Has there ever been a player in the history of basketball that hasn't been replicated?

[Tracymcgoaty]

It's harder for me when it comes to basketball to figure it out because i know there are people on here who have watched basketball since the 70s that could answer that better for me.

But i know Football (soccer) and i've been sifting through a bunch of players and ended up on Riquelme. Riquelme for those who know football. One of if not the most unique football to have ever been put on the football field. Just everything about him down to his demeanor and how he handled the ball is something that hasn't ever been replicated since.

Is there anyone in basketball that matches that? Someone that was so unique you knew that this was it. Wont ever be replicated?

Dont say Jordan because we've got like 500x players who tried to emulate him.

Im talking something that cant ever be emulated. like an anomaly.

[Knicks Byke]

Michael Jordan.

often imitated, never duplicated.

[DavidSterned]

Muggsy

[phanman]

Giannis. Nobody his size has ever been that nimble and athletic while being able to handle the ball as a playmaker

[Loaded_Hollows]

Shaq

[MarcusBrody]

Riquelme is interesting as he was almost more the "last of a dying breed" footballer than unable to be emulated, though if we were going to classify players as similar, I think I'd say that Pirlo came closest in his artistic, intelligent, but not overly athletic approach to the game.

So what you might be looking for is a player that played in a way that the game no longer makes advantageous. You've ruled out Jordan, but in some ways his amazing midrange is both hard to imitate and out of fashion.

The most obvious answer though is Kareem and his skyhook.

[hardenASG13]

Iverson, Westbrook, shaq, Curry, Durant, Giannis, Lebron

[MelTurpin]

Nash

[Tracymcgoaty]

Riquelme is interesting as he was almost more the "last of a dying breed" footballer than unable to be emulated, though if we were going to classify players as similar, I think I'd say that Pirlo came closest in his artistic, intelligent, but not overly athletic approach to the game.

So what you might be looking for is a player that played in a way that the game no longer makes advantageous. You've ruled out Jordan, but in some ways his amazing midrange is both hard to imitate and out of fashion.

The most obvious answer though is Kareem and his skyhook.

My bad i shouldn't have ruled out Jordan lol i just kinda knew people would go there was looking for another answer

Yeah i'd say Pirlo -Zizou and Riquelme were the last three musketeers.

[Joshyjess]

You know, I've never really seen any player replicate what Kevin McHale did on a regular basis. Occasionally a guy will do a McHale like move (3 or 4 fakes, going under than around than over, than back under ...), but nobody plays like him on a regular basis.

[MarcusBrody]

Riquelme is interesting as he was almost more the "last of a dying breed" footballer than unable to be emulated, though if we were going to classify players as similar, I think I'd say that Pirlo came closest in his artistic, intelligent, but not overly athletic approach to the game.

So what you might be looking for is a player that played in a way that the game no longer makes advantageous. You've ruled out Jordan, but in some ways his amazing midrange is both hard to imitate and out of fashion.

The most obvious answer though is Kareem and his skyhook.

My bad i shouldn't have ruled out Jordan lol i just kinda knew people would go there was looking for another answer

Yeah i'd say Pirlo -Zizou and Riquelme were the last three musketeers.

Ha! I actually almost added Zidane, but finally decided that he had/used the world class athleticism at times, he just also had the intelligence excellence (which is how he ended up a GOAT level player I guess, whereas the other two are a tier below that for me). Boy did I love those Villareal teams that Riquelme was on though. I was living in Spain for their great 04/05 season and I still have a fondness for the Yellow Submarine as a result.

[ellobo]

Bernard King.

The pivot-on-the-heels quick release turnaround, released on the way up. The left wing proto-eurostep one-man fast break. The game face. The sway-backed walk.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

As Magic says in this video, "We knew he was going to that spot, the 18,000 fans knew he was getting to that spot, nobody could do anything with this man."

Watch on YouTube

[Tracymcgoaty]

Riquelme is interesting as he was almost more the "last of a dying breed" footballer than unable to be emulated, though if we were going to classify players as similar, I think I'd say that Pirlo came closest in his artistic, intelligent, but not overly athletic approach to the game.

So what you might be looking for is a player that played in a way that the game no longer makes advantageous. You've ruled out Jordan, but in some ways his amazing midrange is both hard to imitate and out of fashion.

The most obvious answer though is Kareem and his skyhook.

My bad i shouldn't have ruled out Jordan lol i just kinda knew people would go there was looking for another answer

Yeah i'd say Pirlo -Zizou and Riquelme were the last three musketeers.

Ha! I actually almost added Zidane, but finally decided that he had/used the world class athleticism at times, he just also had the intelligence excellence (which is how he ended up a GOAT level player I guess, whereas the other two are a tier below that for me). Boy did I love those Villareal teams that Riquelme was on though. I was living in Spain for their great 04/05 season and I still have a fondness for the Yellow Submarine as a result.

Dude you was living the dream in 04/05 that was Riquelme at his best!

I agree Zizou is in a class of his own. More about those three playing the game their way.

[KawhiSoSerious]

Muggsy

Boykins, maybe?

[MissileMike]

Rodman

[MarcusBrody]

My bad i shouldn't have ruled out Jordan lol i just kinda knew people would go there was looking for another answer

Yeah i'd say Pirlo -Zizou and Riquelme were the last three musketeers.

Ha! I actually almost added Zidane, but finally decided that he had/used the world class athleticism at times, he just also had the intelligence excellence (which is how he ended up a GOAT level player I guess, whereas the other two are a tier below that for me). Boy did I love those Villareal teams that Riquelme was on though. I was living in Spain for their great 04/05 season and I still have a fondness for the Yellow Submarine as a result.

Dude you was living the dream in 04/05 that was Riquelme at his best!

I agree Zizou is in a class of his own. More about those three playing the game their way.

Ha well I was living in Salamanca, which is both very pro-Real Madrid and had their team and my first spanish footballing love (UD Salamanca) relegated from Segunda (and eventually into bankruptcy/dissolution), so it wasn't all joy on the footballing front, but I did get to see the Riquelme at his peak, a really great Betis team with Joaquin and Oliveira, and peak Ronaldinho (though I rooted against him out of form), so I cannot really complain.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Ha! I actually almost added Zidane, but finally decided that he had/used the world class athleticism at times, he just also had the intelligence excellence (which is how he ended up a GOAT level player I guess, whereas the other two are a tier below that for me). Boy did I love those Villareal teams that Riquelme was on though. I was living in Spain for their great 04/05 season and I still have a fondness for the Yellow Submarine as a result.

Dude you was living the dream in 04/05 that was Riquelme at his best!

I agree Zizou is in a class of his own. More about those three playing the game their way.

Ha well I was living in Salamanca, which is both very pro-Real Madrid and had their team and my first spanish footballing love (UD Salamanca) relegated from Segunda (and eventually into bankruptcy/dissolution), so it wasn't all joy on the footballing front, but I did get to see the Riquelme at his peak, a really great Betis team with Joaquin and Oliveira, and peak Ronaldinho (though I rooted against him out of form), so I cannot really complain.

I remember those Betis teams. Joaquin was my brothers favorite to watch. He used to constantly talk about him having the best dribble percentage in the world or something like that . La liga was greatness back then. Just an abundant of unique players.

Those Espanyol teams with Tamudo and De La Pena were one of my favorites to watch! I'd cherish those memories for life if i'd have lived there during those times. Im jealous!

[Optms]

Shaq

You cannot emulate a 300lb, 7'1 athletic monster. Players either are or aren't. And there has been only 1 Shaq. You can throw Wilt in there as well.

[FreeThrowLine]

There are too many to name

[Saciid11]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Skyhook ..