Most influencial the last 40 years?

[upnorthfan]

Since the post John Wooden and Red Aurbach (sp?) era's, who has been the most influencial in the game of basketball? IS it David Stern and his corrupt NBA machine? IS it Coach K? Phil Jackson? MJ? Dean Smith?

The most "successful" can measured pretty much by looking at numbers. "Influencial" is more opinion it would seem. It can be influence on the court or upstairs in administration. I am thinking overall, who had been most influencial in today game.

My money would be on Bobby Knight. When you hear coaches in their circle talk, they all seem to look to him as the sports ICON. The others would perhaps say Coach K.

Need I remind you Coach K is a prodigy of Knight's. I remember in the 70's how other countries like China every summer would send a team of coaches to watch him run camps and coaching clinics.

They do it a lot now with a lot of coaches, but back then he was only one of a few they did that with. And at the time he was the most sought after.

When Knight was in his thirties, he was a fiery SOB. I mean fiery! One time against Kentucy, who at the time weas their most hated rival. Joe B Hall, who took over for the retired Adolph Rupp, was in the midst of a recruiting scandal investigation.

During the game both coaches came to the center court line to argue with the officials, and when both coaches turned to walk away. Knight slapped him on the side of the head. This was AT Kentucky!

He threw a fan in a garbage pail in the loby of a hotel for screaming obscenities at him. You young pups who have watched him only since the 90's have seen a watered down version of what he was in the 70's.

I attended a few of his practices back then. He has guys lining up facing each other along the Free Throw lane, and he would have them slapping at the inside of the other guys knees. He would throw a basketball in the middle of the two lines and say "gentleman, you better come up with this ball".

He was the first to have his team shoot free throws in the middle of a practice, when the players were tired. He conined the phrase "the most important part of the game is the first five miutes of the second half", and countless others.

So who do you think is the most influencial person over the last almost four decades? And Why?

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

I voted MJ. He influenced tens or hundreds of millions of people around the world. I don't think any of the other options should receive any votes.

[upnorthfan]

I voted MJ. He influenced tens or hundreds of millions of people around the world. I don't think any of the other options should receive any votes.

Jordan did play for Knight. MJ is a tough one to beat granted. How about Dr J who influenced Magic and MJ.

[blkout]

Dr J might've been an influence but he wasn't the one who essentially brought basketball to the World in such a massive way like MJ did. It's kinda like saying if a dad teaches his son to play ball, and his son becomes a pro, his dad should be the one getting the shoe deals etc. Doesn't work like that.

[upnorthfan]

Dr J might've been an influence but he wasn't the one who essentially brought basketball to the World in such a massive way like MJ did. It's kinda like saying if a dad teaches his son to play ball, and his son becomes a pro, his dad should be the one getting the shoe deals etc. Doesn't work like that.

Yet had Dad not been there to influence him, could said player have ended up bagging groceries at the local market? We're not talking shoe deal, although your point is well taken.

Knights influnce began in the 70's. Coaches were breaking down doors to get to him.

When basketball first hit China, think of all the kids we are talking. And dozens of other countires as well. MJ has sustained it and increased interest, but Knight had the fan base already in place for which others has built upon.

MJ has influenced mostly players, Knight has influenced Coaches and Institutions on how to run programs and how to TEACH said players.

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

Jordan did play for Knight.

For a month, right? Just in the Olympics I think.

MJ has influenced mostly players, Knight has influenced Coaches and Institutions on how to run programs and how to TEACH said players.

But 90%+ of the people who play basketball in the world don't have coaches, and certainly not coaches influenced by Knight. Most of the basketball going on happens in back yards and playgrounds - there is no way for this kind of ball to be influenced by Knight. Kids don't "wanna be, wanna be like Coach Knight would ask them to be."

[upnorthfan]

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But 90%+ of the people who play basketball in the world don't have coaches, and certainly not coaches influenced by Knight. Most of the basketball going on happens in back yards and playgrounds - there is no way for this kind of ball to be influenced by Knight. Kids don't "wanna be, wanna be like Coach Knight would ask them to be."

I think a high majority of coaches have been influenced by him, more so than you think. Much much more. Knight had Jordan for probably about four months I would guess BTW.

Speaking of coaches, I doubt there is a coach in Jordans ascension to stardom, that wasn't influenced by Knight. I can't say for sure, but I can say a blanket statement like that because of the long coaching arm of Knight.

Tex Winter of Triangle offense fame was a coaching assistant of Knights. On and on it goes.

You certainly are correct "everyone wants to be like Mike", NOT Coach Knight, but the way that player plays, and has been coached will somehow be effected by knight if they play long enough.

On the High School level coaches have patterned so much after him...so maybe basketball players on the playground and back yards MJ is more influencial because everyone wants to dunk and hit the winning shots.

Basketball as an institution Knight has influenced more. Can ya give me that?

[Matt Foley]

easy choice of MJ considering the options

[upnorthfan]

easy choice of MJ considering the options

There is an "other" option, so add a name if you like.

[upnorthfan]

Little fun trivia question...what does Shag and MJ have in common with their college careers.

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

Completely OT, but when I took the exam to test out of jazz history in school, I'll never forget that one of the multiple choice questions was "who is the most influential piano player since 1945"? Pretty funny.

[jerrod]

i don't see how it's not jordan

[paulpressey25]

UNF...I'm not seeing the Bobby Knight thing.....maybe most influential coach from 1975-1990.

I'd go Jordan because he did become an international star....maybe a top five guy on the planet for awhile. And think of all the great players in the 1990-2000 period who were denied a title simply because Jordan stood in their way? And all the kids who played hoops because of Mike? And all the style/shoes garbage that followed Mike. For almost 15-years, basketball was Mike.

If you want a coach, I'd actually vote for Phil Jackson.....more than any coach out there, he's been the one who has adapted to modern times and the modern player. Sure he's coached loaded teams, but he's also coached some of the toughest egos to manage.....ever. And he's not just won an occasional title but done three "threepeats".

[Neapolitan Buck]

I think you forgot about Larry Bird and Magic; their rivalry was pivotal for the NBA to reach the fame this league has now.

[Represent]

It could be any of these guys depending on how you look at it. Coach K always seems to get the best out of his kids. Knight has always had the fire and passion for what he does, and always respected his players level of effort based on their abilities.

Jordan has influenced the kids during his generation and saved the NBA on a small level along with Bird and Magic. Since then there hasnt been a person to take his place. Maybe Lebron down the road.

Stern? Doesnt deserve any praise besides trying to be a harda$$ and making sure that the NBA remains a greedy, money hungry enterprize! He's only about the business aspect of basketball in my mind.

That's is for those choices.

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

Stern? Doesnt deserve any praise besides trying to be a harda$$ and making sure that the NBA remains a greedy, money hungry enterprize! He's only about the business aspect of basketball in my mind.

This thread isn't about praise. It's about influence. Is the state of basketball on earth the same as if Stern had never existed? If not, he's had influence.

[upnorthfan]

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This thread isn't about praise. It's about influence. Is the state of basketball on earth the same as if Stern had never existed? If not, he's had influence.

lol. I should have qualified my statement. Who has had the most "positive" influence on basketball? Key word being positive. Stern would be last amoung those mentioned in that regard.

[jerrod]

i think stern's influence in terms of building the nba is so intertwined with mj that i hesitate to give him anywhere near that much credit

[zizek]

Jerry West merits consideration for assembling the flagship NBA franchise after Auerbach. Dean Smith was the great college talent assembler after Wooden; but Smith might have won championships like Wooden did if he had Knight's coaching talent.

If Magic Johnson had more influence on the game than Jordan the game might be better.

[upnorthfan]

UNF...I'm not seeing the Bobby Knight thing.....maybe most influential coach from 1975-1990.

I'd go Jordan because he did become an international star....maybe a top five guy on the planet for awhile. And think of all the great players in the 1990-2000 period who were denied a title simply because Jordan stood in their way? And all the kids who played hoops because of Mike? And all the style/shoes garbage that followed Mike. For almost 15-years, basketball was Mike.

If you want a coach, I'd actually vote for Phil Jackson.....more than any coach out there, he's been the one who has adapted to modern times and the modern player. Sure he's coached loaded teams, but he's also coached some of the toughest egos to manage.....ever. And he's not just won an occasional title but done three "threepeats".

I just remember how the world came to him to teach them the game. I remember the coaches who has been to his camps and been to his practices .

I am not so sure you couldn't say Bird and Magic had the biggest influence, but then that is two people. Here we are talking one single person.

So certainly based on this present pole, MJ is and has been the most influencial. I wouldn't argue to hard against it myself. My question is to those who have voted, have you been around basketball since the 70's or 90's?

That could have some influence, not seeing Knights first 20 years on the job, and voting for the one you have seen yourself (MJ).

Like I said earlier, these are opinions.