On August 13, 2025, James ranked first with the five most influential superstars in NBA history

The outdoor thunder was roaring, and the light rain fell to the ground. The indoor air was filled with the smell of damp rain. A gust of cool breeze passed by, and it felt very comfortable. The rain was still very timely. Well, let’s not talk about that much, let’s get back to the topic. It’s also the fans who asked me to tell you about the most influential players in NBA history? Let me tell you some of my current views on this issue.

1: James

Speaking of James as the most influential player, perhaps many fans in the 1960s, 1970s, and even 1980s may not recognize it. After all, they have experienced the era of Jordan and witnessed Jordan's dominance. But we need to know one thing. There were too few people who had seen Jordan play in that era. After all, having communication tools such as TV was not something that ordinary families could have. Now James has witnessed James' greatness through a large number of games and media dissemination. He still averaged 20+ games to this day. It is rare in the NBA. All kinds of honors and data are top-notch in the NBA. About 300 million fans on social media are the only ones in the history of the NBA. James's greatest influence should be well deserved.

2: Jordan has experienced a total of 15 seasons in his career. He retired twice due to his father's murder in the middle of the journey. He returned to play for the Wizards at the age of 40 and played for two seasons. In these 15 seasons, Jordan has conquered generations of fans in terms of data and personal honors. The NBA can move towards globalization. It can be said that Jordan is the biggest contributor. Jordan was popular all over the world in the 1990s, and the NBA has covered almost the entire five continents.

3: Kobe

Kobe

Kobe has experienced the peak O'Neal era, and the last two championship eras. From a role player to a second-in-command to a core player, Kobe's career is a wonderful history of counterattack. Kobe, who entered the league in 1996 and retired in 2016, has been a true hero of Los Angeles for 20 seasons. He has contributed 5 championships to the Lakers, 81 points in a single game, 62 points in three quarters, and is a legendary player with excellent offense and defense efficiency. Especially sought after by fans is Kobe's Mamba spirit, which emphasizes a spirit of never giving up, hard work and concentration. It can be said that Kobe is a benchmark player in NBA history, and his business value and cultural influence have never been matched.

4: Curry's appearance has changed the entire NBA process, ended the barbaric confrontation and started the arrival of the small ball era, especially Curry's three-pointer, and his ability to run without the ball can be said to have subverted the traditional basketball concept and has become a tactic that the NBA teams urgently need to formulate. He scored 402 three-pointers in a single season, led the team to win 73 first place in history, and recorded 4,000+ three-pointers in history, and was probably insurmountable for future generations to follow. It can be said that Curry's entire career is not only a changer, but also a pass-level player. Curry's influence has been deeply imprinted in the history of basketball.

5: Iverson

To be honest, I was indeed a bit selfish in the ranking of Iverson. What I never forget the most was that Iverson completely conquered me in the finals of the 2000-01 season. Although I lost to the Lakers' OK combination 1-4 in the end, Iverson's performance conquered many fans, and averaged 35.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Especially the 48-point score in the first game was the Battle of the Gods, which was the most exciting and ultimate personal performance in NBA history. Although I did not win the championship in the end, the incident of Iverson's counterattack with 1.83 meters has become a story in the NBA. In addition to having a huge influence on the field, Iverson also has a huge impact in terms of personal style and cultural impact in the minds of fans.

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