hardest nba players to guessderrick waggoner the wire
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. Kemba Walker 3. Mainly because he wasnt a bully. Unseld, known for bone-rattling picks, played for a decade before helping lead the Bullets to the NBA title in 1978, when he was named Finals MVP. 1. Johnson, a two-time All-Star, signed the richest contract in NBA history in 1993 when the Hornets got him for 12 years and $84 million. Shaquille O'Neal The morning after you played Shaq, it always felt like you were in a fight. Old-school NBA fans might remember McDaniels signature move on opponents who tried him his gigantic hands around their throats. What they found: DRF Sports released new research that . In the 1970s, it was Bob Dandridge, who scored more points in the NBA Finals in that decade than any NBA player while winning a title in 1971 alongside Oscar Robertson and Abdul-Jabbar on the Bucks, then alongside Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld on the Bullets in 1978. Mahorns toughness seemed to flow directly from his inability to jump very well and what he had to do to make up for that. I mean, sure, the NFL still reigns supreme in terms of . 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. As the first black superstar in NBA history, he had to endure racism at almost every turn but handled it with grace and aplomb. While there were a lot tough players in my era that I hated to cover, for this list I'm going to stick with the positions I know best: power forward and center. Hes not in the biggest or flashiest market down in Dallas, but theres no denying what an unstoppable offensive player he has been for most of his career. 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. "You'd have a fight a week," Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 1992. Most points in a single game Record : 100 Held by: Wilt Chamberlain 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 . 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. 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. Bottom line: John Havlicek is one of just four players in NBA history to win eight NBA titles. Bottom line: If you want to know about toughness and making something out of nothing, just look at what John Starks went through just to make it to the NBA. Jones can place his name among the most admired NBA players of al -time for his class and demeanor, and he was finally elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. 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. And he only played one season, his rookie year, with the Baltimore Bullets. Add in his incredible footwork and youve got a guy who finished his career ranked ninth on the all-time scoring list. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and died of leukemia in 2016. Check back soon for Daily Lineup. 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. Beverley was a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team pick two times in his first six seasons and has become a staple of highlight-reel clips for his ability to get under the skin of opponents none more so than 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook. Seventeen years and three NBA titles later, hes a legend in Miami. Whats not a mystery is the impact Billups made on almost every team he played on. 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. Each. Why is Oakley so beloved? They didnt get that way because they could score or rebound. Shoot for our NBA Quiz. 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. 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. Teams: Golden State Warriors (2012-present), Key stats: 576 games, 9.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 43.5 FG%. The 6-foot-10 post player started his career in the ABA before transitioning to the NBA in 1976, and went on to score more than 27,000 points with a career average of 20.3 points-per-game. Wilkins was a 6-foot-8 dunking machine and one of the most unfairly athletic wing players to ever step on an NBA court. 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. Thats when America got to know his trademark goggles (and beard) on the way to NBA Finals losses to the Bulls and Pistons. Its not just defined by how much punishment you can sustain. 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). !Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsportsguy5/TikTok: https:/. And thats fair, because he almost killed Houstons Rudy Tomjanovich with one punch during a game in December 1977. A lot of that comes from his upbringing. Just like Dr. J, George Gervin both started his career in the ABA and boasted one of the best nicknames in sports history. FEATURES: More than 300 players to guess and a small size of the application! Weddle - NFL Wordle - Guess the NFL player in as few tries as possible. That makes the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 15-time All-NBA pick one of the toughest and most durable players of all time. tyson jost dad; sean penn parkinson's disease; mockingbirds attacking my cat Bottom line: Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the greatest dynasty in NBA history, winning 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons. 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. Bottom line: NBA connoisseurs can appreciate what Michael Cooper brought to the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" dynasty of the 1980s. 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. Over the course of one season, Haslem lost 50 pounds, returned home and aced his tryout with the Heat. The five-time NBA Most Valuable Player needed to define toughness to succeed in his era, with his direct counterpart none other than Wilt Chamberlain, the only other player besides Russell to grab 50 rebounds in a single game. 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. First with his play and then with his legendary trash talk. Guess the NBA Player in 8 tries. Many players could stay in front of Bird, but his fade away . You know who else thought McDaniel was tough? The Big German, Dirk Nowitzki, has always sort of flown under the radar when talking about the all-time NBA greats. But Washington was also tough as nails and came from one of the worst backgrounds imaginable, pulling himself up and out of a nightmare home situation to become a college star and then an NBA first-round pick. While Barkleys attitude and off-the-court antics had their detractors, one thing no one ever questioned was his toughness. Teams: Chicago Bulls (1984-93, 1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03), Key stats: 1,072 G, 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 49.7 FG%, NBA titles: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998). Roundfield toiled in relative anonymity for his entire career but still managed to make the All-NBA Defensive Team five times and made three consecutive All-Star teams, almost stealing MVP honors in 1980 with 18 points and 13 rebounds. KOT4Q and Korzemba please try this trivia and let's see if you two are truthfully the GOAT's of NBA trivia Teams: Boston Celtics (1997-98), Toronto Raptors (1998-99), Denver Nuggets (1999-2000, 2008-11), Minnesota Timberwolves (2000-02), Detroit Pistons (2002-08, 2013-14), New York Knicks (2011), Los Angeles Clippers (2011-13), Key stats: 1,043 G, 15.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 41.5 FG%. He never got in another fight after what happened with Tomjanovich, but hes currently doing six years in federal prison for embezzling money meant for children in Africa. 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. It's that easy! Don't trust the colours as they have been manipulated. Gervin averaged 26.2 points during his NBA career, pumping in more than 30 points-per-game twice. Show answer. In addition to starting lineups, this tool will also display Vegas odds, positions and salaries for that day's games on FantasyDraft. 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%. Why is Jokic the only player in history to not suffer from voter fatigue? Being tough on the basketball court isn't only a physical thing. 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%. Faulk was pretty close but only ran for 12,279 total yards. 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%. 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. He absolutely had the talent, and he created a mismatch for anyone trying to guard him with his combination of size and skill. Kelly Oubre Jr. for instance, fits both criteria exactly . If Durant stays healthy, and considering hes already started excusing himself from USA Basketball activities to remain fresh, theres no telling just how many points he could score. Guess the Club with a Nickname. Its easy to think of Julius Erving as just a dunking machine, but ask anyone who saw the man play and they will tell you quickly and emphatically the man was a tremendous all-around talent. Damian Lillard 2. Trae Young Story continues 2m ago JSC "Latvijas Gze" statement regarding the article ""Latvijas gze" committed to selling. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. 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. How do you function when everyone is against you? 1, overall in his latest . His consolation? The best way to sum up Allen Iverson is to describe him as a little man with a very big game. They got there because they were tough, and that's something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.1 rebounds per game, which stands among the NBAs best career marks. Show answer At the time when Oscar Robertson played basketball, he had the unfair advantage of being very big, very strong, and very athletic. However, the Hornets are currently on a five-game winning streak, defeating the Detroit Pistons in their last matchup. Teams: Washington Bullets/Wizards (1996-99), Orlando Magic (1999-2000), Detroit Pistons (2000-06, 2009-12), Chicago Bulls (2006-08), Cleveland Cavaliers (2008-09), Key stats: 1,088 G, 5.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 47.4 FG%. Are you a real NBA fan? He played the first two seasons of his career in the ABA and was a four-time All-Star in both leagues. He would go out and play golf, not just for a quick 9 holes, but for 18, and sometimes, 36 holes. Along with Detroits Joe Dumars, NBA legend Michael Jordan said Moncrief was one of the two toughest defensive players he ever faced. In order to play a decade in the NBA like Skiles did, and be that size, it takes some innate toughness. The mental aspect is just as important. Simply put, theres never been anyone in league history who he couldnt have out-muscled on his way to the hoop. 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. 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. Cowens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. France. Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on the Bulls in the 1990s. 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. His Piston Automotive Group, a global auto parts supplier, does almost $2 billion in business annually and employs 8,300 people. Bottom line: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA titles and six NBA Most Valuable Player awards and is in the conversation when it comes to the greatest basketball players of all time, which probably automatically puts him in the conversation for toughest players ever, as well. He also was durable, ranking in the Top 25 in games played. The nine-time All-Star and 1996 NBA Defensive Player of the Year credited learning the game on the streets of Oakland for creating his toughness. Although he never won an NBA title in 14 seasons. "That's your goodbye right there," DeMelo says. You grab your gear and you're like, 'All right guys, I guess I'll see you throughout the year.'" Check back soon for Daily Lineup. His size, 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, was more NFL defensive end than power forward but also may have been the cause of back problems that ended his career. Thats not to say that other players didnt also possess those qualities, just that virtually no one possessed them in addition to having the skill set of a perimeter player. Despite never shooting even 50% from the floor in his career, he was able to use his physical talents to pour in just under 27,000 points in his career. Later in his career, this was a definite disadvantage. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Quiz. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Chicago Bulls Trivia! 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. 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. Jim Tucker. Bottom line: Its not a coincidence that NCAA Division II Virginia Union put two players on this list because one of them, Charles Oakley, recommended the other one, Ben Wallace, to the school after seeing him at a basketball camp. Anthony Edwards is the most intriguing player on the T'Wolves because, despite being only 21 years old, it is unquestionably his team. How Haslem ended up with the Heat in the first place speaks to his toughness. These players have not only set records but also set the standard of excellence for future generations. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. The toughness of the 6-foot-7 Silas came from what he was asked to do for every team he played on in his 16-year career guard players 4-5 inches taller than him. Bottom line: Michael Jordans toughness was the stuff of legend, and the five-time NBA Most Valuable Player was legendarily hard on teammates. 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. He finished his career with a scoring average of 24.3 points-per-game, and had one of the best shooting lines in basketball history. Bottom line: Buck Williams was the definition of an NBA player bringing his lunch pail to work. He ended his career averaging a little less than 24 points-per-game, but thats primarily because his body started breaking down and he hung around the game for too long. Despite never shooting even 50% from the floor in his career, he was able to use his physical talents to pour in just under 27,000 points in his career. But Jokic is immune, why? Can you keep it together when there are tens of thousands of people who want you to fail? 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%. 3 min read. Luka leads all the box score composites. 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%. Magic averaged just 19.5 points-per-game for his career, but added an astonishing 11.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds. 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. 2 / 60. Guess the NBA Player Part 7 Quiz - By B013. Post-career, Johnson has been an even bigger success. That Silas did it with aplomb and earned a reputation for never losing his cool speaks to more than just being tough. He became tough growing up in Dallas and playing basketball on the playgrounds. 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. He averaged 7.4 rebounds per game over 11 NBA seasons, and hes only 6-foot-5. 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 . Laimbeer also was durable. Show answer How many personal fouls does a player get to be ejected from an NBA basketball game? Kobe has been working his whole life to both emulate and try to surpass Jordan, much like how Tiger Woods has mapped out his entire career as a comparison to Jack Nicklaus. For the prime example of Jordans mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "The Flu Game." 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%. In an alternate universe, Van Lier wouldve been able to pursue his first love of playing quarterback for a big-time college football program, but all of the schools that recruited him wanted him to play defensive back, a throwback to a racist, ignorant era. Iverson grew up in abject poverty and was sentenced to five years in prison as a senior in high school for a bowling alley assault, serving four months before he was granted clemency by the governor of Virginia. Teams: Sacramento Kings (2011-14), Phoenix Suns (2014-15). Guess the most average players - The average NBA height is 6'6" and the average age is 26 years old. 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. He brought immediate toughness and stability to the roster. Roundfield earned a reputation for being a physical, tough player, but he had a kind nature that opponents and teammates alike were drawn to. Then you have our " Hardest NBA Logo Quiz". Show answer Considered one of the greatest rebounders of all time, this player was known for his bad boy image and for being the All-Star MVP in 1991. A big part of that came from Paytons father, Al, who famously had "Mr. The game of basketball had meager beginnings, with a bunch of athletically awkward guys trying to toss a ball into a peach basket. NBA players Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum, and Dominique Wilkins were all born in which country? Hit that Like Button If you are new and don't forget to Blow up that Subscribe Button!!!! His father died when he was 4 years old, and he was the youngest of 10 children raised by a single mother in rural Illinois. Many players have natural talent they cultivate after gaining a better understanding of where hard work will get them. Theyre still the only players to pull off the feat. Unseld wasted little time putting the league on notice, and joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to win Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Wilkins was a 6-foot-8 dunking machine and one of the most unfairly athletic wing players to ever step on an NBA court. INDIANAPOLIS At first, the comparison checks out. Feedback will be revealed comparing your guessed player. 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%. Joe Dumars. The simple fact is theres only one other player in NBA history who had the combination of size, power, and athleticism that LeBron James possesses, and thats the guy were about to talk about. Show answer. Nicknamed the Chairman of the Boards, people these days seem to forget about Moses Malone when referring to the top centers in NBA history. That included a career-high 18.7 rebounds in 1991-92. 1. 12 Larry Bird, F - 6-9, 220 pounds / 21,791 points. Foust, an eight-time All-Star, died in 1984 of a heart attack at 59 years old. Martins innate toughness came from a pretty awful place. He did all of this by just not being good, but by playing with a unique brand of intensity and skill a combination that was light years ahead of where the NBA was at when he broke in as a 19-year-old in 1995. Rodman was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1990-03), Milwaukee Bucks (2003), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05), Miami Heat (2005-07), Key stats: 1,335 G, 16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 46.6 FG%. Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer. 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). Of course some have honed these skills better than others over the decades. 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%. That was fitting because he grew up playing defensive back in Louisiana, and younger brother David played in the USFL. 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. Mournings play was the bottom line when it came to his toughness, but he also had a world-class scowl that went with it, and his glare became synonymous with the rough-and-tumble play of the 1990s. And players today are pussies and entitled way to much. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players and scorers of all time, Bryant won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All . The game of basketball had meager beginnings, with a bunch of athletically awkward guys trying to toss a ball into a peach basket. 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. Shaq Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant Bill Russell Who has made the most three-pointers in NBA history? 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. 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. When it comes to Pete Maravich, people tend to remember his untimely death and the fact that he averaged 44 points-per-game in college, and they just kind of gloss over the fact that he had a heck of an NBA career as well, averaging 24.2 points to go along with 5.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his career. Nba Logo Quiz & quot ; Hardest NBA Logo Quiz & quot that. Are currently on a five-game winning streak, defeating the Detroit Pistons in their last matchup the definition an. In basketball history dunking machine and one of the toughest and most durable players of all.. Show answer how many personal fouls does a Player get to be ejected from an court... 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