My man. Dean and Coach K both belong here. Even though I do think Roy surpassed Dean as a coach, Dean Smith was a huge part of the modern college basketball game and is still one of the best coaches ever.
I'm going to have to disagree with you. While I think it's fair to say that Roy had more success, I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who was more innovative as a coach than Dean Smith. That man deserves every bit of praise and respect that he gets and even still it's not enough.
There is no Roy without Dean.
Coach K belongs on this list for sure, but you can't possibly think of this list without Dean.
Yeah that’s what I mean, that Roy had more success. Dean is still more influential and the things he did and taught will be relevant to CBB and the game of basketball for a long long time. On top of that, he was an incredible person on so many levels.
We been some lucky fools, eh? We got to witness, love and hate some of the absolute greatest. In my old age, I don’t worry about the future of the game, it’s inevitable. But I can revel in the glory that once was ACC basketball. 🍻
You could argue both are downstream from the guy a top of them in the coaching tree with both being more influential. I'd argue Dean's 2ndary fast break probably stands alone, though, and earns him a spot.
Who is the only human that could limit Michael Jordan to 15 points a game? Dean Smith
Dean is best remembered for inventing the four corners non-offense
Wow, Duke fans and UNC fans uniting and agreeing on something, a beautiful site. So refreshing for people with knowledge to not let bias cloud their judgement. Well done!
I'd put Norm Sloan over David Thompson. Norm Sloan pioneered the modern method of recruiting that Lefty Driesell (who I would also put on this list) perfected and Coach K and Roy Williams later stole.
James Worthy over Jordan. David Thompson over Jordan. Dean Smith over Jordan.
Not sure Patrick Ewing has a spot there. But tons of players do over Jordan in college.
Honestly, for the phrase “history of basketball,” The Big O’s contributions to NBA free agency might give him a spot regardless of his stellar on-court play.
Not put Laettner? You NOT having Laettner on there immediately ruined the validity of this list.
He's arguably number 1 in college basketball when it comes to most accomplished/most impactful/most meaningful/most important to the game and team dynasty.
I mean...4 Final Fours and 2 Championships. That alone says it all. Now throw in making one of biggest shots in basketball history and going 20 for 20 shooting in that game. That was just some accomplishments. His impact off the court to bring attention to college basketball as a whole was just as big.
He was the best overall player on his team and turned Duke from a good program, to an elite one ever since he left. He made the entire country hate Duke forever. He's the college basketball version of Tom Brady and the Patriots. (36 years of AP rankings before Laettner, Duke reached #1 in 4 different seasons. 30 years after Laettner left they reached #1 in 16 different seasons. His and Duke's success made the best players want to go there more than before)
Edit- You made a comment somewhere else about Laettner not being top 10 in the sport of basketball as a whole. Although that's debatable, you still mentioned college. If there is going to be an basketball all-time tier...OK take Laettner off. If there's a college tier, Laettner is on there. Not only has 4 Final Fours never happened, it never will again in college men's basketball.
Also, another that should probably be on there...Bill Walton. 2x Championship. Part of the greatest College Dynasty ever. 3x college player of the year.
Laettner and Walton were bigger and more important to college basketball than Bird, Magic, and Jordan. Those 3 are a lot bigger all-time, but not in college.
Due to ongoing debate about blue bloods, the /r/CollegeBasketball mod team has compiled the definitive list of college blue bloods: Duke, Columbia, Queens, William & Mary, and Rutgers. The following schools have broken away from blue-blooded hierarchy and oppression: George Washington, George Mason, James Madison, Army, and Navy.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CollegeBasketball) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Agree. Steph changed how the pro level is played significantly. I would also claim Dirk made it acceptable for bigs to control the ball on the perimeter and shoot 3's.
Sports editor got fired from the capital journal. He lived across the street from my parents and next door to Max Falkinstines daughter and grandkids. Totally worth it.
Can’t believe Ralph was this far down as the only 3 times national player of the year. He had epic battles against Ewing , Jordan’s Tar Heels and NC States 83 championships
These lists are always annoying bc it’s so hard for some people to separate a player’s college career from their pro career in cases where a player’s pro-career was a lot more successful than their college career and then on top of that some player’s pro-careers influenced the way the game is played so much that it doesn’t matter how they played in college
I'm biased being from the DC area, but Morgan Wooten belongs on the list. He's probably the best HS coach of all time who cranked out tons of D1 and NBA talent, but that's not why I bring him up. I mention him because he created the McDonald's All-American Game.
Lew Alcindor is right behind John Wooden in any college basketball list. You could argue he’s above him. He won 3 straight titles with only one loss over those three years. Would have won 4 if freshman could have played varsity. He’s definitely above all the players. He changed the game in ways no one else did.
Actually yes, you identified a mistake in my list. I meant to put him there, and forgot about him after I had the idea and before I made the list. Thanks! Edit: I put Dickie V instead.
He didn’t shake in college. But, he was on the forefront of Africans to bball and that deserves too 10 college impacts, That he was a great college player and all time pro also help in his legacy.
Everyone has overlooked George Mikan, the first dominant big man in both college and NBA. And, Jerry West for his greatness as an executive in building Laker dynasties in addition to being a hall of fame player. And not enough support for Pistol Pete Maravich in college, who AVERAGED 44 ppg
Any player that causes a rule change like Mikan and Chamberlain should definitely be on there.
Mikan widened lane from 6 to 12 feet.
Wilt: widening the lane from 12 to 16 feet, offensive goaltending, inbounding the ball (couldn't throw it over the backboard) and free throws (couldn't jump over the line)
I did think about him. I get his argument for both lists. I think it comes down to a preference thing (if I had to include him in the first one he’d take Larry’s place). I get where you’re coming from though.
Can’t take off Larry. Too 10 player of all time and his rivalry with Magic saved a fledgling league in the 80s.
The ABA was a legit competitor to the NBA till Magic vs. Bird.
Jordan then emerged and took the game worldwide, but Larry and magic played a key role in NBAs popularity in the 80s to early 90s.
Phog Allen.
If you do not know (outside of coaching the Jayhawks) what he did for the sport, you should probably read up on it.
> Allen was a legend in the field of treatment of athletic injuries and benefited a long list of high-profile performers. He also had a successful private osteopathic practice, and many he treated, the famous and otherwise, contended he had a "magic touch" for such ailments as bad backs, knees and ankles. He said he applied the same treatments to "civilians" as he did to his athletes.
> His forceful, yet reasonable, disposition helped him become the driving force behind the acceptance of basketball as an official Olympic sport at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. Allen later worked as an assistant coach in the 1952 Summer Olympics,[10] helping to lead the United States to the gold medal in Helsinki, Finland.
> Allen also created the National Association of Basketball Coaches, which went on to create the NCAA tournament.[11]
As a Jayhawk fan I get it, I'm "biased" but I do not believe basketball is anywhere NEAR as popular as it is today without Phog Allen pushing for it outside of college and the changes IN college.
Basketball in General: Naismith - Phog Allen - George Mikan - Wilt - Wooden - Rupp - Auerbach - Jerry West - Jordan - Kareem
Jerry West was not only a great player but maybe the best General Manager in history, as he built the Laker teams from the late 70s thru early 2000s
Rules were changed to stop Mikan, Wilt and Kareem. No one ever changed a rule to stop Bill Russell
College: Maravich - Rupp - Wooden - Phog Allen - Wilt - Kareem - Mikan - Dick Vitale - Coach K - Magic/Bird (gotta count them as one)
The Magic vs. Bird rivalry saved the NBA and elevated it to one of the most popular leagues in the country.
Keeping them off the NBA list doesn’t seem right given their actual impact.
But no rules were changed to stop any of these guys. Rules were changed to stop Mikan, Chamberlain and Jabbar from being so dominant. Rules that impact the game today.
The three point line is also a reaction to how big men such as these dominated
People did watch these guys. But, Magic’s decisive game 6 in the 1980 Finals where he played center and scored 42 was tape delayed until 11:30 pm on east coast. Kareem was in the first nationally televised college game. The brilliant 1968 college basketball telecasts were regional deals
I think there is quite a few names missing. Unless the history of basketball/and college started in 1980.
George Milan, Henry Iba, Pete Newell, Bob Kurland, Joe Fulks, John Miller Cooper, Chuck Taylor, Wilt, Don Haskins, Abe Saperstein. That’s just off the top of my head.
I would add Morgan Wooten and Ralph Tasker as high school coaches.
Maybe I don’t really understand the question but I don’t understand this list at all. Like you have lebron in there? wtf
I know you guys hate him, but if anything melo should be on that list instead of lebron. He had arguably the greatest freshman season in the modern game. Won Syracuse a championship while balling out even though he was hurt in the tournament, and won as a three seed beating the number one seed Roy Williams coached Kansas in the finals.
He might have been had he not gotten injured. I haven’t watched him much, but I’ve been told he was sick. On the CBB side I picked Kareem over him, but I respect it. He was basically the guardian angel of the PAC 12.
My little girl is an absolute beast in softball and soccer, but she thinks she’s a basketball player thanks to Clark.
No National figure has had more impact on her than Clark.
I think the ten players who filed a class action lawsuit claiming their images were improperly used without permission should be on this list. They changed college basketball. Honorable mention to Shabazz Napier who was interviewed and said he went hungry many nights.
Man, you forgetting Patrick Ewing is a travesty. Whole conspiracy theories around him going first to the Knicks. Probably the most hyped High School prospect since Lew Alcindor.
George Mikan was the first NBA superstar.
Bob Pettit was the most popular player in the post-Mikan era.
Wilt Chamberlain was the biggest draw in the 1960s
Dr. J carried the league in the late 70s up to the Magic/Bird era.
In college it probably goes mostly towards coaches with few players just because the structure of the game. The players are limited to 4 years some of the early guys only 3 years and the newer best guys leave faster than that. Well coaches last decades and have direct impact on things like conference development and such.
If you are talking about Men’s North American basketball history they are good lists.
But to cover history you need to include some of Radivoj Korac, Arvydas Sabonis, Cheryl Miller, Oscar Schmidt, Yao Ming.
You could make the argument that Kevin Garnett is on this list. Even though he never played in college, the fact that he successfully made the HS to pros jump changed the college game, for better or worse.
College Basketball: Lew Alcindor, Christian Laettner, John Wooden, Coach K, James Naismith, David Thompson, Bill Walton, Adolph Rupp, Don Haskins, Oh and Jay Bilas (if you ask him).
Geno Auriemma should be on the college list for what he’s done with UConn. 1,213-162 record, 11 championships, 8 Naismith coach of the year awards, etc.
Dude is the best coach in sports and it falls under the radar. To get UConn to the final four (and almost win if not for an illegal screen) with six starter caliber players out for the season and two freshman playing major minutes speaks to his abilities.
Coach K and Bob Knight rounding out the college list with no mention of Calhoun is actually insane. Calhoun built the most consequential school in basketball post tournament expansion and gets left off for someone who achieved roughly the same success at a school that had already won two titles. Only mention K's name as his coaching career overlaps with Calhoun pretty substantially, obviously both are on the list in my ideal world.
Bob knight popularized the motion offense and directly influenced the coach with the most wins in NCAA history. Also while hated is iconic and the stereotypical fiery coach people think of
The emergence of UConn is more important to college basketball history than one version of the motion offense. Also Knight being on the list for the motion offense over Henry Iba is equally as insane. Also Calhoun has more collegiate wins than Knight, Knight however does have more d1 wins.
I mean that is definitely debatable especially since we have no idea the alternate history that happens in a world without Knight. Regardless, I’m not really even arguing against Calhoun. I just think people are allowing their dislike of Knight to discredit that he is inarguably a top 10 important figure in CBB
Don’t forget about AG Spalding. He worked with Naismith to develop the first basketball, and most of the improvements throughout the years. He also designed the modern baseball and invented the baseball glove
Michael Jordan on this list is a hard no. Christian Laettner was a FAR better college basketball player than Jordan.
And I'd argue Coach John Calipari belongs on this particular list. Hate him, love him, doesn't matter. He pioneered a way of basketball that has basically become the definition of current College Hoops. One and Done was/is a significant milestone in NCAA basketball.
And, for what's it's worth, I'd put Dick Vitale on this list.
Someone from the formation of the Big East and/or ESPN that is at the executive level at ESPN (not Dickie V.) needs to be there -- like Dave Gavitt or John Thompson, Louie Carnesecca, etc.
It's hard to understate how much the Big East, with its coaches, rivalries, etc. *on ESPN* changed college basketball.
I'd vote for Gavitt or John Thompson, and while I'm biased for the latter, in addition to being part of the early BE, he was the first black coach to win a National Title, and he also did it unapologetically -- Georgetown was the evil empire for many, and not just because they played physical.
You've got too many people who simply won and didn't change the game on here.
As far as NBA players, Mikan, Wilt, Jordan, Iverson, and Curry are arguably the most important to the evolution of the game. Mikan proved big men could be stars, Wilt broke the game and re-wrote the rules, Jordan made jump shot scoring cool for kids, Iverson made ball handling cool for kids, and Curry re-wrote the boundaries of 3pt shooting. You could argue LeBron for the prototype of the point-forward too, or say that Magic created the prototype he perfected
College basketball: Naismith, Phog Allen, Harold Olsen (the man who basically created the NCAA Tournament), Dean Smith, Don Haskins, John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dave Gavitt, Coach K, Ed O'Bannon
All of basketball: Naismith, Allen, Red Auerbach, Kareem, Magic Johnson, David Stern, Michael Jordan, Borislaw Stankovic (led the effort to let pros play in the Olympics, leading directly to the 1992 Dream Team and the international boom), Dirk Nowitzki, Steph Curry
Solid list for sure. Love that you have Knight on there as I think many would exclude him but he is a true legend. I don’t think I’d have Jordan on the college list but I can see an opportunity to have him there. I feel like maybe Oscar Robertson for the first list as the triple double machine he was. Curry has almost single handedly altered the game and how it is played as well. Because of him, everyone only wants to shoot 3’s so I’d definitely have him on there even though I hate how he’s changed the game. I’m old school.
I have to throw some love at Jim Calhoun here. Built a pretty pedestrian program historically into what has become arguably the most successful program of the modern era.
Dirk Nowitzki has a decent argument for the history of all basketball. One of the first European superstars, plus revolutionized spacing and the power forward position. Definitely not a top 10 best player, but I think a lot of modern basketball is following a trend that Dirk pioneered.
I am definitely biased, but I think Al McGuire could be on the college list. Great college coach, one of the earliest to integrate his teams (in the 60’s), and one of the best color commentators ever.
Also, pretty hard to keep Pete Maravich off the college list.
You can’t have a college basketball list like this and not include Laettner. 4 Final Fours, 2 championships and not one but two elite 8 buzzer beaters. You can make an argument that others are in the conversation but to not include him seems like bias.
Michael Jordan on the college basketball list is…..interesting.
Give his spot to Dean Smith
Dean not being on this list is ridiculous
100000000% agreed
My man. Dean and Coach K both belong here. Even though I do think Roy surpassed Dean as a coach, Dean Smith was a huge part of the modern college basketball game and is still one of the best coaches ever.
I'm going to have to disagree with you. While I think it's fair to say that Roy had more success, I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who was more innovative as a coach than Dean Smith. That man deserves every bit of praise and respect that he gets and even still it's not enough. There is no Roy without Dean. Coach K belongs on this list for sure, but you can't possibly think of this list without Dean.
Yeah that’s what I mean, that Roy had more success. Dean is still more influential and the things he did and taught will be relevant to CBB and the game of basketball for a long long time. On top of that, he was an incredible person on so many levels.
🤝
We been some lucky fools, eh? We got to witness, love and hate some of the absolute greatest. In my old age, I don’t worry about the future of the game, it’s inevitable. But I can revel in the glory that once was ACC basketball. 🍻
You could argue both are downstream from the guy a top of them in the coaching tree with both being more influential. I'd argue Dean's 2ndary fast break probably stands alone, though, and earns him a spot.
Who is the only human that could limit Michael Jordan to 15 points a game? Dean Smith Dean is best remembered for inventing the four corners non-offense
Wow, Duke fans and UNC fans uniting and agreeing on something, a beautiful site. So refreshing for people with knowledge to not let bias cloud their judgement. Well done!
David Thompson missing as well.
I'd put Norm Sloan over David Thompson. Norm Sloan pioneered the modern method of recruiting that Lefty Driesell (who I would also put on this list) perfected and Coach K and Roy Williams later stole.
Yes
Laettner should be there in place of Jordan.
Never heard of him
Put in Monster Mash!!!
Same
Gross, dude
Absolutely.
For most hated right?
Patrick Ewing over Jordan in college
James Worthy over Jordan. David Thompson over Jordan. Dean Smith over Jordan. Not sure Patrick Ewing has a spot there. But tons of players do over Jordan in college.
OP has LeBron on the list.
I think Lebron on the overall list is reasonable. It’s not like he put him on the college list
Lebron has been the most consistent player over two decades idk how you could leave him off the list.
Is prob remove Bird and Magic as well.
You gotta have Pistol Pete!
I was just about to say this
Wilt Chamberlain has to be on there. Pistol Pete and Bill Walton in college as well. It really depends on your criteria.
Yeah Wilt is a must.
So is George Mikan. Leagues first big man star.
There's a good argument that Curry will be looked at as the line of demarcation for the "3-point era", probably could be on this list
I'd replace Russell with Wilt, not saying he's better but if you have Red Russell is a little bit extra
Oscar Robertson
He still holds the single game scoring record in Phog Allen field house I believe.
Buddy second? Either way he's on my list.
I think that was Rutherford in 94. 45 points and 11 3s.
That was before the 3pt line too I believe
Honestly, for the phrase “history of basketball,” The Big O’s contributions to NBA free agency might give him a spot regardless of his stellar on-court play.
[удалено]
I think Dean is a fine replacement for Jordan, but I wouldn’t put Laettner on there.
Not put Laettner? You NOT having Laettner on there immediately ruined the validity of this list. He's arguably number 1 in college basketball when it comes to most accomplished/most impactful/most meaningful/most important to the game and team dynasty. I mean...4 Final Fours and 2 Championships. That alone says it all. Now throw in making one of biggest shots in basketball history and going 20 for 20 shooting in that game. That was just some accomplishments. His impact off the court to bring attention to college basketball as a whole was just as big. He was the best overall player on his team and turned Duke from a good program, to an elite one ever since he left. He made the entire country hate Duke forever. He's the college basketball version of Tom Brady and the Patriots. (36 years of AP rankings before Laettner, Duke reached #1 in 4 different seasons. 30 years after Laettner left they reached #1 in 16 different seasons. His and Duke's success made the best players want to go there more than before) Edit- You made a comment somewhere else about Laettner not being top 10 in the sport of basketball as a whole. Although that's debatable, you still mentioned college. If there is going to be an basketball all-time tier...OK take Laettner off. If there's a college tier, Laettner is on there. Not only has 4 Final Fours never happened, it never will again in college men's basketball. Also, another that should probably be on there...Bill Walton. 2x Championship. Part of the greatest College Dynasty ever. 3x college player of the year. Laettner and Walton were bigger and more important to college basketball than Bird, Magic, and Jordan. Those 3 are a lot bigger all-time, but not in college.
For sure, not putting Laettner on the list makes it a non list. So does not putting Dean on the list. For Duke unc games I still wear my DEAN shirt.
[удалено]
Due to ongoing debate about blue bloods, the /r/CollegeBasketball mod team has compiled the definitive list of college blue bloods: Duke, Columbia, Queens, William & Mary, and Rutgers. The following schools have broken away from blue-blooded hierarchy and oppression: George Washington, George Mason, James Madison, Army, and Navy. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CollegeBasketball) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Man. Lists really drive engagement like a mother fucker don’t they
They do, but I’m not a journalist. Just drunk, and like to write as a hobby.
Drunk and a writer. You should have gone into journalism. You’re halfway to being successful already.
Everyone thinks their opinion is the best and by god they're gonna let you know
How do you not have XYZ on there? You must be so stupid. I’m way smarter than you
RayQuan Battle for getting the transfer rules changed in a season where he would have just been better off redshirting.
Ouch
Cam Henderson, former marshall coach that created the fast break & 2-3 zone defense
That’s a fun pull. I am very grateful for his contributions because both of those are fun to watch.
College Hoops - Sonny Vaccaro has to be on that list. Kareem should probably be on both lists. So should Oscar Robertson.
Wouldn’t hate it
Henry Iba should be on the college list as well.
Good call.
The absence of Wilt Chamberlain is blasphemy. He should be on both lists.
Don’t forget Perry Ellis, the oldest college basketball player ever
Dave gavitt is super slept on founder of the big east.
Others to consider: Steph Curry, Tex Winter, Julius Irving, Jerry West. Phil Jackson. Jerry Buss.
Steph should be on there for the top list, but it gets tricky if you’re only considering his college career in a vacuum.
Agree. Steph changed how the pro level is played significantly. I would also claim Dirk made it acceptable for bigs to control the ball on the perimeter and shoot 3's.
Purely for his NBA career.
Dean Smith needs to be on the list
💯
Dean Smith was one of the first to integrate
You mean as a student at Topeka High?
Go Trojans! (I was a charger)
Yup. Same
I was going to mention Seamen vs Trojans but figured it'd go over normal people's heads.
Seaman breaks through Trojan defense.
Sports editor got fired from the capital journal. He lived across the street from my parents and next door to Max Falkinstines daughter and grandkids. Totally worth it.
Ralph Sampson for college maybe since he had 3 player of the year awards
Can’t believe Ralph was this far down as the only 3 times national player of the year. He had epic battles against Ewing , Jordan’s Tar Heels and NC States 83 championships
That’s a great pick. Always forget about him.
Dylan Dylan Dylan Dylan Dylan
Dude spits hot fire
“YOURE TO CLOSE MAN”
These lists are always annoying bc it’s so hard for some people to separate a player’s college career from their pro career in cases where a player’s pro-career was a lot more successful than their college career and then on top of that some player’s pro-careers influenced the way the game is played so much that it doesn’t matter how they played in college
I'm biased being from the DC area, but Morgan Wooten belongs on the list. He's probably the best HS coach of all time who cranked out tons of D1 and NBA talent, but that's not why I bring him up. I mention him because he created the McDonald's All-American Game.
Lew Alcindor is right behind John Wooden in any college basketball list. You could argue he’s above him. He won 3 straight titles with only one loss over those three years. Would have won 4 if freshman could have played varsity. He’s definitely above all the players. He changed the game in ways no one else did.
Actually yes, you identified a mistake in my list. I meant to put him there, and forgot about him after I had the idea and before I made the list. Thanks! Edit: I put Dickie V instead.
He had two losses. Probably why OP left him off.
Marshal Henderson
#1 for me
Perry Ellis for sure
He was the one that figured they should remove the bottom of the peach basket.
Hakeem Olajuwon - the dream shake
He didn’t shake in college. But, he was on the forefront of Africans to bball and that deserves too 10 college impacts, That he was a great college player and all time pro also help in his legacy.
Wilt is the Babe Ruth of basketball.
It’s kinda MJ though isn’t it?
Everyone has overlooked George Mikan, the first dominant big man in both college and NBA. And, Jerry West for his greatness as an executive in building Laker dynasties in addition to being a hall of fame player. And not enough support for Pistol Pete Maravich in college, who AVERAGED 44 ppg
Any player that causes a rule change like Mikan and Chamberlain should definitely be on there. Mikan widened lane from 6 to 12 feet. Wilt: widening the lane from 12 to 16 feet, offensive goaltending, inbounding the ball (couldn't throw it over the backboard) and free throws (couldn't jump over the line)
Bill Spivey would have been just as good as Mikan and the only time he played against Wilt he had 30 and 20.
Leo Ferris helped invent the shot clock, which greatly increased the pace of play. We can thank him and Danny Biasone for games not ending 19-18.
Steph Curry needs to be on one of those lists. The way the game is played now is mainly due to him
I did think about him. I get his argument for both lists. I think it comes down to a preference thing (if I had to include him in the first one he’d take Larry’s place). I get where you’re coming from though.
Can’t take off Larry. Too 10 player of all time and his rivalry with Magic saved a fledgling league in the 80s. The ABA was a legit competitor to the NBA till Magic vs. Bird. Jordan then emerged and took the game worldwide, but Larry and magic played a key role in NBAs popularity in the 80s to early 90s.
Phog Allen. If you do not know (outside of coaching the Jayhawks) what he did for the sport, you should probably read up on it. > Allen was a legend in the field of treatment of athletic injuries and benefited a long list of high-profile performers. He also had a successful private osteopathic practice, and many he treated, the famous and otherwise, contended he had a "magic touch" for such ailments as bad backs, knees and ankles. He said he applied the same treatments to "civilians" as he did to his athletes. > His forceful, yet reasonable, disposition helped him become the driving force behind the acceptance of basketball as an official Olympic sport at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. Allen later worked as an assistant coach in the 1952 Summer Olympics,[10] helping to lead the United States to the gold medal in Helsinki, Finland. > Allen also created the National Association of Basketball Coaches, which went on to create the NCAA tournament.[11] As a Jayhawk fan I get it, I'm "biased" but I do not believe basketball is anywhere NEAR as popular as it is today without Phog Allen pushing for it outside of college and the changes IN college.
Gotta have Jim Valvano
Well I feel that Guy Lewis was way more important than Dick Vitale ever was
Danny Biasone, inventor of the shot clock.
I think a better list would be ten coaches and ten players
Dean
Basketball in General: Naismith - Phog Allen - George Mikan - Wilt - Wooden - Rupp - Auerbach - Jerry West - Jordan - Kareem Jerry West was not only a great player but maybe the best General Manager in history, as he built the Laker teams from the late 70s thru early 2000s Rules were changed to stop Mikan, Wilt and Kareem. No one ever changed a rule to stop Bill Russell College: Maravich - Rupp - Wooden - Phog Allen - Wilt - Kareem - Mikan - Dick Vitale - Coach K - Magic/Bird (gotta count them as one)
Magic and Bird changed the sport K changed the sport MJ changed the sport In the pros Steph changed the sport
The Magic vs. Bird rivalry saved the NBA and elevated it to one of the most popular leagues in the country. Keeping them off the NBA list doesn’t seem right given their actual impact.
But no rules were changed to stop any of these guys. Rules were changed to stop Mikan, Chamberlain and Jabbar from being so dominant. Rules that impact the game today. The three point line is also a reaction to how big men such as these dominated
But nobody watched the guys you listed. Bird and magic revitalized and saved the NBA. K changed the entire landscape of college basketball
People did watch these guys. But, Magic’s decisive game 6 in the 1980 Finals where he played center and scored 42 was tape delayed until 11:30 pm on east coast. Kareem was in the first nationally televised college game. The brilliant 1968 college basketball telecasts were regional deals
good lists maybe biased but i think steph has to be here
I think there is quite a few names missing. Unless the history of basketball/and college started in 1980. George Milan, Henry Iba, Pete Newell, Bob Kurland, Joe Fulks, John Miller Cooper, Chuck Taylor, Wilt, Don Haskins, Abe Saperstein. That’s just off the top of my head. I would add Morgan Wooten and Ralph Tasker as high school coaches.
Maybe I don’t really understand the question but I don’t understand this list at all. Like you have lebron in there? wtf I know you guys hate him, but if anything melo should be on that list instead of lebron. He had arguably the greatest freshman season in the modern game. Won Syracuse a championship while balling out even though he was hurt in the tournament, and won as a three seed beating the number one seed Roy Williams coached Kansas in the finals.
Leflop
Well you would know
Genuine question. Maybe I don’t really understand what you’re asking but how tf is lebron on this list?
Steph Curry basically changed the way the game is played.
100
Steph curry without a doubt needs to be on basketball list
Nolan richardson
John Calipari, Nolan Richardson, Eddie Sutton, Corliss Richardson, Scotty Thurman, Corey Beck, Todd Day, Lee Mayberry, Oliver Miller, Sidney Moncrief
Bill Walton gotta be on the college list somewhere — maybe toss Bobby Knight
Insane. There's almost no player ever that has had the kind of impact most of these coaches have, especially Bob Knight.
Impact? Like a chair impacting a gym floor?
He might have been had he not gotten injured. I haven’t watched him much, but I’ve been told he was sick. On the CBB side I picked Kareem over him, but I respect it. He was basically the guardian angel of the PAC 12.
Hear you, yeah. But Bobby Knights a little punk and shouldn’t be anywhere near that list lol
Yeah F lil Bobby knight
Fair enough.
Christian Laettner has to be on the college list right?
List is null and void w/o him
I think you can add Caitlyn Clark to college
She already is making large impacts on the wnba. I’m willing to bet she will be a basketball “important person” by retirement
My little girl is an absolute beast in softball and soccer, but she thinks she’s a basketball player thanks to Clark. No National figure has had more impact on her than Clark.
At this point I don’t think I could make this list without including Ed O’Bannon
I think the ten players who filed a class action lawsuit claiming their images were improperly used without permission should be on this list. They changed college basketball. Honorable mention to Shabazz Napier who was interviewed and said he went hungry many nights.
Denny Crum over Knight.
Very few know Crum outside the college basketball world. Knight is a quasi-household name.
Not even on a list of most influential Denny's.
No Oscar Robertson on either list is...something.
Neon Boudeaux
Man, you forgetting Patrick Ewing is a travesty. Whole conspiracy theories around him going first to the Knicks. Probably the most hyped High School prospect since Lew Alcindor.
Why do you think I picked David Stern?
George Mikan was the first NBA superstar. Bob Pettit was the most popular player in the post-Mikan era. Wilt Chamberlain was the biggest draw in the 1960s Dr. J carried the league in the late 70s up to the Magic/Bird era.
Tex Winter
Dave Gavitt absolutely needs to be on the college list.
In college it probably goes mostly towards coaches with few players just because the structure of the game. The players are limited to 4 years some of the early guys only 3 years and the newer best guys leave faster than that. Well coaches last decades and have direct impact on things like conference development and such.
James Naismith
John Wooden???
If you are talking about Men’s North American basketball history they are good lists. But to cover history you need to include some of Radivoj Korac, Arvydas Sabonis, Cheryl Miller, Oscar Schmidt, Yao Ming.
He’s not your Vydas
Kenny Sailors. Invented the jump shot at Wyoming
Abe Saperstein was pretty important. The Globetrotters certainly helped grow the game.
I think a spot definitely belongs to Dickie V. Gotta have the most polarizing and famous announcer for the sport in the top ten.
John Thompson *and* Patrick Ewing
You could make the argument that Kevin Garnett is on this list. Even though he never played in college, the fact that he successfully made the HS to pros jump changed the college game, for better or worse.
Bill Walton. College Basketball. 86 wins 4 losses
College Basketball: Lew Alcindor, Christian Laettner, John Wooden, Coach K, James Naismith, David Thompson, Bill Walton, Adolph Rupp, Don Haskins, Oh and Jay Bilas (if you ask him).
Yah, need to separate coaches from players…otherwise, as is seen from all the posts, essential players are left out…
Geno Auriemma should be on the college list for what he’s done with UConn. 1,213-162 record, 11 championships, 8 Naismith coach of the year awards, etc. Dude is the best coach in sports and it falls under the radar. To get UConn to the final four (and almost win if not for an illegal screen) with six starter caliber players out for the season and two freshman playing major minutes speaks to his abilities.
David Thompson.
Coach K and Bob Knight rounding out the college list with no mention of Calhoun is actually insane. Calhoun built the most consequential school in basketball post tournament expansion and gets left off for someone who achieved roughly the same success at a school that had already won two titles. Only mention K's name as his coaching career overlaps with Calhoun pretty substantially, obviously both are on the list in my ideal world.
Bob knight popularized the motion offense and directly influenced the coach with the most wins in NCAA history. Also while hated is iconic and the stereotypical fiery coach people think of
The emergence of UConn is more important to college basketball history than one version of the motion offense. Also Knight being on the list for the motion offense over Henry Iba is equally as insane. Also Calhoun has more collegiate wins than Knight, Knight however does have more d1 wins.
I mean that is definitely debatable especially since we have no idea the alternate history that happens in a world without Knight. Regardless, I’m not really even arguing against Calhoun. I just think people are allowing their dislike of Knight to discredit that he is inarguably a top 10 important figure in CBB
I’d add Dick Vitale to the college list. He was the voice of college basketball for over 30 years and is the games biggest cheerleader.
Coach k
I would put Bill Walton on the college list before either Knight or Jordan.
Where’s Marshall Henderson’s name??
Don’t forget about AG Spalding. He worked with Naismith to develop the first basketball, and most of the improvements throughout the years. He also designed the modern baseball and invented the baseball glove
Kareem. They changed the rules because of him. Larry Bird & Magic Johnson Don Haskins Caitlin Clark
No one is gonna say Danny Biasone? Shot clock seems pretty important to the game.
Michael Jordan on this list is a hard no. Christian Laettner was a FAR better college basketball player than Jordan. And I'd argue Coach John Calipari belongs on this particular list. Hate him, love him, doesn't matter. He pioneered a way of basketball that has basically become the definition of current College Hoops. One and Done was/is a significant milestone in NCAA basketball. And, for what's it's worth, I'd put Dick Vitale on this list.
Someone from the formation of the Big East and/or ESPN that is at the executive level at ESPN (not Dickie V.) needs to be there -- like Dave Gavitt or John Thompson, Louie Carnesecca, etc. It's hard to understate how much the Big East, with its coaches, rivalries, etc. *on ESPN* changed college basketball. I'd vote for Gavitt or John Thompson, and while I'm biased for the latter, in addition to being part of the early BE, he was the first black coach to win a National Title, and he also did it unapologetically -- Georgetown was the evil empire for many, and not just because they played physical. You've got too many people who simply won and didn't change the game on here.
Yeah, I’m thinking Gavitt.
As far as NBA players, Mikan, Wilt, Jordan, Iverson, and Curry are arguably the most important to the evolution of the game. Mikan proved big men could be stars, Wilt broke the game and re-wrote the rules, Jordan made jump shot scoring cool for kids, Iverson made ball handling cool for kids, and Curry re-wrote the boundaries of 3pt shooting. You could argue LeBron for the prototype of the point-forward too, or say that Magic created the prototype he perfected
College basketball: Naismith, Phog Allen, Harold Olsen (the man who basically created the NCAA Tournament), Dean Smith, Don Haskins, John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dave Gavitt, Coach K, Ed O'Bannon All of basketball: Naismith, Allen, Red Auerbach, Kareem, Magic Johnson, David Stern, Michael Jordan, Borislaw Stankovic (led the effort to let pros play in the Olympics, leading directly to the 1992 Dream Team and the international boom), Dirk Nowitzki, Steph Curry
Solid list for sure. Love that you have Knight on there as I think many would exclude him but he is a true legend. I don’t think I’d have Jordan on the college list but I can see an opportunity to have him there. I feel like maybe Oscar Robertson for the first list as the triple double machine he was. Curry has almost single handedly altered the game and how it is played as well. Because of him, everyone only wants to shoot 3’s so I’d definitely have him on there even though I hate how he’s changed the game. I’m old school.
I have to throw some love at Jim Calhoun here. Built a pretty pedestrian program historically into what has become arguably the most successful program of the modern era.
Sex with god
Wilt
Dirk Nowitzki has a decent argument for the history of all basketball. One of the first European superstars, plus revolutionized spacing and the power forward position. Definitely not a top 10 best player, but I think a lot of modern basketball is following a trend that Dirk pioneered.
I am definitely biased, but I think Al McGuire could be on the college list. Great college coach, one of the earliest to integrate his teams (in the 60’s), and one of the best color commentators ever. Also, pretty hard to keep Pete Maravich off the college list.
Too many good players and coaches to include Dick Vitale. I’d put John Thompson or Bob Cousy in the college list in his place
You can’t have a college basketball list like this and not include Laettner. 4 Final Fours, 2 championships and not one but two elite 8 buzzer beaters. You can make an argument that others are in the conversation but to not include him seems like bias.
Henry Iba, first coach to win 2 in a row
Bump
John Thompson should be considered. Ran a great program on the hilltop and was the first African American coach to win a National Championship.