21 Players for 21 Years
I am now old enough to tell someone I'm 21 years old.
Generally speaking, I do not think most people spend the night of their 21st birthday writing about basketball. But I’ve been waiting to do this silly piece for a long time, so here we are. Here are my 21 favorite players.
Disclaimer: This is not the 21 best players or 21 greatest players or anything besides my 21 FAVORITE players ever. All of these players have a special place in my heart, either through the pre-draft stuff, NBA, post-NBA career, playing styles, uniquity, etc. There’s no quantifiable way why I liked these players growing up. I’ll try my best to explain it.
Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball fascinated me - I loved all the different phases of his career - even if he is facing setbacks. What a wildly unique player - a defensive god and perfect transition playmaker, who in college was a great shot creator and finisher as well. I think I just love the archetype, he just does all of the things I want a winning player to do. He fits in seamlessly on any team. When he was healthy, he was a perfect complementary engine (think about how insane that is). A player that holds everything together but doesn’t demand the ball - here are your flowers Lonzo Ball.
Lonzo is one of those players who, despite being a very good professional, was more notable before his draft. I wrote more extensively about him in a retrospective.
Besides just the archetype, I thought all the antics with his dad were really funny when I was in 8th grade. I really liked this commercial. What a throwback.
Favorite moment: That step back three-pointer against Oregon. Close second is that full-court pass to Zach LaVine.
Yao Ming
I had a discussion with my dad the other day during the Copa America final about why he thinks soccer will remain more popular than basketball (which is likely true). He told me that basketball at the professional level is not accessible unless blessed with certain genetics. He has a point. Only roughly 15% of men are 6’0+, and that’s considered short in the NBA.
But at the same time, I think that’s why basketball is equally interesting. These are some of the most insane genetic freaks, on top of ridiculous skill. It’s unfair, but equally mystifying . I bring all of this up because, despite only having seen Yao Ming play live (on TV) one time, at a very young age, I find myself combing through any game footage or highlights I can of him.
Sometimes, I think about the fact that Yao Ming, the 7’6” person, lives on the same planet as me - and I realize we’re really not all the same. I’ve been wanting to watch The Year of the Yao for so long. Maybe I should just spend the $3.50.
Favorite moment: I never watched it live, but his blocks against Shaq are pretty epic.
Shane Battier
One of Yao’s teammates - I actually hated this guy for a while when he was on the Heat. I probably complained about him being “dirty” so many times, but when the dust settled, I realized that the reason I hated him was just because I would have much rather preferred he was on my team. He was just another perfect complementary piece - and his embrace of analytics is part of his overall intellect. The No-Stats All-Star as Michael Lewis called him, became a cult favorite as he gracefully ended his career (with two rings).
Since his retirement, listening to his panel talk at Sloan and appreciating his tough, hard-nosed, do-it-all defense has vaulted him into this list.
Favorite moment: Wasn’t my favorite when it happened, but his six threes in Game 7 of 2013 were huge.
Steve Nash
The best and still most underutilized offensive player of his era. Nash is one of those players where the simply box score stats just don’t do him justice. Sometimes a player’s control of the game doesn’t represent itself in assists. Assists and points are simply some rawer results of a well-organized system, so how do we reward players for organizing the team in the first place? Well, apparently with two MVPs.
I love how his favorite sport is soccer, and how that obviously influenced his in-game processing. His patented Nashing technique around the basket is something I try to utilize too - it’s such a crafty way to mitigate a lack of athleticism.
Favorite moment: I just love that sick behind the back no-look handoff to Tim Thomas.
Victor Wembanyama
Too early to crack the list? Not really. He’s smart, hard-working, extremely gifted, and most importantly, he’s a Spur. He’ll probably be #1 in a couple of years. He is the best prospect I’ve ever evaluated (I’ve only been doing this for 9 years so keep that in mind) and I was over the moon when we won the draft lottery. One of the best days of my life as a sports fan.
Favorite moment: It’s new but nothing beats that behind the back to poster dunk he had against Milwaukee this year.
16. Draymond Green
I don’t really like Draymond so much as a personality nowadays, but his archetype was absolutely something I learned to love as I started to appreciate the game for its nuances more. Draymond is a subtly elite offensive player and the best defensive player of the last 20 years. His antics both on and off the court can vary from entertaining to downright obnoxious, but he’s an acquired taste.
I think when his career is done, even his biggest haters (and he has a lot) will be forced to at least congratulate him on a very influential and successful basketball career. Hopefully they won’t have to say it on his podcast though.
Favorite moment: I like that 3 on 1 block against Portland. He gets so animated - it reminded me how exciting good defense can be.
Brook Lopez
Huge fan of him when he was on the Nets, but more importantly, his transformation throughout his career has been a remarkable one. Started as a low block, can’t really defend so well big to a 3&D seven footer. Honestly, even though he’s not the first face that pops up when I think of my favorite players, he’s maintained a positive opinion in my brain for over 15 years now.
Favorite Moment: Jeez, there aren’t many Brook Lopez signature moments. His 33 points against Atlanta was pretty great though.
PJ Tucker
An odd selection to crack the top 15 (or this list at all), but he’s been a huge favorite of mine since 2018. I always like the undersized players who put in work against the big guys, and I thought he was a very important player for the innovation of the game going forward, given his potential as small-ball five or four.
Favorite moment: Warriors vs Rockets, Game 4, 2018 - Tucker snags 16 rebounds and the Rockets win a close one.
Chris Paul
Petulant, scheming, annoying, but a winner. I don’t let rings or finals appearances determine who is a winner and who’s not - I believe Paul has impacted winning at every stop in his career. My favorite season of his - his year with SGA and the Thunder - where he undoubtedly played a role in SGA’s ascension in that three-guard lineup. In many ways, I’ve tried my best to model myself after him - to less success, obviously. Paul is a special type of asshole.
Favorite moment: His mocking, angry, shimmy against Stephen Curry.
12. Isaiah Thomas
Diminutive fellow to diminutive fellow, I loved I.T. from 2015 to 2017. He was probably my favorite player in the NBA. I think he inspired a lot of people during that time, and he got his nickname, The King of the Fourth, from his dominating, scorching scoring consistently throughout the 4th quarter. Although his career didn’t have such a glorious end (predictably, given he was 5’8), I still respect him for everything he gave the game of basketball and his fans.
Favorite Moment: His 53 points against the Wizards on his deceased sister’s birthday.
Kobe Bryant
I can’t lie and say I was his biggest fan when I grew up - but there was a period of time - long before I followed the game super closely, and paid attention to anything more than how cool the players looked doing their various basketball things, where Kobe Bryant was my favorite player. It was a long, long time ago - 2008 to be exact - where my brother and I decided that we would be Celtics and Lakers fans, respectively.
It didn’t last that long - after much begging, my mom bought us jerseys (I got a Kobe one and my brother got a Rondo one), and both me and my brother had already moved onto different teams - the Spurs for me, and for my brother, whichever team was good at the time (just kidding).
I sometimes do think about why I gravitated to Kobe so early on in my life. I think it’s the same reason so many kids and so many players consistently say Kobe was their favorite player ever. He just embodied a love for the game that hasn’t been replicated by any player since. He taught us lessons about hard work, obsession, and how to win.
As I grew up, I stopped respecting the way he played the game, but still found myself in awe of his commitment to his goals. After his passing, I spent a couple hours just re-watching his highlights. It felt like watching an old friend. For giving me my first love for the game, Kobe Bryant cracks the list.
Favorite Moment: His 49 points against Denver in 2008. Great watch.
Tracy McGrady
McGrady, with his laid-back demeanor, just resonated “cool” when I was combing through NBA history as a 12 year old. Then, I saw it. The 13 points in 33 seconds. The single most exciting footage of basketball I’ve ever seen. Remember those “Where Amazing Happens” commercials that the NBA ran in the late 2000s and early 2010s? I felt like McGrady’s explosion was the best example of that.
Favorite Moment: His 13 points in 33 seconds, obviously!
Paul George
Paul George, like McGrady, just resonated so much “aura” when he played, especially in Indiana. To me though, his return after his gruesome injury was actually his most impressive feat. Not many players could even play in the NBA again after that, much less become better versions of themselves. One of my favorite series ever, that 2013 Pacers-Heat Slugfest, was my first real exposure to George being more than just a great contributor. He had multiple moments in that series where he put his team on his back.
Favorite Moment: His 33 points in Game 1 of the 2016 Playoffs against the Raptors.
Kristaps Porzingis
The first unicorn, Porzingis excited everyone at MSG in his rookie season. Although he didn’t really reach the heights of what he could’ve been, he’s put together a solid career, now with a championship ring. But he’s the pioneer of the unicorns, and I still find myself watching his highlights at night some time.
Favorite Moment: His block on Josh Jackson and subsequent dunk on the other end.
Jeremy Lin
A lot of people deride Lin as being a one-hit wonder, and there is some merit to it - he never did get back to the heights of Linsanity. He was, however, an inspiration to many of the unrepresented kids who watched him take the NBA by storm. The question that I have to people who criticize Lin is “Does it matter?”
Does it matter that Lin never really became the next great point guard? Does it matter that he was not much more than a role player? What really matters is the amount of kids that Lin motivated to pursue their dreams, me included.
Favorite Moment: His ‘Linsane’ game winner against the Raptors.
Boris Diaw
The quick-footed, athletic, but lumpy big man from France was my favorite player to watch during those Spurs runs, even if he wasn’t as big a name as Kawhi, Tim, Tony, or Manu. Like Lonzo, Boris could act as the engine of an offense without demanding the ball too much - and he played a beautiful style. Crisp passing and a nice touch exemplified the big man’s seamless fit around the rest of the “Beautiful Game” Spurs.
Favorite Moment: Boris’ 26 points against the Thunder in the 2014 playoffs.
Nikola Jokic
Jokic is my favorite superstar of the modern era, and he crept up on me early in his career. During his rookie season, not really seeing many Nuggets games - and his traditional stats being just decent for his position - I didn’t see all the intrigue. But after watching more of him during his second season, I saw the hype. One of the great passers of all time, but in a true big man’s body. I didn’t see this ever happening though. I didn’t see the MVPs. I didn’t think he would shed those defensive weaknesses. Jokic’s ascension has given me insights into defense, passing, and assessing players in general. And he’s a wonder to watch.
Favorite Moment: Jokic’s between the legs assist to Bruce Brown.
Kevin Durant
I think a lot of people have this perception of KD as a misanthrope, but having kept up with most of his career very closely, I don’t see it. I think a lot of people just don’t understand why Kevin Durant plays the game of basketball. He just likes to play, and be the best version of himself. He lands so high on this list because of that exact sentiment. When I play basketball, I like being on the same team as players who compliment me - who can let me do the things that I’m good at. That’s why he went to Golden State. For what it’s worth, KD is the best pure scorer I’ve ever watched, and I’m not just okay with him going to Golden State, I’m pretty happy he did. As a basketball purist, I’m happy I got to watch the greatest team ever assembled play the prettiest form of basketball.
Favorite Moment: His Game 5 against the Bucks in 2021, where he reached Basketball Nirvana.
Tim Duncan
The last three spots are predictable - Duncan is the greatest Spurs player ever (undisputed) - and responsible for some of my favorite memories watching basketball. There’s too much to even say about him. Some people might call him boring - but when you root for a team, boring doesn’t matter as long as they’re consistent. And Duncan gave consistency for 19 seasons, playing winning basketball till the end.
The only reason he’s my “least” favorite of the three players? I guess I just didn’t really relate to him all that much.
Favorite Moment: His 25 points in the first half of Game 6 in the 2013 Finals.
Tony Parker
The player I idolized as a kid and tried (unsuccessfully) to model my game after. He wasn’t the best player on the team, and yes, he benefited from playing next to some of the best teammates ever - but discrediting him in some of those ways toes the line of underrating him as a pure player. His influence is also responsible for so many of the French phenoms we see today.
Favorite Moment: His spin move against the Raptors.
Manu Ginóbili
Manu is remarkably iconic, unique, creative, and just an all-around basketball savant. Sometimes, he was too much of those things - particularly for a Spurs team that relied on playing consistently. But his genius always shined through in the moments that mattered - his block on Harden, dunk on Bosh, over his head pass to Danny Green. Yes, he wasn’t as consistent as Tim or Kobe, he wasn’t as athletic as MJ or LeBron - but he was Manu.
Favorite Moment: His bullet pass to Matt Bonner.
I know this article was a little discombobulated, but I don’t care! Hope you enjoyed!
Max Christie making this list 🔜