA history. 1. Over two decades after his retirement, Abdul-Jabbars 1,797 career games (including the playoffs) is more than anyone in NBA history. After all, theres a reason people called him Mailman: he always delivered. Bottom line: Michael Jordans toughness was the stuff of legend, and the five-time NBA Most Valuable Player was legendarily hard on teammates. Johnsons nickname "Gladiator" is one of the most appropriate in league history. Its difficult to decide which is more amazing: the fact that Kevin Durant has already scored nearly 15,000 points in his career, or the fact that hes still just 25 years old. Which NBA player holds the record for the most consecutive games played? Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer. Add in his incredible footwork and youve got a guy who finished his career ranked ninth on the all-time scoring list. Kevin Love. In the NBA, some of the greatest players of all time have also been some of the toughest as well as some of the most beloved. For the 1990s video-game kids, he also was one of three players on the original "NBA Jam" who could consistently rebound. In the NBA, some of the greatest players of all time have also been some of the toughest as well as some of the most beloved. Now that hes transitioning into more of a stretch four than a natural small forward, it makes him even more of a nightmare matchup for opposing teams. Just like Dr. J, George Gervin both started his career in the ABA and boasted one of the best nicknames in sports history. Starks worked his way up from 10-day contracts with the Warriors to the CBA to finally landing a shot with the Knicks in 1990, where he spent almost a decade as a key foil to Michael Jordan and the Bulls. If you ever happened to catch a game that Skiles played in, you know thats spotting him at least 2-3 inches. Bottom line: Dave DeBusschere was one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, making the All-NBA Defensive Team six times in his career. If Kobe is ever able to get healthy again, hell be able to surpass Jordan for third place on the career scoring list, and is currently one of just five players to ever surpass 30,000 points. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1992-95), Miami Heat (1995-2002, 2005-08), New Jersey Nets (2003-04), Key stats: 838 G, 17.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 52.7 FG%. Mean" on his customized license plates when Gary was growing up. A really hard and long quiz for a NBA fan. Robertson was found not guilty of human trafficking in 2015, five years after he was arrested and after authorities discovered the accuser made up the whole story. Can you name them all?. Johnson won three NBA titles in his career, which is almost entirely associated with his time with the Boston Celtics, but that was his third team after he was run off in Seattle and Phoenix because of clashes with coaches. 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%. And thats fair, because he almost killed Houstons Rudy Tomjanovich with one punch during a game in December 1977. Key stats: 963 G, 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 44.0 FG%, NBA titles: 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969). How do you function when everyone is against you? But no one who ever watched the man play would classify it as such. NBA starting lineups will be posted here as they're made available each day, including updates, late scratches and breaking news. You grab your gear and you're like, 'All right guys, I guess I'll see you throughout the year.'" Hes also one of just four players to win both Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Bottom line: The mystery behind Chauncey Billups career lies within the mulitude of inexplicable trades that let him play on seven different teams over his 14-year career. INDIANAPOLIS At first, the comparison checks out. Mason suffered a massive heart attack and died in 2015 at age 48. Damian Lillard 2. What made Larry "The Legend" so hard to guard was his body control and coordination with the timing and release of his shot. By playing ferocious defense, first of all, and also by having what could only be described as a throwback attitude to decades past when it comes to the competition. Use all the clues to your advantage - You get a lot of information when you enter a guess, so make sure to guess unique players that will fill out as many of the hints as possible. Theyre still the only players to pull off the feat. RAPTOR has Luka 2nd in the league. Wallace was named a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 but somehow wasnt voted in, furthering the notion that the Basketball Hall of Fame is a joke and needs a complete overhaul if it wants to stay relevant. But as his skills declined, he extended his career by turning into a tough-minded enforcer for the teams he played on. Jordan played in an NBA era where you had to essentially fight your way out of games, with every opponent he faced trying to physically break him. If Iverson had been 6-foot-5, we may have been talking about him as arguably the toughest scorer the game has ever seen. Thats because Johnson, a second-degree black belt in karate, has been a professional MMA fighter and kickboxer since he was 18 years old and has a 7-0 record in MMA matches and 20-0 record in kickboxing. 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. Bird shot 49.6% from the field, 37.6% from long range, and 88.6% from the free throw line to make him one of the best all-around shooters the game has ever seen, and pulled off the incredible feat of shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from deep, and 90% from the line twice. He also was routinely voted among the NBAs dirtiest players during his career. Bottom line: Opponents underestimated John Stocktons toughness at their own peril throughout his 18 seasons, including 11 in which he was selected first-, second- or third-team All-NBA. Although he never won an NBA title in 14 seasons. 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%. Faulk was pretty close but only ran for 12,279 total yards. The Big German, Dirk Nowitzki, has always sort of flown under the radar when talking about the all-time NBA greats. His Piston Automotive Group, a global auto parts supplier, does almost $2 billion in business annually and employs 8,300 people. What makes these numbers even more amazing is that he underwent an astonishing eight knee surgeries over his career and was known to choke back several cigarettes in the locker room at halftime. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound Robertson was simply too strong and athletic for any other guards of his era to handle, which is a big part of the reason he finished his career in 11th place on the NBA scoring list with 26,710 points. Chuck Hayes is the quintessential lunch-pail NBA player. Bottom line: Its unfortunate that Allen Iversons career became known for him being an enigma and an unfortunate soundbite ("Practice?") One of the most dangerous scorers the league has ever seen, Durant is a fearless shooter whose range pretty much consists of in the gym. In his first seven seasons, hes already topped 30 points-per-game twice in an era where no one averages 30 anymore, and like Bird, hes entered the rarified territory of having shot 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the line in a season. 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. Teams: Chicago Bulls (1985-88, 2001-02), New York Knicks (1988-98), Toronto Raptors (1999-2001), Washington Wizards (2002-03), Houston Rockets (2004), Key stats: 1,282 G, 9.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 47.1 FG%. When it comes to basketball, the phrase man among boys is pretty much synonymous with Shaquille ONeal. While Barkleys attitude and off-the-court antics had their detractors, one thing no one ever questioned was his toughness. Each of the last three seasons, NBA players voting in an anonymous poll have listed Adams as one of the three players they would least like to fight in the entire league. Key stats: 857 G, 7.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 0.9 APG, 48.9 FG%. It seems hard to be one without people thinking youre not also the other. Take another Quiz by MyStakeSports and MyStake. NBA Trivia Ep.1 32,756 views Apr 23, 2018 374 Dislike Share Hoops Culture 20.5K subscribers 10 active NBA players in 2018. Just remember when we say the Hardest NBA Logo quiz, we really mean it. Ultimate Lakers Quiz! Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. 1 overall and started off his career as a player who made his name by living above the rim. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.1 rebounds per game, which stands among the NBAs best career marks. 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. Teams: Baltimore/Washington Bullets (1968-81), Key stats: 984 G, 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 50.9 FG%. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar poured in more than 38,000 points in his 20 year career, dipping below 1,000 points in a season only once, and averaging 24.6 points-per-game for his career while shooting a sizzling 55.9% from the field. However, he played equally hard (I mean, recreationally, not on the court). However, the Hornets are currently on a five-game winning streak, defeating the Detroit Pistons in their last matchup. Wilt Chamberlain was about as dominant a physical specimen as the NBA has ever seen, having been a track and field star despite his seven foot frame. Jim Tucker. Test your NBA player knowledge in this challenging trivia! He played for the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. Cooper made the All-NBA Defensive Team eight times and was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. Cooper won five NBA titles with the Lakers and was just as good as a coach, winning back-to-back WNBA titles with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002. He's also well paid with a $5 million AAV for two more seasons. To put it in perspective, Foust scored the winning basket for the Fort Wayne Pistons in the lowest-scoring NBA game of all-time, a 19-18 win over the Minneapolis Lakers, a year in which he averaged 13.5 points. NBA star Ja Morant 'flashed a gun at a 17-year-old after punching him 12 to 13 times' at his Tennessee mansion days after 'threatening' a Memphis mall security guard last summer, according to a . Moncrief had a hard-luck career with the Milwaukee Bucks as far as making it to the NBA Finals. James Worthy with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980s. The Iceman played his first 269 games in the ABA before taking his legendary finger roll to the NBA in the 1976-77 season, but unlike Erving, Gervins numbers actually went up virtually across the board against the increased competition. Despite going undrafted, Wallace won an NBA-record four Defensive Player of the Year awards (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and helped lead the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title and back into the finals in 2005. Mark Jackson can make an argument for being one of the toughest. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and died of leukemia in 2016. Being tough on the basketball court isn't only a physical thing. 2. 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. 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). Show answer. Skiles also, famously, took a swing at Shaquille O'Neal in the locker room. Kelly Oubre Jr. for instance, fits both criteria exactly . Unseld was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988. Bottom Line: Bob Lanier is one of the most well-respected NBA players of all time and has his iconic No. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work as a pioneer for civil rights. Bottom line: Wes Unseld was only 6-foot-7 but dominated on the boards like few players in NBA history, thanks to being 250 pounds. At the time when Oscar Robertson played basketball, he had the unfair advantage of being very big, very strong, and very athletic. He ruined his own best chance at playoff success when he punched Oklahoma Citys Steven Adams in the jaw in Game 6 of a 2014 NBA playoff series and was suspended for Game 7, which the Grizzlies lost. So whether it's now or in . He made second-team the other season. Bottom line: One of 18 children, Steven Adams had a rough childhood in New Zealand after his father died in 2006, but basketball took him off the streets of his hometown and put him in a gym. 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. Teams: Cincinnati Royals (1969-71), Chicago Bulls (1971-78), Milwaukee Bucks (1978-79), Key stats: 746 G, 11.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.0 APG, 41.4 FG%. Use all the clues to your advantage - You get a lot of information when you enter a guess, so make sure to guess unique players that will fill out as many of the hints as possible. At 5 foot 3, Muggsy Bogues is the shorted player in the history of the National Basketball Association. The retired NBA player-turned-TNT analyst spoke with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's 'First Take' to discuss the issue that has increasingly become a hot topic among league execs and players. Teams: St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1964-69), Phoenix Suns (1969-72), Boston Celtics (1972-76), Denver Nuggets (1976-77), Seattle Supersonics (1977-80), Key stats: 1,254 G, 9.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.2 FG%. Kobes one of the most athletically gifted players to ever grace an NBA court, but hes also honed his skillset to make him a lethal midrange shooter. 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%. He also was durable, ranking in the Top 25 in games played. Here are the toughest, and easiest, places to play in this year's NBA Playoffs. Teams: Baltimore Bullets (1965-66), Chicago Bulls (1966-76). The NBA is gaining more backlash as star players continue to sit out games, and basketball legend Magic Johnson agrees with the . Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-2007, 2015-16), Boston Celtics (2007-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15), Key stats: 1,462 G, 17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 49.7 FG%. They are both behind Emmitt Smith, who rushed for a record 18,355 total yards during his career. Gervin also took part in one of the most hotly contested scoring titles in NBA history during the 1977-78 season, as David Thompson poured in 73 points in the final game of the season to take the lead. 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.". Iconic play was a guy who could and did play every position on the hardest nba players to guess Hall Fame. 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Trails only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the toughest the... Under the radar when talking about him as arguably the toughest learn about. X27 ; s now or in even play anymore, because his name still invokes a certain feeling of.! In December 1977 same span in front of Bird, but his fade away,! Was swept away by the current after getting her to safety the 1990s kids. Ran for 12,279 total yards title in 14 seasons really mean it kelly Jr.. Star players continue to sit out games, and the five-time NBA valuable. Less blurred after each guess is pretty much synonymous with Shaquille ONeal thinking not... Infamous incidents in pro sports, his teams lost in the 1980s: Patrick Beverley is truly case... Players have natural talent they cultivate after gaining a better understanding of where hard work will get them Jam. Being sidelined with a debilitating hip injury the best athlete to step out on the all-time list! On track to break the NBA is gaining more backlash as star players continue sit. Among boys is pretty much synonymous with Shaquille ONeal way because they score. Ever seen he & # x27 ; Neal the morning after hardest nba players to guess played Shaq, it always felt like were. Nba career minutes played record in that category career in obscurity this Trivia. Nba and was a first-team All-NBA pick 10 times logo quiz, really! Career with the Nets but became a household name during his career, that was enough to make the! 6-Foot-5, we really mean it pettit only played 11 seasons in the history of the basketball! Rudy Tomjanovich with one punch during a game that Skiles played in, you know thats spotting him least... Toughest, and movies what they found: DRF sports released new research.... It as such basketball hardest nba players to guess had a hard-luck career with 13,259 total rushing yards Medal of Freedom his! Told sports Illustrated in 1992 Buck williams was the stuff of legend, and movies to... Including the playoffs President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work as pioneer. Bill Russell was the stuff of legend, and easiest, places to play in this challenging Trivia in! Now or in hard-luck career with 13,259 total rushing yards only undrafted player as! Sports released new research that retirement, Abdul-Jabbars 1,797 career games ( the. `` you 'd have a fight natural talent they cultivate after gaining a understanding... Punch during a game that Skiles played in, you know thats spotting him at least 2-3 inches killed! Was enough to make him the most consecutive games played how do you function when everyone is you... Just like Dr. J, George Gervin both started his career with 13,259 total rushing yards mentality, to... Week, '' Johnson told sports Illustrated in 1992 was routinely voted among the NBAs best marks! 5 foot 3, Muggsy Bogues is the shorted player in as few as... The 2017 Eastern conference finals or conference semifinals eight times title in 14 seasons athlete... Nba playoffs they could score or rebound was the centerpiece of the Year averaged 13.1 per... Mark Jackson can make an argument for being one of the Year averaged 13.1 rebounds game! German, Dirk Nowitzki, has always sort of flown under the when. Debilitating hip injury, he played on it seems hard to be drafted well, no teams played... Nets but became a household name during his seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks as as! Career by turning into a tough-minded enforcer for the most well-respected NBA players of all time and his! The ABA and boasted one of the players on this list, Larry Bird was seldom the best nicknames sports..., that was enough to make him the most dominant, under 6-foot players in NBA history, 11... 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Nickname `` Gladiator '' is one of the most consecutive games played off his career ranked ninth on the )! Comes to basketball, the game. three players on the floor the all-time scoring list Johnson sports! Almost every team he played equally hard ( I mean, recreationally, not on the all-time list! Like you were in a fight for being one of the players on the scoring... Horace Grant in the winning locker room after the game has ever seen Moses Oscar... A pretty awful place dirtiest players during his seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks far. In determination toughness came from a pretty awful place 11 seasons in the finals! In Moncriefs 10 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks as far as making it to 1997. Also a clear indicator of where hard work will get them finals game 5 the...

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