Since the merger in 1976-77, who are the 4 faces of the NBA?

[1987_Lakers]

Would Magic, Bird, Jordan, & LeBron be a fair assessment?

[AnaheimLakers24]

Magic bird kobe randle

[RoundMoundOfReb]

LeBron Jordan Magic Bird

[Smoke117]

Kareem, Bird, Magic, Jordan.

[ISHGoat]

Bird and magic played in a weak era, so my 4 would go

1. Lebron
2. Duncan (top 5 goat)
3. Jordan
4. Pau gasol

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Bird and magic played in a weak era, so my 4 would go

1. Lebron
2. Duncan (top 5 goat)
3. Jordan
4. Pau gasol
Not a bad list. I would consider Shaq as well.

[miles berg]

Jordan
Magic
Bird
Shaq or LeBron, that's a tough one.

[ISHGoat]

Not a bad list. I would consider Shaq as well.


He is an HM, if op said 5 faces he would be #5. Unfortunately his career started in a weak era with the expansion watering down the league, had it started post 2003 (transition to new era) he would take Jordan's spot. We can't ignore all of Jordan's contributions to basketball, so he sits at #3.

[miles berg]

Bird and magic played in a weak era, so my 4 would go

1. Lebron
2. Duncan (top 5 goat)
3. Jordan
4. Pau gasol

You're insane. 1980-1993 was the greatest NBA era ever.

[Marchesk]

New face of the NBA:

http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/slides/photos/002/968/601/hi-res-7017860_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75

[SouBeachTalents]

Those 4 have the strongest arguments imo, but if someone said Shaq, Kobe, or Duncan I could see arguments for them as well

[ISHGoat]

You're insane. 1980-1993 was the greatest NBA era ever.

How can it be the greatest era when bssicslly the only scouting and game preparation that existed was the eye test? A 6'8 white guy that could barely dunk and a ****** with aids dominates the league. Seriously? Weak ass era.

[KirbyPls]

In order via eras:

Kareem;
Magic/Bird;
Bird/Magic;
Jordan;
Shaq;
Kobe;
Lebron

I know OP asked for 4, but the reality from a brand/marketing standpoint (not GOAT rankings) is the above IMO. All these players have been the "face/heel"of the NBA since the merger.

HM: Dr. J; Barkley; AI (again, pop culture touchstones)

[KirbyPls]

How can it be the greatest era when bssicslly the only scouting and game preparation that existed was the eye test? A 6'8 white guy that could barely dunk and a ****** with aids dominates the league. Seriously? Weak ass era.

Pathetic. :facepalm

[ImKobe]

:kobe:
:kobe:
:kobe:
:kobe:

[ISHGoat]

:kobe:
:kobe:
:kobe:
:kobe:
Op said 4 faces not 4 rapists

[L.Kizzle]

The only three locks
Bird
Magic
Jordan

4th spot can go to any of Kareem, Doc J, Shaq, Kobe or LeBron.

[Prime_Shaq]

1) Jordan
2) Magic + Bird (They are one)
3) Shaq
4) LeBron

[iTare]

Op said 4 faces not 4 rapists
http://i.imgur.com/ElDVy.gif

[Milbuck]

LeBron James.

[SuperPippen]

LeBron James.

Lebron James?

[Harison]

Magic, Bird, Jordan, Shaq

To imagine Lebron, Kobe or Timmy can be a face of NBA over anyone above means fanboyism. Hakeem is barely mentioned, and even he wasnt as popular or accomplished as 4 guys above.

[Quickening]

Magic, Bird, Jordan, Shaq

To imagine Lebron, Kobe or Timmy can be a face of NBA over anyone above means fanboyism. Hakeem is barely mentioned, and even he wasnt as popular or accomplished as 4 guys above.

Lebron has been the face of the NBA in the social media age, stfu

[KevinNYC]

The only three locks
Bird
Magic
Jordan

4th spot can go to any of Kareem, Doc J, Shaq, Kobe or LeBron.

In terms of fame and "face of the league." It's

Dr. J.

Bird/Magic

Jordan

Shaq

and you are strictly counting to four, you have to eliminate one of them.

This is based on non basketball fans knowing about them.

[Jlamb47]

Dr. J
Bird
Magic
Jordan
Shaq
Kobe
Duncan
Lebron

[KevinNYC]

Dr. J
Bird
Magic
Jordan
Shaq
Kobe
Duncan
Lebron

Duncan's shouldn't be there. He's known to basketball fans only.

[dunksby]

Kareem
Magic
Bird
Jordan
Shaq
Kobe
Iverson
LeBron

[Cold soul]

Jordan
Magic
Bird
Shaq

[STATUTORY]

In terms of fame and "face of the league." It's

Dr. J.

Bird/Magic

Jordan

Shaq

and you are strictly counting to four, you have to eliminate one of them.

This is based on non basketball fans knowing about them.

might be true for your generation

[Velocirap31]

Kobe was never the face of the NBA. As many others said:

1. Jordan (Ask someone who knows nothing about the NBA to name a great player...)
2. Lebron (Ask person above to name a great current NBA player)
3. Magic
4. Bird

[Prometheus]

Jordan, Bird, and Magic are obviously three of the four. The only question is who takes the fourth spot.

In my opinion, the remaining choices are, in order of greatness:

Kareem
Shaq
Duncan
Kobe
LeBron

However this question was posed as "the 4 faces of the NBA", not the four greatest players (since the merger). Therefore I think LeBron is the obvious choice. The media covers LeBron more than any of those other players.

So it's Magic, Bird, Jordan, and LeBron.

[ImKobe]

Kobe was never the face of the NBA. As many others said:

1. Jordan (Ask someone who knows nothing about the NBA to name a great player...)
2. Lebron (Ask person above to name a great current NBA player)
3. Magic
4. Bird

Who was the most popular player in the NBA from 06-10? :roll:

winning b2b FMVPs and getting his d!ck sucked by the media like Lebron 24/7, get out of here with this revisionist bullshit.

He was conseus best player in the league from 06-10 on the account of other NBA players, including Lebron James. Mark Jackson was saying he would go down as the GOAT, even Barkley was giving him props and calling him top 5 all-time.

"many others said", more like many others said Kobe WAS the face of the league.

Kobe from 06-10 was what Lebron became in 2012 after he finally won his first championship.

But you would obviously be salty, given that he dropped 81 on your ass and a 30-point triple double with an injured shoulder in a down year :kobe:

[dunksby]

Jordan, Bird, and Magic are obviously three of the four. The only question is who takes the fourth spot.

In my opinion, the remaining choices are, in order of greatness:

Kareem
Shaq
Duncan
Kobe
LeBron

However this question was posed as "the 4 faces of the NBA", not the four greatest players (since the merger). Therefore I think LeBron is the obvious choice. The media covers LeBron more than any of those other players.

So it's Magic, Bird, Jordan, and LeBron.
Kareem was considered the greatest player in history, you think the media didn't cover his career? How many movies and TV shows have LeBron featured in?
Kareem:

Actor (23 credits)
2012 Guys with Kids (TV Series)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- First Birthday (2012) ... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Pilot (2012) ... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

2006 Whitepaddy
Hank

2002 The Tim McCarver Show (TV Series)

1997 Living Single (TV Series)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Back in the Day (1997) ... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1996 Martin (TV Series)
Dr. Skyhook
- Why Can't We Be Friends: Part 2 (1996) ... Dr. Skyhook
1995 Slam Dunk Ernest (Video)
The Archangel of Basketball

1995 Forget Paris
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1994 The Critic (TV Series)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- A Day at the Races and a Night at the Opera (1994) ... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice)

1994 The Stand (TV Mini-Series)
The Monster / Monster Shouter
- The Dreams (1994) ... The Monster
- The Plague (1994) ... Monster Shouter

1993 Matrix (TV Series)
Blind Man
- Shadows from the Past (1993) ... Blind Man

1991 Uncle Buck (TV Series)
Judge
- The People's Half Court (1991) ... Judge

1991 Amen (TV Series)
The Wiz
- The Deacon's Slam Dunk (1991) ... The Wiz

1990 21 Jump Street (TV Series)
Wesley Williams
- Hi Mom (1990) ... Wesley Williams

1989 Jake Spanner, Private Eye (TV Movie)
Man at Sal's House

1987 Bustin' Loose (TV Series)
- Go for the Gold (1987)

1982-1985 Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series)
Mr. Wilkes
- A Tale of Two Teachers (1985) ... Mr. Wilkes
- Substitute Teacher (1982) ... Mr. Wilkes

1985 Fletch
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1985 Tales from the Darkside (TV Series)
The Djinn, Jan Bin Jan
- Djinn, No Chaser (1985) ... The Djinn, Jan Bin Jan

1980 Airplane!
Murdock (as Kareem Abdul-Jabaar)

1978 Game of Death
Hakim

1977 Man from Atlantis (TV Series)
Thark
- Giant (1977) ... Thark

1977 Laugh-In (TV Series)
Guest Star
- Episode dated 5 September 1977 (1977) ... Guest Star

1974 Emergency! (TV Series)
Man Stuck in Car
- Foreign Trade (1974) ... Man Stuck in Car

1971 Mannix (TV Series)
Jeff
- A Day Filled with Shadows (1971) ... Jeff (as Lewis Alcindor)

LeBron:


Actor (2 credits)
2011 The LeBrons (TV Series)
Business
- The Comeback: Part 2 (2011) ... Business (voice)
- Comeback (2011) ... Business (voice)
- Misunderstood (2011) ... Business (voice)
- Big Game (2011) ... Business (voice)
- Drake (2011) ... Business (voice)
Show all 11 episodes

2009 Entourage (TV Series)
LeBron James
- Give a Little Bit (2009) ... LeBron James

[STATUTORY]

the answer to this question obviously depend on when you were born

kids born in the 70s/80s will have different answer than those born in 90s/2000s

[SHAQisGOAT]

Jordan, Bird and Magic.

Then you got...

Shaq
Kareem
Lebron
Kobe
Duncan
Dr J

There are some with better cases but it's hard to pick a last definitive one, after those first 3.