"The greatest winner in American team sports. On the other end, West was a rugged, handsy competitor, whose defensive crouch and laser focus tormented opposing guards. While it's one thing to debate over who are the greatest players in NBA history based upon on-court accomplishments and skill, it's another thing to debate "influence." -- Webb, Teams In the halfcourt, the crossover was his signature move, most memorably against Michael Jordan and Tyronn Lue, when he scored on Lue in the Finals and stepped over him. His mindblowing athletic talent -- including overpowering strength, an outlandish wingspan, supreme speed, and uncanny leaping ability -- and outgoing personality gave him a presence unlike any in sports. At the time of his retirement, he was an 11-time NBA All-Star. As an individual talent, he was astounding -- he posted a quadruple-double, led the league in rebounds and blocks, and was a perennial All-NBA and All-Defense selection -- even as Sampson and the Rockets faltered. That clause's annihilation and the free agency that sprung from its ashes now shapes the modern economic and labor structure of the NBA. Kobe Bryant followed in the footsteps of Michael Jordan, but he was also a maverick -- a brilliant, driven talent who made his own path and got tens of millions of fans to follow. "As former Jackson assistant Jim Cleamons told The New York Times, 'Every situation that Phil has coached in, the team hadn't won before he got there. -- Arnovitz, Teams Influence Phoenix Suns (1996-98), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), Suns (2004-12), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15). His antitrust lawsuit, Robertson v. NBA, destroyed the reserve clause that tied a player to an NBA team in perpetuity. Stephen Curry is if not THE MOST influential player of all time, then at least the second behind only Michael Jordan. Chamberlain set a slew of records, some of which will never be broken. Riley's Knicks were beloved locally and despised by rivals -- Phil Jackson accused them of playing football, not basketball. Philadelphia 76ers (1984-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-96), Houston Rockets (1996-2000). Influence He has a chance to move into the top 50 all time in total rebounds next season as well. His entire career was built upon accepting nothing. Not a game. The notion that there are adults without a direct recollection of Johnson in his prime is jarring to those of us who were around to see it. -- Chris Herring, Teams He was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana on December 7,1956. Most Influential Basketball Trainer of the Decade Being an NBA skills coach used to be a job until Chris Brickley turned it into a lifestyle. In the post, his moves -- particularly the Dream Shake -- showed players of all sizes the kind of footwork and agility possible and made him more than a match for the great centers of his day, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O'Neal among them. "Basketball is, and always has been, a huge, huge part of me, the canvas I tried to paint each time I stepped on the court and never stopped trying to perfect," West wrote in his autobiography "West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life," published in 2011. Team glory was secured during 1994 and 1995 as Olajuwon took his game to new heights. But all the style in the world doesn't get you four MVPs and three championships. Not a game. Iverson led the league in scoring four times and steals three times, and those skills went hand in hand, as he gambled and scored fearlessly. Over the years, his unique talent helped the Dallas Mavericks to put up some of the most efficient offensive numbers in history and allowed coach Rick Carlisle to create innovative schemes with more shooting on the floor, culminating in an NBA title in 2011. Which two current NBA players made the cut? That's crazy to say that about a 16-time All-Star who still is recognized by fans who weren't even alive when he retired. They then went out to find their Tim Duncan, so that they could fashion a team culture modeled after the Spurs. Erving, regarded as one of the most influential players of all-time, was known for his "above-the-rim" style of play while playing in both the ABA and NBA. Bill Russell is considered one of the top-five players to ever step foot on an NBA court. -- Webb, Teams By this time, Bryant was developing a reputation as not only a great clutch shooter but a gritty, intense player -- a persona he would call Black Mamba, inspired by a character in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" films. Obviously, he has had great players, but he's managed to create a system in which the players can excel, then has trusted them to execute it. The Women's National Basketball Association's Top 15 Players of All Time were chosen in 2011 on the occasion of the fifteenth season of the WNBA from amongst 30 nominees compiled by the league by fan, media, coach, and player voting. He was an unstoppable force, whether on the break or on the boards, and he could pass and score. West's jumper -- its economy, quick release, silky follow-through -- made him the league's most efficient shooter during his prime. In 2003, Bryant was charged with sexual assault in Colorado -- the charge was eventually dropped when the accuser declined to testify, Bryant issued an apology and the parties settled a civil suit out of court. West was a paragon of consistent excellence who was an All-Star in each of his 14 seasons, and helped guide the Lakers to nine Finals appearances. And stardom did follow quickly, as Bryant was voted the youngest All-Star starter in history even before he was a Lakers starter. It's often said, glibly, that they saved the NBA. James' personal essay in Sports Illustrated when he returned to Cleveland in 2014 came four months before The Players' Tribune launched. Vitti and Lakers coach Byron Scott had to yank him out of the game. It was the dawn of a new age of advances in treatment -- drug "cocktails" followed by protease inhibitors and antiretroviral therapy -- I recall a family friend who was HIV-positive who had to completely readjust his mindset, from bracing for death to figuring out what to do with the rest of his life. That, too, is a fact.'" -- Harris, Teams And that's not including the 100-point game, which someone could conceivably top one day. He also was the spiritual leader of basketball's most admired organization. He showed the league what hangtime was all about with an array of reverse layups, contorted one-handers and double-pump jumpers. He had 181 triple-doubles in his career, an NBA record. -- Harris, Teams And now he's trying to bring a whole new Laker generation to fruition as team president. The 55-rebound game? But there are so many answers to why "The Answer" was a game changer. Bursting off a drag screen in transition, then probing into the gut of a backpedaling defense, Nash created the chaos and then delivered the pinpoint passes that found his 3-point shooters and empowered the small ball that defined an era. Garnett's legacy is secure for any number of reasons. He appeared in the Finals eight times and set a Finals single-game record of 61 points, but never won a title. But he is the forerunner of today's more outspoken players, and that makes him one of the game-changers of the NBA's past three and a half decades. In the post, his moves -- particularly the Dream Shake -- showed players of all sizes the kind of footwork and agility possible and made him more than a match for the great centers of his day, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O'Neal among them. The four highest all-time NBA single-season scoring averages all belong to Chamberlain…in his first four professional seasons. He won Olympic gold in 1960. Does that make him a button pusher or a master of preparation? The list of players “who have done the most to change the way we play the game, how we talk about the game, and the culture of basketball,” was created based on votes from various ESPN NBA personalities. So I'm going, 'This is great! They also turned off some fans, and Iverson certainly played a role in the NBA instituting a dress code in 2005. He was a college scoring machine. Along with having won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award, he's a 7-time NBA All-Star, and arguably one of the 50 greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. Influence Not a game. This aspect of his personality led to clashes with O'Neal, and their feud contributed to O'Neal's departure in a trade to Miami, making Bryant the sole face of the Lakers. MOST definately Larry Bird, the best basketball … We're counting down the 100 most influential players in NBA history. -- Harris. Along with his rival Magic Johnson, who played a much glitzier style of ball in Los Angeles, Bird brought a beautiful game featuring ball movement back to a league that had lost favor with fans. Olajuwon was truly a two-way great, something you can’t say about most … -- Curtis Harris. As an actor, singer, track star, nightclub owner, boxer, and volleyball enthusiast he elevated his own profile and the NBA's.". Influence Unlike many other coaches, the "Zen Master" believed in guiding players with a light, almost spiritual touch, as spelled out in influential books like "Sacred Hoops" and "More Than a Game.". Not a game. After he ruptured his Achilles, he looked Lakers trainer Gary Vitti in the eye and asked whether he could still play. Influence Influence Jackson's consistent success as a coach seemed surreal, as he showed up in the Finals year after year, leading the Bulls and Lakers to the three three-peats (the first since Bill Russell's Celtics) before finally losing in the Finals -- and then tacked on two more titles before retiring from coaching, to go along with the two he won as a player. The man had game, on and off the court. When questioned why he'd do such a thing, he defiantly responded, 'Why? When questioned why he'd do such a thing, he defiantly responded, 'Why? The first thing to truly set him apart: He was the first player in 20 years to go straight to the NBA from high school without enrolling in college -- a decision that has helped make him the highest-earning player in NBA history and a role model for Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and dozens more. He was far from the first high-profile athlete to speak out politically, but James' willingness to put his voice behind social causes has encouraged numerous athletes to follow. Chicago Bulls (1984-93, 1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03). Despite his Hoosier State roots, Bird will forever be associated with Celtic Green. Teams Easily the most hyped up high school player of all time, James’s time in the NBA has been nothing short of magnificent. As Jackie MacMullan wrote, "He epitomized qualities the city of Boston loves: fearless, gritty, arrogant, passionate and relentless. James' actions off the court have set new standards and created new goals for so many of his peers, a form of respect in any profession.". As an individual talent, he was astounding -- he posted a quadruple-double, led the league in rebounds and blocks, and was a perennial All-NBA and All-Defense selection -- even as Sampson and the Rockets faltered. We still see his influence in ways big and small: kids wagging their tongues; the raging popularity of basketball in China; post-up players leaning backward into defenders before making their move. Vaulting her further into basketball folklore was the fateful night in 2002 when she became the first WNBA player to throw down a dunk. Within a decade of the debuts of Lloyd, Cooper, Clifton and Barksdale, the NBA had many black players, including MVPs Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. His mindblowing athletic talent -- including overpowering strength, an outlandish wingspan, supreme speed, and uncanny leaping ability -- and outgoing personality gave him a presence unlike any in sports. -- Webb, "Dr. J set the standard for NBA style, combining originality, huge hands, hang time and elegance to show future generations the kind of artistry possible in basketball. Barkley was also a Dream Teamer (and pal of Michael Jordan) who ran roughshod in the Olympics, and he averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for his NBA career. One of the most marketable female players ever, Lisa Leslie was a beloved star in LA. Just those credentials would easily secure him a place on this list. That one's untouchable. When he tore his right rotator cuff, he just started shooting left-handed. Despite just one MVP trophy, he earned his self-awarded Most Dominant Ever moniker, and he was without a doubt the most physically imposing player of his generation. He won back-to-back high school titles in basketball-crazy Indiana. Along with 16 all-star games and three MVPs, James is a three time world champion. When we discuss NBA players, we always talk about "greatness.". For years, every short power forward was compared to Barkley, known as "The Round Mound of Rebound" for his physique. With 11 NBA titles -- the last two as the first black coach in pro sports -- plus back-to-back NCAA titles, and an Olympic gold medal, Russell has an untouchable track record of team success. Curry will go down as not only the avatar of the NBA's Golden Age of Shooting, but as the inspiration for generations of kids who see him as the model for how to refine their skills and overcome bigger, more athletic players. But the science was moving ahead of the society. And now he's trying to bring a whole new Laker generation to fruition as team president.". His game-changing ability -- particularly on defense, for which he made 12 All-Defensive teams -- was constantly apparent in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves still haven't made a postseason trip since 2004, the year he won the MVP award and three years before Garnett initially left the franchise via trade.". Iverson led the league in scoring four times and steals three times, and those skills went hand in hand, as he gambled and scored fearlessly. "Before you start handing out applause and credit to anyone else in this organization for anything that's been accomplished, remember it all starts with and goes through Timmy," said Gregg Popovich on the eve of the 2014 Finals. Vitti and Lakers coach Byron Scott had to yank him out of the game. When he tore his right rotator cuff, he just started shooting left-handed. That's always where you start with Robertson. The most notable of his scoring feats came on March 2, 1962, when he put up an astounding 100 points in a game, an NBA record that will likely never be broken. Well, Chamberlain had a penchant for shattering team records, too. The NBA in recent years has become a staple of entertainment not just in the United States but globally as well. 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