Stats: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG in 14 seasons with Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959-60 to 1964-65), Philadelphia 76ers (1964-65 to 1967-68) and Los Angeles Lakers (1968-69 to 1972-73). Stats: 19.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.0 APG in 15 seasons with Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1958-59 to 1972-73). He brought an intensity to the court that is highly unlikely to ever be harnessed within another player ever again. That makes the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 15-time All-NBA pick one of the toughest and most durable players of all time. If you ever happened to catch a game that Skiles played in, you know thats spotting him at least 2-3 inches. All Time Leaders. In no small way, he carried the defensive load for some of the greatest teams of all time, and thats not an offhand remark. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. An absolute force in the lane, he had very little trouble positioning himself to provide a competitive advantage. The infamous finger wag. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, five-time MVP, six-time Finals MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, 1987-88 Defensive Player of the Year, 1984-85 Rookie of the Year, 10-time scoring champ, three-time steals champ, six-time NBA champion. If you want a firsthand look at what that meant, feel free to cue up his 2015 documentary, "Muse," which chronicles his comeback from tearing his Achilles tendon. For anyone who has never seen Cowens on the court, it would be fitting to look up some of his best days while he was still in the league. 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. He played at least 80 of 82 regular-season games seven times, and only missed a handful of games in three other seasons. White Men Can Jump. Ranking the 10 greatest white players | by Brad There might not be anyone in NBA history with a sports background quite like Nash, which helps explain why he always seemed to have blood on his jersey. The 25 Most Hated Players in NBA History - Sportscasting Cowens won two NBA titles with the Celtics and was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player in 1973. NBA: Ranking top 10 point guards ever - ESPN.com Bottom line: For the entirety of his career, Scott Skiles was listed at 6-foot-1. Whats interesting about World Peaces career is that if hed have been born 10 years earlier, he likely would have been a player with comparable success to Dennis Rodman because his physical, tough style of play was more akin to past generations. He also always stayed in Detroits lineup because of his versatility, as he could sub easily for starting point guard Isiah Thomas or shooting guard Joe Dumars. Rating: 65. Grandfather Hust Stockton won an NFL championship with the Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1926. Stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG in 16 seasons with Boston Celtics (1962-63 to 1977-78). In an interesting, amazing aside, Debusschere pitched two seasons for the Chicago White Sox in 1962 and 1963 before deciding to turn his focus to his basketball career after the Detroit Pistons agreed to make him the youngest player-coach in NBA history at just 24 years old. An absolute mountain of a man, Eaton was a dominant shot blocker before the term was readily used to describe players. Jones can place his name among the most admired NBA players of al -time for his class and demeanor, and he was finally elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. Theres a mental aspect to being tough thats just as important. 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. Robertson was found not guilty of human trafficking in 2015, five years after he was arrested and after authorities discovered the accuser made up the whole story. He averaged 28.2 ppg, (third . Jordan, coming off a gold medal performance at the 1984 Olympics, prospered in the pro game with a fabulous first season, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. 1 overall pick coming out of Cincinnati, and he showed that with his abilities on the defensive end. Martins innate toughness came from a pretty awful place. He was dominant at both ends of the floor, and his mean mug was enough to scare the opposition before he entered the lane. Accomplishments: 17-time All-Star, 17-time All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, 2003-04 Rookie of the Year, 2007-08 scoring champ, 2019-20 assists champ, four-time NBA champion. If any other player had dressed up like grandmamma, they probably wouldnt have been able to live it down, but nobody dare challenged Johnson like that. Bottom line: Whats amazing about Rick Mahorns career is that, on paper, it appears to have been pretty average. Bottom line: At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Joe Dumars was built more like the NFL safeties of his era than a shooting guard. Bottom line: Its safe to say that most point guards who make it from Brooklyn to the NBA are tough. The most incredible rebounder weve ever seen for someone of his size, The Worm was never afraid to show his true colors. I've got great results with it. RANKED: The 14 best players in the NBA right now. Bottom line: Sidney Moncrief was the first NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986, then won it again in 1987. His intensity was on obvious display every time he dribbled the ball up the floor and with every single move he made. Defensive Player of the Year. Roundfield earned a reputation for being a physical, tough player, but he had a kind nature that opponents and teammates alike were drawn to. Perhaps thats why he was such a valuable commodity. With a psychotic work ethic and completely unafraid to call out anyone (including his teammates), it doesnt get more intense than Bryant among modern day players. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.1 rebounds per game, which stands among the NBAs best career marks. Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG in 20 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (1969-70 to 1974-75) and Los Angeles Lakers (1975-76 to 1988-89); NBA's career leader in total points. NBA 75 team: Biggest snubs, surprises, and best players - Sports Myself, I liked to get my fight over on Monday or Tuesday and not worry about it the rest of the week.". He continued to play, leading his team to the 2017 Eastern Conference finals before being sidelined with a debilitating hip injury. Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 15-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, 2000 All-Star MVP, 1997-98 Rookie of the Year, five-time NBA champion. Despite being too short and overweight most of the time (by NBA standards), Barkley dominated almost the entirety of his career and is the shortest player in history to lead the league in rebounds. He did all of this by just not being good, but by playing with a unique brand of intensity and skill a combination that was light years ahead of where the NBA was at when he broke in as a 19-year-old in 1995. The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time | Britannica Mason was known for the wild designs he would have shaved into his head, sure, but he was more known for a bruising, physical style of play that used every square inch of his 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame. Most Valuable Player. Its a shame that he was never able to capture a ring, as there were few who dedicated themselves to a craft as thoroughly as Malone. Bottom line: When it comes to Bill Laimbeer, the argument is always going to come down to whether he was a tough player or just dirty. Stats: 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 APG in 16 season with San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968-69 to 1971-72; 1981-82 to 1983-84) and Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972-73 to 1980-81) . Sixth Man of the Year. Along with Detroits Joe Dumars, NBA legend Michael Jordan said Moncrief was one of the two toughest defensive players he ever faced. Teams: Chicago Bulls (2009-11), Toronto Raptors (2011-12, 2014-16), Sacramento Kings (2012-13), Memphis Grizzlies (2013-14), Miami Heat (2016-20), Minnesota Timberwolves (2020-present), Key stats: 634 G, 8.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 47.7 FG%. Olajuwon didnt take anything from anybody when it came to where he felt his proper position in the lane was. As long as were not talking about practice, Iversons on-court performance was riddled with intensity on a nightly basis early on his career. Stemming from his incredible work ethic, which was started at a young age by his father, the dedication to the game of basketball paid off, as Pistol Pete averaged 44.2 ppg during his college career with LSU. He had a very riled up rivalry against Bill Laimbeer, and neither sought to back down from the other, which only heightened the distaste between them. Nash was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2018. Ranking the greatest 75 NBA players of all time: Nos. 75-51 - Yahoo! He is an American basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 2019. Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1979-81), Detroit Pistons (1981-91), San Antonio Spurs (1991-92), Key stats: 984 G, 12.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 46.4 FG%. He had a presence on defense that he rarely gets credit for, but its worth noting because its just not something that all players can achieve. Bottom line: Most of Americas introduction to Gary Payton came via one of the most iconic Sports Illustrated covers of all time, when he was a senior at Oregon State University in 1990. Stats: 19.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG in 10 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (2011-12 to 2017-18), Toronto Raptors (2018-19) and LA Clippers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-Defensive team. NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Player Efficiency Rating An enforcer, McDaniel did well when it came to boosting the energy of whatever roster he was on. Bottom line: In 12 NBA seasons, Bobby Jones earned a reputation as one of the classiest players of all time. Teams: Detroit Pistons (1962-1968), New York Knicks (1968-1974), Key stats: 875 G, 16.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 43.2 FG%. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year, 2016-17 Most Improved Player, 2021 Finals MVP, 2021 NBA champion. Seriously, 11 championships in 13 seasons is arguably the most intense thing to ever be accomplished in league history. Some might think hes a little delusional at times, but theres no questioning Martins passion for the game. Passion. Bottom line: NBA fans who got to know Dennis Rodman in the 1980s, when he first joined the league, were able to appreciate his innate toughness before his life off the court overshadowed his game. Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.1 BPG in 18 seasons with Houston Rockets (1984-85 to 2000-01) and Toronto Raptors (2001-02); NBA's career leader in total blocks. One of the most durable players ever, Malone is also second only to Abdul-Jabbar's 57,446 . All-Star Games 2022 All-Star Game , 2021 All-Star Game , 2020 All-Star Game , 2019 All-Star Game , 2018 All-Star Game . Abdul-Jabbars skyhook just wasnt fair, as it remains one of the most unguardable moves in all of basketball history. Whether a mean stare, a suffocating style of play or a general ability to send electricity into the building, there is no questioning what these currently bring or have brought to the table. That was fitting because he grew up playing defensive back in Louisiana, and younger brother David played in the USFL. Stats: 17.0 PPG, 15.6 RPG, 3.3 APG in 11 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1963-64 to 1969-70), San Francisco Warriors (1969-70 to 1970-71) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1973-74). For the prime example of Jordans mentality, look to the 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "The Flu Game." His size, 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, was more NFL defensive end than power forward but also may have been the cause of back problems that ended his career. NBA 75: At No. 24, Giannis Antetokounmpo has become one of the game's Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 10-time All-Defensive team, 1994 All-Star MVP, 1994-95 steals champ, six-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 2006 Finals MVP, 2010 All-Star MVP, 2008-09 scoring champ, three-time NBA champion. Stats: 16.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.7 APG in 15 seasons with St. Louis Hawks (1960-61 to 1967-68), Seattle SuperSonics (1968-69 to 1971-72), Cleveland Cavaliers (1972-73 to 1973-74) and Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75). Stats: 18.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG in 18 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (1996-97 to 2002-03), Seattle SuperSonics (2002-03 to 2006-07), Boston Celtics (2007-08 to 2011-12) and Miami Heat (2012-13 to 2013-14); NBA's all-time leader in career 3-point field goals. Bottom line: Its not a coincidence that NCAA Division II Virginia Union put two players on this list because one of them, Charles Oakley, recommended the other one, Ben Wallace, to the school after seeing him at a basketball camp. Alex English was a high-volume scorer throughout the prime of his careerhe took home a scoring title in 1983. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1985-86 Rookie of the Year. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, five-time assists champ, two-time MVP. In an era of players jumping teams, hes managed to stay with the Miami Heat for his entire career. Bottom line: Willis Reed isnt just one of the toughest players in NBA history. Garnett has had a reputation of trash talking since he came into the league, and that is something that has followed him to this day. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, five-time MVP, 1963 All-Star MVP, four-time rebounding champ, 11-time NBA champion. He was intense when it came to his ability to dominate in the low post, and thats something that few big men have been able to properly emulate since he retired. Teams: Golden State Warriors (2012-present), Key stats: 576 games, 9.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 43.5 FG%. Teams: Phoenix Suns (1996-98, 2004-12), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15), Key stats: 1,217 G, 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 49.0 FG%. His father died when he was 4 years old, and he was the youngest of 10 children raised by a single mother in rural Illinois. While Barkleys attitude and off-the-court antics had their detractors, one thing no one ever questioned was his toughness. The 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, also referred to as NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, were chosen in 1996 to honor the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Hes got the alpha male mentality and continues to improve his attack, and the idea that people still undervalue him is scary. The two were unexpectedly caught in rough waters, and he was swept away by the current after getting her to safety. I started that training with a 28 i. Stats: 18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.1 APG in 13 seasons with New York Knicks (1967-68 to 1976-77) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-78 to 1979-80). Post-career, Johnson has been an even bigger success. He has won an NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2014, four NBA scoring . Stats: 17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG in 11 seasons with Boston Celtics (1970-71 to 1979-80) and Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83). Unseld was never one to back down from anything, and he crafted his attack around the idea that he was fearless. Laimbeer also was durable. Moncrief had a hard-luck career with the Milwaukee Bucks as far as making it to the NBA Finals. Green is one of the more outspoken players in the game today, and its tough to see his legacy as not having his Game 6 suspension from the 2016 NBA Finals front and center alongside his titles. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1950-51 Rookie of the Year, 1952 All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, 1956 NBA champion. 50 Greatest Players in NBA History | Basketball-Reference.com 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. They got there because they were tough, and that's something that fans have appreciated since the league first began play. The mental aspect is just as important. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work as a pioneer for civil rights. Bottom line: At just 5-foot-9, Isaiah Thomas is one of the most dominant, under 6-foot players in NBA history. Stats: 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG in 16 seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1984-85 to 1991-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-93 to 1995-96) and Houston Rockets (1996-97 to 1999-00). Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA. Jordan played in an NBA era where you had to essentially fight your way out of games, with every opponent he faced trying to physically break him. Stats: 15.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.7 APG in 14 seasons with San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1963-64 to 1973-74), Chicago Bulls (1974-75 to 1975-76) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1975-76 to 1976-77). "I am mean," said Payton's father, who died in 2015. Still one of the most underrated centers of all time despite his production, Ewing is one of the best to ever play the position.