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About This Quiz
These basketball legends did it all. They scored baskets, played tough defense, and won championships; but how much do you know about them?Â
The NBA has always been defined by its players, the stars of the game. These are the faces you remember when you think about the different eras of the NBA; Bill Russell winning with the Celtics, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominating in three different decades, Larry Bird going up against Magic Johnson, and the greatness of Michael Jordan. They had the greatest accomplishments by overcoming the fiercest obstacles. They hit game winning shots, carried teams just by their will to win, and put themselves in a class above all other players who had the chance to grace the NBA floor. These are the NBA legends that defined the game for future generations.Â
Do you really know these players, though? Can you guess them from just a hint? What about the players that were great but didn't make it onto the front page of every sports' magazine? How deep does your NBA fandom go? If you think your knowledge stands up against other basketball historians, take this quiz and show everyone you know all there is to know about NBA legends!
He had both of his numbers, 8 and 24, retired by the Lakers.
Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson
Bill Russell
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. His first three came while playing with Shaquille O'Neal, though tensions eventually rose between the two and Shaq was traded.
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He was the first player in the NBA to average a triple-double​ for a season.
Lebron James
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Royals. However, it was not until he joined the Milwaukee Bucks that he won a championship.
Julius Erving
Magic Johnson
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He won five NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs.
Jerry West
Wilt Chamberlain
Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan spent his entire career playing for Gregg Popovich. During their five championship run, Duncan was the centerpiece of the organization.
Jason Kidd
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He's the player on the NBA logo.
Jerry West
Jerry West had a successful career as a player, but his legacy in the front office of both the Lakers and the Warriors has defined his career. Between the two organizations, West has helped them win eight NBA championships.
Bill Russell
Lebron James
Michael Jordan
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His nickname was "The Round Mound of Rebound."
Shaquille O'Neal
Wilt Chamberlain
Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley played college basketball at Auburn University. He is widely considered the greatest player in Auburn history.
Patrick Ewing
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He was voted MVP in both the ABA and NBA.
Kevin McHale
Magic Johnson
David Robinson
Julius Erving
Julius Erving won the NBA championship in 1983. That same year, he was voted MVP of the All-Star game.
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He was MVP for the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals.
Rick Barry
Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade managed to win three championships with the Miami Heat. Of course, two of those titles came with another legend, Lebron James.
Kobe Bryant
Paul Pierce
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His nickname was "The Mailman."
Paul Pierce
Karl Malone
Hoping to win a championship, Karl Malone spent the last year of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he was unable to win a title. Instead, he went down as one of the greatest players to never win a championship.
Scottie Pippen
Larry Bird
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He was a player-coach for the Celtics.
Bill Russell
Bill Russell was the first African American coach in the NBA. During his career, he won eleven NBA championships, two as a player-coach.
Oscar Robinson
Elgin Baylor
Bill Walton
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He averaged 30 points and 20 rebounds in a season.
Michael Jordan
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a game. He's also the only player to average over 40 points in a season.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Shaquille O'Neal
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He won the '87 and '88 Slam Dunk Contest.
Tim Duncan
Larry Bird
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan dominated the league from the moment he entered it. However, he didn't win his six championships until the latter part of his career.
Gary Payton
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He was the NBA MVP six times.
Dwayne Wade
Julius Erving
Larry Bird
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in three different decades. He started his career in 1969 and finished it in 1989.
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He played college basketball at LSU.
Larry Bird
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal was one of the most dominant centers to ever play in the NBA, but he couldn't make a free throw. A strategy to force him to shoot free throws became known as "Hack a Shaq."
Julius Erving
Kevin Garnett
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He's from Nigeria.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon had the misfortune of playing in a league against Michael Jordan. He did manage to squeeze out two NBA championships while Michael Jordan was playing baseball, though.
Bob Pettit
Reggie Miller
Jason Kidd
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He was drafted directly out of high school.
Stephen Curry
Karl Malone
Charles Barkley
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett was a defensive monster throughout his NBA career. However, he never had success in the playoffs until he joined the Boston Celtics.
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His nickname is "The Truth."
Steve Nash
Paul Pierce
Under the leadership of Paul Pierce, the Celtics won their only NBA title since the 1980s. His number 34 jersey was later retired by the Celtics.
Kevin McHale
Magic Johnson
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He was part of "The Twin Towers."
Jerry West
Dwyane Wade
David Robinson
Before becoming an NBA player, David Robinson was an officer in the United States Navy. During his career, he won two NBA championships with the Spurs.
Allen Iverson
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He holds the record for three-pointers​ made in a season with 402.
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry broke the record for three-pointers made in a season three times. Of course, that meant he had to break his own record twice.
Reggie Miller
Ray Allen
Bob Pettit
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He was the leader of the "Bad Boy" Pistons.
Jason Kidd
Kevin McHale
Elgin Baylor
Isiah Thomas
The "Bad Boy" Pistons were known for their tough, defensive style of play. This type of basketball helped them win two NBA titles in '89 and '90.
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He won six NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan.
Julius Erving
Lebron James
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen rarely gets the credit he deserves because he played alongside Michael Jordan. Still, during his career, Pippen made the All-Star game seven times and was elected to the All-NBA First Team three times.
Bill Walton
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He's from Germany.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki is one of only seven NBA players with over 30,000 career points. He has spent his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks.
Steve Nash
Larry Bird
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He won three NBA MVP awards with the Boston Celtics.
Larry Bird
Larry Bird's rivalry with Magic Johnson in the NBA has been well documented. A less known fact, this rivalry actually started in college when the two played against each other in the NCAA Championship in 1979. Magic Johnson's team won that game.
Julius Erving
Clyde Drexler
Kevin Durant
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He was the leader of the "Showtime" Lakers.
Patrick Ewing
Moses Malone
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson was a 6'9" point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. With height and exceptional passing abilities, Johnson led the Lakers to five NBA championships.
Reggie Miller
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He was a Canadian player in the NBA.
Patrick Ewing
Steve Nash
Nash is one of the greatest players to never win an NBA championship. He did win two NBA MVP awards, though.
Moses Malone
Elgin Baylor
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He holds the NBA record for most career assist.
Kobe Bryant
Magic Johnson
Dwyane Wade
John Stockton
Stockton also holds the record for most career steals. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009.
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He was the NBA MVP in 2001.
Moses Malone
Allen Iverson
In high school, Iverson played both basketball and football. Many scouts believed he could have had a successful career in the NFL had he chosen that route.
Reggie Miller
Lebron James
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He was the NBA Finals MVP in 1983.
James Worthy
Charles Barkley
Moses Malone
Moses Malone was drafted straight out of high school in the 1974 ABA Draft. After a spectacular first season, he was selected as an ABA All-Rookie.
Tim Duncan
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He's from Jamaica.
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing has coached for several different teams since retiring from basketball. His first job was with the Washington Wizards.
Bob Cousey
Oscar Robinson
Bill Walton
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His number 31 was retired by the Indiana Pacers.
John Havlicek
Reggie Miller
When Reggie Miller retired, he was the leader in three-pointers made for a career. However, he has since been passed by Ray Allen.
Jason Kidd
Stephen Curry
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He was called "The Human Highlight Film."
Kevin McHale
Gary Payton
Clyde Drexler
Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins was an offensive machine during his career. He was most well-known for his dunking ability and won two NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
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His nickname is "The King."
Dirk Nowitzki
Bob Pettit
Lebron James
Lebron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals to defeat the Golden State Warriors. This was the first time in NBA history that a team came back after being down 3-1.
Jason Kidd
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He played point guard for and later coached the Nets.
Ray Allen
Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd was selected second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1994 NBA Draft. His first season he went on to earn co-Rookie of the Year honors.
Bob Cousy
Gary Payton
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Wearing number 32, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics.
Clyde Drexler
Ray Allen
Elgin Baylor
Kevin McHale
Drafted in 1980, Kevin McHale spent his career at power forward, dominating under the hoop. He was particularly well-known for his post-up game, which he called "the torture chamber."
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He won an NBA title with both the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.
Ray Allen
Ray Allen is the NBA leader for career three-pointers. One of his greatest shots came against the Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals where he pushed Game 6 into overtime, which the Heat won.
Reggie Miller
Bill Walton
Gary Payton
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He was known as "The Houdini of the Hardwood."
Bill Walton
Clyde Drexler
Bob Cousy
Bob Cousy was one of the first great point guards in the NBA. During his career, he won six NBA championships with the Boston Celtics.
Rick Barry
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You Got:
/35
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