Pierce and KG vs the 50 greatest players

[rutzan]

I know some may want to add some more or different names but this is as good a place to start as any

50 Greatest Players in NBA History Selected in 1996

8 players played 18 seasons or more
17 players played 15 seasons or more
33 players played 14 seasons or less

Paul Pierce / 15 yrs
15th yr / 18.5 pts / 6.3 reb / 4.5 asst

Kevin Garnett / 18 yrs
15th yr / 14.3 pts / 7.3 reb / 2.7 asst
18th yr / 15.1 pts / 7.7 reb / 2.3 asst

Kareem Abdul Jabbar / 20 yrs
15th yr / 21.5 pts / 7.3 reb / 2.6 asst
18th yr / 17.5 pts / 6.7 reb / 2.6 asst

Charles Barkley / 16 yrs
15th yr / 14.5 pts / 10.5 reb / 3.2 asst

Clyde Drexler / 15 yrs
15th yr / 18.4 pts / 4.9 reb / 5.5 asst

Patrick Ewing / 17 yrs
15th yr / 15 pts / 9.7 reb / 0.9 asst

Hal Greer / 15 yrs
15th yr / 5.6 pts / 2.8 reb / 2.9 asst

John Havlicek / 16 yrs
15th yr / 17.7 pts / 4.8 reb / 5.1 asst

Elvin Hayes / 16 yrs
15th yr / 12.9 pts / 7.6 reb / 2.0 asst

Michael Jordan / 15 yrs
15th yr / 20 pts / 6.1 reb / 3.8 asst

Karl Malone / 19 yrs
15th yr / 25.5 pts / 9.5 reb / 3.7 asst
18th yr / 20.6 / 7.8 reb / 4.7 asst

Moses Malone / 21 yrs
15th yr / 20.2 pts / 11.8 reb / 1.4 asst
18th yr / 15.6 pts / 9.1 reb / 1.1 asst

Shaquille O’Neil / 19 yrs
15th yr / 14.2 pts / 7.8 reb / 1.4 asst
18th yr / 12.0 pts / 6.7 reb / 0.9 asst

Hakeem Olajuwon / 18 yrs
15th yr / 18.9 pts / 9.6 reb / 1.8 asst
18th yr / 7.1 pts / 6.0 reb / 1.1 asst

Robert Parish / 21 yrs
15th yr / 14.9 pts / 10.6 reb / 0.8 assts
18th yr / 11.7 pts / 7.3 reb / 1.1 asst

Scottie Pippen / 18 yrs
15th yr / 11.3 pts / 5.2 reb / 4.6 asst
18th yr / 5.9 pts / 3.0 reb / 2.2 asst

Dolph Schayes / 15 yrs
15th yr / 5.6 pts / 4.6 reb / 2.0 asst

John Stockton / 19 yrs
15th yr / 11.1 pts / 2.9 reb / 7.5 asst
18th yr / 13.4 pts / 3.2 reb / 8.2 asst

Lenny Wilkens / 15 yrs
15th yr / 6.5 pts / 1.8 reb / 3.6 asst

15th Season:

5 Players scored more points than Pierce
9 players grabbed more rebounds than Pierce
5 players handed out more assists than Pierce
Only Karl Malone averaged the same or more pts and rebounds and assists as Pierce

18th Season:

Only 3 players scored more points than KG
Only 2 players grabbed more rebounds than KG
Only 3 players handed out more assists than KG
Only Karl Malone averaged the same or more pts and rebounds and assists as KG

Pierce and KG are playing in rarified air…

Pierce and KG were still the best players in any and all recent trade rumors…regardless of age…I repeat…regardless of age…

The rebuilding myth is rebuilding purgatory…

You will never be able to replace or duplicate or get equal value for Pierce or KG…

Never…ever…never…ever…

[Snakehead]

I think KG is one of the best players of all time, in the top 50 for sure.  He contributes in so many ways and is such a great defender.

He is the only player with 25,000 points, 15,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists, 1,500 blocks and 1,500 steals.  No one else even has the offensive numbers (without the 1,500 blocks and 1,5000 steals). That is amazing all around production.  Then add in the intangibles... there are few players I would rather have.

Pierce is right up there as an offensive player... tougher to say to me but I think that kind of speaks to Pierce.  He will sneak up on you with how great his play is, because of how it looks.

[wdleehi]

KG is a top 50 play.



I am not so sure about Pierce because you have to look at the other players that have played since that list was put together and add them (KG, Duncan, Lebron, Kobe...)