Basketball Forwards
Basketball Forwards are the all-around players on the court. The best forwards like Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen and Dominque Wilkins could do it all - pass, shoot and dribble.
Dolph Schayes played 706 consecutive games from 1952-1961. Only three players in NBA history have had longer skeins. Going pro the year before the founding of the NBA, Schayes finally retired in 1964.
Bob Pettit, the first player to surpass 20,000 points in his career, was named first-team All-NBA 10 consecutive seasons. He retired due to injuries in 1965 and was elected to the NBA Hall of Fame in 1970. Read more about Bob Pettit.
Scottie Pippen ranked with the best all-around players in basketball, dominating in defense, rebounds and passing. He was an integral member of the Chicago Bulls during their title run in the 1990s. Read about this great NBA Forward.
Kevin McHale may have been the best low-post scorer in basketball history. He retired in 1993 and later went on to become the vice-president of basketball operations in Minnesota. Learn more about this Celtics forward and his career averages.
Cheryl Miller was the first woman basketball player to dunk in organized play. She was the first woman to be nominated for the Sullivan Award, which is given to the nation's top amateur athlete. Read more about Cheryl Miller and her road to the Hall of Fame.
Renowned for his mental dexterity, "Luke" had a sixth sense for rebounding. Offensively, he ranks with the best long-range shooters in NBA history. He was maniacal, once saying he'd rather rebound than eat.
Karl Malone's average points and rebounds made him the only NBA player in the top five in both categories. He holds the record for the most free throws attempted and made, and is second in all-time scoring. Read about Karl Malone's totals and honors.
George McGinnis played the greatest statistical game in ABA history -- 52 points and 37 rebounds. He won back-to-back championships with the Indiana Pacers in 1972 and 1973. McGinnis retired in 1982. Find out more about George McGinnis' 11 pro seasons.
Dominique Wilkins was an NBA star with nine All-Star Game selections and two Slam Dunk titles. He was also known as the "Human Highlight Film" for his explosive point bursts on the court. Learn more about Dominique Wilkins's 13-year career.
James Worthy spent a dozen seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers during their peak in the 1980s, playing a steady role alongside stars Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. His efforts got him into the Hall of Fame, too.
Connie Hawkins was the first superstar of the ABA, averaging 28.2 points in two seasons. He played seven seasons in the NBA with three different teams and played in four All-Star Games. Read more about this hall of fame basketball player's career.
Bernard King shot 51.7 percent from the field during his career and 58.8 percent in 1980-81. However, legal problems and alcohol abuse stopped him from becoming a star in the eyes of the fans.
In 11 professional seasons, Billy Cunningham averaged 21.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He also had a successful coaching career where he brought his team to the NBA finals three times. Read about this Hall of Fame basketball player.
Adrian Dantley, one of the greatest scorers of all time, was also a lightning rod for criticism. He was known for arguing with his coaches, repeated disputes with his contracts and being a tough competitor. Read about Dantley's NBA career.
Dave DeBusschere, one of the best defensive players of his era, made life miserable for opposing forwards. In his career that spanned 12 years he averaged 16.1 points and 11.0 rebounds. He later became commissioner of the ABA.
Alex English scored more points in the 1980s than any other NBA player. He served as president of the NBA Players Association, published three volumes of poetry and starred in the movie "Amazing Grace and Chuck." Read about this Hall of Fame basketball player.
Julius Erving, the most graceful basketball player of his era, soared through a career that spanned 16 seasons and two leagues. He won the MVP award for three back-to-back seasons and led his team to the NBA finals in 1974 and 1976. Read about Dr. J.
Athlete-turned-statesman Bill Bradley found success in every arena. After his career in basketball ended in 1977, Bradley was elected to the U.S. Senate. Read about Bradley's remarkable career.
Charles Barkley was the shortest NBA player ever to claim a rebounding title. When he retired, he was one of four players to record at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. Read about this Hall of Fame basketball player.
Rick Barry boasted that no defender could stop him; scoring came naturally to this Hall of Fame basketball player. He retired in 1980 with 25.279 points and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1986.
Elgin Baylor is basketball's answer to Ernie Banks: the best in his sport never to win a championship. He set an NBA record in 1960 for scoring the most points in a single game with 71 points. Read about this Hall of Fame basketball player.
Larry Bird, the 'hick from French Lick' led the Celtics to victory many times throughout his 13-year career. His best game came in 1992, when he scored 49 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists in a win over Portland.
Paul Arizin, known as 'Pitchin' Paul,' was one of the first NBA players to master the jump shot. He retired from professional play in 1962 with 16,266 career points. Arzin was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977.
