There are many great individuals in basketball who are legendary and have gone on to create a legacy in the sport both in the US and in the world.
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Basketball, for most part of the 20th century, remained an American centric sport with the stars of the game enjoying cult status in the USA. Outside of the USA, there were very few countries that caught on to the hype of basketball in the USA. For Asia in particular, the timing and lack of broadcasting opportunities meant many people were not aware of the kind of brilliance these athletes produced in the USA. However, with the advent of the 90s and with globalization opening up many markets in the world, including India and China, basketball benefited globally.
However, for basketball to have a global appeal, there needed to be some stars who had the power to ensure that they could be the face of the NBA globally. In the last three decades, there have been some names which have been powerful both on a commercial basis and on the basis of the pure skill that they exhibited on the basketball court. The greatness of these players is measured by their impact economically, globally and culturally across all walks of life. Here are some of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Perhaps the ultimate G.O.A.T of basketball not just in the USA but in the world. It was his presence and marketability that got him worldwide acclaim. Every time he had the ball, audiences were all on the edge of their seats since they knew something great would surely happen. And of course, Jordan rarely failed his countless fans worldwide. Michael Jordan is an all-around player. He defied the laws of gravity by launching way off the usual distance while making a dunk, earning him the nickname ‘Air Jordan’.
The name itself symbolised how magical he was. Magic Johnson is proof that basketball is not just about individual greatness but how every team member can work together to achieve victory. One of his most famous moves was once he attracted at least two defenders, he would then pass the ball behind his back to an open teammate.
If there is one person who is responsible for raising the standard of the NBA, it was Kareem. His accuracy, determination and skill is such that he acts as a mentor for many people, including Kobe Bryant.
At six foot nine inches, Larry Bird was destined for greatness when he was picked by the Boston Celtics. Tall players usually excel in rebounding and scoring inside the paint. But, Bird defied this rule by being one of the best three point shooters of all time in the NBA. Aside from his prowess in shooting beyond the three-point line, he was also a proficient dribbler. He was one of the few tall men who could carry a ball from one side of the court to another effortlessly amidst a tight defense.
Before he came into the Houston Rockets, the team was not considered worthy of being named title contenders. However, there was a reason why Olajuwon was nicknamed ‘The Dream’. When he came to the Rockets along with Charles Barkley, the Rockets dominated the NBA for years. Olajuwon is tall and muscular, so he found it very easy to gain position and grab rebounds. His perimeter shooting was also considered to be one of his major assets. It would require at least two big men to completely silence him. Otherwise, he would easily get inside his comfort zone and pull of a devastating dunk.
He had speed. He had strength. His size was intimidating. All this combined to make him the total package of basketball. When he combined with Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers, they were unstoppable. O’Neal was brilliant in the defensive end to the point that carelessly shooting within his range would always lead to a powerful block.
There were other major stars like Wilt Chamberlain who played for the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1960s. However, in the modern era, there are legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant who have taken NBA to the next level. LeBron still continues to be the ultimate player in the NBA but the death of Bryant in 2020 in an helicopter crash is a massive void for many NBA fans. Durant’s long arms make it almost impossible to block his jump shot as he plays outside the paint. His precise shooting and killer mentality made him one of the most famous basketball players today and he has earned the nickname ‘Durantula’.
