Some achievements matter a lot more than others in the NBA. For example, making the Hall of Fame or winning a championship. No one can ever take those accomplishments away. But I'd argue that a player getting a statue outside of their team's arena is the pinnacle feat.
Think about it.
Every single time fans of an NBA team who had an all-time legend go to a home game, they will see him immortalized, likely doing his most famous pose. There's nothing quite like it, and it is usually an honor reserved for the absolute cream of the crop. At the time of this writing, the only players in NBA history to have statues are: Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Julius Ervin, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Scottie Pippen, Hakeem Olajuwon, Larry Bird, Elgin Baylor, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kobe Bryant.
RELATED: How many statues will LeBron James have after his NBA career is done?
This got me thinking. Which active NBA players are more than likely locks to get statues of their own and join that illustrious company? Let's dive in and take a look.
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
A prolific shooter, Lillard is arguably the most beloved athlete in Portland's professional sports history. Even with only one Conference Finals appearance to his name, Lillard was a seven-time All-Star with the team, and he wholeheartedly embraced the Pacific Northwest. He stayed impeccably loyal to the organization for years, even after it was clear they wouldn't be a title contender toward the tail end of his tenure. It's only a matter of time before "Dame Time" is properly enshrined in front of the Trail Blazers' arena.
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Of anyone on those 2010s Thunder teams, Westbrook will undoubtedly get statue priority in Oklahoma City. The NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles (198) made eight All-Star teams with the Thunder, won three assist and two scoring titles, and was named the 2017 MVP. A picture of night-to-night brilliant consistency, Westbrook is unequivocally the greatest Thunder player ever.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Antetokounmpo probably isn't the greatest player ever to wear a Bucks jersey (that honor belongs to Abdul-Jabbar, even though he's more known as a Los Angeles Laker). Still, he will be remembered as the foremost face of the franchise. He's already amassed eight All-Star selections, won two MVPs and one Defensive Player of the Year award, and arguably owns one of the best motors of all time. Oh, and he ended Milwaukee's 50-year championship drought. It also helps that he's a lovely personality who brings so much energy on and off the court.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
The best second-round draft pick in NBA history has enjoyed one of the most surprising meteoric rises to superstardom in professional sports. Ever. A six-time All-Star, Jokic already has two MVP awards and is currently spearheading his reigning champion Nuggets toward a potential back-to-back title. Inarguably the finest point center ever, some consider the triple-double machine the premier pure offensive player in the history of the NBA. In all honesty, Denver will very likely never have someone nearly as good as the current best player in the world. A future statue of, say, Jokic's signature floater outside of the Nuggets' stadium is inevitable.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
OK, I cheated here with three players, but the logic adds up. If any legendary team were going to do a joint presentation of player statues, it'd be the Steph Curry/Draymond Green/Klay Thompson Warriors. This trio defined an entire era of small-ball basketball. Heck, there's a legitimate argument to be made that the four-time champions perfected this style of play. They were peanut butter, jelly, and bread and never nearly worked as well without all three firing on all cylinders.
AP Photo/Tony Dejak
Was there ever any doubt who would top this list?
The arguable GOAT might have a claim to various team statues around the NBA, but only the Cavaliers are a certainty. He brought Cleveland to NBA prominence during his first stint as the face of the league. Then he came back and conquered a 73-win regular-season Warriors team to give the Cavaliers their only championship in franchise history. The only real question about a James Cavaliers statue is how they'll have him pose. I, for one, would love something along the lines of his famous pre-game routine where he throws powdered-up chalk into the air.
No comments:
Post a Comment