The NBA will be hitting the hardwood again come October and often times basketball is ignored here in Canada, especially when hockey hits the ice.I love hoops but it took me a while to actually care enough about the NBA. Let’s be honest, there were no Canadian teams when I was a youngster.
When the Toronto Raptors came about I was 16. Michael Jordan was still in the mix. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had retired.
My dad was a Los Angeles Lakers fan. One of his favourite players was Jerry West and he always talked about the Lakers dynasty of the ’70s.
Before the Raptors, I was a casual Minnesota Timberwolves fan. Why? It was one of the first pro sports teams to homage to my second favourite animal. Speaking of favourites, here are my Top 25 players. I grew up playing NBA Jam and would use the Super Sonics tandem of Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton.
| 25. |  |
Player: Allan Houston, SG Teams: Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks Active: 1993 to 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| 24. |  |
Player: Horace Grant, PF Teams: Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Seattle Super Sonics, Los Angeles Lakers Active: 1987 to 2004 |
| 23. |  |
Player: Kareem (Lew) Abdul-Jabbar, C Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers Active: 1969 to 1989 |
| 22. |  |
Player: Antonio McDyess, PF Teams: Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs Active: 1995 to 2011 |
| 21. |  |
Player: Chris Mullin, SF Teams: Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers Active: 1985 to 2001 |
| 20. |  |
Player: Jalen (the Natural) Rose, SF Teams: Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns Active: 1994 to 2007 |
| 19. |  |
Player: Kevin Johnson, PG Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns Active: 1987 to 2000 |
| 18. |  |
Player: Hakeem (the Dream) Olajuwon, C Teams: Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors Active: 1984 to 2002 |
| 17. |  |
Player: Dominique (the Human Highlight Film) Wilkins, SF Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, Fortitudo Bologna, Parthinaikos Active: 1982 to 1999 |
| 16. |  |
Player: David (the Admiral) Robinson, C Teams: San Antonio Spurs Active: 1989 to 2003 |
| 15. |  |
Player: Dikembe (Mount) Mutombo Teams: Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets Active: 1991 to 2009 |
| 14. |  |
Player: Chris (CB4) Bosh, PF Teams: Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat Active: 2003 to 2017 |
 |
Player: Gary (the Glove) Payton, PG Teams:Seattle Super Sonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat Active:1990 to 2007 |
|
| 12. |  |
Player: Jerome (Pooh) Richardson, PG Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Adecco Milano Active: 1989 to 2000 |
| 11. |  |
Player: Kevin (the Second Coming) Durant, SF Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors Active: 2007 to Present |
| 10. |  |
Player: Ray (Sugar) Allen, SG Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle Super Sonics, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat Active: 1996 to 2014 |
| 9. |  |
Player: Shawn (Reign Man) Kemp, C Teams: Seattle Super Sonics, Portland Trailblazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic Active: 1989 to 200316 |
| 8. |  |
Player: (Doctor) Julius Erving, SF Teams: Virginia Squires, New York Nets, Philadelphia 76ers Active: 1971 to 1987 |
| 7. |  |
Player: Russell (Beastbrook) Westbrook, PG Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder Active: 2008 to Present |
| 6. |  |
Player: Patrick (Hoya Destroya) Ewing, C Teams: New York Knicks, Seattle Super Sonics, Orlando Magic Active: 1985 to 2001 |
| 5. |  |
Player: Antonio Davis, C Teams: Parthinaikos, Philips Milano, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks Active: 1990 to 2006 |
| 4. |  |
Player: Clyde (the Glide) Drexler, SG Teams: Portland Trailblazers, Houston Rockets Active: 1983 to 1998 |
| 3. |  |
Player: Jerome (Junkyard Dog) Williams, PF Teams: Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks Active: 1996 to 2005 |
| 2. |  |
Player: Steve (Captain Canada) Nash, PG Teams: Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers Active: 1996 to 2015 |
| 1. |  |
Player: Reggie (Miller Time) Miller, SG Teams: Indiana Pacers Active: 1987 to 2005 |