Of the 50 Greatest Player In NBA History, who is the most overated? Who just barely made the list? Who was 50?

Question

List of those on the list.
http://www.nba.com/history/50greatest.html
Give me a name, give me a reason(s), I'll give you 10 points in return.

Answer 1

I would agree that, at the time, it had to be Shaq.

I took a glance at the list... I looked at Paul Arizin... Arizin was a ten time all star, but he played between 1951 and 1962 (missed the 53 and 54 seasons altogether)... He did manage to win a title between the careers of George Mikan and Bill Russell. Still, ten all star games is a good total. And he played very well in the All Star games... In his last season, as a teammate of Wilt's, he scored 16 points himself in Chamberlain's 100 point game.

Hal Greer was also a ten time all star... he was second team All-NBA seven times, which is excellent, considering that, with West and Robertson around, how do you make first team?

Elliot Kalb said the Robert Parish was the first player he eliminated when "revising" his top 50 list in his 2004 book ("Who's Better, Who's Best at Basketball?").. his reason was that Parish never made first team all NBA... but Parrish played from 1977-1997... when he was in his prime, guys like Jabbar, Malone, Walton, Olajuwon etc were making first team all-NBA... so what if Parish wasn't as good as those guys?

Parrish was a consistent double-double guy and, playing with Bird and McHale, was about the quietest double double guy in the history of the NBA... In game 7 against the Lakers in the 1984 Finals, he came through with 14 points and 16 rebounds, and doing it rather quietly. His personal stats could have been better if he, Bird and McHale didn't take scoring and rebounding opportunities away from each other.

Yes, the "evolution" of the big man has changed, but "evolution" doesn't always lead to a better species, only a different one... in naming Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudamire, Pao Gasol as examples of today's best and most athletic big men, bp picked 4 players who have a total of 23 years experience, no championships, and one Finals appearance. None of them could have handled Parish in the low post... none of them.

If any player did truly not deserve to be named a top 50 player in 1996, it had to be Shaq... at the time the team was picked, he was a 3 or 4 time all star, and had not yet been first team All-NBA (first time to that team was 1998).

So I would go with Shaq, for the reasons already given..he was picked based on his potential, not on his accomplishments on the court at the time the team was selected.

Picking Shaq in 1996 would be like picking Dwight Howard as an all time top 50 player if we re-picked the list today.
Makes no sense (no disrespect, I love Howard as a player).

But u have to say Shaq on this one. He's the only player on the original list who wasn't selected because of his on-court accomplishments.

_______________________________

Leader of the Amish... get a clue... the reason we all said Shaq is because the top-50 team was selected only about 4 years into Shaq's career, and AT THAT TIME, he did not merit a place on the team. That's why he didn't belong.

Answer 2

Yes, he would instantly be a top 10 player of all time. They should change the list and continue removing/adding players into it because some of the players on the list do not deserve it at all. Bryant is a top 10 player in the history of the game and he has accomplished everything he needs to.

Answer 3

I think Shaq, at that time, was overrated. This is not to say that he doesn't belong in the elite group. But the 50 greatest was chosen in '97 and at that time, Shaq was not yet the dominating player we've known him to be. Sure he was already emerging as the league's best center but he was not yet the unstoppable force he'd become some 3 years later. They could've chosen Dominique Wilkins instead. The guy deserved it more during that time.

Answer 4

Shaq. He doesnt belong on the first 50 Greatest but he should be Top 1 on the next 50 Greatest list.

Answer 5

def. MJ cuz without pippen and rodman he would be nothing not only that he retired how many times three all together that shows u how much he loves the game

Now to the people who said shaq well ur all idiots and know nothin of the NBA
He has 4 rings and without him kobe wouldnt have gotten them and d-wade wouldnt have gotten his also in his rookie season he doubled the Magic's winning record only in his first year. Anyone would love to have shaq on their team back then and still today any team would accept him he is the most dominant player plus look how a team looks when shaq leaves(kobe and the lakers cant make it past the first round without shaq)

Answer 6

Robert Parish.

This list is 10 years old and with the evolution of the big man since that time you have plenty of big men who can do the things down low that Parish could do and can also play a perimeter game. Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudamire, Pao Gasol and players of that nature averaging double doubles night in and night out as well as blocking shots and offering a presence down low on D. As the stars emerge some of the old ones have to fall off of this list and I think Robert Parish had too much of a one-dimensional game and was surrounded by talent his entire career so he experienced alot of team success.

Answer 7

Nobody deserves being called overrated in that list mainly because the players themselves voted who should be included in the list.

It's just unfortunate that Bob Mc Adoo was left out in the list since he is one great player. Shaq have been pre-maturely put in the list, since at the time of the announcement he have yet to prove anything than trashing backboards and powering himself in the lane.

And to all the people here who says Mike is overrated, just take it from the one of the best tactician in the sport. Pat Riley!

"we want to honor you tonight and hang your jersey, No. 23, from the rafters," Riley said at midcourt at the ceremonial retiring of Jordan's jersey in MIami. "No one will ever wear No. 23 for the Miami Heat. You're the best."

Answer 8

At the time the team was named - it had to be Shaq - he had only been around like 3 or 4 years then. His selection was based on potential - and he has fulfilled that potential and now would be there for sure.

My choice would be Barkley. He was good, but I don't think he belongs on the court with Worthy, Magic, Bird, Kareem, Shaq etc. He was good, but he would be my 50th pick of the group.

Answer 9

The players weren't ranked, so there was no definitive #50.

The most overrated was probably Robert Parish.

Answer 10

Scottie Pippen... played a fantastic support role to MJ, but then once MJ was out of the picture didn't achieve squat.

You would expect that he could take over and lead the team in the absence of the great one, but alas he could not.

I bet the powers that be wish they could take that one back. His inclusion in the Top 50 really does appear in hindsight to promote mediocrity.