The NBA has many talented basketball players, known not only in the United States and North America, but all over the world. With that in mind, we’ve put together a complete list of 15 of the best pivots in NBA history.
These athletes became famous not just for their achievements during matches, but for influencing a legion of new players and winning fans over the years.
The ranking features players of basketball success, such as Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russel, Patrick Ewing, Ben Wallace and others. As well as mentioning the names, we’ll also tell you about their teams and main achievements.
Check out the complete list of the 15 best pivots in NBA history!
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Best pivots in NBA history: complete list
Check out our complete list of the best power forwards in NBA history. These names are well known in the world of sport, gaining fame at the time they were successful and still relevant today!
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Moses Malone
- Hakeen Olajuwon
- Bill Russell
- Bill Walton
- David Robinson
- Patrick Ewing
- George Mikan
- Ben Wallace
- Yao Ming
- Willis Reed
- Artis Gilmore
- Bob Lanier
The best pivots in NBA history: find out more about them
Now it’s time to find out which teams the best pivots in NBA history have been a part of and what their main achievements have been!
1. Shaquille O’Neal (1992 – 2011)
- Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
- Main achievements: 4x NBA champion (Lakers – 2000, 2001, 2002; Heat – 2006), 3x NBA Finals MVP, 15x All-Star, 14x All-NBA Team.
- Curiosity: he is also a rapper and actor.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969 – 1989)
- Team: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers
- Main achievements: 6-time NBA champion (Bucks – 1971; Lakers – 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), 6-time NBA MVP, 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA Team.
- Curiosity: also known for being a social activist.
3. Wilt Chamberlain (1959 – 1973)
- Team: Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers
- Main achievements: 2x campeão da NBA (Sixers – 1967; Lakers – 1972), 4x MVP da NBA, 13x All-Star, 7x Scoring Champion.
- Curiosity: known as the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game.
4. Moses Malone (1974 – 1995)
- Team: Buffalo Braves, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs
- Main achievements: 1x campeão da NBA (Sixers – 1983), 3x MVP da NBA, 12x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Team.
- Curiosity: he won the MVP award for two different teams.
5. Hakeem Olajuwon (1984 – 2002)
- Team: Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
- Main achievements: 2x campeão da NBA (Rockets – 1994, 1995), 2x MVP das Finais da NBA, 12x All-Star, 12x All-NBA Team, 9x All-Defensive Team, 2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
- Curiosity: he is also skilled in martial arts.
6. Bill Russell (1956 – 1969)
- Team: Boston Celtics
- Main achievements: 11-time NBA champion (1957, 1959-1966, 1968, 1969), 5-time NBA MVP, 12-time All-Star.
- Curiosity: the most successful player in NBA history.
7. Bill Walton (1974 – 1987)
- Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics
- Main achievements: 2x campeão da NBA (Blazers – 1977; Celtics – 1986), 1x MVP da NBA, 2x NBA Sixth Man of the Year, 2x All-Star.
- Curiosity: known for his “hippie” style.
8. David Robinson (1989 – 2003)
- Team: San Antonio Spurs
- Main achievements: 2x campeão da NBA (Spurs – 1999, 2003), 1x MVP da NBA, 10x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Team, 8x All-Defensive Team, 2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
- Curiosity: he served in the navy and was a lieutenant.
9. Patrick Ewing (1985-2002)
- Teams: New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics, Orlando Magic
- Main achievements: 11x All-Star, 7x All-NBA Team, 3x NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year.
- Curiosity: I had the superstition of wearing a torn T-shirt under my uniform.
10. George Mikan (1946-1956)
- Team: Minneapolis Lakers
- Main achievements: 5-time NBA champion (1949, 1950, 1952-1954), 4x All-Star, 4x All-BAA/NBA First Team.
- Curiosity: he popularized the basketball dunk.
11. Ben Wallace (1996 – 2012)
- Teams: Washington Bullets/Wizards, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Main achievements: 1x campeão da NBA (Pistons – 2004), 4x NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 5x All-Star, 6x All-NBA Team, 6x All-Defensive Team.
- Curiosity: greatest defenders in NBA history.
12. Yao Ming (2002 – 2011)
- Team: Houston Rockets
- Main achievements: 8x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team, 2002-03 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
- Curiosity: he retired due to chronic injuries.
13. Willis Reed (1964 – 1974)
- Team: New York Knicks
- Main achievements: 2x NBA champion (1970, 1973), 1x NBA Finals MVP, 7x All-Star, 1964 NBA Rookie of the Year.
- Curiosity: He became known for playing with an injured leg.
14. Artis Gilmore (1971 – 1988)
- Team: Kentucky Colonels, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics
- Main achievements: 1x ABA champion (Colonels – 1975), 1x ABA MVP, 6x NBA All-Star, 5x ABA All-Star, 5x All-ABA Team.
- Curiosity: entered the NBA Hall of Fame.
15. Bob Lanier (1970 – 1984)
- Teams: Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks
- Main achievements: 8x NBA All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team, 1974 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
- Curiosity: activist with a huge social contribution.
Best pivots in NBA history: complete list
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Moses Malone
- Hakeen Olajuwon
- Bill Russell
- Bill Walton
- David Robinson
- Patrick Ewing
- George Mikan
- Ben Wallace
- Yao Ming
- Willis Reed
- Artis Gilmore
- Bob Lanier
These are the main players on the list of the best power forwards in NBA history. All these athletes have contributed to the growth and popularity of basketball, one of the world’s most beloved sports.
If you enjoyed finding out more about these athletes, take the opportunity to check out the other articles we have on the subject!
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