Andrew Farrell : Basketball History: June 2016

Thursday, 9 June 2016

The Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters are a exhibition comedy basketball team who play fake games against a team of bums known as the Washington Generals. The Generals are intentionally terrible to allow the Globetrotters to perform their stunts and routines. At one point, the Generals had racked up an impressive 2,495 game losing streak until accidentally beating the Globetrotters because the Globetrotters had lost track of the score.

Wilt Chamberlain ; Part 2

On July 9th 1968, the reigning NBA MVP Wilt Chamberlain was traded from the 76ers to the LA Lakers for Darrall Imhoff, Jerry Chambers, and Archie Clark. This remains the only time the reigning MVP has been traded and it is considered one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.

On the Lakers, Wilt joined 2 future Hall of Famers in Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, forming what is looked back on as one of the most stacked teams in NBA history. Wilt's 1968-69 season was frustrating, as he often argued with team captain Elgin Baylor and shared a mutual hatred with coach Van Kolff. In the playoffs that year, Wilt stepped it up and helped the team make the team make the NBA Finals, where they met the Boston Celtics. Throughout the series, Wilt was criticized for not playing well and a lot of the media accused him of not trying. Despite this, the series went to 7 games. In game 7, going into the fourth quarter down 15 points, the Lakers mounted a comeback and took the lead with 6 minutes left. But then, Chamberlain rolled his ankle and had to leave the game and did not return. The Celtics came back and won the game, despite a 42 point triple double from Jerry West. West was named the Finals MVP, making it the only time a losing player has won MVP.

The Lakers would make the Finals again the next year, eventually losing to the Knicks. The following off season, they signed future Hall Of Famer Gail Goodrich. This team was good enough for Wilt to win his second Championship the following year. Wilt would play for one more year and retire from basketball in 1973.

The King: Lebron James

By the end of his career, Lebron James, a.k.a King James, will probably be considered the second best player ever, maybe even the first depending on who you ask. Very few guys have been as dominant as Lebron has his entire career. His freakish athleticism, superhuman build and insane basketball IQ is the perfect blend for an all time great.

Lebron was born and raised in Akron Ohio to a single mother. He grew up very poor and as a child one of the only toys he had was a little tykes toy basketball hoop, which got him started on the sport. As he got older, it was clear he had a gift, and his mother got him involved in organized basketball. By the time he hit high school, Lebron was a household name in the states. His high school were broadcast on ESPN to millions, tens of thousands of fans showed up to his games, every sports agent in the country was after him and every college offered him a lot under the table (probably).

Ultimately, Lebron skipped college and went straight to the NBA. He was drafted 1st overall by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, and he immediately was an impact player in the NBA. Despite being one of the best players on the planet, Lebron's teams in Cleveland were not very good. They made the playoffs every year, but that's because he basically dragged them there. In 2007 he dragged his team to the finals, where they were swept by the Spurs. In 2009, he won his first MVP award.

During the 2010 offseason, Lebron was a free agent for the first time, and, frustrated with losing, pondered leaving Cleveland. In a highly scrutinized idea, Lebron held an hour long TV special called 'The Decision' where he announced his intention to join the Miami Heat at the end. Many thought this was unnecessary, egotistical and simply cruel to Cavs fans.

With the Heat, Lebron joined perennial All Star Dwyane Wade, and another perennial All Star in Chris Bosh joined the team quickly afterwards. In Miami, Lebron would win two NBA Championships.

In 2015, Lebron left Miami to return to Cleveland, embarrassing all the Cavs fans that burned his jersey.

Best European Players Ever

1. Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)

2. Arvydas Sabonis (Lithuania)

3. Pau Gasol (Spain)

4. Tony Parker (France)

5. Drazen Petrovic (Croatia)

6. Vlade Divac (Serbia)

7. Peja Stojakovic (Serbia)

8. Detlef Schrempf (Germany)

9. Marc Gasol (Spain)

10. Sarunas Marciulionis (Lithuania)

The GOAT: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is not only the Greatest Basketball Player of All Time, Michael Jordan IS basketball. Like Wayne Gretzky in hockey, or Babe Ruth in baseball, Michael Jordan is truly the face of his sport. When you think of basketball, you think of Jordan. In fact, other than perhaps Pele or Diego Maradona, I would say Michael Jordan may be the most recognizable athlete in the world, ever. His biography on the NBA website quite literally says "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time", and that's all you need to know about that.

MJ spent his childhood in North Carolina and played basketball with his brothers. In High School, he was one of the hottest prospects in the country, and he would attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there MJ became one of the best college players in the US and a hot NBA prospect. He played a full 4 years at NC and won the NCAA Championship in 82. In 1984, Michael Jordan was drafted 3rd overall by the Chicago Bulls. A lot of people don't know that MJ went 3rd overall, behind Hakeem Olajuwon, who would go on to be one of the best players of all time, so it is understandable, and Sam Bowie, who never really achieved much due to leg and feet injuries.

MJ quickly became mega popular due to his exciting play style and huge dunks, earning the nicknames "His Airness" and "Air Jordan". After being joined by young small forward Scottie Pippen in the late 80s, MJ and the Bulls became one of the best teams in the NBA, and between 1991 and 1993 the won 3 Championships in a row. How after the 1993 season, Jordan "retired" to pursue a baseball career because his recently deceased father had always wanted him to play baseball. He played baseball in the White Sox minor league system for 2 years and wasn't very good.

In 1995, after realizing he was way better at basketball, he returned to the Bulls, and they would go on to three peat again between 1996 and 1998. He retired again in 1998, and bought part of the Washington Wizards. In 2001 he returned to the court and played for the Wizards for 2 years, but we're just gonna pretend that never happened.

MJ finally actually retired in 2003 and now spends his time owning the Charlotte Hornets and being a billionaire.

The Black Mamba: Kobe Bryant

The Black Mamba is one of the best NBA players of all time, and behind Jordan, he is probably the most famous and popular. Kobe was drafted into the NBA in 1996, and he only retired just this year. Kobe is none for his incredible scoring ability, which culminated in his 81 point game against the Raptors in 2001 ( the second highest scoring game ever) and his almost psychotic attitude towards training and preparation, which he called 'The Mamba Mentality'.

Kobe spent his early years between Italy and the United States, as his father, Joe '"Jellybean"' Bryant played in the Italian professional league. Because of the lack of consistency, Kobe didn't have many friends as a child, so he spent all of his time playing basketball. In 1991, when Kobe was 13, his father retired and they returned to Philadelphia permanently. Over the next 5 years, Kobe would shoot to national recognition as one of the best High School Players in the country. In 1996, he graduated from High School and skipped College to go straight to the NBA.

Kobe was drafted 13th overall in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets, but was immediately traded to the Lakers the same night. Over the next 20 years, Kobe would build an incredible legacy for himself. His accolades include a 5x NBA Champion, 18x NBA All Star, 2x Finals MVP, 11x All NBA First Team, and 9x All NBA Defensive First Team.

Kobe's Lakers in the early 2000's, which he played alongside another all time great in Shaquille O'Neal, is considered one of the best dynasties in NBA history. Kobe is truly one of the all time greats.

Best NBA Coaches Ever (Opinion)

This is a list of who, in my opinion, are the best NBA coaches ever

1. Phil Jackson (1989-2011, 11x NBA Champion)

2. Gregg Popovich (1996-Present, 5x NBA Champion)

3. Red Auerbach (1950-1966, 9x NBA Champion)

4. Pat Riley (1981-2008, 5x NBA Champion)

5.Lenny Wilkens (1969-2005, 1x NBA Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist (1996))

6. Chuck Daly (1981-1999, 2x NBA Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist (1992))

7. Jerry Sloan (1988-2011, Olympic Gold Medalist)

8. Rudy Tomjanovich (1992-2005, 2x NBA Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist (2000))

9. Red Holzman (1967-1982, 2x NBA Champion)

10. John Kundla (1948-1959, 5x NBA Champion)

Bill Russell's Celtics

From 1956 to 1969, Bill Russell played center for the Boston Celtics. Russell is perhaps the greatest defender in the history of basketball and is one of the most successful players of all time, who is often ranked amongst the game's best. Despite his 6'10 stature, Russell was very quick and was one of the best man to man defenders in the game, and his massive stature made him one of the best rebounders the game has ever seen (he is still second in rebounds, behind only his career rival Wilt Chamberlain).

Russell was one of the very first black people to play in the NBA and was the first to achieve stardom across the United States. From 1966 to 1969, Russell was a player-coach for the Celtics, making him the first black coach in NBA History.

Russell throughout his career racked up the most accolades of any player to this day. In the 13 year he played, he was a 12 time All Star, and 5 time MVP, 3 time All NBA 1st Team, 8 time All NBA 2nd Team, 4 time Rebounding Champion, and 11 time NBA Champion.

Yes, you read that right. In the 13 years Bill Russell played in the NBA, he won 11 Championships. That means there was only 2 years he didn't win the Championship. 11 out of 13 is 85%. I don't think I can stress enough how absolutely insane of a number that is. 11 times. 11 Nba Championships. In 13 years. I mean, how is that even possible?

Here's how:

First of all, credit where credit is due, Russell is an all time great. But it is worth noting he was played against what would be considered midgets in the modern NBA, and about 90% of his opponents were white.

Throughout those 13 years, Russell played with 16 unique future Hall Of Famers for an aggregate 83 seasons. That's Six hall of Famers per season. And if you didn't know, only 5 guys start on a basketball team. These Hall of Famers include Sam Jones, KC Jones, Tommy Heinsohn, Bob Cousy and John Havlicek.

Oh, and he was coached by perhaps the best coach ever, Hall of Famer Red Auerbach.

There's something to be said for Russell being so good that by proxy the guys around him were even better, but I think it's safe to say that Russell's success was largely due to the poor competition and the absolutely stacked teams he played on, as opposed to Russell being a superhuman.