# Chapter 8: Players & Legends

Basketball · Chapter 8: Players & Legends · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/interesting-facts/chapter-8-players-legends/)

The people behind the game: nicknames, the paths that led to stardom, lives after basketball, two-sport athletes, families, comebacks, players straight from high school, rookie seasons, the Hall of Fame and the numbers on their shirts.

## 8.81 Nicknames of the Greats

The Big Aristotle, the Admiral, the Glove, Magic, the Big Fundamental and the Mailman.

### Test 1: nicknames of great players

- He also called himself Diesel and Superman. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He went to the Naval Academy and served before joining the Spurs. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- His cousin gave him the name during the 1993 play-offs. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He had scored 36 points with 18 rebounds and 16 assists in a high school game. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Duncan's simple, perfect footwork earned it. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- His dunks filled the sports news every night. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- A 2.21 m player who could shoot threes seemed like a creature from a legend. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 1970, 1971 in the ABA, 1996 and 2013. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 1989, 1997 and 2015. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He was called The Mailman. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))

## 8.82 Before They Were Stars

A goalkeeper in Lagos, a seminary, an airport job, Athens streets and an empty pool.

### Test 1: players' lives before stardom

- He also played handball before taking up basketball at 15. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He played on the junior team and grew several inches that summer. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- His father hoped he would become a priest. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He grew about 20 cm after leaving high school. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He and his brother sold watches, bags and sunglasses. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He started basketball at about 15. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Steve himself played football until his teens. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 1984, 1986, 1997 and 2013. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 2013, 2014 and 2016. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Hurricane Hugo hit St. Croix in 1989. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)

## 8.83 Life After Basketball

A senator, two mayors, a franchise owner, a doctorate, a film role and a hospital.

### Test 1: players' lives after basketball

- He served from 1979 to 1997 and ran for president in 2000. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- It was his home town. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He had built a steel business after playing. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He owned hundreds of Wendy's and other franchises. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He finished it in 2012, while working on television. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- His character insists he is not Kareem. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He later ran the US men's national team. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 1979, 2008 and 2017. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 1980, 2012 and 2020. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital opened in 2007. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)

## 8.84 Two-Sport Athletes

Ainge, Conley, DeBusschere, Ward, Gates, Peppers and Jordan's baseball year.

### Test 1: players of two sports

- He played one season of college football. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- He was a utility player and later ran the Celtics' front office. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- He also won three NBA titles with the Celtics. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- He played both sports in the early 1960s. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- He was Florida State's quarterback. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- He reached the NCAA Elite Eight in 2002. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- He played for North Carolina. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- 1957, 1962, 1981 and 1994. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- 1997, 2003 and 2010. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))
- The Barons were a Chicago White Sox farm team. (Source: NBA History (nba.com); Major League Baseball (mlb.com); NFL (nfl.com))

## 8.85 Families in Basketball

The Barrys, Antetokounmpos, Currys, Jameses, Waltons, Lopezes, Holidays and Gasols.

### Test 1: basketball families

- Brent, Jon and Drew all reached the league. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Giannis and Thanasis won theirs with Milwaukee in 2021. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- His father Dell played 16 NBA seasons. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- They played for the Lakers. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Bill won with Portland and Boston. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Brook later won a title with Milwaukee. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Jrue faced Justin and Aaron. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 2003, 2016 and 2024. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 2013, 2015 and 2018. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Pau played for the East and Marc for the West. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)

## 8.86 Comebacks From Adversity

Mourning, Livingston, Grant Hill, Rose, Turiaf, Magic, Durant and Klay.

### Test 1: comebacks from illness and injury

- He came back to block shots in the Finals. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Doctors had feared he might lose his leg. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He retired in 2013. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He cried as team-mates mobbed him in Minnesota. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He came back and played for many years in the NBA. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He played 32 games, mostly at power forward. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He averaged more than 26 points in his first season back. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 2000, 2011 and 2019. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 1996, 2006 and 2022. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He had missed two and a half seasons with knee and Achilles injuries. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)

## 8.87 Straight From High School

Moses Malone, LeBron, Kwame Brown, Dwight Howard, McGrady, the age limit and Garnett.

### Test 1: players drafted from high school

- He joined the Utah Stars of the ABA. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He grew up in nearby Akron. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Michael Jordan's Washington Wizards picked him. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He won three Defensive Player of the Year awards there. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- They must also be a year out of high school. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He was the ninth pick and later starred for Orlando. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Its players were paid while preparing for the draft. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 1975, 1996 and 2005. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 1997, 2002 and 2004. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Minnesota took him with the fifth pick. (Source: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)

## 8.88 Rookie Seasons

Duncan, Bird, Unseld, Lillard, Griffin, Iverson, Dončić and Wilt's first season.

### Test 1: great rookie seasons

- He was Finals MVP in 1999. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Magic won the title that season instead. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Baltimore went from a losing season to the league's best record. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Every voter put him first. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He was drafted first in 2009. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He scored 40 or more in five straight games late that season. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He played for Dallas. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 1970, 1985 and 2004. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 2008, 2016 and 2020. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He was also named MVP in that first season. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))

## 8.89 Hall of Fame Curiosities

Wooden, orange jackets, the classes of 2016 and 2020, Europeans and Lenny Wilkens.

### Test 1: Hall of Fame curiosities

- He went in as a player in 1961 and as a coach in 1973. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- The jackets are presented before the enshrinement. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- It was one of the most famous classes. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- The class had been announced in 2020. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- He was a star in Europe for years before the NBA. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- He was one of the first Europeans to star in the NBA. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- He refereed in both the NBA and the ABA. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- 1971, 1998 and 2023. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- 2002, 2014 and 2023. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))
- His third came with the staff of the 1992 Olympic team. (Source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, enshrinee pages (hoophall.com))

## 8.90 Jersey Numbers With Stories

Russell's 6, Wilt's 13, Jordan's 12, 9 and 45, Mikan's 99 and Rodman's 91.

### Test 1: famous shirt numbers

- Players already wearing it could keep it. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- The Warriors, the 76ers and the Lakers. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Someone took his 23 from the locker room in Orlando. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Each player of that team wore a number from 4 to 15. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- They did it in 2003 to honour him. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Wayne Gretzky made the number famous in hockey later. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Nine plus one; his old 10 was taken. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 2003, 2017 and 2022. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- From 1984, one game in 1990 and on his return in 1995. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He wore 8 for ten seasons and 24 for ten more. (Source: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))

Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA, FIBA, the EuroLeague, the NCAA, the WNBA, clubs' and universities' own histories, auction houses' published results and named reputable media.

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