9. PF Charles Oakley, Virginia Union University
Charles Oakley, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the best bruisers in NBA history. When it came to crashing into a pile of players for a rebound, he left opponents battered and bewildered. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 9th overall pick out of Virginia Union and would eventually be traded after three seasons alongside Michael Jordan to become an enforcer for the New York Knicks.
His job description was as follows; foul hard, foul harder, grab rebounds and dominate on the boards, protect teammates and get into the heads of the other team.
Nobody did that quite like Charles Oakley. Initially just a rebounder and enforcer, Oakley would develop a consistent midrange jump shot in the latter half of his career. He would average a very respectable nine points and nine rebounds over the course of an astounding 19-year career.
He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team (1986), NBA All-Defensive First Team (1994), and All-Defensive Second Team (1998). His best statistical season was a 14.6 point and 11.9 rebound campaign with the Knicks.
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