ESPN Ranks the top 100 most influential players ever

[Moranis]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank22782612/nbarank-game-changers-most-influential-basketball-players-ever-nos-100-76

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank22907400/nbarank-game-changers-most-influential-basketball-players-ever-nos-75-51

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank22920346/nbarank-game-changers-most-influential-basketball-players-ever-nos-50-26

The top 25 will be released tomorrow.

[Donoghus]

Golly gee, I wonder who will be #1?

[GreenEnvy]

Golly gee, I wonder who will be #1?

Gotta be Scal, no?

[Who]

Why the heck is Melo on the top 100 list?

How was Melo a game changer? Someone who influenced the history of the game?

[Who]

Other strange ones = Ed O Bannon (85th most influential basketball player of all time) Jason Collins (78th), Jeremy Lin (75th)

Too low = Bob Pettit (80th). The guy was the prototype for the PF position from the 50s until Duncan and KG came along in the late 90s. Rick Barry at 48.

Too high = Chris Webber at 51st. Chris Paul at 49.

[Donoghus]

Other strange ones = Ed O Bannon (85th most influential basketball player of all time) Jason Collins (78th), Jeremy Lin (75th)

Too low = Bob Pettit (80th). The guy was the prototype for the PF position from the 50s until Duncan and KG came along in the late 90s.

All 3 of those guys make a lot more sense when you consider the off-court component. 

[Who]

Ray Allen is way too high at #36. How the heck is Ray Allen more influential than Reggie Miller who was back somewhere around #90?

Bob Cousy should be higher than #37. He redefined and typified PG play at it's highest level. Brought more showmanship and flair to the game while winning at the highest level.

Vince Carter at #33 and Dominique Wilkins at #35 are too high too.

[tarheelsxxiii]

ESPN stinks. They always botch these ranking lists.

[ChillyWilly]

Ray Allen is way too high at #36. How the heck is Ray Allen more influential than Reggie Miller who was back somewhere around #90?

Bob Cousy should be higher than #37. He redefined and typified PG play at it's highest level. Brought more showmanship and flair to the game while winning at the highest level.

Vince Carter at #33 and Dominique Wilkins at #35 are too high too.

How was Ray Allen not more influential than Reggie Miller for the game of basketball?

Reggie Miller was a 3pt shooter and amazing free throw shooter who couldn't guard a wet paperbag or do much of anything else. Dude could shoot lights out and turn the ball over at a high rate what else was he good at?

Ray Allen was a complete player who could shoot even better than Reggie.

[Who]

Ray Allen is way too high at #36. How the heck is Ray Allen more influential than Reggie Miller who was back somewhere around #90?

Bob Cousy should be higher than #37. He redefined and typified PG play at it's highest level. Brought more showmanship and flair to the game while winning at the highest level.

Vince Carter at #33 and Dominique Wilkins at #35 are too high too.

How was Ray Allen not more influential than Reggie Miller for the game of basketball?

Reggie Miller was a 3pt shooter and amazing free throw shooter who couldn't guard a wet paperbag or do much of anything else. Dude could shoot lights out and turn the ball over at a high rate what else was he good at?

Ray Allen was a complete player who could shoot even better than Reggie.

I agree Ray was a more talented player than Reggie ... but why was he more influential?

Reggie Miller brought 3 point shooting mainstream. He was the first star to be so prolific from three point range. Larry Bird was the main star of the 80s to be a lights out three point shooter but he was only making 80-90 threes per season at his pinnacle. The three point shot only accounted for about 15% of his FGAs. Reggie Miller brought that up to a whole new level. He doubled the number of makes Bird was doing. The three point shot was more like 33-42% of Reggie's FGAs. Ray Allen continued on with that but Reggie was the first one. He was the influence-maker. Not Ray Allen.

It was Reggie who brought that mainstream and influenced so many that followed him. Not Ray. It wasn't until Steph Curry came in that someone really upped the ante again in 3 point shooting again (breaking 300 and 400 marks in 3 point FG makes).

Add in the playoff heroics, the game winning shots ... Reggie was a cult-figure in the 90s. A huge personality. A massive trash-talker. Someone people talked about. Huge performances against the Knicks. Trash talking Spike Lee. 8 points in 9 seconds to lead a comeback in the playoffs! Reggie was an icon. They even named a rule-change after him (that leg out flop thing).

You could also note Reggie as one of the first prolific scoring outside shooters with TS% consistently 60-65%.

He was a trend-setter.

[Moranis]

Golly gee, I wonder who will be #1?

If it isn't Jordan then ESPN should be taken out back and whipped.

[Eja117]

I wouldn't mind Larry and Magic being tied for 1, but realistically this is ESPN. It's gonna be Bron.

[Eja117]

Realistically Toine should get a top 20 spot for being the first unapologetic stretch 4 who couldn't shoot. He influenced an entire 2 generations of bad players. Plus he taught them to be out of shape, go bankrupt, have no degree, and yet still latch on to a team for ring. His fingerprints are all over the modern game

[2short]

Golly gee, I wonder who will be #1?

If it isn't Jordan then ESPN should be taken out back and whipped.

Why is Jordan such a #1
Wilt, Russ, Cousy, O, Pistol Pete, Bird, Magic, Kareem
I can make some lists for most influential, as someone else stated Petit, Erving..
Jordan should be up there as a great defender /offensive player but espn era, preferential calls, carrying the ball is sooo overblown
Hawkins, Mikan, Cowens, Akeem,  Durant etc etc

[Roy H.]

Other strange ones = Ed O Bannon (85th most influential basketball player of all time) Jason Collins (78th), Jeremy Lin (75th)

Too low = Bob Pettit (80th). The guy was the prototype for the PF position from the 50s until Duncan and KG came along in the late 90s.

All 3 of those guys make a lot more sense when you consider the off-court component.

Yep. I refuse to read these lists, but is Spencer Haywood on there? He was a game-changer for player rights.