'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When James Naismith invented the game of Basketball in 1891, I'm sure he did not imagine that players would start dunking from the free-throw line or making shots from almost 50 feet away from the basket. When he invented the game, Naismith had laid down only 13 rules of Basketball. Today, the NBA has a 66 page Rule Book.
The beauty of basketball is that it is constantly evolving. And the players that played the game have a lot to do with it. NBA players back in the and 70's and 80's would've never ever imagined that the game would change so much over the next 30-40 years. Some players in the NBA are amongst the highest paid athletes in the world today. They sign shoe deals worth more than 10 million dollars. NBA players are now fashion icons and trendsetters.
Here are some of the most influential players who changed the League and had a huge impact not just on the court, but off the court as well.
Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson was is the shortest player in NBA history to win the MVP award. He is the only player to average 20 points per game while standing at 6'0" or shorter. Iverson inspired a generation of smaller players to be aggressive scorers.
Iverson popularized the crossover move and got himself immortalized with what everyone today refers to as "The Allen Iverson Crossover". He infamously crossed over Micheal Jordan in his rookie season and that made him an instant sensation. Younger players were inspired by his on and off court style. He changed the culture of the NBA.
"Just because you out a guy in a tuxedo doesn't make him a good guy" - Allen Iverson
Iverson merged sports and entertainment and took it to another level ushering in the Hip-Hop culture. He brought style to the game of basketball with the cornrows and the jewellery and tattoos and the arm-sleeves. He made it all acceptable. His influence was such that in 2005 made the NBA the first league to have a dress code. Players were told to wear "business casual attire" before and after the game.
"I've always said Allen Iverson had the biggest effect on the culture of the NBA out of any player. He started a culture. He started the arm sleeve, the tattoos, all that stuff. He’s the biggest influence in the NBA out of anybody… I wanted braids, because AI had them. I just loved the grit that he played with. He always played with a chip on his shoulder. I feel like I sort of do the same" - Chris Paul
Iverson retired in 2011 as an 11-time All-Star, 4 Time Scoring Champion, 2 Time All-Star Game MVP and 2001 NBA MVP.
Bill Russell
Bill Russell won 11 NBA Championships (in 13 years) playing for Boston Celtics. He was the first player ever to win the NCAA Title, the NBA title and an Olympic Gold Medal all within a span of 13 months. The NBA Finals MVP Award is named after him. (official name- Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award). Bill Russell showed everyone that a basketball game could be won by playing smart defense. He is widely considered as the greatest defender to have ever played the game of basketball. Yet, his legacy is not limited to just his on-court heroics.
He became the first ever African American to become a Head Coach in a major professional sports league when he became a Player-Coach of the Boston Celtics in 1966. He won the NBA title in 1968 and 1969 to become the first ever African-American Coach to win a major sports league. Bill Russell was the first African-American superstar in the NBA.
Young athletes saw in him exactly what they were looking for. Rusell was a strong proud black athlete who wasn't scared of making public remarks and opposing racism. He was fighting racism like nobody else ever had. Bill was a great teammate on the court but off the court, he was a civil rights hero.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffery Jordan is the Greatest Player Of All Time. We all know his resume. 6 Time NBA Champion, 6 Time Finals MVP and 5 Time NBA MVP. But this is not about him being the best basketball player. It's about him taking basketball to new levels globally.
The explosion of popularity of basketball worldwide in the late 80's and 90's is due to Michael Jordan. Jordan had 40-foot murals in Barcelona with his picture on it. He was more than just a basketball genius. Michael was able to mainstream sports apparel into everyday apparel and make it a fashion statement with his brand "Air Jordan". His shoes are still the most popular shoes in the world and are essentially a playground necessity. People all around the world still buy the #23 Bulls Jersey and wear Air Jordans even if they have never played a game of basketball in their lives.
Also read: 5 Untouchable feats of Michael Jordan
Jordan was the person who empowered the future basketball players to make a lot of money in return for what they do for the sport. He was in tv commercials, he was in movies, he was at fashion exhibitions. Michael Jordan was everywhere. Nobody will ever make more money, on the court and off the court than MJ has. Jordan was loved and adored by millions of people around the world. Every young player who grew up watching Jordan wanted to be him. Jordan was dunking from the free-throw line and taking on 5 defenders on his own. Let me put it this way. Your favourites players' favourite player is Michael Jordan.
To put things into perspective, Michael Jordan's legacy from the marketing and business side is going to outlast and have a more enduring impact than what he did on the court (and what he did on the court, has made him the Greatest Of All Time)
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry does not a social impact like the other aforementioned players, but he sure as hell changed the NBA.
The NBA today is a 3-Pointer driven league. Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors -brought this new style of play. In the 2008-09 season, the team that attempted the most 3 pointers attempted 28 shots was the New York Knicks and the team that attempted the fewest 3's, attempted 12 shots were the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the last season, Houston attempted almost 42 Three Pointers per game. 28 to 42 is a big number. The Warriors attempted 30 three-pointers per game and were still ranked 14th on the list of most three-pointers attempted by a team. 10 years ago, they would've been #1.
With Steph Curry in the team, the Golden State Warriors unleashed a small ball lineup of talented shooters who made 3 pointers consistently and were sweeping teams in the playoffs. Last season, Houston Rockets were forced to take more 3 pointers in order to stand a chance against Steph Curry and the Warriors. The NBA teams had to make adjustments in order to catch up with the Warriors. In order to compete, all the teams had to attempt more 3 pointers. Make no mistake, the Warriors adopted this style only because Curry is a shooter like we've never seen before.
Steph is breaking records. He's the best 3 point shooter we've ever seen. He's knocked down 13 three-pointers in a game. He made 9 pointers to break the record of most 3 pointers made in a Finals game. Steph Curry made 286 three-pointers in 2014-15. 324 in 2015-16. He broke his own record by making an astonishing and unbelievable 402 three-pointers in 2016-17 seasons. Numbers unheard of.
The impact isn't just limited to the NBA. There is a sharp rise in three-pointers attempted by NCAA teams as well. College athletes are pulling up 3's in transition and are letting it go from the half court. Kids are practising three's day in and day out. They don't want to play with their backs facing the ring. They don't want to practice post moves and learn the sky-hook. They want to make 3 pointers. Sure dunking a basketball will always be trendy but Steph Curry has almost single-handedly replaced the mid-court jumper (the bread and butter shot) with the 3 pointers.
The duo of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird
It all started in 1979 when Larry Bird of Indiana State played against Earvin "Magic" Johnson of Michigan State in the NCAA championship game. Michigan won the state 75-64 and one of NBA's biggest rivalry was brewing.
College basketball was flourishing and tv ratings were at all time high, but the NBA was crumbling. The NBA was troubled by low levels of crowds and reduced fan interest. There was a growing belief that the League in the late 1970's, had become "too black a league". This discouraged a lot of white fans from coming to watch NBA games. People also complained about the style of play; every player wanted to be the guy and nobody played a team game. The League was losing money and teams had no sponsors. The NBA was on the deathbed.
Larry Bird was drafted by Boston Celtics in 1978 (6th pick overall but did not sign immediately and played the aforementioned NCAA tournament before playing his first Celtics game) and was considered to be The Great White Hope. Bird did not disappoint. He carried the Celtics from being a 29-53 team to a 61-21 team. Larry Bird was not only a talented player, he had a lot of fight in him.
The following season, Lakers drafted Magic Johnson #1 overall. From the day he arrived, he became the prince of the city. He was playing alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers were a force again.
Magic Johnson won the NBA championship in 1980 (against Philadelphia 76ers) but Larry Bird was voted Rookie Of The Year and it wasn't even close. (Bird had 63 votes and Magic got merely 3 votes)
After the 1981 season, the NBA came up with a plan to revive itself. The League portrayed them as arch-rivals. We had the outspoken African American vs the shy white guy and the plan worked. The Lakers and Celtics renewed their rivalry and reached the Finals the next season. Bird got his revenge and the Celtics were world champions that season. But it was just the beginning of the saga that unfolded over the decade.
The investment paid its dividend. TV ratings shot up and the two young guns attracted huge crowds. The two rivals did commercials together and became celebrities in their own rights. The NBA was back at the top. NBA basketball got its lifeline. NBA continued to prosper over the years and has become the biggest pro league in sports.
Larry Legend and Magic Johnson had saved the League.
