History UsefulNotes / NotablePlayersOfTheNBA

* '''UsefulNotes/LeBronJames''', a forward who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, is most identified with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he has played for the bulk of his NBA career. In many ways, his life reads like that of a RealLife ByronicHero (we are not kidding). He first received ''tons'' of media attention for his prowess as a basketball player, even though he was still in ''high school''. He had appeared on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'' and had a pending shoe deal, again, while ''still in high school''. Embraced by Cleveland as "King James", he was drafted 1st overall by his hometown Cavaliers during the 2003 NBA Draft, almost immediately transforming them into a serious contender. During his stint as a Cavalier, Cleveland garnered two 50-win season, two ''60''-win seasons, one conference title (2007), two division titles ('09 and 2010) and a trip to the 2007 NBA Finals (though they were swept), almost entirely because of [=LeBron=]. During his time as a Cavalier, he was the Rookie of the Year, the leading scorer for 2008, a two-time MVP, a 6-time All-Star, and 6-time All-NBA player achieving a combined ''28 triple-doubles'' as a Cavalier and reaching ''many'' "Youngest-to-ever" records. However, his frequent postseason defeats, most notably by the Boston Celtics, prompted [=LeBron=] to leave the Cavaliers, where he announced his decision to join the Miami Heat via [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decision_(TV_special) a live television special]]. It was [[{{Understatement}} not received well by fans and the media]], leading ''many'' to openly, heavily criticize, even actively root against [=LeBron=]. In all fairness, [=LeBron=] embraced the role of a villain for the 2011 season, and he was noticeably cockier during his first year with Miami. He even admits that he was playing out of hatred, trying to prove everyone wrong. He ran roughshod with Wade and Bosh through the 2011 Playoffs, including closing out Chicago and ''finally'' defeating Boston, before meeting Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks in the Finals. His lackluster performance against the Mavericks, due to their defense taking him out of his comfort zone, quickly etched his image as a choker in the minds of NBA viewers; ''internet memes'' were made to emphasize how he's an individual example of EveryYearTheyFizzleOut. As a result of losing in the 2011 Finals, James went through [[VillainousBreakdown a state of depression]]. Once he got over it, he [[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/magazine/04/24/lebron.james/index.html underwent a rather convincing case]] of CharacterDevelopment. It paid off - he finally achieved his first championship in June 21, 2012, earning the Finals MVP on top of that. In his own words, "It's about damn time." And then as icing on the cake: won an [[UsefulNotes/OlympicGames Olympic]] gold medal: the first player to win a championship, the Finals MVP, and Olympic gold in one year since ''UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan''. In 2013, he made history again as the only player in NBA history to win 6 straight games with over 30 points, and a field goal percentage over 60 percent. In 2013, he won another championship, season MVP and finals MVP. He also made the All-NBA first team in each of his four seasons in Miami. After the 2013-14 season, James announced that he would return to his hometown team, leading to much rejoicing in Northeast Ohio. Cleveland won the divison ''and'' the conference, making it [=LeBron=]'s fifth straight year atop the East. The trip to the Finals came about even though the team was riddled with injuries—starting center Anderson Varejão (below) tore his Achilles in December, Kevin Love (also below) was lost during the playoffs with a separated shoulder, and Kyrie Irving (also below) was hampered by knee issues for parts of the season, finally breaking his kneecap in Game 1 of the Finals. And then the next season, with everyone healthy (though Varejão was gone by season's end), he led the Cavs to a rematch against the Dubs in the Finals, and brought them back from a 3–1 series deficit to give the city its first major sports title in over a half-century. He brought the Cavs back to the Finals in 2017 and 2018, losing both times to the Dubs. And, by then, made four more All-NBA first teams, giving him a record 12. LBJ then left as a free agent, signing a four-year deal with the Lakers. In his first season in L.A., he suffered the first significant injury of his career, a groin injury that hampered him for a good chunk of the season, but still made the All-NBA third team, drawing him level with Kareem, Kobe, and Tim Duncan for the most All-NBA selections (15). The following season, he came back with a vengeance, taking sole possession of the lead for All-NBA seasons (16) and extending his record for first-team nods (13).

* '''Kyrie Irving''', a point guard out of Duke, was the first overall draft pick in 2011, and won the Rookie of the Year award in 2012. When he plays isolation (one-on-one plays), he's more effective, but during his career with the Cavs his defense was, by NBA standards, mediocre at best. Born in Australia, as his dad was playing in the country's pro basketball league at the time—but his parents returned stateside when he was two years old, and he's played for Team USA at both youth and senior level. Named MVP of the 2014 FIBA World Cup. During the 2017 offseason, he stunned the league by reportedly demanding a trade, though it later came out that the Cavs had already been shopping him around and his "request" was more or less him forcing the issue. Irving was dealt to the Celtics that August. With the Celtics, he showed vast improvement on the defensive end, though he still has trouble defending pick-and-rolls. Following a rather disappointing 2018–19 season, including rumors of locker-room tension, he left as a free agent to join Kevin Durant in Brooklyn.

* '''Robert Horry'''[[note]]pronounced ORR-ee, with a silent "h"[[/note]] was a solid but otherwise unremarkable player who is best known for having 7 championship rings - the only player not of the '60s Celtics to have that honor - and for playing in more playoff games than any other player. Was fairly athletic early in his career, but as he got older he became well-known for being invisible for most of a game and then hitting a big three-pointer in the final seconds to win the game or force overtime. For this, he got the nickname ''Big Shot Bob''.

* '''Rajon Rondo''', until being dealt to the Mavericks during the 2014–15 season, and still later moving to the Bulls and now the Pelicans, was a point guard for the Celtics, seen as one of the best of this generation. While Pierce, Allen and Garnett were touted as Boston's Big 3, it was Rondo that regularly coordinated their plays during games. This was made especially evident during 2010, when the Celtics defied expectations and met the Lakers in the Finals instead of the 1st seed, Cleveland. His first major drive into stardom, media coverage and fan recognition was when he kept playing Game 3 against the Heat in 2011 (which was ultimately won by the Celtics), even when his arm was ''dislocated''. As Pierce, Allen and Garnett reach their twilight years as NBA players, Rondo's quickly become their trump card and the face of their future, along with defensive specialist Avery Bradley. On a more personal note, Rondo is noted for his [[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1163528-rajon-rondo-does-weird-things-after-tip-off-stays-awesome weird on-court antics]], off-court quirkiness (arriving to Chicago in the 2009 playoffs in a ''Red Bull NASCAR car'') and his relative HairTriggerTemper.

* '''Kobe Bryant''' was a very skilled guard who played his entire career for the Lakers, praised for his one-track determination and work ethic. Heralded as the heir to UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan, Bryant won five championship rings. When he was a rookie after being traded from the Charlotte Hornets, Kobe had a very strained relationship with Shaq, but they [[TeethClenchedTeamwork managed to achieve three consecutive championships]], the first in modern years since Michael Jordan. During the short time where he had to lead the team on his own, he ended up scoring the second-largest amount of points for an NBA player with 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. And some believe that that wasn't even his most impressive performance of the season, with the time he went OneManArmy by singlehandedly outscoring the eventual Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks 62-61 through three quarters rivaling it. [[RedBaron Nicknamed the Black Mamba]], Kobe became the leader and the face of the Lakers, winning two more rings in 2009 and 2010 with Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest. Kobe owned a lot of the league's "youngest-to" records, until [=LeBron=] arrived in the league. His final season of 2015–16 marked his 20th with the Lakers, breaking the league record for longest single-team tenure previously held by John Stockton with the Jazz (see below), a record later surpassed by Dirk Nowitzki with the Mavs. While the Lakers went through the franchise's worst season ever, Kobe continued to put on a show, going out in style with a 60-point performance in his final game. Bryant was also the first player in the history of ''any'' sport to have ''two separate numbers'' retired ''by the same team''—in December 2017, the Lakers retired the #8 he wore for his first 10 seasons and the #24 he wore for his last 10. Post-retirement, Bryant became an advocate for women's and girls' basketball, spurred by his daughter Gianna's interest in the sport. Bryant was tragically killed on January 26, 2020, along with Gianna and seven others, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, a shade more than two months before he was announced as a 2020 Hall of Fame inductee.[[note]]It wasn't a case of being fast-tracked in; he was eligible for the first time in 2020 anyway.[[/note]] The NBA cancelled several games that day in the wake of his death, but the teams that still played honored him by deliberately forcing a 24-second shot clock violation or an 8-second back-court violation on their first possession, in reference to his jersey numbers.

* '''Austin Rivers''' is a point guard, son of former NBA player and current Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, drafted 10th by the then-Pelicans out of Duke in 2012. Started out as a bench player, eventually becoming a starter, but is perhaps best known for being the first player in league history to play for his father, which came about during the 2014–15 season when he joined the Clips after a series of two trades within three days. He was dealt to the Wizards after the 2017–18 season.

** He's so famous that at one point, he was the ''only'' NBA player to have a Wiki/TVTropes article on him! He's now no longer alone, as he was first joined by UsefulNotes/WiltChamberlain and later by UsefulNotes/StephenCurry, UsefulNotes/LeBronJames, Creator/KareemAbdulJabbar, and his former backcourt running mate UsefulNotes/SteveKerr.

** Kevin is also notable as the son of former NBA player Stan Love... who in turn is the younger brother of Mike Love as well as first cousin to Music/{{Brian|Wilson}}, Music/{{Dennis|Wilson}}, and Carl Wilson, founding members of Music/TheBeachBoys.

* '''UsefulNotes/GiannisAntetokounmpo'''[[note]]Rough pronunciation: YAHN-iss ah-day-toh-KOON-boh. In the standard Greek-to-English transliteration system, "nt" represents the "d" sound, and "mp" represents the "b" sound.[[/note]], the "Greek Freak",[[note]]He was born and raised in Greece, but his parents were immigrants from Nigeria.[[/note]] joined the Bucks in 2013, and with his flashy style soon became a fan favorite even if the team was losing a lot at the time. And even more once they started winning the following year! His game developed to the point that Bucks head coach Jason Kidd announced that the 6'11" (2.11 m) Antetokounmpo would see time at ''point guard'' in 2016–17, and just before that season the Bucks signed him to a 4-year, $100 million extension. During the 2016–17 season, he took a quantum leap into the league's elite, becoming the first player in NBA history to finish a season in the league's top 20 in total [[MasterOfAll points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks]], and one of only five to lead his team in the same statistics in a single season. And he didn't stop there, going on to claim MVP honors in 2019, following it up with a Defensive Player of the Year nod and a likely second straight MVP in 2020. He's now joined the rarefied club of NBA players instantly identifiable by their {{first name|Basis}}s.

* '''UsefulNotes/LeBronJames''', a forward who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, is most identified with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he has played for the bulk of his NBA career. In many ways, his life reads like that of a RealLife ByronicHero (we are not kidding). He first received ''tons'' of media attention for his prowess as a basketball player, even though he was still in ''high school''. He had appeared on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'' and had a pending shoe deal, again, while ''still in high school''. Embraced by Cleveland as "King James", he was drafted 1st overall by his hometown Cavaliers during the 2003 NBA Draft, almost immediately transforming them into a serious contender. During his stint as a Cavalier, Cleveland garnered two 50-win season, two ''60''-win seasons, one conference title (2007), two division titles ('09 and 2010) and a trip to the 2007 NBA Finals (though they were swept), almost entirely because of [=LeBron=]. During his time as a Cavalier, he was the Rookie of the Year, the leading scorer for 2008, a two-time MVP, a 6-time All-Star, and 6-time All-NBA player achieving a combined ''28 triple-doubles'' as a Cavalier and reaching ''many'' "Youngest-to-ever" records. However, his frequent postseason defeats, most notably by the Boston Celtics, prompted [=LeBron=] to leave the Cavaliers, where he announced his decision to join the Miami Heat via [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decision_(TV_special) a live television special]]. It was [[{{Understatement}} not received well by fans and the media]], leading ''many'' to openly, heavily criticize, even actively root against [=LeBron=]. In all fairness, [=LeBron=] embraced the role of a villain for the 2011 season, and he was noticeably cockier during his first year with Miami. He even admits that he was playing out of hatred, trying to prove everyone wrong. He ran roughshod with Wade and Bosh through the 2011 Playoffs, including closing out Chicago and ''finally'' defeating Boston, before meeting Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks in the Finals. His lackluster performance against the Mavericks, due to their defense taking him out of his comfort zone, quickly etched his image as a choker in the minds of NBA viewers; ''internet memes'' were made to emphasize how he's an individual example of EveryYearTheyFizzleOut. As a result of losing in the 2011 Finals, James went through [[VillainousBreakdown a state of depression]]. Once he got over it, he [[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/magazine/04/24/lebron.james/index.html underwent a rather convincing case]] of CharacterDevelopment. It paid off - he finally achieved his first championship in June 21, 2012, earning the Finals MVP on top of that. In his own words, "It's about damn time." And then as icing on the cake: won an [[UsefulNotes/OlympicGames Olympic]] gold medal: the first player to win a championship, the Finals MVP, and Olympic gold in one year since ''UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan''. In 2013, he made history again as the only player in NBA history to win 6 straight games with over 30 points, and a field goal percentage over 60 percent. In 2013, he won another championship, season MVP and finals MVP. He also made the All-NBA first team in each of his four seasons in Miami. After the 2013-14 season, James announced that he would return to his hometown team, leading to much rejoicing in Northeast Ohio. Cleveland won the divison ''and'' the conference, making it [=LeBron=]'s fifth straight year atop the East. The trip to the Finals came about even though the team was riddled with injuries—starting center Anderson Varejão (below) tore his Achilles in December, Kevin Love (also below) was lost during the playoffs with a separated shoulder, and Kyrie Irving (also below) was hampered by knee issues for parts of the season, finally breaking his kneecap in Game 1 of the Finals. And then the next season, with everyone healthy (though Varejão was gone by season's end), he led the Cavs to a rematch against the Dubs in the Finals, and brought them back from a 3–1 series deficit to give the city its first major sports title in over a half-century. He brought the Cavs back to the Finals in 2017 and 2018, losing both times to the Dubs. And, by then, made four more All-NBA first teams, giving him a record 12. LBJ then left as a free agent, signing a four-year deal with the Lakers. In his first season in L.A., he suffered the first significant injury of his career, a groin injury that hampered him for a good chunk of the season, but still made the All-NBA third team, drawing him level with Kareem, Kobe, and Tim Duncan for the most All-NBA selections (15). The following season, he came back with a vengeance, even leading the league in assists (!) while taking sole possession of the lead for All-NBA seasons (16) and extending his record for first-team nods (13).
** His incredible versatility leads to many comparing [=LeBron=] to many Hall of Famers, from Magic Johnson and UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan to Karl Malone and Oscar Robertson. Due to his athletic ability, he is one of the best slashers and finishers in basketball, having led the league in completed traditional three point plays during various points in his career. His size also allows him to rebound the ball effectively, and he regularly ranks among the league leaders in rebounds for his position. Furthermore, he is an unusually gifted passer for his position, averaging 8.6 assists per game during the 2009–10 campaign and finishing the year ranked sixth overall in that category. So yeah, when we say that he's versatile, ''we mean it''. Among his many great games include: dropping 48 points (including the last 30 for Cleveland and the game-winning layup) against the Pistons on a double-overtime Game 5 win (2007); 45 points against the Celtics in Game 7 (2008, a loss); 49 points against the Orlando Magic in Game 1 (2009, a loss); a game-winner against the Magic in the same playoffs (2009, Game 2); 43 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists, two steals, and four blocks against the Denver Nuggets (2010, regular season loss); 40 points versus the Indiana Pacers (2012); and 45 points against the Celtics (2012). And, to top it all off, he led both teams in the 2016 Finals in points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots—something that had never been done before in any playoff series. Even in defeat, he can still be enormously dominant—in the Cavs' 2017 Finals loss to the Dubs, he became the first player ever to average a triple-double in the Finals.

* '''UsefulNotes/LeBronJames''', a forward who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, is most identified with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he has played for the bulk of his NBA career. In many ways, his life reads like that of a RealLife ByronicHero (we are not kidding). He first received ''tons'' of media attention for his prowess as a basketball player, even though he was still in ''high school''. He had appeared on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'' and had a pending shoe deal, again, while ''still in high school''. Embraced by Cleveland as "King James", he was drafted 1st overall by his hometown Cavaliers during the 2003 NBA Draft, almost immediately transforming them into a serious contender. During his stint as a Cavalier, Cleveland garnered two 50-win season, two ''60''-win seasons, one conference title (2007), two division titles ('09 and 2010) and a trip to the 2007 NBA Finals (though they were swept), almost entirely because of [=LeBron=]. During his time as a Cavalier, he was the Rookie of the Year, the leading scorer for 2008, a two-time MVP, a 6-time All-Star, and 6-time All-NBA player achieving a combined ''28 triple-doubles'' as a Cavalier and reaching ''many'' "Youngest-to-ever" records. However, his frequent postseason defeats, most notably by the Boston Celtics, prompted [=LeBron=] to leave the Cavaliers, where he announced his decision to join the Miami Heat via [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decision_(TV_special) a live television special]]. It was [[{{Understatement}} not received well by fans and the media]], leading ''many'' to openly, heavily criticize, even actively root against [=LeBron=]. In all fairness, [=LeBron=] embraced the role of a villain for the 2011 season, and he was noticeably cockier during his first year with Miami. He even admits that he was playing out of hatred, trying to prove everyone wrong. He ran roughshod with Wade and Bosh through the 2011 Playoffs, including closing out Chicago and ''finally'' defeating Boston, before meeting Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks in the Finals. His lackluster performance against the Mavericks, due to their defense taking him out of his comfort zone, quickly etched his image as a choker in the minds of NBA viewers; ''internet memes'' were made to emphasize how he's an individual example of EveryYearTheyFizzleOut. As a result of losing in the 2011 Finals, James went through [[VillainousBreakdown a state of depression]]. Once he got over it, he [[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/magazine/04/24/lebron.james/index.html underwent a rather convincing case]] of CharacterDevelopment. It paid off - he finally achieved his first championship in June 21, 2012, earning the Finals MVP on top of that. In his own words, "It's about damn time." And then as icing on the cake: won an [[UsefulNotes/OlympicGames Olympic]] gold medal: the first player to win a championship, the Finals MVP, and Olympic gold in one year since ''UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan''. In 2013, he made history again as the only player in NBA history to win 6 straight games with over 30 points, and a field goal percentage over 60 percent. In 2013, he won another championship, season MVP and finals MVP. He also made the All-NBA first team in each of his four seasons in Miami. After the 2013-14 season, James announced that he would return to his hometown team, leading to much rejoicing in Northeast Ohio. Cleveland won the divison ''and'' the conference, making it [=LeBron=]'s fifth straight year atop the East. The trip to the Finals came about even though the team was riddled with injuries—starting center Anderson Varejão (below) tore his Achilles in December, Kevin Love (also below) was lost during the playoffs with a separated shoulder, and Kyrie Irving (also below) was hampered by knee issues for parts of the season, finally breaking his kneecap in Game 1 of the Finals. And then the next season, with everyone healthy (though Varejão was gone by season's end), he led the Cavs to a rematch against the Dubs in the Finals, and brought them back from a 3–1 series deficit to give the city its first major sports title in over a half-century. He brought the Cavs back to the Finals in 2017 and 2018, losing both times to the Dubs. And, by then, made four more All-NBA first teams, giving him a record of 12 such honors. LBJ then left as a free agent, signing a four-year deal with the Lakers. In his first season in L.A., he suffered the first significant injury of his career, a groin injury that hampered him for a good chunk of the season, but still made the All-NBA third team, drawing him level with Kareem, Kobe, and Tim Duncan for the most All-NBA selections (15).

** Kevin is also notable as the son of former NBA player Stan Love... who in turn is the younger brother of Mike Love, founding member of Music/TheBeachBoys.

* '''Luka Dončić''' is a swingman from Slovenia by way of Real Madrid,[[note]]actually a multi-sport club that fields teams in a wide range of sports, though the only one that most people are familiar with, especially in the US, is the legendary [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball football/soccer]] team[[/note]] picked third in 2018 by the Hawks but immediately traded to the Mavs, with the Hawks receiving #5 pick Trae Young and a 2019 first-round pick. Dončić emerged as a potential star of the future at [=EuroBasket=] 2017, when he played a major role in leading Slovenia to a surprise championship, and followed it up the next season by being named the youngest MVP in the history of the [=EuroLeague=]. In his first season in the NBA, which turned out to be Nowitzki's last, he became only the fifth player to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists as a rookie. The others? Only some guys named Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and [=LeBron=] James. [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg And Tyreke Evans.]] Dončić ended the season as Rookie of the Year, and further cemented himself as a generational talent before COVID-19 put the 2019–20 season on hold.

* '''Oscar Robertson''' was a 6-foot-5, 220-pound guard, twelve-time All-Star, eleven-time member of the All-NBA Team, and one-time winner of the MVP award in fourteen professional seasons. He was the first player in NBA history to ''average'' a triple-double for a season (in 1961–62), a feat that would not be matched for over a half-century (Russell Westbrook, 2016–17).[[note]]Robertson lived to see Westbrook match his feat, and despite a reputation for being very prickly, he publicly cheered for Westbrook to do so.[[/note]][[note]]In fact, Robertson averaged a triple-double over his ''first five seasons combined'', although the 1961–62 season was the only one in which he ended with a triple-double average.[[/note]] In his late career, he brought the Milwaukee Bucks their only NBA title in the 1970-71 NBA season (with help from Lew Alcindor, whom you know better as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). However, his playing career, especially during high school in UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}} and college at the University of Cincinnati, was plagued by racism. He was the lead plaintiff in a 1970 lawsuit that became known as the "Oscar Robertson suit", which led to an extensive reform of the league's strict free agency and draft rules and, subsequently, to higher salaries for all players. Robertson is recognized by the NBA as the first legitimate "big guard", paving the way for other oversized backcourt players like Magic Johnson. Furthermore, he is also credited to have invented the head fake and the fadeaway jump shot, a shot which UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan later became famous for.

* '''UsefulNotes/GiannisAntetokounmpo'''[[note]]Rough pronunciation: YAHN-iss ah-day-toh-KOON-boh. In the standard Greek-to-English transliteration system, "nt" represents the "d" sound, and "mp" represents the "b" sound.[[/note]], the "Greek Freak",[[note]]He was born and raised in Greece, but his parents were immigrants from Nigeria.[[/note]] joined the Bucks in 2013, and with his flashy style soon became a fan favorite even if the team was losing a lot at the time. And even more once they started winning the following year! His game developed to the point that Bucks head coach Jason Kidd announced that the 6'11" (2.11 m) Antetokounmpo would see time at ''point guard'' in 2016–17, and just before that season the Bucks signed him to a 4-year, $100 million extension. During the 2016–17 season, he took a quantum leap into the league's elite, becoming the first player in NBA history to finish a season in the league's top 20 in total [[MasterOfAll points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks]], and one of only five to lead his team in the same statistics in a single season. And he didn't stop there, going on to claim MVP honors in 2019. He's now joined the rarefied club of NBA players instantly identifiable by their {{first name|Basis}}s.

* '''Anthony Davis''': Now with the Lakers, this former Kentucky Wildcat led his team to a championship, but is more noted for starting out as a 6'3" point guard at high school and ending up being a 6'10" power forward/center by his college days, as well as his versatility that garnered plenty of awards for him. He was the #1 draft pick in 2012 for the team then known as the New Orleans Hornets, but he did play for the U.S. Olympic team as his big beginning (even though he was initially cut in favor of Blake Griffin). Even though he won the gold for Team USA, it was initially unknown what kind of career he'd make for himself along the way. The answer: he made three All-NBA first teams in a four-season stretch from 2015 to 2018. Known for his lanky athletic prowess and his unibrow. During the 2018–19 season, he became notorious for a different reason, letting the Pelicans know that he wouldn't sign a "supermax" contract extension[[labelnote:Explanation]]The NBA's 2017 collective bargaining agreement allows elite players who meet defined criteria for excellence, are entering their eighth or ninth season in the league, and have played with the same team since the end of their rookie contracts to sign extensions with that team that provide salaries that otherwise would not be allowed until they've been in the league 10 years.[[/labelnote]] once his current deal expired in 2020. With the Pels being stuck in the middle of a brutal Western Conference, it was pretty much accepted that he wanted to go to a title contender, and widely rumored that he wanted to join [=LeBron=] in L.A. If this was his wish, he got it in the 2019 offseason, being traded to the Lakers.

* '''Damian Lillard''' is a point guard, drafted 6th during the 2012 Draft and the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013. During his first professional game with the NBA, Lillard scored 23 points and dished out 11 assists (becoming only the third player to record 20 or more points and 10 or more assists in his debut, after Oscar Robertson and Isiah Thomas), even though he had 7 turnovers, so they may have a point. At any rate, Portland is hoping against all hope that Lillard doesn't get injured like some of their other unfortunate players - so far, he's stayed healthy, playing all 82 games and leading the league in total minutes played in his rookie season, and helping the Blazers to the playoffs in his sophomore season (and making the All-NBA third team). He's since made three more All-NBA teams, most notably making the first team in 2018. Also became the first player in NBA history to hit two series-winning buzzer beaters after sending the Thunder home in the first round of the 2019 playoffs (the previous one was sending Houston home in 2014).

* '''Giannis Antetokounmpo'''[[note]]Rough pronunciation: YAHN-iss ah-day-toh-KOON-boh. In the standard Greek-to-English transliteration system, "nt" represents the "d" sound, and "mp" represents the "b" sound.[[/note]], the "Greek Freak",[[note]]He was born and raised in Greece, but his parents were immigrants from Nigeria.[[/note]] joined the Bucks in 2013, and with his flashy style soon became a fan favorite even if the team was losing a lot at the time. And even more once they started winning the following year! His game developed to the point that Bucks head coach Jason Kidd announced that the 6'11" (2.11 m) Antetokounmpo would see time at ''point guard'' in 2016–17, and just before that season the Bucks signed him to a 4-year, $100 million extension. During the 2016–17 season, he took a quantum leap into the league's elite, becoming the first player in NBA history to finish a season in the league's top 20 in total [[MasterOfAll points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks]], and one of only five to lead his team in the same statistics in a single season. And he didn't stop there, going on to claim MVP honors in 2019. He's now joined the rarefied club of NBA players instantly identifiable by their {{first name|Basis}}s.

* '''UsefulNotes/StephenCurry''' [[ItIsPronouncedTroPAY (pronounced "STEF-un")]] is the Warriors' point guard, son of former NBA guard and current Charlotte announcer Dell Curry. "Steph" first drew national attention in college, as a 3-point specialist leading small Davidson College to the NCAA Elite 8, and the Warriors drafted him 7th overall in 2009. Early-career ankle injuries led many to consider him another bust for the hapless Warriors, but starting in the 2012-13 season, Curry's career took off on an upward trajectory. Initially labelled an "undersized shooting guard," he established himself as an accurate and creative passer, talented ball-handler, and even a capable defender - but it was his shooting that drew accolades. He broke Ray Allen's single-season three-point shooting record in 2013, and set a new one in each of the next three seasons, using a combination of [[GameBreaker quick release and improbable shooting range.]] In the 2014-15 season, he collected his first MVP award while leading the Warriors to their first championship in forty years, and then followed ''that'' up with one of the greatest offensive seasons in NBA history, becoming the first player ''ever'' to be unanimously voted as MVP. Currently in the prime of his career, Curry sits on a short list of contenders to the title of "best player in the league".

* '''Klay Thompson''' is a shooting guard, drafted 11th overall in 2011 out of Washington State University. Like his backcourt partner Curry, he's a second-generation NBA player[[note]]Klay is the son of former NBA player and current Lakers broadcaster Mychal Thompson[[/note]] best known for his 3-point shooting; together, they're referred to as the "Splash Brothers". Also like Curry, Thompson has steadily improved with every season, going from a catch-and-shoot 3-point bomber with no inside game to a lockdown defender and versatile scorer. Klay is generally seen as [[TheLancer the Warriors' #2]], and first achieved national prominence when the Warriors refused to trade him for then-Timberwolves star Kevin Love and offered him a contract extension instead. Klay rewarded the team's faith by putting up career-high numbers, making his first NBA All-Star team, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc3m3BwfylA going supernova in Sacramento]] to set a new all-time single-quarter scoring record.
* '''Draymond Green''' is the Warriors' power forward. A Saginaw native and four-year college player at Michigan State University, Green was considered a classic "tweener", not quick or athletic enough to be a guard, not big or strong enough to be a forward. In the 2012 draft, the Warriors took a flier on him in the second round, where a useful bench player is generally considered a good draft result. Green's competitiveness and defensive smarts made him that useful bench player for Golden State, but when injury opened up the starting power forward position in the 2014-15 season, Green seized it with both hands and never looked back. He's since become arguably one of the league's best frontcourt players - a uniquely versatile defender who's been known to cover point guards and centers on the same play, and an unexpected offensive weapon for the Warriors, with a respectable jump shot and the ball-handling skills to serve as a release valve for Stephen Curry. But perhaps more than anything else, he's known as the Warriors' "heartbeat" - the team's vocal leader, competitive engine, and most brash, profane, and ''constant'' trash-talker.
* '''Andre Iguodala''' is a small forward/shooting guard who was [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg the role player]], [[OvershadowedByAwesome relatively speaking]], of the Warriors dynasty's starting lineup. Iguodala started the first eight years of his career with the Sixers, where he earned himself an All-Star selection and two All-Defensive selections. Afterwards, he had a brief stint on the Nuggets before being traded to the Warriors. In his second season with Golden State, Iguodala was relegated to the bench for the first time in his career, but was promoted to a starting position in the Finals, where he successfully defended against [=LeBron=] and won Finals MVP, becoming the first regular season-long bench player to win the award. [=LeBron=] got his revenge, however, in the next Finals, where [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zd62MxKXp8 he made a decisive block on Iguodala's layup]], which ultimately cost the Warriors another title. In the 2019 offseason, Iguodala was traded to the Grizzlies.

* '''Yao Ming''' was drafted first in the 2002 Draft due to his championship winning performance with the CBA's Shanghai Sharks, and he played rather well for a few years until various leg injuries sidelined him for the second half of his career, ultimately causing his retirement in 2011 due to a [[GameBreakingInjury game-breaking]], [[WoundThatWillNotHeal career-ending]] foot injury. However, his mere ''presence'' in the NBA dramatically increased basketball's popularity in his native China (with many Chinese people being fans of the Houston Rockets [[FollowTheLeader for obvious reasons]]), and has done massive amounts of charity work after major Chinese disasters. Most star centers in the league have been 6'9" to 7'2" - the 7'6" (2.29 m) Yao might have actually been ''too'' tall to be truly great at basketball, as despite being much more mobile and less awkward than any previous players in his height range, his feet and leg joints just didn't seem to be able to take all the stress resulting from his size. These physical problems have been used to criticizes China's sport-academy system (for more, see below). Yao retired in 2011; because of his extensive humanitarian work and his major role in the growth of the game in China, he was touted as a potential entrant into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor, before he became eligible for induction as a player 5 years after retirement. After a change in the Hall's induction rules to effectively trim a year off the induction process for all former players, making Yao eligible for the 2016 class instead of the 2017 class, he was elected to the Hall as a player that year.[[note]]The Hall shortened its waiting period even further with the 2018 class; it's now three years.[[/note]] He's now the president of the Chinese Basketball Association... [[NamesTheSame and the Chinese Basketball Association]][[note]]One is the country's governing body for the sport, and the other is its top men's professional league[[/note]].

* '''UsefulNotes/WiltChamberlain''' was nicknamed "The Stilt", which he thought sounded lame, and "The Big Dipper", which he liked. He's a serious entrant into the "best ever" debate, being an offensive juggernaut that took entire teams to contain him. Among his accolades: the only player to average more than 40 or 50 points a game in a season, and he has the only ''100-point'' NBA game to his credit. Cut each of those numbers roughly in half and you'll get some of his similarly-unparalleled rebound records, and he even led the league in ''assists'' one year. He has the only "double triple-double" (at least 20 in three statistical categories) in NBA history, and long held the record for most consecutive triple-doubles (9) until Russell Westbrook broke it in 2019. He has four [=MVP=] trophies and two rings to his name. He's also infamous for the claim that [[ReallyGetsAround he slept with over 20,000 women]]; people close to him note that this is only ''probably'' an exaggeration.
* '''Creator/KareemAbdulJabbar''' is another one of the players in serious contention for "best ever". He has six [=MVP=] awards, six championships, and is currently the league's all-time leading scorer. He was born Lew Alcindor, but converted to Islam during his legendary college career at UCLA, and changed his name after his second season in the league with the Milwaukee Bucks. In 1975, he was traded to the L.A. Lakers, and played there for the remaining 13 years of his career. Best known for the [[SignatureMove "sky hook" shot]], being [[TheJuggernaut nigh-unto-unstoppable]], and playing co-pilot Roger Murdock in Film/{{Airplane}}

* '''Bill Walton''', a Hall of Fame center, arrived in Portland in 1974 as the top overall draft pick after a storied career at UCLA. His first two years were marked by injuries, but his third, in 1976–77, saw him lead the Blazers to their first (and so far only) NBA title, winning the Finals MVP award in the process. The following season, the Blazers were 50–10 when he broke his foot; he tried to come back for the playoffs, but got hurt again. He was still named the league MVP that season. Disgruntled with his treatment by the Blazers' front office, he sat out the 1978–79 season and signed with the Clippers, where he missed far more games to injury than he played. After one last healthy season as sixth man for the champion Celtics of 1986 (and being named Sixth Man of the Year), he got hurt again the next year and finally retired. Although he only played four seasons in Portland, the Blazers still retired his number. Since 1990, he has been a color commentator for NBC and ESPN, and has gained the reputation of being a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}. Outside of basketball, Walton is well known for being a devoted fan of Music/TheGratefulDead -- he attended over 850 of their concerts and often peppers his interviews and game commentary with references to their songs. Also, despite the Blazers being the team Walton is most identified with as a player, he is personally a Celtics fan, and has kept up a considerable relationship with that team instead of the Portland squad that jilted him in the 1970s.

* '''Gary Payton''' was a point guard with the Sonics, known for mocking his direct opponent (which he [[UnsportsmanlikeGloating almost always beat]]). The 6’4” point guard averaged more than 20 points per game in seven different seasons with the Sonics, and he was always a reliable facilitator, having finished his career with a 6.7 assist-per-game average despite fading numbers in his final years. The defensive end is where Payton earned his nickname, "The Glove". He was about as tenacious a defender as the league has ever seen (in Game 6 of the 1996 Finals, he held ''Michael Jordan'' to 22 points on 5 of 19 shooting, arguably Jordan's worst Finals game ever), and his willingness to talk trash and get inside his opponent's head was unmatched. Oh, in addition, in 13 seasons, Payton missed a total of ''five regular season games''. In the twilight of his career, he won his only ring with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in 2006.

* '''Wes Unseld''', a Hall of Fame center who spent his entire NBA career with the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets, arrived in the NBA in 1968 out of Louisville, and made an immediate impact. He helped bring the Bullets from last place to first in their division in his rookie season, and became only the second player (after Chamberlain) to be Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. At 6'7", Unseld was short for his position even in his era, but made up for it with brute strength (his playing weight was 245 lb/111 kg) and determination. He was especially noted for his rebounding skills, outlet passes, and picks. Helped lead the Bullets to three NBA finals in the second half of the 70s, including a championship in 1978, alongside...

* '''Steve Nash''' was an extremely skilled veteran point guard out of Canada [[note]]Although he was really born in Johannesburg, South Africa and is often listed from Santa Clara, California due to his time at Santa Clara University[[/note]] best known for his astounding "no look" passes, his [[ImprobableAimingSkills 50-40-90 status]] (has made 50% of his shooting, 40% from the three-point line, and 90% from the free throw line more times than ''Larry Bird'', the former leader) and ability to carry the entirety of the Phoenix Suns through games, as shown by his 2 MVP awards. Although drafted by the Suns, and having played the majority of his career there, it was at Dallas where his ball-handling skills were discovered — he was paired with Dirk Nowitzki in a Malone-Stockton fashion. Was sometimes criticized for a lack of talent on the defensive end of the floor, but remained one half perhaps of the top scoring+passing duo threats in the league (with Nowitzki; with Amar'e Stoudemire [[AndZoidberg and Shaq]]) even at the age when most players would be showing strong signs of decline, which places him as a legit comparison to John Stockton. Hell, he doesn't even ''need'' the other half to win an assist title! (Although the same probably can't be said for success in the playoffs...) As an unrestricted free agent, Nash decided to join forces with Kobe Bryant's Lakers in the summer of 2012 in exchange for 4 of the Lakers' picks (two in the first round for 2013 & 2015, two in the second round for 2013 & 2014). However, during his first season in L.A., he broke his leg in a freak collision with Portland's Damian Lillard (see below), which in turn aggravated long-standing back, nerve, and muscle issues. Nash only played a total of 65 games in his first two seasons with the Lakers, and was unable to play at all in 2014–15, officially retiring near the end of that season. Yet another member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

* '''Magic Johnson''' was TheRival and a FriendlyEnemy to Larry Bird. Played for the Lakers - it's largely his rivalry with Bird that caused them to be notched as rivals with the Celtics. He has 3 MVP awards and 5 championships. He retired in the early '90s when he revealed he was HIV positive at a time when many thought such a diagnosis was a death sentence. After his retirement, he played on the 1992 All Star Game and the famed Dream Team, as well as coach for the Lakers for a few games back in 1994 and play one more year for the Lakers in 1996 before officially calling it quits.

* '''James Worthy''' was a small forward, drafted 1st overall by the Lakers; Los Angeles got him from a '''coin toss'''. Thriving in the Magic-led fast-break offense, Worthy immediately made an impact as a rookie, averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting a Laker rookie record .579 field goal percentage. Beyond just finishing a fast break with his trademark Statue of Liberty dunks or swooping finger rolls, Worthy was also one of the best baseline post players at the small forward position, with a quick spin move and a deadly turnaround jump shot. His nickname was "Big Game James", he continued to average over 20 points per game, even achieving triple double effort of 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 7, earning the Finals MVP as a result. A three-time champion and seven-time All-Star, Worthy's #42 was retired by Los Angeles, and he was elected into the Hall of Fame.
* '''Shaquille O'Neal''', drafted 1st overall in 1992, was a center famed for his overwhelming dominance. Started off with the Orlando Magic to start his career, then signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the late '90s, where he won 3 titles alongside Kobe Bryant. He bounced around from team to team after that, but aside from a fourth championship with the Miami Heat, a growing weight problem and the natural deterioration of players his size reduced his effectiveness. He played in 15 All-Star games, and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996 (which some at the time felt was premature, though there's little doubt he's earned the title since). He somehow managed to only win one MVP award, despite coming in [[http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/mvp_shares.html?redir seventh]] in all-time MVP voting (everyone ahead of him on that list won the award at least three times). One of the most popular players in league history, Shaq has had a massive media presence both during and after his career. He's done [[Film/{{Kazaam}} some]] [[Film/{{Steel}} acting]] and released a couple of rap albums (his debut album went ''platinum'' and spun off two Top 40 hits!). He retired after the 2010-11 season, after playing a single injury-plagued season with the Boston Celtics. Currently, he's trying his hand out at being an announcer for the NBA on TNT (where he has [[SitcomArchNemesis developed a comical-to-other-people rivalry with Charles Barkley]]), as well as being a host for Creator/CartoonNetwork's attempt at an award show for professional sports players. His number was retired by the Lakers in April 2017. Also elected to the Hall of Fame at his first chance in 2016.

[[folder:Charlotte Hornets]]

* '''Larry Johnson''', the first pick on the 1991 Draft. Also known as "Grandmama" for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thbUkBW_ftM dressing as his grandma in a commercial]]. He was a great payer in his early years, winning ROTY and making two All-Star teams, but was never the same after a back injury. In 1996 was traded to the Knicks, where he played the 1999 Finals.

* '''Bill Russell''' is perhaps the greatest [[StoneWall defensive player]] ever and another major contender in the "best ever" debates. He led the Boston Celtics to eleven world champions and his on-court wars with UsefulNotes/WiltChamberlain were legendary. He also became the first black coach in NBA history, succeeding Red Auerbach after Auerbach retired from active coaching and moved up to the Celtics front office.

[[/folder]]

* '''Dirk Nowitzki''' is a German-born player who spent his entire career with the Mavericks (unlike former teammate and best friend Steve Nash). One of his biggest claims to fame is that he holds the record for most seasons with a single NBA team (21). His other claim to fame in the NBA is his unorthodox style of playing; ([[LongRangeFighter he is one of the few power forwards who scores better from distance rather than by driving the paint]]) and his [[UnblockableAttack unblockable fadeaway jumpshot]] - with a height of [[OhCrap 7 foot flat and a high jump of 13 inches with his right leg raised to create space]] (incidentally, the "wrong" leg for the right-handed Nowitzki) - anybody guarding Nowitzki can only pray that he misses the shot. His incredible career (multiple All-Star appearances, an MVP award, a Championship ring and so forth) spawned a great deal of interest in other European-born players. He decided before the 2018–19 season that he would retire at the end of that season, and made it official after the Mavs' final regular-season home game. Next stop: Springfield in 2023.[[note]]The Hall of Fame is in Springfield, Massachusetts.[[/note]]

* '''Alex English''' was the face of the high-scoring Nuggets teams of the 80s. Arriving in Denver at the turn of the decade, English thrived under the Nuggets' GlassCannon playstyle, averaging over 25 points for eight seasons straight, resulting in a scoring title in 1983 and being the highest scorer of the entire decade. He left Denver as the franchise's leader in points, assists, and games and minutes played, and was a member of the 1997 Hall of Fame class.
* '''Nikola Jokić''', a center from Serbia, is the current face of the Nuggets. He was picked by the Nuggets in the second round of the 2014 draft and stashed in Europe for a year, being named as MVP of the Adriatic League[[note]]basically covering the former Yugoslavia[[/note]] for the 2014–15 season. [[FanNickname "Joker"]] was immediately seen as a future star, making the All-Rookie team in 2016. He went on to improve his per-game totals in points, rebounds, ''and'' assists in each following season, emerging as a true superstar in the 2018–19 season and making the All-NBA first team. While Jokić has the body of a typical inside banger (listed at 7'0", 285 lb), his greatest skill may be his passing—so much so that the Nuggets now run much of their offense through him. He's now seen as the best passing big man since at least Arvydas Sabonis, if not ever.

* '''Bam Adebayo''', a power forward picked at #14 in 2017 out of Kentucky, emerged in 2019–20 as what ESPN called "the fiercest, best NBA player you don't know", becoming a consistent double-double threat and adding a decent number of assists before the coronavirus halted the season. He's also emerging as a top-tier defender and something of a younger, larger version of Draymond Green, complete with trash-talk. Adebayo is also a workout maniac; upon learning that Mourning held most of the Heat's weight-room records, he said he'd break them. Coaches said he wouldn't come close for at least 5 years. As of February 2020, Bam holds two of them. His off-court life is a dramatic contrast to his on-court persona—he's largely soft-spoken, a self-confessed momma's boy, and eschews the high fashion of many NBA players. He's impressed D-Wade to the point that he publicly wants Bam to break as many of his Heat team records as he can.

* '''Amar'e Stoudemire''' was until very recently one of the co-captains of the New York Knicks, along with Carmelo Anthony; many have cited chemistry issues between the two. Stoudemire started his career with the Phoenix Suns as a power duo with Steve Nash, though he made a ''very'' bad habit out of getting injured while playing, often leading to critical losses in the playoffs. Nevertheless, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2003, made six appearances in the NBA All-Star Game, was a first-team All-NBA selection in 2007, and won a bronze medal with the United States men's national basketball team at the 2004 Olympic Games. He joined with the Knicks in 2010, bolstering them in such a way that people finally started talking about them as much as their rivals in the east. Now [[MemeticMutation infamous]] for slicing his hand by slapping a fire extinguisher after falling behind 0-2 in the 2012 playoffs. In February 2015, when the Knicks had the league's worst record, he asked for and got a buyout of his contract, hoping to catch on with a title contender; he wound up with the Mavericks. He then played the 2015–16 season with the Heat before signing a ceremonial contract to retire from the NBA as a Knick. Stoudemire, however, would continue his playing career in Israel, leading Hapoel Jerusalem to that country's title in his first season there. He's continued to play there, but expressed a wish to return to the NBA in 2019–20. Stay tuned...

* '''Dwight Howard''' is a 6'11" (2.11 m) center, reputed as the best in the business before injuries and (allegedly) attitude caught up with him. Drafted 1st overall by the Orlando Magic in 2004; he played with them for eight seasons, before being traded to the Lakers. Heir apparent to Shaquille O'Neal (other than Blake Griffin; they are both tall, prominent centers who dominates the paint at will, started their careers with the Orlando Magic and continued onward with the L.A. Lakers, are large goofballs off the court, and had this peculiar knack of bricking free throws). The most profound common characteristic between the two is their association with the moniker of being the NBA's [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Man of Steel]]. Howard capitalized on the association during the 2008 [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and 2009]] All-Star slam dunk contest when he donned a Superman costume, but Shaq did not take it too lightly, accusing Howard of [[OneMarioLimit "stealing" his nickname and identity]]. Although there were arguments whether the league has enough room for two Supermen, it isn't much of an issue nowadays, as Shaq retired in 2011. Was the talk of ''many'' possible trades for the 2011-12 NBA season, but he decided to stay in Orlando for at least one more season... which was dubbed the "Dwightmare", as Howard sustaining an injury that needed back surgery (e.g. he missed out on the playoffs), and became a Prima-donna who acted unsportsmanlike (sitting out on a huddle during a game despite being the captain) and had a feud with coach Stan Van Gundy as he again felt like he should leave. Even after Van Gundy and the GM were fired, Howard ''[[UngratefulBastard still]]'' wanted out, so they dealt him to the Lakers after months of trade rumors. The underwhelming season - his recovery from back surgery plus an injured shoulder hindered his game, and most Lakers got injured to make the team even more underperforming - led Howard to play shop again in 2013. He eventually signed with the Rockets on a 4-year, $88 million deal, becoming the first star player to leave the Lakers in his prime through free agency. Afterwards, he bounced around the league, playing little games due to persisting injuries, before returning to LA as a bench player and experiencing a "less is more" {{career resurrection}}.

* '''Moses Malone''', center-forward, was the first great "prep-to-pro" player, having been drafted out of Petersburg High by the ABA's Utah Stars in 1974 and going on to a 21-year pro career with more than 29000 points and 17000 rebounds. He bounced around a lot, winning the MVP award twice with the Houston Rockets and once more with the 76ers in 1983, when they won the championship. He still holds the records for offensive rebounds in both a single season (587) and career (7382 total, 6731 NBA).[[note]]Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, the only players with more ''total'' rebounds, played before there were separate categories for offensive and defensive boards.[[/note]] By the time he retired he was the last former-ABA player still active in the NBA.

* '''Vlade Divac''',[[note]]last name pronounced DEE-vahts[[/note]] a Serbian center, was drafted by the Lakers in 1989 out of Partizan Belgrade and arrived in L.A. that year. He became one of the first European players to make a significant impact in the league. On the positive side, he was a remarkably skilled player for his size, noted especially for his passing skills, and also won many friends around the league with his infectious personality. On the negative side, he earned a reputation for flopping to draw fouls, years before Manu Ginóbili (see San Antonio Spurs) became notorious for it. While the bulk of his NBA career was actually with the Lakers, he's more identified with the Kings, having arrived in Sacto in 1998 (at the same time as Stojaković) and becoming one of the key players during their peak era around the turn of the century. The Kings retired his #21, and he's now their general manager. Also a member of the Hall of Fame class of 2019.

* '''Tim Duncan''' played for the San Antonio Spurs for 19 seasons: many-time All-Star, 10-time first-team and 15-time overall All-NBA, eight-time first-team and 15-time overall Defensive Team member, two-time MVP, five-time champion and three-time Finals MVP - about the only thing missing is Defensive Player of the Year, which he surprisingly never won. Duncan has been said by many to be the greatest power forward in NBA history and is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. He was drafted by the Spurs in 1997, a season in which Duncan not only won the Rookie of the Year award, but also teamed up with Hall of Famer David Robinson to create a legendary basketball duo – the so-called 'twin towers.' Duncan won his fifth ring in the 2014 NBA Finals, having claimed a championship in three different decades; he has carved his niche into NBA history by lifting his team into one of the Western elites: the only time in his career that the Spurs won fewer than 50 regular-season games was in 1999, where due to a lockout there only were 50 games played. Because of his calm and unassuming style of basketball – even in his younger years when he was quicker and stronger than most other players he was as likely to dominate with footwork and intelligence as with his natural talent, and he rarely showboated or let his emotions show while playing - Shaquille O'Neal nicknamed Duncan "The Big Fundamental." Also because his personality off the court is also [[TheStoic quiet and unassuming]], he was a frequent target of Website/TheOnion. Wanted to be a pro swimmer as a child, but Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only Olympic-sized swimming pool of the Virgin Islands. He could have continued to swim in the sea, but was [[ThreateningShark afraid of sharks]]. So he began playing basketball at [[LateArrivalSpoiler age fourteen]]. JustForFun/OneOfUs at times, as he's a D&D fan. His retirement during the 2016 offseason matched his personality—no farewell tour, no hype, just a statement to the press. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Duncan was a member of the Hall of Fame induction class of 2020. While he's occasionally worked with the Spurs' bigs since his retirement, he returned to the team in 2019–20 as a full-time assistant.

* '''Rudy Gobert''', a 7-1 center out of France, has become one of the league's most dominant defenders, especially at the rim (earning him the FanNickname [[JustForPun "Stifle Tower"]]). Noted for his ridiculous length, even for his size—when he was measured for the 2013 NBA draft combine, his wingspan of 7-8.5 (2.35 m) and standing reach of 9-7 (2.92 m)[[note]]to put it in perspective, that's a mere five inches below the top of the rim[[/note]] were then all-time records for the combine. The Jazz picked him at #27, which was lower than he thought he would go—he wears 27 to remind him of the "snub". Gobert truly emerged in the 2016–17 season, in which he set career highs in scoring, rebounding, blocks, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. He would be named Defensive Player of the Year the next two seasons. However, he may wind up more remembered as the first NBA player to test positive for the COVID-19 virus that soon [[UsefulNotes/CoronavirusDisease2019Pandemic swept the world]]. Gobert's diagnosis caused the league to suspend its 2019-20 season immediately in March 2020, and required the teams he played against that week to quarantine themselves.[[note]]Shortly before his positive test, he mocked coronavirus concerns by deliberately touching all reporters' microphones and recording devices after a home game... while apparently unknowingly carrying the virus. Gobert would later apologize, and hoped the incident would convey the seriousness of the pandemic, which it [[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/03/the-night-covid-19-broke-into-the-american-consciousness.html likely did]].[[/note]]

* '''Ron Artest''', who changed his name to '''Metta World Peace''' (and briefly changed it ''again'' to '''The Pandas Friend''' for the Chinese Basketball Association), is a rather controversial character, infamous for his tendency toward violence, most especially in the infamous [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacers-Pistons_brawl Malice at the Palace]] where as a member of the Pacers he ''jumped onto the stands and sucker-punched a Pistons fan'', leading to a massive fight. In the aftermath, he was suspended for the whole season and became an unapologetic loudmouth while out of action. He became a pariah in Detroit, and was traded to Sacramento shortly thereafter. He eventually got into anger management therapy, and it has largely helped mellow him out, but he still has his temper, leading to him elbowing James Harden in the neck during a regular season game. A CloudCuckoolander to the max, he got his start with the Pacers, but went to the Lakers and got a ring with Kobe in 2010, shooting a game-winning three-pointer after Kobe passed him the ball. Amnestied by the Lakers after the 2012–13 season to clear his salary from the books, and then signed by the Knicks. After one season there, he couldn't catch on with an NBA team and left for China; after the 2014–15 Chinese season ended in February, he then went to a short-term stint in Italy's Serie A (no, not [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball ''that'' one]]). Returned to the Lakers in 2015 for bench depth and mentoring the team's young talent. The team was reportedly considering putting him on its coaching staff in 2016–17, but those plans were put on hold when he made the opening-day roster. He finally retired after that season, but stayed in the Lakers organization as a member of its G League coaching staff. He's also becoming one of the NBA's most vocal advocates of mental health awareness, which might end up being his most lasting legacy in the sport.

* '''Dominique Wilkins''', "The Human Highlight Film," was a forward known for his thunderous dunks, usually on opposing players. Won the Slam Dunk contest twice; his notable Slam Dunk contest losses were to Spud Webb and to a tightly contested final against UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan. He was also a scoring machine, winning the scoring title in 1986 and having a career average of 24.8 ppg, and is one of the few players to recover relatively well from from torn Achilles, normally a death sentence for most.

* '''Vince Carter''' is a shooting guard / small forward drafted by the Raptors out of the University of North Carolina in 1998. He quickly made a name for himself due to his awe-inspiring and borderline superhuman dunks, gaining the nicknames "Vinsanity" and "Half-Man, Half Amazing". His athleticism took him to the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest where he wowed the crowd with a dazzling array of finishes, and even further into the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where '''he actually jumped over a seven-foot player in-game for a dunk'''. In his twilight years with the Raptors, he became a pariah to the franchise, sandbagging games due to his falling out with the front office. He was traded to the New Jersey Nets after a few years of inefficient play, then became a journeyman, currently playing for the Atlanta Hawks. Carter's 22 years in the league are the most of any player, and he is the only NBA player to have played in four different decades (the 1990s through the 2020s). To put in perspective just how long Carter has been in the league, on the opening night of the 2019–20 season...

* '''Rudy Gobert''', a 7-1 center out of France, has become one of the league's most dominant defenders, especially at the rim (earning him the FanNickname [[JustForPun "Stifle Tower"]]). Noted for his ridiculous length, even for his size—when he was measured for the 2013 NBA draft combine, his wingspan of 7-8.5 (2.35 m) and standing reach of 9-7 (2.92 m)[[note]]to put it in perspective, that's a mere five inches below the top of the rim[[/note]] were then all-time records for the combine. The Jazz picked him at #27, which was lower than he thought he would go—he wears 27 to remind him of the "snub". Gobert truly emerged in the 2016–17 season, in which he set career highs in scoring, rebounding, blocks, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. He would be named Defensive Player of the Year the next two seasons. However, he may wind up more remembered as the first NBA player to test positive for the COVID-19 virus that (as of March 2020) is spreading worldwide. Gobert's diagnosis caused the league to suspend its 2019-20 season immediately in March 2020, and required the teams he played against that week to quarantine themselves.[[note]]Shortly before his positive test, he mocked coronavirus concerns by deliberately touching all reporters' microphones and recording devices after a home game... while apparently unknowingly carrying the virus. Gobert would later apologize, and hoped the incident would convey the seriousness of the pandemic, which it [[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/03/the-night-covid-19-broke-into-the-american-consciousness.html likely did]].[[/note]]

* '''Bill Walton''', a Hall of Fame center, arrived in Portland in 1974 as the top overall draft pick after a storied career at UCLA. His first two years were marked by injuries, but his third, in 1976–77, saw him lead the Blazers to their first (and so far only) NBA title, winning the Finals MVP award in the process. The following season, the Blazers were 50–10 when he broke his foot; he tried to come back for the playoffs, but got hurt again. He was still named the league MVP that season. Disgruntled with his treatment by the Blazers' front office, he sat out the 1978–79 season and signed with the Clippers, where he missed far more games to injury than he played. After one last healthy season as sixth man for the champion Celtics of 1986 (and being named Sixth Man of the Year), he got hurt again the next year and finally retired. Although he only played four seasons in Portland, the Blazers still retired his number. Since 1990, he has been a color commentator for NBC and ESPN, and has gained the reputation of being a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}. Outside of basketball, Walton is well known for being [[BigNameFan a devoted fan]] of Music/TheGratefulDead -- he attended over 850 of their concerts and often peppers his interviews and game commentary with references to their songs. Also, despite the Blazers being the team Walton is most identified with as a player, he is personally a Celtics fan, and has kept up a considerable relationship with that team instead of the Portland squad that jilted him in the 1970s.

* '''Jack Sikma''', a 6'11" forward/center who played the first nine seasons of his 14-season career with the Sonics, followed by five with the Bucks, was one of the most underappreciated players in NBA history until he got what many felt was a long-overdue Hall of Fame induction in 2019. He went in the top 10 of the 1977 draft despite playing for NCAA Division III[[note]]in which athletic scholarships are prohibited[[/note]] Illinois Wesleyan, and went on to make seven straight All-Star Games (1979–1985). During this time, he also was a key (alongside future Celtics great Dennis Johnson) to the Sonics' only NBA title in 1979. In some ways, he was an American precursor to Dirk Nowitzki, with unusually good shooting ability for a big man and his own signature shot, a behind-the-head jumper. Also like Nowitzki, he was a very good free throw shooter, even leading the NBA in free-throw percentage one season (the only center in NBA history to accomplish this). Despite his strong Hall of Fame credentials, both in traditional numbers and in more advanced metrics, he was long unable to gain any momentum for induction to Springfield; he never made the list of finalists before 2019.

* '''Andre Drummond''' is a center, picked 9th overall during the 2012 Draft.

* '''Al Horford'''
* '''Jeff Teague'''

* '''Don Nelson'''

* '''Rasheed Wallace''' was a power forward/center first drafted by Washington before going to Portland, Atlanta, and Detroit before winning his first title in 2004. Known for his colorful personality, shooting range, post moves, and propensity for technical fouls (ironically, he was one of the players who tried to break up the infamous "malice at the Palace" brawl). The phrase "ball don't lie" (aka if a disputed foul call was made by the referees, the player will miss the free throws, because while the referees may lie, the ball doesn't) was made famous by him. Retired for a few years after a stint in Boston before finishing his playing career in New York, and was hired as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons during the 2013-14 season.

* '''Ron Artest''', who changed his name to '''Metta World Peace''' (and briefly changed it ''again'' to '''The Pandas Friend''' for the Chinese Basketball Association), is a rather controversial character, infamous for his tendency toward violence, most especially in the infamous [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacers%E2%80%93Pistons_brawl Malice in the Palace]] where as a member of the Pacers he ''jumped onto the stands and sucker-punched a Pistons fan'', leading to a massive fight. In the aftermath, he was suspended for the whole season and became an unapologetic loudmouth while out of action. He became a pariah in Detroit, and was traded to Sacramento shortly thereafter. He eventually got into anger management therapy, and it has largely helped mellow him out, but he still has his temper, leading to him elbowing James Harden in the neck during a regular season game. A CloudCuckoolander to the max, he got his start with the Pacers, but went to the Lakers and got a ring with Kobe in 2010, shooting a game-winning three-pointer after Kobe passed him the ball. Amnestied by the Lakers after the 2012–13 season to clear his salary from the books, and then signed by the Knicks. After one season there, he couldn't catch on with an NBA team and left for China; after the 2014–15 Chinese season ended in February, he then went to a short-term stint in Italy's Serie A (no, not [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball ''that'' one]]). Returned to the Lakers in 2015 for bench depth and mentoring the team's young talent. The team was reportedly considering putting him on its coaching staff in 2016–17, but those plans were put on hold when he made the opening-day roster. He finally retired after that season, but stayed in the Lakers organization as a member of its G League coaching staff. He's also becoming one of the NBA's most vocal advocates of mental health awareness, which might end up being his most lasting legacy in the sport.