Which team do you associate certain players with?

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Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Andrew on Tue Jun 25, 2019 6:22 pm

It's the offseason, we'll need something to talk about after the initial flurry of free agent movement makes up most of the news for the next few months, so I'm getting ahead of the game with a few topics. This first one is about the teams we associate players with, even if they'd had noteworthy stints for a couple or more clubs.

When a big name changes teams, I've found it interesting how at first they look weird in their new jersey, but then you get used to it and photos or video of them from their time with their previous team look strange instead. I think we also have a tendency to think of players at a certain point in their career and always associate them with the team they were on, either because of the length of their tenure (or in spite of it), accomplishments while they were there, nostalgia for that particular era or brief period of time, and so on.

So, here's the game. Anyone can throw out some names of players who had significant stints with multiple teams, and we can all say which team we personally associate them with. We can also give answers to our own suggestions. Feel free to give your reasons, too.

I'll get things started with ten players...

Charles Barkley
Shaquille O'Neal
LeBron James
Wilt Chamberlain
Vince Carter
Chris Bosh
Tracy McGrady
Dikembe Mutombo
Moses Malone
Grant Hill
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Lamrock on Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:03 am

Barkley - Suns
Shaq - Lakers
LeBron - Cavs
WIlt - Warriors
Carter - Mavs (bad pick but his career is so long you can almost split it in two)
Bosh - Raptors
T-Mac - Magic
Mutombo - Nuggets
Moses - Sixers
Hill - Pistons

Free Agency Edition!

Kevin Durant
Kyrie Irving
Al Horford
Kawhi Leonard
Carmelo Anthony
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby [Hyperize] on Mon Jul 01, 2019 1:18 pm

KD - Warriors
Kyrie - Cavs
Horford - Hawks
Leonard - Spurs
Anthony - Nuggets

Honestly, a lot of these players I associate with more than one team, but those are just the ones that come to mind first.

Charles Barkley - 6ers
Shaquille O'Neal - Lakers
LeBron James - Cavs
Wilt Chamberlain - Lakers
Vince Carter - Nets
Chris Bosh - Raptors
Tracy McGrady - Rockets
Dikembe Mutombo - Rockets (lol, but that's the era I grew up in)
Moses Malone - too far before my time lol
Grant Hill - Suns (again, era)
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Andrew on Mon Jul 01, 2019 2:58 pm

I'll start with my suggestions:

Charles Barkley: Suns, despite playing for the 76ers the longest. He was a Sun by the time I got into the NBA, and I always think of him in that jersey.
Shaquille O'Neal: Lakers. Magic and Heat are up there, but it has to be LA.
LeBron James: Cavaliers. It's still kind of weird seeing him as a Laker.
Wilt Chamberlain: Lakers, probably because that's the era that gets talked about most, outside of the 1962 season with the Warriors.
Vince Carter: Raptors, though Nets are up there.
Chris Bosh: Heat, oddly enough given he was with the Raptors for longer.
Tracy McGrady: Rockets. If you bring up T-Mac I also picture him in the Magic jersey, but I'd associate him more with the Rockets.
Dikembe Mutombo: Hawks. Nuggets would be a close second.
Moses Malone: 76ers, as most people probably do. It's funny given he spent one more season with the Rockets (and his fifth year with the 76ers was a one-off return stint years later), but he feels like a lifetime Sixer.
Grant Hill: Pistons. What could have been...

Moving on to Lamrock's suggestions:

Kevin Durant: Probably Thunder. Warriors are fresh in my mind, but I still associate him with the Thunder.
Kyrie Irving: Cavs.
Al Horford: Hawks.
Kawhi Leonard: Still the Spurs. Hope it remains/becomes the Raptors, though.
Carmelo Anthony: Nuggets. Knicks are up there, but Denver is where he started and established himself as a star. I have fond memories of when LeBron vs Melo games were special, early on in their careers.

And now for some new suggestions:

Chris Webber
Andre Iguodala
Goran Dragic
Joe Johnson
Paul Millsap
Chris Paul
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby [Hyperize] on Tue Jul 02, 2019 8:55 am

Iguodala - 6ers all day
C-Webb - I guess Kings since he was a bit before my time as well
Dragic is an interesting one... let's go Suns, with Heat as a close second
JJ - Hawks
Paul Millsap - Jazz (one of my favorite things I've ever watched live)
CP3 - Hornets

Andrew wrote:I have fond memories of when LeBron vs Melo games were special, early on in their careers.

Yeah, to brag, I was at this game; I'll always be stuck in that era. I think I also saw the T-Mac/Artest/Yao team when they all actually played together and before Alston was traded, but the memory isn't as fresh; heck, I don't even think I would remember it if LeBron hadn't pinned Yao against glass (2008 sure looks shitty).

But yeah, my dad works at this place where the owner is rich as fuck and back in that day I got to choose a couple games to go to each season with great seats. Also picked a Brandon Roy Blazers game, and I believe Iguodala 6ers.

I haven't been to a Cavs game in ages though; the passion just isn't the same. I think the last time I saw them was when Deron Williams was on the Nets, but who knows... the crowd booing Kris Humphries over Kardashian. :lol: There's a throwback.
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Andrew on Tue Jul 02, 2019 12:35 pm

That's awesome! I'm still hoping I can attend an NBA game one day, when I can afford a proper vacation to the US.

I'd have the same picks for those players.
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby bigh0rt on Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:06 am

Here's a few...

Ray Allen
Kevin Garnett
Clyde Drexler
Tim Hardaway
Alonzo Mourning
Zach Randolph
Jason Kidd
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby bigh0rt on Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:11 am

Charles Barkley - Suns, for the same reasons Andrew stated. When I first really got into the NBA, Charles and Kevin Johnson and Thunder Dan Majerle were leading the Suns
Shaquille O'Neal - Lakers. I want to say Magic, but the first image that pops into mind when I hear Shaq is in the purple and gold
LeBron James - Cavs
Wilt Chamberlain - Sixers
Vince Carter - Raptors, with his Dunk Contest highlights and "it's over" celebration
Chris Bosh - Raptors, as well, with the baby dreads
Tracy McGrady - Magic, I think mostly because of the uniforms at the time, since it feels like the Rockets would be an "easier" answer
Dikembe Mutombo - Nuggets, in the classic uniforms
Moses Malone - Sixers, because it took me several seconds to think of another team he played for
Grant Hill - Pistons, in the teal uniform with Jerry Stackhouse
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby [Q] on Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:55 pm

Ray Allen Bucks
Kevin Garnett Wolves (though both draw strong Celtics vibes from me)
Clyde Drexler Portland
Tim Hardaway Heat
Alonzo Mourning Heat
Zach Randolph Memphis
Jason Kidd Nets


Ok how about
Robert Horry
Steve Kerr
Dell Curry
Jeff Hornacek
Hersey Hawkins
Kendall Gill
Vernon Maxwell
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Andrew on Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:31 pm

bigh0rt wrote:Grant Hill - Pistons, in the teal uniform with Jerry Stackhouse


Perfect. (Y)

Ray Allen: I'd have to say Bucks as well, despite being an All-Star with the Celtics and SuperSonics. Mid 90s nostalgia, and he led them back to the Playoffs.
Kevin Garnett: Timberwolves. Like Allen, I do think of him in the Celtics uniform, but he's easily the best player in Timberwolves history so it has to be them.
Clyde Drexler: Ultimately the Trail Blazers, but the Rockets' pinstripe uniform comes to mind, thanks to the trio he formed with Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley late in his career.
Tim Hardaway: Heat. Even with Run TMC, his tenure in Miami feels like it overshadows his time with the Warriors.
Alonzo Mourning: Heat. As with Hardaway and the Warriors, those years eclipsed his earlier run with the Hornets.
Zach Randolph: Grizzlies, though the Trail Blazers are a close second. It took him a long time to shake that Jail Blazers rep.
Jason Kidd: Nets.

Robert Horry: Lakers. The fact that he ended up there after throwing a towel at Danny Ainge makes it stick out. Oh, and the big shots, and the championships.
Steve Kerr: Bulls. Come on, now!
Dell Curry: Hornets. Sixth Man of the Year while he was there.
Jeff Hornacek: Jazz.
Hersey Hawkins: SuperSonics
Kendall Gill: I'll have to go with the Nets, because he was part of that "Team of the Future" in 1998.
Vernon Maxwell: Rockets

A few more...

Larry Johnson
Steve Francis
Stephon Marbury

Oh, and just for fun, the three players who have played for 12 different teams:

Jim Jackson
Joe Smith
Chucky Brown
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Breems on Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:45 am

Charles Barkley - Suns
Shaquille O'Neal - Lakers
LeBron James - Cavs
Vince Carter - Nets
Chris Bosh - Raptors
Tracy McGrady - Rockets
Dikembe Mutombo - Rockets
Grant Hill - Magic

Kevin Durant - Thunder
Kyrie Irving - Cavs
Al Horford - Hawks
Kawhi Leonard - Spurs
Carmelo Anthony - Nuggets

Chris Webber - Kings
Andre Iguodala - 76ers
Goran Dragic - Heat
Joe Johnson - Nets
Paul Millsap - Jazz
Chris Paul - Clippers

Ray Allen - Supersonics
Kevin Garnett - TWolves
Clyde Drexler - Rockets
Tim Hardaway - Heat
Alonzo Mourning - Heat
Zach Randolph - Grizz
Jason Kidd - Nets

Larry Johnson - Hornets
Steve Francis - Magic
Stephon Marbury - Knicks

That was a fun exercise!
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Murat on Thu Jul 11, 2019 6:18 pm

Larry Johnson - Hornets
Steve Francis - Rockets
Stephon Marbury - Knicks

Jim Jackson - Suns
Joe Smith - Timberwolves
Chucky Brown - Rockets

Smush Parker
Trevor Booker
Antonio McDyess
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby debiler on Thu Jul 11, 2019 6:24 pm

Yeah, it's Barkley on the Suns for me, too. Back then, I had just gotten my first taste of NBA basketball the year prior, then came the 1992 olympics. I was in love with MJ and Barkley back then. So the 93 finals were THE thing to watch. Basketball was on such a high in Germany, especially because we took the European championship in 93 as a total underdog. So due to that amazing era of nostalgia, I couldn't put Chuck on any other team - he'll always be a Sun to me. It wasn't until very much later (no internet, remember?) that I found out he used to be on another team.

So, here's the rest:

Shaquille O'Neal - Lakers
LeBron James - Cavs
Vince Carter - Raptors
Chris Bosh - Raptors
Tracy McGrady - Raptors
Dikembe Mutombo - Nuggets
Grant Hill - Pistons
Kevin Durant - Sonics
Kyrie Irving - Cavs
Al Horford - Hawks
Kawhi Leonard - Spurs
Carmelo Anthony - Nuggets
Chris Webber - Kings
Andre Iguodala - 76ers
Goran Dragic - Heat
Joe Johnson - Hawks
Paul Millsap - Jazz
Chris Paul - Hornets
Ray Allen - Bucks
Kevin Garnett - Timberwolves
Clyde Drexler - Blazers
Tim Hardaway - Heat
Alonzo Mourning - Heat
Zach Randolph - Grizzlies
Jason Kidd - Mavs, both stints
Larry Johnson - Hornets
Steve Francis - Rockets
Stephon Marbury - Timberwolves
Robert Horry: Rockets
Steve Kerr: Bulls
Dell Curry: Hornets
Jeff Hornacek: Jazz
Hersey Hawkins: SuperSonics
Kendall Gill: Nets
Vernon Maxwell: Rockets

Here's a couple more:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Tariq Abdul-Wahad
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Andrew on Thu Jul 11, 2019 7:52 pm

Larry Johnson: Hornets. His Knicks run was arguably more memorable (and more recent), but the first image I think of is him in the dunk contest, wearing the Hornets' pinstripes.
Steve Francis: Rockets.
Stephon Marbury: Timberwolves, because of the Big What If with KG. Nets would be second, because of the 2001 All-Star Game.
Jim Jackson: Mavericks, because of The Three Js.
Joe Smith: Timberwolves, with the Warriors coming in second.
Chucky Brown: Rockets.
Smush Parker: Lakers, because when I was updating the rosters for NBA Live 06, Lakers fans wouldn't stop telling me how he was a star and needed ratings boosts.
Trevor Booker: Wizards, probably.
Antonio McDyess: Nuggets.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Lakers, though his gamewinning skyhook with the Bucks is one of those highlights I remember from all the old tapes.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: Nuggets.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim: OG Grizzlies
Tariq Abdul-Wahad: Probably the Kings.

And a few more...

Horace Grant
Steve Smith
Darryl Dawkins
Derrick Coleman
Kenny Anderson
Rony Seikaly
Boris Diaw
Marcus Camby
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Murat on Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:54 pm

Andrew wrote:Smush Parker: Lakers, because when I was updating the rosters for NBA Live 06, Lakers fans wouldn't stop telling me how he was a star and needed ratings boosts.


I remember these times. I used to browse the forum since 2005-06, around the time I began following NBA. People were overhyping Smush, only to realize few years later that he was just a bum. I loved basketball and NBA more in 2006, it was an enormous sports world compared to sports and leagues in Europe.
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Andrew on Thu Jul 18, 2019 12:56 am

Some fans - of all teams - get a little carried away when it comes to the way they rate and evaluate the players on their favourite team. Ironically, those same fans will often accuse everyone else of being biased, and having it in for them.

Horace Grant: Magic, as he was already there when I really started to pay attention to the NBA and became a fully fledged fan.
Steve Smith: Hawks. Late 90s nostalgia, and that's where he made his All-Star appearance.
Darryl Dawkins: 76ers. Broken backboards in his wake.
Derrick Coleman: Nets, but also the 76ers due to his runs with them, in particular right after the Nets traded him there.
Kenny Anderson: Nets, but also Blazers, despite his short tenure with them.
Rony Seikaly: Warriors, because of NBA Jam Tournament Edition PC.
Boris Diaw: Suns.
Marcus Camby: Knicks because of the Finals appearance. Nuggets come to mind second.
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby [Hyperize] on Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:55 am

Andrew wrote:Boris Diaw: Magic, with the Lakers being a close second.

:?:
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Re: Which team do you associate certain players with?

Postby Andrew on Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:51 pm

Oh man, I gave an answer for Brian Shaw to Boris Diaw. I don't even know how that happens, especially given that it was my suggestion in the first place. :doh:

For Boris Diaw, I'd say Suns.
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