Joe Fulks
Joe Fulks is another early star who is rarely recognized as one of the best in history. He earned his nickname, Jumpin' Joe, because he helped popularize the jump shot, and he was the first high-scoring big man in the league. During the BAA's first year of existence, he led the league in field goals and free throws made and attempted, as well as scoring, in which he dominated all other players by more than 6 points per game.
Fulks and the Warriors entered the first playoffs with the 4th-best record in the league, yet managed to pull upsets all the way to the title, with Fulks once again leading all players in field goals and free throws made and attempted and scoring, with 22.2 points per game. The MVP and Finals MVP awards did not yet exist, but if they had, there would be no doubt that Fulks would have won both in a landslide.
The next year was more of the same, except that Fulks was no longer the unquestioned best player in the league. That year he was edged out by Max Zaslofsky, who scored slightly less but did so more efficiently. The Warriors entered the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference (they played in Philadelphia back then), and Fulks led them all the way back to the Finals, but they were unable to repeat as champions.
Fulks was a force again in year three, improving in every category, but the Warriors barely made it to the playoffs and were swept in the first round. That year also featured the debut of George Mikan, who was obviously the best player in the league from day one. Mikan set a league scoring record that year with 48 in a single game, so Fulks went and broke it weeks later, pouring in 63 points, a record which stood for 10 years. Sadly, the years of Fulks as a star had come to an end, and the reason for his being left off lists similar to this was born. He was only a great player for three years, but those three years were pretty amazing.
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