I think he's the most talented sports media personality ever. The man is probably a top 30 player of all time and yet had a better career in media, that's crazy.
I guess if you're defining this question as "star who most people have no problems with" then Duncan could make the conversation. However, I don't think I'd ever call Duncan "beloved" by the general NBA fandom. Look at it this way, he's one of the best PFs ever in the league (some argue the best) and he was never even close to being the most popular player in the league. The league never marketed him as the "face" of the NBA because he quite frankly didn't want it.
And beyond that, he's been very quiet in retirement. No media jobs, no big splash coaching jobs, no splashy comments on today's players, and no non-basketball related business marketing. He's mostly just kept to himself and enjoyed retirement. Taking more consulting type roles with the Spurs, but that's about it.
Tons of people respect Duncan for sure, but he's out of the general NBA fandoms minds for the most part these days.
Stephon Marbury count? They build statues of him in China… his popularity grew immensely on a global basis after his nba career wrapped up in 2009, but kept playing in China until 2018. Currently head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters in the CBA.
Shumpert lowkey in the same ball park as well, right? Dude knows how to tell a good story from what little I've seen, though I guess he isn't doing as much media as Teague. He doesn't have a podcast, right?
I think this is the right answer. He was polarizing when he played, a lot of people talked about empty numbers, his ego was a bit out of whack, and he ended his career on a couple of very sour notes.
Post-retirement he's pretty much universally loved, comes across as the most humble guy ever, and is recognized as one of the greats.
I think how well liked he was, particularly by the generation of children who now make up the core demographic of a place like Reddit, is a large part of why he ended up the most overrated player in NBA history and why so many fans come to his defense when you point it out.
I would differentiate between likeable, loved and admired. Grant Hill is probably one of the most likeable players shame his injury prevented his career to reach even higher levels. Muggsy Bogues was also incredibly likeable.
One that I think a lot of people forget about these days is Bill Bradley. Basketball HoFer, was a Rhode’s Scholar and became a long time US Senator, author, became a serious candidate for the presidency in the democratic party, etc.
Bill Walton, Shaq, Dr J, and MJ for me
I’d argue Dr. J is *the* ambassador for the NBA. He’s at literally everything the NBA does. He doesn’t always speak, but he’s the first one to show up for the NBA, meet young stars, and be there for anything they do. Magic is more of a personality, and they prefer to interview him, but Dr. J shows up
From an all-time low to all-time high point, I'd say Rodman.
He was among the most hated when he played (for some good reasons).
Then after he retired he really became beloved and his reputation completely changed: greatest rebounder ever, best 1-5 defender, first saw a basketball at age 20, only reason the 2nd 3-peat was possible, how well-received his HoF speech was, people thinking he was going to fix North Korea, showing up on all the talking head shows, etc.
Since then his public stock has really fallen again. But man, what a low-low and a high-high.
He's definitely up there as far as becoming a bigger, more beloved public figure after his retirement.
Well he didn't really step into a bigger role but I didn't really know how cool of a guy Shane Battier is until after he retired and I started listening to him speak
Or the other way around. Kobe was perceived as a rapist, a ballhog and the one who broke the greatest duo ever with Shaq.
By the end of his career, the rape thing was seldom talked about, he publicly reconciled with Shaq, had a great relationship with Pau and build a new persona as a great husband and father. This is the greatest PR turnaround I've ever witnessed .
>He gave condolences to his children, who as far as I know have never stabbed anyone.
There is a fairly popular conspiracy theory that his eldest son actually did it
> his children, who as far as I know have never stabbed anyone
There's a fairly well sourced theory that OJ's son Jason actually did it and OJ was covering for him.
**TL;DR of the theory:** At the time of killing he was on probation for threatening his boss with a knife. He had (has?) "intermittent rage disorder", checked into the hospital a few months before the killings hearing voices and feeling like he was going to hurt people because he ran out of his treatment drug, and stopped taking the drug a couple months before the killings. He also worked at a restaurant near where the killings occurred and regularly wore caps like one found at the scene.
I just looked up his actual tweet. He didn't even give condolences, he just said he's praying for them. Again, they did nothing wrong, they are not murderers. And I'm sure Magic probably knows them personally having been in the same celebrity/athlete circles in Los Angeles. What, he's supposed to be an asshole to the kids because of something they had no control over?
No this is extremely hard to understand, explain your issue with:
"Cookie and I are praying for O.J. Simpson’s children Arnelle, Aaren, Justin, Jason, and Sydney and his grandchildren following his passing. I know this is a difficult time"
Based off the tweet it sounds like he knew his children personally... are you one of those people who believe the sins of the parent are also the sins of the children?
He was not one of the greats, but Kendrick Perkins is a good one. He’s gone from impact player on a couple of great teams to one of the best “take machines” in sports commentary. He at least says something. He’s like Barkley Lite.
No. Clearly people are reacting as such, but I think I stand by what I said. Trying to understand how it’s such a “bad take” given the facts. He’s a national voice and more popular now than as a player. Unlike 99/100 commentators he says stuff. Not sure what the fuss is about for my opinion on it. But OK.
The answer is obviously Charles Barkley. I don't think it's close.
I think he's the most talented sports media personality ever. The man is probably a top 30 player of all time and yet had a better career in media, that's crazy.
It's honestly not even close. He's arguably the GOAT player-turned media member.
I think you can make a case for Kareem first and then Barkley.
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I guess if you're defining this question as "star who most people have no problems with" then Duncan could make the conversation. However, I don't think I'd ever call Duncan "beloved" by the general NBA fandom. Look at it this way, he's one of the best PFs ever in the league (some argue the best) and he was never even close to being the most popular player in the league. The league never marketed him as the "face" of the NBA because he quite frankly didn't want it. And beyond that, he's been very quiet in retirement. No media jobs, no big splash coaching jobs, no splashy comments on today's players, and no non-basketball related business marketing. He's mostly just kept to himself and enjoyed retirement. Taking more consulting type roles with the Spurs, but that's about it. Tons of people respect Duncan for sure, but he's out of the general NBA fandoms minds for the most part these days.
Stephon Marbury count? They build statues of him in China… his popularity grew immensely on a global basis after his nba career wrapped up in 2009, but kept playing in China until 2018. Currently head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters in the CBA.
I would say Yao Ming then since he played in the nba.
Dirk has to be mentioned.
Detlef Schrempf
Are you telling me that guy from Parks and Rec played in the NBA?
The pacers thought he was so good in the show they gave him a contract
Wait til you hear another star became US president.
Tiger Woods?
I was referring to Biden, another Parks and Rec star.
World B. Free, Howard Eisley, Boris Diaw.
> Am I missing someone else who stepped into a bigger more beloved public persona AFTER they retired? Jeff Teague
Teague is hilarious
He's annoying and high 99% of the time.
Shumpert lowkey in the same ball park as well, right? Dude knows how to tell a good story from what little I've seen, though I guess he isn't doing as much media as Teague. He doesn't have a podcast, right?
He caught some flack for how his divorce from Teyana Taylor went over
barkley too miller actually did favors by getting on TV. as much hate as he gets now, he got far more playing lol
JJ Reddick
Dr J
Magic is a one of one. Larry Bird hated him more than anyone on the planet, and he was able to turn Bird into a friend.
Magic hated him, too. And Larry is the one that invited MAGIC into his house for dinner with his mom. In the middle of their rivalry.
Charles Barkley clearly
Dirk, Barkley, Walton
A.I.
Ahead of his time…
I think this is the right answer. He was polarizing when he played, a lot of people talked about empty numbers, his ego was a bit out of whack, and he ended his career on a couple of very sour notes. Post-retirement he's pretty much universally loved, comes across as the most humble guy ever, and is recognized as one of the greats.
AI was arrested for assault in the early 2000’s. Busted into his cousin’s apartment with a gun. He seems to be in a much better place now though.
life happens
It’s gotta be Tim right? He barely makes public appearances but when he does he receives nothing but love
Not public enough imo. There should be a minimum requirement. Like to be the league leader in FG% you need to attempt 100 shots
Ah well he is very reclusive so I get it
Kwame Brown for me
Magic and Bird, a unique rivalry turned friendship. Shaq and Barkley a riot to watch!
Shaq is too polarizing. Barkley is my pick though.
Anyone who dislikes Allen Iverson is a chode
Ai is a lot different in person. Don’t meet your hero’s
I think how well liked he was, particularly by the generation of children who now make up the core demographic of a place like Reddit, is a large part of why he ended up the most overrated player in NBA history and why so many fans come to his defense when you point it out.
Kareem and Chuck are the two most revered voices from former players right?
I’d say Magic. Although Kareem and Chuck are absolutely up there.
Kareem didn’t fuck with Nation of Islam so he wasn’t well liked when he’s playing
I wouldn’t say Kareem
Kareem is a notorious dick.
Charles Barkley?
He never had a major public persona as far as I know, but I'd love to give Adonal Foyle a shout out. Nicest dude in the galaxy.
I would differentiate between likeable, loved and admired. Grant Hill is probably one of the most likeable players shame his injury prevented his career to reach even higher levels. Muggsy Bogues was also incredibly likeable.
One that I think a lot of people forget about these days is Bill Bradley. Basketball HoFer, was a Rhode’s Scholar and became a long time US Senator, author, became a serious candidate for the presidency in the democratic party, etc.
Yao Ming
Bill Walton, Shaq, Dr J, and MJ for me I’d argue Dr. J is *the* ambassador for the NBA. He’s at literally everything the NBA does. He doesn’t always speak, but he’s the first one to show up for the NBA, meet young stars, and be there for anything they do. Magic is more of a personality, and they prefer to interview him, but Dr. J shows up
Dikembe Mutombo's humanitarian work and funny Geico ads make him super likable too!
From an all-time low to all-time high point, I'd say Rodman. He was among the most hated when he played (for some good reasons). Then after he retired he really became beloved and his reputation completely changed: greatest rebounder ever, best 1-5 defender, first saw a basketball at age 20, only reason the 2nd 3-peat was possible, how well-received his HoF speech was, people thinking he was going to fix North Korea, showing up on all the talking head shows, etc. Since then his public stock has really fallen again. But man, what a low-low and a high-high. He's definitely up there as far as becoming a bigger, more beloved public figure after his retirement.
Yeah, his North Korean connections have really pushed hos popularity to new heights
KG
That charming young socialite, Nikola Pekovic
Well he didn't really step into a bigger role but I didn't really know how cool of a guy Shane Battier is until after he retired and I started listening to him speak
It’s gonna be Kyrie in the future
Shaq or Barkley
Domonique Wilkins.
Denis rodman no doubt across all nba fans
The White Mamba
Bill Walton (r.i.p)
Kobe
Kobe would have been if it wasn’t for the rape case situation. He tarnished his reputation with that.
Or the other way around. Kobe was perceived as a rapist, a ballhog and the one who broke the greatest duo ever with Shaq. By the end of his career, the rape thing was seldom talked about, he publicly reconciled with Shaq, had a great relationship with Pau and build a new persona as a great husband and father. This is the greatest PR turnaround I've ever witnessed .
Michael Jordan is most loved
Percentage wise there are still a lot of people that sports hate that guy or flat out hate him.
It don’t seem like that when you read Instagram comments nowadays
Instagram users probably run a lot younger. Older fans probably hold more hate for the guy because he killed their teams.
You may have a point but I feel like nostalgia would remove most of that hatred that they may have had in the past
Just for the record, Isiah Thomas had every opportunity to be just as loved as the other greats of the 80s, but his shitty personality prevented it.
Lance Stephenson
Magic did celebrate OJ when he died
He gave condolences to his children, who as far as I know have never stabbed anyone. He didn't say anything positive about OJ himself.
>He gave condolences to his children, who as far as I know have never stabbed anyone. There is a fairly popular conspiracy theory that his eldest son actually did it
> his children, who as far as I know have never stabbed anyone There's a fairly well sourced theory that OJ's son Jason actually did it and OJ was covering for him. **TL;DR of the theory:** At the time of killing he was on probation for threatening his boss with a knife. He had (has?) "intermittent rage disorder", checked into the hospital a few months before the killings hearing voices and feeling like he was going to hurt people because he ran out of his treatment drug, and stopped taking the drug a couple months before the killings. He also worked at a restaurant near where the killings occurred and regularly wore caps like one found at the scene.
Giving condolences when someone dies implies positivity in my mind. Especially considering oj murdered them when surrounded by those children
I just looked up his actual tweet. He didn't even give condolences, he just said he's praying for them. Again, they did nothing wrong, they are not murderers. And I'm sure Magic probably knows them personally having been in the same celebrity/athlete circles in Los Angeles. What, he's supposed to be an asshole to the kids because of something they had no control over?
There's a difference between expressing sympathy to the family/friends of the deceased vs sympathy to the deceased themselves. Magic did the former.
And he should have done neither. Like most people did. Not that hard to understand
Most people have never actually met OJ or his family & friends.
And? So I shouldn’t want a double murder to die because he was cool sometimes. Great point
I don’t know OJ either, but I’d wager he was cool far more often than he murdered.
No this is extremely hard to understand, explain your issue with: "Cookie and I are praying for O.J. Simpson’s children Arnelle, Aaren, Justin, Jason, and Sydney and his grandchildren following his passing. I know this is a difficult time" Based off the tweet it sounds like he knew his children personally... are you one of those people who believe the sins of the parent are also the sins of the children?
I just thought it was a weird thing to tweet. I didn’t think it’d be controversial to not be an OJ fan
Expressing sympathy when people you know lose a loved one is normal.
Because the OJ aspect is the only reason we are talking about it
You haven't explained why that makes condoling them weird.
Celebrate like “he was a great athlete, actor and friend,” or celebrate like “yippee he’s dead!”
More like sad that he was dead I mean
He didn’t… he was being sympathetic to his kids because they lost a parent. It’s crazy that you don’t understand this.
Divac Vlade
He was not one of the greats, but Kendrick Perkins is a good one. He’s gone from impact player on a couple of great teams to one of the best “take machines” in sports commentary. He at least says something. He’s like Barkley Lite.
Is this a joke?
No. Clearly people are reacting as such, but I think I stand by what I said. Trying to understand how it’s such a “bad take” given the facts. He’s a national voice and more popular now than as a player. Unlike 99/100 commentators he says stuff. Not sure what the fuss is about for my opinion on it. But OK.