5 Basketball Players Who Will Inspire You
Basketball is a sport that is beloved by many around the world. There are countless stories of players who have overcome great obstacles to achieve success. Here are five basketball players who will inspire you with their stories.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is one of the most successful basketball players of all time. With five NBA titles an MVP Award and two Finals MVP Awards he has cemented his place in history as one of the greatest to ever play the game But Bryant’s success is not only due to his natural talent and hard work ethic—it is also because of his unwavering determination to never give up, no matter what the odds.
Bryant has faced countless obstacles and setbacks during his career, but he has always found a way to come out on top. In 2003, he was accused of sexual assault, but he was ultimately cleared of all charges. In 2006, he suffered a devastating Knee Injury that many thought would end his career. But Bryant not only made a full recovery—he went on to win two more championships.
Most recently, in 2015, Bryant announced that he was retiring from basketball after 20 years in the NBA. It was a bittersweet moment for fans all over the world, but there is no doubt that Kobe Bryant’s legacy will continue to inspire people for generations to come.
Michael Jordan
While his playing style was anything but fundamental, Michael Jordan’s impact on the game of basketball is undeniable. He popularized the dunk and made it an art form, brought style and Cool to the game and inspired a new generation of players with his incredible work ethic. He was also a master of the Mental Game able to will his teams to victory in some of the most clutch moments in NBA history Simply put, Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, and one of the most inspirational athletes in any sport.
LeBron James
Lebron James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in NBA history
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, James played amateur basketball for St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in his hometown, where he was heavily recruited and drew national attention LeBron’s promising career came to a brief halt when he broke his right wrist during his junior year. However, he quickly recovered and led his team to the state championship the following year. After graduating high school James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft
LeBron’s individual accomplishments are extensive, and his contribution to the game of basketball is immeasurable. In addition to being a four-time NBA MVP he has also been named to fifteen All-NBA teams and sixteen All-Star teams. His accomplishments off the court are just as impressive; he is a devoted philanthropist and has raised millions of dollars for charitable causes through his Lebron James Family Foundation.
Whether you’re a diehard Basketball Fan or simply looking for some inspiration, there’s no doubt that Lebron James is someone worth admiring.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons. After winning championships in high school and college,Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star game winning the All-Star MVP award After protests from his fellow players, he retired again for four years, but returned in 1996 to play 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for good.
Johnson’s career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nominations. He led the league in regular-season assists four times, is the NBA’s all-time leader in average assists per game at 11.2, and ranks fourth on the league’s all-time lists for both total assists (10,141) and assists per game (7.3). He was a member of the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team (“The Dream Team”), which won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Following his playing career, Johnson became an entrepreneur and actor as well as a Basketball team owner. He formed Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE), a multi-Million Dollar holding company that invests primarily in urban America through ventures involving entertainment production including film productions television shows music promotions real estate development restaurants fitness clubs branded merchandise community initiatives such as education mentoring financial support with aspirations to revitalize urban areas by making them safe family friendly places to live work learn and playtech startups[5] In addition he has purchased stakes customer management software company Sterling Commerce valued at $75 million High definition television provider VUDU which he purchased through MJE valued at $100 million[6][7] The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team which he purchased via Guggenheim Baseball Management on March 22 2012 valued at $2 billion negotiated by Stan Kasten of Guggenheim Partners
On December 10 2012 it was announced that Johnson would receive temporary ownership control of struggling Los Angeles Dodgers due to Frank McCourt’s pending sale of Dodgers to Guggenheim Baseball Management
Larry Bird
Larry Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana. He was one of the best players in the NBA and is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played for the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992. During his time with the Celtics, he won three NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP Awards He was also a 12-time NBA All-Star and won the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award in 1982. After his playing career, he served as the Head Coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000.
