The Greatest Team Leaders in March Madness History

Here are 10 of the best leaders in March Madness history, and the qualities that distinguished them.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

To cut down the nets this April, a team will need more than good shooting, solid defense, and a smart coach. To come out on top at the end of the NCAA Tournament, a team also requires a leader with great decisiveness, initiative, judgment, and knowledge of the game. While they share common traits, great team leaders do come in different shapes and sizes. History shows that leaders don’t appear as a single type, or even a single type of player. Some are known for doing the dirty work, others for their consistency, others for taking the big shot. Here are 10 of the best leaders in March Madness history, and the qualities that distinguished them.

Bill Russell, San Francisco (1953-1956)

Not Available Interstitial

Lew Alcindor, UCLA (1966-1969)

Not Available Interstitial

Bill Walton, UCLA (1971-1974)

Not Available Interstitial

Christian Laettner, Duke (1988-1992)

Not Available Interstitial

Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State (1996-2000)

Not Available Interstitial

Juan Dixon, Maryland (1998-2002)

Not Available Interstitial

Gerry McNamara, Syracuse (2002-2006)

Not Available Interstitial

Joakim Noah, Florida (2004-2007)

Not Available Interstitial

Stephen Curry, Davidson (2006-2009)

Not Available Interstitial

Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2008-2011)

Not Available Interstitial

Latest in Sports