Your NBA top 10 all time

[slamtheking]

Russell
Wilt
Bird
Magic
Jordan
Oscar
Kareem
West
Havlicek  (He deserves it based on the ability to endure, titles and scoring)
Cousy   (I included Cousy because he defined greatness in a PG)

I have no problem leaving off any of the current players because the league is too watered down in talent and the basic rules to haphazardly applied to consider them truly great related to the others.  I'd include quite a few in the top 20, but not the top 10. 

[Eja117]

gonna try something for the heck of it


1 Russell   11 rings, 2 college rings, Olympic gold medal.....KC Jones won rings with him in all three venues
2 Magic   5 rings, one NCAA ring, one Olympic gold
3 Bird 3 rings. Lost to Magic in NCAA championship game but did win college player of year. One Olympic gold
4 MJ   6 rings, 1 NCAA ring, 2 Olympic golds
5 Kareem 6 rings, 3 college rings, boycotted 1968 Olympics which USA won
6 Duncan
7 Shaq
8 Wilt
9 Cousy
10 Oscar R


Intermission...I'm not done yet, but I think I'm going to move Kareem ahead of MJ.

[KG Living Legend]

 Magic
 Bill
 MJ
 Bird
 Potapenko
 Declercq
 Chris Herren
 Travis Knight
 Kedrick Brown

 Thats' the top nine ever Period.

 I can't even think of a tenth, those guys are in a class by themselves.

[RebusRankin]

I think there are 3 worthy debates here:

Wilt vs. Russell
Gotta go with Russ, titles mean more than stats.  Speaking of stats, didn't realize Wilt only won 2 rings...

Shaq vs. Kobe
Even though the Diesel carried LA for 3, Kobe's won more and can shoot the ball outside of 6 feet.  More skill, more rings, better player.

Magic vs. Bird
This will get me flogged but... MJ has 5 rings to Larry's 3, and his sub-at-center-to-win-finals-as-rookie thing is unparalleled

Jordan
Russell
Magic
Bird
Kareem
Kobe
Wilt
Big O
Duncan
Hakeem

and I got Shaq at 11, only because of how Hakeem abused him in on his way to back to back titles.

on your Magic vs Bird argument - using rings is a more than a tad slanted towards LA.  Magic had by far the better supporting cast for the bulk of their careers and Magic didn't have to contend with a major opponent until the finals whereas the C's had to go through the Sixers for Bird's first 4 years.

Magic's supporting cast included 3 #1 overall picks in Kareem, Worthy and Mychal Thompson.  He also had the following support players, Jamal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, Norm Nixon and Bob Mcadoo (#2 and after he got his act together after screwing the C's).  Bird had a less impressive supporting cast (regardless of my affection for the players, with the exception of Mchale, they really weren't on the same level on paper).

Let's not forget Milwaukee 79-86, Detroit 86-92

[slamtheking]

I think there are 3 worthy debates here:

Wilt vs. Russell
Gotta go with Russ, titles mean more than stats.  Speaking of stats, didn't realize Wilt only won 2 rings...

Shaq vs. Kobe
Even though the Diesel carried LA for 3, Kobe's won more and can shoot the ball outside of 6 feet.  More skill, more rings, better player.

Magic vs. Bird
This will get me flogged but... MJ has 5 rings to Larry's 3, and his sub-at-center-to-win-finals-as-rookie thing is unparalleled

Jordan
Russell
Magic
Bird
Kareem
Kobe
Wilt
Big O
Duncan
Hakeem

and I got Shaq at 11, only because of how Hakeem abused him in on his way to back to back titles.

on your Magic vs Bird argument - using rings is a more than a tad slanted towards LA.  Magic had by far the better supporting cast for the bulk of their careers and Magic didn't have to contend with a major opponent until the finals whereas the C's had to go through the Sixers for Bird's first 4 years.

Magic's supporting cast included 3 #1 overall picks in Kareem, Worthy and Mychal Thompson.  He also had the following support players, Jamal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, Norm Nixon and Bob Mcadoo (#2 and after he got his act together after screwing the C's).  Bird had a less impressive supporting cast (regardless of my affection for the players, with the exception of Mchale, they really weren't on the same level on paper).

Let's not forget Milwaukee 79-86, Detroit 86-92

TP to you for my oversight on those teams.  Milwaukee was another tough out (including the sweep in '83 when Tiny was out injured) and the Detroit scumbags took a toll on them physically. 

LA only missed the finals twice in Magic's first 9 years.  They were disgustingly talented but they got to the finals that often strictly due to the lack of competition in the West.  Throw in the fact that freak loss in '81 to Malone's Rockets and the lucky Hakeem/Sampson team in '86 and they really should have run it 9 straight years.

[tenn_smoothie]

I think there are 3 worthy debates here:

Wilt vs. Russell
Gotta go with Russ, titles mean more than stats.  Speaking of stats, didn't realize Wilt only won 2 rings...

Shaq vs. Kobe
Even though the Diesel carried LA for 3, Kobe's won more and can shoot the ball outside of 6 feet.  More skill, more rings, better player.

Magic vs. Bird
This will get me flogged but... MJ has 5 rings to Larry's 3, and his sub-at-center-to-win-finals-as-rookie thing is unparalleled

Jordan
Russell
Magic
Bird
Kareem
Kobe
Wilt
Big O
Duncan
Hakeem

and I got Shaq at 11, only because of how Hakeem abused him in on his way to back to back titles.

on your Magic vs Bird argument - using rings is a more than a tad slanted towards LA.  Magic had by far the better supporting cast for the bulk of their careers and Magic didn't have to contend with a major opponent until the finals whereas the C's had to go through the Sixers for Bird's first 4 years.

Magic's supporting cast included 3 #1 overall picks in Kareem, Worthy and Mychal Thompson.  He also had the following support players, Jamal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, Norm Nixon and Bob Mcadoo (#2 and after he got his act together after screwing the C's).  Bird had a less impressive supporting cast (regardless of my affection for the players, with the exception of Mchale, they really weren't on the same level on paper).

Let's not forget Milwaukee 79-86, Detroit 86-92

TP to you for my oversight on those teams.  Milwaukee was another tough out (including the sweep in '83 when Tiny was out injured) and the Detroit scumbags took a toll on them physically. 

LA only missed the finals twice in Magic's first 9 years.  They were disgustingly talented but they got to the finals that often strictly due to the lack of competition in the West.  Throw in the fact that freak loss in '81 to Malone's Rockets and the lucky Hakeem/Sampson team in '86 and they really should have run it 9 straight years.

really interesting thoughts and comments in the above posts.

i, too, was always a little in awe of Johnson's rookie finals game 6 performance, and it is still impressive to this day. then you have to remember what an absolute animal Bird was on the boards in the '81 finals against Moses Malone - actually, his rebounding in that series against one of the top 5 rebounding centers of all time was even more impressive than Johnson's game 6. i don't care for the way people throw the word 'awesome' around, but Bird's rebounding in that series against Malone was plain awesome.

also, i have always been annoyed with those 1980's Lakers because of their "ability" to not make the finals when they were not at their best (especially 1986), thus avoiding more finals' losses to Boston. the one season they did meet us head-on, of course, we took their best shot for three games before taking over the series in game 4.

[Eja117]

gonna try something for the heck of it


1 Russell   11 rings, 2 college rings, Olympic gold medal.....KC Jones won rings with him in all three venues
2 Magic   5 rings, one NCAA ring, one Olympic gold
3 Bird 3 rings. Lost to Magic in NCAA championship game but did win college player of year. One Olympic gold
4 MJ   6 rings, 1 NCAA ring, 2 Olympic golds
5 Kareem 6 rings, 3 college rings, boycotted 1968 Olympics which USA won
6 Duncan 4 rings, Olympic bronze
7 Shaq 4 rings, 1 Olympic gold
8 Wilt 4 rings, 1 year with Glodbetrotters
9 Cousy 6 rings, 1 college ring
10 Oscar R 1 ring, 1 Olympic gold




Hmmm. Shaq, Duncan, Wilt, Bird, and Oscar are the only ones without college rings

Kareem, Duncan, and Cousy are the only ones without Olympic gold

So Duncan is the only one with neither Olympic gold nor a college ring

hmmmm

[xmuscularghandix]

gonna try something for the heck of it


1 Russell   11 rings, 2 college rings, Olympic gold medal.....KC Jones won rings with him in all three venues
2 Magic   5 rings, one NCAA ring, one Olympic gold
3 Bird 3 rings. Lost to Magic in NCAA championship game but did win college player of year. One Olympic gold
4 MJ   6 rings, 1 NCAA ring, 2 Olympic golds
5 Kareem 6 rings, 3 college rings, boycotted 1968 Olympics which USA won
6 Duncan 4 rings, Olympic bronze
7 Shaq 4 rings, 1 Olympic gold
8 Wilt 4 rings, 1 year with Glodbetrotters
9 Cousy
10 Oscar R


Intermission...I'm not done yet, but I think I'm going to move Kareem ahead of MJ.

Oscar won 1 Ring and an Olympic Gold Medal, 1960 Summer Olympics. In the second game they beat Japan 125-66 

Big O won the 1964 MVP and was a 3 Time 1st Team All-American, and an 8 Time 1st Team All-NBA

[hardlyyardley]

Any list that excludes Oscar and West is inexcusable except for the age of the poster

Would not include Shaq in top three centers

Listing  Isaiah or Barkley, although dominating in their era is way off.

   

[tenn_smoothie]

1) Russell
2) Bird
3) Magic
4) Jabbar
5) Jordan
6) Shaq
7) Cowens
Havlicek
9) Duncan
10) Cousy

[clawlin]

my all time starting five-

C- Mark Blount
PF- 'Toine
SF- Gerald Green
SG- Ricky Davis
PG- Will Solomon.

Coming off the bench- Scali, Shelden Williams, Starbury.

How can you omit Mikki Moore?  Dude did so much in so little time.

[Redz]

I think there are 3 worthy debates here:

Wilt vs. Russell
Gotta go with Russ, titles mean more than stats.  Speaking of stats, didn't realize Wilt only won 2 rings...

Shaq vs. Kobe
Even though the Diesel carried LA for 3, Kobe's won more and can shoot the ball outside of 6 feet.  More skill, more rings, better player.

Magic vs. Bird
This will get me flogged but... MJ has 5 rings to Larry's 3, and his sub-at-center-to-win-finals-as-rookie thing is unparalleled

Jordan
Russell
Magic
Bird
Kareem
Kobe
Wilt
Big O
Duncan
Hakeem

and I got Shaq at 11, only because of how Hakeem abused him in on his way to back to back titles.

on your Magic vs Bird argument - using rings is a more than a tad slanted towards LA.  Magic had by far the better supporting cast for the bulk of their careers and Magic didn't have to contend with a major opponent until the finals whereas the C's had to go through the Sixers for Bird's first 4 years.

Magic's supporting cast included 3 #1 overall picks in Kareem, Worthy and Mychal Thompson.  He also had the following support players, Jamal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, Norm Nixon and Bob Mcadoo (#2 and after he got his act together after screwing the C's).  Bird had a less impressive supporting cast (regardless of my affection for the players, with the exception of Mchale, they really weren't on the same level on paper).

Let's not forget Milwaukee 79-86, Detroit 86-92

TP to you for my oversight on those teams.  Milwaukee was another tough out (including the sweep in '83 when Tiny was out injured) and the Detroit scumbags took a toll on them physically. 

LA only missed the finals twice in Magic's first 9 years.  They were disgustingly talented but they got to the finals that often strictly due to the lack of competition in the West.  Throw in the fact that freak loss in '81 to Malone's Rockets and the lucky Hakeem/Sampson team in '86 and they really should have run it 9 straight years.

really interesting thoughts and comments in the above posts.

i, too, was always a little in awe of Johnson's rookie finals game 6 performance, and it is still impressive to this day. then you have to remember what an absolute animal Bird was on the boards in the '81 finals against Moses Malone - actually, his rebounding in that series against one of the top 5 rebounding centers of all time was even more impressive than Johnson's game 6. i don't care for the way people throw the word 'awesome' around, but Bird's rebounding in that series against Malone was plain awesome.

also, i have always been annoyed with those 1980's Lakers because of their "ability" to not make the finals when they were not at their best (especially 1986), thus avoiding more finals' losses to Boston. the one season they did meet us head-on, of course, we took their best shot for three games before taking over the series in game 4.

Distinctly remember being really angry when Ralph Sampson hit a buzzer beater to eliminate the Lakers in `86.  Always thought the Lakers were chicken poop for not making it to the Finals so we could give them a whipping.

Tommy on national TV!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXUmVcXgByY

[wahz]

Im completely horrified that you guys think Wilt won 4 NBA titles.

He won just two NBA titles. he may have won 20000 women but we aren't counting that, as a title or two, right?

Nevertheless a top ten

1. Magic Johnson. Jordan couldn't carry his or Birds jockstrap until they aged. Stern has done a great job of changing history
2. Larry Bird.
3. Bill Russell. not nearly the all around player Bird/Magic would be but was the greatest winner of all time in any sport
4. Kareem. As a pure center, probably the greatest.
5. Oscar. Think Chris Paul only bigger, stronger and fatter. Yeah fatter but only when he was older
6. Jerry West. As good anyone but feels about like the right spot. He was MARGINALLY maybe not quite as great as Oscar. Magic bigger stronger fast and probably more clutch
7. Wilt. Marginally not as otherworldy as Kareem and of course Bill's team would dominate his

It gets tougher now


8. Jordan. the superstar of the wwe era of the nba, which imo will end within 5 years. A truly great player, but had no juggernaut teams to beat at their peak and his title count has prejudiced this generations evaluation of him. For 1/2 a decade couldn't do anything to move his teams past Bird, or Magic, and indeed was considered a failure for awhile as LeRoid is now

9. Elvin Hayes. Really almost forgotten as a guy who usually had no help and was only a one time champion, but for fans of 40 years or more they will recall he was an unstoppable offensive force. He made guys like Cowens or Silas look silly, bad. Too big, too quick, too smooth, too many moves, too great of a shooter for a big man. Imo, for you young folks he would have outplayed Duncan very badly

10. Hakeem, Havlicek, Kobe, Duncan, KG and thirty other guys ...

I have to pick Hakeem as tenth. He would have been too much for Bob Pettit, and was better than Duncan clearly and frankly had the killer instinct KG doesn't have

[Eja117]

When you say the WWE era do you mean the results were predetermined or they went for style over substance? Or did I miss completely what you meant?

[zerophase]

1. Jordan
2. Bird
3. Magic
4. Russell
5. Wilt
6. Kareem
7. Shaq
8. Duncan
9. Hakeem
10. Kobe