Thank you to all readers of Ed Odeven Reporting in 2024.

The following were the 5 most read articles on the website last year.

From 5 to 1…

5. Column flashback: In remembrance of basketball lifer Johnny Neumann

Intro:

Johnny Neumann forged an unconventional path in life.

As a prep basketball phenom at Overton High School in Memphis, Tennessee, in the late 1960s, Neumann was recruited by UCLA’s John Wooden and Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp, coaching titans of powerhouse programs in that era. He had more than 400 college scholarship offers, but decided to attend the University of Mississippi, which wasn’t a powerhouse hoop program.

“I knew it was all football here,” Neumann told Sports Illustrated in 1971, “but I talked with Coach (Robert ‘Cob’) Jarvis and Archie Manning, and they said the people in Oxford wanted a good basketball team, finally. The Ole Miss cheerleaders even drove up to one of my high school games and said hello. Everyone seemed interested. They love their athletes at Ole Miss. That’s all anybody has to do in this town is go to sporting events and make heroes out of their athletes. I took all the football interest as a challenge.”

It was a challenge he was up for. Neumann led the Ole Miss freshman squad to a 25-1 record in 1969-70, scoring 38.4 points a game at a time when the NCAA didn’t permit freshmen to play varsity sports.

As a sophomore, “Johnny Reb,” as he was dubbed during his college days, sought to emulate former Louisiana State star Pistol Pete Maravich’s scoring prowess from the three previous seasons (43.8, 44.2 and 44.5 points per game, which were NCAA-leading totals each time; Maravich passed away in 1988 at age 40). Neumann came close, averaging an astounding 40.1 ppg, including a 63-point outburst against LSU, and receiving First Team All-American honors.

Blessed with soft hands, great court vision, incredible shooting touch and an omnipresent gunner’s mentality, Neumann, who was equally adept at shooting guard and small forward, piled up points at an astonishing rate before the advent of the 3-point arc in the college game.

Nobody has surpassed Neumann’s scoring average in the NCAA ranks since then.

4. North America’s all-time best NBA players

Intro:

To distill the greatness of North American basketball since the inception of the NBA’s predecessors in 1946 into a single article requires broad brush strokes and a few quick impressions on a metaphorical canvas. A primer on the best NBA players of all time is a worthwhile place to start.

The vast geographic region of North America, stretching from Canada to Panama has invented and reinvented the game with innovations and trend-setting moves. The lineage of stars from the outset of the NBA to the current fan favorite charts a who’s who of accomplished athletes. Elgin Baylor, Julius Erving, and Connie Hawkins, for instance, paved the way for Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. And LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

The impressive growth of the NBA — westward expansion, increased media exposure — and the remarkable talent that elevated the league, included the infusion of all-time greats from the ABA in the 1970s.

For the sake of brevity, this rundown of the greatest basketball players from North America features a top five at each position. But a few standouts whose names ought to appear on any reputable list of legends are featured to expand the scope of the discussion — the catalyst for debate — for years to come.

3. Best basketball players from Asia & Oceania

Intro:

Who are the all-time best basketball players from Asia & Oceania (we include Australia and New Zealand here)? Success on the national, regional, and global levels is a key component of being among the best of the best. All-time best basketball players stay in the collective memory of the public at large. They create lasting memories. In analyzing elite players from this huge stretch of land, three key factors matter most: Overall feats, Historic impact, and Notoriety. Collectively, these traits produced greater recognition of Asia & Oceania hoops worldwide. So who are the key individuals described above? There are dozens who have contributed above the norm. Updated in July 2020, here’s a look at 15 irreplaceable Asian basketball stars (and those from Oceania) spanning decades of basketball.

2. 10 Greatest Basketball Players from Africa

Intro:

Defensive domination and rebounding prowess are trademarks of the greatest basketball players from Africa. These are defining traits for these men, the greatest basketball players from Africa, in the NBA and in other overseas circuits.

Africa has produced a growing influx of standout basketball players on the global stage, including the U.S. college scene. African players have had various stages of success, and the ultimate goal, of course, is to reach the NBA.

Naturally, overall feats, historic impact, and notoriety are the primary characteristics of the greatest basketball players from Africa.

First of all, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid missed the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons due to injuries. But he has the potential to be an All-Star for years and years to come.

That would make him one of the certified greatest basketball players from Africa. The 7-foot (213 cm) Cameroonian native averaged 20.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 blocks in his first nine games of the 2017-18 season. Furthermore, his delayed rookie campaign saw him named to the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie first team.

1. Best European Basketball Players of All Time

Intro:

Who are the best European basketball players of all time?

Yes, James Naismith, a North American, invented the game. But basketball’s dynamism and development across the decades — and the numerous stars who’ve invigorated the sport — in all corners of Europe have made the sport a truly global game.

In Europe, basketball is watched and played and taught by millions. Without the European infusion of players and teams, the game and its supporters wouldn’t be as rich as it is today. The best European basketball players thrived during the Cold War era and beyond, and with the breakup of the former Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, the national teams have splintered and showcased talents on the new national squads.

To concoct a list like this one, featuring the best European basketball players, big feats for national teams and pro clubs were weighed heavily, as well as accomplishments in international and global tournaments, including the Olympics.