Top 10 Greatest NBA Players of all-time

[Master Q]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Bill Russell
3. Magic Johnson
4. Larry Bird
5. Kareem Abdul Jabaar
6. Shaquille O'Neal
7. Tim Duncan
8. LeBron James
9. Wilt Chamberlain
10. Hakeem Olajuwon

You are sick.

[Andrew3747]

I can see arguments for the rest but I cannot see a single argument for russell to be that high.

[Jay]

I can see arguments for the rest but I cannot see a single argument for russell to be that high.

He's there not because the numbers say he is the 2nd greatest. He's there because he was a winner. 11x time champion!

Pretty sure Bill Simmons has him at #2 also. It isnt crazy. When you're the best player on a title winning team as many times as he was, you deserve to be in the top few players of all-time

[Andrew3747]

You have to take into consideration era... or else Wilt would be the greatest of all time without doubt.

[tbagrocks]

Yeah we all saw Russell, just like we all saw the Don

He'd be top 5 no doubt, 2? Well, possibly

[Jay]

Sometimes greatness just overpower the stat sheet, and that's how I feel about Russell. The dude is just a winner.

Keep in mind that blocks weren't recorded when Russell was playing. People estimate that he would have averaged at least 6 per game.

[Andrew3747]

There was also no defensive shot clock so he  could liyterally stand undet the ring for ever.

[Andrew3747]

Im on the poker forum 2p2 where the MJ vs LBJ discussion came up.

There is a very known poster there by the name of Bob Voulgaris. http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/15074-high-stakes-poker-player-bob-voulgaris-described-as-world-s-top-nba-gambler

He watches every minute of every game every season. He listed his top 10.

1.MJ/LBJ
2.MJ/LBJ
3.Magic
4.Kareem
5.Shaq
6.Duncan
7.Bird
8.Hakeem
9.Russell
10.Wilt

Goes on to say no one has ever influenced a game like LBJ and that playing the way he did and doing what he did @ the cavs is one of the biggest achievements of all time.

Few other things he pointed out

- MJ did go 1-9 in he playoffs before his 25 year-old season before Pippen arrived.
- Lebron went 36-25 by the same age while carrying a crap team to the finals.
- MJ leaves a team, they lose 2 more games.
- LBJ leaves a team, they lose 42 more games
- 87-88 Jordan is viewed as the greatest season ever, however LBJ's 08-09 season and playoffs is almost identical.
- LBJ vs Detroit and Celtics in the playoffs were 2 of the greatest post season displays.
- LBJ/MJ are singlely the 2 greatest players to ever play the game and no one even comes remotely close to the pair
- LBJ will prob be the greatest ever player if the trend continues, (ie winning and being elite season after season)
- MJ's career is hugely hurt by his 3 retirements. If he continued, it might not be close.


Interesting. I personally don't think LBJ is the 2nd best player of all time, but you can't argue with this guy since he has ever credential. He knows his shower.

[Jay]

Interesting he doesn't mention MJ going 6-0 in the finals compared to LeBron 2-2 (about to be 2-3 ;))

[Master Q]

I follow him on twitter, he is friends with Bill Simmons I think.

He's a pro gambler, makes tons of bets on the NBA, he knows what he is talking about.

[Andrew3747]

Yeah, he can look at the bookies lines and bet the profitable ones which is determined pretty quickly.

[Andrew3747]

Interesting he doesn't mention MJ going 6-0 in the finals compared to LeBron 2-2 (about to be 2-3 ;))

So what? Jordan has performed better in the NBA Finals than LeBron. That's not the discussion.

[Jay]

Interesting he doesn't mention MJ going 6-0 in the finals compared to LeBron 2-2 (about to be 2-3 ;))

So what? Jordan has performed better in the NBA Finals than LeBron. That's not the discussion.

Its a huge part of the discussion...

[Andrew3747]

This is what I mean by you taking certain things > others. You have way too much weight towards oh he played better than him in 30 or so games. LeBron was 30-20 in the playoffs while mj was 1-9. What LeBron did with the cavs is > what MJ's 6-0 record. Way to many fans put too much meaning into 6-0. Yes its excellent and elite, but its not the end all.

[Jay]

This is what I mean by you taking certain things > others. You have way too much weight towards oh he played better than him in 30 or so games. LeBron was 30-20 in the playoffs while mj was 1-9. What LeBron did with the cavs is > what MJ's 6-0 record. Way to many fans put too much meaning into 6-0. Yes its excellent and elite, but its not the end all.

I think you have to consider that during those years,  MJ was losing to Isiah's Pistons and Bird's Celtics... Sure, LeBron won some playoffs games on a shower team, but Chauncey's Pistons, Pierce's Celtics, Dwight's Magic aren't exactly crazy strong competition like MJ had to go through.