I guess the question now isn't who to add but who would come off of that list? Who are the guys that barely made the list to begin with and need to come off to allow Timmy, Lebron and Kobe on the list.

 

No way KD is on the list yet, someday yes but not yet.

 

Len Bias may have been an all-time great but there are a TON of can't miss guys coming out of college that never achieve that level in the NBA. No guarantee he would have either.

I guess the question now isn't who to add but who would come off of that list? Who are the guys that barely made the list to begin with and need to come off to allow Timmy, Lebron and Kobe on the list.

 

No way KD is on the list yet, someday yes but not yet.

 

Len Bias may have been an all-time great but there are a TON of can't miss guys coming out of college that never achieve that level in the NBA. No guarantee he would have either.

 

Agree. Amazing talent. And he'll be there one day. But no titles. No MVP's. Can't be top 50.

Sam Jones, Dolph Schayes, Bill Walton, Billy Cunningham, Dave Cowans (I know this will make a few guys mad being a NKY guy...but to 50 really after adding the new age guys to the list?) Lenny Wilkens, Robert Parrish.

 

Jones. Was he even considered "great" in his era?

 

Schayes. Ahhh, tough one here, but loses points by siring Danny Schayes.:lol2:

 

Walton. Sorry, not enough stats, hurt too much. Could have been one of the top 50 but considering a whole career, I take a LOT of centers before I do him.

 

Cunningham. After refreshing myself of his stats and career, maybe not. Still when one think's of top 50 guys, he does not roll off the tongue.

 

Wilkens. Good player, but top 50 in 2014? probably not.

 

Parrish. Several centers I would rank above him. Tough player but not top 50 today.

 

Cowans. Probably did as much or more with his ability as anyone on that list and I'd want him on my team. But probably drops off the list in 2014.

 

Right or wrong I don't know, but theres a short list of 7. Others could be argued off the list, the above I mentioned some could be argued to stay on the list. Very hard to compare eras I something like this. For instance George Miken could easily come off the list when looking at just raw talent, but was a big force in the game in his day and age.

 

Cowens, MVP, Rookie of the Year, 2 time champ. The definitive #2 on his team if not #1 depending on how you view Havilchek. Take Jerry Lucas off and keep him on.

Cowens, MVP, Rookie of the Year, 2 time champ. The definitive #2 on his team if not #1 depending on how you view Havilchek. Take Jerry Lucas off and keep him on.

 

If I keep Cowans and take someone else, it sure as heck wouldn't be Lucas. maybe someone like a Dave Bing...I don't know I'd have to review the list again but it sure wouldn't be Lucas.

Find a way to add LeBron, Kobe, Duncan, Iverson, Wade, Nowitzki, and Garnett. Pierce and Nash could be argued though Nash never won a ring.

 

Other guys who could eventually make it:

 

Durant is a lock. Rose will if he can regain form. Westbrook could maybe get there. CP3 has to be close, specially if he can win a ring. If Melo ever wins his numbers will get him there.

 

Too early for Davis.

It is a very interesting thread to limit it to 50 players still in 2014. But the Top 50 in 1996 were named in honor of the 50th anniversary of the NBA (1946-1996). So in the 18 years since 1996 it should be now the Top 68 in 2014. I guess another question would be "Are there 18 more players since the list in 1996 that are worthy of being on the list?"

Cowens, MVP, Rookie of the Year, 2 time champ. The definitive #2 on his team if not #1 depending on how you view Havilchek. Take Jerry Lucas off and keep him on.

 

No way, Lucas would abuse Cowans.

It is a very interesting thread to limit it to 50 players still in 2014. But the Top 50 in 1996 were named in honor of the 50th anniversary of the NBA (1946-1996). So in the 18 years since 1996 it should be now the Top 68 in 2014. I guess another question would be "Are there 18 more players since the list in 1996 that are worthy of being on the list?"

 

That is pretty much what I was going to say. It should be more than 50 now

No way, Lucas would abuse Cowans.

 

Cowens played Reed, Alcindor, Wilt, Walton, Gilmore, and Malone. He seemed to do ok. I don't think Jerry Lucas who was shorter and less athletic than Cowens, would "abuse" him. In fact they are incredibly comparable looking by numbers and awards. Take the college careers out of it, where Lucas and OSU made three straight finals, and they are tough to separate. What Cowens did for FSU while they were on probation and the ground work he helped lay there should be commended.

It is a very interesting thread to limit it to 50 players still in 2014. But the Top 50 in 1996 were named in honor of the 50th anniversary of the NBA (1946-1996). So in the 18 years since 1996 it should be now the Top 68 in 2014. I guess another question would be "Are there 18 more players since the list in 1996 that are worthy of being on the list?"

Good point maybe we need to expand it to one player per year for each year of the NBA...but to answer your last question...NO there have not been 18 players since then that are ALL-TIME GREATS!!!and deserve to be on the list.

Top 50 Basketball Players of All Time: Bill Simmons vs. SLAM vs. Bleacher Report vs. The NBA | SPORTS LIST OF THE DAY

 

Arbitrary list for 2012, comparing the lists from 4 sources.

Cowens played Reed, Alcindor, Wilt, Walton, Gilmore, and Malone. He seemed to do ok. I don't think Jerry Lucas who was shorter and less athletic than Cowens, would "abuse" him. In fact they are incredibly comparable looking by numbers and awards. Take the college careers out of it, where Lucas and OSU made three straight finals, and they are tough to separate. What Cowens did for FSU while they were on probation and the ground work he helped lay there should be commended.

 

Shorter by an inch (6'8 to 6'9) but less athletic? I don't know about that. Just last week Cowans was on a nationally syndicated sports talk show, can't remember which one but I was listening to it...and when asked to compare himself with a current NBA player, guess who he chose? Zack Randolph. He said their ability and game style match up greatly. Well, I have to say, Zack Randolph is one of and possibly THE most un-athletic player in the NBA today who actually plays. I'm not saying he's ZR, but, comparing one's own self to Zack Randolph doesn't speak too highly of one's athletic ability.

Shorter by an inch (6'8 to 6'9) but less athletic? I don't know about that. Just last week Cowans was on a nationally syndicated sports talk show, can't remember which one but I was listening to it...and when asked to compare himself with a current NBA player, guess who he chose? Zack Randolph. He said their ability and game style match up greatly. Well, I have to say, Zack Randolph is one of and possibly THE most un-athletic player in the NBA today who actually plays. I'm not saying he's ZR, but, comparing one's own self to Zack Randolph doesn't speak too highly of one's athletic ability.

 

Give Cowens a break...he's 65 years old now!

Lots of guys already mentioned (Dirk, LeBron, Durant, Duncan, AI, Pierce, Garnett, Kobe) that are definite IMO. Another name no one has thrown out yet, that I feel is one of the more overlooked guys, is Kevin Love. Clearly not there yet, but well on his way IMO.

Shorter by an inch (6'8 to 6'9) but less athletic? I don't know about that. Just last week Cowans was on a nationally syndicated sports talk show, can't remember which one but I was listening to it...and when asked to compare himself with a current NBA player, guess who he chose? Zack Randolph. He said their ability and game style match up greatly. Well, I have to say, Zack Randolph is one of and possibly THE most un-athletic player in the NBA today who actually plays. I'm not saying he's ZR, but, comparing one's own self to Zack Randolph doesn't speak too highly of one's athletic ability.

 

The reason that Cowens played the 5 and not the 4 is b/c he could hit consistently from 17 plus and get up and down the floor better than any big in the NBA. Randolph's game is similar in his mentality. Here you go to go towards my point Dave Cowens - YouTube