Posted on 02/22/2020 7:52:14 AM PST by Raymond Pamintuan
I've been watching some NBA games on YouTube and decided to update my ranking of the greatest basketball players of all time. The variables are player statistics, the impact the player had on his team, the strength of the opposition, and the strength of the player’s team (such as whether he had someone to elevate his game).
I use a tier system, where arguments can be made for any particular ranking for players within the same tier.
In my opinion, Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time (the GOAT). There’s never been anyone who dominated both ends in a manner he did. He went to the finals six times and won every time – his dominance was so overwhelming, even when he was sick as a dog (such as during the match against the Jazz).
(Note: * Active player as of Jan 1, 2020)
TIER 1: MICHAEL JORDAN
TIER 2 (in no particular order): LARRY BIRD MAGIC JOHNSON KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR KOBE BRYANT WILT CHAMBERLAIN WILL RUSSELL LEBRON JAMES*
TIER 3 (in no particular order): JOHN STOCKTON CHARLES BARKLEY SHAQUILLE O’NEIL KARL MALONE SCOTTIE PIPPEN HAKEEM OLAJUWON TIM DUNCAN JERRY WEST ELGIN BAYLOR JULIUS ERVING OSCAR ROBERTSON BOB PETTIT
TIER 4 (in no particular order): ALLEN IVERSON REGGIE MILLER RUSSELL WESTBROOK* BOB COUSY PATRICK EWING STEPHEN CURRY* KEVIN DURANT* DWYANE WADE RICK BARRY KEVIN MCHALE JASON KIDD MOSES MALONE KEVIN GARNETT STEVE NASH DAVID ROBINSON ISIAH THOMAS GEORGE MIKAN JOHN HAVLICEK PAUL PIERCE DIRK NOWITZKI
Notes: 1. Larry Bird hasn't been given the respect he deserves. There is no doubt that he was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was definitely its greatest trash talker. The thing that upset his opponents the most was that he’ll tell them what he’s going to do and then he’ll do it, and it didn’t matter if he was double-teamed, he’ll sink the basket. If I were to choose between Bird and LeBron, I’ll choose Bird every time - he NEVER slacked off, he never choked during critical games, and he never left openings in his team’s defense, unlike LeBron.
2. I put James LeBron into Tier 2 due to his dominance and statistics. But he can NEVER compare to Michael Jordan, who is the GOAT because of LeBron's pattern of choking in critical games. He LOST six NBA championships, with teams designed around him. Think about that for a moment. The Chicago Bulls weren't built around MJ - he was its leader and greatest player, but he was just part of a whole.
3. I put my favorite player, Charles Barkley, in Tier 3 despite he probably should be in Tier 2. If he had a Dennis Rodman or John Stockton, he definitely would've made the transition.
4. John Stockton is the NBA’s all-time assist and steals leader. By a wide margin – over 700 more than MJ and over 1100 more than Olajuwon. Think about that. He had the worst luck to be stuck playing for the Utah Jazz his entire career with only Karl Malone as a top player. If Stockton played for the Lakers, Bulls, or Celtics, he would’ve moved up to Tier 2.
5. Kobe v. Shaq. While Shaq was an absolute monster and dominated the league, I honestly couldn't see putting him into Tier 2 because of his inconsistencies. I put Kobe into Tier 2 simply because of his drive for excellence - he never stopped trying to be better. One’s a shotgun, the other’s a .338.
It turns out it’s a miracle Maravich was able to make it to 40. He was born without the left coronary artery.
The lack of titles hurts Chamberlain’s case though. I’d put him at #3 behind Russell and Jordan.
What about John Stockton? If he played for the Celtics or Lakers, he’d be way up there.
You could put Elgin Baylor on any top-five team and he’d never be the first one to sit down.
I put Oscar Robertson in Tier 3, together with Shaq, Olajuwon, and Dr. J.
I have Rick Barry in Tier 4, in the same level as Westbrook, Iverson, and Stephen Curry. Nice company!
I wonder where Luka Doncic will be when it’s all said and done. He could be one of the greats, and he’s still only 20.
No kidding. I was shocked to hear of him dropping dead from a church basketball game.
Well, not that shocked - church basketball in my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is notoriously violent.
I agree. See my Note 4.
Nice summary of Wilt’s career. Amazin’
Reportedly right before he collapsed, his last words were, “I feel just great”.
People with his condition generally didn’t make it to 20.
He’s definitely one of the best. I have him in Tier-3, together with Shaq, Jerry West, and Dr. J.
Kobe is tier 3. (Just lucky...until he wasn’t.)
It’s easy to forget what a great defensive player Jordan was.
Or younger.
I was playing church basketball when the news of his death came out, which is why I remember.
Man, that was over 30 years ago.
I cried when I heard he died. He was so fun to watch. I would try to imitate his moves......poorly.
And he was a spear man of renown
I’m riding with you
Wilt
My original list had Kobe in Tier-3, but as time went on and I can look back at his career, I’ve concluded he deserves to be in Tier-2, with the other immortals.
As for me, I tried imitating Kareem’s skyhook.
I was awful at it.
Jordan was out of this world.
I actually bought a year subscription to Sports Illustrated just to get the VHS of MJ’s moves.
The Swimsuit Edition never even entered my mind. Honest!
LOL, Barry should be in just for his Set Shot Free-Throws.
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