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Nikola Jokic’s debut in the NBA Finals on Thursday night was very much worth the wait. Jokic and the Denver Nuggets picked up a Game 1 win over the Miami Heat, and while he only shot the ball 12 times, he managed to have his fingerprints all over the game, as the two-time NBA MVP scored 27 points on 8-for-12 shooting with 14 assists, 10 rebounds, a steal, a block, and two turnovers in 40 minutes of work.
Despite only being 28, Jokic is in the midst of a Hall of Fame career, as he’s stuffed the stat sheet and been the biggest reason Denver is in the position it’s in right now. This has, invariably, led to conversations about Jokic’s place in basketball history, and on an episode of FS1’s First Things First this week, that conversation came up. It included one moment where longtime NBA reporter Chris Broussard came under some fire for saying that Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki “is overrated by a lot of people.”
Chris Broussard: “I think Dirk is overrated by a lot of people.”
He really just said that. pic.twitter.com/Un7z7wKNin
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) June 1, 2023
Nowitzki is one of the more universally beloved former players, so it’s not surprising to learn that Broussard’s take ruffled some feathers. This included Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, who wants Broussard to be taken off of TV for this one and believes saying this is “so bad for our sport.”
Can we take people off tv. Like this is so bad for our sport.. https://t.co/BIHjnWL4te
— kuz (@kylekuzma) June 2, 2023
Again, you’d be pretty hard-pressed to find too many people who dislike Nowitzki, as he was from a very recent generation of now-retired legends and earned a whole lot of fans in the basketball world for how he led the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA title against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Heat. He’s an all-timer by basically any way you slice it, and while it’s not really necessary for anyone to call balls and strikes on this one, our hunch is that Broussard’s take is not exactly shared by everyone.
Bill DiFilippo
https://uproxx.com/dimemag/kyle-kuzma-chris-broussard-people-overrate-dirk-nowitzki-reaction-video-2/
By: Bill DiFilippo
Title: Kyle Kuzma On Chris Broussard Saying ‘A Lot Of People’ Overrate Dirk Nowitzki: ‘Can We Take People Off TV’
Sourced From: uproxx.com/dimemag/kyle-kuzma-chris-broussard-people-overrate-dirk-nowitzki-reaction-video-2/
Published Date: 06-02-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are players paid in NBA?
The NBA average salary for 2021-2022 is $7.3 million. This figure is based the maximum salary cap of $134million, which was set in this season. The individual salaries of players can vary depending on their accomplishments and experience.
Superstar players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant can earn up to $40 million a year, while rookies may make as little as the minimum salary of $898,310. Other veterans may be eligible to receive mid-level exception salaries, which can range from $4.76 million up to $9.258 millions depending on their experience. Based on team performance, players could also earn incentives or bonuses.
Which NBA player is the leading scorer now?
This question is subjective because different players play different ways that make them successful and unique. Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry are all popular choices for NBA's most dominant scorer.
Kevin Durant is more than a shooting star. He's also an offensive powerhouse! He has two NBA Championships and two Finals MVPs under his belt, as well as a regular season MVP title. This player is serious.
Which player is the greatest defender in the NBA's history?
If you are familiar with basketball, it is not surprising to see "The Dream", at number one on this list. Hakeem Olajuwon made 3,830 blocked shots over his 18-year NBA career. This is more than any other player. He was also an All-Defensive player (9 times) and 2-time DPOY (2 times), leading his team to two NBA Championships. He was a great defender. His footwork, timing, and athleticism made him a good shot blocker as well as a rebounder. His ability to guard any position on the court made him a nightmare for opponents. He was also an offensive player, and he was a formidable opponent. He had incredible agility, quickness, and a deadly array of spin moves, which allowed him to score in the post. His all-around versatility made him one of the best players, let alone defenders. Hakeem Olajuwon deserves to be at top of this list, it is obvious.
Bill Russell barely makes #2 on this list due to his average of 15.1 ppg, but he was the best defender during his era and gave opposing teams nightmares. Bill Russell has 11 NBA Championships to his credit throughout his career. He also holds the record for the most defensive win percentages in NBA history, 133.64. His defensive prowess as well as rebounding abilities were key to the Boston Celtics' incredible success. Many consider him the most decorated NBA defender. His ability to read and anticipate play made him an intimidating presence on court.
Third on the list is Dennis Rodman. He was a pioneer in the NBA's history, and he made an enormous impact whenever he played. Rodman succeeded by playing tough defence, rebounding well, and not needing the ball to score; this allowed his team to win often. Dennis Rodman was a 7 time Rebounding Champ, 8 times All-Defensive player, 2-time DPOY and a 5-time NBA champion. His tenacity on the defensive end was among the best, as he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He was also a skilled rebounder. He would often out-jump taller players, and take their boards away.
Who is the best basketball player of all time?
This is a difficult question to answer as there are so many excellent players. Each person has their own opinion. However, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant are among the top contenders for the title. Each one of these basketball legends has had a profound impact on basketball and earned their place in basketball's history. They all have different styles of play which have been greatly admired by millions. This makes it difficult to say definitively who is the greatest player ever. It's clear, however, that this list must include six of the most remarkable players.
Most people agree that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever. He was born in Wilmington on February 17, 1963.
Jordan began his professional basketball career with the Chicago Bulls in 1984 and soon became one of his era's most famous and successful players. Six-time NBA champion, six time NBA finals MVP and five-time NBA regular-season MVP. He was also a 10-time NBA scoring leader.
Jordan was also a double Olympic gold medal winner. He was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2009. Jordan's remarkable ability to score from any position on the court, make plays and lead the team is what will be remembered. His unwavering drive and ambition will be an inspiration to millions around the world.
Jordan's legacy, the undisputed greatest player of basketball history, will continue to live on. His level of greatness is unparalleled by any other player. He will be forever remembered as one among the greatest sports figures ever. Michael Jordan is undoubtedly the greatest athlete of all time. His extraordinary career and achievements will always be remembered. He was, will always be, and has been "The GOAT," the one and only Michael Jordan.
Statistics
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- An estimated 800 million viewers watched the [105]2017–18 season. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
External Links
bleacherreport.com
- Which NBA Teams Will Join the Victor Wembanyama Tankathon?
- Recent NBA Intel: Sources expect Zach LaVine will re-sign with the Chicago Bulls
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
sports.yahoo.com
- Yahoo Mail, Search, Weather, Search Politics, News Finance Sports & Videos
- The lowest ever recorded viewership for Game 1 of the NBA Finals is seen in ratings history
sbnation.com
How To
How do you get into the NBA?
Two ways to become an NBA player are through college or high school.
NCAA schools are available to college students, such as Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Kentucky. These schools offer training and education for four years. Players develop ball handling, shooting, and rebounding skills during this period. They learn how defense and offense can be run. They are also taught how to think like a professional athlete.
Prep schools in other states are available for high school students. These schools give athletes individual attention and develop talent. They teach players academics, character building, and sportsmanship.
Both types must pass the same physical exams before they are allowed into the draft. The test consists of running 40 yards, jumping over a 5'6" box, standing on one leg, and throwing a football through a tire.
All players who pass these tests will be invited to participate at workouts for different NBA teams. The teams evaluate players based upon their height, weight and wingspan.
Teams also take into account their past experience. For instance, if a player has played AAU basketball, he will likely receive preferential treatment.
Sometimes, players considered too small to be professional athletes are called "one and done" prospects. These players are usually selected in the second round.
Some players choose to skip college and go straight to the NBA. These players are called "prospects." Prospects do not need to wait for the end of the calendar year to be declared eligible for the draft.
Prospects can request an exemption to be allowed to draft earlier. If a prospect does so, he will be able to compete against other prospects during the pre-draft process.
Participation in summer leagues is a way to improve your chances of getting selected. Summer league games are usually held in July or august.
These events enable scouts see players in action without worrying too much about injury risks.
The NBA Draft is held each June. It is when all the top NBA prospects are evaluated. Each team gets a different number of picks each round.
The 15th overall selection is, for example, the pick 1 in the first round. In the third round the 20th selection will be the 60th.
Teams trade after the draft to add players to their rosters. Mini-camps are sometimes held by some teams to allow potential draftees to come train with them.
It is an exciting day on draft day! What happens next?
There is no waiting around for your name to come up once the draft has begun. Each NBA team selects players from the pool.
When a team has selected a player, it sends him his contract, which details his salary and playing time as well as benefits. He becomes an employee of the company.
A jersey with his name on it and a uniform featuring his new nickname are also included.
Finally, he signs his contract. He officially joins NBA.
