5 Online Paid Survey Sites Available in Nigeria (2020 List)

Jumia (JMIA) is an African tech company which operates an e-commerce marketplace and an online payment platform. People have tried to frame it as “the next Amazon” or “the Amazon of Africa,” but this stock is the definition of a Nigerian scam. It has tanked since IPO due to continued losses and fraud allegations which it basically admitted were true, but is recently pumping again due to its earnings call upcoming on November 10th in a pattern that mirrors almost exactly what happened around its last earnings call in August 2020.
Here’s why it’s an easy short—
A) Clear pattern of pump and dump before earnings along with a history of fraud
Insane amounts of call buying from Robinhood idiots who think this company is African Amazon pumped this stock up > $20/sh before the last earnings report, and that pattern is repeating today, with the stock up 120% since October 1. Last I checked, the put/call ratio was like .5 or something, which is insane. Last time, a horrible earnings report crushed the stock, taking away all of the gains from the runup, and this is likely to happen again for reasons I will continue to detail below.
(This is a bit autistic because TA/chart reading is bullshit, but the picture so far is copying exactly what happened last time-- huge spike, starts to dump, dead cat bounce that doesnt quite reach full peak (this is where we are), massive dump during earnings)
Additionally, Citron Research (lol) has come out with a $100 price target (lmfao) on the stock, parroting the simplistic narrative of “the next Amazon” that appeals to these stupid Robintwats. This is especially hilarious because Citron was one of the first to call out “the company during its first post-IPO earnings report in 2019, with claims of fraud and “material discrepancies” in its S1 filing. Just a few months later Jumia disclosed it had wrongly inflated its order volume by around $17.5 million due to some fraudulent orders, even though executives stated they had no impact on financial statements.”
(for context, this was about 5% of their sales in that quarter, although it probably ran deeper than what they admitted— Citron claimed 20-30% inflation initially)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/korihale/2020/04/23/jumia-africas-failed-unicorn-is-hemorrhaging-millions/?sh=56268a5764e4
It’s pretty obvious that Citron is pumping the stock to enter a short position at higher prices, which is a tactic they’ve used before (look at RVLV they pumped its IPO)— inversing Citron has been a super profitable strategy for me over the years (especially shopify) and there's no reason to doubt this will continue.
B) Unsound business model in the long term
Supply chain generally sucks, which makes e-commerce unprofitable even though its growing
Unreliable postal service and lack of formalized addresses, no large transportation companies that have optimized costs and have large last mile delivery systems (aka UPS/FedEx), difficulty and extra costs like tax/tariff for cross-border transactions, largely underbanked population so cash on delivery is main payment system (even JumiaPay is only used on 35% of orders on Jumia platform).
That’s why the company has been consistently losing money on every order. Because of these losses, they will need to raise capital again within the next year to continue operating (less than 1y of working capital left based on its current cash burn) —> this means share issuances and further dilution at best, bankruptcy at worst.
You have to be able to sustain massive losses to continue to grow in the African e-commerce market— Jumia is too small, and with its history of fraud will never be able to get the capital it needs to dominate and become the AMZN/MELI of Africa. More likely is that 10 years later when Africa is more developed and e-commerce is more profitable (or at least less unprofitable), Amazon itself and Alibaba will takeover.
The current addressable market is not as large as you think
Only high income/upper middle income urban citizens who have access to bank accounts can currently be served, and due to income inequality and the rural/urban divide in Africa, this is not that many people.
Because of the large amount of defective products/counterfeits sold in Africa through Chinese drop-shipping scams, these consumers often like to touch products and see them/pay for them in person. This requires more fulfillment costs and less use of Jumia payment platform.
Additionally, there has been no COVID bump in Africa like every other e-commerce company had this year— in fact, GMV (total value of goods bought on platform) dropped 13% YoY last quarter and their guidance saw “continued softness” due to COVID’s economic impact.
Because of the shitty supply chain and lack of rapid growth, Jumia has been exiting more countries in Africa than it has been entering (left Tanzania, Cameroon, Rwanda, Congo, Gabon, etc) as it just can’t grow enough to justify losing as much money as it does. This is also tough for the only bright spot in the business, which is the fast growing JumiaPay. There are tons of competing payment platforms in Africa and in order to scale and compete against them, JumiaPay needs the networks effects from a successful e-commerce platform, which is not likely to materialize.
Quarterly results on November 10 will catalyze the dump just like it did back in August, because the numbers will continue to show that Jumia is not growing all that fast (revenue/GMV may even drop again), and it is losing a lot of money while doing so.
C) Massive unrest in major market will affect future guidance
Jumia’s biggest market is Nigeria. If you haven’t been reading the news, throughout October, there has been massive unrest in the country due to protests against police violence. Protestors blocked streets and destroyed buildings, troops were deployed and fired on people, and curfews were imposed.
This unrest likely delayed fulfillment of many orders, caused cancellations, and lowered economic activity/demand. The company will have to disclose how results have been affected in the upcoming earnings call guidance, which will be another reason the stock will sell off.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nigeria-protests-whats-happening-and-why-are-people-demonstrating-11603277989?mod=rsswn
TL;DR: puts on Nigerian scams
My recommendation: Use today’s exceptionally green day to buy cheap put options on JMIA in preparation for the inevitable dump
Positions: JMIA puts, 9-12 strikes— 9/10 are the most liquid, 12+ is safer though

The period of integration among the states of the Economic Community of West African States that had brought West Africa together has halted after the decade of progress during the 2010’s. Plans for further economic cooperation have faltered in the 20’s, a situation that will be remedied with many of the economic plans for the 2020’s being undertaken in the 2030’s instead.
The first major policy issue is the adoption of a common currency among ECOWAS to facilitate economic transactions between countries in the economic bloc. Political will had been rapidly growing in 2019 and 2020 to adopt the Eco as a regional currency and it seemed likely that ECOWAS would share a common currency by 2025 as long as issues regarding the fiscal and monetary situations of member nations brought up by Nigeria were rectified. Now that Nigeria under the banner of Aestia has successfully fulfilled the convergence criteria along with many of our neighbors, we believe the time has finally come to adopt this long overdue currency. It will replace both national currencies and the West African Franc currently in use in Francophone West Africa with a regional currency that will be convertible to the Euro at a rate of 1 Euro to 80.745 Ecos, a similar conversion rate as the CFA Franc to the Euro except ⅞’s lower. However, we will not be pegging the Eco to the Euro as that is a legacy of French colonialism in the region. Instead, we will be establishing our own central bank developed out of plans and ideas created by the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) which has been tasked for several decades to lay the foundations for adoption of the Eco ever since its inception in 2001. The West African Central Bank will be based on WAMI’s headquarters; WAMI itself will be incorporated into the West African Central Bank which will be modeled after the European Central Bank. Individual central banks will still play a role within the monetary union issuing bonds and other monetary policy actions within their own nations. The West African Central Bank will be responsible for an overarching monetary policy for the region that will target low inflation and will have sole responsibility for printing money. Its technocrats and experts appointed by agreement between national central banks will ensure financial stability across the entire region.
The Eco itself will be a symbol of West Africa's modernity with modern security features such as security thread, varied ink, color shifting ink, holograms, UV print, and other important measures that will prevent counterfeiting by unscrupulous criminals. 1 eco, 2 eco, 5 eco, 10 eco, 25 eco, 50 eco, 100 eco, and 200 eco coins will be minted by the WACB while banknotes will range from 200 eco to 10,000 eco. There will be 15 different variants of banknotes; each country within ECOWAS can nominate a single person, item, or thing to place on an Eco banknote. CryptoEco will serve as the government cryptocurrency for West Africa that will allow both easier digital payments and much much easier tracking of money online, making West Africa the first place in the world to seriously adopt a government cryptocurrency. There will be direct convertibility from the CryptoEco to the Eco guaranteed by the central bank.
Of course, there are several criteria required for a nation to remain in the Ecozone. Deficits must be kept below 4% of GDP, annual inflation (judged by WACB) must remain in the single digits, central bank deficit financing must not exceed 20% of tax revenues, and national central banks must set aside three months worth of reserves to cover imports in times of economic crisis. These are very similar to the convergence criteria required for adopting the Eco and so should not be a problem to uphold. Secondary criteria that are important metrics for measuring economic health are the prohibition of new domestic default payments and liquidation of existing ones, tax revenue equal to or greater than 20 percent of the GDP, wage bill to tax revenue equal to or less than 35 percent, public investment to tax revenue equal to or greater than 20 percent, a stable real exchange rate, and a positive real interest rate which are identical to the secondary criteria for convergence on the Eco. It is time for West Africa to assert its financial independence from France.

I stole this idea from Zach Harper of The Athletic, he posted on twitter that he had made his own list of #1 picks but it was behind a paywall, so I decided to make my own without looking at his. If you want a better, well-thought out version of this list go read it here
I ranked the following players on mostly talent, but also what they did for the teams that drafted them and the impact they made on said team at the time. But mostly talent.
72: Clifton McNeely (1947)
The first overall pick in the first draft in NBA history. I never saw Clifton play, but hardly anyone did, because he never played a single minute in the NBA. The Pittsburgh Ironmen really got screwed here. Or maybe they dodged a bullet, I don’t know. There’s some decent articles floating around online about McNeely. He retired on the spot after he got drafted because he just didn’t feel like playing basketball anymore.
71: Gene Melchiorre (1951)
Gene was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets but just like McNeely also never played a single game in the NBA because he was involved in a point shaving scandal when he played at Bradley University. I’ll give him the nod over McNeely because McNeely quit due to lack of interest in basketball, while Melchiorre wanted to ball. They’re both huge losers.
70: Andy Tonkovich (1948)
Tonkovocih got drafted to the Providence Steamrollers out of Marshall (shoutout Mike D’Antoni’s brother) and played one season and averaged 2.8 points per game. I’m sure his VORP was great though, unfortunately we didn’t have the advanced analytics back then that we do today to prove just how valuable he was to his team that would become defunct in a matter of years.
69: Anthony Bennett (2013)
Everyone knows, or should know, what a disaster this pick is. Bennett officially played four seasons in the NBA, never more than 60 games in a season and never more than five points in a game. I have no earthly idea why Daryl Morey signed him to a contract last year, it’s baffling. He stinks. Howie Shannon could probably beat him in a one on one.
68: Howie Shannon (1949)
So after the Steamrollers drafted Tonkovich in ‘48 they picked this bum the following year who played for a year putting up 13ppg and then played only one more season in the NBA before losing interest in basketball and leaving the sport forever.
67: LaRue Martin (1972)
One of the most underrated failures of the forever unlucky Portland Trailblazers, LaRue Martin out of Loyola (IL) was drafted ahead of guys like Bob McAdoo and Julius Erving, yet only played in the NBA for three seasons averaging no more than five points a game. One of the worst picks ever, with not a lot of talent to help the Blazers get over it like they sort of kind of did with Sam Bowie.
66: Mark Workman (1952)
Mark Workman had a pretty uninteresting four year career averaging no more than five points a game. At least his name wasn’t Anthony Bennett.
65: Hot Rod Hundley (1957)
From West Virginia, drafted by the Cincinnati Royals, played for the Lakers in both Minnesota and Los Angeles. Averaged eight a game for his career. Was probably ass, but had a cool nickname so who cares.
64: Dick Ricketts (1963)
Played four seasons with a couple old defunct teams, putting up around eight points per game each season. No idea what his game was like but somebody probably called him “Tricky Dick Ricketts” at some point in his career and that gives him special points in my book. Came from Duquesne.
63: Bill McGill (1962)
Nicknamed “The Hill”, Bill went to Utah and was drafted by the Chicago Zephyrs. He’s also credited with creating the jump hook, which is neat. He bounced around in the NBA and ABA.
62: Greg Oden (2007)
The talent was there, but Oden’s inability to stay healthy was ultimately his demise, and he only spent a scant few years in the NBA after getting drafted by Portland ahead of Kevin Durant. A monster at Ohio State, tearing up college with Mike Conley, Oden’s career in the pros is one of the most tragic of all time.
61: Chuck Share (1950)
Chuck got drafted out of Bowling Green by the Celtics, but played his rookie year with the Fort Wayne Pistons before winning a title in ‘58 with the St. Louis Hawks where he put up 13 PPG on 10 FGA. I have no idea what this guy’s game is either, to be honest. Could probably knock down some beers with Bob Pettit.
60: Fred Hetzel (1965)
Fred bounced around in the NBA after getting drafted to the Warriors of San Francisco, even putting up twenty a game one season. Probably the best player to ever come out of Davidson and play for the Warriors.
59: Si Green (1956)
Si Green came out of Duquesne and bounced all around the NBA, playing for eight different teams, nine if you count the United States Military, where he was for a year after his rookie season. Si is short for Sihugo.
58: Frank Selvy (1954)*
Selvy came out of Furman, was drafted to the Bullets of Baltimore, and put up 19 a game in his rookie year. After that, he struggled to find consistency in teams and his play, and his career was unremarkable otherwise.
57: Kent Benson (1977)
This is sort of where the fun begins in terms of interesting players that aren’t just peculiar white guys from the early days of the NBA. Benson had a decent career spanning 11 seasons after getting drafted by the Bucks, but is best known for getting absolutely clocked by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
56: Michael Olowokandi (1998)
Many probably have fond memories of the Kandi Man’s time in the league, but Clippers fans probably aren’t among that crowd. Olowokandi came from Nigeria, spent some time at Pacific, then was drafted first overall by Donald Sterling for his large frame and physical presence. His massive bust of a career was a large part of why many GM’s of the early 2000’s were hesitant to draft foreign players, and he was often used as a case against doing so.
55: Kwame Brown (2001)
Thanks to Michael Jordan, Kwame Brown is one of the most infamous names in basketball history. He came out of high school in ‘01 after the Wizards drafted him, and his career sort of meandered and he was never spectacular, never lived up to the hype surrounding him. Let’s ask resident bum expert Stephen A. Smith what he thinks of Kwame Brown
54: Art Heyman (1963) Heyman’s NBA career isn’t very impressive, he averaged 15 a game for the Knicks before falling off and jumping around to other teams. He did, however, make a splash in the ABA as a scorer and wing defender.
53: Jim Barnes (1964)
Barnes was taken first overall after a nice collegiate career at Texas Western, now known as UTEP. He then made a living bouncing around the NBA being a meddling middleman for many teams.
52: Ray Felix (1953)
Felix gets to be known as the first overall pick in NBA history to ever win the Rookie of the Year award, where he did so in Baltimore playing for the Bullets.
51: Bob Boozer (1959)
Boozer is best known for being one of the first players to really shine for the Chicago Bulls, putting up great counting stats throughout his career after getting picked by the Royals in ‘59. The last year of Boozer’s career was spent alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bobby Dandridge, and Oscar Robertson as they won a title in ‘71.
50: Jimmy Walker (1967)
Jimmy Walker came out of Providence and is best known for filling it up on the Pistons and Rockets in the 70’s, an era filled with inflated scoring totals and rampant drug abuse.
49: Markell Fultz (2017)
The jury definitely isn’t out on Fultz, but his career trajectory doesn’t look kindly on Markelle. One of the most mysterious cases in NBA history already, not much is known about why this sure thing out of Washington couldn’t make it happen in Philadelphia.
48: Pervis Ellison (1989)
I was hesitant to put Ellison here, and he should probably have been listed awhile ago. A talented tweener forward out of Louisville, Ellison is somewhere in the moshpit of talented players whose injuries derailed their careers. He earned the nickname “out of service pervis” due to never coming close to playing a full 82 game season, scoring in bunches when he did play for teams like Sacramento and Boston.
48: Cazzie Russell (1966)
Russell got drafted by the Knicks out of Michigan and was a vital part of the ‘70 championship Knicks team that is so well thought of in New York. Russell was known for scoring and energy, as well as being a massive part of the history of Michigan Basketball.
47: Andrea Bargnani (2006)
Bargnani put up decent stats in his career but is best known for giving Raptors fans headaches with boneheaded, low effort plays. His career as a player was rather unglamorous. I know him best from this play with the Knicks.
46: Joe Smith (1995)
Joe Smith’s career is anything but unremarkable. Drafted out of Maryland in ‘95, Smith would go on to play for 12 different teams in his NBA career (tied for most all time) that spanned 16 seasons, mopping up the boards and getting the occasional inside score. Joe Smith is mostly known for the scandal he was involved with in ‘99 when it was discovered he took money under the table from Glen Taylor and the Timberwolves in order to circumvent the salary cap, a move that caused David Stern and the NBA to hammer the Timberwolves and take numerous 1st round draft picks from the franchise. I’ve said the phrase “bounced around” a lot on this list already, but Smith embodies the phrase. He is the NBA’s version of a human bouncy ball. And his name is perhaps the most boring all time.
45: John Lucas (1976)
Highly touted as one of the smartest players to ever play the game of basketball, Lucas’ career appeared to be bright when he was drafted out of Maryland in ‘76. However, he struggled with cocaine and alcohol throughout his career, and he claims it nearly killed him. A Rockets legend, his best season had Lucas averaging 17/9. Known off the court for helping athletes struggling with drug addiction, as well as being the father of John Lucas III. By all accounts, he probably could have been a heck of a lot better if he had stayed clean throughout his career.
44: Austin Carr (1971)
One of the best players to ever ball at Notre Dame, and known to many Cavs fans as “Mr. Cavalier”, Carr has cemented himself as a Cleveland basketball legend. A devious 6’4” combo guard who played numerous seasons for the Cavs before having his career derailed by injuries.
43: Joe Barry Carroll (1980)
A seven footer from Purdue University, whose most prominent nickname is “Joe Barely Cares”, embodying his lack of effort on the court. He’s best known for allowing the Celtics to become one of the best teams of all time as he was traded from the Celtics pre-draft which allowed them to acquire both Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. I don’t know a whole lot about JBC or his game, but his reputation speaks for itself.
42: Andrew Wiggins (2014)
Wiggins sort of gets screwed on this list because he’s still playing and has been on a bad team his entire career. He’s shown his ability to score, but is a poor defender and often has lapses in effort. We can only guess how he’ll shake out in San Francisco with the Warriors, but he simply hasn’t shown enough to earn a better placement on this list.
41: Doug Collins (1973)
Collins proved to be a vital piece for the 76ers in the 70’s, scoring and making smart plays alongside Julius Erving. His career was short, but he proved to be an impactful player regardless. Illinois State’s best player ever.
40: Mychal Thompson (1978)
Thompson, Klay’s dad, came out of a dominant Minnesota basketball program and immediately found success in the NBA with the Trailblazers as a traditional back to the basketball big man who could also run the floor and do center things. Later in his career he joined up with showtime and made a few finals.
39: Danny Manning (1988)
Manning had all the talent in the world coming out of Kansas in ‘88 with plans of NBA domination, but the Clippers and his body had other plans, as the two entities tag teamed Manning’s career and shoved him into journeyman status for a large part of the 90’s, struggling to stay healthy on bad teams.
38: Andrew Bogut (2005)
Bogut made a living off of gritty defense and board-getting for most of his career, until he landed in Oakland and became a large part of the Warriors’ finals runs as of late. While his talent might be less than some names that have come before him, his career was sound and his play was valuable.
37: Deandre Ayton (2018)
Already a premier defensive presence in the NBA for the Suns, Ayton’s career could go any which way from this point on. A physical player who already has a semblance of an outside shot and a small scandal under his belt, Ayton’s value is undeniable thus far.
36: Ralph Sampson (1983)
Sampson is known as one of the best players to ever play college basketball, but his NBA career was far more dramatic. The 7’4” Sampson struggled to stay healthy from the get go in the NBA, and after a few seasons in Houston he bounced around the league and eventually fell off. If he had stayed healthy, he would likely be known as one of the best centers of all time, but the Rockets were only able to get a few quality years out of him before he left.
35: Zion Williamson (2019)
The few games Williamson has played, he’s shown to bring a spark on both ends of the floor as he’s one of the most athletic players to have ever touched a basketball. If he stays healthy his career will be illustrious.
34: Derrick Coleman (1990)
Coleman’s career at Syracuse was legendary and among the best ever for the NCAA, but his career in the NBA was filled with twists and turns. He was a talented big man who had both serious inside and outside game, but struggled to stay healthy long enough to help the Nets, and had numerous off the court issues he had to deal with. Shaquille O’Neal claims Coleman is the only player to ever dunk on him in his entire career.
33: Glenn Robinson (1994)
Big Dog’s career only lasted 10 seasons, and he was best known for his supreme ability to score inside as well as being picked ahead of Jason Kidd, among others.
32: Larry Johnson (1991)
Grandmama’s short career was a busy one, helping the Hornets and Knicks make the playoffs off of his unique scoring ability and versatility. Also was apart of one of the best NBA commercials ever.
31: Kenyon Martin (2000)
Martin was the first overall pick in what will likely be remembered as the least talented draft ever, but was still able to carve out a nice role as a starter on a Nets team that found their way to the finals twice.
30: Brad Daugherty (1986)
Daugherty is hailed as one of North Carolina’s finest, and when he was drafted in 1986, many expected the Cleveland Cavaliers to become a dynasty. Daugherty’s career didn’t even last ten years, however, as he scored and defended well all the way up until he retired early in ‘94.
29: Elton Brand (1999)
The fruit of Jerry Krause’s destruction of the Bulls dynasty of the 90’s as well as a major part of the popular early 2000’s Clippers squads, Brand was known throughout his career for his big body and professional demeanor. Sixers fans know him as a shitty GM, often forgetting he played a decent role for the 76ers towards the end of his career.
28: Walt Bellamy (1961)
Bellamy holds the record for the most games played in one season, with 88. After that, he was known as a staple big man in the 60’s, scoring lots and leading numerous teams to the playoffs.
27: Karl Anthony-Towns (2015)
KAT, like Wiggins, has also been on a bad team his whole career, but his talent is apparent. One of the best outside shooters in the league as a big man, KAT’s future looks to be bright regardless of where he’s at simply because of his talent.
26: Ben Simmons (2016)
A unique point forward who’s infamously shy about shooting the ball. His career from here on out is largely a mystery as he’s a strange fit wherever he goes but has incredible court vision and is one of the best defenders in the league.
25: Yao Ming (2002)
A statistical anomaly and one of the most unique big man games in NBA history. Yao’s career was short but his presence on the Rockets helped get them to the playoffs and his cultural impact is top 10 all time. Injuries ultimately did Yao in, but when he played, he was a real problem.
24: John Wall (2010)
Despite a prolonged injury taking a chunk out of his career, Wall will be remembered as an electric floor general in an era where floor generals are more electric than ever. One of the most athletic guards to ever play the game. Also did this
23: Bob Lanier (1970)
A massive force for Detroit and Milwaukee in the 70’s, Lanier was capable of giving any player in the league issues with guarding his inside game.
22: Blake Griffin (2009)
Griffin will forever be known for his insane dunks and his pick and roll game with Chris Paul, but he’s arguably better than he’s ever been in Detroit as he’s added a consistent outside shot to his game.
21: David Thompson (1975)
Thompson was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, but made his name by elevating the Denver Nuggets with his incredible scoring ability and his 48 inch vertical. Nicknamed “Skywalker” for a reason, he’s also one of the best dunkers ever.
20: Chris Webber (1993)
Webber’s career was great, but the Warriors were only able to get one season out of him as he constantly butted heads with Don Nelson. He was originally drafted by the Magic, who traded him to the Dubs for Penny Hardaway and three first round picks.
19: Kyrie Irving (2011)
Responsible for one of the most historic shots in the grand scheme of basketball, The Cavaliers have to be happy with drafting Kyrie despite him forcing a trade a few seasons ago. Will Kyrie be remembered as a coach killer or one of the best ball handlers ever? Whatever people think of him, he will be remembered as a champion, and a good one at that.
18: Elvin Hayes (1968)
Hayes was drafted by the San Diego Rockets and immediately made an impact in the NBA as a must-watch player, dominating the 70’s alongside Wes Unseld of the Washington Bullets and then in the 80’s back on the Houston Rockets.
17: Derrick Rose (2008)
Like lightning, Rose’s career was short and explosive, being the youngest MVP in NBA history as well as leading the Bulls to multiple deep playoff runs. Unfortunately injuries played a major factor in his career and Rose’s Bulls career was cut shorter than most would have expected.
16: Anthony Davis (2012)
Davis’ legacy is largely up in the air at this point. Unable to bring much success as the best player for the Pelicans, he now is trying to win a title with the Lakers. His talent is immense.
15: Dwight Howard (2005)
Howard will be known as one of the Magic’s best players ever, but more notably as one of the best defensive big men of all time, in an era where big men came at a premium.
14: Mark Aguirre (1981)
Aguirre was drafted out of DePaul University in ‘81 to a Mavericks team that found great success in the 80’s, but many claimed he had an attitude problem and was egocentric. His job was to score on the Mavericks, and he did it well. Later in his career he was a crucial part of the Bad Boys and won two titles coming off of the bench.
13: James Worthy (1982)
A massive cog of the Showtime Lakers, Worthy found great success in the NBA helping Magic and Kareem win titles and dominate the west for nearly a decade.
12: Bill Walton (1974)
Before Walton’s career became derailed by injuries and he sat on the bench for the Celtics, he was known as the best player on a championship Trail Blazers team. His smart play, his incredible passing, and his well-rounded game allowed Walton to dominate while he could. Bonus points for being one of the best announcers ever.
11: Patrick Ewing (1985)
Whether or not the ‘85 draft was rigged or not, the Knicks were happy when they picked one of the premier centers of the 80’s and 90’s in an era where there were plenty. One of the sweatiest dudes to ever play the game, but averaged a career 2.4 blocks per game, so did it really matter?
10: Allen Iverson (1996)
I swear I won’t use the phrase “pound for pound” here, but what Iverson did at 165 pounds and barely 6 feet of height makes him an all-time fan favorite. Iverson averaged 35 points per game in the ‘01 finals, and while the Lakers beat the Sixers in five games, it cemented Iverson as one of the best players ever. Grizzlies legend.
9: Elgin Baylor (1958) While team success ultimately evaded Baylor, he had no shortage of individual success, once averaging 38/15 in a season. Baylor’s career was often off and on, as he essentially moonlighted as an NBA player whale serving in the military.
8: Oscar Robertson (1960)
Jerry West called Robertson the best players of their era, an era in which the two shared dominating. Robertson famously averaged a triple double in the ‘61-’62 season, a full 55 years before they were deemed to not matter. Impressive.
7: David Robinson (1987)
After getting drafted and serving in the Navy for two years, The Admiral enjoyed ripping the NBA a new asshole for the next 14 years as a Spur, bullying opposing centers and blocking everything that came his way. When Robinson wasn’t winning MVP trophies and NBA titles, he was doing weird shit like this.
6: Shaquille O’Neal (1992)
While Shaq is one of the most dominant players ever, his stint with the Magic was the NBA history equivalent of blue balls. Google him, Chuck.
5: Akeem Olajuwon (1984)
Before Hakeem added the H to his name he was tearing shit up at Houston University and was touted as the next big thing. He did indeed become the next big thing, a thing so big that Rockets fans can’t be mad that he was drafted ahead of Michael Jordan. Hakeem went on to win 2 titles and is the only player who is top 10 in Blocks and Steals for a career.
4: Tim Duncan (1997)
Not sure what i could tell you here that you don’t already know.
3: Lew Alcindor (1969)
Alcindor had a hype freight train coming out of college, being known as the winningest college player ever under John Wooden. Kareem delivered on the hype everywhere he played, quickly winning a title with Milwaukee before leaving and winning plenty more with the Lakers. #1 in career points scored, MVP trophies galore, and arbiter of one of the most unstoppable moves in NBA history. Also clocked Kent Benson.
2: Magic Johnson (1979)
From the moment Magic was drafted out of MSU he instantly impacted the Lakers and led them to five titles in the 80’s, dominating the west and putting NBA stars in their place. The best point guard ever and one of the most unique talents in NBA history, the Lakers picking one of the most talented players ever probably couldn’t have gone better for them.
1: LeBron James (2003)
LeBron was hyped up as a 16 year old as someone who would become an NBA icon and the chosen one of the game of basketball. He exceeded the incredible hype, and has been the best players in the league for over a decade now. The only knock against LeBron is that he had to leave the team who drafted him in order to win titles, but his talent and mark on the game are easily on the Mount Rushmore of NBA names. Despite “only” winning one ring for Cleveland, and on the second trip back, LeBron’s mere presence on the Cavs roster allows them to not only be relevant, but unignorable. LeBron is the spotlight of the NBA regardless of where he is or what he does.
I did a moderate amount of research for most of these, especially the random 50’s white guys that clogged up the top of the list. A lot of them are probably interchangeable and I probably screwed up a few spots, but I haven't seen a lot of these guys play in real time and highlights don’t do the justice.