Tag: Moses Malone

Where ESPN ranks Rockets greats among NBA’s Top 75 players of all-time

The official NBA 75 list of the league’s greatest all-time players includes 11 former Rockets. Here’s where ESPN ranks them, historically.

Founded in 1967 in San Diego before moving to Houston in 1971, the Rockets are clearly one of the NBA’s flagship franchises. With 2,286 wins and 2,074 losses, the team’s .529 winning clip entering the 2021-22 season ranks eighth among the league’s 30 active clubs, and they are one of only 11 teams with multiple championships (1994, 1995).

As such, it wasn’t a surprise to see Houston well represented with more than 10 former players on the historic NBA 75 list. The NBA 75 is the league’s official 75th anniversary team, honoring the 75 greatest players in league history as selected by a panel of media and current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives. (Because of a tie in voting, there were ultimately 76 players named.)

Many of those 76 players were honored on Sunday, Feb. 20, as part of a celebration at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland.

What the league office did not do, however, is rank those 76 all-time greats in comparison to each other. An independent ESPN panel recently took that additional step, and here’s where the 11 players with Houston ties ended up. Scroll on for further statistics, career data, and analysis.

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Where Rockets rank among the greatest nicknames in NBA history

“Hakeem the Dream” and “Clyde the Glide” are among Houston’s best contributions to elite NBA nicknames, but they’re far from alone. Here’s a comprehensive list through Rockets history.

The best sports nicknames are colorful accents that effortlessly add a dash of flavor to the games we watch and play.

Some originate as terms of endearment, while others are bestowed as labels of ineptitude. That got us wondering about where some of the greatest players in basketball history — such as Michael Jordan (Air), LeBron James (King James) and Earvin Johnson (Magic) — rank in the pantheon of great NBA nicknames.

Baseball, with its long and rich history, once generated vivid monikers such as the Sultan of Swat (Babe Ruth) and the Splendid Splinter (Ted Williams). But basketball, with its playground roots and hip-hop culture, arguably is the sport with the most imaginative sports nicknames today.

With that in mind, Thomas Neumann of Rookie Wire took a shot at ranking the 101 greatest nicknames in NBA history. See below for where players with ties to the Houston Rockets were ranked in that list.

All nickname commentary and history is from Neumann.

And Malone lived at the free-throw …

And Malone lived at the free-throw line. He averaged 8.2 free-throw attempts per game. Only Karl Malone, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal have attempted more career free throws among NBA players than Malone’s 11,090. “I hated Moses,” said Mychal Thompson, the first pick in the 1978 draft by Portland who also went on to play on multiple Lakers championship teams in the 1980s. But like most of the big men of that generation, there was no preparing to bang for 40 minutes with Malone. “I had sleepless nights when I knew I was playing the Rockets or 76ers,” Thompson said. “I knew I was going to be assigned to him. I knew I was going to be sore the next night. The guy was freaking relentless. You just knew you were in for a long night. I knew I was going to be beaten up and bruised. He didn’t mind the contact. And he was in such great shape. He didn’t play above the rim, but he was in great shape and he had such great anticipation on rebounds. It was like playing against an athletic octopus.

LeBron James passes Oscar Robertson in career free throws

Dave McMenamin: LeBron James, who is 7-of-8 on free throws tonight, has passed Oscar Robertson for 4th on the all time made free throws list. He has 7,695 for his career. Only Karl Malone (9,787), Moses Malone (8,531) and Kobe Bryant (8,378) have …

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron says Avery Bradley knows exactly how to make his mark on the offensive end around guys who handle and are more capable playmakers. One of the reasons he’s succeeded in both stints in L.A. is because he doesn’t try to play outside what he does well, LeBron says. – 12:53 AM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron James says Melo’s attitude and approach is a “breath of fresh air” with how he’s accepted his role on the team and what he means to the game: “I’m happy as hell I finally get the opportunity to team up with him for a full season.” – 12:50 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron said “We’ve been playing good basketball of late,” that the Lakers are “Trending in the right direction” despite a few losses that they’ve suffered prior to winning 3 of the last 4. – 12:47 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron James 19th season:
28.5 PPG — highest since 2010
52.3 FG% — highest since 2018
37.4 3P% — highest since 2014
20.2 FGA — highest since 2008
1.8 SPG — highest since 2012
1.1 BPG — highest since 2009 pic.twitter.com/hIzMl06QiO – 11:59 PM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Ugly game, but Lakers hold off Timberwolves, 108-103…
-Lebron 26pts 7rebs 5ast 3stls
-Monk 22pts 2blks
-Westbrook 20pts 5ast (9 turnovers)
-Avery 14pts 4rebs 4steals
-Carmelo 14pts
Lakers now 19-19 on season…Next game Tues vs Kings
@ESPNLosAngeles – 11:56 PM
Bill Oram @billoram
Lakers hold on to beat Minnesota 108-103. They have won three out of their last four games — all games in which LeBron started at center. This one exposed some of the problems with going small (outrebounded x2, 56-28) but it’s a win in a game they needed to win. – 11:55 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
FINAL: Lakers 108, Timberwolves 103.
The Lakers survive thanks to timely shots from Melo and Avery Bradley. LeBron’s 30-point streak ends, but he had 26 points. Russ with 20 points and 9 turnovers. Bradley with 14 points and 4 steals. – 11:54 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers defeat T’Wolves 108-103. LeBron James 26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, Malik Monk 22 points, Russell Westbrook 20 points, 10 turnovers. – 11:54 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Lakers beat the Wolves 108-103 to get back to .500 at 19-19. LeBron 26p 7r 5a 3s; Russ 21p 9tos 5a; Monk 22p 2b; Bradley 14p 4s; Melo 14p. LeBron’s 30 point streak ended at 7 games, Westbrook’s triple-double streak ended at 4, but LAL won for the third time in four games – 11:54 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron James’ 30-point game streak ended at 7 tonight.
He’s clearly lost a step, might need to think about retiring. pic.twitter.com/mvg7t1H7Ow – 11:53 PM

Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
Man LeBron had Beverley right in front of him and was six feet from the hoop and passed it out for a 3. Wolves breathe a sigh of relief there. Good TO by Finch. It was getting frazzled. – 11:25 PM
Christopher Hine @ChristopherHine
The Timberwolves, without Towns and Russell, lead a Lakers team that has LeBron and Russ playing, 80-78, heading into the fourth. – 11:14 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James, who is 7-of-8 on free throws tonight, has passed Oscar Robertson for 4th on the all time made free throws list. He has 7,695 for his career. Only Karl Malone (9,787), Moses Malone (8,531) and Kobe Bryant (8,378) have made more. – 11:09 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
With his seventh free throw of the night at the 6:24 mark of the third quarter, Lakers say LeBron James passed Oscar Robertson for fourth on the NBA’s all-time free throws made list. – 11:04 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
From Lakers PR: “With his seventh free throw of the night at the 6:24 mark of the third quarter, LeBron James passed Oscar Robertson for fourth on the NBA’s all-time free throws made list.” – 11:04 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
LeBron has 22 on 9 shots. And I don’t think he’s playing particularly well tonight. It just shows how off the charts his efficiency is – 11:00 PM
Bill Oram @billoram
The Lakers up 57-54 at halftime. They’re up, but without a traditional center have struggled to contain Naz Reid (17 and 7) in the middle. LeBron and Malik Monk both have 14 points. Westbrook struggling with 7 turnovers. – 10:36 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers open 57-54 lead over Minny at half. LeBron James, Malik Monk both have 14 points. Russell Westbrook has 10 points, but 7 turnovers. – 10:34 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
LeBron James vs. Naz Reid: the classic center duel the small-ball NBA has deprived us of in recent years. – 10:34 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
LeBron out here getting cardio tonight – 10:19 PM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
it’s so fascinating whenever the lakers go small with lebron on the bench – 10:05 PM
Dane Moore @DaneMooreNBA
My @PrizePicks for Wolves-Lakers
– Edwards over 23.5 pts
Ant in LA… Lotta usage available without KAT + DLo
– Beasley over 18.5 pts
Been bombin lately
– LeBron over 5.5 made FTs
Wolves foul a ton, particularly big wings
– Westbrook under 9.5 asts
Think Russ looks to attack – 8:57 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel says he’ll go with the same starting lineup as Friday — LeBron, Stanley Johnson, Russ, Avery Bradley and Malik Monk. – 7:48 PM
LeBron James @KingJames
OBJ!!!!!!! Ya heard – 3:48 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
🆕 @TheAthletic
Eric Bledsoe, dubbed “Mini-LeBron” 10 years ago by @Jamal Crawford, has appeared in every Clippers game this season.
There was no more important time for that availability than this 5-in-7 that ended with a legitimate statement win in BK.
https://t.co/O0Qgn2IUcf pic.twitter.com/PVeKKovt6u – 12:47 PM

More on this storyline

Mike Lynch: DeMar DeRozan is the first player in the history of the NBA to win games at the buzzer on consecutive days The only other player to win consecutive games at the buzzer was Larry Bird on January 27 and 29, 1985 -via Twitter @SportInfo247 / January 2, 2022
Steph Curry surpassed himself with the latest record, as he set a new NBA record for consecutive games with a three-pointer made (158) during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz. Curry has been almost unstoppable this season. He already became the NBA all-time leader in three-pointers made, while he is the first NBA player to hit 3,000 threes during his career. -via TalkBasket / January 2, 2022
While James doesn’t talk about it, the all-time scoring record must be somewhere on his mind. In the never-ending debate about greatest player of all-time, the more accomplishments and records to a résumé, the better the argument. If James plays in at least 40 of the Lakers’ remaining 48 games and averages 25 points, he will pass Malone late in the season and trail only Abdul-Jabbar by nearly 1,400 points headed into next season. As long as he’s healthy and continues to average at least 22 points, he will become the league’s all-time leading scorer in the 2022-23 season. -via USA Today Sports / December 30, 2021

4 former Sixers centers appear on list of top 20 centers in NBA history

There are four former Philadelphia 76ers centers who appear on the list of the top 20 centers in NBA history.

Some pretty terrific players have been a part of the Philadelphia 76ers history. Legends such as Allen Iverson and Julius Erving passed through the City of Brotherly Love and made an impact on the franchise and the league.

As the NBA celebrates its 75th season, lists honoring the best players in league history have been released. The most recent list released is focused on the big men.

The great people at HoopsHype put together a list of the top 20 centers in NBA history, and four former Sixers are on the list. Their ranking on the list will be next to their name: