June 3, 200917 yr If I'm building a franchise, and assuming that 23 is out of the mix; I either take a dominant center or point guard. Russell, Magic and The Big O would fit the bill, with Wilt and Kareem right behind. I lean toward Magic just because he was so versatile. I watched him score 40+ while playing the post in a title game many years ago. I was wondering when someone else would say Magic. Those 2 HOF'ers benefited greatly from Magic. I would take Magic over everybody. HE won in college without HOF'ers and he won in the pros. Heck, he made Worthy a HOF'er and he added years onto Kareem's career so Kareem could put the scoring title out of reach. Magic is my number 1, then Kobe, then Bill, then Shaq, and probably Bird. That would be my starting 5. I'd challenge any and all comers with that starting 5. PG-Magic SG-Kobe SF-Bird PF-Russell C-Shaq
June 3, 200917 yr I was wondering when someone else would say Magic. Those 2 HOF'ers benefited greatly from Magic. I would take Magic over everybody. HE won in college without HOF'ers and he won in the pros. Heck, he made Worthy a HOF'er and he added years onto Kareem's career so Kareem could put the scoring title out of reach. Magic is my number 1, then Kobe, then Bill, then Shaq, and probably Bird. That would be my starting 5. I'd challenge any and all comers with that starting 5. PG-Magic SG-Kobe SF-Bird PF-Russell C-Shaq I will give it a try: PG-Oscar Robertson SG-Michael Jordan SF-Julius Erving PF-Kevin McHale C-Wilt Chamberlain
June 3, 200917 yr This is a confusing question and it goes parallel with the discussion on ESPN the other day about who was the best "Greatest" coach ever. I believe they went with Larry Brown as not the "Greatest" but the best ever. I would say the # 2 player of all time would be Wilt, his numbers are just almost unbelievable. If not Wilt then I would go with Larry Bird . Seems that Bird always won with less, mostly talking about college but I just love his competitiveness. He can do it all and makes everyone around him better. If I was gonna pick a player to build a team around and expected to win the next game I play then my #2 would be Bill Russell. He isn't the best player ever but he is "Great". He doesn't do it pretty , he just wins.
June 3, 200917 yr Big O. Wilt had an unreal advantage over everyone he played. His numbers are inflated a good deal IMO. What unreal advantage? Do you think there is a number of NBA players today (or ever) who could contain him? Other than Bill Russell, I can't think of a single one. Maybe- and that is a big maybe- Dwight could contain him a bit.
June 3, 200917 yr Author I was wondering when someone else would say Magic. Those 2 HOF'ers benefited greatly from Magic. I would take Magic over everybody. HE won in college without HOF'ers and he won in the pros. Heck, he made Worthy a HOF'er and he added years onto Kareem's career so Kareem could put the scoring title out of reach. Magic is my number 1, then Kobe, then Bill, then Shaq, and probably Bird. That would be my starting 5. I'd challenge any and all comers with that starting 5. PG-Magic SG-Kobe SF-Bird PF-Russell C-Shaq I think a team of PG-Oscar Robertson SG- Jordan SF- LeBron James PF- Tim Duncan C- Wilt Chamberlain Would give that team all they could handle. Only real advantage would be Russell over Chamberlain.
June 3, 200917 yr Author What unreal advantage? Do you think there is a number of NBA players today (or ever) who could contain him? Other than Bill Russell, I can't think of a single one. Maybe- and that is a big maybe- Dwight could contain him a bit. Russell was the only player that could have guarded Wilt in his prime. Howard would get schooled. Wilt the Stilt would show Superman what real athleticism is.
June 3, 200917 yr I was wondering when someone else would say Magic. Those 2 HOF'ers benefited greatly from Magic. I would take Magic over everybody. HE won in college without HOF'ers and he won in the pros. Heck, he made Worthy a HOF'er and he added years onto Kareem's career so Kareem could put the scoring title out of reach. Magic is my number 1, then Kobe, then Bill, then Shaq, and probably Bird. That would be my starting 5. I'd challenge any and all comers with that starting 5. PG-Magic SG-Kobe SF-Bird PF-Russell C-Shaq Replace Kobe with Jordan and it's perfect in my eyes.
June 3, 200917 yr Replace Kobe with Jordan and it's perfect in my eyes. I will never replace Kobe with Jordan. You can have MJ.
June 3, 200917 yr I think a team of PG-Oscar Robertson SG- Jordan SF- LeBron James PF- Tim Duncan C- Wilt Chamberlain Would give that team all they could handle. Only real advantage would be Russell over Chamberlain. They would, but my team is more clutch and has more championship experience......
June 3, 200917 yr Russell was the only player that could have guarded Wilt in his prime. Howard would get schooled. Wilt the Stilt would show Superman what real athleticism is. Shaq would have the upper hand against any center in the history of the game. I'd take my chances with Shaq any day of the week.
June 3, 200917 yr Shaq would have the upper hand against any center in the history of the game. I'd take my chances with Shaq any day of the week. Shaq's best year (99-00): 29.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 57.4 FG%, 52.4% FT% Wilt's 8th-best year (65-66), his 9th season in the league: 33.5 PPG, 24.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 54.0 FG%, 51.3 FT% You be the judge.
June 3, 200917 yr Food for thought: Bill Russell- 15.1 PPG, 22.5. RPG. 11 Championships, 5 MVP. Wilt Chamberlain- 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG. 2 Championships, 4 MVP. Oscar Robertson-25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG. 1 Championship, 1 MVP. Magic Johnson- 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG. 5 Championships, 3 MVP. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG. 6 Championships,6 MVP. Larry Bird- 24.3 PPG, 10 RPG, 6.3 APG. 3 Championships, 3 MVP. Jerry West- 27.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.7 APG. 1 Championship, No MVP's. Modern Era Players: Shaquille O'Neal- 24.7 PPG, 11.2 RPG. 3 Championships, 1 MVP. Kobe Bryant- 25.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.6 APG. 3 Championships, 1 MVP. Tim Duncan- 21.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG. 4 Championships, 2 MVP LeBron James- 27.5 PPG, 7 RPG, 6.7 APG. No championships, 1 MVP. Shaq has 4 championships
June 3, 200917 yr Shaq's best year (99-00): 29.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 57.4 FG%, 52.4% FT% Wilt's 8th-best year (65-66), his 9th season in the league: 33.5 PPG, 24.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 54.0 FG%, 51.3 FT% You be the judge. Shaq would destroy him if they played in the same era. On the court any way. Can't say the same about what each does off the court.
June 3, 200917 yr Actually very hard for me to choose. Jordan is probably the best ever but a case could imo be made for O. Robertson, B. Russell, L. Bird and Wilt as well. So these same ones I mention al could be a mention for #2 as well.
June 3, 200917 yr Shaq would destroy him if they played in the same era. On the court any way. Can't say the same about what each does off the court. Just my opinion but I am not so sure about that, or with Bill Russell. Shag imo may hold with his own but destroy them?......no way.
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