The Five Biggest Names in NBA History

The NBA is the one sport where one player can take a team on its back and bring it to glory. For this reason NBA players can reach a level of fame and notoriety that is near impossible in all sports. Today were going to go over the five BIGGEST names in NBA History. Don't take this list as the five best even though there will be similarities but recent players do have some extra boost in this award because of the popularity of the league.

5. Kobe Bryant - 5 Time Champion, 14 All Stars, 1 MVP, 1 Finals MVP, 8 time First Team All Defense. Kobe Bryant is one of the most polarizing sports figure today. He came into the league in the first wave of high schoolers and instantly became a fan favorite. He was starting All Star Games before he started for his own team. During his first reign he won three championships and his feud with Shaquille O'Neal lead to the blowing up of the team. He then became a one man wrecking crew cumulating with an 81 point explosion versus Toronto. He then remade himself again to go to 3 more Finals winning the past two.

4. Wilt Chamberlain 2 Time Champion, 13 All Stars, 4 MVP's, 2 Finals MVP. Career Averages 30.1PPg 22.9 RPG. To list all of Wilt's records would take days. Wilt Chamberlain was ahead of his time and dominated the league statistically like no other player ever did. He was most famous for scoring 100 points in one game. He is the only member of the 30k points and 20k rebound club. He is known for putting numbers before championships. Players marveled at him but didn't love to play with him. The one thing for sure is there will never be another Wilt.

3. Bill Russell - 11 Time Champion, 2 Time Champion as Player Coach 12 All Stars, 5 MVPS, Finals MVP is Named After him. Bill Russell is known as the biggest winner in NBA History. He anchored the legendary Celtics teams that dominated the league in the 60's. He was the only player that could stop Wilt and he single handily made sure Wilt isn't known as the best player of all time. Only player coach to ever win a championship.

2. Magic Johnson - 5 time Champion, 12 All Stars, 3 MVP's, 3 Finals MVP. Member of 1992 Dream Team. Magic Johnson is famous for two reasons. 1st running the Show Time Lakers and battling the Celtics it seemed every year for the championship. 2nd retiring from the league abruptly because he was diagnosed with HIV. Magic and Larry Bird helped take the game from TV delayed Finals Games to one of the most popular sports in the world.

1. Michael Jordan - 6 time champion, 16 All Stars, 5 MVP's, 6 Finals' MVP, Member of 1992 Dream Team. Regarded by almost everyone as the greatest player ever to play the game. Throughout his career MJ dominated the league with his passion to win. Jordan has become a worldwide figure with his Air Jordan line. Michael Jordan is still the most famous person in any room he enters.