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-------------------- November 17, 2004 by Tyson Wirth Top Ten Oldies but Goodies
continued 4 – If Robinson needed directions to Springfield, Massachusetts, however, Jason Kidd would be the one to give him an assist. It would be just one of the over 6,700 Kidd’s handed out in his career. The Olympic gold medalist enjoys sharing so much that he once handed out 25 assists in a game, and is only the fourth player ever to lead the league in assists three seasons in a row (the others were some chumps named Magic, Stockton, and Cousy). You don’t get voted to the All-Star game seven times for being one- dimensional, however. Kidd has over 10,600 points, 4,500 rebounds, and 1,500 steals to his credit, and his all-around game is literally second to none - Jason’s been a First Team All-NBA selection five out of the last six seasons. Those selections were made by experts, but fully endorsed by fans who love Kidd’s 21st century edition of Showtime basketball. The California grad has been electrifying arenas with his pinpoint alley-oops and no-look behind the back passes since his 1993 debut, when he shared Rookie of the Year honors with Grant Hill. But whether Jason is impressing opponents with his defense (First Team All- Defense three times), or the fans with his everywhere-at-once energy (he recently recorded eight triple-doubles in a single season!), it’s his jaw- dropping passes that will mark his legacy. He’s dropped enough dimes to fill all the wishing wells in China, as the history books will attest; only Magic Johnson, John Stockton, and Oscar Robertson have averaged more assists per game in their careers. And Kidd really is still a kid – besides playing the game with a carefree playground zest, he’s the youngest member of this list. So don’t be surprised if five years from now he’s still passing… passing the three men ahead of him on this list. 3 – Climbing up the list gets harder as we approach the best active career, however. Just ask Reggie Miller. What more can the guy do? He’s averaged double figures in scoring for 17 consecutive seasons, his 2,464 three pointers are best in NBA history by a huge margin (Dale Ellis is in second with 1,719), and he’s got the best free throw percentage of anyone in history with at least 4,000 made. The shooter’s accurate enough to make Lee Harvey Oswald jealous, but still he’s only number three on this list. Miller might very well be number one when it comes to playoff performers, however. The song “Mister Big Time” by Jon Bon Jovi could be the title to Miller’s biography, so legendary are his postseason performances. In the 1994 Conference Finals in New York, the five time All-Star scored 25 points in the fourth quarter, including five three-pointers, to give Indiana a 3-2 edge in the series. In 1995, Miller set the tone for the Conference Semis by scoring eight points in a miniscule span of 8.9 seconds during the fourth quarter of Game 1, at New York again. The footage of these seconds is incredible – Miller sunk a three, stole the inbounds pass, scrambled back to the three- point line for another trey, and finished the unfathomable by sinking two free-throws. All in about the time it took to type this sentence. In the 2002 First Round series against New Jersey, Miller scored 31 points in the deciding game 5, including a triple from 40 feet to force a first overtime and a driving dunk in traffic to force a second. These are just a few of Reginald Wayne Miller’s memorable moments throughout his 131 playoff games. The 24,300 points, 4,000 assists, 4,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals, and 45,500 minutes Miller has recorded in the league are impressive on their own, but it’s his performance under pressure that distinguishes Miller as one of the greatest clutch assassins of our, or any, time. 2 – As incredible as Miller is though, it is Gary Payton who’s the first and only player in NBA history with 20,000 points, 8,000 assists, and 2,000 steals. Try and imagine all the legends who never accomplished that. Magic Johnson. Michael Jordan. John Stockton. None of them have all three categories covered the way the nine time All-Star does (although it should be said that Oscar Robertson would have had a good chance if steals had been a statistic when he played). Payton’s much more than just a stat-stuffer, however. In fact his nickname, “The Glove,” originated from his suffocating defense and the way he covered his man completely. A more appropriate name might be, “The Human Blanket that Encompasses Your Entire Body So That You Will Never Dribble, Shoot, Or Even Touch The Ball Ever Again,” so impressive is Payton’s defense. I guess “The Glove” just rolls off the tongue easier. Either way, the league seems to agree about Payton’s defense – he made eight consecutive NBA All Defensive First Teams from 1994 to 2001, and in 1996 became the first guard to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award since Michael Jordan in ’87-’88. As if defense, assists, and points weren’t enough, however, Payton found time over his 40,800 minutes in the league to collect 1,000 three-pointers and 4,600 rebounds, and has talked enough trash to fill a landfill. In fact the game’s best yapper would probably be bragging about his NBA championship rings right now, if his two trips to the Finals hadn’t been foiled by last year’s Pistons and some Jordan guy from Chicago back in 1996. Even if he never wins a ring, however, the two time Olympic Gold Medalist will always be remembered as one of the best players, and characters, to ever grace the hardwood. ------------------- Previous: Basketball Power-Dribbling Drills Back to articles main © 2001-2005 H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m, All rights reserved Terms of service Privacy policy Contact |
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