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.
World B. Free
Which player was the only one for which the rules of the game were changed to deal with his dominance? Hint, it wasn’t Michael Jordan.
In Game 6 of the 1980 NBA finals, Magic Johnson started at CENTER in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ... and dominated the game with 42 points and 15 rebounds. That's unbelievable.
Metta World Peace. LOL.
Damn, you beat me to it! That being said, I think these sort of ratings are silly. No way you can really factor in so many variables.
Pistol Pete was not a team player. The Hawks eventually got rid on him. The Jazz got a new owner who would not allow him to play. Pistol Pete was an exciting player in college. In the NBA he scored lots of points and his teams lost a lot of games.
Affectionately known as
Set Me Free
A healthy Jerry West would be in Tier 2. He excelled in many areas they didn’t keep stats for. Steals, for instance. He was by far the steal champion of all time.
Charles Barkley could have been in Tier 2 if he had possessed MJ’s work habits. MJ would show up early to practice his jump shot; Barkley would party all night and show up with a hangover. To a CHAMPIONSHIP game!
LeBron is at least the equal of Jordan, if not superior. He will surpass Jordan in virtually every statistical category, both regular season and in the playoffs. Individually, he is the GOAT, but Bill Russell remains the GOAT in a team sport.
Bob Cousy Passing Highlights
https://youtu.be/Bbq_w634tbY
Dr J was Michael Jordan before there was a Michael Jordan
Concur.
My favorite all-time player was Pete Maravich.
They did change the rules because of Jordan. You can now palm the ball on the dribble and take four steps and not be called for traveling. :>)
If Arvydas Sabonis had played in the NBA in his prime, he would have won several MVPs.
“Bill Russell”
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The best players have to be all time greats on defense.
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John Wooden called Russell “the greatest defensive man I’ve ever seen”.
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averaged 22.5 rebounds per game, 51 rebounds in a single game, 32 rebounds in a half
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11 championships in 13 seasons........Kareem and Jordan have 6, Wilt has 2
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No other player ever had as much influence over whether a team won games and championships.
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Is there a better definition for the Greatest of All Time???
I concur with your thought process. What players had such an impact the rules were changed?
Baseball: Babe Ruth...balls bouncing over the fence became ground rule doubles; fly outs advancing runners to second or third no longer sac flies (not to mention Ruth hit more home runs than some teams).
Basketball: Wilt Chamberlain...lane width at least doubled, couldn’t follow your free throw shot until it hit the rim.
Hockey: tie...Gretzky...no 4 on 4, Orr oh, defensemen can play offense and still beat you up...
The very best players are those who made their teams the very best teams.
How could there be any other criteria?
Magic Johnson. Larry Bird. Jerry West.
I’ve never bought an NBA video game.
However, if one was produced that could allow players to create their dream team, I could be convinced.
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