Bird-Magic-Jordan

[TheReaLPuba]

Can I ask a question to all the older fellows out there: Why is it never "Bird-Magic-Kareem-Jordan"? Why does the NBA all time leading scorer and six time MVP never get mentioned with these three?

Very simple actually.

Basketball (NBA) was at it's all-time peak in popularity during the Magic/Bird/Jordan eras. Kareem was definitely still a great player but he was the "elder-statesman" and Magic was the young superstar leading his team to a Championship as a rookie.

Plus fans can just relate more to Magic/Bird/Jordan I mean who really wants to master the "sky hook" when you can drain a 3 at the buzzer, make a no-look pass for a dunk, or do a cross-over followed by an air-reverse in between 3 defenders? 

[KungPoweChicken]

This poster has got to be kidding me. Kobe could not hold Jordans jock strap when Michael was 40 years old and playing for the Wizards.

Jordan was the only Washington player to play in all 82 games, starting in 67 of them. He averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.[1] He also shot 45% from the field, and 82% from the free throw line.[1] Even though he turned 40 during the season, he scored 20 or more points 42 times, 30 or more points nine times, and 40 or more points three times.[17] On February 21, 2003, Jordan became the first 40-year-old to tally 43 points in an NBA game.


Jordan was such a good player, he could comeback again, and mop the floor with 70% of the NBA.





After Jordan scored a playoff record 63 points against the Boston Celtics in 1986, Celtics star Larry Bird described him as "God disguised as Michael Jordan."[20]

[JBcat]

I wasn't comparing teams, just players. SO I'm talking about one on one matchups, still I don't think DJ on LeBron is that good an option either. As to who would stop Barkley, Are we talking defenders in the post Michael era?

Duncan
KG
Shaq
Rasheed
Alonzo
Bosh, Howard and Chandler can stay with him.

However basketball is a team game and in a realistic world I don't think a coach would match up Larry against Lebron if he has better defender out there and he would want to save the fouls on Larry.  Lebron is a once in a lifetime type of basketball player so it's not like there are multiple Lebrons out there in the league today.   Larry would have no problem dominating the league right now. 

As far Barkley is concerned he is one of the few power forwards who could take a rebound go coast to coast and pass everyone for a slam on the other end.  No center could stay with him.  He would just take a bigger guy outside as he had very good range or simply go by him.  I think on your list only a true power forward who is nimble, quick, and has speed could slow him down a little so only KG, maybe Bosh (who btw impressed me with his defense in the Olympics).  I think the others would have a tough time with Barkley's all around game. 

[BballTim]

see i've also never seen these players play and my issue is... sure bird made a ton of clutch plays, sure he had some  magical moments, but like a lot of people said, for every game winning shot he made, he missed one too. i mean if you put together a highlight reel of pierce, he would look like a god too. was bird really magical all the time? i say no because it is impossible to do so. therefore, aren't we just over rating past players? it's very common that player's reputations precede them.

  For one thing, Bird finished 4th in mvp voting as a rookie. He followed that with 2nd place finishes 3 years in a row followed by winning it 3 years in a row. There are very few players in the history of the league that have finished top 2 6 years in a row. He definitely lived up to the hype.

[idrinkdetergent]

Jordan never would have let a 24 pt lead slip in the finals on his home floor, thats where the Kobe-Jordan comparison should end. As for transporting 80s players and such into todays game, they still would be dominate. And you can't just match each player against another it's not like they would go out there one night and play one on one, bird wouldnt be gaurding Labron but you can bet he would be ready to steal any pass he tried to make.

[BballTim]

Can I ask a question to all the older fellows out there: Why is it never "Bird-Magic-Kareem-Jordan"? Why does the NBA all time leading scorer and six time MVP never get mentioned with these three?

I think that can be chalked up to Kareem's longevity.  Though he was still dominant in the 80's those Lakers teams were basically considered Magic's.  Kareem's dominance in the 70's were more credited to his own doing.  Not necessarily fair, but that's my perspective on why he's not mentioned in the same breath.

I guess thats fair, I'm just not sure why, when discussing the greatest of all time, Kareem's name isn't brought up more. It seems like the consensus top five, in any order, Michael/Magic/Larry/Russell/Wilt. I don't know why Kareem doesn't crack that top 5.

I think the OPs point was not about Bird, Magic & Jordan necessarily being the 3 best ever, but how stars from their era would stack up today. 

You're right though, Kareem does get the shaft in the debates about all time greats.  Especially if you throw in his Lew Alcindor UCLA days.

I think of all the greats of yesteryear, you could plug Kareem into the modern NBA and he'd be the closest to a dominant player. Larry might have issues guarding the stronger small forwards ( like LeBron). How would Magic re act to a zone? Russell never had to box-out Shaq for a rebound, can he move a man that big? What about Dwight Howard? I know it might be blasphemous to say on this sight, but I think Wilt and Kareem would have the easiest time adapting to today's NBA.

  I don't know about Kareem. He had an unstoppable shot but I don't think it would be as effective in today's game against today's defenses.

[dark_lord]

I think they'd be the three best players in the league. 

co-sign

[RebusRankin]

My point on Russell was that he guarded and defended centers who had similar size to today's players. Thus I believe he could guard Shaq.

[idrinkdetergent]

you have to take into account that russell was smart and fast. shaq would have trouble keeping tabs on him. and rebounds arn't won on strength alone, if russell could tip the ball you think shaq could possibly get to it before bill did? I don't think so.

[Hoops]

blame it on my youth then. it's just hard to believe how great someone is when all you really do is hear how great they are. anyways, i take all of these poster's words but still hard to be to believe before i can truly see for myself, which i can't.

This comment makes me profoundly grateful that I got to watch Bird play (and Magic and Jordan). I just assumed that everyone would understand Bird's greatness. I now feel sorry for those who were too young to see him play. There's a reason they call him Larry Legend...

[celt4ever]

14 year old mmmmmm let's put this way jordan a 10, kobe 8--- magic 10 paul 7----- bird 10, dirk 7
i am 37 yers old i seen all this palyers and that's the way it is. by the way nobody will beat the first nba dream team

[Redz]

There's a reason they call him Larry Legend...

Fair enough.  So why do they call Daniel Gibson "Boobie" then?

[Celtics17]

Comparing players of different generations is always difficult. In part its due the game being different and in part due to our memories fading. I think its Bob Ryan I am quoting here but its been long enough ago that I am not sure. When the Bulls won their 6th NBA title he had an article that compared those Bulls to the Russell, Cousty etc. Celtics and the article said more or less this.

     "You hear the word athleticism used so much today that you would think the players of the past could not even run or jump. Well, hear this and hear it well, Bill Russell would come out of nowhere to block a Michael Jordan shot just as easily and just as often as he Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and other greats of the past who could step out of there era right into todays game and be just as dominant".

Now, I probably have lost part of that over the years but you get the gyst of it. Please allow me to also set you straight in another area. Lebron, DWade and Kobe are not wannabes by any stretch of the imagination. If Lebron ever learns to take over games in crunch time, and I think he will, he may go down as a better player then MJ. And, as for Larry and Michael, they are on my starting ALL TIME team with MJ, Bill, and Wilt.

[KCattheStripe]

you have to take into account that russell was smart and fast. shaq would have trouble keeping tabs on him. and rebounds arn't won on strength alone, if russell could tip the ball you think shaq could possibly get to it before bill did? I don't think so.

I think you under estimate how fast Shaq was in  his prime. He wasn't just strength, man was quick and had great instincts for the ball.

[KCattheStripe]

Plus fans can just relate more to Magic/Bird/Jordan I mean who really wants to master the "sky hook" when you can drain a 3 at the buzzer, make a no-look pass for a dunk, or do a cross-over followed by an air-reverse in between 3 defenders? 

Or score more points than anyone in NBA history.