Who is the NBA's most Popular Player?

by **VCFAN** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:34 am

I dont know if this has been done recently but I was just wondering, putting all skill aside, who is the NBA's most popular player. Which player is always in conversations, sells out stadiums the best, sells the most jerseys, receives the most votes in All-star games etc.. Combine all these and more to give me your opinion.

by **kevC** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:38 am

well sheer number-wise yao ming probably has the biggest fan base since there are like 500 billion chinese people..

But otherwise I would say VC looking at the all-star votes over the last few years

by **Shyne** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:41 am

kobe.. everyone knows him cuz of the rape trial

by . on Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:08 am

I actually think its Kobe

by **EGarrett** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:12 am

In terms of the number who like him, I'd say Yao Ming.

I don't know of anyone who dislikes him, and he's got pretty much everyone in China behind him. Pretty much every other player is hated by someone.

by . on Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:13 am

I dislike him very much ^

by **Shyne** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:37 am

despite what i said before, lebron might actually be the most popular player in the league.. at least in the us. his jersey sold the most last year and he helped sell out alot of stadiums. his hype had alot to do with it but he is well known even by bustas who dunt know nothing about bball.

by **Alcoholic** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:42 am

I think it's Kobe.. at least in the U.S... he was big when he won the championships, people take more notice of him because of the rape trial, and basically he is everywhere... a few months ago I remember my friend saying "Who's Derek Fisher?" ( LOL ). But on the other hand pretty much everyone knows who Kobe is.

by **-BHZMAFIA-** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:52 am

I thinks its Iverson because every girl in the USA loves him to death

by **Sauru** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:13 am

if by popular you mean the most talked about then i would go with kobe. if by popular you mean how many people like him, i gotta say lebron. many many many people hate kobe. like it or not they do. i know i do and for 2 reasons. 1 cause he is a laker and 2 because of his fans constantly trying to compare him to jordan. also this rape thing. i am just sick of hearing about him. he is getting up there with mike tyson, michael jackson, and oj simpson. i mean, i just dont want to see his face on espn anymore or the news. get a new story to report guys.

edit here: i think yao is the most popular world wide but i was going by in the us only.

by **Jay-Peso** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:17 am

SbHZmAFiA wrote:I thinks its Iverson because every girl in the USA loves him to death

Maybe in TN but not around CHI TOWN

I'd say LeBron because I don't know of many people that don't like watching him play. He is a teamplayer, dunking madman, improving all the time, and what is there not to like about him? :wink:

by **NNpF** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:34 am

SbHZmAFiA wrote:I thinks its Iverson because every girl in the USA loves him to death

Same goes in Canada, ask a girl who is the hottest player out of any sport and they will say Iverson.

by **VCFAN** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 12:27 pm

I would say 3 years ago Carter was by far the most popular player in the NBA. His dunking and highlights left everyone astonished. Who doesn't know about his 2000 dunk competition. He in my opinion is still a top 3 but I think Kobe has strongly risen in popularity over the last year especially due to his trial so I would put Kobe as #1. I don't know about LeBron James. He is rediculously popular but when I hear conversations about the game of basketball Carter and Kobes name come up a little more. Maybe give LeBron a year or two and then he might be #1.

by **Alcoholic** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:27 pm

Dr. James wrote:
SbHZmAFiA wrote:I thinks its Iverson because every girl in the USA loves him to death

Maybe in TN but not around CHI TOWN

I'd say LeBron because I don't know of many people that don't like watching him play. He is a teamplayer, dunking madman, improving all the time, and what is there not to like about him?

There's guys that don't like him and say he is basically overrated.

by **j.23** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:39 pm

tough call.. i think right now it's a tie between kobe and lebron, but i'll give the edge to kobe. his popularity sky rocketed somewhat when he had those big games after those court trials, and torched whoever played his team . they loved talkin about that in the news around here..

by **Bill Russell** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 2:33 pm

IMO it's still between Carter and Iverson, with LeBron and Kobe following closely (Y)

by **MaD_hAND1e** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:38 pm

What about all-time in the NBA ? I think that would definately be Michael Jordan hands down. Everytime you talk about bball, anyone would start about MJ

by **beau_boy04** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:01 pm

All time = Michael Jordan
Currently = not kobe because of you know... so Shaq is the answer
Next year = Lebron James

Predictions:

Lebrom would averaged 25-6-6 this coming season specially now with Boozer gone.

Thanks.

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 6:48 pm

There seems to be more anti-Kobe sentiment than anti-LeBron sentiment, so I'd say right now LeBron is seen in a more favourable light. Kobe certainly has a huge, loyal fan following though. There's a lot of Vince Carter bashing but he usually garners the most votes in All-Star balloting. You could make a case for any one of those three as being the most popular player in the league.

All time = Michael Jordan

He's my all-time favourite, but there was always a strong anti-Jordan contigent among NBA fans during his career. Some fans simply don't like certain players so I don't think there's been one guy who's been liked by absolutely everyone, but Julius Erving is one player who didn't attract a lot of hatred (as far as I'm aware).

by **Dogg** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:49 pm

i will go with bron

by **Amphatoast** on Fri Oct 01, 2004 8:22 am

i guess lebron, but the most talked about would be kobe though, his lovers+haters is almost everyone.

by **twolvezfanfoever** on Fri Oct 01, 2004 8:34 am

why in the hell would you put Duncan on there anyways,the man doesnt smile

by **Gripni** on Fri Oct 01, 2004 11:31 am

Kobe is both the most loved and hated player in the NBA.

by **twolvezfanfoever** on Fri Oct 01, 2004 11:33 am

Gripni wrote:Kobe is both the most loved and hated player in the NBA.

tru dat

by **j.23** on Fri Oct 01, 2004 12:03 pm

Gripni wrote:Kobe is both the most loved and hated player in the NBA.

actually you summed it up pretty well

Who is the NBA's most Popular Player?

So what do you think?

Who is the NBA's most Popular Player?

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