hardest nba players to guess

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. This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a Timed Quiz Game or as shown below. 1. Here are the toughest, and easiest, places to play in this year's NBA Playoffs. Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1984-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-96), Houston Rockets (1996-2000), Key stats: 1,073 G, 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 54.1 FG%. Famed broadcaster Howard Cosell summed up Americas feelings toward Reed in the winning locker room after the game. 3 min read. Ironically, Iversons rise to fame and the public consciousness was defined by his toughness. 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 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. Bottom line: Kendrick Perkins was basketballs version of a hockey enforcer on some truly great teams the Celtics in the late 2000s that included an NBA title in 2008 and several almost-great Oklahoma City Thunder teams with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden in the early 2010s. Hes also the author of one of the single greatest moments in NBA history which revolved around his toughness. 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. 2002, 2009, 2010). 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%. Speaking of which, Garnett played at an elite level for a decade after coming straight to the NBA from high school, which might require a little intestinal fortitude. He continued to play, leading his team to the 2017 Eastern Conference finals before being sidelined with a debilitating hip injury. 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. Kobe Bean Bryant (/ k o b i / KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 - January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. Who Is The HARDEST NBA Player To Guard? 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. Gervin averaged 26.2 points during his NBA career, pumping in more than 30 points-per-game twice. 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%. Basketball has developed into the highest scoring of the major sports, and thats one of its great appeals. The Ultimate Space Jam Trivia! He had his number retired by two of the three places he played in his college and pro career, the University of Evansville and Chicago Bulls. In order to play a decade in the NBA like Skiles did, and be that size, it takes some innate toughness. The most important thing to remember about Dumars as far as gauging his toughness is that Michael Jordan called him the best defender he ever faced and the "Jordan Rules" established by Pistons coach Chuck Daly in the 1990s centered around Dumars unique defensive ability. 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. However, the Hornets are currently on a five-game winning streak, defeating the Detroit Pistons in their last matchup. A big part of that came from Paytons father, Al, who famously had "Mr. Teams: Phoenix Suns (1996-98, 2004-12), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15), Key stats: 1,217 G, 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 49.0 FG%. Shaquille O'Neal The morning after you played Shaq, it always felt like you were in a fight. Cowens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. If you. He made second-team the other season. Chicago Bulls Trivia! Originally Answered: Was Michael Jordan the hardest working NBA player in the NBA's history? Bottom line: Kevin Garnett is the highest-paid player in NBA history, with $326 million in career earnings. 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. 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. And thats fair, because he almost killed Houstons Rudy Tomjanovich with one punch during a game in December 1977. instead of being the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player and an 11-time All-Star. Ultimate Basketball Team Quiz. 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. 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). tyson jost dad; sean penn parkinson's disease; mockingbirds attacking my cat Damian Lillard 2. People these days tend to remember him more for his battle with HIV and his work as an analyst, but the fact of the matter is he was an absolute basketball anomaly: a 6-foot-8 point guard whose unselfishness is pretty much the sole reason he didnt become a 30 points-per-game scorer. 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. MyStakeSports indeed has its' partner in Telegram as well. In addition to starting lineups, this tool will also display Vegas odds, positions and salaries for that day's games on FantasyDraft. 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. Which player started with the Milwaukee Bucks and then played his final 14 seasons with the L.A. Lakers? First with his play and then with his legendary trash talk. 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. Boasting great size at 6-foot-8 and about 250 pounds, hes strong enough to finish through contact, he has a strong midrange game, and his three point shooting has been improving year after year. 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. In his prime, he was simply unstoppable. Bottom line: In 12 NBA seasons, Bobby Jones earned a reputation as one of the classiest players of all time. 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. 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. Lucas also could ball. 2. 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. Show answer. Test your NBA player knowledge in this challenging trivia! 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. He played at least 80 of 82 regular-season games seven times, and only missed a handful of games in three other seasons. Mahorns toughness seemed to flow directly from his inability to jump very well and what he had to do to make up for that. MyStakeSports in Telegram. How do you function when everyone is against you? Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer. They got there because they were tough, and thats something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. DPM favors Curry over both Luka and Dame by a large margin. Although he never won an NBA title in 14 seasons. Perkins wasnt just hired muscle, though. Bottom line: Its safe to say that most point guards who make it from Brooklyn to the NBA are tough. Each. Its almost unfair that a player could come along with Durants combination of size, measuring in at 6-foot-9, and shooting range. 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. 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: Patrick Beverley is truly a case study in determination. Bottom line: The mystery behind Chauncey Billups career lies within the mulitude of inexplicable trades that let him play on seven different teams over his 14-year career. 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. Only NBA All-stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker and Chris Paul are among the top 10 hardest working player, according to the research. 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. One stat stands out more than any other. There is a blurred image of the player to start you off. Bottom line: Dave DeBusschere was one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, making the All-NBA Defensive Team six times in his career. 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. "You exemplify the very best that the human spirit has to offer," Cosell told Reed. Kevin Love. Weve already watched it a half-dozen times today, in fact. Bottom line: There arent a lot of NBA players that come out of Wyoming, but James Johnson is one of them. 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. Its difficult to decide which is more amazing: the fact that Kevin Durant has already scored nearly 15,000 points in his career, or the fact that hes still just 25 years old. 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. 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. Mean" on his customized license plates when Gary was growing up. 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. Jim Tucker. 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. Faulk was pretty close but only ran for 12,279 total yards. You can instantly get the latest updates about various . Key stats: 1,270 G, 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 43.9 FG%, NBA titles: 8 (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976). The game of basketball had meager beginnings, with a bunch of athletically awkward guys trying to toss a ball into a peach basket. He never played less than 79 games in his first 13 NBA seasons before abruptly retiring early in the 1993-94 season after a fight with teammate Isiah Thomas. But as his skills declined, he extended his career by turning into a tough-minded enforcer for the teams he played on. 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. 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. 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%. What they found: DRF Sports released new research that . Guess the Logos of the Clubs. Johnson died of a massive heart attack in 2007 at the age of 52 and was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. Before turning his focus to basketball, the two-time Most Valuable Player grew up in Canada playing hockey, and his family lived in the same neighborhood as future NHL stars Russ and Geoff Courtnall. Johnsons nickname "Gladiator" is one of the most appropriate in league history. 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%. Thankfully, we know what Billups was capable of when a team was truly put in his hands thanks to his stint with the Detroit Pistons, when he led the team to the 2004 NBA title and was named Finals Most Valuable Player in a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers one of the greatest upsets of all time. Stocktons style of play was physical and attacking. He brought immediate toughness and stability to the roster. If the US could boil down to one thing, it would definitely be basketball, and what's a better representation of this glorious sport than the famous (and, paradoxically, infamous) NBA? He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and died of leukemia in 2016. Eric Gordon 4. Bottom line: For the entirety of his career, Scott Skiles was listed at 6-foot-1. "I taught the kid the look, the intimidation, yeah, the meanness. Bottom line: Zach Randolph is perhaps the most durable, underrated and, to be honest, the most intimidating player of his generation. 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. 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. Oakleys best seasons were with the Knicks, including two NBA All-Defensive Team selections and his lone All-Star appearance, in 1994. Teams: Baltimore Bullets (1965-66), Chicago Bulls (1966-76). Kelly Oubre Jr. for instance, fits both criteria exactly . The thing that sets Dirk apart is the tremendous skill level he possesses for a 7-footer, possessing a deft shooting touch from long range and a one-footed fade away jumper that is one of the most unguardable moves in NBA history. 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. Bottom line: Larry Fousts toughness came in the form of brute strength as a "clear out the block" post player. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah projects the No. So whether it's now or in . They didnt get that way because they could score or rebound. 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. His father, Stan, was an NBA player, and he had his son study tapes of Hall of Famer Wes Unseld as part of learning to play the game the right way. But Jokic is immune, why? Paytons reputation was made by his skill as much as by his fearlessness, talking trash and backing it up to everyone. Why is Oakley so beloved? Hes also the only undrafted player in NBA history to be voted a starter for the All-Star game. That was just the break he needed. After all, theres a reason people called him Mailman: he always delivered. That included a career-high 18.7 rebounds in 1991-92. Most points in a single game Record : 100 Held by: Wilt Chamberlain Its also a clear indicator of where his toughness came from he trails only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in that category. You grab your gear and you're like, 'All right guys, I guess I'll see you throughout the year.'" If Iverson had been 6-foot-5, we may have been talking about him as arguably the toughest scorer the game has ever seen. Today's Top Quizzes in NBA Browse NBA Top Contributed Quizzes in Sports 1 , 2 World Soccer Rivalries 3 MLB Logic Puzzle 4 NBA Chain Quiz (Medium Difficulty) 5 NBA Logic Puzzle 2.0 6 Sorting Squares: Sports Teams by League 7 Name Just One - 10 to 1: Sports 8 2022 World Cup Stars 9 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. Can you name them all?. 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. For the prime example of Jordans mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "The Flu Game." Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18), Miami Heat (2010-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2018-present), Key stats: 1,217 G, 27.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.3 APG, 50.4 FG%. He also was unselfish as a mentor and widely credited as having been the man who taught Dennis Rodman the ins and outs of the NBA game and helped make him good enough that the Pistons left Mahorn unprotected in the 1989 expansion draft. How tough is Adams? 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. Early on he relied on being vastly superior athletically, but over the course of his career he developed an incredible post game, including the most beautiful turn-around, fade away baseline jumper youre likely to ever see. 1, overall in his latest . Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Kobes one of the most athletically gifted players to ever grace an NBA court, but hes also honed his skillset to make him a lethal midrange shooter. Toughness ran in Stocktons family. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1991-96), New York Knicks (1996-2001), Key stats: 707 G, 16.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 48.4 FG%. 4. Trading for Durant kicked open a title window that seemed to be closing, but the parity-packed NBA of 2022-23 means there's no way to guarantee it'll stay open for long. 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 finished his career with a scoring average of 24.3 points-per-game, and had one of the best shooting lines in basketball history. The Diesel was one of the biggest, strongest, and perhaps the most powerful presence in NBA history. The answer is Eric Dickerson, who finished his career with 13,259 total rushing yards. 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%. 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. These are the toughest players in NBA history. Bottom line: At one point in NBA history, no player was tougher or more intimidating than Larry Johnson, the No. Key stats: 1,346 G, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44.7 FG%, NBA titles: 5 (2000, 2001. Even in the 1970s, at 6-foot-9, Cowens was thought to be too small to play center in the NBA. 3. We caught up with QB Kurt Benkert to discuss his current plans, the Scouting Combine, his Twitch career, a controversial Mount Rushmore and his predictions for Aaron Rodgers. Chamberlain was simply too much for anyone from his era not named Bill Russell to handle, setting records like an average of 50.4 points-per-game during his third season and pouring in 100 in a single game. At the time when Oscar Robertson played basketball, he had the unfair advantage of being very big, very strong, and very athletic. Starks bounced between three different junior colleges in Oklahoma before landing in the checkout lane at a supermarket, bagging groceries. 2. He quickly earned a reputation for being the "protector" of young Bulls star Michael Jordan and was a ferocious rebounder and defender. Rodman was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. Bottom line: Michael Jordans toughness was the stuff of legend, and the five-time NBA Most Valuable Player was legendarily hard on teammates. 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. 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. Guess the Club with a Nickname. His biggest claim to fame came on the New York Knicks teams that won NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, where he cemented his reputation as one of the most physical players of all time. They are both behind Emmitt Smith, who rushed for a record 18,355 total yards during his career. Add in his incredible footwork and youve got a guy who finished his career ranked ninth on the all-time scoring list. In any other era he would be a dominant power forward, yet he possesses the skill set of a point guard with a 6-foot-8, 250 pound frame. They can't add someone like Boeser because of their buyout dead cap space that they have on the books without moving someone else out. Old-school NBA fans might remember McDaniels signature move on opponents who tried him his gigantic hands around their throats. Steph Curry Reggie Miller Ray Allen Larry Bird What is a territorial draft pick? Sloans toughness came from his hardscrabble background. If Wilt could have made free throws, theres no telling how many points he would have scored in his career (Ditto for Shaq). Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Quiz.

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