Yesterday, James scored 56 points to lead the Lakers to defeat the Warriors, which is also the third meeting between James and Curry, the Akron compatriot, this season, and it is also the first time that James has won his "little fellow" this season. After the game, James also posted a photo of him hugging Curry, and wrote in an accompanying article: "Love this guy! ”
In the NBA, there aren't many players out of Akron, and James and Curry are undoubtedly the most prominent representatives of these people. Together, they have won the championship seven times, been elected regular season MVP six times, and have played against the Finals for four consecutive years. In the past 10 years of championships, James and Curry have won 7 of them, and the NBA has almost become a "two-man turn" for them.
In addition to the two of them, there are also players from Akron who have left their mark on the NBA. Here are the 9 players from Akron that deserve mention in history (in order of career honors).
1. LeBron James
During this year's Cleveland All-Star Weekend, James disputed the "homecoming" talk. He said it wasn't disrespectful to Cleveland, but he was from Akron and not Cleveland. This shows the unique position of Akron in James's mind. And he is now arguably the most accomplished player from Akron. And because of his presence, the Cavaliers ushered in the most glorious period in team history, including the first championship in team history, and James became the hero of the entire City of Cleveland.
2. Stephen Curry
In James' career, Curry has to mention. In fact, some people in the industry have pointed out that even if James is named the first person in the NBA today, Curry's role is more prominent in terms of his contribution to the development of basketball. Even James admits that basketball has undergone 3 to 4 changes, and Curry has opened the three-point era. It is estimated that James never dreamed that Curry, who was born in the same hospital as himself (his brother Seth was born and raised in Charlotte), would become his fierce rival.
3. Nate Thurmond
Thurmond was born in Akron on 25 July 1941. A 2.11-meter-tall center, he joined the Warriors in the 1963 draft, where he played for 11 seasons and reached the Finals twice with the team. Later in his career he switched between bulls and knights. He has been named to the All-Star seven times, the Defensive Team five times, and was the NBA's first "quadruple-double" winner, as well as inducted into the Hall of Fame, Top 50 and 75 Superstars.
4. Gus Johnson
Johnson was born in Akron on December 13, 1938, where he grew up until his high school graduation. Later, Johnson once said of his childhood: "I never had any real trouble in Akron. I wandered around and only cared about basketball and the Bible. ”
Johnson, who plays as a forward at 1.98 meters tall, is known as the first generation of NBA dunk artists and was one of the first players to "play on the basket", and teammate "Black Pearl" Monroe once said: "Gus is beyond his time." ”
In 1963, Johnson was drafted by the Baltimore Bullet (the predecessor of the Wizards) and played there for nine seasons, reaching the Finals in the 1970–71 season before winning his only championship of his career at ABA. He was named to the All-Star five times, the All-Team four times, the Defensive Team twice, and remained in the Hall of Fame.
5 Ed Sadowski
Born on 11 July 1917 in Akron, Sardos was 1.96 metres tall and plays as a centre forward. He was a first-generation player in the NBA's infancy and has spanned his career on several teams, including the Celtics and warriors. In 1947–48, he averaged 19.4 points per game, finishing no. 3 in the league and becoming the first player in Green Army history to be named to the BAA (NBA predecessor) All-Team (First Team). He played 229 games in his career and averaged 15.6 points per game. In the 1946–47 season, he also served as manager of the Toronto Eskimos.
6. Steve Johnson
Born in Akron on 3 November 1957, Johnson is a 2.08m tall centre forward. With the 7th pick in the first round in 1981, he was drafted by the Kings of Kansas City (the predecessor of the Kings). He then worked on the Bulls, Spurs, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves, Supersonics and Warriors, and was a teammate with Jordan. In 626 career games, he averaged 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, shooting 57.2 percent from the field. Johnson averaged 15.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in the 1987–88 season and was named an All-Star.
Johnson is a "foul king." He has had 2 seasons as the league's most fouled player and three seasons of being sent off to lead the league.
7. Chuck Noble
Born in Akron on 24 July 1931, Norbert was 1.93 metres tall and played as a shooting guard. Originally from the University of Louisville, he was drafted by the Warriors in 1954, switched to the Pistons after two seasons, and bid farewell to the NBA at the age of 30. Playing 411 games in his career, he averaged 8 points and 3.3 assists per game. In the 1959–60 season, he averaged 11.3 points per game and was named an All-Star.
8. Larry Nance Jr.
After Nance Jr. was a famous goalkeeper, his father, Larry Nance, was an NBA All-Star and the inaugural dunk champion. Nance Jr. was born in Akron on January 1, 1993, when his father was serving for the Cavaliers. Nance Jr., from the University of Wyoming, was selected by the Lakers with the 27th pick in the first round in 2015. After more than two seasons, he was sent to the Cavaliers, switched to the Blazers last August, and was sent to the Pelicans in February this year. In 387 career games so far, Nance Jr. averaged 8.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 52.8%.
9. JaKarr Sampson
Sampson was born in Akron on March 20, 1993. Between 2007 and 2010, he also attended St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School and became an alumnus with James. After losing the election in 2014, he traveled back and forth between the NBA and the development league, and also played for Shandong in the CBA twice, and now for Bologna in Serie A. In the NBA, he left his mark on the 76ers, Nuggets, Kings, Bulls and Pacers. In 236 career games, he averaged 5.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, shooting 47.1 percent from the field. (Supine Braces/Hairy)