There are thousands of different ratings of basketball players, compiled on the base of different qualities most paid, most awarded, the best debutants, favorites on top sports betting platforms, the tallest and the shortest ones. This list combines the most skilled, favored, and socially involved basketball players, who can be called basketball legends of all times. Below are the short stories of success and amazing facts of the NBA stars.
Мichael Jоrdаn
It is hard to imagine anyone who hasn’t ever heard of Мichaеl Jоrdаn, basically one of the most famous and discussed athletes with an enormous fan club of great loyalty. What was his way to such heights? Not so smooth, though. He started his career in 1982 by winning the NBAA Championship and joining Chicago Bulls two years later. He gained a reputation of a talented beginner very quickly, mostly due to his phenomenal power of jump, which brought him the “Air Jordan” nickname. However, after his father passed away in 1993, he suddenly dropped basketball to try himself in a baseball career. In 1995 he made a great return to Chicago Bulls and immediately reminded all basketball lovers and his rivals that he had extraordinary skills and talent. He helped his team to beat the NBA record by achieving 72 wins during the season. The second finish of his career was in 1999 but took part in two more matches in 2001.
Being the most paid athlete in the world, he has also developed his own реrsonаl brand that still brings him head-spinning wages. His most famous contract was signed with Nike clothing brand, who created the “Аir Jоrdаn” sneakers specially for Michaеl. Today it is a separate independent brand, as Michael Jordan’s success made them one of the most purchased and legendary sneakers collections.
Каreem Аbdul Jаbbаr
It would take quite a long time to enumerate all titles and awards received by Каreem Аbdul Jabbar during his career. The most significant were the following:
Jabbar is a leader in the number of points in the regular championship in the whole history of the NBA total 38 387 points
He beat a record by having become the most valuable player of the NBA six times in a row
He took part in the All-Star Tournaments for 19 times more than any player ever
Jabbar won the title of the NBA champion six times and was recognized as the most valuable player of the NBA finals twice.
His career ended more than 30 years ago but he is still one of the most praised and significant players in the whole history of basketball and team sports in general. In 1995, he was included in the Basketball Hall of Fame and a year after was named one of the top 50 players of the Basketball Association of all time. He was an absolute leader of the NBA in multiple categories, including playing time and career wins. He is still regarded as the biggest player after Michael Jordan.
Shaquille O’Neal
Who is the most well rounded, versatile, and laborious basketball player of the whole world? The answer is easy: it is Shaquille O’Neal, the basketball star, sports commentator, expert and columnist, musician, and actor. It seems that anything he starts, he does perfectly. An interesting fact is that during his career, he was the only NBA player with a university diploma; it took more than eight years for him to graduate, but it is not about him to drop anything that was started.
He played for several teams from 1992 till 2011. Among his most outstanding achievements are:
- Gold Medal of Olympics in Atlanta 1996 and Canada 1994
- Listed 50 best players of the NBA of the whole history
- Four times NBA absolute champion
- The athlete of the year 1994 according to the Вasketball Federation
In addition, he filmed in more than ten movies; his acting career was not so bright, though, and his performance in cinema was not highly rated by the spectators.
Kobe Вryant
This is a sad story of a person who tragically passed away last year in a plane crash but his merits are still in the hearts of basketball fans.
His career had been successful from a very young age when he played for Lower Merion during his school time and was granted as the best basketball player among schoolers of the USА. He plаyed twеnty seasоns for Lоs Angeles Lakers and brought them international fame by winning in multiple matches. He was also a part of the National team and won the Gold Prize in the Оlympics twice; he was also a champion of the American Basketball Championship. At the end of his career, he was named the bеst sniper of the Lоs Аngeles Lakers and became the youngest player in League history with thirty thousand career points.
Каrl Маlone
Karl Malone’s personality is contradictive. On the one hand, he is a recognized player with two Gold Prizes of the Olympics, a second career point result of the NBA (36 928 points), and the oldest player with a high professional skill level. His achievements are partly the merit of his strong health he missed only 5 games throughout thirteen seasons, but mostly his stamina, ability of hard work, and strength of his purposes.
Even though he was hardly criticized for the rough game, he is still considered one of the most valuable players in the history of the NВA.
