NBA Players Favorite Players: Basketball Lineage

I always find it interesting to read or hear how one “marquee” player was influenced by another person’s game who was of a similar size and skill set. Sometimes they even get mentored by that player when they get to the league.

Its interesting to note how one versatile player watches another and you can see the similarities in their games.

This way you can trace a players “legacy” who has the most influence on the game.

Oscar Robertson: with his size and strength he “invented”/brought to popularity the “fadeaway” a move Larry Bird and Michael Jordan soon became famous for

Michael Jordan:
Julius Erving influenced him when he came into the league, but James Worthy’s post game was eerily similar to Jordan’s, Worthy did mentor him at UNC
*he also notes that he takes from:
-David “Skywalker” Thompson invented the vertical game at NC State

-Walter “the Greyhound” Davis (slasher, mid-range)

-Julius Erving, “The Doctor” often “operated” in the short corner and was the ultimate slasher

-“Without Julius Erving, David Thompson, Walter Davis, and Elgin Baylor, there would never have been a Michael Jordan. I evolved from them.”
http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/jordanhof_yearseven_090902.html

D.Wade: everybdy knows about the CHI-Jordan connection but he also notes that he takes part of his game from Milwaukee’s Sam Cassell (pump fake) by way of Marquette and Scottie Pippen (bank shots)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws-pHBBjkts

Lebron James: we all know who #23’s “idol” was, but he says he sees flashes of Magic Johnson and flashy 6’7 point guard Anfernee Hardaway in his game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GZ4Qb7koYY

Andre Iguodala: scottie pippen, anfernee hardaway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40595vZTvTg

Magic Johnson: Oscar Robertson, Bob Cousy

Carmelo Anthony: reminiscent of a bigger Michael Jordan or a quicker Larry Bird in the short corner/box area

Dirk Nowitzki: Larry Bird is his favorite player

Kareem Abdul-Jabaar: says he combined Russell’s (defense) and Chamberlain’s (offense)

Chris Paul: 6’1 Muggsy Bogues, Bogues mentored him upon entering the league

Kobe Bryant: he notes Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Elgin Baylor, but he also has stated that he takes from everybody’s game even contemporary stars, he never stops adding to his game, his repertoire is always expanding

Kevin Durant: Tracy mcGrady
“As a fan of the game, though, you just like to see him back on the floor in another team’s jersey. I’m happy for him. He’s a guy who I patterned my game after when I was young. The guy who taught me how to play basketball told me every game to play like Tracy McGrady. I had to get a certain amount of stats and I had to play with a certain demeanor on the floor. I tried to play like Tracy McGrady every game from when I was 10 years old till I was 16. If I didn’t play like him I had to do extra sprints. I would get in trouble. So that was a guy who I always watched.”

Chris Bosh: Garnett
STAT: Shawn Kemp/Shaq!!!
Stoudemire: Shawn Kemp was the player that I grew up watching, when he was with the SuperSonics. And after that it was it was just Shaq. Both of them are dominating dunkers. They dunk so hard and I tried to pattern my game after them.

Garnett: magic Johnson