The NBA is, and has always been, a star dominated league. Though basketball is a team sport, franchises cannot win without a bonafide superstar on their roster. That’s why the different eras of the game are marked by specific players.
There’s a long list of all-stars and unique talents who have played professional basketball, but even among the greats a few stand out. Such players were not just exceptionally talented, they won on the world’s stage multiple times in a way that put everyone else behind them.
Good, and even great, is not enough to be truly iconic in the NBA. To do that, players need to be consistently amazing, put up incredible stats, and dominate the league. They need to have a presence that goes beyond basketball as well. That’s why so few make that mark.
Right from the start, big names and personalities dominated the NBA. Fans loved rooting for stars, and they quickly gravitated towards extremely skilled players like Oscar Robertson, Pete Maravich, and Jerry West.
However, the two that stood the test of time were Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. The pair had a level of strength, speed, and athleticism the league had never seen, making their rise to the top a spectacle far beyond normal players.
Russell quickly made his mark by bringing the Celtics to a league record 11 NBA championships. While Chamberlain didn’t win as well as Russell, his stats were untouchable. He still holds several records, including scoring 100 points in a game and averaging 27 rebounds for a season.
Together, the pair altered what the NBA could be. They completely changed the game through their dominance and pushed the envelope. They also made basketball much more exciting, which in turn led to the rise of other iconic stars.
While Russell and Chamberlain were both extremely skilled, they did play in a less intense era than those who came after them. The average player became more skilled and athletic as time went on. That upped the competition and made it harder to win games.
Despite that, Celtics star shooting guard Larry Bird and Lakers point guard Magic Johson both made their mark by taking home multiple championships and turning into two of the most famous NBA players of all time.
Bird won three rings during his incredible run, while Johson won five. Both players also took home three MVP awards, made plenty of all-star appearances, and created a pair of dynasties that made the league much more exciting and intense.
The pair also created a huge rivalry that went beyond the NBA and brought even more eyes to the league. That’s why Bird and Magic are two of the most iconic players to ever step on the court. They weren’t just first ballot hall of famers with plenty of skill, they expanded the NBA.
While many iconic athletes helped the NBA grow through their incredible skill, big personalities, and exciting play, no basketball player in history is as iconic as Michael Jordan. The Bulls superstar wasn’t just big, he was a global phenomenon.
Not only did number 23 put up incredible scoring and defensive records, he also won six NBA championships through two different three-peats and completely took over the 90’s. That made him the biggest athlete on planet Earth.
Jordan didn’t stop at basketball either. He turned into an off-court celebrity thanks to his involvement in movies, commercials, and fashion. He created one of the most iconic shoe brands of all time, which propelled him to a household name.
There are many iconic NBA players, but Jordan truly put the league on the map in a new way. Where everyone before him improved basketball and made it fun to watch, Jordan took it to a global scale and gave basketball a foothold in countries around the world.
Jordan left a legacy almost no one could follow. Even so, a few iconic players emerged during the 2000’s. Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, and Lebron James all came about during that decade, creating a new wave that completely changed basketball.
The new superstars won championships, made all star games, and collected MVP awards. However, what pushed them over the top was the way they played the game. Their skill, power, speed, and athleticism was unlike anything the NBA had seen before.
That made games more exciting, plays bigger, and contests much more intense. That all created a much stronger product, and pushed basketball beyond even what the likes of Jordan, Magic, and Bird could do.
The NBA only continues to evolve, with more and more stars coming to the forefront of the league each year. The game shifted to an emphasis on three point shooting in the 2010’s, a push that made Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson two of the most iconic NBA players ever.
The pair shot at a percentage and rate never seen before, which suddenly made the three pointer the most important shot in basketball. The rest of the league quickly followed, with power forwards and centers being able to shoot from all over the court.
That’s why the NBA is currently a scoring-focused league. Though big men like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid are the center of attention, they can still score like guards. That is a huge difference from past NBA’s, and what made Curry and Thompson so iconic.
The above iconic NBA players put their own unique mark on basketball. However, they all share a common thread in that they went far beyond the game. The players weren’t just big athletes, they were celebrities and true cultural icons.
The most famous NBA players of all time influenced fashion trends through shoes and jerseys. They also spoke out in the media, brought attention to various social issues, and branded themselves in a unique way.
They also turned basketball into a worldwide sport. Where the NBA was once seen as only for America, it grew internationally in the 90’s due to the increased competition and never looked back. Jordan started a trend that Bryant, James, and Curry continued.
Today, thanks to contests like the Olympics and the rise of international superstars like Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo the game is far beyond the US. In fact, some of the most iconic NBA players are from overseas.
That has greatly raised the NBA’s international presence and brought in fans from many different countries. That worldwide talent created several international basketball leagues too, which makes the sport more accessible for fans all across the world.
There have been many great NBA players, but a select few were truly iconic. The above list didn’t just win on the court or take home awards, they shifted the NBA and altered the game of basketball in a significant way.
That influence, mixed with off-court media presence, is what made them iconic. Being great is just one step on that journey. The most famous NBA players became household names through their victories, influence, and big personalities that transcended the game.
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