For many, Michael “Air” Jordan is the best basketball player of all time. With his athleticism and his insatiable will to win, “His Airness”, the Chicago Bulls legend, thrilled fans. Just a few of his successes: six NBA championships, five MVP titles, two Olympic gold medals, seven scoring titles. With him, sports marketing reached a new level.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson (1979 – 1991, 1996) dominated the NBA in the 1980s with the Lakers’ “Showtime Express”. Johnson could play all positions, but was particularly magical as an assist provider. His rivalry with Boston Celtics player Larry Bird was exciting. “Magic” had to end his career early because he contracted HIV. His most important successes: five-time NBA champion, three-time MVP, gold with the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympic Games.
Scottie Pippen (1987 – 2004) was Michael Jordan’s aide at the Chicago Bulls. But without “Pip,” Jordan would hardly have won so many championships. In the 1994/95 season, Pippen showed that he could also lead the team and played in top form. Pippen was a very elegant small forward. He also had above-average long arms, which made him an excellent defender. Greatest successes: Six championships and gold at the ’92 and ’96 Olympics.
Dirk Nowitzki (a Mav since 1998) is the best European player and a feared shooter. As a promising “boy”, “Uns Dirk” set out on the NBA adventure. He developed into one of the most dominant forwards in the world and won the three-point competition in 2006. In 2007 he was named MVP of the league. In 2011, Nowitzki fulfilled his lifelong dream by winning the NBA championship. He was also named MVP of the final series.
Larry Bird (1979 – 1992), the country boy from French Lick, Indiana, was actually the anti-basketball player. He couldn’t run fast, couldn’t jump high and wasn’t athletic. That’s exactly why “Larry Legend” thrilled the masses in the 1980s. The Boston Celtics’ small forward was an obsessive fighter. His skills from the three-point line left spectators and colleagues open-mouthed. Bird won three championships and MVP awards as well as gold at the 1992 Olympics.
Kobe Bryant made the jump to the NBA straight from high school. In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets drafted him, but moved him straight on to the Los Angeles Lakers. There, the guard won three championships together with Shaquille O’Neal. After Shaq’s move, Bryant won two more titles and was named league MVP in 2008. Bryant went down in history with his 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. That is the second-highest score ever scored by an NBA player.
Shaquille O’Neal (1992 – 2011) – 150 kg spread over 2.16 meters, a center who was unstoppable in the zone. He described himself as the most dominant player of all time. Shaq attracted attention in the league with his thunderous dunks. Off the court, O’Neal acted and tried his hand at rapping. The “Big Man”, who grew up partly in Germany, won the championship three times with the LA Lakers and once with the Miami Heat, and was also MVP of the regular season in 2002.
Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain is the Shaquille O’Neal of the past. The center wreaked havoc in the NBA from 1959 to ’73. Chamberlain won the title twice, in 1967 with the Philadelphia 76ers and in 1972 with the LA Lakers. He is a man of records. His 100-point game in 1962 against the New York Knicks is legendary. But 55 rebounds in one game are also unique. His points average in the 61/62 season was an impressive 51.2. Chamberlain died in 1999 at the age of 63.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in the NBA for 20 years (1969 – 89). Before he converted to Islam, his name was Lewis Alcindor. Jabbar won six championships, his first with the Milwaukee Bucks, the other with the LA Lakers. The six-time MVP’s trademark was the “skyhook”, a very elegant hook shot. The center learned this technique because dunking was forbidden during his college days. To date, no player has been able to score as many points as number 33.
Bill Russell (1956 – 69) is the center legend of the early Boston Celtics. The number six won an incredible eleven championships with the clover leaves, eight of them in a row. Apart from the excellent defender and rebounder, no one else has achieved this. Russell was even player-coach at the last two championships. He was also the first African-American coach in the NBA. Russell was named MVP of the league five times.
Elgin Baylor (1958 – 1971) was an offensive machine. The forward revolutionized basketball and showed things that had never been seen before. In his first season he was named “Rookie of the Year”. In 1961/62 Baylor had to do his military service, so he couldn’t train and could only play on weekends. He still averaged 38 points, 19 rebounds and five assists. Baylor lost eight NBA finals, but to this day he holds the record for points in a final game (61 points).
Julius “The Dr.” Erving (1971 – 1987) was the Michael Jordan of the 70s. He first played in the ABA, the rival league of the NBA. Later he was a small forward for the Philadelphia 76ers. In 1981 he was MVP, and in 1983 NBA Champion. In the ABA he won two championships and three MVPs with the New York Nets. Dr. J. is a basketball icon, was a real high flyer and spectacular dunker. His slams from the free throw line are basketball history.
Tim Duncan (left since 1997) formed the “Twin Towers” of the San Antonio Spurs with David Robinson (right). After Robinson had spent years chasing the trophy in vain, Duncan finally won it in 1999 and 2003. The center from the Virgin Islands was also able to win two more titles after the Robinson era (2005, ’07). Duncan is comparable to tennis star Pete Sampras. He is not such a spectacular, emotional guy, but a nearly perfect player (MVP 2002, ’03).
Moses Malone was the first player to make the direct jump from high school to the pros. Malone first played in the ABA, then in the NBA. In 1983 he won the title with the Philadelphia 76ers alongside Julius Erving and Maurice Cheeks. He was also MVP three times (1979, ’82, ’83). The center played for 21 seasons. He was the last active player to play in the ABA. In his career he averaged 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.
Jerry West (1960 – ’74) is another Lakers legend. His nicknames are “Mr. Clutch” and “The Logo”. The player’s silhouette is based on the NBA logo. Together with Elgin Baylor, the shooting guard formed one of the best duos in history. In 1972, he won his only championship. The later coach and manager is the only player to become NBA Finals MVP even though his team lost. He also holds the record for points in a playoff series (46.3).
Isiah “Zeke” Thomas (1981-94, 19.2 points and 9.3 assists on average) was a point guard for the Detroit Pistons. In 1989 and ’90 he led the “Bad Boys” to the championship. Thomas had a strong rivalry with Michael Jordan. At the All-Star Game in ’85 he is said to have persuaded his teammates not to give the rookie the ball. In return, Jordan is said to have ensured that Thomas was not part of the dream team in ’92. He ended his career after tearing his Achilles tendon.
Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon was a center player for the Houston Rockets and succeeded the Chicago Bulls with the Texans after Jordan’s first retirement as champion (1994 and ’95). The 2.13 meter tall man, born in Nigeria, had great footwork, which he is said to have learned in his youth as a soccer player. He is the only player to be MVP, Defender of the Year and Finals MVP in one season (1994). No one has blocked more shots than the Rockets’ number 34 (3830).
Kevin Garnett (since 1995) was the first player in 20 years to make the leap to the NBA straight from high school. Together with Stephon Marbury, he caused a stir with spectacular play for the Minnesota Timberwolves. After his arrival, he led the team to the playoffs eight times in a row. In 2004, he was named season MVP. “The Kid” became “The Big Ticket”. KG has been playing for the Boston Celtics since 2007, where he became champion in 2008. He was considered the prototype of the modern forward.
“The Mailman delivers” – that was the phrase that commentators all over the world used when Karl Malone (1985 – 2004) put the ball through the hoop. Together with John Stockton, he formed one of the greatest duos in history at the Utah Jazz. The powerhouse was a member of the dream team and MVP in 1997 & ’99. Despite a career average of 25 points and ten rebounds, the power forward was denied a championship.