Game Changers

Joining the fierce debates every obsessive fan loves to have, acclaimed sports journalist Marcus Thompson II presents a series of bold cases for who he thinks are the unique players who changed basketball forever.

Larry Bird. Michael Jordan. Shaquille O'Neal. Cheryl Miller. Stephen Curry. Kobe Bryant. These are the players, among a handful of basketball's elite, who according the Marcus Thompson have earned the rare title: Game Changer. Their contributions to the sport go beyond the most talented or MVP, winningest or record-setting. What they and others like them have achieved is nothing short of revolutionary when it comes to the history and trajectory of basketball in the modern era. From the aggressive moxie unleashed on the league by Allan Iverson, and which spawned disciples such players as Dwyane Wade and Russell Westbrook, to the never-before-seen vertical dimension of Michael Jordan and the athleticism of Sheryl Swoops, to the effortless big-shot plays of Steph Curry and Dirk Nowitzki, when these players stepped on the court, everything from that moment forward shifted in the game for good. Fast paced, with plenty of inarguable stats and well-argued takes sure to create endless debates among fans, Game Changes is a whole new barometer for measuring the players we love to crown the G.O.A.T.s.