OT: Your Favorite 3 NBA Players of All Time

[Huskybass]

Who are your 3 favorite NBA players of all time, and why?

 

[Waquoit]

John Havilcek. He was the best player on my team when I became of age. Played team ball and tough D. Scored when they needed him to. After that I have a bunch tied for 2nd.

 

[Excalibur]

1) Bird. How could you be a kid in the 80's in New England and not list him first?
2) David Robinson -- don't know why, but liked him from the moment he came in the league. One of the most underrated players ever, and he'd be incredible in today's game as a rim runner and protector.
3) Dirk -- I have a soft spot for big guys that can shoot, I guess. Was on the tail end of his career when the game started changing quickly. Prime Dirk today would be a better version of Durant.

 

[storrsroars]

Dr. J. The ABA was fun, and especially so with Julius.

I so wanted AJax to be in the top 3, but it doesn't seem he has or can make a role for himself in the NBA.

I haven't been a regular viewer of the NBA since the Reed/Frazier Knicks, nor have a rooting interest, so there's really no definitive 2 or 3 for me.

 

[JstVisiting]

Charles Barkley is my favorite force of nature (over Shaq, Grandmama, and Kemp)
Tim Duncan is my favorite whoa! that's nice! skills guy (over H/Akeem and Steph)
Jason Williams (White Chocolate) is my favorite Just Try Stuff guy

 

[Mr. French]

Michael Jordan
Ray Allen
Either Alonzo Mourning or AI

Coming soon: Stephon Castle

Larry Bird is up there too, but I wasn’t watching him at his peak, so like in baseball I say Mickey Mantle is one of my fav players, but I never watched him so it’s almost a different category.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Besides the UConn guys of course.

Nash

LeBron

Chris Paul/D Wade

 

[SellersElbow]

I admire pure jump shooting combined with maximum effort to get off jumpers. My favorite players to watch: Curry, Ray, and Bird.

 

[Horatio]

Dr.J, Jordan and Pippen but I also really enjoyed Rasheed Wallace and Zack Randolph’s style of play.

 

[Magic32]

Magic Johnson - That smile and energy were contagious from the beginning
Kobe Bryant - Intensity
Stephon Castle - His effort and athleticism made me care about NBA again and can't wait to follow his career.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Isaiah

Mark Price

Gerald Wilkins

 

[Huskybass]

My 3 are:

Patrick Ewing, a warrior and I got to see him play in College, as well as the pros.

Wilt, larger than life in both stature and statistics

Kevin Garnett when he was young. Did everything.

 

[husky429]

Bird
Duncan
Rondo

 

[superjohn]

1) Drexler. I had a 6'7 standing cutout of him in my room. I loved everything about his unique game from his crazy jumper where he kicked both of his legs up, his fastbreaks where he stared at his dribble but knew where everyone was and always finished or made the right pass, his crazy finger rolls, and dunks where he just glided. Loved how he carried himself.

2) Dirk. I've never seen anyone play like him. 6'11 and could shoot it from anywhere. Totally unstoppable offensively with his ability to shoot, take it to the hole and his post game with the one legged fadeways. People tried to say he was soft with the Euro stereotype but he was always a dog. His 2011 playoff run was the best and most improbable I've ever seen. He's a great human being.

3) Jordan. He drove me nuts because I'm a diehard Knicks fan and I knew we could never beat him. I also loved Clyde and those Portand teams but knew Clyde could never beat him. I knew I was watching the greatest athlete ever and he changed the sport and culture forever. Had the Wings poster over my bed.

 

[nomar]

Bird
Reggie Lewis
Pierce

(If I'd listed Pierce second, it would have gone #33, #34, #35...)

 

[borninansonia]

Dr. J except when he played the Celtics
Magic
Bill Walton when healthy

 

[ucp990411]

How many UConn players have played in the NBA? Those are my favorite players.
Then comes John Havlicek, Dennis Johnson, and tied for 3rd are Dave Cowens and Dennis Rodman.

 

[AreBee1969]

Bird - I was 10 when he faced magic in the NCAA championship. First one I really remember. The golden age of the NBA for Gen Xers.

Dominique - So fun to watch. The dunks, the dunks and the dunks.

Pete Maravich - Even more fun to watch. Brilliant scorer and distributor. 44 PPG in college with no 3 pt line. I used to keep my socks low when I played just like him.

Honorable Mention to George Gervin and his finger-roll.

 

[thekollieman]

Kobe Bryant (Jordan for kids my age)

Michael Jordan (primarily from general legacy, youtube highlights, and documentaries)

Cam Spencer (probably will become an actual Grizzlies fan before long)

 

[uconnblueinky]

Jordan
Kobe
Duncan

 

[alphasigko]

Tough to choose!

Walt "Clyde" Frazier, MJ, and John Stockton/Steve Nash (tie)

 

[BullDawg]

If it’s players I got see in person on the regular, then it’s Truck Robinson, John Drew, and Tree Rollins. If it’s players I enjoyed watching on TV, then it’s Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.

 

[Mr. French]

Bird - I was 10 when he faced magic in the NCAA championship. First one I really remember. The golden age of the NBA for Gen Xers.

Dominique - So fun to watch. The dunks, the dunks and the dunks.

Pete Maravich - Even more fun to watch. Brilliant scorer and distributor. 44 PPG in college with no 3 pt line. I used to keep my socks low when I played just like him.

Honorable Mention to George Gervin and his finger-roll.

Pistol is another of mine from reading books and watching docs but not old enough to watch him - but he’s one I forgot to mention from the older era

 

[aceboon]

Jordan/Curry/Hakeem

 

[Chin Diesel]

Andrew Toney- Boston Strangler
Charles Barkley- My nickname in pick up games quickly became "Barkley".
MJ- More appreciation than love but the appreciation is so high.