Gervin averaged 26.2 points during his NBA career, pumping in more than 30 points-per-game twice. 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. But even among some fairly die-hard Celtics fans, we have gaps in our. 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. 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 Teams: Chicago Bulls (1999-2002), Indiana Pacers (2002-06), Sacramento Kings (2006-08), Houston Rockets (2008-09), Los Angeles Lakers (2009-13, 2015-17), New York Knicks (2013-14), Key stats: 991 G, 13.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 41.4 FG%. Its kind of incredible to think of now, but McHale didnt even become a full-time starter until five years into his career, winning NBA Sixth Man of the Year twice in that stretch. Bottom line: Kevin McHale gave opponents nightmares because of his arsenal of low-post offensive moves, which he called "the torture chamber," and for being a rugged, punishing defender. NBA starting lineups will be posted here as they're made available each day, including updates, late scratches and breaking news. PHN can confirm the deal. 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. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bottom line: There arent a lot of NBA players that come out of Wyoming, but James Johnson is one of them. "That's your goodbye right there," DeMelo says. You dont find many players who didnt average double figures in scoring or rebounding for their career that can say they were a two-time All-Star and five-time pick for the All-NBA Defensive Team. Bottom line: At just 5-foot-9, Isaiah Thomas is one of the most dominant, under 6-foot players in NBA history. The NBA had little luck doing anything close to that over the next 20 years. Jordan played in an NBA era where you had to essentially fight your way out of games, with every opponent he faced trying to physically break him. For most of his career, that was enough to make him the most dominant scorer of his era. You grab your gear and you're like, 'All right guys, I guess I'll see you throughout the year.'" 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. Simply put, theres never been anyone in league history who he couldnt have out-muscled on his way to the hoop. Some of the numbers Malone put up were absolutely silly by todays standards, such as when he boasted per-game averages of 31.1 points and 14.7 boards during the 1981-82 season. Perhaps thats why he was such a valuable commodity. 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. His fight with future TNT co-host Shaquille ONeal during their playing days will be watched by generations of basketball fans to come. Although he never won an NBA title in 14 seasons. What NBA Player Do I Play Like? A really hard and long quiz for a NBA fan. 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. It's that easy! They got there because they were tough, and thats something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. 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. Show answer. 4. And thats fair, because he almost killed Houstons Rudy Tomjanovich with one punch during a game in December 1977. Skiles also, famously, took a swing at Shaquille O'Neal in the locker room. Will I Make The Basketball Team Quiz. Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key. "I am mean," said Payton's father, who died in 2015. Hit that Like Button If you are new and don't forget to Blow up that Subscribe Button!!!! There is a blurred image of the player to start you off. Hint Moses Malone Oscar Robertson Michael Jordan Wilt Chamberlain 2. 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. 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. Basketball has developed into the highest scoring of the major sports, and thats one of its great appeals. Test your NBA player knowledge in this challenging trivia! Guess the Nation with a Nickname. Chicago Bulls Trivia! Drafting a professional player from a foreign territory Pettit only played 11 seasons in the NBA and was a first-team All-NBA pick 10 times. But at the end of the day, thats precisely why he was such an unguardable force no one could stop him from physically dominating them and getting those dunks anytime he wanted. 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. When I played, I liked to hurt people.". Get used to that, because Adams could play for another 10 years. Martins innate toughness came from a pretty awful place. If Kobe is ever able to get healthy again, hell be able to surpass Jordan for third place on the career scoring list, and is currently one of just five players to ever surpass 30,000 points. 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. Johnson went to work as a forklift driver after he graduated, while he grew to 6-foot-3 over the next year, and was spotted during a pickup game by a junior college coach because of the intense way he played defense. Later in his career, this was a definite disadvantage. 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%. He also was routinely voted among the NBAs dirtiest players during his career. McDaniel combined toughness with intimidation to a maximum degree. Bottom line: Whats most remarkable about Udonis Haslem has been his staying power. Theyre still the only players to pull off the feat. Jordan's done a great job working hard, so he's doing everything we're asking. Many players could stay in front of Bird, but his fade away . 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%. 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). 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. Cowens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. Check back soon for Daily Lineup. Kobe Bryant is one of the most competitive, hardest working players in NBA history. After all, theres a reason people called him Mailman: he always delivered. 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. This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a Timed Quiz Game or as shown below. 3. 12 Larry Bird, F - 6-9, 220 pounds / 21,791 points. 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. Are you a real NBA fan? That included a career-high 18.7 rebounds in 1991-92. Besides Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, who has the highest-scoring game in NBA history? Wallace was named a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 but somehow wasnt voted in, furthering the notion that the Basketball Hall of Fame is a joke and needs a complete overhaul if it wants to stay relevant. 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. 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%. Teams: Houston Rockets (2013-17), Los Angeles Clippers (2017-present), Key stats: 397 G, 9.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 41.0 FG%. 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%. 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. Stockton, the NBA career leader in assists and steals, was as durable as any player in NBA history. Mason was known for the wild designs he would have shaved into his head, sure, but he was more known for a bruising, physical style of play that used every square inch of his 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame. "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. He absolutely had the talent, and he created a mismatch for anyone trying to guard him with his combination of size and skill. The Penguins acquired a third-rounder in the Blueger deal and upped their available salary cap space to $6.3 million. And he only played one season, his rookie year, with the Baltimore Bullets. 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%. 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. 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. "Just like that. Ultimate Basketball Team Quiz. Guess the most average players - The average NBA height is 6'6" and the average age is 26 years old. Robert Horry Randy Smith A.C. Green John Salley A. C. Green played in more consecutive games (1192) than any other player in NBA history. 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. 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. 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. 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. He played the first two seasons of his career in the ABA and was a four-time All-Star in both leagues. His consolation? The Celtics won the title in seven games. They got there because they were tough, and that's something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. Hes not even 30 years old yet and hes already poured in more than 23,000 points, and despite people knocking his jump shot, hes a career 34.1% shooter from long distance. 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 . 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. Mason suffered a massive heart attack and died in 2015 at age 48. The NBA is gaining more backlash as star players continue to sit out games, and basketball legend Magic Johnson agrees with the . 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. A lot of that comes from his upbringing. 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. Kobe has always been a divisive player, but its hard to argue against the incredible scoring prowess of a guy who once pumped in 35.4 points-per-game in the modern era of professional basketball. "You'd have a fight a week," Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 1992. Bottom line: Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the greatest dynasty in NBA history, winning 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons. In an era of players jumping teams, hes managed to stay with the Miami Heat for his entire career. Despite the Hornets winning five games in a row, fans are calling out the team and its owner, Michael Jordan. Bottom line: When you make it into a Beastie Boys song "I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason" its safe to say youve made it into some sort of rare air of sports celebrity. Teams: San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1963-74), Chicago Bulls (1974-76), Cleveland Cavaliers (1976-77), Key stats: 964 G, 15.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 42.1 FG%. You can instantly get the latest updates about various . Maravich wasnt the most conventional star to ever play the game, but his flashy play and outstanding skill level made him one of the most exciting scorers to ever step on a basketball court. Which of the following players is not among the NBA's top five regular season scoring leaders of all time? The moment Thomas toughness was no longer in doubt was at the end of his tenure with the Celtics, when he was on the verge of getting close to a max contract in free agency in the offseason. Granlund, 31, is not a large forward. 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. His most iconic play was a baseline, left-handed dunk over Jordan and Horace Grant in the playoffs. 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. The game of basketball had meager beginnings, with a bunch of athletically awkward guys trying to toss a ball into a peach basket. The two were unexpectedly caught in rough waters, and he was swept away by the current after getting her to safety. 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. 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. Whats not a mystery is the impact Billups made on almost every team he played on. 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. 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. 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. Randolph toiled away for a lot of his career in obscurity. What made Larry "The Legend" so hard to guard was his body control and coordination with the timing and release of his shot. 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%. Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer requires us to wait for a guy with a stick to poke the ball out of the bucket after Dwyane Wade makes a layup, and as the game has evolved, so has the manner in which people have been able to put the ball in the goal. The stories of Z-Bos toughness are legendary in NBA circles and the fact that he played at least 70 games in 12 of 18 seasons cannot be overlooked. 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. 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