Greatest Player in your NBA history?

[BballTim]

  Larry Bird.

This is the greatest sports frustration to me.

Wish I was born 2-3 years earlier so I could've actually been able to see Bird's prime. 

With the exception of Magic's hookshot in the '87 Finals, my earliest recollections of Bird start around '88 or '89.  So his body was already breaking down on him and he wasn't quite at the MVP level he once had been.

I saw Jordan's prime so give him the nod but certainly wish I was a couple of years older to remember Bird's.

  Just to appreciate how good he was, though, think about his back and heel injuries, and try and think of another player that, with those limitations, could average 20/10/7. Hint: they don't exist.

Even so, I have to go with my own two eyes here and give Jordan the nod. 

He was just so cut-throat and head and shoulders above the other 9 guys on the court and for an extended time too.

  I wouldn't be easily moved from my choice either.

[Mr October]

In 1986 Bird was at the peak of his game... In 1986 he faced a yet to reach his prime Jordan who dropped 63 on the C's in the playoffs.

"I didn't think anyone was capable of doing what Michael has done to us," marveled Celtics ace Larry Bird. "He is the most exciting, awesome player in the game today. I think it's just God disguised as Michael Jordan."

This thread has me watching Jordan highlights now.... 

[dark_lord]

jordan by a MILE!

[barefacedmonk]

[feckless]

Bill Russell---changed the game -  only one man has won or ever will win 11 out 13,  that's 11 championships out of 13 years played.  Plus 2 NCAA championships and Olympic Gold.

[nickagneta]

Bird, Magic and Jordan are all about equal in my mind so they are the greatest in my NBA history.

Never saw Chamberlain or Russell play.

Is there really anyone else in the discussion after those 5.



Sidenote: if this history stuff interests you play in the CB Historical Draft

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=47868.0

[csfansince60s]

Bird, Magic and Jordan are all about equal in my mind so they are the greatest in my NBA history.

Never saw Chamberlain or Russell play.

Is there really anyone else in the discussion after those 5.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=47868.0

I agree. Those are my 5, with my favorite (Bird) being #5.

Russell and Chamberlain's battles were titanic, both players being immense in so many ways. I have them tied for 2nd, with a slight edge going to Wilt, although for a one game, winner take all forever, I take Russell (ferocious).

Jordan was #4 mainly because he didn't have the competition (both team-wise and individually)that Bird/Magic and Russell/Chamberlain had.

Johnson is #1 to me, despite the nightmares of that baby hookshot in the paint that haunt me forever. I was in the balcony overhang in the corner near the Cs bench, Sec 77, Row D, seat #1 (my season's for 11 years, '79-90) and it happened right in front of my face, not 90 feet away. Made me Sick.

What makes it Johnson for me isn't the 5 rings or the numerous MVPs and All-Star appearances that he had. It was something he did in his rookie season. I know it seems pretty simplistic and almost shallow to distill someone's legacy and labeling a player the "best" in basketball history to one game, but in this case I think it is justified.

In his rookie season in game 6 of the NBA Finals against the 6'ers in Philly with the Lakers up 3 games to 2 and Jabbar back in LA injured, Johnson played the 5 vs Caldwell Jones and Dawkins and every other position (well, maybe not the 2) at one time or other during that game and dominated the game with some incredible numbers and was the finals MVP. He did this AS A ROOKIE.

Staggering!!

[2short]

larry bird & magic johnson tie
michael jordan
akeem
last one tough....

[CelticSince83]

In my lifetime?  Born in 83, it's MJ.  No one else is even close.  In my adult life i.e. post Jordan I think it is pretty close between Kobe, Duncan and LeBron.  Obviously they all have years left, albeit Duncan probably only 1 or 2, but how they finish up their careers will impact who is the greatest between those 3.  Also, if we are going to go back to the 80's and talk about Bird and Magic, Kareem should be included in this.  6 titles and 6 MVP's.  I mean he's 25 and 11 for his career, the NBA's all time leading scorer and won a title before being paired with Magic.

[Kiorrik]

I feel so commercial in saying this, but: Michael Jordan.

To me, he made it a global sport. He made it to the Dutch TV, and that's where I learned of the electrifying sport of basketball

[JBcat]

Bird's 3 year stretch in 84, 85, and 86 was unbelievable to watch.  That was my first taste of watching basketball as a young kid.  However as much as I hate to say it I'd go with Jordan.  Could have won 8 straight if he didn't take 2 years off. 

[OsirusCeltics]

In my lifetime?  Born in 83, it's MJ.  No one else is even close.  In my adult life i.e. post Jordan I think it is pretty close between Kobe, Duncan and LeBron.  Obviously they all have years left, albeit Duncan probably only 1 or 2, but how they finish up their careers will impact who is the greatest between those 3.  Also, if we are going to go back to the 80's and talk about Bird and Magic, Kareem should be included in this.  6 titles and 6 MVP's.  I mean he's 25 and 11 for his career, the NBA's all time leading scorer and won a title before being paired with Magic.

What about Shaq in the post-Jordan era?

[2short]

In my lifetime?  Born in 83, it's MJ.  No one else is even close.  In my adult life i.e. post Jordan I think it is pretty close between Kobe, Duncan and LeBron.  Obviously they all have years left, albeit Duncan probably only 1 or 2, but how they finish up their careers will impact who is the greatest between those 3.  Also, if we are going to go back to the 80's and talk about Bird and Magic, Kareem should be included in this.  6 titles and 6 MVP's.  I mean he's 25 and 11 for his career, the NBA's all time leading scorer and won a title before being paired with Magic.

kareem is automatically banned from the list for being the worst whiner ever

[csfansince60s]

 However as much as I hate to say it I'd go with Jordan.  Could have won 8 straight if he didn't take 2 years off.  

And Bird could have won 8 in the 80s if there was no Magic and vice versa.

And Russell did win 8 in a row (I think) and 11 overall with Wilt as the competition in both the East and in LA.

Jordan's Bulls teams had no strong teams to be tested against.
An old Pistons squad, an old Laker squad, Blazers, Sonics, Suns and Jazz (the only team to make it to the Finals twice against them). Not much there.

Edit: Jordan was an icon, because there was no other player to challenge him a la Bird/Magic, Wilt/Russell and no other dominant team a la Cs/Philly/Lakers in the 60s and the 80s.

He had the stage to himself because Lenny Bias died.

[JoT]

 However as much as I hate to say it I'd go with Jordan.  Could have won 8 straight if he didn't take 2 years off.  

And Bird could have won 8 in the 80s if there was no Magic and vice versa.

And Russell did win 8 in a row (I think) and 11 overall with Wilt as the competition in both the East and in LA.

Jordan's Bulls teams had no strong teams to be tested against.
An old Pistons squad, an old Laker squad, Blazers, Sonics, Suns and Jazz (the only team to make it to the Finals twice against them). Not much there.

Edit: Jordan was an icon, because there was no other player to challenge him a la Bird/Magic, Wilt/Russell and no other dominant team a la Cs/Philly/Lakers in the 60s and the 80s.

He had the stage to himself because Lenny Bias died.

I've heard that a lot and have seen videos of people saying it. I wasn't born yet and can barely remember the Jordan era of basketball, but was Len Bias that good to challenge him.