The Rangers acquired Kane from Chicago in a three-team trade Tuesday night, adding the three-time Stanley Cup champion to their core that reached the Eastern Conference final last year and a couple of recent additions, including prolific scoring winger . In the 1970s, it was Bob Dandridge, who scored more points in the NBA Finals in that decade than any NBA player while winning a title in 1971 alongside Oscar Robertson and Abdul-Jabbar on the Bucks, then alongside Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld on the Bullets in 1978. In his first 13 seasons, he missed just four games and only missed 22 in his career, with 17 of those coming at the start of the 1997-98 season as he recovered from an injured MCL. Thats because Johnson, a second-degree black belt in karate, has been a professional MMA fighter and kickboxer since he was 18 years old and has a 7-0 record in MMA matches and 20-0 record in kickboxing. A lot of that comes from his upbringing. And players today are pussies and entitled way to much. Starks bounced between three different junior colleges in Oklahoma before landing in the checkout lane at a supermarket, bagging groceries. After an excellent debut in last season's playoffs, Edwards . Bottom line: Buck Williams was the definition of an NBA player bringing his lunch pail to work. Use all the clues to your advantage - You get a lot of information when you enter a guess, so make sure to guess unique players that will fill out as many of the hints as possible. Wallace was named a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 but somehow wasnt voted in, furthering the notion that the Basketball Hall of Fame is a joke and needs a complete overhaul if it wants to stay relevant. Bottom line: Nate Thurmond was as ferocious of a rebounder as anyone in NBA history, and just as good at blocking shots and defense. The deadliness of Kareems sky hook cannot be overstated, particularly because in all of basketball history, he remains the only player to have ever perfected this truly unblockable shot. He averaged 7.4 rebounds per game over 11 NBA seasons, and hes only 6-foot-5. Boston Celtics (2015-17), Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18), Los Angeles Lakers (2018), Denver Nuggets (2018-19), Washington Wizards (2019-present), Key stats: 525 G, 18.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, 43.6 FG%. Hardest-Working Players in NBA History By Tony Adame on September 25, 2019 Charles Krupa / AP Photo The path to being great in the NBA does not always begin with hard work. For the prime example of Jordans mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "The Flu Game." Kelly Oubre Jr. for instance, fits both criteria exactly . Bottom line: At one point in NBA history, no player was tougher or more intimidating than Larry Johnson, the No. Early on he relied on being vastly superior athletically, but over the course of his career he developed an incredible post game, including the most beautiful turn-around, fade away baseline jumper youre likely to ever see. People these days tend to remember him more for his battle with HIV and his work as an analyst, but the fact of the matter is he was an absolute basketball anomaly: a 6-foot-8 point guard whose unselfishness is pretty much the sole reason he didnt become a 30 points-per-game scorer. Bottom line: Larry Fousts toughness came in the form of brute strength as a "clear out the block" post player. You grab your gear and you're like, 'All right guys, I guess I'll see you throughout the year.'" Most of us know plenty about our favorite players in the NBA, especially the lore-laden rosters of the Boston Celtics. The toughness of the 6-foot-7 Silas came from what he was asked to do for every team he played on in his 16-year career guard players 4-5 inches taller than him. Pettit also was the first NBA Most Valuable Player in 1958 and is tied with Kobe Bryant for most NBA All-Star MVP awards with four. And even 40 years after one of the most infamous incidents in pro sports, his name still invokes a certain feeling of uneasiness. 16 retired by both of the teams he played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. I guess I could buy both Dame and Steph being in kind of a tier 2.5. Roundfield earned a reputation for being a physical, tough player, but he had a kind nature that opponents and teammates alike were drawn to. Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1980-82), Detroit Pistons (1982-93), Key stats: 1,068 G, 12.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 49.8 FG%. The five-time NBA Most Valuable Player needed to define toughness to succeed in his era, with his direct counterpart none other than Wilt Chamberlain, the only other player besides Russell to grab 50 rebounds in a single game. Teams: Boston Celtics (2003-11), Oklahoma City Thunder (2011-15), Cleveland Cavaliers (2015, 2018), New Orleans Pelicans (2015-16). Fortunately for us, the game has evolved over the years and no longer. Key stats: 755 G, 14.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 42.7 FG%, NBA titles: 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988). The 1982 NBA Rookie of the Year earned a reputation for toughness and rebounding on the way to three All-Star game selections and four NBA All-Defensive Team nods. His father, Stan, was an NBA player, and he had his son study tapes of Hall of Famer Wes Unseld as part of learning to play the game the right way. Myself, I liked to get my fight over on Monday or Tuesday and not worry about it the rest of the week.". Hes already a five-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection (in just eight seasons), NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and has won three NBA titles. Cowens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. Kobe Bryant is one of the most competitive, hardest working players in NBA history. Kelly Oubre Jr. for instance, fits both criteria exactly . Steph Curry Reggie Miller Ray Allen Larry Bird What is a territorial draft pick? The toughest NBA players are known for a lot of things, such as not missing games, playing a lot of hard-nosed minutes, physicality, strength, mental resilience, never taking a play off, bending but never breaking, defending well, sticking up for teammates, and much more. Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard became the second player to reach the 70-point mark this season, torching the Rockets for 71 points on Sunday, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.Playing for the first time since the All-Star break, Lillard made 13 three-pointers on the night, one short of the NBA record, and reached 41 points by halftime. In addition to starting lineups, this tool will also display Vegas odds, positions and salaries for that day's games on FantasyDraft. Bottom line: When you make it into a Beastie Boys song "I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason" its safe to say youve made it into some sort of rare air of sports celebrity. Bottom line: Xavier McDaniel set a baseline for what it meant to be tough when he was still playing for Wichita State University and became the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in points and rebounds in 1984-85. That was fitting because he grew up playing defensive back in Louisiana, and younger brother David played in the USFL. FEATURES: More than 300 players to guess and a small size of the application! HARDEST GUESS THE NBA PLAYER BY PHOTO Quiz - By Abishakes_08 Popular Quizzes Today 1 Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield 2 Sort the Flags II 3 Find the 'Story' Movie 4 Countries of the World Sports NBA QUIZ LAB SUBMISSION Random Sports or NBA Quiz HARDEST GUESS THE NBA PLAYER BY PHOTO Can you name the HARDEST GUESS THE NBA PLAYER BY PHOTO? We caught up with QB Kurt Benkert to discuss his current plans, the Scouting Combine, his Twitch career, a controversial Mount Rushmore and his predictions for Aaron Rodgers. Starks made an All-Star team in 1994 and was NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1997. In 2009, the NBA named its Finals MVP award after Russell. Are You the Ultimate NBA Fan? Its a shame that the Knicks decided to trade Jackson to the Clippers in 1992 and split up what was just becoming a playoff contender with a nucleus of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Jackson. Bottom line: Dave DeBusschere was one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, making the All-NBA Defensive Team six times in his career. As the first black superstar in NBA history, he had to endure racism at almost every turn but handled it with grace and aplomb. Bottom line: Theres always going to be some dispute about what Charles Barkleys actual height and weight were during his playing days, but its safe to say it was an inch or two below the 6-foot-6 he was listed at. 1 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1991 out of UNLV. Bottom line: Kevin McHale gave opponents nightmares because of his arsenal of low-post offensive moves, which he called "the torture chamber," and for being a rugged, punishing defender. "That's your goodbye right there," DeMelo says. Former 76ers general manager Pat Williams probably described Jones the best: "He gives you two hours of his blood, showers and goes home.". They got there because they were tough, and thats something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. Being tough on the basketball court isn't only a physical thing. Jordan's done a great job working hard, so he's doing everything we're asking. Hes also the only undrafted player in NBA history to be voted a starter for the All-Star game. Here are the toughest, and easiest, places to play in this year's NBA Playoffs. Unlike many of the players on this list, Larry Bird was seldom the best athlete to step out on the floor. Bottom line: Aside from putting together one of the greatest careers in NBA history, Kobe Bryant also had perhaps the most legendary pain tolerance in the history of the game. Teams: Denver Nuggets (1974-78), Philadelphia 76ers (1978-86), Key stats: 941 G, 12.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 56.0 FG%. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players and scorers of all time, Bryant won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All . Kareem Abdul-Jabbar poured in more than 38,000 points in his 20 year career, dipping below 1,000 points in a season only once, and averaging 24.6 points-per-game for his career while shooting a sizzling 55.9% from the field. Feedback will be revealed comparing your guessed player. Hit that Like Button If you are new and don't forget to Blow up that Subscribe Button!!!! It's the decisions that can make a contender a winner or leave a long-suffering franchise stuck in a first-round abyss. Teams: Boston Celtics (1970-80), Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83), Key stats: 766 G, 17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 46.0 FG%. A really hard and long quiz for a NBA fan. However, The Iceman went out that night and had 53 points by halftime, cruising to the scoring crown with 63 points at the end of the night. Many players could stay in front of Bird, but his fade away . But as his skills declined, he extended his career by turning into a tough-minded enforcer for the teams he played on. Unseld was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988. Bottom line: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA titles and six NBA Most Valuable Player awards and is in the conversation when it comes to the greatest basketball players of all time, which probably automatically puts him in the conversation for toughest players ever, as well. Jim Tucker. They are both behind Emmitt Smith, who rushed for a record 18,355 total yards during his career. McDaniel combined toughness with intimidation to a maximum degree. He brought immediate toughness and stability to the roster. He will always be tougher than we give him credit for. How did he do it? The physically dominant power forward was one of the biggest, strongest, and most intimidating figures to ever play the game at 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, and his superior fitness and athleticism allowed him to run past defenders and finish with authority. Teams: Indiana Pacers (1975-78), Atlanta Hawks (1978-84), Detroit Pistons (1984-85), Washington Bullets (1985-87), Key stats: 813 G, 14.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 48.2 FG%. Unseld wasted little time putting the league on notice, and joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to win Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Oakleys best seasons were with the Knicks, including two NBA All-Defensive Team selections and his lone All-Star appearance, in 1994. Can you name them all?. Created by SUJI102010 (User . Dennis Rodman may have been one of the strangest men to ever play in the NBA, or in any sports league for that matter, but this video goes to show just how you get the best of a bully in a big time situation. Gervin averaged 26.2 points during his NBA career, pumping in more than 30 points-per-game twice. Its ironic that Dumars, who has the NBA Sportsmanship Award named after him, was such a key part of Detroits "Bad Boys" teams that won NBA titles in 1989 and 1990. His biggest claim to fame came on the New York Knicks teams that won NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, where he cemented his reputation as one of the most physical players of all time. The NBA is gaining more backlash as star players continue to sit out games, and basketball legend Magic Johnson agrees with the . Bottom line: When you go down the list of the greatest enforcers in NBA history, make sure you put some respect on Maurice Lucas name. PHN can confirm the deal. Ironically, Iversons rise to fame and the public consciousness was defined by his toughness. At age 32, he's the oldest player in NBA history with a 70-point game, and the only player age 30 or older to accomplish the feat, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Bottom line: Kevin Love might not be the first player that comes to mind when we talk about the toughest in NBA history, but he most certainly is. Kevin Love. When McHale clotheslined Lakers forward Kurt Rambis during Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals, it shocked teammates and opponents alike and arguably turned the tide of the series. Bottom line: Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the greatest dynasty in NBA history, winning 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons. The Finnish native is 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds. If you want another example of Robertsons toughness, please remember he took a full-on punch from Shaquille ONeal during a game and lived to tell about it. Thats not to say that other players didnt also possess those qualities, just that virtually no one possessed them in addition to having the skill set of a perimeter player. Perkins wasnt just hired muscle, though. Along with Detroits Joe Dumars, NBA legend Michael Jordan said Moncrief was one of the two toughest defensive players he ever faced. NBA starting lineups will be posted here as they're made available each day, including updates, late scratches and breaking news. Its almost unfair that a player could come along with Durants combination of size, measuring in at 6-foot-9, and shooting range. Boasting great size at 6-foot-8 and about 250 pounds, hes strong enough to finish through contact, he has a strong midrange game, and his three point shooting has been improving year after year. Teams: Golden State Warriors (2012-present), Key stats: 576 games, 9.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 43.5 FG%. He's also well paid with a $5 million AAV for two more seasons. You know who else thought McDaniel was tough? Which of the following players is not among the NBA's top five regular season scoring leaders of all time? That Silas did it with aplomb and earned a reputation for never losing his cool speaks to more than just being tough. They can't add someone like Boeser because of their buyout dead cap space that they have on the books without moving someone else out. He played on some great teams, but they were during the heyday of both the 76ers with Dr. J and the Celtics with Larry Bird running the Eastern Conference. NBA starting lineups will be posted here as they're made available each day, including updates, late scratches and breaking news. I mean, sure, the NFL still reigns supreme in terms of . Kobe has been working his whole life to both emulate and try to surpass Jordan, much like how Tiger Woods has mapped out his entire career as a comparison to Jack Nicklaus. 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