About This Quiz
The NBA continues to reach new heights with each passing year, and the last decade has been a perfect example of this growth, as the league has become a global brand watched around the entire world. With faster play and more points being scored, it's no wonder that basketball is such a treat for fans to enjoy.ÂÂ
To go along with the action on the court, the NBA also promotes its players better than most other leagues. NBA stars are their own brands now, and their faces are posted on televisions screens, billboards and all types of memorabilia. The top players even launch their own merchandise, open restaurants and get involved in other forms of entertainment like television and podcast. With all of this exposure, NBA stars are some of the most recognized athletes in the world.
How familiar are you with the biggest stars in the modern NBA? From veterans with accolades that could fill a book to rising stars who are clearly the future of the league, this quiz covers them all, only here they don't have eyebrows. Will you still be able to identify them? If you believe so, jump into this quiz and prove just how knowledgable you are on NBA stars.
For years, Kyle Lowry helped the Toronto Raptors reach the NBA Playoffs, but they couldn't find enough success in the playoffs to get to the NBA Finals. That all changed in 2019 when the Raptors not only reached the Finals but defeated the Golden State Warriors to take home the title.
Jimmy Butler has never had the same level of athleticism as some of his contemporaries, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming one of the best players in the NBA. His skill level comes from hard work off the court, which is why the Miami Heat wanted him so badly in the 2019 offseason.
After a devastating leg injury derailed his career in 2014, most people thought Paul George would never fully get back to his All-Star form. However, he not only returned to form but actually got better. He even put himself in the MVP race in the 2018-19 season by averaging 28 points and 2.2 steals per game.
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Before Stephen Curry came along, small players who shot from the outside weren't as valued as they are today. After Curry showed that the three-point shot was more valuable than the two, players all over the league followed suit by shooting from way beyond the arc.
In 2017, Kevin Durant was able to achieve his goal of winning an NBA championship when the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers. Durant was dominant in the series, taking home the Finals MVP after averaging 35.2 points and 8.4 rebounds.
Al Horford is like a Swiss Army knife because he has the ability to do it all on the court. Whether it's scoring, setting up teammates or playing defense at a high level, Horford is always there to make the play.
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James Harden has become a master of offense by using the rules of the game to benefit him on the court. For example, Harden will kick his legs out on a three-point shot to draw a foul if the defender moves forward and runs into him. It's one of the sneakiest ways to get points.
Kemba Walker spent the first half of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, where he was a three-time All-Star. However, the team never developed around Walker, and he decided to move on following the 2018-19 season in hopes that he could join a championship contender.
The NBA game has developed beyond Carmelo Anthony's style when he was in his prime because he's a player that needs to hold onto the basketball to be a superstar. However, Anthony has proven with the Portland Trail Blazers that he can still be a viable option to score when he makes quick decisions.
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Jayson Tatum struggled to find his game in his second season in the league while the Boston Celtics were going through continuity issues in the 2018-19 season. However, changes were made in the offseason, and Tatum progressed substantially coming into his third year.
Russell Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for a season when he did it over the course of the 2016-17 season. The only difference is that Westbrook went on to do it for the next two seasons as well, a feat never accomplished before.
Instead of saying much on the basketball court, Kawhi Leonard lets his play do the talking for him. He particularly shows up opponents on the defensive side of the ball, where he's a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
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LeBron James could have stayed in Cleveland, where he made four straight NBA Finals appearances between 2015 and 2018. Instead, James decided to go to Los Angeles, where the lights are the brightest, in hopes that he can deliver another title to the Lakers.
Rudy Gobert has been with the Utah Jazz since he entered the NBA in 2013. Gobert played sparingly his first two seasons before becoming a full-time starter in 2015. His length helped him work his way into that position, as he uses his 7-foot-9-inch wingspan to deflect passes and block shots.
Karl-Anthony Towns is the perfect big man for the modern NBA, which is why he was drafted with the first pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Not only can he work underneath the basket, but Towns also has the ability to step out to the three-point line and hit a shot when it matters.
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Klay Thompson is the other half of the "Splash Brothers" in Golden State, which also consists of Stephen Curry. The two have set numerous three-point records, including the NBA record for combined three-pointers made between the pair for a season.
Damian Lillard hit one of the biggest shots of his career in the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Guarded by Paul George, Lillard launched a deep three in a closeout game as time ran off the clock to take down the Thunder in five games.
Kyrie Irving is one of the biggest reasons LeBron James returned to Cleveland in 2014. However, Irving wanted his own team as he developed and demanded a trade in 2017. His wish was granted, and he ended up on the Boston Celtics until his contract expired.
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Nikola Jokic has court vision that rivals just about anyone in NBA history. His vision and feel for the game lead him to always make the right play, whether it's scoring the ball himself or setting up a teammate.
Luka Doncic has taken the NBA by storm after only one full NBA season, even winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2019. His play has only improved as he has shown that European players can be superstars in the league.
Because of his incredible jumping ability, Blake Griffin had a ton of hype coming into the NBA. During his first season in the league, Griffin used that athleticism to win the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest by jumping over a car.
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When LaMarcus Aldridge first joined the San Antonio Spurs, he ran into problems with his role on the team, which he thought didn't fit how he played. After having a conversation with head coach Gregg Popovich, his role was altered to better fit his style, and Aldridge returned to his All-Star form.
Devin Booker has one of the best offensive arsenals in the NBA, even if it hasn't helped the Phoenix Suns reach the playoffs. In three of his first four seasons, Booker averaged over 20 points per game and consistently improved his assists each of those years.
The main knock against DeMar DeRozan throughout his NBA career has been his three-point shooting ability, as he only shoots 28 percent on his career. However, he didn't need the three to score 27.3 points per game during the 2016-17 season, so it's not that big a knock.
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Donovan Mitchell was in a fierce competition for Rookie of the Year during his first NBA season. Mitchell didn't take home the award, but he still made the All-Rookie First Team after averaging 20.5 points for the season.
Marc Gasol was a longtime star for the Memphis Grizzlies before the team decided to revamp in 2019. At that point, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, which ended up benefiting his career because he won an NBA title in his first season with the Raptors.
Dwight Howard was once an MVP candidate, as he dominated the boards and the defensive side of the ball. Even in his 30s, he has traits of his former self, but he has had to adapt to the current NBA that relies more on three-point shooting than post-up play.
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In only his second season, Bradley Beal helped turn the Washington Wizards into a playoff contender. During his first playoff run, the Wizards advanced to the second round, where they played six tough games against the Indiana Pacers before going down.
An injury forced Ben Simmons to miss his first year in the NBA, but when he did finally make his debut, Simmons showed why he was so highly touted coming out of college. After all, Simmons has the ability to achieve a triple-double on any given night, and his court vision makes him a great team player.
After leaving Oklahoma City, Victor Oladipo completely revamped his training regiment after being inspired by Russell Westbrook. It paid off as Oladipo made his first All-Star Game in his first season with the Indiana Pacers.
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No one doubted Anthony Davis would be a star in the NBA when he was scooped with the first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He hasn't disappointed during the regular season, either, as he currently averages over 23 points and ten rebounds per game for his career.
A major knee injury slowed the progression of Kristaps Porzingis, but it didn't completely derail his career. After returning in 2019, Porzingis has shown that he can still be the "Unicorn" that many called him early in his career.
Trae Young was viewed as the next Stephen Curry coming into the NBA because of his range from beyond the arc. He hasn't let his team down as of yet, scoring 19.1 points per game in his first NBA season while increasing those numbers moving into the 2019-20 season.
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The only mark against Chris Paul is that he's never played in an NBA Finals. Other than that, he's a nine-time All-Star, has made seven All-NBA Teams and shows that he'll play defense by being elected to nine NBA All-Defensive Teams.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a force on the basketball court, as few NBA players can stop him from getting to the rim by themselves. Sometimes, he can power his way through two or three defenders to slam down the ball at the hoop.
Joel Embiid suffered a devastating loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of the semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. He was criticized for his conditioning throughout those playoffs and vowed to return the next season even better.
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The Los Angeles Lakers were forced to trade D'Angelo Russell following some issues off the court, but the trade benefited Russell, who continued to improve his game with the New York Nets. In his second season with the NY Nets, Russell made his first All-Star Game after putting up 21.1 points and seven assists per game.
Draymond Green was one of the most important pieces in the Golden State Warriors' "Death Lineup" that helped them win three NBA titles. As part of the lineup, Green could run the floor with the smaller players while also guarding larger players in the post.
After the departure of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love was the last major piece of Cleveland's championship team from 2016. Rather than let him part as well, the Cavaliers signed Love to a four-year extension worth $120 million.
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The Philadelphia 76ers decided to trade for Tobias Harris in the middle of the 2018-19 season because of his three-point shooting ability. Harris was up and down in his first season with the 76ers, but they still signed him to a long-term deal in the offseason, hoping he could help them make the Finals.