Greatest Player in your NBA history?

[mgent]

No such thing as "your" history - there are just facts.

1. MJ
2. Kareem abdul Jabbar
3. Magic Johnson
4. Larry Bird
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Bill Russell

Almost impossible to rank below Jordan. Wilt might need to be higher, considering how much he dominated; Same for Russell defensively.

Ouch, Russell 6th?!?! behind Wilt and Kareem, and Bird behind Magic?

Only a Laker fan.

[fairweatherfan]

In the time I've been watching basketball (1987-present)

1. Jordan
2. Bird
3. Magic
4. Shaq
5. Duncan
6. Hakeem
7. Kobe
8. KG
9. LeBron
10. K Malone/Stockton (a tie seemed appropriate)

Honorable Mention/haven't accomplished enough yet:  Barkley, Howard, Wade, Paul, Pierce, Kidd, Rodman, Durant.

[LakersFan_33]

No such thing as "your" history - there are just facts.

1. MJ
2. Kareem abdul Jabbar
3. Magic Johnson
4. Larry Bird
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Bill Russell

Almost impossible to rank below Jordan. Wilt might need to be higher, considering how much he dominated; Same for Russell defensively.

Ouch, Russell 6th?!?! behind Wilt and Kareem, and Bird behind Magic?

Only a Laker fan.

Well, Celtics fans probably do the same with their players...but you're probably right - It's hard to rank these players, and I would need to move him above Magic.

Russell was great, no doubt, but you could also make the case that his team was loaded with Hall of Fame players. As far as Russell vs Wilt, Russell was great defensively, but averaged a career 15.1 points per game, at about 44% field goal shooting. Wilt averaged a career 30.1 points per game, at 54% shooting; same amount of assists as Wilt.

[BballTim]

No such thing as "your" history - there are just facts.

  Haha. Aside from the obvious confusion between facts and opinions, "your" history means players you actually saw play. That will leave Wilt, Kareem and Russell off of a lot of lists.

1. MJ
2. Kareem abdul Jabbar
3. Magic Johnson
4. Larry Bird
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Bill Russell

Almost impossible to rank below Jordan. Wilt might need to be higher, considering how much he dominated; Same for Russell defensively.

Also, if you take into account NBA, College and High School dominance, I think you can make the argument for Kareem being the GOAT. I don't think anyone would argue that the "Sky-hook" was the most lethal and effective shot in NBA history.

  While I'd (shockingly) disagree with your order, at least you're not crazy enough to put Kobe near the top.

[pearljammer10]

In the time I've been watching basketball (1987-present)

1. Jordan
2. Bird
3. Magic
4. Shaq
5. Duncan
6. Hakeem
7. Kobe
8. KG
9. LeBron
10. K Malone/Stockton (a tie seemed appropriate)

Honorable Mention/haven't accomplished enough yet:  Barkley, Howard, Wade, Paul, Pierce, Kidd, Rodman, Durant.

My list would be similar but I was too young to watch and remember Bird and Magic so they would be off my list.

It would be hard not to give a guy like David Robinson honorable mention, as well as Iverson.

[LakersFan_33]

No such thing as "your" history - there are just facts.

  Haha. Aside from the obvious confusion between facts and opinions, "your" history means players you actually saw play. That will leave Wilt, Kareem and Russell off of a lot of lists.

1. MJ
2. Kareem abdul Jabbar
3. Magic Johnson
4. Larry Bird
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Bill Russell

Almost impossible to rank below Jordan. Wilt might need to be higher, considering how much he dominated; Same for Russell defensively.

Also, if you take into account NBA, College and High School dominance, I think you can make the argument for Kareem being the GOAT. I don't think anyone would argue that the "Sky-hook" was the most lethal and effective shot in NBA history.

  While I'd (shockingly) disagree with your order, at least you're not crazy enough to put Kobe near the top.

Here is my revised list.

1. MJ
2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
3. Wilt
4. Russell
5. Magic
6. Bird

Wilt and Russell is actually a wash to me right now, so you can interchange them. I can't deny him his accomplishments, but I really like Wilt's individual stats and contributions as compared to Russell's.

[Surferdad]

The easier questioN for me is:  What was the greatest player you NEVER saw.  There's only one answer...

BILL RUSSELL

[indeedproceed]

Guys I actually watched:

Best and most memorable player: Jordan
Best and most memorable defender: Ben Wallace
Best and most memorable scorer: Tracy McGrady (whatever.)
Best and most memorable socks: Keith Van Horn

By position, in my head movies of things I remember in my lifetime:

PG: Gary Payton
SG: MIchael Jordan
SF: LeBron James (whatever, its fact at this point.)
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Shaq

[BballTim]

Best and most memorable socks: Keith Van Horn

  Was Korver in the running?

[Donoghus]

Best and most memorable socks: Keith Van Horn

  Was Korver in the running?

I was always partial to Kerry Kittles myself when it came to socks.

[indeedproceed]

Best and most memorable socks: Keith Van Horn

  Was Korver in the running?

Not even close.

[BballTim]

Best and most memorable socks: Keith Van Horn

  Was Korver in the running?

Not even close.

  Haha. I knew I was missing someone, but my mind went temporarily blank.

[GreenFaith1819]

After spending the last few days in preparation for the Historical Draft, I can honestly say that as a Lifelong, Green-Blooded Green-Koolaid drinking Celtics Fan, I have at times been blinded to the fact that there are indeed other great players that don't wear Green.

I have honestly not reviewed quite as much footage about Kareem and Magic before the end of last week - but they were certainly great players.

My initial pick on page 1 here stands, though. It is MJ.

[Eja117]

I'd probably take Grant Hill pre-injury over Lebron any day of the week.  Lebron is one of those actors that has very little talent that keeps getting awesome parts for no good reason and all Hollywood loves her. He's basically Angelina Jolie.    And you're just standing there like "But she's not that good an actress. Have you actually watched her movies?"

[PortCelt]

Russell.  He has no peers in any era.

Second that motion