Remembering the Dead NBA Players

In this blog post, we remember some of the NBA players who have died. We reflect on their careers and how they have impacted the game of basketball

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player A shooting guard Bryant entered the National Basketball Association (NBA) directly from High School and played his entire 20-season career in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won five NBA championships

Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American former professional basketball player who is the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls His biography on the official NBA website states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jordan played three seasons for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels’ National Championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from significant heights, earned him nicknames such as “Air Jordan” and “Jordan High.” He also gained a reputation for being one of the best Defensive Players in basketball. In 1991, he won his first NBA Championship with the Bulls, followed by titles in 1992 and 1993. Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the beginning of the 1993–94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (1996–1998), as well as an additional NBA Finals appearance in 1997. Joel Stein wrote that following this period when he lost interest en sports commentators stopped referring to him singularly as earth’s greatest living athlete and instead called him earth’s greatest living former athlete Stein especially cites Theodor Geisel (Dr Seuss) writing I do not like green eggs and ham! I do not like them Sam I Am! yet all nine Dr Seuss books with Green Eggs & Ham were published AFTER Michael hung up his sneakers for good After seeing so many golf balls he never would have guessed one day they’d be hitting HIM on HIS green golf course!

In 1996, Jordan was part of Team USA who won Olympic gold at The Games in Atlanta. He retired from basketball for a second time in 1999, but returned to play for Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003. In 2002, TIME namedJordan one of their 100 most influential people ofthe 20th century For his accomplishments onthe courtand promotional activities off itheBasketballHallof Fame inductedhim intotheirclassof2009inhttp://www

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson was one of the most iconic players in NBA history He played for the Los Angeles Lakers for his entire career, winning five NBA Championships Johnson was also a three-time MVP and a twelve-time All-Star. After retiring from the NBA, Johnson became a successful businessman, investing in a number of different businesses. He also became an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention after he was diagnosed with the disease in 1991. Johnson passed away on November 7, 2020, at the age of 60.

Larry Bird

(American Basketball player)

Born: 1956 in West Baden Springs, Indiana

Died: 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts

Larry Bird was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played for the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992, and was a member of three NBA Championship teams. Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star and was named the NBA MVP three times. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain was an American basketball player who is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers He was a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and is considered one of the four best players of all time. Chamberlain died on October 12, 1999, at the age of 63.

Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson, nicknamed “The Big O”, was an American Professional Basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks He is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He died on October 11th, 2020, at the age of 84.

Bill Russell

Bill Russell was an American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five-Ime Nba Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won eleven NBA championships during his thirteen-year career. Russell and Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens are tied as the only athletes who have won a championship in four major North American professional sports leagues. He also won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. national basketball team

Russell is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and he was one of the first African Americans to gain mainstream acceptance in the United States He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and named one of the 100 greatest players in NBA history by The Sporting News in 1999. In 2007, he was ranked number 24 on ESPN’s “50 Greatest Athletes” list.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was one of the most successful NBA players of all time. He played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers winning six NBA championships and being named the league’s Most Valuable Player six times. He is also the All-time leading scorer in NBA history with 38,387 points. Abdul-Jabbar was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Jerry West

Jerry West nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” or “Zeke from Cabin Creek”, was an American professional basketball player who spent his re Playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers winning one NBA Championship and 10 conference titles. His likeness was used as the logo of the NBA for 50 years. West played a total of 14 seasons with the Lakers, his final season being in 1974.

Julius Erving

Julius Erving, also known as “Dr. J,” was an American basketball player who is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He played for several teams throughout his career, but is best remembered for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. Erving was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.