LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal and 10 Unique NBA Players You'll Never See Again

The next Michael Jordan. The next John Stockton. The next Karl Malone.

These types of comparisons are thrown out there way too often, but it is a fact of life. Each generation wants to know where their players stack up against the legends of years past.

But some players defy comparison because they were just unique.

Here are 10 players that you will never see again.

Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley has through the years come to be known more for his outrageous personality and humor than for what really made him famous as a player.

People see the huge frame, and larger-than-normal backside and it is hard to marry the two people—Charles as a player and Charles on TNT.

But Barkley was one of the all-time greats, and probably the best player never to win it all.

What made Barkley someone that will never be duplicated is his prowess as a rebounder. Though listed at 6'6", most argue that he is closer to 6'4". Regardless, he dominated the low post on offense, and especially on the glass. In all but his rookie year, Barkley averaged more than 10 rebounds per game, even leading the league in 1987 with nearly 15 per.

Think about that—a guy the size of a shooting guard leading the league in rebounding.

He also had a great back-to-the-basket post game, could block shots and run the court like a gazelle.

Though he now commands respect as a broadcaster, he was one of the most fearsome competitors of his time and a player that will never be duplicated.

Shaquille O'Neal

Okay, let me get this out there: I am not a big fan of O'Neal. I didn't like his game, and I thought he relied way too much on his overpowering strength. He also committed a lane violation every time he shot a free throw, and yet was never called for it.

But he was such a physically dominating player that nobody before or after will ever come close to his size and ability.

At his prime with the Lakers, nobody could stop him one-on-one, and few double- or triple-teams worked either. He quite frankly could have scored every time he got the ball; he was that dominating.

He only received one MVP Award, which was a joke. Few players have been more valuable over the course of their careers than Shaq.

Never again will we see a 7'1", 350-lb monster run the court with such quickness and finish with such ferocity.

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson has come to be known more for his disease, commentary and business savvy than anything else. True, all those figure into the man.

But as a player, he can never be duplicated.

Johnson was a 6'9" point guard that was amazingly quick, could handle the ball like few ever could and was a legendary passer.

Over the years, there have been players that the press wanted to anoint as the next Magic. First there was Steve Smith, then Walt Williams, then Penny Hardaway and now LeBron James.

None of those players holds a candle to Magic from a pure passing standpoint, and none can run a team like Johnson could.

He also had a competitive fire that came out against the best in the league. First it was Larry Bird, then Isiah Thomas and finally Michael Jordan.

Magic truly defied nature with his ability.

Larry Bird

If you have Magic on the list, you have to have Larry, right?

Every time a white guy that can shoot and is tall comes out of the draft, he is immediately compared to Larry Legend.

From Danny Ferry to Adam Morrison, each has failed to live up to the hype.

There is good reason for that: Bird was without peer.

And this is coming from a Pistons fan!

Bird could shoot the lights out, sure. But what separated him from the rest was his competitive fire, and his ability to take the game over even without shooting.

Bird was an elite passer, a great rebounder, and played the game with a super-high basketball intelligence.

Sure, people want to compare Dirk Nowitzki with Bird. Both are great shooters and both are white—I get it. But Bird did way more to take over a game than Dirk, and was far superior to the great German import in virtually all categories.

Bird did more with less than any player in the history of the game.

Adrian Dantley

Okay, so for some that are reading this, they may be asking "who?"

Adrian Dantley was one of the most elite scorers in NBA history.

Twice Dantley led the league in scoring per game and cumulatively. He was an elite post player that could also take the ball out on the court and get a few boards in the process.

So what separated him from others that have done what he has done? He was an elite post player despite being only 6'5". That is the size of Ray Allen. Imagine Ray Allen playing with his back to the hoop and scoring over seven-footers.

Dantley used an exceptionally strong lower body to gain leverage on bigger players, and quickness to get his shot off.

Over the years, we have seen players that call Dantley to mind on a limited basis. Corliss Williamson reminded me the most of Dantley. But he wasn't leading the league in scoring.

Dantley will never be duplicated.

Isiah Thomas

Yeah I know, this is a homer pick.

But that doesn't make it any more relevant.

Isiah Thomas commanded respect and attention on the basketball court. Though only a hair over six-feet tall, he was able to dominate the game of size and strength.

Thomas used a combination of elite quickness and determination to lead the Pistons to two titles in 1989 and 1990.

Sure, there have been other players his size that could take over a game—from Tiny Archibald to Allen Iverson—but neither was the elite passer that he was. Thomas was a point guard, not a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body.   

Never before and never again will a guy his size nearly single-handedly take his team to the promised land.

LeBron James

Trust me, I hate him too.

LeBron James has come to be seen as all that is wrong with the sport of basketball. And I can't make an argument against that line of thinking.

But beyond everything he stands for, his blend of size, quickness and athleticism will never be seen again. I mean, look at him: He is a 6'8", 260-lb freak of nature. He is always the quickest guy on the floor, and sometimes he is the biggest.

Okay, that's all the praise I can give him. But trust me, he will never be duplicated.

Muggsy Bogues

Muggsy Bogues was 5'3". Think about that. I was 5'3" when I was in fourth grade. The guy was a shrimp.

But he was also an elite competitor that in his prime, was one of the best on-the-ball defenders and pure point guards in the game.

Few could pester opposing guards like Bogues, and though he was so short, he had very strong legs that helped him from getting dominated in the post.

Bogues was not a Hall of Famer, but he did have a very good career despite being vertically challenged by any standard.

Bill Walton

He truly has an abrasive personality and fans have grown to hate plenty about him (personally, I hated the way he gushed over Shaq), but this man was a legend on the court.

Think about this: A seven-footer that possessed the athleticism to lead the league in blocks and rebounds as well as the intelligence to take over the game without scoring.

Now what separates him from everyone from Ben Wallace to Bismack Biyombo (early, yes I know) was his passing ability. Walton was a smart guy that probably was the best outlet passer of all time.

Another thing that fairly or unfairly makes him a member of this list is his race. We just never see a white guy that size who could play the way he could. Sadly, injuries cut his career short. But he was great while he lasted, and he will never be duplicated.

Bill Russell

Bill Russell was the greatest winner in NBA history. He even won eight straight titles, something that will never be repeated.

He did this despite not possessing an elite offensive game or repertoire.

But what separated Russell from Ben Wallace and Dennis Rodman were his passing ability, intelligence and offensive cunning. He went head to head with the most dominant force of his generation, Wilt Chamberlain, and came out on top each time.

Russell could simply dominate the game without scoring, and did it at a level never seen before or since.

Honorable Mentions

Two names in particular nearly made this list: Dennis Rodman and Bernard King.

Rodman dominated the game without shooting, and could play defense at all five positions. However, Bill Russell did the same and was better at it.

King was one of the best scorers on the '80s and dominated all aspects of the offensive game despite less than stellar height. But Dantley did the same and for a much longer stretch of time.

Other players that nearly made this list were John Stockton, Pete Maravich, Hakeem Olajuwon and Jerry West.

Other people that an argument could be made for were Jerry Lucas, Manute Bol and Scottie Pippen.