The 25 Most Versatile Players in NBA History

Today is Magic Johnson’s 54th birthday, and to celebrate the legendary Lakers guard we wanted to take a look at guys who, like Magic, simply did everything well on the basketball court. Magic’s performance in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, where he put up a 42-15-7 while playing center in the absence of injured star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, has set the gold standard of versatility in the NBA. But Magic isn’t the only one who has shown the ability to achieve success in all parts of the game.

NBA history is filled with guys who excelled in many ways, with legendary names like Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson standing alongside more modern stars like Kevin Garnett and LeBron James. While many have been good at a lot of things, we’re only concerned with the ones who were great; these are the 25 Most Versatile Players in NBA History.

25. Penny Hardaway

"Official" position: Point Guard
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard, Small Forward
Career years: (1993-2007)
Career stats: 15.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Accolades: 4x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Third Team, 1994 NBA All-Rookie First Team

After such a promising start, Penny Hardaway's career was derailed by injuries and left us all to wonder just how great the former Magic guard could have been. His dramatic decline following microfracture surgery leading into the 2000-01 season marked the end of Hardaway's run as one of the most unique players in the game, a 6'7" point guard who had the athleticism to man up on Michael Jordan but the size to get into the paint against Hakeem Olajuwon. His left knee ultimately betrayed him, though, and the formerly explosive player was forced to shift into a supporting role later in his career.

24. Russell Westbrook

"Official" position: Point Guard
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard
Career years: (2008-present)
Career stats: 19.9 PPG, 6.9 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG
Accolades: 3x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 2009 All-Rookie First Team

While it may be early in the promising guard's career, Russell Westbrook has shown that he is going to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come so long as he maintains his incredible athleticism. The Thunder point guard is not content to just set up Kevin Durant for easy buckets; he gets after it on the offensive end as well, taking over 16 shots per game as he uses his tremendous athleticism to attack the rim.

He's continued to develop a three-point shot as well, showing steady improvement each season as he begins to utilize the deep ball in completing his game. He's no slouch on defense either, using his quickness and 6'3" frame to hound opposing guards, making him one of the best defensive points in the game.

23. Pete Maravich

"Official" position: Shooting Guard
Other position(s) played: Point Guard
Career years: (1970-1980)
Career stats: 24.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Accolades: 5x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 1971 NBA All-Rookie First Team

"Pistol Pete" Maravich was undoubtedly one of the biggest gunslingers of his time, shooting from pretty much anywhere on the floor and scoring in huge bunches. But lost in all that scoring mythology is the fact that he was also one of the best ball-handlers the game has ever seen. While it didn't always show up in the stat sheet, few were as adept at distributing to teammates as Maravich. The only reason he didn't put up more gaudy numbers was due primarily to the fact that he suffered debilitating knee injuries in 1977-78 that took away his athleticism and drove him to an early retirement at age 32 following 1979-80.

22. Shawn Marion

"Official" position: Small Forward
Other position(s) played: Power Forward
Career years: (1999-present)
Career stats: 16.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Accolades: 1x NBA Champion, 4x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 2000 NBA All-Rookie Third Team

Shawn Marion may be one of the most under-the-radar stars ever to play in the NBA. He's accomplished quite a bit over his career, playing both forward positions with incredible ease and capably guarding everyone from LeBron James to Tim Duncan. While he may have one of the uglier jump shots in NBA history as well, Marion has undoubtedly mastered it; he has shot a lifetime .485 percentage from the field, and in his prime was a solid three-point shooter as he averaged .347 percent from 2001-02 through 2007-08.

He also has an uncanny nose for the ball; Marion has averaged double-digit rebounds four times and grabs 9.1 for his career. While he may have slipped a little in recent years, he is still capable of guarding some of the league's better players, as he did against James in the 2011 NBA Finals.

21. Tracy McGrady

"Official" position: Small Forward
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard
Career years: (1997-present)
Career stats: 19.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Accolades: 7x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team

One can't help but wonder how Tracy McGrady's career would have turned out if not for the rash of injuries that ruined his meteoric rise as one of his generation's greatest talents. Over a seven season stretch from 2000-01 to 2006-07, McGrady averaged 26.9 points per game while also pulling down 6.6 rebounds and handing out 5.4 assists. He was underrated as a defender, too; during that same period, he averaged 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. He never reached those heights again, though, averaging just 51 games played per season since 2006-07.

20. Bill Walton

"Official" position: Center
Other position(s) played: Power Forward
Career years: (1974-1987)
Career stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.2 BPG
Accolades: 1978 NBA MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 1x NBA Finals MVP, 1986 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, 2x NBA All-Star, 1x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Second Team

Affable center Bill Walton was one of the premier talents of his generation. Big Red was a big man who had the footwork and coordination to be a dominant force in the paint thanks to his ability to shoot, pass, and grab rebounds with equal skill. He was a commanding defender as well, leading the NBA in blocks during the 1976-77 season and also taking the rebounding title for good measure.

The potential he showed in those early seasons was never fully realized, though, thanks to a string of injuries suffered early in his career with the Portland Trail Blazers that forced him to miss more games than any player in the history of the NBA who was listed on a team's roster. However, he able to lead Portland to a 1977 title and help the Celtics win the 1986 chip as their sixth man (he also won Sixth Man of the Year that season).

19. Grant Hill

"Official" position: Small Forward
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard, Power Forward
Career years: (1994-2013)
Career stats: 16.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Accolades: 7x NBA All-Star, 1x All-NBA First Team, 4x All-NBA Second Team, 1997 NBA All-Rookie First Team, 1997 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year

Just because his career will be most remembered for what it could have been does not mean that we should dismiss Grant Hill's accomplishments and talent. When healthy, he was one of the league's best players; his six seasons in Detroit were the best of his career, culminating in 1999-2000 when he averaged 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. It looked like he would be the next Michael Jordan, a player who could operate anywhere on the floor and score either at the rim or 20 feet from the hoop with equal ease. Unfortunately, the many injuries that plagued Hill during his time in Orlando squashed would have been a surefire Hall of Fame career, and a higher spot on this list.

18. Clyde Drexler

"Official" position: Shooting Guard
Other position(s) played: Small Forward
Career years: (1983-1998)
Career stats: 20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Accolades: 1x NBA Champion, 10x NBA All-Star, 1x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team

Playing practically his entire career in the shadow of Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler was one of the most under the radar stars of the 1980s and 1990s. "The Glide" could bring it on both ends of the floor, showing tremendous ability to finish at the rim throughout his career while also harnassing his jump shot as he aged. In his later years, Drexler was likewise known to take his man into the paint and play with his back to the basket, adding yet another weapon to his game. His all-around talent made him one of just three players in league history (along with Oscar Robertson and John Havlicek) to tally 20,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, and 6,000 assists over the course of his career, and his career total of 2,207 steals is the 8th-most in NBA history.

17. Wilt Chamberlain

"Official" position: Center
Other position(s) played: Point Forward
Career years: (1959-1973)
Career stats: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG
Accolades: 4x NBA MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 13x NBA All-Star, 7x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, 2x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 1960 NBA Rookie of the Year

While he may have been as pure a center as the game has ever seen, Wilt Chamberlain was also one of the most skilled big men ever to play. He is of course known for his prolific scoring binges, but Wilt was one of the best passers in the league throughout his career. Particularly as he aged, Chamberlain made sure to get his teammates involved rather than focus on his own offensive output; his unselfish style of play peaked in the 1967-68 season, where he became the first (and only) center in league history to lead the NBA in total assists (8.6 per game).

16. John Havlicek

"Official" position: Small Forward
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard
Career years: (1962-1978)
Career stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Accolades: 8x NBA Champion, 1x NBA Finals MVP, 13x NBA All-Star, 4x All-NBA First Team, 7x All-NBA Second Team, 5x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 1963 NBA All-Rookie First Team

Who is the leading scorer in Celtics' history? Nope, not Larry Bird or Paul Pierce; it's John Havlicek. Hondo was the man who linked generations of Celtics' stars together and was willing to do anything on the court to win the game. A tenacious defender who thrived on the physical style of play in the 1970s, Havlicek never played in fewer than 71 games in a season over the course of his career and played in all 82 five different times (including his final season at age 37, where he also averaged 34.1 minutes per game). He was also an exceptional scorer on the offensive side of the ball, averaging 23.8 points to go along with 7.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game during his prime from 1967 through 1974. He's also credited as being the game's first sixth man.

15. Larry Bird

"Official" position: Power Forward
Other position(s) played: Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward
Career years: (1979-1992)
Career stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Accolades: 3x NBA MVP, 3x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 12x NBA All-Star, 9x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Second Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year, 1980 NBA All-Rookie First Team

Larry Bird was never all that intimidating when you looked at him. Sure, he's 6'10", but the wispy blonde moustache he sported for most of his career kind of dissuaded anyone from taking him too seriously. But then he would get on a basketball court, and any delusions that this was a guy to stomp on went out the window. Bird was one of the best ever because he could simply do everything; he was a tremendous passer, strong rebounder, and an assassin from deep (five seasons shooting 40-plus percent on threes). Perhaps his most underrated skill over time has been his defense; not only did he make three All-Defensive teams, but he ranks 31st all-time in steals despite guarding predominantly post players. Not bad for a slowpoke that can't jump.

14. Dwyane Wade

"Official" position: Shooting Guard
Other position(s) played: Point Guard
Career years: (2003-present)
Career stats: 24.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Accolades: 3x NBA Champion, 1x NBA Finals MVP, 9x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-NBA Third Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2004 NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Before they were this generation's best team, the Miami Heat were pretty much "Dwyane Wade and everybody else." That was just fine for "Flash," who shouldered the responsibility with incredible fortitude as he routinely did it all for his team. Whether it was handling the ball, scoring at the rim, locking down the other team's best player, or all of the above, Wade's all-around game has been one of the league's best over the last 10 years. He is a tremendous shot-blocker as well despite being 6'4", perhaps the best shot-blocking guard the league has ever seen; since blocks became an official stat in 1973-74. Wade has more seasons averaging at least 1.0 blocks per game (five) than any shooting guard in history who played at least 50 games in a season.

13. Bill Russell

"Official" position: Center
Other position(s) played: Power Forward
Career years: (1956-1969)
Career stats: 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG
Accolades: 5x NBA MVP, 11x NBA Champion, 12x NBA All-Star, 3x All-NBA First Team, 8x All-NBA Second Team, 1x NBA All-Defensive First Team

While a lack of footage likewise means a modern audience doesn't appreciate Bill Russell as much as we should, the Celtics' legend was more than just the sport's greatest winner. He was a weapon on both ends of the floor, leading his team every night by swatting shot after shot and altering countless others. His mere presence in the paint totally altered games, and his controlled blocks (unlike those that go into the 10th row today) that he directed to teammates helped the Celtics get innumerable fastbreak points. Russell could run the break too, scoring in double figures every game while averaging just 13.4 shots per night for his career.

12. Charles Barkley

"Official" position: Power Forward
Other position(s) played: Small Forward
Career years: (1984-2000)
Career stats: 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Accolades: 1993 NBA MVP, 11x NBA All-Star, 5x All-NBA First Team, 5x All-NBA Second Team, 1x All-NBA Third Team, 1985 NBA All-Rookie First Team

Charles Barkley was one of the strangest cases of a dominant player in recent memory. Listed at 6'6" but probably closer to 6'4", the undersized and doughy Barkley should have gotten eaten alive on the glass in the NBA. Only thing is, he didn't; quite the opposite in fact, he averaged double-digit rebounds every season of his career. But don't kid yourself, he could shoot the rock too. He posted a lifetime .541 field goal percentage, including a respectable (for a post player at the time) .301 three-point percentage during his four years in Phoenix. His ability to score from all over the floor and run the break made Barkley one of the most dangerous players of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

11. Jerry West

"Official" position: Shooting Guard
Other position(s) played: Point Guard
Career years: (1960-1974)
Career stats: 27.0 PPG, 6.7 APG, 5.8 RPG, 2.6 SPG
Accolades: 14x NBA All-Star, NBA 10x All-NBA First Team, 1970 NBA Scoring Champion

One of the best pure athletes ever to lace up basketball shoes, Jerry West could do it all on the court and earned his place in the pantheon of all-time greats. On top of being one of the greatest scorers in history, West was also a beast on the defensive end. The 6'2" combo guard made five All-Defensive teams, which is impressive by itself. However, when you consider the honor was only around for the Logo's last five seasons in the league, you can't help but wonder how many times he would've made it in the previous nine. In any case, his incredible prowess on both ends of the floor makes him one of the most complete players to compete in the NBA.

10. Julius Erving

"Official" position: Small Forward
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard
Career years: (1976-1987)
Career stats: 22.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Accolades: 1981 NBA MVP, 1x NBA Champion, 11x NBA All-Star, 5x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team

Julius Erving's legacy might be even stronger if more footage existed of his ABA days. Dr. J was handed the responsibility of guarding the other team's best player for 40-plus minutes every night, regardless of position. The Doctor finsihed his NBA career averaging 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He is, of course, remembered too as the innovator of the dunk as a legitimate offensive weapon, but there was certainly more to his game than that. His athleticism made Erving a threat from outside, as indicated by his NBA lifetime .507 shooting percentage.

9. Kobe Bryant

"Official" position: Shooting Guard
Other position(s) played: Point Guard, Small Forward
Career years: (1996-present)
Career stats: 25.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Accolades: 2008 NBA MVP, 5x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 15x NBA All-Star, 11x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 9x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 1997 NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Kobe Bryant may be best known as one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the game, but he has shown throughout his career that he excels at pretty much all areas of the game. He, of course, went through his facilitator phase in 2012-13, where he averaged 11.2 assists over a five-game stretch in late January and tied for a career best with an average of 6.0 per game over the course of the season. He's also been a lockdown defender most of his career, often matching up with the other team's best player and using his incredible athleticism to hound everyone from Allen Iverson to LeBron James.

8. Kevin Garnett

"Official" position: Power Forward
Other position(s) played: Center
Career years: (1995-present)
Career stats: 19.1 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Accolades: 2004 NBA MVP, 1x NBA Champion, 15x NBA All-Star, 4x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Tean, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 9x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 1996 NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Grabbing the mantle from Hakeem Olajuwon as perhaps the most athletic big man in the NBA, Kevin Garnett made an immediate impact after coming into the league out of high school in the 1995 Draft. From the 1998-99 through 2006-07 seasons, Garnett averaged at least 21 points and 10 boards every game and shot 49 percent from the floor.

His athleticism made him a threat at the rim whenever he got the ball, but he was just as likely to spot up for a jumpshot as he sucked clunky big men away from the comfort of the paint in an attempt to guard him. He's also one of the best defensive bigs to ever play by commanding the paint like a man gone mad.

7. Jason Kidd

"Official" position: Point Guard
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard
Career years: (1994-2013)
Career stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Accolades: 1x NBA Champion, 10x NBA All-Star, 5x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Second Team, 4x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 5x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 1995 NBA All-Rookie First Team, 1995 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year

The new head coach of the Nets was also an amazing player in his prime, as Jason Kidd often did his best Oscar Robertson impression in recording the third-most triple-doubles in NBA history, trailing only the Big O and Magic Johnson. Starring for the Suns and Nets between 1996-97 and 2006-07, Kidd was a driving force behind numerous championship contenders as he contributed 72 of his 107 career triple-doubles over that time period, easily the most in the league. Despite being just 6'4", Kidd was particularly strong on the glass, chasing down loose balls and running the break with the likes of Richard Jefferson and later Vince Carter, helping turn in highlight-reel plays on a nightly basis.

6. Elgin Baylor

"Official" position: Small Forward
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard, Power Forward
Career years: (1958-1971)
Career stats: 27.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.3 APG
Accolades: 11x NBA All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team, 1959 NBA Rookie of the Year

A look at Elgin Baylor's career stats would indicate that this was a player who spent much of his time in the paint, doing the dirty work against other teams' unathletic grunts. However, at 6'5", Baylor was no power forward; the Lakers' athletic small forward simply played like one, dominating at the rim while simultaneously excelling on the perimeter. Baylor not only averaged double-digit rebounds 11 times, but he also finished in the top five in scoring eight times during his 14-year career. If there was a player from the 1960s who would undoubtedly still be a star in today's NBA, it just might be Baylor. He was the first of his kind and the blueprint for guys like Dr. J and Kobe Bryant.

5. Michael Jordan

"Official" position: Shooting Guard
Other position(s) played: Small Forward
Career years: (1984-1998); (2001-2003)
Career stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Accolades: 5x NBA MVP, 6x NBA Champion, 6x NBA Finals MVP, 14x NBA All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Second Team, 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 9x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 1985 NBA All-Rookie First Team, 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year

We won't lie; it's kind of nice to do a superlative basketball list and have Michael Jordan not be No. 1. Nevertheless, he has to be included simply due to the fact that he did everything well on the basketball court. His incredible drive and will made Jordan the most tenacious competitor ever to play professional sports, and this translated into an attitude where he felt he could (and often did) do everybody else's job on the floor. During his career, Jordan logged five or more steals in a game 99 times, four or more blocks 23 times, 12 or more assists 23 times, and 12 or more rebounds 52 times. In all, he registered 25 triple-doubles. Safe to say, his confidence was justified.

4. Scottie Pippen

"Official" position: Small Forward
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard, Power Forward, Point Forward
Career years: (1987-2004)
Career stats: 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Accolades: 6x NBA Champion, 7x NBA All-Star, 3x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 8x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team

While he may have been less heralded than Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen was perhaps the most versatile player of his generation. Standing at 6'8", Pippen had the size to play down on the block and guard opposing power forwards, while also having the kind of freakish athleticism that made him an absolute nightmare on the perimeter. Using his ridiculous length and athletic ability, Pippen led the Bulls in blocked shots three times during his 11 seasons there, putting up at least one per game five different years. Pip was also Phil Jackson's primary ball-handler, and Scottie did the same during his time with the Blazers and Rockets.

3. Oscar Robertson

"Official" position: Point Guard
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard
Career years: (1960-1974)
Career stats: 25.7 PPG, 9.5 APG, 7.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG
Accolades: 1964 NBA MVP, 12x NBA All-Star, 9x All-NBA First Team

We all know that when it comes to versatility, Oscar Robertson may just be the Godfather. Averaging a triple-double earns you that distinction, especially when you come close to pulling it off four other times and redefining the role of a point guard. Before the Big O, big guys simply didn't get to handle the ball; now they do. He was not only the first player ever to average over 10.0 assists per game, but is still the only guard to ever average 10 rebounds or better in a season. He did that three times.

2. LeBron James

"Official" position: Small Forward
Other position(s) played: Point Guard, Power Forward, Point Forward
Career years: (2003-present)
Career stats: 27.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Accolades: 4x NBA MVP, 9x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 7x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 5x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year, 2004 NBA All-Rookie First Team

Aside from the typically-discussed reasons, LeBron James' career has been especially fascinating to watch because of the myriad of ways he has been utilized at different stages. As a young player with the Cavaliers, he was featured in a high-volume shooting role as either a shooting guard and small forward. He also was occasionally tasked with running the point, something he occasionally still does today. As he's gotten older and filled out, LeBron has developed a strong low post game as he bullies guys around with his 6'8", 240-pound frame. We're confident that if he wanted to, LeBron could dominate even as an undersized center.

1. Magic Johnson

"Official" position: Point Guard
Other position(s) played: Shooting Guard, Point Forward, Power Forward, Center
Career years: (1976-1996)
Career stats: 19.5 PPG, 11.2 APG, 7.2 RPG, 1.9 SPG
Accolades: 3x NBA MVP, 5x NBA Champion, 12x NBA All-Star, 9x All-NBA First Team

Standing at 6'9", Magic Johnson was the tallest pure point guard in league history. Moving down the court with effortless grace and distributing a dizzying array of spectacular passes, the NBA legend was the driving force behind the "Showtime" Lakers' offense. But it's easy to forget that he could play off the ball, too; as a rookie, he actually was the team's shooting guard, playing alongside emerging star Norm Nixon. And, of course, everyone remembers Magic's Game 6 at center during the 1980 Finals, where playing in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's stead he helped lead the Lakers to an NBA title. He even dabbled at power forward during his brief (and hard to watch) comeback during the 1995-96 season.