The Athletic NBA Daily Does Scottie Pippen belong in the top 40? - Episode 4 Basketball 100
Aug 21, 2025
Hunter Patterson and Law Murray, both writers for The Athletic covering the NBA, dive deep into the rankings of legendary players from 20 to 39. They reflect on the joy iconic athletes like Dwyane Wade and Elgin Baylor have brought to fans. The duo engages in debates about Scottie Pippen's placement, contrasting his legacy with those of contemporaries like Isiah Thomas and modern greats like James Harden. They explore how the evolution of player roles influences these rankings and which athletes are overlooked in the basketball pantheon.
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Meeting Dwyane Wade Live
- Hunter Patterson shares meeting Dwyane Wade in Oracle and getting a signed jersey after Wade's championship run.
- He calls Wade his all-time favorite and formative basketball memory.
Chasing Kawhi During Rehab
- Law Murray chased Kawhi Leonard through a road trip to get an interview while Kawhi was rehabbing and joking about alkaline water.
- Murray describes Kawhi's quiet, private demeanor and persistence returning from injury.
Meeting A Foundational MVP
- Law Murray recounts meeting Bob Pettit at the All-Star weekend and highlights Pettit's historical importance as an early MVP and prolific free-throw taker.
- Murray emphasizes Pettit's dominance in scoring and rebounding and his impact on the power forward position.