CNBNews

(CNBNEWS SPORTS)(MARCH 18, 2024)--In March, college basketball becomes the center of attention with the arrival of March Madness and the NCAA Tournament. While upsets and underdog stories attract casual fans, the tournament has also witnessed some of the most memorable individual performances in basketball history. Let's take a look at some of the most dynamic players in the NCAA Tournament.

At the top of the list is Lew Alcindor, who later became known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his career. He played for UCLA under coach John Wooden and led the Bruins to three consecutive national titles from 1967-1969. Alcindor was awarded the Most Outstanding Player each season due to his remarkable performance. His total dominance in the game led to rule changes, and the dunk was banned for years after his arrival.

Christian Laettner is a notable basketball player whose buzzer-beater in 1992 helped Duke defeat Kentucky in one of the most memorable moments in the tournament's history. Laettner has played in a record-breaking 23 tournament games and holds the record for the most points, free throws made, and attempted. He led Duke to consecutive championships in 1991 and 1992 while earning back-to-back Most Outstanding Player awards.

Speaking of repeat champions, Bill Walton led UCLA to two titles in the early 1970s, which marked the Bruins' epic 88-game winning streak. Walton was named the Most Outstanding Player twice, and his performance in the 1973 championship game is still remembered, where he scored 44 points by making 21-of-22 shooting.  Speaking of champions, Michael Jordan sank the title-winning shot as a North Carolina freshman in 1982.

The list of NCAA legends would be incomplete without mentioning Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. These two stars had met in the highly anticipated title game of 1979. Magic, being a part of Michigan State, emerged victorious. As a sophomore, Magic won the Most Outstanding Player award, while Bird had taken unheralded Indiana State to the brink of an unlikely championship the previous year.

The NCAA Tournament has witnessed some of the most captivating players in the game, creating lasting memories across decades of March Madness moments. From dominant big men like Alcindor to tough guards like Jordan, the tournament's greatest players always save their most magical performances for college basketball’s biggest stage.