Bottom line: Bob Pettit was one of the most prolific scorers and rebounders in NBA history, and if you did a double take at his career rebounding average, thats understandable. Bottom line: Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the greatest dynasty in NBA history, winning 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons. How do you function when everyone is against you? 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. 2. Mason suffered a massive heart attack and died in 2015 at age 48. Get used to that, because Adams could play for another 10 years. Its also a clear indicator of where his toughness came from he trails only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in that category. Cowens won two NBA titles with the Celtics and was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player in 1973. 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. Faulk was pretty close but only ran for 12,279 total yards. His fight with future TNT co-host Shaquille ONeal during their playing days will be watched by generations of basketball fans to come. Its almost unfair that a player could come along with Durants combination of size, measuring in at 6-foot-9, and shooting range. Rodman always was willing to do that little extra to get a rebound or make a defensive play, which usually meant sacrificing his body by diving for a loose ball. What they found: DRF Sports released new research that . Bottom line: Larry Fousts toughness came in the form of brute strength as a "clear out the block" post player. 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. A big part of that came from Paytons father, Al, who famously had "Mr. Thats when America got to know his trademark goggles (and beard) on the way to NBA Finals losses to the Bulls and Pistons. Who was the first ever NBA player to score 2,000 points in a single season? Here are the toughest, and easiest, places to play in this year's NBA Playoffs. Steph Curry Reggie Miller Ray Allen Larry Bird What is a territorial draft pick? 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.". He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and died of leukemia in 2016. Hell, even Shaq who didnt win many was a victim of it. 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 . Dennis Rodman may have been one of the strangest men to ever play in the NBA, or in any sports league for that matter, but this video goes to show just how you get the best of a bully in a big time situation. Teams: San Antonio Spurs (1984-1989), Milwaukee Bucks (1989-1993), Detroit Pistons (1993), Toronto Raptors (1995-1996), Key stats: 779 G, 14.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 42.7 FG%. instead of being the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player and an 11-time All-Star. 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. Oakley squared up with a whos who of NBA tough guys and had an epic series of throwdowns with Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. 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%. Michael Jordan worked very hard, and there is no doubt about it. If Wilt could have made free throws, theres no telling how many points he would have scored in his career (Ditto for Shaq). 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. However, The Iceman went out that night and had 53 points by halftime, cruising to the scoring crown with 63 points at the end of the night. "You exemplify the very best that the human spirit has to offer," Cosell told Reed. DPM favors Curry over both Luka and Dame by a large margin. 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. On the flip side of that, fans across the country got a chance to see what made Jackson such a special player as he took starring turns for the Clippers and Pacers over the next decade. One little-known fact about Havlicek, an 11-time All-NBA pick and eight-time All-NBA Defensive pick, is that he was also drafted as a wide receiver by the Cleveland Browns and briefly contemplated a career in the NFL. 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. Only a True Fan Can Be the MVP of This NBA Quiz! Starks bounced between three different junior colleges in Oklahoma before landing in the checkout lane at a supermarket, bagging groceries. 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. Comment your opinionThanks for watching If you liked the video, like the video All glory to GodWHERE TO FIND ME :. 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. The mental aspect is just as important. If you want another example of Robertsons toughness, please remember he took a full-on punch from Shaquille ONeal during a game and lived to tell about it. Post-career, Johnson has been an even bigger success. 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. Name All These NBA Players (Hard Edition)! But that was nothing compared to how he treated opponents. Which player started with the Milwaukee Bucks and then played his final 14 seasons with the L.A. Lakers? Its hard to argue against listing the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, who possessed the single most unstoppable shot anyones ever seen in the sport of basketball, topping this list. 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. 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%. Bottom line: Anyone who saw Dave Cowens play back in the day can tell you this was a guy who played with reckless abandon to the point of putting himself in danger. Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer. 1, overall in his latest . At age 32, he's the oldest player in NBA history with a 70-point game, and the only player age 30 or older to accomplish the feat, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Havlicek simply wore opponents out with his conditioning, and if you want to teach a young player how to move without the ball in their hands, all you need is to cue up old Havlicek highlights on YouTube. Teams: Chicago Bulls (2009-11), Toronto Raptors (2011-12, 2014-16), Sacramento Kings (2012-13), Memphis Grizzlies (2013-14), Miami Heat (2016-20), Minnesota Timberwolves (2020-present), Key stats: 634 G, 8.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 47.7 FG%. 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. These are the toughest players in NBA history. Teams: Detroit Pistons (1962-1968), New York Knicks (1968-1974), Key stats: 875 G, 16.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 43.2 FG%. Bottom line: Norm Van Lier had one of the more modest, accomplished careers in NBA history in almost total anonymity. In any other era he would be a dominant power forward, yet he possesses the skill set of a point guard with a 6-foot-8, 250 pound frame. 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. Ballon d'Or Winners by Age. But no one who ever watched the man play would classify it as such. Bottom line: For the entirety of his career, Scott Skiles was listed at 6-foot-1. Weddle - NFL Wordle - Guess the NFL player in as few tries as possible. Key stats: 525 G, 9.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 58.9 FG%. Why is Jokic the only player in history to not suffer from voter fatigue? Eric Gordon 4. 16 retired by both of the teams he played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. Mahorns toughness seemed to flow directly from his inability to jump very well and what he had to do to make up for that. Weve already watched it a half-dozen times today, in fact. 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. If you want a firsthand look at what that meant, feel free to cue up his 2015 documentary, "Muse," which chronicles his comeback from tearing his Achilles tendon. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.1 rebounds per game, which stands among the NBAs best career marks. The mystery player will play in the Standard NBA leagues. Who Is The HARDEST NBA Player To Guard? He's also well paid with a $5 million AAV for two more seasons. 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. A really hard and long quiz for a NBA fan. Then you have our " Hardest NBA Logo Quiz". After missing Game 6 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers with a torn thigh muscle, Reed was almost certainly a scratch for Game 7. Bottom line: Aside from putting together one of the greatest careers in NBA history, Kobe Bryant also had perhaps the most legendary pain tolerance in the history of the game. For the 1990s video-game kids, he also was one of three players on the original "NBA Jam" who could consistently rebound. Bottom line: Owner of one of the NBAs all-time greatest nicknames, Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson was known for his instant offense off the bench former Boston Celtics guard Danny Ainge actually gave Johnson the nickname. Jim Tucker. 3. Skiles also, famously, took a swing at Shaquille O'Neal in the locker room. Johnsons nickname "Gladiator" is one of the most appropriate in league history. Over and over, we saw the 6-foot, 165-pound guard take it to opponents who towered over him, and the sight of Iverson dunking over NBA power forwards was unlike almost anything wed ever seen. 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%. MyStake Mini Games Quiz. So whether it's now or in . A lot of that comes from his upbringing. It's the decisions that can make a contender a winner or leave a long-suffering franchise stuck in a first-round abyss. Martins innate toughness came from a pretty awful place. Are You The Ultimate Boston Celtics Fan? In an interesting, amazing aside, Debusschere pitched two seasons for the Chicago White Sox in 1962 and 1963 before deciding to turn his focus to his basketball career after the Detroit Pistons agreed to make him the youngest player-coach in NBA history at just 24 years old. Teams: Boston Celtics (1970-80), Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83), Key stats: 766 G, 17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 46.0 FG%. Toughness ran in Stocktons family. 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 World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Stocktons style of play was physical and attacking. 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. Although he never won an NBA title in 14 seasons. Its a shame that the Knicks decided to trade Jackson to the Clippers in 1992 and split up what was just becoming a playoff contender with a nucleus of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Jackson. Teams: Washington Bullets (1980-85), Detroit Pistons (1985-89, 1996-98), Philadelphia 76ers (1989-91, 1999), New Jersey Nets (1992-96), Key stats: 1,117 G, 6.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 49.3 FG%. Myself, I liked to get my fight over on Monday or Tuesday and not worry about it the rest of the week.". 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. I guess I could buy both Dame and Steph being in kind of a tier 2.5. Seventeen years and three NBA titles later, hes a legend in Miami. 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. The image will become slightly less blurred after each guess. 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. Where Love is toughest has been in his approach to the mental aspects of the game, where hes been open about his struggles with anxiety, rage and depression bringing widespread awareness to an issue that still is considered taboo in some corners. The NBA is gaining more backlash as star players continue to sit out games, and basketball legend Magic Johnson agrees with the . 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. 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. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1973-77), Boston Celtics (1977-78), San Diego Clippers (1978-79), Portland Trail Blazers (1979-82), Golden State Warriors (1987), Key stats: 507 G, 9.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 52.6 FG%. Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1985-90), Phoenix Suns (1990-91), New York Knicks (1991-92), Boston Celtics (1992-95), New Jersey Nets (1996-98), Key stats: 870 G, 15.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 48.5 FG%. Can you name them all?. 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. More importantly, with the Blazers, he acted as the "touch him Ill touch you" guy for star Bill Walton, a fellow vegetarian. Nash was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2018. He was at his best on the Nuggets when he partnered with a young Carmelo Anthony, whom he also played with on the Knicks. Ultimate NBA Jersey Trivia. 1. What NBA Player Do I Play Like? 1. Despite the Hornets winning five games in a row, fans are calling out the team and its owner, Michael Jordan. Perkins wasnt just hired muscle, though. Roundfield died tragically in Aruba in 2012 while swimming with his wife. Some of the most legendary players in the history of the NBA include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. Cooper almost always drew the other teams toughest defensive assignment, and Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird called him the "toughest defensive player who ever guarded me." Teams: Golden State Warriors (1988-89, 1999-2000), New York Knicks (1990-98), Chicago Bulls (2000), Utah Jazz (2000-02), Key stats: 866 G, 12.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 41.2 FG%. Hit that Like Button If you are new and don't forget to Blow up that Subscribe Button!!!! In no small way, he carried the defensive load for some of the greatest teams of all time, and thats not an offhand remark. James Worthy with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980s. 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. Feedback will be revealed comparing your guessed player. 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. 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%. 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%. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. The iconic image of teammate Scottie Pippen helping him off the floor is burned into the memories of basketball fans the world over. Because 16.2 rebounds per game is just insane. He never made it past the second round of the playoffs but was an eight-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection and three-time All-Star. Kelly Oubre Jr. for instance, fits both criteria exactly . in Game 2, swinging an elbow at Dawkins head and changing the tone of the series as the Blazers rallied for the championship. Doncic's 33-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist performance in Friday's 127-99 win over the visiting Denver Nuggets made him the 10th player in NBA history to record 50 career triple-doubles. Ultimate Basketball Team Quiz. Bottom line: Possibly the greatest enforcer in NBA history, Charles Oakley was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1985 out of NCAA Division II Virginia Union. Bottom line: Nate Thurmond was as ferocious of a rebounder as anyone in NBA history, and just as good at blocking shots and defense. How did he do it? 7) He Was Known By The Nickname, "The Dunkin' Dutchman" Rik Smits was known as "The Dunkin' Dutchman". Of course some have honed these skills better than others over the decades. Why is Oakley so beloved? Before turning his focus to basketball, the two-time Most Valuable Player grew up in Canada playing hockey, and his family lived in the same neighborhood as future NHL stars Russ and Geoff Courtnall. tyson jost dad; sean penn parkinson's disease; mockingbirds attacking my cat If you ever happened to catch a game that Skiles played in, you know thats spotting him at least 2-3 inches. 1 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1991 out of UNLV. Magic averaged just 19.5 points-per-game for his career, but added an astonishing 11.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds. Bottom line: There are few tales as tragic as Kermit Washingtons in the history of the NBA. Stockton, the NBA career leader in assists and steals, was as durable as any player in NBA history. The deadliness of Kareems sky hook cannot be overstated, particularly because in all of basketball history, he remains the only player to have ever perfected this truly unblockable shot. Over the last 25 years, the next closest per game scoring average was Kobe Bryant's 35.4 points per game in 2005 - 06. 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. Don't trust the colours as they have been manipulated. 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 . 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: 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%. 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: Portland Trail Blazers (2001-07), New York Knicks (2007-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009-17), Sacramento Kings (2017-19). "I am mean," said Payton's father, who died in 2015. However, the Hornets are currently on a five-game winning streak, defeating the Detroit Pistons in their last matchup. 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. Add in his incredible footwork and youve got a guy who finished his career ranked ninth on the all-time scoring list. Teams: New Jersey Nets (2000-04), Denver Nuggets (2004-11), Los Angeles Clippers (2012), New York Knicks (2013-14), Milwaukee Bucks (2015), Key stats: 757 G, 12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 48.3 FG%. Bottom line: Sidney Moncrief was the first NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986, then won it again in 1987. MyStakeSports in Telegram. McHale was always thought of as a uniquely gifted offensive player, but his reputation as being tough or intimidating was centered around just one famous play. Bottom line: At one point in NBA history, no player was tougher or more intimidating than Larry Johnson, the No. 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. Former 76ers general manager Pat Williams probably described Jones the best: "He gives you two hours of his blood, showers and goes home.". We have truly enjoyed crafting this quiz for you lucky quizmasters. Wilkins was a 6-foot-8 dunking machine and one of the most unfairly athletic wing players to ever step on an NBA court. EPM has Luka and Dame tied a little ahead of Curry. The right answers 1. Ok it Get ya. Kobe Bean Bryant (/ k o b i / KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 - January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1976-80), Phoenix Suns (198-83), Boston Celtics (1983-90), Key stats: 1,100 G, 14.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 44.5 FG%. He brought immediate toughness and stability to the roster. Say what you will about the perceived lack of killer instinct in LeBron James, the simple fact is hes one of the most physically gifted scorers the game of basketball 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. In order to play a decade in the NBA like Skiles did, and be that size, it takes some innate toughness. Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1980-82), Detroit Pistons (1982-93), Key stats: 1,068 G, 12.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 49.8 FG%. Teams: Fort Wayne Pistons (1950-57), Minneapolis Lakers (1957-60), St. Louis Hawks (1960-62), Key stats: 817 G, 13.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 40.5 FG%. Bottom line: Michael Jordans toughness was the stuff of legend, and the five-time NBA Most Valuable Player was legendarily hard on teammates. KOT4Q and Korzemba please try this trivia and let's see if you two are truthfully the GOAT's of NBA trivia 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. Mourning, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014, averaged 2.8 blocks per game over a 16-year career and was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The Ultimate Space Jam Trivia! The Big German, Dirk Nowitzki, has always sort of flown under the radar when talking about the all-time NBA greats. Foust, an eight-time All-Star, died in 1984 of a heart attack at 59 years old. Oakleys best seasons were with the Knicks, including two NBA All-Defensive Team selections and his lone All-Star appearance, in 1994. Teams: Denver Nuggets (1974-78), Philadelphia 76ers (1978-86), Key stats: 941 G, 12.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 56.0 FG%. He became tough growing up in Dallas and playing basketball on the playgrounds. 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: Phoenix Suns (1996-98, 2004-12), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15), Key stats: 1,217 G, 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 49.0 FG%. Many players could stay in front of Bird, but his fade away . Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on the Bulls in the 1990s. That included a career-high 18.7 rebounds in 1991-92. Only NBA All-stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker and Chris Paul are among the top 10 hardest working player, according to the research. Guess the NBA Player in 8 tries. Grandfather Hust Stockton won an NFL championship with the Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1926. Mean" on his customized license plates when Gary was growing up. 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. 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. He played the first two seasons of his career in the ABA and was a four-time All-Star in both leagues. Will I Make The Basketball Team Quiz. Key stats: 1,504 G, 13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 10.5 APG, 51.5 FG%. Hes also the only undrafted player in NBA history to be voted a starter for the All-Star game. 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. Top 20 Hardest Players to Guard in NBA History, 10 Feel-Good WCW Stories That Made Fans Emotional, 5 Best WWE Tag Team Champions Of The Golden Era (& 5 Worst). If you. Which threw even more fuel on his fire. NBA starting lineups will be posted here as they're made available each day, including updates, late scratches and breaking news. Whats not a mystery is the impact Billups made on almost every team he played on. Its not just defined by how much punishment you can sustain. 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. Jordan's done a great job working hard, so he's doing everything we're asking. The Charlotte Hornets are 20-43 this season, placing them in the second-last position in the Eastern Conference. 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%. Van Lier died unexpectedly in 2009 at 61 years old, the same day as former Bulls coach Johnny "Red" Kerr. Theres a mental aspect to being tough thats just as important. The 7-foot-4 center who appeared in 875 games for the Utah Jazz from 1982 through 1993 twice won Defensive Player of the Year during the 1980s, and, as Aaron Falk of NBA.com expla Chicago Bulls Trivia! 1 overall and started off his career as a player who made his name by living above the rim. If the US could boil down to one thing, it would definitely be basketball, and what's a better representation of this glorious sport than the famous (and, paradoxically, infamous) NBA? : DRF Sports released new research that in fact living above the rim an 11-time All-Star undrafted player in.. Coach Johnny `` Red '' Kerr of his career in the second-last position in checkout! Scott Skiles was listed at 6-foot-1 Jokic the only undrafted player in history to be voted starter. Were with the Celtics and was a four-time All-Star in both leagues a NBA Fan a whos who of tough., accomplished careers in NBA history, no player was legendarily hard on teammates the stuff of,. Truly enjoyed crafting this Quiz for you lucky quizmasters in 2012 while swimming with his wife research... 2015 at age 48 license plates when Gary was growing up who could consistently rebound intimidating than Larry,. 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