# Глава 8: Игроки и легенды

Баскетбол · Глава 8: Игроки и легенды · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/ru/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 Прозвища великих

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

### Тест 1: nicknames of great players

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

### Тест 1: players' lives before stardom

- He also played handball before taking up basketball at 15. (Источник: 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. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- His father hoped he would become a priest. (Источник: 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. (Источник: 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. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He started basketball at about 15. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Steve himself played football until his teens. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 1984, 1986, 1997 and 2013. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 2013, 2014 and 2016. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Hurricane Hugo hit St. Croix in 1989. (Источник: 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.

### Тест 1: players' lives after basketball

- He served from 1979 to 1997 and ran for president in 2000. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- It was his home town. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He had built a steel business after playing. (Источник: 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. (Источник: 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. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- His character insists he is not Kareem. (Источник: 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. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 1979, 2008 and 2017. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 1980, 2012 and 2020. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital opened in 2007. (Источник: 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.

### Тест 1: players of two sports

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

### Тест 1: basketball families

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

### Тест 1: comebacks from illness and injury

- He came back to block shots in the Finals. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Doctors had feared he might lose his leg. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He retired in 2013. (Источник: 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. (Источник: 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. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He played 32 games, mostly at power forward. (Источник: 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. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 2000, 2011 and 2019. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- 1996, 2006 и 2022. (Источник: 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. (Источник: 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.

### Тест 1: players drafted from high school

- He joined the Utah Stars of the ABA. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- He grew up in nearby Akron. (Источник: NBA player biographies (nba.com); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (hoophall.com); named reputable media)
- Michael Jordan's Washington Wizards picked him. (Источник: 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. (Источник: 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. (Источник: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- He was the ninth pick and later starred for Orlando. (Источник: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Its players were paid while preparing for the draft. (Источник: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 1975, 1996 and 2005. (Источник: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- 1997, 2002 and 2004. (Источник: NBA History and player biographies (nba.com))
- Minnesota took him with the fifth pick. (Источник: 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.

### Тест 1: great rookie seasons

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

### Тест 1: Hall of Fame curiosities

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

### Тест 1: famous shirt numbers

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

Источники: 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.

Пройти тесты: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral