For me it's
1. Michael Jordan - everyone wanted to "be like mike"
2. Larry Bird - not to be rascist, but a great player who is white.
3. Spud Webb - He's 5'7 and can dunk, and he proved that short people can play basketball too.
2006-06-24 15:17:25 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Basketball
1. Michael Jordan - I couldn't and still can't stand him, but everyone else wanted to "Be like Mike"
2a. Magic Johnson - made all guys 6-9 and up want to be guards instead of forwards and centers
2b. Larry Bird - the last Great White Hope of the NBA
*The Magic vs Bird rivalry reinvigorated the NBA, so I gave them both #2.
2006-06-24 18:25:30 · answer #1 · answered by 13 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
1) George Mikan. He's the reason why the lane is as wide as it is, and set the standards for big men in the paint for decades to come.
2) Magic Johnson. He had the skills of a point guard in the body of a power forward. One of the greatest playmakers and set-up men of all time.
3) Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Simply put, he was Jordan before Jordan came along. Look at some of the old ABA footage of his time with the Virginia Squires and New York Nets and you'll see what I mean.
Honorable mention: Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Larry Bird, John Stockton, Oscar Robertson, Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlin and Bill Walton.
2006-06-24 22:37:18 · answer #2 · answered by jasonbondshow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Larry Bird
2006-06-25 00:49:08 · answer #3 · answered by Glacier4 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
George Mikan - first of the great big men. Revolutionized the position of center.
Bill Russell - the ultimate team player. Also the greatest shot blocker ever and the main reason the NBA started keep track of blocked shots.
Michael Jordan - The greatest. Made those around him MUCH better.
Dr J, Kareem, Wilt were all great players, but I'm not sure they were influential. The play of Mikan and Russell caused a seismic shift in how the game was perceived and played in the 50's and 60's and helped develop it into the game we enjoy today. Jordan took this and made it worldwide as the greatest ambassador in the history of the game.
2006-06-24 22:23:15 · answer #4 · answered by Christina D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Michael Jordan - Revolutionized the game completely with his flying dunks and fast style
2. Larry Bird - an all-around player who had skills for every posistion
3. Wilt Chamberlain - one of the greatest players of all time
2006-06-25 12:10:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson
Jerry West
2006-06-25 00:52:20 · answer #6 · answered by mr.king123 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Bill Russell....give credit where credit is due..you can talk about all the greatness of the other players...but no one will ever equal Russell's resume of 11 titles in 13 years of playing..and remember this was in the era of the great wilt chamberlain
2)Pistol Pete Maravich...averaging 44 points in 3 years at lsu was an amazing feat which i think will stand forever and to think this was before the 3 point shot was in effect....a great talent...fascinating to watch especially with his inventive moves
3)Michael Jordan....a winner who retired too soon and returned too late (2nd time around that is)
2006-06-25 07:08:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jordan, Wilt, Stockton
2006-06-24 23:50:30 · answer #8 · answered by DyLan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like your thoughts, and we agree on Larry Bird. I would have to add John Stockton who I think was the best point guard ever and he stayed in Salt Lake City. I would also put Wilt Chamberlin on that list as well. The numbers he put us, to include 100 points in one game, may never be matched.
2006-06-24 22:24:57 · answer #9 · answered by hansonee2 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) George Mikan (made it possible for basketball to survive in the late 40's and 50's)
2) Julius Erving (made it possible for Jordan to come)
3) Michael Jordan
2006-06-24 22:49:04 · answer #10 · answered by Cameron 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋