June 10, 201214 yr Magic has been always thought of by a majority of basketball fans, experts, analysts, players and coaches as one of the top 3-5 players of all time. I never saw Big O play and I grew up in the Magic era so Magic it is for me. Magic made everybody around him better. Even Kareem. It's Magic for me.
June 10, 201214 yr PG Oscar Robertson SG Michael Jordan C Wilt Chamberlain PF Tim Duncan SF Larry Bird * Kept going back & forth on Oscar & Magic at the point. Oscar is not in my generation, but the triple/double average is so impressive & was probably the tipping point in his favor. * Also went back & forth on Bird & LeBron. I know people kill LeBron for the Decision, not having yet won a title, & about a thousand other things. But he's a physical freak & I'm not sure there's anyone that compares to him. Having said that, Bird's accomplishments speak for themselves. Probably more than any other player that I can think of, Larry Legend did so much with so little. * I classified Tim Duncan as a Power Forward, in spite of Pop's comments referenced above. When he was alongside David Robinson, he sure seemed like a 4-man. * Jordan & Wilt are the game's two all-time best IMO, so they had no challengers in my mind.
June 11, 201214 yr Russell is known as one of the best defensive centers ever. Wilt put 50+ up against him 7 times. Averaged 28/28 against him head-to-head over his career. And while those numbers are ultra impressive, Russell held him well below his scoring averaging during that time frame.
June 11, 201214 yr Author And while those numbers are ultra impressive, Russell held him well below his scoring averaging during that time frame.As did Wilt hold Russell below is average in points and rebounds.
June 11, 201214 yr For those from Ft Thomas, if you get a chance ask Bob Arnzen about playing Kareem and Wilt. Very fascinating stories. They were both unreal. They outlawed the dunk in college bc of Mr Alcindor and had to widen the lane bc of Wilt. Think about that. They were so dominant that they forced their league to change the rules to even out their competitive advantage.
June 11, 201214 yr Good lists. I'll go with post#1. How about an all time best dunkers by position: PG-Spud Webb SG-MJ SF-Struggled here. Dominique Wilkens/Dr.J ? PF-Shawn Kemp C-Dwight Howard. Other names to consider- Shaq, Daryl Dawkins, Clyde Drexler. Daryll Griffith, David Thompson, Lebron, Kobe, and I'm sure countless others
June 11, 201214 yr Good lists. I'll go with post#1. How about an all time best dunkers by position: PG-Spud Webb SG-MJ SF-Struggled here. Dominique Wilkens/Dr.J ? PF-Shawn Kemp C-Dwight Howard. Other names to consider- Shaq, Daryl Dawkins, Clyde Drexler. Daryll Griffith, David Thompson, Lebron, Kobe, and I'm sure countless others Blake has to be over Shawn Kemp, has to be. Kemp could throw down before he swelled up like a whale, but still, Griffin is unlike anything we have ever seen. Just an absolute dunk machine full of all sorts of nastyness. But great idea, I'll make a new thread, im sure this is a topic that is very debatable.
June 11, 201214 yr Dunkers PG-Derrick Rose, Steve Francis(tie) SG-MJ, Kobe(tie) SF-Lebron James PF-Blake Griffin C-Shaquille O'Neal
June 11, 201214 yr PG Magic SG Jordan SF James PF Bird - I know he is a SF but I don't care. C Russell
June 12, 201214 yr For the ones that I have actually watched. PG: Magic SG: Jordan SF: Bird PF: Duncan C: Hakeem
June 12, 201214 yr How many titles does the Big O have? He won one with Lew Alcindor if I remember correctly.
June 12, 201214 yr How many titles did the Big O play for? What is the answer to the question how come the Big O didn't win more championships? Magic won 5 titles and he won them against some of the best Celtic teams ever and some of the best Pistons teams ever. He went up against Bird, McHale, Isaiah and the Bad Boys, helped retire Dr. J. He baptized John Stockton and Karl Malone. His rookie year(correct me if I am wrong) he filled in at center when Kareem went down because of a sprained ankle and carried the Lakers to the title. He added arguably 3-5 years to Kareem's career. He made James Worthy actually worthy. He made Byron Scott above average. He made Michael Cooper and Kurt Rambis the most reliable bench players in the 80's. He was a 6'9" point guard who truly was magical. I understand Big O was the true triple double king but at the end of the day point guards are judged by how they lead a team, can they make those around them better and can they win. What point guard did those things better than Magic? It took the greatest player of all time and HIV to stop Magic. Magic at the point all day for me.
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