One player for each franchise that personifies it

ChuckTheD · Post #1 » by **ChuckTheD** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:03 am

What player do you guys think of when you think of each team? Who personifies what it means to be a member of (insert team)? It doesn't have to be the best player, in fact in most cases it probably isn't.

For my team, it'd have to be Magic Johnson. The Lakers have always been about impactful showmen, dynamic personalities who could wow you while they beat your favorite team. Magic captured that in a way that no one else in professional sports ever did. He budded heads with coaches (as other great Lakers have.) He had some failures in the Finals (as most great Lakers have.) His main competition was Boston (as was the case for most great Lakers.) He was, simply put, the Laker of all Lakers.

Who would you guys pick for your team?

And just to reiterate, I don't mean the greatest player in the team's history. Dennis Rodman would be an appropriate answer for a Pistons fan because he was a tough as nails defender who was a gritty rebounder and tried to physically intimidate his opponent. No one would ever bring up Rodman as the best Piston of all time, but he could be argued as the most accurate personification of the team's identity.

knownastron · Post #2 » by **knownastron** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:07 am

I wasn't alive when the Bad Boys played, but would Laimbeer be chosen over Rodman? Someone shed some light!

RonMercerMVP · Post #3 » by **RonMercerMVP** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:09 am

Probably Kirk Hinrich.

ChuckTheD · Post #4 » by **ChuckTheD** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:10 am

knownastron wrote:I wasn't alive when the Bad Boys played, but would Laimbeer be chosen over Rodman? Someone shed some light!

Yeah probably. I was just throwing out a name for the sake of my point, but you'd probably be right.

Post #5 » by **darth_federer** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:13 am

Jose Calderon

ShelB · Post #6 » by **ShelB** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:13 am

Nate Huffman for the Raptors.

OneTime86 · Post #7 » by **OneTime86** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:14 am

Sadly right now it's probably Bargnani. Not much D with a streaky offense. Hopefully it evolves into a more hard working, hard nosed, and exciting team as our young guys develop.

farzi · Post #8 » by **farzi** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:16 am

Greg Oden

thegreatblaze · Post #9 » by **thegreatblaze** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:17 am

farzi wrote:Greg Oden

Post #10 » by **Senor Chang** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:19 am

RonMercerMVP wrote:Probably Kirk Hinrich.

heh. kirk hinrich is the heart and soul of the bulls even when he doesn't play for them anymore. i fully expect the bulls to sign him once his contract is up

mid-post · Post #11 » by **mid-post** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:24 am

Stromile Swift? Although it might be Zach Randolph now I guess.
I don't think the Grizzlies are stuck in "Strotential" territory anymore and they might finally be living up to their abilities (ZBo).

SmallBallPlsDie · Post #12 » by **SmallBallPlsDie** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:32 am

Vladimir Radmanovic

ElTuco84 · Post #13 » by **ElTuco84** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:37 am

Charles Oakley, tough, fearless, great rebounder, hardcore defender.

I can't think of anyone on the current Knicks team who lives up to the defensive culture of Knicks teams from the past.

RichardsRival3 · Post #14 » by **RichardsRival3** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:13 am

For me, MJ personifies the Bulls. Like MJ, the Bulls are about competing hard, toughness, defense and winning above everything.

This was true with MJ and is true with the current Bulls team with Noah and Rose leading the way.

Canada_7 · Post #15 » by **Canada_7** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:15 am

Not my team but I do respect them and enjoy watching them play

Tim Duncan for the Spurs.

Coxy · Post #16 » by **Coxy** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:22 am

For the Warriors, I'm going to go with Chris Mullin.

Awesome pure shooting, nice flair for the game, clean cut and fun to watch. Not a lick of defense and not a very tough hard nosed player though, pretty much, the Golden State Warriors.

legacyinthemakin89c · Post #17 » by **legacyinthemakin89c** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:39 am

For the Pistons, Ben Wallace for sure.

elbowthrower · Post #18 » by **elbowthrower** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:40 am

JR Smith

Wildly talented but undisciplined and erratic.

moximus · Post #19 » by **moximus** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:43 am

Al Horford - Hawks

KnickelandDime · Post #20 » by **KnickelandDime** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:44 am

For the Knicks it's either Oakley or Clyde.