Bill Russell Was the most dominate defensive player I have ever seen the way he blocked shots. He was amazing the way he had such great timing.If you want him on the list, I can't argue with you. He was an automatic triple-double, and didn't know he was doing it at the time. I would put Bill Russell and Michael Jordan in the same category as all-time players, but I don't know how much they changed the game.
if you are going to allow a coach, then you have to have d'antoni. in fact, d'antoni is more responsible for the way the game is played in the nba right now than your #2.This is not a list of who are the best, but who changed the game the most. You will note that many of my choices are from the 1970's and before. All the more impressive to me is what Steph Curry has meant to the modern game.
1.) Wilt Chamberlain (Hello, 3 second zone)
2.) Steph Curry (3 point strategy evolved because of him)
3.) Magic (the first 6' 8" point guard)
4.) Bird (the 3 as a playmaker, and with Magic the revival of the NBA. No one younger than 40 would believe what bad shape the NBA was in prior to Bird and Magic. Maybe Larry O'Brien should be on this list, too.)
5.) George Mikan (the first truly athletic center)
6.) Kareem Abdul Jabbar (They outlawed the dunk when he was at UCLA --this is an edited addition. Thanks to OttointheGrotto for pointing out my oversight.)
7.) Dr. J (created the beautiful game. The ambassador of the dunk)
8.) Dirk (enter the shooting forward, and the European invasion.)
9,) Cousey (Introduced flair to the game)
10.) Chuck Cooper (first African-American to play in the NBA
11.) Red Auerbach (Not a player, but for many reasons he belongs on this list. Not the least of which is that Chuck Cooper was a Celtic. Boston resisted integration more than any other city. The Red Sox were the last team in MLB to have an African American on their roster (Pumpsie Green in the early 60's), Auerbach created a standard of what it took to win a title.)
I hear what you are saying about Steph, he is an elite shooter, the most important skill on the court. But the game is so perimeter oriented not because the success of traditional guards shooting further/better, but because bigs learned the skill. Guys like Dirk, Sabonis and Brad Miller are the real revolutionaries in that regard. Now all 5 players are expected to be deep threats, guards have always had that requirement to thrive.This is not a list of who are the best, but who changed the game the most. You will note that many of my choices are from the 1970's and before. All the more impressive to me is what Steph Curry has meant to the modern game.
1.) Wilt Chamberlain (Hello, 3 second zone)
2.) Steph Curry (3 point strategy evolved because of him)
3.) Magic (the first 6' 8" point guard)
4.) Bird (the 3 as a playmaker, and with Magic the revival of the NBA. No one younger than 40 would believe what bad shape the NBA was in prior to Bird and Magic. Maybe Larry O'Brien should be on this list, too.)
5.) George Mikan (the first truly athletic center)
6.) Kareem Abdul Jabbar (They outlawed the dunk when he was at UCLA --this is an edited addition. Thanks to OttointheGrotto for pointing out my oversight.)
7.) Dr. J (created the beautiful game. The ambassador of the dunk)
8.) Dirk (enter the shooting forward, and the European invasion.)
9,) Cousey (Introduced flair to the game)
10.) Chuck Cooper (first African-American to play in the NBA
11.) Red Auerbach (Not a player, but for many reasons he belongs on this list. Not the least of which is that Chuck Cooper was a Celtic. Boston resisted integration more than any other city. The Red Sox were the last team in MLB to have an African American on their roster (Pumpsie Green in the early 60's), Auerbach created a standard of what it took to win a title.)
Rodman does stand out, because he had 1 skill: the greatest motor on the floor night in and night out. He had no offensive skills whatsoever, except the go get it. He will forever be unique, a throw back we'll probably never see again. I like to think of him being one side of the bridge that goes through Ben Wallace, and onto Draymon today. Green could do the dirty work Rodman built a career on, but he is also blessed with the marginal ability to drop in a 3, or he may not be in the league right now.Bill Walton for being one of the first bigs with truly exceptional passing ability.
Iverson for turning horribly inefficient one-on-five basketball into something to aspire to because people enjoyed watching it without realizing that you can't win a championship that way. (Modern examples are Westbrook and Harden).
I feel like Dennis Rodman belongs on this list, not because of his play, but because of the way he opened up the NBA to embrace the players' personalities.
Bill Russell Was the most dominate defensive player I have ever seen the way he blocked shots. He was amazing the way he had such great timing.