Frostillicus
Footballguy
Jordan and Lebron are #1/#2 in whatever order by any reasonable measure. So who is next?
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Who is the third best NBA player of all-time? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Frostillicus
- Start date
Frostillicus
Footballguy
Nobody else can be considered, sorry about your favorite player who is way worse than you think.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Best... best.... best...
Most dominant in their prime? Best overall career? Most dynamic? Most winningest? Most clutch? So many dimensions.
Most dominant in their prime? Best overall career? Most dynamic? Most winningest? Most clutch? So many dimensions.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I think he meant Joker.
PIK95
Footballguy
My top fifteen today. I am slightly biased against Jordan and Shaq because of how much league whistle they received. All fifteen of these guys were amazing.
1)Kareem
2)Russell
3)Wilt
4)Bird
5)Lebron
6)Magic
7)Jordan
8)Baylor
9)ORob
10)Stef
11)Duncan
12)Dream
13)Shaq
14)Moses
15)West
1)Kareem
2)Russell
3)Wilt
4)Bird
5)Lebron
6)Magic
7)Jordan
8)Baylor
9)ORob
10)Stef
11)Duncan
12)Dream
13)Shaq
14)Moses
15)West
Nathan R. Jessep
Footballguy
I need to see more tape on the old guys, but from all the intel I have over my lifetime, prob putting more stock in what former players say TBH, Kareem got my vote here. Next would have been Shaq. These 2, IMHO, completely dominated in ways that changed the game. The other guys were dominant and obviously still all time greats, but lacked the "something special" to put them at the top of the list.
Beef Ravioli Part 2
Footballguy
Come on, seven?!
Not trying to fight or fuss at you, but that’s crazy. I’m not a huge MJ fan but I would think he’s one or two.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Voted Larry Bird without a lot of consideration, but Tim Duncan is my final answer.
GO SPURS GO!
GO SPURS GO!
PIK95
Footballguy
I watched alot of NBA in the 80's and 90's. Jordan never beat Bird. I can put Jordan and Magic as pretty much a tie anyway. Bron is right there with them. My top three are rock solid.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Michael Jordan was great, but I think he benefitted from calls - A LOT - more than the average bear.
Magic Johnson is my #1. EDIT: Obviously the greatest name of all-time.
PIK95
Footballguy
Mike and Kobe both got every call. Shaq got away with alot of offensive fouls also.
Frostillicus
Footballguy
define it as you like
Frostillicus
Footballguy
tim Duncan can eat a fat bag of sausages
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Flip flip flip a-delphia.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Also, Kobe is top-10 in my book.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
He's got a bright future.
PIK95
Footballguy
Not sure he's top fifty in mine. Most missed shots in NBA history, terrible at facilitating for teammates, and actually made them worse quite often. Him and Jordan were both a holys to their own team, and both were huge beneficiaries of the league whistle. Both were great defenders most of the time. That's pretty much where that comparison of KB/MJ ends for me.
It wasn't his fault, but Kobe even got help from refs betting on the Lakers to win, or at least fixing them. That Kings series was brutal, as were too many other obvious fixed games. It's to bad that D Stern choose to just let Tim D take the fall, instead of cleaning up the league of crooked refs. League image trumps all.
As for Kobe being an all time top player, he was a ball hog until the end, and easily the most overrated player in NBA history imo. After he died everyone pushed him way up the ranks.
Kobe did seem to enjoy helping younger players succeed as a mentor late in his career. Not really sure what his motive was there honestly. What he did in Colorado and the diamond that followed had no bearing on my assessment.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
You make excellent points. He's still top-10 in my book.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Sorry, man. I love you.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
It's a good question. I voted for Russell.
I cannot understand putting Wilt over Russell, but others are debatable.
I cannot understand putting Wilt over Russell, but others are debatable.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Wilt vs Russell, whatcha got?
Jayrod
Footballguy
Kareem.
I've spent an unhealthy amount of time studying this. Wilt and Shaq were more overpowering, Bird and Magic were more skilled and flashy and Russell has more rings, but Kareem was the total package. His defense was on par with Hakeem and he was an unstoppable scorer, especially in his prime. Most of us only remember 80's Lakers' Kareem, but Bucks' Kareem (Lew) was as dominant a player as has ever played. He controlled both ends of the floor and the glass.
I've always heavily weighted MVPs in these rankings and Kareem is the only guy with 6.
I really only had LeBron above him after this last ring in the bubble.
I've spent an unhealthy amount of time studying this. Wilt and Shaq were more overpowering, Bird and Magic were more skilled and flashy and Russell has more rings, but Kareem was the total package. His defense was on par with Hakeem and he was an unstoppable scorer, especially in his prime. Most of us only remember 80's Lakers' Kareem, but Bucks' Kareem (Lew) was as dominant a player as has ever played. He controlled both ends of the floor and the glass.
I've always heavily weighted MVPs in these rankings and Kareem is the only guy with 6.
I really only had LeBron above him after this last ring in the bubble.
Frostillicus
Footballguy
I think #3 and #4 are Kareem and Magic in some order. I have a very clear top 4. #5 is where I am not sure where to go, but lean Russell.
Frostillicus
Footballguy
My son, who is 13 but VERY confident that he knows the NBA, always said it was Jordan at 1 and Kareem at 2 until Lebron beat kareem's scoring record, and which point he swapped Kareem to 3 and Lebron to 2.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
I've got the one that dominates their match-ups.
Jayrod
Footballguy
I'm a notorious Magic "hater". I always put him after Bird because in their prime Bird was better and Magic benefitted from playing with Kareem.
Wikkid strongly disagreed as Magic was his all time "choosies" #1 and believed he resurrected Kareem's career.
And now I miss wikkid again.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
blows out
PIK95
Footballguy
Same with Bird vs. Jordan fwiw.
PIK95
Footballguy
Magic is really underrated these days. McHale and Dennis Johnson were top fifty players that Bird had rolling on his side. Bird vs. Magic is always a hard one also imo.I'm a notorious Magic "hater". I always put him after Bird because in their prime Bird was better and Magic benefitted from playing with Kareem.
Wikkid strongly disagreed as Magic was his all time "choosies" #1 and believed he resurrected Kareem's career.
And now I miss wikkid again.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Their primes did not really overlap and Jordan has several clear advantages over Bird all-time.
PIK95
Footballguy
And the league whistle advantage. Can't forget that.
mr. furley
Footballguy
maybe you've never heard of Brett Favre, i dunno.
jm192
Footballguy
Kareem.
Was between he and Russell. Both guys with at least 5 MVPs and at least 6 Championships.
Kareem had 1 more MVP--individual accolade, whereas Russell had more rings--team accolade.
Kareem ranks 2nd all time in scoring and 3rd all time in rebounding. Russell is 2nd all time in rebounding, but waaaaaaaay down the scoring list.
Was between he and Russell. Both guys with at least 5 MVPs and at least 6 Championships.
Kareem had 1 more MVP--individual accolade, whereas Russell had more rings--team accolade.
Kareem ranks 2nd all time in scoring and 3rd all time in rebounding. Russell is 2nd all time in rebounding, but waaaaaaaay down the scoring list.
kutta
Footballguy
I was a huge Magic fan in the 80’s. And I’m also from Detroit so I love the 80’s Pistons, and moved to Phoenix so I hate the Lakers.
But if I was drafting a team today and had the first pick, I’d pick Magic. I’m not saying he’s necessarily the best player ever, but if I could only watch one player play, I’d pick him.
But if I was drafting a team today and had the first pick, I’d pick Magic. I’m not saying he’s necessarily the best player ever, but if I could only watch one player play, I’d pick him.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
I take Kareem, shaq and magic ahead of lebron
rockaction
Footballguy
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dickey moe
Fingerpicker
Probably Kareem or Magic. Crazy they were on the same team together for almost 15 years.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I grew up as a massive massive fan of the Celtics. Bird was the closest thing to a god for me as a kid but I still voted for Magic here.
Had the question been differently phrased as who had the best three year span, then I would have changed it to Bird. Bird's run from 84-86 was as good a three year run as any player in history. But his body broke down too quickly to sustain the elite level that the other greats had for much longer periods.
Had the question been differently phrased as who had the best three year span, then I would have changed it to Bird. Bird's run from 84-86 was as good a three year run as any player in history. But his body broke down too quickly to sustain the elite level that the other greats had for much longer periods.
Juxtatarot
Footballguy
I don’t understand why we’re assuming Anthony Edwards isn’t in the top two.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
But that didn’t happen UNTIL he was great.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Yeah the Celtics never got calls.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Nope. Just ask the Boston homers.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
I have Wilt #3. The further away we get from his era the less he’s appreciated but he was dominant.
HellToupee
Footballguy
Not from my perspective. Seemed like the league was against them
HellToupee
Footballguy
I think you have to rank by era
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