Man, you won’t believe the rabbit hole I went down today. I was just chilling, watching some old NBA highlights, and it got me thinking, “Who are the best NBA players from New York?” I mean, New York and basketball, they’re like peanut butter and jelly, right? So, I decided to dive in and find out.
First, I started with the obvious names that popped into my head. Like, you can’t talk about New York basketball without mentioning the legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was known as Lew Alcindor back in the day. This guy’s a monster. I mean, he is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! I went through some of his career stats, and it’s just insane. 15 All-NBA awards, 19-time All-Star, and six NBA championships. This guy was a beast on both ends of the court.
Then, I remembered another big name, Patrick Ewing. I was always a fan of his. He’s the Knicks’ all-time leading scorer, a true legend of Madison Square Garden. I looked him up, and the stats backed up my memories: 11-time All-Star, and get this, he averaged at least 20 points per game for 13 straight seasons. That’s some serious consistency, man.
While I was digging, I stumbled upon some interesting tidbits. Did you know that the state of New York has been connected to basketball since its early days? I mean, we’ve had teams like the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets and the Buffalo Braves. It’s like basketball is in New York’s DNA.
I also found out about a guy named Bynum who played in a preseason game when he was just 17 years old! I couldn’t even imagine playing in the NBA at that age. He was the first player to do so at 17 years of age. Just crazy.
Oh, and I couldn’t help but mention Giannis Antetokounmpo, even though he’s not from New York. That guy is just a freak of nature. The “Greek Freak” they call him. In any other era, he’d probably be considered the best player in the world.
- Spent hours going through old records and stats.
- Got lost in a sea of highlights and classic games.
- Felt a sense of nostalgia for the golden era of basketball.
- Realized how much talent has come out of New York.
Anyway, it was a fun little trip down memory lane. It’s amazing to see how much talent has come out of New York and how the city has shaped the game of basketball. It makes you appreciate the history and the legends even more.
And I know that everyone has their own opinions about who’s the best. So many legends to choose from, right? That’s what makes these kinds of discussions so much fun. You get to look back at all these incredible players and their achievements, and it just makes you love the game even more.
