Who would you build you franchise with? Jordan, Magic, Bird, Kareem, Wilt, Russell or Duncan?

Question

Let's say you're a GM, and it's draft night and you have the No. 1 pick. Which one of them will you choose?

Answer 1

Wilt Chamberlin without a doubt. As dominant as Jordan was back then, MJ can not compare to the dominance that Wilt displayed during his entire career. Chamberlin averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds during his rookie campaign and took home the regular season's MVP and the All-Star game MVP award. He accomplish this feat. while taking a series of severe hard fouls and brutal pounding in the paint. In his 2nd season, Wilt became the first player to break the 3,000 points barrier (MJ also reached this milestone down the road) and the first (and only) player to break the 2,000 rebound barrier for a single season by grabbing 2,149 boards. Chamberlain also set the all-time record for points (100) and rebounds (55) in a single game. During the 1967 - 1968 season, Wilt managed to do what centers have never done before. He led the league in assists with an average of 8.6 per game. Wilt was the only player in history to lead the league in assists and rebounding in the same season. His scoring may have taken a little dip but he still managed to finished 3rd in the NBA in scoring (24.3 per game) the same year.


Wilt and Jordan both learned early in their careers that once they were willing to share the ball then their team of 5 can outperform any one dominant superstar performance. Wilt was able to defeat his nemesis Bill Russell by playing team ball and MJ had to incorporate the same strategy in order to defeat his arch rival Detroit Pistons. It took both Hall of Fame players around the same amount of time to win their first title but the difference between an MJ and a Wilt versus the rest of the NBA's all-time greats is the fact that they were the # 1 option (on offense and defense) who anchored their team's championship title instead of playing the role of a support player that Bill Russell, Scottie Pippen, and Kobe Bryant occupied on their respective championship squad. Russell usually had a better team than Wilt during his entire career but if the level of talent on both teams were to even out then who knows, which player would have won 11 championship rings. Wilt's league leading assists average may not seem as impressive these days but it just shows you how much of an athletic and versatile specimen Chamberlin really was.


The reason why I chose to build my team around Chamberlin instead of Jordan is pure and simple. MJ may have been the most athletic, well-rounded (offense and defense), and dominant guard to ever play the game but Wilt was the most athletic, multi-skilled, and dominant center to ever pick up a basketball. If I had to choose between the best center ever vs. the best shooting guard the world has ever seen then I would have to choose the position that has the most impact on the game of basketball and that would be the center position. They don't call it the center position if the whole game didn't revolved around it. So, to end my summary, I conclude that if MJ were to be labeled as God playing basketball then Wilt has definitely earned his bragging rights to be called Zeus (King of Gods) playing basketball in human form.

Answer 2

I suppose there is no wrong answer on this one, but it still bothers me that Olajuwon is not mention here. Olajuwon is the best defender on the list, probably with only one exception, Jordan. Olajuwon had the best low moves of anyone on the list including Jordan. I simply don't understand. Wilt was the man back in the day when there was only Russell to challenge him. Wilt was not known for defense. Russell was the man defensively but not better than Olajuwon. Russell never had to carry his team offensively like the rest of the guys on the list. He always had at least 2 to 3 teammates averaging over 19 points per game, who couldn't win with that much help. I really don't have anything bad to say bout Kareem though Olajuwon was a better defender. Magic and Bird were defensive liabilities but they were smart players and knew what it took to win. Mr fundamental Tim Duncan is solid but again not as good defensively or offensively as Olajuwon. Logically speaking I would prefer players like Jordan, Olajuwon and I will throw in Kareem. Jordan and Olajuwon especially because they were extraordinary on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively. In fact, they had to perform on both sides of the ball to be victorious, they had no choice. Now, since Olajuwon is not on the above list, this is a no brainer. As GM I select Michael Jordan!

Answer 3

I'll go against the tide on this, although I'm a Michael Jordan fan myself I'd pick Tim Duncan. Wtf? Duncan? Here's my reason:

Yes. Arguably Michael is the currently recognized as "greatest player" (I say currently because I don't believe anything is permanent, some guy would eventually come and be the best of all so there). And Magic is one hell of a fantastic team player with great passing capabilities and with the capacity to play all positions on court. Bird is a magnificent shooter. But when you build your team you have to weigh the best option. What better way to start your franchise anchored on a dominant Big man (as you would see this has been the basis of other successful teams: Boston with Russell, Lakers with Wilt, Kareem and Shaq, Houston with Hakeem and the Spurs with David and Tim). Thse kind of players are very hard to find and that's because they are one of the most essential position to fill out to.

Then why Tim Duncan over Kareem and Wilt? Simple. Tim is a much more team oriented guy. Playing in today's game a center must understand that he is not the only player on the court. A player that can dominate when needed to. That's is why someone like Tim is a quintissential option to have in your team (well if you put in your option Hakeem or Shaq I'd probably pick them hehe). So there.

Answer 4

I'd pick Kareem. First of all, it's quite easier to build a team around a big man, and Kareem, I think, is the best big man of all time. He was a one-man offensive force who possessed the greatest offensive weapon in all of sports - the skyhook. He could rebound and block shots and could pass very well off a double team. Secondly, while he was the primary go-to-guy both in Milwaukee and LA, he wasn't a selfish player and was willing to defer to younger players for the sake of winning, as he had shown during his last few years with the Lakers. Lastly, among the guys you mentioned, he's the only one to have led two teams to the championship en route to his 6 rings, meaning, you can put him in any team and he'd give them a title.

Answer 5

All these @#$@@##$@ who like MJ but don't understand the game. BILL RUSSELL or KAREEM ABDUL JABAAR. These are the best centers to ever play the game. The team players that won championship after championship. Better than Wilt, better than MJ better than Bird(3rd choice...sweetest stroke), and better than any other pick ever. Do you understand what it is to have a dominating Big Man. It is BILL RUSSELL tho as my first pick

Answer 6

Wilt Chamberlin

Answer 7

Obviously Michael Jordan. I think you should take him out of the mix because most probably everyone would want him as their #1 pick.

Answer 8

Russell because you need a big big man. then you can put all the other pieces around him. a bill Russell only comes around once in a lifetime

Answer 9

That's an easy one Micheal Jordan.

Answer 10

Bill Russell. The greatest to have ever played.

11 rings. Enough said. No matter what era, 11 rings will always mean 11 rings.