In the long history of the NBA, there have always been players who inspire and influence generations of players and basketball fans with their outstanding skills and unique personal charm. From Jordan to Kobe, from James to Curry, these players not only made the NBA go global but also made basketball a competitive sport loved by billions of people.
Recently, NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki shared his views on the most influential players in NBA history on a podcast. He believes that only four players' influence truly spans the globe, and he himself is not included among them. Let's take a look at the extraordinary careers of these four basketball giants and their tremendous contributions to the basketball world.
James
James is the face of the NBA today, with unmatched power, honors, influence, and commercial value. In the past 22 years, James has led his team to win four championships, been elected FMVP four times, won the regular season MVP four times, been selected for the best first team 13 times, and has been part of the All-Star lineup 20 times. He is also the holder of the record for total career points. In the eyes of many media and fans, James is already qualified to enter the GOAT discussion, and some even say he is the "Jordan" of this era.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson's career is full of legendary colors. He led the team to win the championship and was elected FMVP in his rookie season, becoming the youngest FMVP in history. In the following decade, Magic Johnson led the SHOWTIME era, raising the watchability of basketball games to an unprecedented level. If it weren't for health issues leading to an early retirement, his resume would undoubtedly be even more brilliant. Despite this, Magic Johnson remains the first globally renowned basketball superstar in the NBA and the face of the NBA before Jordan.
Kobe
Kobe, with his flamboyant playing style and indomitable spirit, became one of the most influential players in basketball history. Although Kobe's honors may not be as dazzling as Jordan's or James', his "Mamba Mentality" has inspired generation after generation of basketball fans and players. Even current stars like Harden, Irving, and Curry regard him as a professional benchmark, demonstrating the extent of his influence.
Jordan
The reason Jordan is called the "God of Basketball" is because of his unparalleled dominance on the court. He led his team to win two three-peats, was elected FMVP six times, won the regular season MVP five times, and was the scoring champion ten times, with countless honors and records. It can be said that he almost dominated the entire 1990s. In terms of influence, Jordan is unrivaled in the entire sports world. His emergence brought the NBA to the world and made basketball one of the most popular sports, transcending basketball itself and becoming a symbol of an era.