The Five Greatest Basketball Player of All-Time

[LanceyHoward]

1. Jordan
2. James
3. Abdul-Jabbar
4. Bird
5. Magic

I am picking Jordan over James because MJ was a better jump shooter and could dominate a game offensively in a way I don't think James quite does.

James is number two because no one has had his combination of size and athleticism. James is not as good a shooter as Bird but he is the best slasher in basketball history.

I am picking Abdul-Jabbar because Russell was a 44% field goal shooter and a 56% foul shooter. I just can't pick someone as limited offensively as Russell. Kareem is also five inches taller. I watched Chamberlain in the last part of his career and he was not as athletic as Abdul-Jabbar. If I had seen Wilt earlier in his career before he had some surgeries and was reportedly more athletic I might feel differently. One fact that influences my thinking is that Chamberlain and Rusell played in a time when a good big man could dominate more easily.

I picked Bird over Magic for the same reasons I picked Jordan over James. Bird could create more with his jump shot than Magic.

 

[Flip Wilson]

1. LaVar Ball
2. Eerbody else

 

[Batman]

1. Meadowlark Lemon
2. Curly Neal
3. Sweet Lou Dunbar
4. Bubblegum Tate
5. Nate Branch

They're the best. Period. Not only did they never lose a game, they fought crime, were superheroes, and even saved the universe a time or two.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

1. Jordan
2. James
3. Abdul-Jabbar
4. Bird
5. Magic

I am picking Jordan over James because MJ was a better jump shooter and could dominate a game offensively in a way I don't think James quite does.

James is number two because no one has had his combination of size and athleticism. James is not as good a shooter as Bird but he is the best slasher in basketball history.

I am picking Abdul-Jabbar because Russell was a 44% field goal shooter and a 56% foul shooter. I just can't pick someone as limited offensively as Russell. Kareem is also five inches taller. I watched Chamberlain in the last part of his career and he was not as athletic as Abdul-Jabbar. If I had seen Wilt earlier in his career before he had some surgeries and was reportedly more athletic I might feel differently. One fact that influences my thinking is that Chamberlain and Rusell played in a time when a good big man could dominate more easily.

I picked Bird over Magic for the same reasons I picked Jordan over James. Bird could create more with his jump shot than Magic.

Like your list. So tough to narrow down. Wilt, Shaq, Kobe, Russell, Dr. J. and the Big O have a case.

Finally watched all of the Lakers-Celtics 30 for 30. Well done. I miss that NBA. Ten Hall of Famers in that rivalry.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

1. Meadowlark Lemon
2. Curly Neal
3. Sweet Lou Dunbar
4. Bubblegum Tate
5. Nate Branch

They're the best. Period. Not only did they never lose a game, they fought crime, were superheroes, and even saved the universe a time or two.

FAKE NEWS! The Globetrotters lost one.

From Wiki:

The (Washington Generals) have one recorded victory against the Globetrotters. Playing as the "New Jersey Reds", they won 100–99 on January 5, 1971 in Martin, Tennessee, ending their 2,495-game losing streak. Klotz credits the overtime win to a guard named Eddie Mahar, who was team captain.[6] Harlem's captain, Curly Neal, did not play in this game.[7]

While the Globetrotters were entertaining the crowd that day, they lost track of the game and the score. They found themselves down 12 points with two minutes left to go. Forced to play normal basketball, the Globetrotters rallied but could not recover.[8]

The Reds secured their victory when Klotz hit the winning basket with seconds left. Then Meadowlark Lemon missed a shot that would have given the game back to the Globetrotters. The timekeeper tried to stop the clock and couldn't. When the final buzzer sounded, the crowd was dumbfounded and disappointed.[9]Klotz described the fans' reaction: "They looked at us like we killed Santa Claus."

Some children in the stands cried after the loss.[7] The Reds celebrated by dousing themselves with orange pop instead of champagne. Lemon was furious, saying, "You lost, I didn't lose," but still visited the opposing team’s locker room to congratulate the Reds.

Washington Generals - Wikipedia

 

[Doc Holliday]

I hope a desk guy didn't start this thread. Otherwise, not sure I'd trust his judgment for "the five greatest basketball player of all-time" or his headline/editing skills.

 

[WriteThinking]

I hope a desk guy didn't start this thread. Otherwise, not sure I'd trust his judgment for "the five greatest basketball player of all-time" or his headline/editing skills.

That was the first thing I noticed too, but I was reluctant to point it out. We should be more charitable. Maybe "five players" is meant as a team, and we should use the plural singular, or whatever it is..."The best team are...."

 

[As The Crow Flies]

 

[LanceyHoward]

I hope a desk guy didn't start this thread. Otherwise, not sure I'd trust his judgment for "the five greatest basketball player of all-time" or his headline/editing skills.

Fortunately I am not a desk guy. And could the mods moves this off the journalism thread. I guess I will have to live with the bad headline. Sorry.

 

[JC]

Hot takes

 

[MisterCreosote]

1. Jordan
2. LeBron
3. Magic
4. Wilt
5. Oscar

And, since no one asked, my next 5:

6. Russell
7. Bird
8. Duncan
9. Kareem
10. Kobe

 

[PCLoadLetter]

For me it's Magic/Kareem/Jordan/Lebron/Wilt, in any order. Honestly, I could argue for any of them at number one.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Fortunately I am not a desk guy. And could the mods moves this off the journalism thread. I guess I will have to live with the bad headline. Sorry.

Just giving you a hard time buddy. Trust me, we've all been there.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I know a guy from college who will fight you to the death if you argue Jordan was better than Bird. He has this entire statistical case he lays out.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

At some point, these discussions are useless. There are at least 15 players, and Jordan and Bird are very near or at the top of the list, who were so good that their accomplishments defy comparison. If you had Bird on your team, you wouldn't swap him for, say, Magic and vice versa.

 

[Songbird]

Magic created many a jump shot for others.

The 5 best are ...

Magic
Jordan
Kobe
Bird
LeBron

 

[CD Boogie]

Magic? And people are arguing for him at No. 1? I don't get it. I watched his entire career. He had the ugliest jump shot ever. Sure, he was a freak in some respects, being a 6-9 guy with a handle who could also post up. But there were big elements of his game that weren't pretty.

1. LeBron (GOAT)
2. Jordan
3. Kareem
4. Wilt
5. Bird

 

[Dick Whitman]

Magic? And people are arguing for him at No. 1? I don't get it. I watched his entire career. He had the ugliest jump shot ever. Sure, he was a freak in some respects, being a 6-9 guy with a handle who could also post up. But there were big elements of his game that weren't pretty.

1. LeBron (GOAT)
2. Jordan
3. Kareem
4. Wilt
5. Bird

And how are things in beautiful Cleveland this morning?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

See, this is my point. None of these lists are wrong, because they all contain great players. And none are right, because trying to rank this level of greatest is the equivalent of trying to find theoretical nuclear particles in real life.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

See, this is my point. None of these lists are wrong, because they all contain great players. And none are right, because trying to rank this level of greatest is the equivalent of trying to find theoretical nuclear particles in real life.

Plus, most are dealing with a limited frame of reference. I'm a west coast guy whose earliest basketball memories are from the early to mid 70s. I'm pretty much flying blind on guys like Russell and Oscar Robertson.