NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
While today’s sports fans may not be able to imagine an American sports scene without basketball, more than 115 years passed between the signing of the “Declaration of Independence” and the first game of hoops in Springfield, Massachusetts.
James Naismith’s invention began its spread across the nation in 1891. One year later, colleges began playing. The NBA was founded in 1949, and George Mikan quickly became the first professional basketball superstar. Now, as we near our nation’s 250th birthday, we look back at the best U.S. athletes to play this uniquely American sport.
Advertisement
About USA TODAY’s ‘250 for 250’ series
Now through July 4, USA TODAY Sports is releasing our “250 for 250” list of America’s top homegrown athletes of all time. Each week we’ll bring you all-time standouts from across the sports world, and give readers a chance to vote on who should be featured.
Learn more about the series at usatoday.com.
You can also vote in a name that you feel is missing from this list by visiting our interactive poll.
Now, on to the list of our nation’s top homegrown men’s basketball players:
Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
Jordan first became a national star when he hit the game-winning shot for North Carolina in the 1982 national championship game. He then took the NBA to new global heights as a six-time champion with the Chicago Bulls and member of the original Dream Team. Jordan won five NBA MVP awards and his “Air Jordan” shoe line and Jordan brand transformed Nike and the basketball apparel industry.
Advertisement
LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)
James was a high school sensation who lived up to all the hype to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and the most influential player of his generation. The Akron, Ohio native has won four NBA titles with three different teams, three MVP awards and three Olympic gold medals. He ushered in the league’s player empowerment era when he made “The Decision” to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in 2010 and became the first NBA player to earn more than $1 billion in salary during his active career.
Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-goat-greatest-u-basketball-100126829.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-04-21 10:01:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
