Malone, who is under contract with the Jazz for the next two seasons, is considered a basketball icon in Utah.

The word began to spread and in 2002 he appeared in a Burger King commercial with basketball icon, Shaquille O'Neal.

The basketball icon and keen golfer has been rolled out before by the American Ryder Cup hierarchy and, as a member at Medinah adds local knowledge.

"Michael Jordan was famous by 1988, a basketball icon," Mr. Fireman said.

Speculations arose whether China's basketball icon would ever be able to play again.

Like basketball icons before him, Jordan looked as if he needed the game more than it needed him.

Kimble opened up, spoke glowingly and confidently at Gathers's funeral and became the No. 2 basketball icon in Los Angeles - behind only Earvin Johnson.

"You can equate this with getting a Michael Jordan," said George Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner, drawing a comparison with the basketball icon.

Then, the 1980s were marked by a generation of hope, counting in its ranks French basketball icons such as Richard Dacoury and Jacques Monclar.

They performed a halftime show for the basketball icons and later Tom met them again in Memphis and Atlanta.