The premier NBA teams, even the lesser teams, make mistakes when it comes to the draft. There have been more than a handful of ‘missed opportunities’ along the way, and teams have paid a heavy price for these types of mistakes. Some of the basketball aficionados call these mistakes ‘bad choices’, others deem them ‘bad luck’.
The NBA draft – one of the most highly anticipated events in the basketball sporting calendar – is also a time of great uncertainty. Legendary teams are pinning their hopes on up-and-coming players, with no guarantee that these signings will pay dividends. Many new players don't show their full potential until they've fully settled in with their team, but some teams simply lose patience and trade these players too early. Would you believe that the now talented Kobe Bryant was one of these players who was traded within days of being signed in 1996. That's right!
The NBA is the epitome of basketball excellence. It is the platinum league of the sport where the creme de la creme of basketball royalty perform gravity-defying acrobatics on the court. Over the years, many exceptional superstars have come and gone. Some have left an indelible imprint on the game, others less so. This post showcases my pick of the 7 best basketball players by jersey number. It's a tough call, selecting just 7 players from a packed field of powerful performers, but let's give it a shot!
The Chicago Bulls are one of the most legendary teams of all time. There's no question about it. Based out of Chicago Illinois, they have competed in 54+ seasons of the NBA between 1966/67 through to the present day, and they have a commendable win/loss percentage of .511 (2227 wins - 2135 losses). The team has reached the playoffs 35 times in its history, and boasts an incredible 6 NBA championships.
It takes guts, determination and mad skills to make it into the NBA. It requires superhuman abilities to make it into an All-Star game and shine. Players who perform at the highest levels of the game are in a league of their own. Of the thousands of NBA players over the years, only a select few have been immortalized as legends of the game. Even at the most prestigious tiers of the sport, lackluster performances can relegate you to the annals of history.
Welcome NBA fans! You are moments away from finding out who scored the greatest-ever dunk competition dunks. The Slam Dunk Contest headlines as one of the most-hyped events on the basketball calendar (among others), and we all know why. Ready for some magic? Let's start shooting some hoops!