Latest news with #basketballLegends
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tracy McGrady names the most underrated players he ever faced: "Oh, man, he was unbelievable. Un, freaking, believable"
Tracy McGrady names the most underrated players he ever faced: "Oh, man, he was unbelievable. Un, freaking, believable" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Every era of basketball has its icon, the guy who seems to carry the whole generation on his back. The '70s had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The '80s were all about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, two legends who saved the league and set the standard for greatness. Then came the '90s, and you already know the name — Michael Jordan. The player who became the measuring stick for everyone who came after. But for every household name who gets the headlines, there are a handful of guys who always flew under the radar. Players who might not have had the shoe deals, the constant highlight packages on SportsCenter, or the championship rings. But those who had to match up against them knew just how deadly these hoopers were when the ball was in their hands. And Tracy McGrady, a certified bucket himself, recently took a moment to show love to some of those guys who don't get talked about enough. "Man, I got a couple," Tracy said when asked about the most underrated players he ever played against, before quickly continuing his list. "That was Jamal Mashburn, Cuttino Mobley, Ricky Davis was pretty good. I got like the highlight guys that nobody talks about. Like, these guys were good players. But, Jamal Mashburn and Cuttino Mobley are underrated hoopers for me. And another one — Peja Stojakovic! I hated guarding him. Hated guarding Peja. Oh, man, he was unbelievable. Un, freaking, believable," the retired bucket-getter added. If anyone can speak on underrated hoopers, it's T-Mac. A guy who saw it all during his time in the league, from locking horns with Kobe Bryant to trying to be a veteran presence on title-hunting teams. And you can tell, just from how McGrady said it, that these weren't empty compliments. Mashburn, Mobley, Ricky and Peja. These were guys who made his nights longer, who forced him to bring just a little bit extra. Because if you didn't, they'd light you up in a matter of seconds. The fact that so few fans today mention their names made T-Mac want to shine a light on was one of the most polished scorers of his generation. He had the size to bully smaller defenders and the finesse and quickness to embarrass big men who tried to stop him. Mash could get you 20 on any night without breaking a sweat. Injuries might've robbed him of a longer peak, but when he was at his best, good luck trying to put him off his game. Mobley was the lefty who could cook you in isolation, knock down the open three, and never seemed rushed. Mobley had that old-man-at-the-park vibe in the way he controlled the tempo. And T-Mac knows it all too well. McGrady didn't even try to hide how much respect he had for Peja's game. A Serbian sharpshooter before the three-point boom took over the league. Stojakovic had it all in his arsenal, from coming off screens to creating his own shot and setting up teammates. These were the guys who didn't always get the front-page treatment, but ask anyone who had to face them — they'll tell you the same thing T-Mac did. And while they might not be on every fan's all-time list, the players who went toe-to-toe with them never forgot what they brought to the story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lenny Wilkens has statue unveiled outside Seattle arena where he led SuperSonics to NBA title
Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens looks on before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens, center, arrives for his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens smiles before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens smiles before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens looks on before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens, center, arrives for his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens smiles before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) SEATTLE (AP) — Lenny Wilkens couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he gazed at a bronze statue of himself at the site of his greatest coaching triumph. On Saturday, the former Seattle SuperSonics player and coach became the first person to have a statue unveiled outside Climate Pledge Arena. Advertisement Wilkens led the Sonics to the 1979 NBA title. But the 6-foot, 700-pound statue, sculpted by Chicago-based Lou Cella, depicts Wilkens as a player. Cella also produced statues of University of Washington football coach Don James and Seattle Mariners greats Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez. 'I've been blessed,' the 87-year-old Wilkens said. 'I'll be the first to tell you.' A point guard, Wilkens played 15 NBA seasons, including four for Seattle, and was a nine-time All-Star. He averaged 16.7 points and 6.5 assists. Climate Pledge Arena, home to the WNBA's Seattle Storm and NHL's Seattle Kraken, has never hosted an NBA game in its current incarnation. Known as KeyArena when the Sonics played there, it reopened in 2021 after a $1.15 billion renovation. The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the Thunder; that franchise won the NBA title this month. Advertisement Wilkens' statue won't stand alone for long. Longtime Storm point guard and four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird will have a statue unveiled outside the arena on Aug. 17. 'Lenny Wilkens' legacy in this city is undeniable — he helped lay the foundation for Seattle's deep love of the game. Both Lenny and Sue have brought home championships, inspired generations and helped shape Seattle into the incredible basketball city that it is today,' Storm president and CEO Alisha Valavanis said in a statement. 'The Storm are honored to be part of this monumental moment for Lenny, and we can't wait to celebrate Sue and all that she's meant to our city when we unveil her statue later this summer.' Wilkens, a three-time inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, was joined by SuperSonics greats including Spencer Haywood, Jack Sikma, Detlef Schrempf, Nate McMillan and coach George Karl. McMillan said Wilkens' impact on the Sonics was similar to that of Jerry West on the Los Angeles Lakers and Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls. Wilkens is third in career wins by an NBA coach at 1,332, trailing only Gregg Popovich and Don Nelson. 'He's one of the greatest leaders the NBA has ever seen,' McMillan said. ___ AP NBA:
