32. George Mikan
Nicknamed Mr. Basketball, the 6 ft 10 in 245 lb. Mikan is seen as one of the pioneers of professional basketball, redefining it as a game of so-called big men with his prolific rebounding, shot blocking and his talent to shoot over smaller defenders with his ambidextrous hook shot, a result of his own Mikan Drill.
Mikan had a successful player career, winning seven NBL, BAA and NBA championships, an All-Star MVP trophy, three scoring titles and being member of the first four NBA All-Star and the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams.
Mikan was so dominant that he caused several rule changes in the NBA, among them widening the foul lane—known as the “Mikan Rule”—and introducing the shot clock.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xEoCsDKXPo
31. Dave Cowens
During his NBA career, Cowens averaged 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game, was selected to seven All-Star Games, was named to the All-NBA Second Team three times, and was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team in 1976 and All-NBA Defensive Second Team in 1973 and 1980.
He was a member of the Celtics’ 1974 and 1976 NBA Championship teams. Cowens’ playing credo was all-out intensity at both ends of the court, a style that never wavered during his 11-year NBA career.
As a testament to his all-around ability, Cowens is one of only four players (Scottie Pippen, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James are the others) to lead his team in all five major statistical categories for a season: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. He accomplished the feat in the 1977-78 season.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAXc6u_jGVM
