18 amazing levels! 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. Joe Dumars. At 5 foot 3, Muggsy Bogues is the shorted player in the history of the National Basketball Association. Who Is The HARDEST NBA Player To Guard? 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. Skiles languished on the bench, somewhat unfairly, for his first three seasons before going to the expansion Orlando Magic, where he set the NBA record with 30 assists in one game and was named NBA Most Improved Player in 1991. 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. Guess the Logos of the Clubs. 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. 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%. 2 / 60. Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer. Havlicek died in April 2019 at 79 years old. 16 retired by both of the teams he played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. Bottom line: Norm Van Lier had one of the more modest, accomplished careers in NBA history in almost total anonymity. But Jokic is immune, why? The NBA had little luck doing anything close to that over the next 20 years. Bottom line: There are few tales as tragic as Kermit Washingtons in the history of the NBA. Shaquille O'Neal The morning after you played Shaq, it always felt like you were in a fight. Ultimate NBA Jersey Trivia. Being tough on the basketball court isn't only a physical thing. The mental aspect is just as important. After he went undrafted in 2002 following a standout career at the University of Florida, Haslem found his only pro opportunity was playing in France, and he showed up weighing almost 300 pounds. He absolutely had the talent, and he created a mismatch for anyone trying to guard him with his combination of size and skill. They got there because they were tough, and that's something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. In his prime, he was simply unstoppable. Damian Lillard 2. His consolation? He continued to play, leading his team to the 2017 Eastern Conference finals before being sidelined with a debilitating hip injury. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound Robertson was simply too strong and athletic for any other guards of his era to handle, which is a big part of the reason he finished his career in 11th place on the NBA scoring list with 26,710 points. Famed broadcaster Howard Cosell summed up Americas feelings toward Reed in the winning locker room after the game. 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. Key stats: 792 G, 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 43.6 FG%. Countries of the World. EPM has Luka and Dame tied a little ahead of Curry. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bottom line: Dan Roundfield "Dr. Rounds" could be the next name you drop in a conversation with fellow NBA heads when youre talking about the most underrated, underappreciated players of all time. 3. 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. 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%. 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: When you go down the list of the greatest enforcers in NBA history, make sure you put some respect on Maurice Lucas name. FEATURES: More than 300 players to guess and a small size of the application! Randolph toiled away for a lot of his career in obscurity. Here's how it works: You have eight guesses to nail a current NBA player based on their silhouette.You're given their team, conference, division, position, height, age and jersey number. Pettit only played 11 seasons in the NBA and was a first-team All-NBA pick 10 times. Each. Bottom line: Steve Nash seemed like he was made of pure scrap iron for most of his NBA career, bouncing around the court and off of other players like he was inside of a pinball machine. He also was routinely voted among the NBAs dirtiest players during his career. Check back soon for Daily Lineup. Bottom line: John Havlicek is one of just four players in NBA history to win eight NBA titles. 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). Bottom line: At one point in NBA history, no player was tougher or more intimidating than Larry Johnson, the No. Myself, I liked to get my fight over on Monday or Tuesday and not worry about it the rest of the week.". Then you have our " Hardest NBA Logo Quiz". He played in an age where African-American players were fighting for equal rights on and off the floor and was one of the leaders of that movement. Kevin Love. Are You The Ultimate Boston Celtics Fan? Johnsons nickname "Gladiator" is one of the most appropriate in league history. He made the All-NBA Defensive Team nine times, including eight first-team picks, and was known as a player who would never resort to "dirty" tactics. Williams spent his first eight seasons with the Nets but became a household name during his seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. You were sore from head to toe. 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. Post-career, Johnson has been an even bigger success. 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. Russells mental toughness was on another level. 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. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Quiz. 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. 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%. Ok it Get ya. Can you keep it together when there are tens of thousands of people who want you to fail? 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: 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%. Starks worked his way up from 10-day contracts with the Warriors to the CBA to finally landing a shot with the Knicks in 1990, where he spent almost a decade as a key foil to Michael Jordan and the Bulls. The game of basketball had meager beginnings, with a bunch of athletically awkward guys trying to toss a ball into a peach basket. Only NBA All-stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker and Chris Paul are among the top 10 hardest working player, according to the research. When McHale clotheslined Lakers forward Kurt Rambis during Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals, it shocked teammates and opponents alike and arguably turned the tide of the series. He's also well paid with a $5 million AAV for two more seasons. Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield. His Piston Automotive Group, a global auto parts supplier, does almost $2 billion in business annually and employs 8,300 people. Now that hes transitioning into more of a stretch four than a natural small forward, it makes him even more of a nightmare matchup for opposing teams. Teams: Indiana Pacers (1975-78), Atlanta Hawks (1978-84), Detroit Pistons (1984-85), Washington Bullets (1985-87), Key stats: 813 G, 14.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 48.2 FG%. They dont call you Legend for nothing, and were it not for serious back problems later in his career, Larry Bird may well have gone on to become one of the most prolific scorers in league history. These are the 20 players for whom defenders have simply never found an answer. 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%. 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. Guess the Club with a Nickname. Teams: Portland TrailBlazers (1976-80, 1987-88), New Jersey Nets (1980-81), New York Knicks (1981-82), Phoenix Suns (1982-85), Los Angeles Lakers (1985-86), Seattle SuperSonics (1986-87), Key stats: 1,021 G, 14.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 47.1 FG%. Bottom line: Willis Reed isnt just one of the toughest players in NBA history. Newspaper headline writers in the 1990s. Or how much you can dole out. 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. Gervin averaged 26.2 points during his NBA career, pumping in more than 30 points-per-game twice. In this game, you'll put your basketball knowledge to the test by guessing the name of NBA players and deciphering who the mystery player is based on the data provided. 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. After spending his first two years in the NBA as a sixth man, Love's hard work paid off during the 2010-11 season, when he led the league in . Popular Quizzes Today. EXTREMELY HARD NBA QUIZ. Teams: Boston Celtics (2003-11), Oklahoma City Thunder (2011-15), Cleveland Cavaliers (2015, 2018), New Orleans Pelicans (2015-16). In an era of players jumping teams, hes managed to stay with the Miami Heat for his entire career. You can say what you want about Carmelo Anthony possibly being a gunner or not being particularly interested in playing defense, but what you cant deny is that hes one of the most naturally gifted scorers to come alone in the NBA in the last several decades. Thats when America got to know his trademark goggles (and beard) on the way to NBA Finals losses to the Bulls and Pistons. His most iconic play was a baseline, left-handed dunk over Jordan and Horace Grant in the playoffs. Bottom line: Whats amazing about Rick Mahorns career is that, on paper, it appears to have been pretty average. 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. Being tough is more than just being physical. Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (2001-07), New York Knicks (2007-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009-17), Sacramento Kings (2017-19). The Big O averaged more than 30 points-per-game in six of his first seven seasons, and in just his second season added 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists, making him the only player in league history to ever average a triple-double for an entire season. The answer is Eric Dickerson, who finished his career with 13,259 total rushing yards. Please stop with the "Well he deserves another MVP." We've seen plenty of players not win an MVP solely because of voter fatigue. Its also a clear indicator of where his toughness came from he trails only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in that category. 1 player on his top-50 draft board to be drafted well, No. 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. After being banished to the bench and playing just 24 games in his first two seasons, Mason proved to be incredibly durable. Bottom line: There is one statistic that underlines Alvin Robertsons toughness better than all others he is still the NBAs career leader with 2.7 steals per game. 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. 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%. 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. In his first 13 seasons, he missed just four games and only missed 22 in his career, with 17 of those coming at the start of the 1997-98 season as he recovered from an injured MCL. How Haslem ended up with the Heat in the first place speaks to his toughness. 1. Teams: New York Knicks (1987-92, 2001-02), Los Angeles Clippers (1992-94), Indiana Pacers (1994-96, 1997-2000), Denver Nuggets (1996-97), Toronto Raptors (2000-01), Utah Jazz (2002-03), Houston Rockets (2003-04), Key stats: 1,296 G, 9.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 8.0 APG, 44.7 FG%. 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. "If you played Monday through Saturday and didn't have a fight, you knew you had to be ready for Sunday because you'd surely have a fight. Thurmond set the NBA record with 18 rebounds in one quarter, was the first NBA player to record a quadruple-double but only played in the NBA Finals once, losing to Chamberlain and the 76ers in 1967. 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%. Bottom line: In 12 NBA seasons, Bobby Jones earned a reputation as one of the classiest players of all time. 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. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. 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. Are You the Ultimate NBA Fan? The best way to sum up Allen Iverson is to describe him as a little man with a very big game. 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. NBA starting lineups will be posted here as they're made available each day, including updates, late scratches and breaking news. 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. 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. As, there are many NBA teams like Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, LA Clippers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks , and Houston Rockets. Unseld was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988. Kobe Bean Bryant (/ k o b i / KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 - January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. Bottom line: NBA connoisseurs can appreciate what Michael Cooper brought to the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" dynasty of the 1980s. He played for the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. Guess the NBA Player in 8 tries. In order to play a decade in the NBA like Skiles did, and be that size, it takes some innate toughness. Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images. 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. McDaniel combined toughness with intimidation to a maximum degree. Bottom Line: Dennis Johnson was only 5-foot-9 when he graduated from Dominguez Hills High School in Compton, California, where he said he only played "one or two minutes," each game. In addition to starting lineups, this tool will also display Vegas odds, positions and salaries for that day's games on FantasyDraft. Check back soon for Daily Lineup. He finished his career as the second most prolific scorer in NBA history with 36,928 points and shot 51.6% from the field over his 19 seasons. Died in April 2019 at 79 years old he continued to play a decade in the NBA you. Trail Blazers lines in basketball history answer is Eric Dickerson, who finished his career in obscurity key stats 792. 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