Throughout the history of the National Basketball Association, each generation possesses a microscopic number of players that truly leave a groundbreaking impact on the game at large. These very players are much more than just athletes that competed at an elite level during their time but are recognized for their overall influence that they had on the game, and what type of impact they had upon after said time. They are icons in our eyes, and what they accomplished in their careers transcend generations both before and after their very own and are revered by even the most sophisticated of basketball aficionados. For this list, we shall take about the influential players the ever play in the National Basketball Association.
( *This list will be continued in a part 2 article* )
1- 1960’s - Wilt Chamberlin / Bill Russell
To kick things off, were Going back over 60 years ago these two players that significantly influenced the NBA, and essentially basketball at large, are individuals that 98% of today’s generation has never earned the luxury of seeing. Russell and Chamberlain are arguably the two most influential, All-time great players that played in the same sport at the same time. Unlike the other players on this list, these two players provide a different set of appeal to their influence on the game, in being what one could call Basketball Folklore. You see, Chamberlin and Russell are the guys your grandfather tells you around the campfire at nighttime as your jaw drops when hearing about their historical accomplishments. Russel being the ultimate champion in team sports, winning 11 championships in his 13-year career. And for the Big Dipper, holding the record for the most records ( yes, you read that correctly) owned by a single player, in 68 individual records owned. When comparing these two to their contemporaries on this very list, Russell and Chamberlain add a mystique and an allure to the game of basketball, as their unbelievable accomplishments within the world of basketball seem as almost imaginable for the common athlete. Because of this mystique, no other athlete has brought on a wider range of skepticism and questioning of the validity of their achievements in ones career more than these two icons.
2- 1970’s - Moses Malone
Moving forward, All-Time great Big man Moses Malone comes in first on our list, and when being recognized as the originator of the most frequently discussed topics in basketball, one truly begins to grasp the level of influence this man possessed. When guys like Lebron James, the Late Kobe Bryant, and even Celtics great Kevin Garnet, all of these have one thing significant in common – they came directly out of High School. The concept of going to the professional ranks directly out of High School in fact did not start with these players mentioned, and in fact started with Moses Malone himself. Ultimately what prompted this move was Moses’s at-home situation, growing up in excruciating poverty and unfathomable living conditions, and wanting to make a more beneficial life for both himself and his mother. Although several critics belittled Malone for this idea as taking athletics over an education was deemed illogical and all-too irrational. Malone would end of signing a 5 year $1 Million with the Utah Stars of the ABA, and completely validated his prep-to-pro decision be having an all-star caliber rookie season, averaging 18 PPG and 14.5 RPG at just the age of 19. Malone would end up becoming one of the greatest Big Men to ever play in the history of professional basketball, and the original influencer to a host of players that followed in his footsteps.
3- 1970’s - Julius Erving
The fourth player we shall talk about revolves around one of the greatest pure athletes the game has ever seen to date, in the Julius Erving. Worldly-Renowned for his high-flying dunks and athletic capability, Dr. J was one of the games most influential players in its history. His remarkable verticality drew out large crowds to his games and sold-out arenas throughout the extent of his NBA career. Despite being an incredibly gifted athlete, Erving was still a very productive basketball player, and was not just a mere highlight tape who simply dunked. For a career, the Doctor averaged 24 Points, 8.5 Rebounds, and 4 Assists per game, all while shooting 50 Percent from the field throughout his career. Erving is one of the greats, and when talking about influence on the culture of basketball, there is no way you can leave the Doctor himself off any list.
4- 1990’s - Michael Jordan
This name should not surprise anyone. Simply put, the greatest player to ever play the game. Throughout the millennium of professional sports in the world, no other pantheon-level competitor has ever garnered the level of boundless influence on an individual’s given sport. The colossal amount of star power and groundbreaking magnetisms has even affected how we describe individuals in other professions, by entitling a given person as “the Michael Jordan of “, followed by their occupation. The common man can only begin to fathom this pandemonium a single lifeform could gravitate too, as his otherworldly play and time defying spectacles leave even the most intellectual of athletes bewildered at his brilliance. Such star power has not only affected the observers watching a given game, but also off the court as well, create arguably the most powerful branding empire an athlete has ever established. Many have come before him, but no one comes closest to the king of the NBA in league influence, as the great Michael Jordan tops all.
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