Latest news with #CarmeloAnthony


Time of India
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
La La Anthony celebrates niece's birthday as Carmelo Anthony reflects on loyalty and brotherhood in NBA
Carmelo Anthony's ex-wife recently made the news (Image via Getty Images) La La Anthony , the ex-wife of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, recently shared warm birthday wishes for her niece on social media, demonstrating the strong family ties. On July 22, she wrote a birthday post dedicating her on Instagram. A number of the birthday girl's beach photos were also included in the post. Meanwhile, La La Anthony herself attracted attention two days ago with her gorgeous swimwear photos which she also uploaded on Instagram. Carmelo Anthony speaks on loyalty while La La Anthony shares heartfelt birthday tribute to her niece Celebrating this significant day, the actress and TV personality sent a message and old pictures, showing her admiration and pride in each text. She took to her Instagram Story and wrote: 'My niece. My cancer twin. Happy Birthday @saditysanea. Beautiful from the inside out!!! Love you!!!' This action demonstrates La La Anthony 's dual roles as a loyal family member and a loving aunt. Her off-screen persona as a devoted mother who cherishes her loved ones is revealed through these intimate moments. La La Anthony is actually NBA icon Carmelo Anthony's ex-wife. They got divorced in 2021 after being married since 2010. They also had a son, Kiyan. The socialite has highlighted on many occasions that they are still close friends and co-parents despite everything. Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony was in the news recently after he complained about the Milwaukee Bucks waiving their leading star, Damian Lillard. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Affordable Mobile Plan for Switzerland Lebara Learn More Undo In a post that was shared on Instagram announcing the news, the NBA icon left a series of comments denouncing the move. He wrote: 'SMH… 'BUSINESS PER USUAL!!! NO LOYALTY IN SPORTS!!!' Carmelo Anthony recently supported Damian Lillard (Image via Getty Images) Damian Lillard will be sidelined for a long period while he heals after tearing his Achilles during the playoffs' opening round. Carmelo Anthony and Damian Lillard shared the court during their two seasons with the Portland Trailblazers, which ran from 2019 to 2021. As two NBA legends from different periods brought together by a love of the game and a dedication to supporting one another, their relationship now serves as a monument to brotherhood in the league. Also read: Milwaukee Bucks risk losing Damian Lillard as the star now open to joining Boston Celtics after past rejection Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Legend Carmelo Anthony Had One Word for Angel Reese, WNBA All-Stars
NBA Legend Carmelo Anthony Had One Word for Angel Reese, WNBA All-Stars originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The WNBA All-Star Weekend had everything you'd hope for: flashy plays, record-breaking moments and a whole lot of personality. But amid all the fun, one team in particular caught everyone's attention: Angel Reese and the Team Collier squad. Advertisement From her energy on the court to the way she's quickly becoming a face of the league, Reese showed she belongs on the big stage. And if fans weren't already convinced, a little validation came from NBA royalty. Carmelo Anthony, never one to hand out praise lightly, summed up his thoughts with just one word, and it spoke volumes. Anthony took to his Instagram stories to issue one word for Reese and her teammates saying, 'congrats.' Angel Reese made her presence felt once again at the WNBA All-Star Game, suiting up for Team Collier in her second straight appearance and doing exactly what she does best: crash the boards. Coming off the bench, Reese pulled down nine rebounds and chipped in with six points and a couple of assists as her squad rolled past Team Clark, 151-131. Advertisement This isn't new territory for Reese. Last year, she was a standout too, notching a double-double in her All-Star debut. While the spotlight was on teammates Napheesa Collier and Skylar Diggins, both of whom made history with record-setting performances, Reese stayed steady in her role as a rebounding machine. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.© Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The fun doesn't stop there, though. Reese and the Sky get back to business soon, facing Collier and the Lynx again on Tuesday. With a nine-game double-double streak under her belt, Reese is locked in and continuing to make waves in just her second season. Related: Angel Reese Makes WNBA History on Saturday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.


New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Men's college basketball's best of the last 25 years: Readers share their picks, favorite games
Who's the best men's college basketball player of the 21st century? The Athletic set out to answer that — and much more — this month, ranking the top 25 players, coaches, teams, non-title teams and games of the last 25 years. However, one thing is for sure: There's no consensus, and plenty of debate. Advertisement Nearly 2,000 people filled out our poll to vote for the best player, coach and team of the 2000s. And the race to be crowned best player was decided by one vote. On to the results — and some of your best memories of a quarter-century of college hoops: (Note: Submitted responses have been edited for clarity.) As mentioned above, this was close! Carmelo Anthony, who led Syracuse to a national championship as a freshman in 2003, inched ahead of North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough by a single vote. It's the classic one-and-done versus four-year standout debate that made this ranking so challenging. Hansbrough was a four-time All-American and reached two Final Fours, winning a title as a senior in 2009. Anthony also topped Lindsay Schnell's ranking last week. Five of the top six vote-getters won a national championship. The seven players above were the only ones to receive at least 5 percent of a balanced vote; Davidson's Stephen Curry and Duke's Shane Battier and JJ Redick rounded out the top 10. We also asked readers to pick a top-five list, in any order. Here are the results of that vote, and the comparison to our ranking. Anthony was the only player to appear on more than half of the submissions. Interestingly, Curry was comfortably in the top five, though he didn't receive as many votes as the No. 1 player. The Duke vote appeared to be split, with Redick and Battier again leading the way. Readers were higher on Durant and Redick than our ranking, and lower on Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson — our No. 6 player appeared on only 3 percent of ballots. Readers had more of a consensus on the top coach, with 30 percent of the vote going to former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. The No. 1 coach in CJ Moore's rankings, Bill Self, came in second. Krzyzewski and Roy Williams are the only coaches to win three national titles this century, but Self (who has two titles) got the edge for Moore because of his 18 conference championships and 24 NCAA Tournament appearances (every tourney this century). Advertisement Wright moves up here, with just more than half of the readers including him in their top five. The 14 coaches above were the only ones to reach at least 10 percent. Readers were higher on Tom Izzo, John Calipari and Jim Calhoun, and lower on Rick Pitino and Kelvin Sampson. Like the top player vote, this one was close. The UConn team of two seasons ago eked out a place atop the poll over Brendan Marks' No. 1 team, 2000-01 Duke. It's hard to argue with any of the top three. This vote largely reflected our ranking, with the top eight comprising eight of Marks' top nine. The 2006-07 Florida and 2023-24 UConn teams both won the second of back-to-back national championships at their programs, so it's not surprising to see the recognition that these belong in the top five. There also appeared to be a clear top five, with a decent gap to the 2008-09 North Carolina team, which was the top team not to make it. Readers were higher on 2004-05 North Carolina and lower on 2020-21 Baylor, which ranked 16th on this list and No. 8 in our ranking. We left the games question open-ended. Of course, many of the responses mirrored our top 25 games list, with many mentions of Kris Jenkins and Mario Chalmers' clutch championship shots, the Syracuse-UConn six-overtime game in the 2009 Big East tournament, and Duke's 'Miracle Minute' comeback against Maryland. However, some games were more memorable on a personal level — the result of a sport with hundreds of teams and thousands of games. Here were some of your responses. 'It has to be the 2008 national championship, right? The first time the Final Four featured the top-ranked teams. Leads changing, Memphis storming to a seemingly insurmountable lead with, what, two minutes left? Then the missed free throws. Then Mario. And then Mario. After the miracle, OT almost seemed like a formality.' — Chris P. Advertisement 'Villanova-UNC national championship game, 2016. I'll never forget the seat cushions raining down on me after Marcus Paige tied the game with an off-balance 3, only for the fireworks and confetti to be set off after an even more stunning Kris Jenkins buzzer-beater seconds later. Nobody in the crowd could believe what had just happened. Top-five championship game in sports, ever.' — Andrew G. 'Six-OT game! Even as a UConn fan, there's no denying the spectacle of that contest and I'm happy we were part of it and that it's part of our program's zeitgeist, loss and all.' — Nick S. 'The 2010 NCAA final between Duke and Butler — it wasn't pretty but it was played at a high level throughout. Also, there was so much drama with Butler being such an underdog and basically having home-court advantage. Just great stuff.' — Lara L. 'Even on the losing side as a Purdue fan, the 2019 Elite Eight game against Virginia takes the cake. The Carsen Edwards shotmaking, the Virginia redemption story, the back-and-forth scoreboard, the Diakite shot and OT finish … it may not have been a title game, but it still won Virginia the title and was an instant classic.' — Jack G. 'The 2024 national championship game, UConn vs. Purdue. It felt like these two dominant teams were on a collision course all year, but it turned out to be the coronation of the last two years of UConn dominance. Back-to-back was historical and that UConn team was so much fun to watch. As Dan Hurley said, 'They were bulletproof.'' — Deryl W. 'March 16, 2006. No. 12 Montana 87, No. 5 Nevada 79. NCAA Tournament first round. The Grizzlies' first tournament win in 31 years and the last tournament win for the Big Sky Conference. A special moment for a proud program and an effective reminder as to why the size and structure of the tournament should be left alone.' — Kris G. 'ACC championship 2024. I'm a recent NC State alum and got to rush the bell tower with my dad that night. He's the one who introduced me to the Wolfpack. The rest of that run was pretty fun too. — Haley H. Advertisement 'Forgotten Classic: Kansas 90, Texas 86 (March 3, 2007). Freshman Kevin Durant going off for 32 in Allen Fieldhouse, 25 in the first half, Kansas comes back from a 16-point deficit to win the Big 12 regular-season title. When you have Danny Manning on the bench watching a freshman going off in the toughest venue in college hoops, saying, 'That's the baddest man to play here,' that's a special game.' — David C. '2017 Elite 8 — UNC over Kentucky: Tit for tat the entire ballgame with two legendary coaches at the helm. Obviously, the finishing sequence and Luke Maye will be remembered forever. People forget the December matchup between these teams, which was every bit as electric, only without the high stakes. Shows just how hard it is to beat a team twice.' — Brendan I. '2011 Pac-10 championship game. Been to thousands of games at this point in my life, nothing took my breath away the way this one did. 'Cold-blooded!' Washington 77, Arizona 75 in OT. Easily the best game I've ever seen live.' — Rocco M. 'UCLA-Gonzaga Final Four in 2021. An 11-seed's improbable run collided with a mid-major's quest for perfection, ending in Jalen Suggs' half-court heave banking in at the buzzer. That game exemplified what this sport is all about.' — Brendan P. 'Michigan State beating Duke to advance to the Final Four in 2019. Kenny Goins hitting that 3 over Zion (Williamson) provided a moment of euphoria that I will chase for the rest of my life.' — Joey C. 'Michigan versus Kansas in the Sweet 16 during the 2013 NCAA Tournament. (Trey) Burke pulling up from planet Mars to hit a 3 and force overtime. I can still picture (Mitch) McGary falling to the floor after setting the screen.' — Andrew R. '2005. Illinois vs. Arizona in the Elite 8. As a 12-year-old just beginning to fall in love with college basketball, this was my first 'Where were you watching?' game. — Jeremy K. Advertisement 'Creighton Blue Jays vs. Bradley Braves, Feb. 1, 2011. The game had to start four hours early because a historic blizzard was coming (it would drop 20 inches of snow and halt life in central Illinois) and Creighton was favored. Bradley was on an 11-game losing streak. In front of a more-empty-than-usual Carver Arena, Bradley legend Andrew Warren scored 23, overpowering the Creighton star Doug McDermott. What a wonderful game to experience in person.' — Zach B. 'Florida and Wisconsin in the 2017 Sweet 16. Gators blow a double-digit lead/the Badgers hit an unbelievable 3-pointer to force overtime. Down two with four seconds left, nearly all hope was lost for Gator Nation. But Chris Chiozza hits an even more unbelievable 3-pointer at the buzzer. Pure elation!' — Rusty G. 'Collin Sexton at Alabama successfully playing three-on-five vs. Minnesota.' — Dan S. 'Saint Louis vs. Rhode Island, A-10 tournament 2010. Snuck out of work to watch the game. A friend encouraged me to stay out a little longer after SLU lost. I got my future spouse's phone number that night.' — Zach B. 'Duke vs. Gonzaga in the 2019 Maui Invitational. Being a Duke fan and my brother being a Zags fan, I wish we would've won the game. Still, the game being super back and forth while watching it with my brother remains one of my favorite CBB games in recent memory.' — Benjamin B.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ranking The 20 Greatest Pure Scorers In NBA History
Ranking The 20 Greatest Pure Scorers In NBA History originally appeared on Fadeaway World. There's scoring, and then there's pure scoring. The likes of LeBron James and Stephen Curry fill stat sheets with everything from transition to coming off screens, but the truly pure scorers? They exist in another dimension, which means these two barely miss out. As Carmelo Anthony puts it, the great ones 'you put them in that corner, you'll get a bucket', no questions asked. These players wield scoring like a weapon, and we're here to crown the kings. This is about scoring fluency and instinct. Forget the volume records and longevity; this is about the feel. Michael Jordan's 30.1 PPG over a career, Allen Iverson's dazzling drives, and George Gervin's effortless finger roll are examples of offensive prowess. They're the purest scorers of all time. Let's rank the elite: the transcendent scorers who could will buckets into being, night after night. Some will surprise you. Others you'll argue with. But all of them were pure scorers. 20. Adrian Dantley Career Total: 23,177 Points Career Average: 24.3 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 4 (1981-1984) Scoring Titles: 2 (1981, 1984) Adrian Dantley was what coaches call a 'garage-band scorer', operating shoulder-to-shoulder in the low post, using hand-checking era muscle to draw contact and bury free throws. He wasn't a high-flyer or perimeter assassin, but his mid-range craft and physicality made him nearly unstoppable in traffic. What stands out about Dantley is his efficiency: he converted at blistering rates even without the modern spacing or three-point threat. He was the hidden scoring weapon on several under-the-radar, gritty teams, and that relentless interior aggression defines purity in scoring. 19. Rick Barry Career Total: 25,279 Points Career Average: 24.8 PPG Consecutive 30+ PPG Seasons: 0 Scoring Titles: 1 (1967) Ricky Barry launched an underhanded free throw, a technique so funky you knew it had to work. But he was so much more, a slasher with a sniper's precision, using angled penetration and floaters long before the modern mid-range. He wasn't physically imposing, yet he carved defenses with basketball IQ and touch. A forward whose quiet dominance laid early groundwork for positionless scoring. His best season came in 1967 when he dropped 35.6 PPG, but he also won a scoring title in the ABA in 1969 (34.0 PPG). 18. Dominique Wilkins Career Total: 26,668 Points Career Average: 24.8 PPG Consecutive 30+ PPG Seasons: 0 Scoring Titles: 1 (1986) The "Human Highlight Film" was a package of brute aesthetics: slashes to reverse lay-ins, thunderous dunks, and gliding pull-ups. Dominique Wilkins didn't rely on theatrics alone; he punished mismatches with footwork, drive, and a fluid midrange. He came up short in an era of Magic-Bird connection, but Wilkins was the consummate scorer: charisma with accuracy. He could heat-check with a mid-30s night, and most nights, he delivered. For any old heads: Wilkins was your favorite player's favorite player growing up. 17. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Career Total: 38,387 Points Career Average: 24.6 PPG Consecutive 30+ PPG Seasons: 3 (1971-1973) Scoring Titles: 2 (1971, 1972) The skyhook is the prototype of a pure scoring move, an unblockable motion repeated thousands of times. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar turned it into a weapon so beautiful that defenses stopped chasing his feet. Even if he was a big man who needed a guard to get him the ball, Kareem was a pure scorer because of this unstoppable move. His longevity and mechanics speak volumes: when no other move works, the skyhook does. No need to dunk in traffic, elevate, rotate shoulder, release apex arc. Pure craft, and we will never see anything like it ever again. We won't have many bigs in this ranking, but we have to put Kareem in the top 20. 16. Larry Bird Career Total: 21,791 Points Career Average: 24.3 PPG Consecutive 30+ PPG Seasons: 0 Scoring Titles: 0 Larry Bird was the anti-showman: subtle footwork, jumper over your close-out, and passing you didn't know you wanted were his tools. He baited defenders into helping, then punished them with head-turners or passes. Essentially, before Luka Doncic, there was Larry Bird. His pure scorer identity lay in mind games, cold-blooded execution on toast evenings, and always finding that edge. High IQ, higher pain threshold, and highest competitiveness. In terms of pure shooters, there aren't five players better than Larry Legend either. 15. Jerry West Career Total: 25,192 Points Career Average: 27.0 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 2 (1965, 1966) Scoring Titles: 1 (1970) Jerry 'Mr. Clutch' West was scoring poetry. A master of footwork, subtle pivots, and mid-range precision, he delivered 27.0 PPG without splashy dunks or theatrics. His silhouette even became the NBA logo, a tribute to his smooth scoring style. Game-winner after game-winner, West owned late-clock situations. His blend of strength, craft, and imagination, solo runs in the face of double teams, encapsulates what pure scoring truly means. The late and great legend never had a weakness in his game and is truly one of the most underrated players ever. 14. George Gervin Career Total: 26,595 Points Career Average: 25.1 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 4 (1978, 1979, 1980, 1982) George 'Iceman' Gervin played scorching hot without breaking a sweat. His signature finger roll was artistry in motion: feathery touch over defenders that felt effortless, yet devastatingly efficient. In '82, he dropped 32.3 PPG on 50.0% FG and 86.4% FT splits with no athleticism-show required. His demeanor mirrored his game: calm, cool, and absolutely lethal. Gervin rewrote what a scorer could be: quiet, efficient, and consistently overlooked, a true definition of offensive purity. Gervin was the first "Kevin Durant-like" star that the NBA saw. 13. Oscar Robertson Career Total: 26,710 Points Career Average: 25.7 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 2 (1961-1962), 4 (1964-1967) Scoring Titles: 1 (1968) The 'Big O' wasn't just a triple-double pioneer; he was a scoring dynamo who was completely unstoppable. In the pre-three era, Oscar Robertson averaged over 25 PPG with ease while dishing dimes and crashing the glass. He had two stints of consecutive seasons dropping at least 30 PPG, and won a scoring title without even having to crack 30. Though his legend thrives on all-around brilliance, his pure scoring? Robertson towered above. His ability to mix fadeaways, finishes, and threes (late career) made him an offensive juggernaut. If Oscar played today, you would see a different type of athlete who combines Russell Westbrook with Kyrie Irving. 12. Tracy McGrady Career Total: 18,381 Points Career Average: 19.6 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 2 (2003, 2004) Tracy McGrady's peak was the definition of smooth dominance. In 2002-03, at just 23, he exploded for 32.1 points per game, topping the league with a free-flowing blend of athleticism and shotmaking. His follow-up season didn't disappoint; he still averaged 28 points, securing back-to-back scoring titles. With 206 career 30-point games, he had an elite scoring arsenal: off-the-dribble mid-risers, step-back threes, and aggressive drives; his highlight reel felt like poetry in motion. His signature performances are the stuff of legend: 62 points against Washington, 50 in three quarters, and a 41-point night after sleeping in until tipoff, earning the moniker "The Big Sleep". 11. Hakeem Olajuwon Career Total: 26,946 Points Career Average: 21.8 PPG Consecutive Seasons of 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 0 Hakeem Olajuwon carved defenders with footwork you don't teach in clinic videos. The Dream Shake, a pivot into space, fakes that froze defenders, made him one of the most beautiful scorers ever. Only the second big man to appear on the list, Hakeem was completely unstoppable that even a prime Shaquille O'Neal couldn't handle him. The Nigerian superstar didn't need brute force; he used finesse. For a big man, his craft, turning, spinning, shooting with arc and touch, was pure artistry, redefining frontcourt scoring. There is no all-time offense list without including one of the top-5 centers ever. 10. Elgin Baylor Career Total: 23,149 Points Career Average: 27.4 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 3 (1961-1963) Scoring Titles: 0 Elgin Baylor brought aerial innovation to scoring. He launched acrobatic drives and reverse layups years before anyone else dared. Averaging 27.4 PPG in a rugged era, he held his own with grace, and very few players can touch him when it comes to getting buckets. He stretched the imagination of offensive creation. His style, elegant, innovative, boundary-pushing, set the tone for future scorers who saw 'normal' as a concept to be redefined. Baylor played in the 1960s so he is often forgotten, but he makes the list regardless. 9. Paul Pierce Career Total: 26,397 Points Career Average: 19.7 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 0 'The Truth' wasn't just a nickname; it was a scoring comfort in chaos. Paul Pierce thrived as a midrange assassin and killer in isolation. He locked in, pick-and-pop, step-back Js, and crafty finishes. It wasn't always beautiful, but it was effective. His scoring was also subtle magic. In every clutch moment, he had that shrug-off defender, feel-for-space, pull-the-trigger mentality. Very few players possessed the poise that Pierce brought every night, and even if he toots his own horn after retirement, we can't deny his offensive pureness. 8. Karl Malone Career Total: 36,928 Points Career Average: 25.0 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 0 Karl Malone was the ultimate power scorer in the post; it wasn't finesse, it was dominance. Known as 'The Mailman' because he always delivered, he bullied defenders with physicality and polished footwork. He even sustained 24.7 PPG in the playoffs, a testament to a big man who didn't regress on the biggest stage. He had an iron-clad mid-range jumper, backed by unstoppable rolls to the rim off pick-and-rolls with Stockton. He scored over 36,000 career points, behind only LeBron and Kareem, with consistency that lasted nearly two decades. Pure scoring"? No question, it was raw, efficient, power-driven bucket mastering. 7. Dirk Nowitzki Career Total: 31,560 Points Career Average: 20.7 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 0 Dirk Nowitzki shattered the mold of big men with his one-legged fadeaway, an unguardable masterpiece that mixed size, timing, and touch. He had one 50‑point game and 7 instances of 40+ in his career, and 40.7% of his games kicked off 20-29 PPG, pure scoring consistency. He averaged 20.7 PPG over 21 seasons, shifted from post-ups to catch-and-shoot threes, all while evolving as defenses tried in vain to stop him. His scoring fluidity, from deep to mid and close, redefined stretch bigs; pure scoring with innovation. 6. Kyrie Irving Career Total: 18,433 Points Career Average: 23.7 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 0 Kyrie Irving's handle is patented, his finish is sublime, and that step-back three is irrevocably pure. Averaging almost 24 PPG on 47.4% FG and 39.4% 3P over his career, he combines wizardry with ruthless efficiency. He picks defenders apart in isolation, whether it's crafty shifts off the dribble or floaters in traffic. Every move looks effortless until it lands. He creates his own shot better than most and executes at near-greenlight levels: elite-level pure scoring meets artistry. 5. Carmelo Anthony Career Total: 28,289 Points Career Average: 22.5 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 1 (2013) Carmelo Anthony's signature mid-range game is size-meets-touch brilliance. He dominated with isolation moves, triple-threat jab-step into step-back three, punishing mismatches across multiple era transitions. He managed 28,289 career points, and while criticized for efficiency, he was the definition of pure scorer: someone who could take over quarters on sheer volume and craft. His NCAA title matchup and NBA career both define a pure bucket artist unafraid to hunt. 4. Allen Iverson Career Total: 24,368 Points Career Average: 26.7 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 2 (2001-2002), 2 (2005-2006) Scoring Titles: 4 (1999, 2001, 2002, 2005) Allen Iverson was in attack mode constantly, from step-back 3s to fearless drives into the paint, six-foot holes and all. He played bigger than his frame and left defenders bruised on transitions. There will likely never be another little guard as dominant as Iverson was offensively. He attacked every possession like it was life or death. He wasn't efficient, but he forced defenses to collapse and opened everything else for teammates, and that's pure scoring influence. You can argue for other players ranked behind him, but we won't be hearing it because four scoring titles shut down the argument. 3. Kevin Durant Career Total: 30,571 Points Career Average: 27.2 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 0 Scoring Titles: 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) At 7 feet tall with a point guard's handle, Kevin Durant is the perfect offensive weapon. He shoots off the bounce, off the catch, step-back, fadeaway, it's all seamless. He took what George Gervin was, except he added a top-10 three-point shot we have ever seen, and even better efficiency from the free-throw line. There's no counter. He combines efficiency and volume with a size unmatched in NBA history: clear space with a dribble, elevates over anyone. Pure scoring, apex version. The only reason he isn't ranked first is that he lacked the true killer offensive instinct of the two players placed ahead of him. 2. Kobe Bryant Career Total: 33,643 Points Career Average: 25.0 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 2 (2006, 2007) Scoring Titles: 2 (2006, 2007) If you weren't expecting Kobe Bryant to appear, you need to work on your basketball knowledge. He was footwork personified. He'd bake you with jab‑steps, isolate on switches, then erase defenders with deadly fadeaways or relentless drives. But what cements him as a pure scorer is the Mamba attitude: he demanded the last shot every time. Every single one. That obsession translated to legendary performances (like 81 points), built on craft, courage, and ice water in the veins. Only one player was a better pure scorer than Kobe, and even that can be argued by some. 1. Michael Jordan Career Total: 32,292 Points Career Average: 30.1 PPG Consecutive Seasons with 30+ PPG: 7 (1987-1993) Scoring Titles: 10 (1987–1993, 1996–1998) Michael Jordan is the prototype of pure scoring: lethal in mid-air, mid-range, inside, outside - period. No move was unscripted; every dribble, hesitation, and fadeaway was trained to perfection. Is there any doubt as to why he is the undisputed GOAT? Jordan didn't just lead in points, he dominated with consistency: 8 seasons over 30 PPG, 562 career 30-point games, 33.45 PPG in playoffs, all while brutalizing whoever stood in front of him. That relentless instinct, aggressor mentality paired with precision, is why Jordan is undisputed at # story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tracy McGrady says his first game against rookie LeBron James proved the kid was built for stardom: "He didn't get discouraged"
Tracy McGrady says his first game against rookie LeBron James proved the kid was built for stardom: "He didn't get discouraged" originally appeared on Basketball Network. When LeBron James entered the NBA, Tracy McGrady was already a superstar. McGrady had made back-to-back All-Star and All-NBA First team selections and finished 4th in the MVP balloting during both years. T-Mac was also the reigning scoring champion and arguably the best forward in the league. Anytime you put a rookie against a guy with that resume, the young one succumbs to the pressure. Not LeBron. During their first-ever head-to-head meeting, McGrady put on a clinic. But LeBron refused to be a mere prop in the show. "My game against Bron on Christmas," recalled T-Mac during his recent appearance on Carmelo Anthony's "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast. "Man, I'm hearing all the hype of these cats coming in. I'm hearing it from my boys back home. Man, what? Y'all think I'm gonna let Bron come in here and steal the show as a rookie? What I've been doing the last couple of years in here? Hell no, bro." "And one of my boys, he was my barber from back home. We had a bet. 'Bron gon' come here and tear you a– up.' He's just always a joker like that. I said, 'Aight.' I said, 'MF, make sure you tune in to this game and don't miss nothing,' he added. The scoring champion versus the super rookie Bron entered the NBA as the most-hyped prospect ever. That's probably why the NBA scheduled his Cavaliers for a Christmas Day game in his first year in the league. Matching him up against McGrady was a stroke of genius. And they did not disappoint. T-Mac lit up the Cavs with 41 points on 15-29 shooting, including 5-9 from 3-point distance, while also pulling down eight rebounds, issuing 11 assists, with three steals and one blocked shot. He scored or assisted on 12 of the Orlando Magic's 14 points in overtime to emerge victorious at 113-101. Meanwhile, James pulled his own with 34 points on 13-28 shooting, including 4-10 from 3-point range. LBJ also added six assists and two steals in 47:06 minutes of playing time. Although his team lost the game after getting outscored 16-4 in the extra period, the rookie earned the respect of McGrady. "It was a classic game, but to see a young cat like that, with the poise, going up against me at that time when I was leading the league in scoring, to see how he handled that, that type of pressure coming in there, I knew he was born for it, for stardom. Like he was gon' be that dude…When he's making shots like that, meaning myself, you get a little discouraged. He didn't get discouraged. And when I saw he didn't get discouraged, I was like "Okay, dude's gonna be a problem," continued became a problem The Magic and Cavs played two more games that season, with McGrady outscoring LeBron in both games. T-Mac would score at least 30 points against LBJ in their three head-to-head matchups across the next two seasons. However, as McGrady predicted, the Ohio native became a problem for everybody, including himself. McGrady and James would face each other in 20 NBA games, with LeBron owning an 11-9 record against Tracy. Bron would average 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.4 steals in those games while outscoring McGrady in 14 out of 20 head-to-head meetings. McGrady retired after the 2011-12 NBA season, mainly due to injuries. On the other hand, LeBron continues to be a problem for opposing teams 22 years into his NBA career. At age 40 last season, he was still named to the All-NBA second team, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, still proving he is the "dude."This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.