Golden State Warriors
NAME: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
PBL RATING: 86
HEIGHT: 7'2
WEIGHT: 265 lbs
POS: Center
AGE: Ageless
COLLEGE: UCLA
Career Highlights
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1995); NBA champion (1971, '80, '82, '85, '87, '88); NBA MVP (1971, '72, '74, '76, '77, '80); 10-time All-NBA First Team; Five-time All-NBA Second Team; Five-time All-Defensive First Team; Six-time
All-Defensive Second Team; 19-time All-Star; One
of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).
When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left the game in 1989 at age 42, no NBA player had ever scored more points, blocked more shots, won more Most Valuable Player Awards, played in more All-Star Games or logged more seasons. His list of personal and team accomplishments is perhaps the most awesome in league history: Rookie of the Year, member of six NBA championship teams, six-time NBA MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 19-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, and a member of the NBA 35th and 50th Anniversary All-Time Teams. He also owned eight playoff records and seven All-Star records. No player achieved as much individual and team success as did Abdul-Jabbar. Players 10 years his junior couldn't keep up with Abdul-Jabbar, whose strict physical-fitness regimen was years ahead of its time in the NBA. But if others have since emulated his fitness regimen, no player has ever duplicated his trademark "sky-hook." Although labeled "unsexy" by Abdul-Jabbar himself, the shot became one of the most effective weapons in all of sports. An all-around player, Abdul-Jabbar brought grace, agility, and versatility to the center position, which had previously been characterized solely by power and size.
NAME: Brad Miller
PBL RATING: 82
HEIGHT: 7'0
WEIGHT: 261 lbs
POS: Power Foward
AGE: 27
COLLEGE: Purdue
Career Highlights
In his first All-Star appearance during the 2002-03 season, had a bench-high six rebounds to go with five points and three assists for the Eastern Conference team.
Posted 27 double-doubles, seventh in the Eastern Conference and tops among centers in the East. Shot a career-high 81.8 percent FTS, ranking 39th in the NBA and tops among all NBA centers.
A member of the 1998 USA Basketball Men's Team that earned bronze at the World Championships in Athens, Greece.
Named Honorable Mention All-America by the AP after his senior season at Purdue in 1997-98.
One of only three players in Purdue history to top 1,300 career points, 700 rebounds and 200 assists.
NAME:Grant Hill
PBL RATING: 86
HEIGHT: 6'8
WEIGHT: 225 lbs
POS: Small Foward
AGE: 30
COLLEGE: Duke
Career Highlights
The first Piston since 1983 to post back-to-back 40-point games at Orlando on 1/3/00 with 42 points and at Atlanta on 1/5/00 with 42 points. In 1999-2000 ranked 3rd in the NBA in points per game with 25.8 and 20th in field-goal percentage (.489). Poured in a career-high 46 points (14-21 FG, 18-22 FT), grabbed 7 rebounds and added 7 assists in a 106-103 win over the Washington Wizards on 2/8/99.
Named to the 1997-98 NBA All-NBA Second Team after leading the Pistons in scoring (21.1 ppg, 12th in the NBA), assists (6.8 apg, 13th) and steals (1.77 spg, 11th). Led the NBA in triple-doubles for the third consecutive season in 1997-98, with 4, and has 28 in his career. Registered 15 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York, his fourth consecutive All-Star Game start, and has averaged 12.5 ppg, 3.0 apg and 2.3 rpg in 24.0 mpg.
Named to the 1996-97 All-NBA First Team and was the winner of the IBM Award for the 1996-97 season. Has appeared in 8 career NBA Playoff games, averaging 21.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 4.8 apg. Participated as a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. Men's Basketball Team in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Led all players in All-Star Game voting in 1996 after becoming the first rookie in NBA history, in 1995, to lead the league in voting. Named 1994-95 NBA co-Rookie of the Year (with the Mavericks' Jason Kidd) and to the 1994-95 NBA All-Rookie First Team.Recorded the first triple-double of his career, with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, against the Orlando Magic on 4/7/95. A member of the 1991 and 1992 back-to-back NCAA Champion Duke Blue Devils.
NAME:Cuttino Mobley
PBL RATING: 84
HEIGHT: 6'4
WEIGHT: 210 lbs
POS: Shooting Guard
AGE: 27
COLLEGE: Rhode Island
Career Highlights
Has averaged 17.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.18 steals in 356 games with Houston. In Rockets history, ranks fourth in three-pointers made, ninth in steals per game and 10th in three-point percentage. Among players from the 1998 draft class, ranks fifth with 6,188 career points, trailing only Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki and Antawn Jamison. Has registered 12 career double-doubles.
Led Houston with 112 three-pointers made and a career-high free throw percentage of .858, which ranked 19th in the NBA. Stood with Steve Francis as Houston’s two leading scorers for the fourth consecutive season (2002-03). Trailed only Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen in scoring among Western Conference shooting guards, ranking 38th in the NBA in points per game (2002-03). Named to the 1998-99 Schick All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 9.9 points and 2.5 assists in 49 games, making 37 starts at point guard. Finished second in voting to Phoenix's Rodney Rogers for the 1999-2000 NBA Sixth Man Award in his second year. Led all NBA reserves in scoring with a 15.8 points per game average during the 1999-2000 season, holding the distinction of being the only reserve to rank second on his team in scoring.
Stands with Calvin Murphy as the only Rockets reserves to ever average 15 points in a season. Finished his second NBA season ranked 17th in the NBA with a free throw percentage of .847.
NAME:Magic Johnson
PBL RATING: 96
HEIGHT: 6'9
WEIGHT: 255 lbs
POS: Point Guard
AGE: Ageless
COLLEGE: Michigan State
Career Highlights
Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2002); NBA champion (1980, '82, '85, '87, '88); NBA Finals MVP (1980, '82, '87); NBA MVP (1987, '89, '90); Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1983-91); All-NBA Second Team (1982); 12-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1990, '92); Olympic gold medalist (1992); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).
Few athletes are truly unique, changing the way their sport is played with their singular skills. Earvin "Magic" Johnson was one of them. Just how great a basketball player was Johnson? So great, perhaps, that future generations of hoop fans may wish they had entered the world years earlier -- just so they could have seen Magic play in person instead of watching him only on highlight reels.
He was what Bob Cousy was to the 1950s, what Oscar Robertson was to the 1960s, what Julius Erving was to the 1970s.
Still, Earvin Johnson was even more than a revolutionary player who, at 6-9, was the tallest point guard in league history. His sublime talent elicited wonder and admiration from even the most casual basketball fan.Whether it was a behind-the-back pass to a streaking James Worthy, a half-court swish at the buzzer or a smile that illuminated an arena, everyone who saw Johnson play took with them an indelible memory of what they had witnessed. From the moment he stepped onto the court, people pondered: How could a man so big do so many things with the ball and with his body? It was Magic.
BENCH
SG Bob Sura - 80
PF Troy Murphy - 79
PF Walter McCarthy - 79
PG Bryce Drew - 76
C Dean Garrett - 73
SF Calbert Cheaney - 72
C Adonal Foyle - 72 IR
SG Jiri Welsch - 72 IR
