Through its seven decades, the ranks of the National Basketball Association have seen their share of dominating and seemingly unstoppable forces – from the sheer size and strength of a Mikan to the elusive elasticity of a Dr. J.; from the sleight of hand exhibited by a Bob Cousy to the brilliant simplicity of Kareem’s sky hook.
The modern NBA, even with its sundry vices, certainly retains this virtue – LeBron James an ultra-athletic Mikan, a Steph Curry or Kyrie Irving the Cooz with a jump shot. Even Isaiah Thomas’s other-worldly 2016-17 season and its aftermath has been seen before – google Billy Ray Bates.