Please leave real comments and not just a couple of words. Also if you aren't familiar with the players from the past please don't respond to this unless you have done your homework. Lastly, this is not for the best player at a particular position, but truly the best player ever in the nba.
2007-01-09 05:03:08 · 25 answers · asked by Cito 3 in Sports ➔ Basketball
I don't think you can call one player the best of all time, because in all the different positions in basketball, there come different qualities, and certain players stood out in certain categories where others did not, and vice versa.
Magic could, and did, play every position, point guard through center, but was he the best at each of these positions? I personally don't think so.
Larry Bird could shoot the lights out, and he could, and did, put the ball wherever he wanted, be it in the basket or to another player. I mean, when McHale scored 56, Bird went up to him, and said "I'm gonna score 60," and he did. But, he wasn't as athletic or versatile as many, many other forwards in the game.
Every player has certain qualities working against him, but I think the player with the least, not none, but the least working against him had to be Michael Jordan. He controlled games with the best of them, won the rings, the mvps, got his teammates involved, and was an innovator of the game 9 decades after it was invented. Though, I stand that he could not have done it alone, I feel Pippen, Rodman, Paxson, and Phil Jackson coaching had a huuuuuuuge deal to do with Jordan's success, he was still dominant enough to reign supreme.
2007-01-09 07:33:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Magic Johnson.
His passing was and is unparalleled to this day. He could score from anywhere on the court. There really isn't a recent comparison, though Steve Nash shares the "makes his teammates" better mantra. Magic was a first team, clutch defender as well. Excellent steals numbers, and some good rebounding as well. He is only bested on the triple double list by Oscar Robertson...
He's got the rings, the points, assists, and WINS to be considered among the greatest of all time.
Most of the other stars on the Lakers would not be HOF material without him.
2007-01-09 06:11:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Point Guard: Chris Paul Shooting Guard: Michael Redd Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki Center: Udonis Haslem After looking at this more this team sounds a lot like the New Orleans Hornets starting line up as well but I thought I would be original with the exception of paul.
2016-05-22 23:09:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cases can be made for almost any player, but I personally believe Michael Jordan is the best ever. Oscar Robertson has a strong case though, because he averaged or was close to averaging a triple double for his entire career. Michael Jordan though was one of the most important, influential players on the game. Where do you think Kobe learned his moves? LeBron and Melo and Wade. All these guys learned from Jordan. Jordan took the Bulls from Doormat to title contenders every year, made them a team people weren't embarrased to play for. He has meant so much to the NBa and its fans, not to mention its fans, because of his honor, respect and dignity that he has a true case for Greatest of all Time in ANY sport, not just B-ball.
2007-01-09 05:20:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My answer is Kobe Bryant. He can do it all on the basketball court offensively and defensively.
Michael Jordan - Doesn't shoot the three ball as well as Kobe (Kobe 34% Jordan 33%)
Magic Johnson - He could also do everything on the court (ask the Sixers) but again he could NOT shoot the three ball as well as Kobe (Magic 30%)
Oscar Robertson - Only player to average a triple double, but players these days are so much more athletic, plus he didn't shoot the three ball as well as Kobe (they didn't have one then therefore why shoot from back there?)
Note: In my book big men cannot be considered for this title because their skill set does not require dribbling, shooting, or perimeter defense. A big man's game doesn't have to cover the full length of the floor while a guard's obviously does.
2007-01-10 08:22:59 · answer #5 · answered by Fostradamus 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Oscar Robertson. He redefined the guard position. He was the most amazing ball player to set foot on the court. How can you average a triple-double for an entire season without possessing mad skills? Every game he got a triple-double. The most any player has today is 6 by J.Kidd.
2007-01-09 11:11:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is making good points. Kareem = leading scorer; Wilt = 100 points; Russell = 11 championships; The Big O = Mr. Triple Double; Bird = Best pure shooter; Dr. J (my fav) = didn't invent but popularized the dunk... but I think it really comes down to MJ and/or Magic for all of the reasons already mentioned. MJ turned the Bulls around and became the best overall scorer and most feared player in the league when he played. He took over games at will and had a killer instinct unlike many others before or since. Magic was the epitome of 'team player'. He instantly made everyone better and won an NBA championship his rookie year by playing center. He was the most unpredictable player on the court every time he played. If you want to talk about the best "all time" player then you truly need to look at the eras in which they played. Competition has gotten better every year in the NBA. As good as Russell & Wilt were, they would've been 'Tim Duncan' dominant, but they both would've had trouble with an 'at his peak' Shaq. The Big O still would've been great but he would've had trouble against today's faster, stronger players. Bird, Magic, MJ....drop them in any era and they still would be just as good as they were in their prime.
Agree with ranorwood.....Nod to Magic
2007-01-09 07:17:24 · answer #7 · answered by caldenjones 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
micheal jordan man i mean have you ever seen the man play he is a pure competitor and although people are gonna say he was a ballhog he averaged 5 assists a game for his career won nba defensive player of the year a couple of times and was mvp multiple times and also led the bulls(who were the epitamy of the nba b4 him) to six nba championships and to the playoffs all of his full seasons in the league plus he was one of the most clutch shooters ever ..kobe is not on his level and i dont think anyone will be for a while because until someone makes a team better in his first season and coninues that for their career then well see but lebron learned everything from jordan even took his number and also his team is not that great
2007-01-09 05:34:16 · answer #8 · answered by brian g 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Bill Russell is the greatest player ever - 2 more words along with Santito would be Player-Coach. The man was a monster both on the offense and defense. He knew the game inside and out. He was one of the most cerebral players to play the game of basketball.
2007-01-09 06:32:29 · answer #9 · answered by Asaph23 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Oscar Robertson. He averaged a triple double for many seasons. Most complete player ever but don't forget Jery West, he is the player in the NBA logo.
2007-01-09 05:21:10 · answer #10 · answered by rickeber31 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋