NBA: Three Steps to Determine a Stars Legacy
The biggest storyline of last year’s NBA finals was not the series itself but the implications it had on the legacies of LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki. For LeBron, it was a chance to prove that if given a talented supporting cast, he had the ability to lead a team to a championship. For Dirk, it was a chance to redeem himself after a disappointing finals performance five years earlier.
Ultimately, Dirk’s Mavericks defeated LeBron’s Heat and the victory had huge implications on both of their legacies. Dirk went from being a great regular season player who couldn’t come up big in the postseason, to a clutch performer who could carry his team when they needed it most. LeBron went from a great player who carried teams with limited talent as far as he possibly could, to a choke artist who played his worst basketball at the most inopportune times.
To a degree matched by no other professional sport, the legacy of a basketball player is constantly being discussed and debated. Arguments such as Wilt or Russell, Bird or Magic, and LeBron or MJ, are common talk among fans and players alike.
How we measure a player’s legacy or greatness is something that has no exact formula. However, I have found three key factors that I believe attribute most to a player’s legacy. Numerous players showed one or two of these factors over the course of their careers, but if a player exhibited all three, their legacy will be that of an all time great.
1. Winning
The first factor that influences a player’s legacy is what many people believe to be the most important, winning. Players can’t just win if they want to be considered an all-time great. They have to win at the highest level and play their best when it matters most.
We value players who win championships more than players who put up big statistics because the number one goal for every player and every team is to win championships. This has kept great players like Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and, as of now, LeBron James from being put in the same class as Duncan, Hakeem, and Kobe.
When defining a player’s legacy, we usually don’t take into a count things like Barkley’s lack of a supporting cast or Malone’s bad luck in having to face Jordan in back to back finals. It may not be fair that Barkley and Malone are penalized for their failure to win an NBA title because they played in the same era as Jordan and other great teams– such as Larry Bird’s Celtics, Magic Johnson's Lakers, and the Bad Boy Pistons. However, when their names gets brought up, the first thing mentioned by most fans is not all the great things they accomplished, but the one thing they failed to achieve, win a championship.
Winning a championship gives your legacy a distinct advantage over someone who hasn’t. Some players are remembered primarily and maybe only for their ability to come through in the clutch.
Robert Horry would be remembered as just another average NBA player if it wasn’t for his vast résumé of big-game performances. A player like Horry is revered for being a guy you want taking the big shot. There are many players that were more talented or scored more points than Horry, but they won’t be remembered because of their lack of clutch performances. Horry will never be considered one of the all-time greats, but he will be remembered as a guy who had an uncanny ability to make big plays for his team, and a guy every opposing player feared in the waning seconds of a game.
Tim Duncan is a player whose legacy is also greatly enhanced because of his championship success. Duncan has separated himself from players who put up similar numbers like Malone, Barkley, and Garnett, because of his four championship rings. Duncan combined extraordinary talent with big-time playoff performances. He will always be remembered as someone who made his teammates better, and raised his game when his team needed it most. Duncan knew exactly when he needed to take a game over on offense, or when his team needed a big defensive stop, and his talent combined with his big game chops led he and his teammates to four NBA titles.
Karl Malone is a player whose legacy has been drastically altered because of his inability to lead his team to a championship. Malone put up historic numbers during the regular season that earned him two MVP awards and eleven first team All-NBA nominations. His regular season achievements and statistics put him right up there with many of the all-time greats. However, Malone will always be remembered as a guy whose level of play dropped in big moments.
Malone’s career can be defined by the 1997 season. Malone won the regular season MVP award in a highly scrutinized decision that saw him beat out Michael Jordan. As fate would have it, Malone and Jordan squared off in the finals that very year. This gave Malone a great opportunity to prove his worth and show he could lead his team to the highest level of success. Unfortunately for Malone, it was Jordan who once again delivered his team a title by hitting big shots and making crucial plays to take home the hardware. This was just another example of Malone’s regular season dominance being overshadowed by his postseason failure.
2. A Definitive Statistic
The second factor that determines a player’s legacy is a statistic that sets him apart from his competitors. This is a player having a stat that clearly stands out and proves his dominance. An example of this is Dennis Rodman’s rebounding numbers. Rodman was a guy who knew his role and realized what he needed to do to help his team win. Instead of focusing on scoring, like so many players try to do, Rodman set his sights on rebounding and playing defense.
Rodman’s rebounding statistics set him apart from his competitors. He won seven consecutive rebounding titles, has the highest rebounds per game average in a career since 1973, and recorded five of the top 10 single season rebounds per game averages since ’73. Rodman’s rebounding dominance is one of the major reasons why he was recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Wilt Chamberlain’s legacy has also been enhanced due to statistics that put him in a league of his own. Chamberlain’s immense scoring and rebounding totals have set him apart from other players. One of his most impressive stats is averaging 50.4 points per game over the course of a season. No player has even come close to matching this feat, which truly proves his dominance.
Chamberlain has the third-highest single season points per game total in NBA history, further cementing his legacy. Chamberlain’s statistical supremacy was so impressive and unmatched that it made many overlook some of his shortcomings, which included only winning two championships while his adversary Bill Russell won eleven.
Scottie Pippen’s legacy has also been impacted by statistics. Scottie Pippen won six NBA championships, but his relatively low point totals compared to other all-time greats has hurt his legacy. Scottie Pippen was one of the best defensive players of all time and had many facets to his game besides just scoring. However, the fact that he only averaged 16 points per game over the course of his career has caused many to question his greatness.
Many believe Pippen was carried by Jordan, and point to his scoring totals in support of their argument. The fact is, Pippen didn’t need to score as much because he had Jordan which allowed him to focus on other things like playing great defense and facilitating others. Pippen’s numerous abilities other than scoring are often overlooked, causing his legacy to take a hit.
3. The IT Factor
The final factor that influences a player's legacy is the “it factor." This is something, whether it is tangible or intangible, that makes the player unique and revered by fans and peers. An example of this is Spud Webb and his dunking ability despite his height. Webb will forever be remembered for his slam dunk contest performances in which he shocked everyone with his incredible dunks despite being only 5'6."
When people think of Spud Webb, they don’t think of him as a backup point guard on an average team. Rather, they think of his highlight reel dunks and his enormous leaping ability. Spud Webb was never an elite player, but because of his dunk contest performances he will always be remembered as one.
The aura surrounding Larry Bird definitely enhances his legacy. Bird was called the “Basketball Jesus” and the “Hick from French Lick,” among other things. His country roots and blue collar attitude created a certain mystique. People felt like they could relate to Bird, as if he was one of them instead of another prima donna overpaid athlete. Bird wasn’t the most athletic player, but he was quick and crafty and got the most out of his abilities. Bird played the way the average fan believed they would if given the opportunity, making him a hero to the common man.
Tim Duncan’s legacy has been negatively affected by his lack of an “It” factor. Most of the best players in NBA history have a certain factor that defines them and makes them unique. Jordan had his pathological competitiveness, Russell had his extraordinary championship resume (11 in 13 years), and Kareem had his sky hook. Duncan doesn’t seem to have anything distinctive that defines him. He’s not flashy, he’s not charismatic, and he does nothing that stands out.
Due to this, Duncan is rarely talked about as on of the all-time greats and his accomplishments are often overlooked. In fact, the Spurs as an organization are ignored by fans and media members because they are viewed as being a boring team. Through no fault of his own, Duncan’s legacy will be hurt just because he lacks a tangible or intangible thing that sets him apart.
I found a few players who had all three of these factors– winning, a statistic that sets them apart, and the "it factor."
Michael Jordan: Six championships, highest career points per game, pathological competitiveness.
Bill Russell: Eleven championships, rebounding and predicted block totals (blocks were not recorded), wins in NBA Playoffs.
Larry Bird: Three championships, a combination of high points, assist and rebounding totals, blue collar attitude.
Magic Johnson: Five championships, number of triple doubles and assist totals, flash and playmaking ability.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Six championships, most points scored in a career, sky hook and signature goggles.
Shaquille O’Neal: Four championships, field goal percentage and point totals, charisma and size.
Wilt Chamberlain: Two championships, points per game and rebounding totals, size and 100 point-game mystique.
Hakeem Olajuwon: Two championships, consistent stats over extended period of time, low post moves.
Kobe Bryant: Five championships, high point totals, competitiveness. I may be missing a couple, but these are the ones that stood out to me.
A few all-time greats were left off because they were missing one of the factors. Duncan is missing the “it factor” which doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not as good as Shaq or Hakeem, it just means he won’t be remembered to the same degree. Malone and Barkley were left off because they never led a team to a championship. Oscar Robertson didn’t make the cut because he won a single championship towards the tail end of his career. Much like Duncan, Elgin Baylor didn’t have that “it factor” that set him apart. Jerry west had the mystique of being the NBA logo and put up great numbers but was only able to win a single championship.
A player’s ability to win and play his best in big moments, a statistic that stands out, and an aura or “it” factor, are the three main features in determining a players legacy. Those players who contained all three factors will be viewed as all time greats. Those who had only one or two of these factors will be remembered, but not to the same degree.
I just want everyone to realize that a legacy is different than determining a player’s ability. A legacy is combining both how good a player was and how he will be remembered.
A player’s legacy is open to debate, but I believe it can be easily determined by looking at the three factors discussed.
