The word legend is thrown around all too readily these days, but there can be no doubt that the NBA players featured in this bookazine are the very best to have ever graced a basketball court. They are true legends of the game. Spanning the decades and covering all the league’s most iconic eras, we uncover the fascinating stories and incredible accomplishments of the greatest basketball players of all time, from the game’s first superstars, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Jerry West, to the modern-day greats of the late Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett. There are also in-depth features on Lakers legends Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal, as well as Celtics great Larry Bird, while we also explore 23 reasons why Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time. It’s not just about great players, though. Without great coaches there would be no legendary teams or memorable matchups. That’s why we also run down the ten most successful and influential coaches from NBA history, look back at the ten greatest championship-winning teams and relive ten of the best games of all time. But we kick things off with a collection of the 50 most iconic NBA players the world has ever seen. Enjoy!
WELCOME
Legends of the NBA, 6th Edition
50 ICONIC NBA PLAYERS • Defining the league’s many eras, these are the 50 icons who made the NBA what it is today…
LEGEND OF THE BLACK MAMBA • An icon for the Lakers and his adopted city, Kobe Bryant’s untimely death shocked the world and brought an end to his incredible journey
KOBE’S 81-POINT GAME • In January 2006, the Lakers star burned the Toronto Raptors in a performance bettered only once
KOBE FINALLY LANDS THE MVP • Bryant could have netted five MVP awards but lost out to Steve Nash, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki
AN ICONIC FIGURE • Jerry West is one of the NBA’s most iconic stars, but he had to endure more than a decade of hurt before becoming a champion
SIMPLY THE WEST • West’s legacy as a nearly-man of basketball was turned on its head in a superb career off the court
I AM LEGEND • For 13 seasons, Larry Bird was the beating heart of the Boston Celtics, and may just have been the greatest player ever
THE BEST OF ENEMIES • The Johnson-Bird rivalry was once the most compelling story in professional sport and helped define an era
A NEW CHALLENGE • After dominating on court for most of his career, Bird proved equally effective off it after hanging up his sneakers
SHAQ ATTACK CONQUERS ALL • Basketball has seldom seen a character like Shaquille O’Neal – a supremely gifted and decorated athlete whose star appeal went far wider than the sport
THE PEAK OF SHAQ’S POWER • The greatest performance of O’Neal’s NBA career underlined his legend
A CAREER OF PARTNERSHIPS • Over the course of his illustrious NBA career, O’Neal formed formidable partnerships
10 OF THE NBA’S GREATEST COACHES • Although not as visible as the great teams and players, the NBA’s finest coaches have shaped the game from the sidelines
REASONS JORDAN IS THE GREATEST • From his incredible debut season to launching the most iconic brand in sport, this is why Michael Jordan is basketball
…AND 5 REASONS HE ISN’T • It’s borderline blasphemous to name anyone other than Michael Jordan as the greatest NBA player of all time, but there are others who have a legitimate claim to the title
LIVING THE DREAM • Rising from obscurity to college stardom, Hakeem Olajuwon redefined the role of an NBA big man in the 1980s and 1990s
A (QUADRUPLE-) TRIPLE THREAT • Four players have recorded a quadruple-double in the NBA. Only Olajuwon has done it twice
RISE OF THE BIG DIPPER • The giant center racked up record scores like no player before or since – and will be...