According to Jack McCallum, the list goes as such:
5) Bill Russell
4) Oscar Robertson
3) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2) Larry Bird
1) Michael Jordan
It’s hard to argue against any of the legends on that list, but when I think of the most intimidating NBA players ever… two names come to mind. Charles Oakley, and Ron Artest.
MJ’s probably earned the spot at #1, because of his ruthlessness in dealing with anyone, his own teammates included, that he just felt like being a dick to on any given day. Michael would get in a mood sometimes, and just completely belittle people on a whim.
But here’s the thing. Ron Artest broke his ribs for it. When MJ was working out in the summer, preparing for his comeback with the Wizards, reports say that he was making fun of Artest and his poor upbringing, when Ron-Ron went buck wild on him and broke one of his ribs. Ron Artest did not give a fuck about the comeback, the legend, the old man, nothing. He wanted to hurt him, and he did. Ron Artest was not intimidated, and I’m guessing that Michael Jordan will not make fun of him again. Advantage, Artest.
I guess intimidation means different things to different people, but if it was me, and I had to choose between playing a game of one-on-one against Jordan or Artest, I’m going with Jordan. The worst he’s going to do is beat me 15-0 and call me a loser. Artest may hospitalize me.
And as for Charles Oakley… well, I’ll just refer you to the starting forward on this team.
Anonymous
Being a bit old school, I remember some other guys as well
(Although Kareem was a great choice—God forbid if you caught him surly! He was deceptively strong)
1. Maurice Lucas (who was actually nicknamed “The Enforcer” and if you nailed a teammate of his, you’d sadly find out why. Always looked like the guy in the yard who’c come walking up on you realfast and the last thing you’d see was the glint of his shiv.)
2. Wes Unseld (In addition to being built like the cornerstone for the county jail, he also had the meanest ice-grill in NBA history. If he smiled, you’d hear cracking noises and think a piece of the polar ice-shelf was breaking off)
3. Artis Gilmore (whose near super-human strength and physique was so legendary that that the “A-Train” really never had to actually f*ck anyone up, you just knew that if he did, it was gonna look like Tate-LoBianco ’69)
4. Willis Reed (during his prime no one—not even Wilt f*cked around with Willis; who was a gentle giant until you crossed him—and he’d run down the length of your team’s bench and pound the sh*t out of everyone on it. Which Wilt actually did in the late 60′s to the Baltimore Bullets. He just snapped after they were riding him all game long. From that game onward, Willis’ league rep was made and the Knicks owned the Bullets for seasons to come.
5. And yeah, Charles Oakley. As a New Yorker you got used to this call about four times a season.
Marty Glickman: …and the (insert team name here) trainer is out on the court with (insert brash rookie’s name here) administering to his injury. And Charles Oakley’s just standing there smiling at him—daring him to say something.
Clyde Frazier: How does someone NOT tell that kid what will happen to him if he flies down the lane like that against a Charles Oakley? He’s on his feet now, still shaky…and he’s gonna go up the tunnel. He’ll know better next time. Welcome to the NBA—the hard way.
Oak owned a chain of car washes here in Brooklyn. When you heard he was at the one you were patronizing that day, you just tipped his guys double. Truth.
Best,
YL
January 21, 2005 at 7:12 pm
the mighty mjd
An awesome post… thanks, old schooler.
January 22, 2005 at 2:38 pm