Apart from handing out aggressive fouls, Bill Lambier was also at the center of most flagrant splays at the time. Answer (1 of 21): Scrolling through the answers I see different takes on what the word means. It was the third anniversary team in the league. Double check. Not only was he one of the greatest players in the history of the game, but his obvious passion for basketball was very obviously on display at all times. Were going to need to see that killer instinct from James long before hes even considered for elevation when it comes to intensity. 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%. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. 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. Williams spent his first eight seasons with the Nets but became a household name during his seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Toughness ran in Stocktons family. 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. Will the Warriors be able to reboot and make another run at a title? One of the most durable players ever, Malone is also second only to Abdul-Jabbar's 57,446 . 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%. Kevin Durant. He won the 2016-17 Most Improved Player award and the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year award. He brought an intensity to the court that is highly unlikely to ever be harnessed within another player ever again. In Moncriefs 10 seasons with the Bucks, his teams lost in the conference finals or conference semifinals eight times. He may have often looked out of place when he played, but thats because he was far ahead of his time. The NBA's 75th anniversary team was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media, current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives. In order to play a decade in the NBA like Skiles did, and be that size, it takes some innate toughness. But no one who ever watched the man play would classify it as such. Watch Dwyane Wade. Stats: 24.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 6.5 APG in 11 seasons with Golden State Warriors (2009-10 to 2020-21)*. 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. Seventeen years and three NBA titles later, hes a legend in Miami. Stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG in 14 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1960-61 to 1969-70) and Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71 to 1973-74). After being banished to the bench and playing just 24 games in his first two seasons, Mason proved to be incredibly durable. Louis Hawks (1954-55 to 1964-65). J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. 13 Kevin Durant Top accolades: Two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, 11 All-Stars NBA rank: 26th. The Mailman threw elbows like it was his job, and frankly, sometimes thats exactly how he sent a message to the opponent. Bottom line: Kenyon Martin was the last college senior to be picked No. Bottom line: John Havlicek is one of just four players in NBA history to win eight NBA titles. Teams: St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1964-69), Phoenix Suns (1969-72), Boston Celtics (1972-76), Denver Nuggets (1976-77), Seattle Supersonics (1977-80), Key stats: 1,254 G, 9.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.2 FG%. Van Lier died unexpectedly in 2009 at 61 years old, the same day as former Bulls coach Johnny "Red" Kerr. The NBA is celebrating its 75th anniversary throughout the 2021-22 season, and part of that celebration includes the unveiling of the list of the greatest players in NBA history. Can you keep it together when there are tens of thousands of people who want you to fail? Stats: 18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.1 APG in 13 seasons with New York Knicks (1967-68 to 1976-77) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-78 to 1979-80). Bottom line: At just 5-foot-9, Isaiah Thomas is one of the most dominant, under 6-foot players in NBA history. Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum top NBA quotes of the week. Key stats: 1,504 G, 13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 10.5 APG, 51.5 FG%. 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. He had a very riled up rivalry against Bill Laimbeer, and neither sought to back down from the other, which only heightened the distaste between them. For the prime example of Jordans mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "The Flu Game." A big part of that came from Paytons father, Al, who famously had "Mr. Anyone who watched the Knicks with Oakley saw the team take on a swagger that clubs rarely do anymore. Stats: 24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.5 APG in 15 seasons with Atlanta Hawks (1982-83 to 1993-94), LA Clippers (1993-94), Boston Celtics (1994-95), San Antonio Spurs (1996-97) and Orlando Magic (1998-99). 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. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ. Get used to that, because Adams could play for another 10 years. 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. 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. Teams: Boston Celtics (1997-98), Toronto Raptors (1998-99), Denver Nuggets (1999-2000, 2008-11), Minnesota Timberwolves (2000-02), Detroit Pistons (2002-08, 2013-14), New York Knicks (2011), Los Angeles Clippers (2011-13), Key stats: 1,043 G, 15.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 41.5 FG%. There was no player like him during the era in which he played, and there isnt likely to be another one with his championship success. Bottom line: At one point in NBA history, no player was tougher or more intimidating than Larry Johnson, the No. When I played, I liked to hurt people.". Stats: 25.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.5 APG in 12 seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder (2009-10 to 2011-12), Houston Rockets (2012-13 to 2020-21) and Brooklyn Nets (2020-21)*. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1963-64 Rookie of the Year, 1965 All-Star MVP, 1973 NBA champion. 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. Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.1 BPG in 18 seasons with Houston Rockets (1984-85 to 2000-01) and Toronto Raptors (2001-02); NBA's career leader in total blocks. Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1999-2000 MVP, 1992-93 Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star MVP, three-time Finals MVP, two-time scoring champ, four-time NBA champion. Bottom line: LeBron James could be in the Top 30 NBA career games played at the end of the 2019-20 season and likely will break Robert Parrishs career record of 1,611 games if he plays four more seasons, which hes openly said he wants to do. If you want to watch a highlight reel of how to haul in an offensive rebound, just look up Malones tape. 1 overall pick coming out of Cincinnati, and he showed that with his abilities on the defensive end. 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%. The 6'9" Johnson (making him the NBA's tallest point guard) not only posted the best assists-per-game mark in league history (11.2) but had a tremendous all-around game, as well. John Stockton is the NBA's leader in assists and steals; he's a 10-time All-Star, made 11 All-NBA teams, was a five-time All-Defensive squad, and obviously earned inclusion on the. Anyone who has never seen some of Birds closest encounters on the hardwood should hit the YouTube channel immediately. Bottom line: Buck Williams was the definition of an NBA player bringing his lunch pail to work. Cowens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 6 NBA Championships to his name. The iconic image of teammate Scottie Pippen helping him off the floor is burned into the memories of basketball fans the world over. The panel consisted of Jeff Zillgitt and Mark . Later in his career, Payton managed to shake off his reputation for being brash and became a steady presence in the locker room. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2016-17 MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, three-time assists champ. Abdul-Jabbars skyhook just wasnt fair, as it remains one of the most unguardable moves in all of basketball history. Player Index; Traditional Stats; All Time Summary; Clutch; . In case you hadn't noticed, the Wiz from Wuerzburg has been outscored by only five playersAbdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. For the 1990s video-game kids, he also was one of three players on the original "NBA Jam" who could consistently rebound. Olajuwon didnt take anything from anybody when it came to where he felt his proper position in the lane was. Luka Doncic, James Harden, Jimmy Butler to name a few. Russells mental toughness was on another level. Bottom line: Larry Fousts toughness came in the form of brute strength as a "clear out the block" post player. In the NBA, some of the greatest players of all time have also been some of the toughest as well as some of the most beloved. Mourning doesnt get the love among the new generation of hoop-heads that he should, as some of his numbers are mind-boggling. Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1979-81), Detroit Pistons (1981-91), San Antonio Spurs (1991-92), Key stats: 984 G, 12.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 46.4 FG%. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1995 NBA champion. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 2006-07 MVP, 2011 Finals MVP, 2011 NBA champion. 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%. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1995-96 Defensive Player of the Year, 1995-96 steals champ, 2006 NBA champion. 1 overall and started off his career as a player who made his name by living above the rim. Stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG in 16 seasons with Boston Celtics (1962-63 to 1977-78). These are the toughest players in NBA history. 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. There are just not players like Sprewell who come along everyday, and his stint with the Knicks came with the vow that he was a changed man. He had a presence on defense that he rarely gets credit for, but its worth noting because its just not something that all players can achieve. Every referee that has ever been a part of one of Wallaces game would attest that he should be even higher. Mahorns toughness seemed to flow directly from his inability to jump very well and what he had to do to make up for that. Bottom line: How tough was Jerry Sloan? They didn't get that way because they could score or rebound. 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. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1985-86 scoring champ. With the NBA celebrating its 75th anniversary this season, USA TODAY assembled a panel of NBA experts to rank the greatest 75 NBA players of all time. Over two decades after his retirement, Abdul-Jabbars 1,797 career games (including the playoffs) is more than anyone in NBA history. Its a shame that the Knicks decided to trade Jackson to the Clippers in 1992 and split up what was just becoming a playoff contender with a nucleus of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Jackson. Stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics (1979-80 to 1991-92). 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. 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. Exercise is best method to increase vertical jump. 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. Sloans toughness came from his hardscrabble background. Its not just defined by how much punishment you can sustain. Whether a mean stare, a suffocating style of play or a general ability to send electricity. NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Player Efficiency Rating All-Time Player Efficiency Rating Leaders Active players are listed in bold * Indicates member of the Hall of Fame. Do I even need to elaborate? A lot of that comes from his upbringing. 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%. Nobody wanted to challenge him in the lane, and its hard to blame the opposition considering the volume at which he swatted shots away from the rim. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, 1974-75 MVP, 1972-73 Rookie of the Year, three-time scoring champ, two-time NBA champion. Kobe Bryant Net Worth - $350 million The late Kobe Bryant is the only deceased player to make this list. Green is one of the more outspoken players in the game today, and its tough to see his legacy as not having his Game 6 suspension from the 2016 NBA Finals front and center alongside his titles. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1969-70 All-Defensive team, 1969-70 NBA MVP, 1964-65 Rookie of the Year, 1970 All-Star MVP, two-time Finals MVP, two-time NBA champion. Although his legacy is defined largely by the infamous malice at the palace, World Peaces placement on this list is about more than just that. His heroic, limping walk out of the tunnel for warm-ups, followed by scoring the first two baskets of the game (his only points) sparked the Knicks to the win and NBA title. He wouldnt let anybody take him out of his style of game, and if any opposition tried, he made sure to send his message loudly and clearly. Honorary Enforcer Bill Laimbeer. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and died of leukemia in 2016. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1976-77 scoring champ. Thats what the Magic man was all about. Bottom line: Possibly the greatest enforcer in NBA history, Charles Oakley was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1985 out of NCAA Division II Virginia Union. The toughness wasnt just an act. His most iconic play was a baseline, left-handed dunk over Jordan and Horace Grant in the playoffs. Accomplishments: 17-time All-Star, 17-time All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, 2003-04 Rookie of the Year, 2007-08 scoring champ, 2019-20 assists champ, four-time NBA champion. Stats: 16.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.7 APG in 15 seasons with St. Louis Hawks (1960-61 to 1967-68), Seattle SuperSonics (1968-69 to 1971-72), Cleveland Cavaliers (1972-73 to 1973-74) and Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75). The infamous finger wag. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive Team, 2013 All-Star MVP, 2005-06 Rookie of the Year, six-time steals champ, four-time assists champ. He brought immediate toughness and stability to the roster. He quickly earned a reputation for being the "protector" of young Bulls star Michael Jordan and was a ferocious rebounder and defender. Lets quickly point out that what gets lost in all of this debate is how talented he was a four-time All-Star who averaged almost 10 rebounds per game for his career and led the NBA in rebounding in 1986. James Worthy with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980s. 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. 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. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. 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. For someone who made a career for himself as a player who was feared on the court, hes pretty much done the opposite as an executive. He ruined his own best chance at playoff success when he punched Oklahoma Citys Steven Adams in the jaw in Game 6 of a 2014 NBA playoff series and was suspended for Game 7, which the Grizzlies lost. One of the most well-rounded offensive guards ever. Where Love is toughest has been in his approach to the mental aspects of the game, where hes been open about his struggles with anxiety, rage and depression bringing widespread awareness to an issue that still is considered taboo in some corners. Defensive Player of the Year. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1968-69 MVP, 1968-69 Rookie of the Year, 1978 Finals MVP, 1974-75 rebounding champ, 1978 NBA champion. Accomplishments: 12-time NBA All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, two-time NBA All-Defensive team, three-time NBA MVP, 1983 Finals MVP, six-time NBA rebounding champ, 1983 NBA champion. David Robinson's net worth is estimated at $200 million. Stockton, the NBA career leader in assists and steals, was as durable as any player in NBA history. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.1 rebounds per game, which stands among the NBAs best career marks. Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1979-89), Atlanta Hawks (1989-91), Key stats: 767 G, 15.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 50.2 FG%. Rodman was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. Grandfather Hust Stockton won an NFL championship with the Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1926. Laimbeer is easily the most hated NBA player of all-time. Pete Maravich Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, five-time MVP, 1963 All-Star MVP, four-time rebounding champ, 11-time NBA champion. 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. And that's what makes Trae an outlier; he's the smallest, and probably the frailest player on this list, yet he's behind only SGA and Luka in drives per game. He's made five All-NBA teams, four All-Defensive teams and an All-Rookie team. instead of being the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player and an 11-time All-Star. Anyone who has watched him play has taken note of his pre-game ritual of talking to the basket while simultaneously pouring sweat off of him like hes already played a full 48. Maxwell was called a lot of different things during his career, but it was clear that his intensity was never to be questioned. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1985-86 Rookie of the Year. Stats: 22.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.9 APG in 11 NBA seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1976-77 to 1986-87); also played five ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1971-72 to 1972-73) and New York Nets (1973-74 to 1975-76). 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%. During halftime of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, 47 of the 50 members of that team were honored in person. Games. His Pistons' teams of the late 1980s were made up of some of the toughest players in NBA history, and Mahorn was the undisputed "baddest" of the "Bad Boys.". Mazzulla, in addition to saying his team "let its foot off the gas," also pointed out how the Nets dominated every statistical category -- from taking and making more 3s and free throws to getting . With a psychotic work ethic and completely unafraid to call out anyone (including his teammates), it doesnt get more intense than Bryant among modern day players. His fight with future TNT co-host Shaquille ONeal during their playing days will be watched by generations of basketball fans to come. Rookie of the Year. Stats: 24.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.6 APG in nine seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (2012-13 to 2020-21)*. With the season underway, we adjusted our preseason rankings of the best players in league right now. Somehow, LeBron James is still No. "Pistol" Pete Maravich. Rookie of the Year. He has scored the most points in NBA history.