Bob Kurland
Kurland was one of the game’s first 7-footers and led the former Oklahoma A&M to NCAA championships in 1945 and 1946. He was known for a signature steal, where he would leap above the rim to grab other opponents’ shots. After this recurrence, the NCAA decided to ban defensive goaltending.
Bob Kurland
Bruce Bowen
One of the best defensive players all around, Bruce Bowen made eight all-defensive teams and won three championships with the San Antonio Spurs. However, he took his defensive tactics too far and some were even named dangerous. One behavior of his that the NBA wanted to eliminate was when Bowen would frequently contest a jump shot and place his foot in the spot that players would land, to injure his opponent’s ankles. The NBA was fed up with the damage Bowen caused and made a rule that allows players to have a safe place to land.
Bruce Bowen
