RealGM

A couple of years ago, ESPN compiled a list of the 100 most influential players. While I'd presume there was a thread about it back then, I don't recall it, and I can't find it now. Anyway, they included a lot of kinds of influence, including:
-- Guys who innovated styles of play.
-- Guys whose main influence was as a coach, executive, or broadcaster.
-- Guys who were important in the broader public consciousness.
-- Guys who affected player-rights stuff. (Player's Association, early-entry, etc.)
-- Important early Euro and other international NBA players.
-- "One of the first black guys to do X".

Indeed, the first guy who seems to be there for little reason other than "He was a VERY good player who affected championship outcomes accordingly" is all the way down at #24. (Tim Duncan)

Since many kinds of influence are being weighed, we can all disagree as to their relative importance. But generally, this seems to be pretty well thought through.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank22782612/nbarank-game-changers-most-influential-basketball-players-ever-nos-100-76

How could you do a list of the most influential players in the NBA and put Bob Couzy at #37. He virtually invented the modern point guard position. How many of the greatest point guards in the Hall of Fame as kids tried to emulated Bob Couzy on the playground? #37? You're gonna argue he's less influential than Ray Allen or Steve Nash? Deserves to be in the top 10.

Taget wrote:How could you do a list of the most influential players in the NBA and put Bob Couzy at #37. He virtually invented the modern point guard position. How many of the greatest point guards in the Hall of Fame as kids tried to emulated Bob Couzy on the playground? #37? You're gonna argue he's less influential than Ray Allen or Steve Nash? Deserves to be in the top 10.

Amen to that. The very same ESPN said the following about his impact on the game (emphasis added):

"The Cooz" helped usher in a new era of ball handlers with his slick dribbling and fancy passing, unheard of in the NBA at the time. Starting in his third year, Cousy led the NBA in assists per game every season from 1952-53 through 1959-60, while also ranking as one of the league's leading scorers over this period and winning MVP in 1956-57. An All-Star in all 13 of his full seasons, Cousy later paired with Bill Russell to help the Celtics win the first six of their 11 championships in the Russell era. -- Pelton

From: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29105574/ranking-top-74-nba-players-all-nos-74-41