Your 5 Favorite Players?

[Gosens6]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

Whaaat? Why, it's a favorite players thread not a best players thread.. Vince and LeBron are the only guys who have ever been able to bring me the excitement Jordan did.. I'm sure most here feel the same.

O no I understand that trust me. I'm not gonna be calling anyone out for there love of a certain player. Which is why I refuse to go into why I don't see all the hype about him.

Merely out of respect for other people's adoration of him

[VDusen04]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

O no I understand that trust me. I'm not gonna be calling anyone out for there love of a certain player. Which is why I refuse to go into why I don't see all the hype about him.

Merely out of respect for other people's adoration of him

I think folks are drawn to NBA basketball for different reasons. For me, winning has always been cool (the Pistons winning in '04, their first championship of my non-kindergarten life, was sublime) but it has never been the only thing. Even regarding my own playing career, winning was never the sole driving force. If it was, I probably would have picked a sport or game for which I would have had an easier chance of succeeding. I've loved basketball because it's fun and entertaining. It's just a game. As such, I've often enjoyed players who've made the game fun. And guys like Shawn Kemp and Vince Carter, have made the game fun.

Carter was literally can't-miss TV for me for just about 10 straight years. In fact, even in 2012, I was still making a point to watch Mavericks highlights just in case he pulled off something old-school spectacular (which he did at many points). I've also never bought into the "he never tries, could have been the greatest with all that talent" line. I find that terribly played out. I don't believe anyone can not try and produce 10 consecutive years of averaging 20 points per game and 5 rpg and 5 apg. If Carter somehow did, in some strange universe, manage to put up those numbers (and 37% career three point shooting) without ever working, then all the more reason for me to be blown away by his accomplishments.

I do not need to love a player who is gritty and accepts nothing but victory. It's basketball, not war. It's still a game and at the end of the day, even Michael Jordan's going to be spending a lot of time thinking about things other than the game everyone assumes consumes his life every waking moment of every waking day. I look to players who have often brought me joy, and Vince has been one of those guys.

And surely, he's flawed, there's no taking back that moment in '04 when he decided to go 50% in hopes of forcing a trade. But I've accepted that. The fact other players have also demanded trades or gone half-speed doesn't make Carter's move any better, but he sure wasn't the first player in the history of the NBA to pull such an unsavory maneuver. It just happens that for me, it did not affect how much I liked watching him play.

The running theme here is I think people were drawn to Vince Carter for what he could do on the basketball court. Maybe we're optimists. We think about and appreciate all that Vince Carter did, as opposed to wallowing about everything he didn't. It seems many people wanted him to be Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant because he could jump high and make shots. I just wanted him to be Vince Carter.

[DukeC]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

Hrmmm....5 favorite players now?

Demarcus Cousins
Iman Shumpert
Ricky Rubio
Tyreke Evans (happened to meet him over Xbox Live. He talks mad trash for someone who uses the Heat online )
Marcus Thornton

5 players retired/not in thier prime?

George Gervin
Pete Maravich
Allen Iverson
Micheal Jordan
Ray Allen

I like people who epitomized what it meant to shoot. Forget defense (MJ is the exception to my list ) I like scorers. They make the game enjoyable to watch for me. Defense can be awesome to watch if it's a lockdown defender against a dominant scorer. Not so much if it's a team defense concept. I can appreciate it, but help defense isn't going to get me on my feet unless it's someone like Ibaka soaring through the sky to block a shot attempt.

That said all the people on my list could shoot the midrange like no-one's business.

Seeing Gervin come down the court and jack 15 footer after 15 footer and making it regardless of defense was an awesome sight to see (Thank you youtube and my grandad).

Seeing Maravich's range on tape was an awesome sight to see (And he and Gervin are the reason why the number 44 is my favorite number).

Seeing the off ball movement Jordan had coming off of a screen and shooting that mid-range was enjoyable to watch. Which also led to him driving to the basket if they overplayed it. Especially if his shot was on that night.

Of course seeing AI jack deep 2 pointers after crossing someone over is so reminiscent of playground basketball I couldn't help but enjoy it

[ojandpizza]

Hrmmm....5 favorite players now?

Demarcus Cousins
Iman Shumpert
Ricky Rubio
Tyreke Evans (happened to meet him over Xbox Live. He talks mad trash for someone who uses the Heat online )
Marcus Thornton

5 players retired/not in thier prime?

George Gervin
Pete Maravich
Allen Iverson
Micheal Jordan
Ray Allen

I like people who epitomized what it meant to shoot. Forget defense (MJ is the exception to my list ) I like scorers. They make the game enjoyable to watch for me. Defense can be awesome to watch if it's a lockdown defender against a dominant scorer. Not so much if it's a team defense concept. I can appreciate it, but help defense isn't going to get me on my feet unless it's someone like Ibaka soaring through the sky to block a shot attempt.

That said all the people on my list could shoot the midrange like no-one's business.

Seeing Gervin come down the court and jack 15 footer after 15 footer and making it regardless of defense was an awesome sight to see (Thank you youtube and my grandad).

Seeing Maravich's range on tape was an awesome sight to see (And he and Gervin are the reason why the number 44 is my favorite number).

Seeing the off ball movement Jordan had coming off of a screen and shooting that mid-range was enjoyable to watch. Which also led to him driving to the basket if they overplayed it. Especially if his shot was on that night.

Of course seeing AI jack deep 2 pointers after crossing someone over is so reminiscent of playground basketball I couldn't help but enjoy it

What's Evan's gamer tag? lol

[DukeC]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

What's Evan's gamer tag? lol

The last time I saw him?

R33k Havok or something like that. It was definitely Reek Havok. I just don't remember whether he used number combinations or not.

[K.So]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

Players Currently in NBA:

Kobe Bryant
Chris Paul
Russell Westbrook
Dwight Howard
Kyrie Irving
*DeMarcus Cousins

Retired/Not In Prime:

Michael Jordan
Allen Iverson
Ray Allen
Isiah Thomas
Tim Duncan

[Mauer4MVP]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

Current:

Rubio
Love
Pekovic
Roy
Kirilenko

[st0rmb11]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

My 5 Favorite Players All-Time

1. Michael Jordan - The reason I got into basketball.

2. Pete Maravich - never actually saw him play, as I'm only 23, but I have studied highlight reels and full game videos of his until my eyes were red. I have patterned every aspect of my offensive game after the "Pistol". My parents both coach basketball, so I learned most of my fundamentals from them, but my grandma bought me a series of Pete Maravich basketball VHS tapes, and I studied those religiously when I was learning the game.

3. Penny Hardaway - loved his game. Not so much his attitude, after a while, but his game was beautiful.

4. Vince Carter - come on? what kid growing up didn't love watching Vince Carter highlights, or tuning into SportsCenter every night knowing he would make an appearance?

5. Tie. Tim Hardaway & Allen Iverson - tried forever to master each of their crossovers. Eventually, I learned The UTEP 2-Step, but Iverson's crossover was impossible to pull off, legally. Got called for palming the ball enough that I just quit trying.


Favorites Right Now

1. Stephen Curry - Don't mean to toot my own horn, but our game style is eerily similar. Plus, my dad is a Davidson alum, so I loved watching this guy have historical performance after historical performance in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. From then on, I was hooked.

2. Ty Lawson - UNC guy, plus, just loved his game at UNC, and I love watching him grow as a player in Denver, now.

3. Kevin Durant - love his work ethic and his commitment to the game of basketball. His drive is something to be inspired by.

4. Vince Carter - I know he was on my first list, but he's still active, so..

5. Chris Paul - Never really had any feelings about him one way or the other before this past season with the Clippers, when I finally got to see him a lot on TV. I just love his game. I love the way he controls every aspect of the game, from his teammates, to the defense, to the crowd, to the ball, to the refs...he is just a master and student o the game, and it shows. I honestly can't recall the last player I saw that just controlled the game with such ease.

[aloncho11]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

2. Pete Maravich - never actually saw him play, as I'm only 23, but I have studied highlight reels and full game videos of his until my eyes were red. I have patterned every aspect of my offensive game after the "Pistol". My parents both coach basketball, so I learned most of my fundamentals from them, but my grandma bought me a series of Pete Maravich basketball VHS tapes, and I studied those religiously when I was learning the game.

Pistol Pete! So many times overlooked, one of my favorite players. He's the reason why the game became a spectacular show to watch. The first virtuoso of the NBA.

[bghost]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

The running theme here is I think people were drawn to Vince Carter for what he could do on the basketball court. Maybe we're optimists. We think about and appreciate all that Vince Carter did, as opposed to wallowing about everything he didn't. It seems many people wanted him to be Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant because he could jump high and make shots. I just wanted him to be Vince Carter.

I just want that for every player, its why all of the MJ vs Lebron or Kobe vs MJ talk just bores me to death.
Somewhere along the road it became impossible to appreciate a player for the player that they are, and instead we always have to compare one to another.
Its garbage.

[JBH3]

Alonzo Mourning
Larry Johnson
Allen Iverson
Caron Butler
Dirk Nowitzki

[buickbeast]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

I like that man. Real opinion plus some details on what you liked about each player, either off the court (Turiaf) or on the court (Pippen)

5. KG/SHAQ...Orlando fan, but I LOVE KG's intensity. He blocks shots after the whistle is called to f with shooters heads...LUV IT.
4. Pistol Pete: He was an early day Rondo. Youtube him. You'll do better on your History test.
3. Dennis Rodman: Boards and D. Add that he didn't care about his publicity. Well OK, that can be debated but he worked his @$$ off
2. #23...c'mon baby.
1. Penny: My boy. I would NEVER gotten to the love for the NBA if it wasn't for you. Of course it's biased, show me one that isn't!

[LoSoisNiCEx414]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

Mike Bibby
Steve Francis
Allen Iverson
Brandon Jennings
T Mac

[jeebs9]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

LeBron James
Chris Webber
David Robinson
Vince Carter
Allen Iverson

[Marino]

Re: Your 5 Favorite Players?

5 favorite players of all time would be:

Larry Johnson
Dell Curry
Mugesy Bogues
Glen Rice
Gerald Wallace