Tag Archives: jordan

It’s Not the Players To Blame…

July 28, 2017 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

Criticizing Kevin Durant for leaving the Thunder to play for the 73-9 Warriors isn’t fair.

Oh yeah, it was an unpopular choice for sure. The idea that Durant, at the time the third best player in basketball, would join a 73 win team that had the second best player in the basketball and an entire array of basketball talent was disappointing (to say the least) from a competitive standpoint. When you play basketball in the playground, you never want to stack the team on one side. What fun is that? Legends like Magic, Larry and Michael talked about how they never would have joined one another, they wanted to beat one another. Quite frankly, it seemed like Durant, and LeBron before him (and others) took the coward’s way out. But they didn’t. They did the right thing. And it isn’t their fault that it had to happen that way. I’ll wait until the end of the article about whose fault it is. But first, let’s go through the reasons of why you can’t blame them for making the moves they made.

Fair or not, everything’s measured through the Championship.

Maybe if Ewing somehow played with MJ instead of against him we’d remember him in a more positive, different light.

As a New York Knicks fan, I’ve toyed with the idea that Patrick Ewing was overrated and the Knicks played better without him (the Ewing theory). But that’s not fair. He’s properly rated (mostly outside of New York) and the Knicks franchise hasn’t been the same since he left. But his legacy is of course, that he wasn’t good enough to be the best player for a title team. His failures are measured more than his successes. How about Kevin Garnett? What would we think of his career if he hadn’t left Minnesota and never won that title in Boston? Charles Barkley and Karl Malone are known as two of Michael Jordan’s victims. Dirk Nowitzki played out of his freakin mind to shed the label of a playoff choker. Heck, fans killed Kobe for not winning his own ring until 2009, even though he had three with Shaq. Some guys move to get their rings. Some guys don’t. Would we be criticizing Steve Nash’s MVPs if he had won the title during one of them?

There’s no reason players shouldn’t go out and have the best career they possibly could.

You think Bosh preferred this or carrying subpar Raptor teams to 40 wins every year?

So how much does legacy mean to these players? For some of them it matters greatly. In fact, I’d argue the biggest difference between players then and players now is that players then cared about their legacy (especially MJ) and now, not so much. They care about their brands now. And you know what, I totally agree. Right now there are people who think Kevin Durant is the best player in basketball. And that’s GREAT for the Kevin Durant brand. If he could guarantee that by going to Golden State, good for him! LeBron thought playing for the Miami Heat was best for him and his brand. We all trashed him for doing it, but he came out of Miami as someone who’s compared to Michael Jordan without someone blinking an eye. He came out of it as the undisputed best player in the world. Does that happen in Cleveland? You think LeBron came back to Cleveland just for the loyalty? No, he came back because it was his best shot at a title. And he was right. These players are grown adults and, like any one of us, should be doing what’s best for themselves. What’s best for their families. What’s best for their money and brand. You think Chris Bosh really cares that people called him soft when joining Miami after those four years changed his career? Why do these adults owe the fans? Because the fans pay money to see them play and buy their gear?

Past players didn’t have to go through what players do today.

Of course Bird wouldn’t have to leave McHale and Parish to win…

Let’s put it this way, if there were 30 teams in basketball in the 80s, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird would have been carrying shit franchises just like LeBron had to. Magic, Bird and MJ can all talk about being loyal and wanting to beat one another, but they also either had stacked teams (McHale, Parish, DJ for Bird, Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar for Magic…and both teams had good role players) or in MJ’s case, was delivered elite-great talent. One of the reason fans are loyal to Kobe is because he allegedly had that old school mentality of being loyal. Of course, that was fiction, Kobe demanded a trade in 2008, rejected going to Chicago for Luol Deng and Ben Gordon cause he thought the Bulls were demolishing their team, and only stayed as the Lakers delivered Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum finally came around. I don’t see Kobe carrying around 45 win teams throughout the late 2000s, let’s just say that (I think there’s some truth for that with MJ too). So, the lesson from the Kobe situation is…

It’s the owners’ fault, not the players.

Let’s look at the major players that switched to “better” teams. Even the ones that weren’t criticized much for it.

LeBron James

The Decision was embarrassing sure. But what exactly did Cleveland do to keep LeBron around? He carried an absolutely dreadful 2007 Cavs team to the Finals. Let’s actually look at that team for a second. 2^nd scorer? Larry Hughes. Hughes the very next year was one of the joke contract New York Knicks. After that we have Drew Gooden, knucklehead that never reached his potential. You had a past his prime Ilgauskas. Role playing Anderson Varejao. Eric Snow was the starting point guard and averaged a whopping 4 and 4 in 23 MPG that season on 42% shooting. Without LeBron this team is at best 25-57. And this was a FINALS team. Let’s see what moves Cleveland made to bring in that Scottie Pippen or Pau Gasol.

For the next season, they added a washed up Ben Wallace and decent shooter Wally Szczerbiak. Both were complete non-factors.

For 08-09, the Cavs make a big splash by adding scorer Mo Williams! Mo has the best year of his career and makes an All-Star Team. Of course, Williams isn’t a difference maker at all, never made an All-NBA team in his life, never sniffed an All-Star Game before or after this year and shot under 35% in four of the six games against Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals. But hey, it’s something!

The next year, the Cavs add a 36 year old Shaquille O’Neal, who missed half the season and was a complete non-factor. They also add Antawn Jamison. Jamison, always a one way player at this point would seem to be the difference maker. Well, my favorite Jamison Cavs memory is making 2010 Kevin Garnett look like 2008 Kevin Garnett in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (a big difference, KG was a 14/7 guy in 2010 after surgery in 2009. KG never scored less than 18 in this series, with a huge 22-12 on 11/19 in the clincher. And Jamison was his primary defender). Jamison was also poor in the series as well.

A 33 year old scorer with no defense and a point guard who had one good (not great, but good) year was the best they could do. And we blame LeBron for leaving?

Chris Paul

Can’t forget about CP3, who demanded a trade to LA and only didn’t get hell for it because of the Laker veto situation that made David Stern to be the bigger evil. Paul had a good team around him as the Hornets were excellent in 07-08. David West was a solid big man. Peja Stojakovic was at the end of his prime, but still a sharpshooter. Tyson Chandler just came around as a defensive and rebounding force (and would win the title with Dallas in that role, as well as help New York become relevant again). Bonzi Wells and Morris Peterson were effective pieces too. This Hornets team was a game away from the Western Conference Finals.

The next year Chandler only plays half the season and Peja slips. Hornets don’t improve personnel wise in any way. Peterson becomes a 12 MPG guy, and Wells is gone. Hornets fall into a losing in Round 1 team.

Chris Paul gets hurt, but the team remains relatively unchanged other than trading Chandler for Emeka Okafor, who was a one way guy (on defense) his whole career. Chandler for Okafor makes sense when you look at the statline. Of course, Chandler was (and is) a much better player than Okafor. Two emerging young players come to light though, Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison.

Collison is traded for Trevor Ariza and midway Thornton is traded for Carl Landry. Hornets are stuck as a First Round team again, although with an injured West Paul takes the Lakers to six games anyway (one of the best forgotten one man shows in recent NBA history).

Switching out a bunch of role players, trading Chandler for Okafor. Way to trap Chris Paul on a one and done team. And you wonder why he wanted to play for the Lakers…and didn’t mind the Clippers with Blake Griffin.

Dwight Howard

Dwight had led the 2009 Magic to a surprising NBA Finals berth. Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson were all interesting options around him, especially since Dwight wasn’t one to take a lot of shots. Still, this is what Orlando built for Dwight.

Orlando admittedly takes a good shot with Vince Carter. Unfortunately, it’s a past his prime Vince Carter. Magic lose in the ECF.

Carter continues to be a non-factor, Turkoglu is losing his edge, Lewis only played 25 games (and was probably off PEDs). Jason Richardson was a decent addition I guess. To get Dwight elite help the Magic laughably added Gilbert Arenas, who was beyond done at this point.

Penny and T-Mac should be embarrassed their jersey number was used here.

Ryan Anderson emerges as a viable option while Nelson, Turkoglu and Richardson all regress. Arenas, Carter and Lewis are all gone.

Past his prime Vince Carter, a done Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson. Just the elite star Dwight was looking for. (Although, to be fair, Dwight is a headcase anyway).

Kevin Durant

Ahha, how can I spin Kevin Durant into this conversation? He just left the guy who won MVP! Well let me ask you something. If your owner, if your boss told you he was going to put money ahead of building a better team or organization. How would you feel? You’d potentially want to leave, right? Well, I present to you the following:

James Harden: October 27, 2012: Traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder with Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to the Houston Rockets for Jeremy Lamb, Kevin Martin, a 2013 1st round draft pick (Steven Adams was later selected), a 2013 2nd round draft pick (Alex Abrines was later selected) and a 2014 1st round draft pick (Mitch McGary was later selected).

Why was that done? Because OKC didn’t want to go over the luxury tax to pay Harden. You know, the guy who was top three in the MVP race this year. He immediately made the Rockets a Western Conference force. And it was thought Harden was good at that point too. The Thunder put money over winning the title, there’s no way around that. And if Oklahoma City wasn’t serious about winning the title…

….how can I blame Kevin Durant for going to a team that was?

Basketball

The Disappointing State of the NBA All-Star Game

February 20, 2017 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

My favorite All-Star game among the four sports is a mess.

Don’t get me wrong. Apparently the NBA All-Star Game and the weekend as a whole is a success. Early reports stated that ratings for the weekend have been at its highest point in four years. Which perhaps is all that matters.

But watching the game last night? Watching 24 (estimate, way too lazy to look up just how many players were in the game) of the greatest basketball talents in the world drift through the game like it was a random scrimmage rings empty and hollow. And ultimately disappointing.

All-Star games aren’t supposed to matter. They are exhibitions. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be meaningful in some way. Those who watch or attend want to see exciting plays from their favorite players, and since this is a game, want to see a winner. This couldn’t be more apparent than at the 2002 Major League Baseball All-Star game, which infamously and embarrassingly ended in a 7-7 tie as both teams ran out of available players. Major League Baseball decided that beginning in 2003 the best idea would be to bastardize their world championship each year by having homefield in the World Series be decided by the result of the All-Star Game. Combine that with the other silly rule about each time having a representative in the All-Star Game and you can’t help by laugh at Major League Baseball. The NFL is no better, although this is less of a fault of the NFL. The game resembles a flag football game by necessity as no one wants to risk injury. This didn’t stop the NFL from messing around with its locations and rules anyway. And I’m not quite sure what’s going on with the NHL’s All-Star game other than it seems to be a four team tournament or something. Whatever.

But the NBA’s All-Star Game? It was pretty perfect all things considered. It obviously had some problems by All-Star Game standards: fan voting, players not going all out for 100% of the time, etc. But the nature of basketball means player competitive juices flow at all times. In no other league can you have 10 of the best players in the world on the court at the same time looking to beat one another. Individual pride is something that seems to matter more in the NBA than any other big sport. And if the game was close, things got good at the end.

Want proof? Remember in 2013 when Kobe blocked LeBron over and over in the final few minutes? Commentary told us how this was Kobe’s chance to remind LeBron who the best was. LeBron of course got heckled the year before in the 2012 All-Star Game when LeBron passed off a potential game winning shot to Deron Williams. We all cared about that one too. (Side note: One of the hecklers was Kobe…which was funny since he did the same thing in 2001). Speaking of Kobe, how about his coming out party in the 1998 All-Star Game? Knowing all eyes were on him and that he had Michael Jordan on the other side of the ball, Kobe showed off his best moves to show he arrived. What about in 1987, where Magic Johnson, looking to win at all costs, fed Tom Chambers in the pick and roll down the stretch to win the game? How upset were all of us when Michael Jordan’s potential winner in 2003 was ruined by Jermaine O’Neal’s dumb foul on Kobe? My favorite example of this is in 2001. The East were big underdogs because the West had all these monsters (Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, etc.) and the East were led by guards. Only Dikembe Mutombo did all the big man work (22 rebounds) and the East completed a comeback because Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury refused to let them lose. That’s what I miss about the NBA All-Star Game.

But last night? It was all about getting the hometown boy the MVP with his 50 points and breaking a Wilt record. Or some Durant vs. Westbrook drama that didn’t go anywhere. Last night there was no one challenging LeBron like Kobe did in 2013, or like Kobe challenged MJ in 1998 (Side Note to this too: MJ did win the Game MVP, so he accepted the challenge obviously). The game was close in the 4^th, and Reggie Miller kept bring up during commentary that “this is where the game usually buckles down and players play hard”. Only they didn’t. Someday a team will drop 200 (we’re getting pretty close now). Or even an individual player will drop 100. Maybe NBA fans will like that.

I’ll just be thinking about when players actually had some pride.

Basketball

Sports Oddities: Michael Adams

September 23, 2016 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

This series of articles (looking to do it bi-weekly…but have failed at that) focuses on a bizarre or oddball statistical anomaly that played in professional sports. I probably will run out of players to do this with eventually though.

Only three players in NBA history have had a season where they averaged at least 26 points per game and 10 assists per game. Oscar Robertson did it during his statistical dominance in the early 1960s. Tiny Archibald did it during his famous (or infamous?) season where he led the league in PPG and APG. The third guy? It wasn’t a big name like Michael Jordan or Jerry West. No, not even close.

The third guy was Michael Adams.

How did this happen? Before the 1990-1991 NBA season Adams’ previously had a season PPG high of 15.5 and 6.3 APG. Not even close to his crazy 26.5 PPG, 10.5 APG season in 90-91. Adams didn’t even get recognition for these seemingly MVP level stats either, as he didn’t make an All-NBA or even All-Star team. What Adams was a product of was the Paul Westhead insane pace play no defense Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets scored 118 PPG but let up over 130.

The box scores against the Nuggets were insane. A few games into the season the Phoenix Suns dropped 107 on them…in the first half (and 173 total). Nine times they allowed over 150 points in a game, all in regulation. Too bad fantasy sports didn’t exist back then, streaming against and owning Nuggets would have been all the rage.

As for Adams, he got to be the star (along with Orlando Woolridge) of this team and as a result got the big stats. But to be fair to him, he played for the Bullets the next year, put up a solid 18-7 and made the 1992 All-Star Game. He looks rather out of place in the All-Star Game…but he got there at least, right?

Basketball

Top 100 Basketball Player of All Time – 2016 Edition

June 26, 2016 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

We are a week removed from the NBA Finals and its result shook the foundation of my Top 100 (and should have shaken everyone’s Top lists). So let’s look through my Top 100 and see what’s changed.

Dropped out: Mark Price
Unfortunately for Price a new player has joined the Top 100, and that means Price drops out. Perhaps next year I’ll expand to a Top 125.

100. Tom Chambers (-1)
99. Tim Hardaway (-1)
98. Manu Ginobili (-1) – Could be a big playoffs away from going up about 10 spots, but it looks like he’s done and may retire.
97. Alonzo Mourning (-1)
96. Dikembe Mutombo (-1)
95. Yao Ming (-1)
94. Vince Carter (-1) – I feel like I have to re-evaluate Carter in the future. Is he really better than Mutombo, Mourning, Yao?
93. Carmelo Anthony (-1) – Needs something to move up. Not making the playoffs in the East these days is inexcusable if you’re a top player.
92. Kevin Johnson (-1)
91. Shawn Kemp (-1)

Everyone in this group dropped a spot as the new entry is already in the 80s.

90. Robert Horry (-1)
89. Chris Mullin (-1)
88. Bob Dandridge (-1)
87. Paul Westphal (-1)
86. Dan Issel (-1)
85. Artis Gilmore (-1)
84. Russell Westbrook (NEW) – With his first NBA 1st Team selection, as well as being part of a dangerous 1-2 punch with Kevin Durant that almost beat the 73 win Warriors, it was impossible to deny Westbrook a Top 100 spot. I feel like he’s at the level of Tracy McGrady at the moment, but Westbrook is still young and will probably only trend upwards.
83. Tracy McGrady
82. Joe Dumars
81. Sidney Moncrief

Westbrook’s the only new player in the Top 100.
80. Lenny Wilkins
79. Earl Monroe
78. Tony Parker – Looking like he’s close to done as well. Will need a big season or playoffs to really move up at all.
77. Chris Webber
76. David Thompson
75. Jerry Lucas
74. Pete Maravich
73. Dwight Howard (-1) – Drops a spot to Bosh, will explain below.
72. Chris Bosh (+1) – Passes Howard, will explain below.
71. Dennis Rodman

Really liked how Chris Bosh played this year, even though he unfortunately was done after 53 games because of his heart (and his career might be over). While Dwight performed below expectations once again Bosh was the leader of a Heat team that I think could have given Cleveland a run for their money had he been healthy. Combine this with Bosh’s transformation as a top role player/third guy on the Heat title teams and I think his career is slightly more impressive than Howards. Yeah, Dwight had a better peak, but I’ll take Bosh’s overall career this time. Dwight SHOULD be better than what he is though.

70. Adrian Dantley
69. Alex English
68. Bob McAdoo
67. Tom Heihnson
66. Tiny Archibald
65. Pau Gasol – Impressive that Gasol keeps going, but I think I need to see one more good playoff run to consider putting him in the Top 60.
64. Reggie Miller
63. Bill Sharmin
62. Dave Debusschere
61. Robert Parish

No movement here. Only one that can change their legacy is Gasol.
60. Bernard King
59. Elvin Hayes
58. Dolph Schayes
57. Paul Arizin
56. Dominique Wilkins
55. Billy Cunningham (-1)
54. Hal Greer (-1)
53. Nate Thurmond (-1)
52. Wes Unseld (-1)
51. Chris Paul (+4)

CP3 is one of the toughest to rank. His advanced stats are incredible and he’s clearly a positive on his team. How much of it is his fault that he can’t get out of Round 2? Yes, he keeps running into the juggernauts of the West, but he should have at least been able to get by some of them, right? (He had home court vs. the Spurs in 2008 in Game 7 and was up 3-1 on the Rockets in 2015). I think in terms of success CP3 isn’t much different than Dominique. They just can’t get past those juggernauts of their respective conferences. This year injuries cost Paul a chance at a deep playoff run. But he’s running out of time. He’ll probably inch towards the top 40 with these continual great seasons, but unless there’s some playoff success that’s probably as far as he’d go.

50. James Worthy
49. Dennis Johnson
48. Bill Walton (-1)
47. Ray Allen (-1)
46. Chauncey Billups (-1)
45. George Gervin (-1)
44. Sam Jones (-1)
43. Clyde Drexler (-1)
42. George Mikan (-1)
41. Jason Kidd (-1)

We had one player move up…we’ll get there eventually.
40. Paul Pierce (-1)
39. Allen Iverson (-1)
38. Gary Payton (-1)
37. Patrick Ewing (-1)
36. Dave Cowens (-2)
35. Steve Nash (-2)
34. Kevin Durant (+1) – It seems like a minimal move for Durant. On one hand I was super impressed that he got past the Spurs. On the other hand, he needed one more really big performance to get past Golden State and didn’t get it done. His career is impressive no doubt, but I’m going to need more for him to break into the Top 30.
33. Kevin McHale (-1)
32. Walt Frazier (-1)
31. Willis Reed (-1)

All of these drops are because of the player who went up from the 40s. Durant obviously has potential to move up a lot depending on how things go from here.

30. Rick Barry (-1)
29. Bob Cousy (-1)
28. John Stockon (-1)
27. Stephen Curry (+20) – I was ready to put him into the Top 15 until the collapse against the Spurs happened. Despite an incredible year (.318 WS/48!) and a unanimous MVP, we’re left at the end of the season wonder if he’s even the league’s best player (he’s not). He’s failed to dominate in two straight Finals now, winning the first one arguably because the 2015 Cavs were decimated by injuries and simply overmatched. He’s still headed to the Top 20 (and maybe Top 10), but the train definitely slowed down in the Finals.
26. David Robinson
25. Elgin Baylor
24. John Havlicek
23. Bob Pettit
22. Scottie Pippen
21. Isiah Thomas

Only change here is the addition of Curry.

20. Dwyane Wade – Had a chance to add onto his legacy but couldn’t get it done. His best days are past him, but a surprisingly good run could get him to the Top 15.
19. Karl Malone
18. Charles Barkley
17. Julius Erving
16. Oscar Robertson
15. Wilt Chamberlain
14. Kevin Garnett
13. Dirk Nowitzki – As impressive that he’s still the key member of some solid playoff teams, any shot at the Top 10 is probably dead.
12. Jerry West
11. Moses Malone

No changes here. Only Wade and Nowitzki can change their legacies (and perhaps Garnett?)

10. Kobe Bryant – These last three seasons did nothing for me to think he deserves to go any higher. This past season was especially embarrassing and held back the Laker future.
9. Hakeem Olajuwon
8. Shaquille O’Neal
7. Larry Bird
6. Tim Duncan (-1) – Looks like he’s run out of gas, which is a shame. While I wouldn’t rule him out of being an elite role player next year I don’t know if that’s going to be enough to get back into the Top 5.
5. Magic Johnson (-1)
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (-1)
3. LeBron James (+3) – We’ll get to the Kareem vs. LeBron vs. Russell arguments shortly.
2. Bill Russell
1. Michael Jordan

LeBron James obviously put himself into GOAT discussion with his 2016 NBA Finals performance. I still think he has a bit to go to get to MJ (but at least it’s a discussion. That wasn’t guaranteed at all at this point), but he CAN get there. I think he clearly gets to jump Duncan and Magic here. Kareem was a tough choice, but I think LeBron’s been more impressive against better average talent than Kareem was in the 70s (not to say Kareem wasn’t impressive against good teams, it’s just that I find LeBron to be better). Lebron vs. Russell you can go back and forth with all day and I thought about it for a few days. For me it becomes a bit of a hardware argument. It’s not to say LeBron needs 11 rings, but I’d like to see #4 or #5 before I’m taking him over the best winner in NBA history.

Basketball

Top 100 Greatest Basketball Players Of All-Time: The Top 10

January 6, 2016 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

#10. Kobe Bryant

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’08)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’09, ’10)

NBA All-1^st Team: 11x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ‘13)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’00, ’01)

NBA All-3rd Team: 2x (’99, ’05)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 9x (’00, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘11)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’01, ’02, ‘12)

NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team: 1x (’97)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 4x (’02, ’07, ’09, ‘11)

NBA All-Star: 17x (’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ‘15)

NBA Points Leader: 4x (’03, ’06, ’07, ’08)

NBA Top 10 Points: 12x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ‘13)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 3x (’03, ’06, ‘08)

NBA Top 10 PER: 11x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ‘13)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 8x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ‘13)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 7x (’00, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’08, ’09)

NBA Career Points: 3rd

NBA Career Assists: 29^th

NBA Career Steals: 14th

NBA Career Win Shares: 15th

Best Player on Two Champions: ’09 Lakers, ’10 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Three Champions: ’00 Lakers, ’01 Lakers, ’02 Lakers

Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’04 Lakers, ’08 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 8th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 10th

I probably don’t have to argue that Kobe Bryant is a top 10 player in basketball history, but I probably do I have to defend my stance that he’s not in the top 5. So while it isn’t my intention to write a negative Kobe Bryant piece…there’s a chance it’ll come off that way.

First, let’s go over the arguments of why Bryant is in the top 10 and why he should receive some recognition for even being ranked higher.

First, he has five rings. Many will say that he was at least even with Shaq for those first three rings (which isn’t true, although it’s arguable for 2002). Of course the five rings (and two other Finals appearances) is great, but it can’t be forgotten that Bryant wasn’t even All-NBA 1^st team for two of them.

The 81 point game. It’s obviously quite impressive. He arguably could have done this twice too with his 62 point game no one remembers against Dallas (a much tougher opponent than the terrible Raptors team he scored the 81 against) where he only played 32 minutes, sitting out the entire 4^th. Of course, when you were allowed to shoot as much as Kobe could in 2006 (2 assists in the 81 point game, 0 in the 62 point game) an explosion like that was definitely on the table.

He took Smush Parker to the playoffs! Yes, the ’06 and ’07 Lakers were pretty awful and Kobe getting them to the playoffs is a hell of an achievement. We’ll get to that.

Ok, so why isn’t Kobe higher than 10?

He arguably was never the best player in the league for one. He wasn’t even the correct choice for MVP when he won it in 2008 (Chris Paul was). You can argue that he correctly was never the MVP of the league (although, I think I’d give it to him in 2006). Every other player on this list, with perhaps the exception of one, clearly was the best player in the league at one point. Amazingly, for a big time scorer, Bryant was never super efficient, failing to crack 47% shooting for a season even once in his career. His advanced metrics are slightly disappointing.

Secondly, Kobe Bryant was given everything to succeed. He began his career with arguably the greatest low post presence in NBA history. After that he got Phil Jackson as his Head Coach. After pissing off both Shaq and Jackson (read Jackson’s book “The Last Season”. It’s shocking Kobe and Phil got back together after that), he went through a tough season and got Jackson back. When he couldn’t get out of Round 1, he was gifted not only a budding Andrew Bynum, but Pau Gasol for basically free. Has another other big name superstar received so much help in his career? It should be pointed out that without elite help, Kobe could never get past Round 1. He had a chance to in 2006 against the Suns up 3-1. The Lakers lost 4-3.

Twice early on when everyone thought Kobe and Shaq were equals, Kobe had a chance to lead the Lakers but failed. The first time was in the 2002 season, where Kobe led Laker teams were 5-8 while Shaq was out. The 2^nd time was the 2004-2005 season. Despite hand checking being outlawed and the league moving to a perimeter based game, Kobe suffered without Shaq and Jackson, and failed to enter the group of players that guaranteed you a playoff berth when healthy and in their peak.

Lastly, Kobe Bryant’s “clutchness” is slightly overblown. He actually didn’t have a great shooting percentage late in 4^th quarters and absolutely bombed and was saved in the biggest game of his career (Game 7 vs. the Celtics in 2010, Bryant shot 6 for 24, but the Lakers came back with Kobe on the bench). I would probably say he was very good, but not great, when it mattered.

Kobe will historically never be treated fairly. Everyone wanted him to be the next Michael Jordan and while he clearly never was that…he still was great overall and his accomplishments can’t be denied.

#9. Hakeem Olajuwon

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’94)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’94, ‘95)

NBA All-1^st Team: 6x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’93, ’94, ‘97)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 3x (’86, ’90, ‘96)

NBA All-3rd Team: 2x (’95, ‘99)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 2x (’93, ’94)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 5x (’87, ’88, ’90, ’93, ‘94)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 4x (’85, ’91, ’96, ‘97)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’85)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 2x (’89, ‘90)

NBA Blocks Leader: 2x (’90, ’93)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 5x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91)

NBA Top 10 Points: 8x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ‘97)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 10x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 2x (’89, ’90)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 14x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘99)

NBA Top 10 PER: 13x (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘99)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’93, ‘94)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 13x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 5x (’86, ’87, ’89, ’93, ‘94)

NBA Career Points: 10th

NBA Career Blocks: 1st

NBA Career Steals: 8^th

NBA Career Rebounds: 13th

NBA Career Win Shares: 15^th

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 4^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 18^th

NBA Career WS/48: 44th

Best Player on Two Champions: ’94 Rockets, ’95 Rockets

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’86 Rockets

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 11th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 13^th

Hakeem Olajuwon gets the nod over Kobe for one big reason: there’s a two year stretch where without a shadow of a doubt Hakeem was the best player in the league. After having a huge 1993 and bringing the Rockets back to relevancy, Hakeem followed up with a great 1994 and filled the void left by the retirement of Michael Jordan. Hakeem had a 27-13-4-4 season, leading the Rockets to 58 wins despite not having a real 2^nd guy (Kenny Smith? Otis Thorpe?). The Rockets ripped through the playoffs, only going the distance against Charles Barkley’s Suns in seven games. In the Finals against a superior Knicks team, Olajuwon owned Patrick Ewing and the Rockets came back down 3-2. Hakeem in Game 6? A 30-10-4. In Game 7? A 25-10-7-3. While the Rockets struggled record wise in 1995, Hakeem again led them throughout the playoffs. After getting through Malone’s Jazz and Barkley’s Suns, Hakeem went against 1995 MVP David Robinson and showed him who the real MVP was. Go on youtube and see for yourself, the video is titled Hakeem dominates Robinson. Hakeem would go on to average a 33-12-6 in the Finals against Shaquille O’Neal, and Shaq has gone on record about just how great Hakeem was.

If that doesn’t convince you, Hakeem was always great anyway. He came into the league and immediately led the Rockets to the playoffs. In his 2^nd year he was good enough to lead the Rockets to the Finals with Ralph Sampson and came within two games of upsetting the 1986 Celtics. The Rockets around him imploded basically making Hakeem an earlier version of Kevin Garnett, leading bad teams to the playoffs every year. The best example of Hakeem’s no help? In the 1988 Playoffs, Hakeem averaged 38-17-2-3 including a 41-26 game, yet the Rockets still lost in four. Maybe that shouldn’t have surprised anyone since the season before in Game 6 against Seattle he put up a 49-25 in a losing effort.

Hakeem is the greatest defensive center of the modern era. He beat all of his rivals (Ewing, Robinson and Shaq) in big moments in a two year span and left no question about who the best player in the NBA was when Jordan was gone. And speaking of Jordan, well, one city that doesn’t seem to care that they drafted someone else ahead of Jordan is Houston. That’s how great Hakeem is.

#8. Shaquille O’Neal

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’00)

NBA Finals MVP: 3x (’00, ’01, ‘02)

NBA All-1^st Team: 8x (’98, ’00, 01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ‘06)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘95)

NBA All-3rd Team: 4x (’94, ’96, ’97, ‘09)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’00, ’01, ‘03)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’93)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’93)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 3x (’00, ’04, ’09)

NBA All-Star: 15x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ‘09)

NBA Points Leader: 3x (’95, ’99, ’00)

NBA FG% Leader: 10x (’94, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’09)

NBA PER Leader: 5x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’00, ’01)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 2x (’00, ’02)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 1x (‘00)

NBA Top 10 Points: 9x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ‘03)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 8x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’03, ‘05)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 8x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’00, ’01, ’03, ’04, ‘05)

NBA Top 10 PER: 14x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ‘06)

NBA Top 6 Win Shares: 7x (’94, ’95, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03)

NBA Top 6 WS/48: 8x (’94, ’95, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’05)

NBA Career Points: 7th

NBA Career Blocks: 8th

NBA Career Rebounds: 14th

NBA Career Win Shares: 15^th

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 4^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 11th

NBA Career WS/48: 15th

Best Player on Three Champions: ’00 Lakers, ’01 Lakers, ’02 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on One Champion: ’06 Heat

Best Player on One Runner-up: ’95 Magic

2^nd Best Player on One Runner-up: ’04 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 12th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 4th

Shaquille O’Neal could have been #1 on this list. There are two trains of thought of why he never reached those heights. The first is that he never really took basketball as seriously as he could have except for 2000. For a while I agreed with this, reading stories about Shaq not being in shape and several players over the years complaining about that. But once I read Shaq’s book and he wrote about how his body needed to recover more than others due to the pounding he took, I changed the course on my opinion about Shaq’s effort. His body was unique and in a lot of ways its incredible he didn’t break down like Yao or others that were bigger than the standard (well he did at the end). So I tend to agree with the 2^nd course, that if Shaq went all out his body would have fallen apart, and he maximized the strengths his body gave him.

And maximized he did. Shaq dominated the NBA for most of his career and especially in the early 2000s. He was taken for granted, with fans complaining he was only good because of his power and not talent (which was ridiculous). Didn’t matter to Shaq. Once Phil Jackson came into play Shaq was able to channel his focus and energy and basically kicked the NBA’s ass; absolutely dominating in 2000. He probably should have been the 2001 MVP as well (and 2005) and destroyed Dikembe Mutombo in the 2001 Finals.

The Lakers would eventually choose Kobe over Shaq, and Shaq made them pay by winning a title in 2006 (and possibly would have in 2005 had Wade not went down in the Conference Finals). Shaq still had some solid years left at the end of his career too, playing decently in 2009 and becoming a great role player in 2011.

While Tim Duncan held the “best player alive” title for perhaps one season in 1999 post-MJ, Shaq owned it through 2002. During those early 2000s years no could go toe to toe with Shaq. Not Mutombo, not Duncan, not anyone.

#7. Larry Bird

Resume

NBA MVP: 3x (’84, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’84, ‘86)

NBA All-1^st Team: 9x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ‘88)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘90)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’82, ’83, ‘84)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’80)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’80)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘82)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’90, ’91, ‘92)

NBA FT% Leader: 4x (’84, ’86, ’87, ’90)

NBA PER Leader: 2x (’85, ‘86)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’85, ‘86)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 2x (’85, ‘86)

NBA Defensive Win Share Leader: 4x (’80, ’81, ’84, ’86)

NBA Top 10 Points: 6x (’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ‘88)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 7x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ‘85)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 3x (’81, ’84, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 PER: 7x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 9x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ‘88)

NBA Top 6 WS/48: 7x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ‘88)

NBA Career Points: 31st

NBA Career Rebounds: 50th

NBA Career Win Shares: 23rd

NBA Career WS/48: 20th

Best Player on Three Champions: ’81 Celtics, ’84 Celtics, ’86 Celtics

Best Player on Two Runner-ups: ’85 Celtics, ’87 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 5th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 9th

The moment Larry Legend stepped onto the court he was the best player in the NBA. Boston, during a rare slump, had missed the playoffs two straight seasons and came off a 29-53 year. Bird showed up, and here are your win totals for his first nine seasons: 61, 62, 63, 56, 62, 63, 67, 59 and 57. With Magic, he’s credited with saving the NBA. And how did he do it? Be being great. By being a winner and creating and being a big reason each and every NBA season was compelling. He had a competitive streak that only guys like Jordan and Russell matched. For the stat counters he’s arguably the reason Fantasy Basketball was created (PTS+AST+REB, the Larry Bird League).

We also loved how Bird played. At times he would run around to the opposing team’s bench just to hit a three pointer in their face. He once asked an opposing crowd to get louder when shooting a free throw. He walked into the inaugural three point contest and asked “who’s coming in second?” then of course, won the contest. He led teams that ripped through the two best young players in the league in Jordan and Olajuwon. If it weren’t for Magic and the Lakers, the Celtics might have just won four straight titles.

As for dominance, look at his 1985 season: 28.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 52-43-88%s. And it wasn’t like the other seasons were much worse. Even after his back betrayed him, he had a great 1990 and put up solid efforts in 1991 and 1992.

He’s 7^th only because of that. If Bird had started earlier or had been able to extend his career, perhaps he could be in the Top 5, but the six players ahead of him were just so dominant at certain points I just can’t put Bird ahead.

#6. LeBron James

Resume

NBA MVP: 4x (’09, ’10, ’12, ‘13)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’12, ‘13)

NBA All-1^st Team: 9x (’06, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’05, ‘07)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 5x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’14)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’04)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’04)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2x (’06, ‘08)

NBA All-Star: 11x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ‘15)

NBA PER Leader: 6x (’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 5x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 5x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA Top 10 Points: 12x (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 7x (’05, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 5x (’05, ’08, ’09, ’11, ‘12)

NBA Top 10 PER: 11x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA Top 4 Win Shares: 10x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 10x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Career Points: 17^th

NBA Career Assists: 22^nd

NBA Career Steals: 30th

NBA Career Win Shares: 10th

NBA Career WS/48: 6th

Best Player on Two Champions: ’12 Heat, ’13 Heat

Best Player on Four Runner-ups: ’07 Cavs, ’11 Heat, ’14 Heat, ’15 Cavs

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 20th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 31st

Like Wilt, LeBron gets criticized for the times he falls short way more than he should be, and his successes aren’t given enough credit. Let’s look at those criticisms and tear (most of) them apart.

He’s 2-4 in the NBA Finals.

Only one of these losses go against LeBron, which is the 2011 Finals where he failed to assert himself in a very winnable series. Other than that, you can’t really blame him. He ripped apart the ’07 Pistons and that Cavs team (absolutely awful without LeBron) stood no chance against the ’07 Spurs. In 2014 the Heat weren’t as strong as the year before as they battled injures (especially to Dwyane Wade) and Kwahi Leonard stepped up and became a superstar. Remember, people thought the 2013 Spurs were the best team in NBA history to not win the NBA title. In 2015 the Warriors from top to bottom were so much better than the Cavs it might have been the biggest mismatch in NBA history once Kyrie Irving went down. LeBron still got it to six games. Has anyone gotten to the Finals with less talent than LeBron on his team?

He’s not clutch.

Yeah, he is. Once again everyone like to point out the failures (like him missing the potential game winning shot in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals) and totally ignore the successes (the 48 Special against Detroit in 2007, the shot vs. Orlando in 2009 and the shot against Chicago in 2015). He has a high FG% late in games, much higher than someone like Kobe.

He gave up on Cleveland.

This was admittedly pretty bad. The 2010 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals was quite embarrassing for LeBron, and we still don’t know what was going on there. But it’s not as if other great players didn’t let their teams down late either. The only ones who escape this really are Jordan, Russell, Duncan and Bird.

The East has been weak throughout LeBron’s career.

It was in Jordan’s too. And it wasn’t like they were all bad teams. Those early Wizards teams had talent (Gilbert, Butler and Jamison), Detroit had won a NBA title and nearly won a 2^nd one, and Chicago was no slouch in 2011 or 2015. Plus he averaged a triple double against the 60 win Hawks last year.

So let’s look at the positives.

He has some of the most clutch games ever.

He has the highest Game 7 scoring average in NBA history. His Game 5 against Detroit in the Conference Finals (the 48 special) gave him no ceiling whatsoever as a player (48-9-7, scored 25 of the last 26 Cleveland points). In perhaps the most important game of his career (up to that point), down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals to Boston with no titles yet to his name, in Boston, he went for a 45-15 on 19/26 shooting, ending Boston’s last shot at a title. He clinched the title with a 26-13. He followed that up in the 2013 NBA Finals, once again down 3-2, with two spectacular games: a 32-10-11 and a 37-12 in the clincher. And in losing, he averaged a 36-13-9 in the 2015 NBA Finals (admittedly did shoot poorly).

He has some of the best Advanced Metrics ever.

In the modern era, he has the best WS/48 season ever (better than Jordan) and four of the top 11 overall. He’s already 10^th on the career win shares list. He had a staggering .399 WS/48 in the ’09 playoffs.

He was undoubtedly the best player in the NBA for six straight years.

Sorry Kobe fans, but give LeBron Pau Gasol in ’09 or ’10 and he’s winning the title too. ’11 Derrick Rose won the MVP and got owned by LeBron in the Conference Finals. ’12 and ’13 are obvious. ’14 Durant might have won the MVP, but it was unclear how effective he was without Westbrook.

LeBron still has a shot at the top 3 (even #1, unlikely as that is). I expect Cleveland to be in the Finals again in ’16 too.

#5. Tim Duncan

Resume

NBA MVP: 2x (’02, ‘03)

NBA Finals MVP: 3x (’99, ’03, ‘05)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’07, ‘13)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 3x (’06, ’08, ‘09)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 1x (’15)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 8x (’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’07, ‘08)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 7x (’98, ’04, ’06, ’09, ’10, ’13, ‘15)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’98)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’98)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘00)

NBA All-Star: 15x (’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ‘15)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 1x (’02)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’02, ’03)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 4x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’13)

NBA Offensive Win Shares Leader: 1x (’02)

NBA Defensive Win Shares Leader: 5x (’98, ’99, ’01, ’06, ’07)

NBA Top 10 Points: 4x (’98, ’99, ’02, ’03)

NBA Top 8 Rebounds: 12x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 15x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’11, ’13, ’14, ‘15)

NBA Top 10 PER: 13x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘13)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 9x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03 ,’04, ’07, ‘10)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 13x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘15)

NBA Career Points: 14th

NBA Career Rebounds: 7th

NBA Career Blocks: 5th

NBA Career Win Shares: 6th

NBA Career WS/48: 13^th

Career Defensive Rating: 2nd

Best Player on Five Champions: ’99 Spurs, ’03 Spurs, ’05 Spurs, ’07 Spurs, ’14 Spurs

Best Player on One Runner-up: ’13 Spurs

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 7th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 8^th

Without a doubt the most consistent superstar ever. I don’t think I have to defend Duncan’s high ranking, but I probably have to defend putting him above Kobe Bryant. The fact of the matter is Duncan got two advantages in his career, and one didn’t really pan out until 2005ish. He was lucky to end up in a great system with Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili very good 2^nd and 3^rd options (but not great). Unlike Kobe, Duncan came into the league and was immediately great (NBA All-1^st Team his Rookie Year!), and in year 2 he became the face of the Spurs over David Robinson. He temporarily grabbed the “Best Player Alive” Championship in only his 2^nd year, winning the 1999 Championship and holding off Shaq. Even in Shaq’s three year era of dominance, Duncan (rightfully) took a MVP and took back the Best Player Alive title. His dominant 2003 season is one of the best ever in regards to carrying a team. He wins MVP, gets San Antonio by the Lakers with little help (roster that year, a 19 year old Parker, Stephen Jackson, Bruce Bowen, a washed up Robinson and Manu, who was still a low minute bench guy).

Still, he spanked the Lakers in the 2^nd Round (games of 28-7-8, 28-11, 36-9, 27-14 and 37-16 in the clincher in LA no less). With the Spurs falling apart around him, he carried them in the 2003 NBA Finals with one of the best Finals performances ever (the Spurs had used Speedy Claxton at some points because Parker wasn’t playing well…Speedy Claxton!) Here’s Duncan’s 2003 NBA Finals: A 32-20-6-7Blk in Game 1, a 21-16-7 in Game 3, a 23-17-7Blk in Game 4, a 29-17 in Game 5 and a 21-20-10-8blk in the clincher (that’s right, a near quadruple double no one talks about today for some reason).

He hit a clutch shot right before Fisher’s miracle .4 seconds shot that no one remembers because of Fisher. He won the ’05 title, dealing with Ben and Rasheed Wallace in the Finals. In 2007 with the league changing to favor offense, Duncan’s defense shut down any teams that had a slasher (like LeBron in the ’07 Finals). Continually was one of the best players in the league through 2015, saving himself for the playoffs and taking less money to let the Spurs build their roster (he averaged a 15-10 with 58% shooting in the ’14 Finals win). Even in a loss, he played great in his last playoff series as well, averaging a 18-11 in the Round 1 exit last year against the Clippers (who had DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin in the middle). That included a 27-11 in the Game 7 loss. In Duncan’s entire run in the NBA, he never played for a team that won less than 50 games (’99 lockout season they won 37, but the winning % was higher than a 50 win season).

Today Duncan’s taken a smaller role than ever, but I wouldn’t rule him out for having a big playoffs. It may be Leonard’s team now, but I think everyone knows who the top guy is in the Spurs locker room.

#4. Magic Johnson

Resume

NBA MVP: 3x (’87, ’89, ‘90)

NBA Finals MVP: 3x (’80, ’82, ’87)

NBA All-1^st Team: 9x (’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘82)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’80)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2x (’90, ‘92)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’80, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ‘92)

NBA Assists Leader: 3x (’83, ’86, ‘87)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (‘87)

NBA Top 10 Points: 1x (‘87)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 11x (’80, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 4x (’80, ’82, ’83, ‘84)

NBA Top 10 PER: 10x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 10x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 10x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 8x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’89, ’90, ’91)

NBA Career Assists: 5th

NBA Career Steals: 19th

NBA Career Win Shares: 20th

NBA Career WS/48: 8th

Career Defensive Rating: 3rd

Best Player on Two Champions: ’87 Lakers, ’88 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Three Champions: ’80 Lakers, ’82 Lakers, ’85 Lakers

Best Player on Two Runner-ups: ’89 Lakers, ’91 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’83 Lakers, ’84 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 4th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 6^th

Took the “Best Player Alive” title from Bird in 1987, only to kind of co-hold it with Jordan for the next few years until he retired. He gets the edge on Bird because he was able to peak when Bird unfortunately fell apart.

Magic was also great right away. While he didn’t make All-NBA teams right away, his performance in the 1980 Finals made him a legend as a rookie. With Kareem being out, Magic played center and had a 42-15-7. Then, we almost lost him, as Magic almost became one of those young guys given way too much too soon. Of course, LA thought it was a good idea for Magic to share point guard duties with Norm Nixon for some reason. Magic rebounded in ’82 with a near season average of a triple double. Magic would peak after Nixon was traded, but still in the 1984 Finals he had one of the most unclutch performances by a top guy in NBA history (threw ball away on a potential game winning play in Game 2, missed two clutch free throws in Game 4 and had two late turnovers to cost LA in Game 7). Still, Magic helped win the ’85 title, then took over for an aging Kareem as the alpha dog on the Lakers. After Hakeem and Sampson roughed up Kareem in 1986, Magic became the best player in the league, leading the Lakers to four more Finals appearances in the next five years, despite Kareem falling apart and retiring. In that five year span: Two Rings, Two MVPs, Four Finals appearances. We also have no idea if LA could have come back in ’89 as Magic got injured in the series.

It should be noted that when Magic joined the Lakers, LA had the following win totals: 60, 54, 57, 58, 54, 62, 62, 65, 62, 57, 63 and 58. He made the Finals nine times in 13 seasons (not counting what comeback in ’96). He took over for Kareem naturally and extended the Laker Dynasty which wouldn’t really return until Shaq and Kobe showed up. And who knows what happens in ’92 if he doesn’t get HIV.

#3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Resume

NBA MVP: 6x (’71, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’77, ‘80)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’71, ‘85)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’84, ‘86)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 4x (’70, ’78, ’79, ‘83)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 5x (’74, ’75, ’79, ’80, ’81)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 6x (’70, ’71, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’84)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’70)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’70)

NBA All-Star: 19x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ‘89)

NBA Points Leader: 3x (’70, ’71, ‘72)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 2x (’76, ’77)

NBA Blocks Leader: 4x (’76, ’77, ’79, ’80)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 9x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76, ’77, ’79, ’80, ’81)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 9x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80)

NBA PER Leader: 9x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’81)

NBA Top 10 Points: 13x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 12x (’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ‘85)

NBA Top 10 PER: 17x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83,’84, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 16x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 16x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 5x (’78, ’80, ’81, ’83, ‘85)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 6x (’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80)

NBA Career Points: 1st

NBA Career Assists: 40th

NBA Career Blocks: 3rd

NBA Career Win Shares: 1st

NBA Career WS/48: 7^th

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 37th

NBA Career Defensive Rating: 24th

Best Player on Four Champions: ’71 Bucks, ’80 Lakers, ’82 Lakers, ’85 Lakers

3^rd Best Player on Two Champions: ’87 Lakers, ’88 Lakers

Best Player on two Runner-Ups: ’74 Bucks, ’84 Lakers

3^rd Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’89 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 3rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 7th

Kareem’s resume basically speaks for itself. He had an unstoppable (literally) shot with his Sky Hook and that shot became the surest two points in NBA history. He won in the early 70s all the way throughout the late 80s. His longevity is remarkable and is only matched by Duncan in terms of playing at a high level.

Bill Simmons also showed that when considering eras, opponents and minutes played, Kareem’s early 70s stats may have been on par or even better than Wilt’s in the 60s. He helped Oscar win a title and bridged the gap to helping Magic win titles.

Again, not much to say. Best statistical center ever, overall winner, he even won tons of awards too (six MVPs, and probably shoulda won a seventh!)

#2. Bill Russell

Resume

NBA MVP: 5x (’58, ’61, ’62, ’63, ‘65)

NBA All-1^st Team: 3x (’59, ’63, ‘65)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 8x (’58, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’64, ’66, ’67, ‘68)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 1x (‘69)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ‘69)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 4x (’58, ’59, ’64, ‘65)

NBA Defensive Win Share Leader: 11x (’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ‘69)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 4x (’63, ’64, ’65, ‘67)

NBA Top 10 PER: 8x (’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’62, ’64, ’65, ’67)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 11x (’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’69)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 10x (’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ‘67)

NBA Top 3 Defensive Win Shares: 13x (’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69)

NBA Career Rebounds: 2nd

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 1^st

NBA Career Win Shares: 17^th

NBA Career WS/48: 24th

Best Player on Eleven Champions: ’57 Celtics, ’59 Celtics, ’60 Celtics, ’61 Celtics, ’62 Celtics, ’63 Celtics, ’64 Celtics, ’65 Celtics, ’66 Celtics, ’68 Celtics, ’69 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 2nd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 3^rd

Russell single handedly modernized basketball the first time, laying waste to the career of 50s centers like Walt Bellamy. He was the most destructive force in the NBA throughout his entire career (even though it should have been Wilt). His peers respected him so much that the voted him for five MVP awards (even during the year Wilt averaged a 50-27). Russell always stepped it up in the playoffs as well, usually limiting Chamberlain when playing against him, and setting some records himself (24.9 playoff RPG, 40 rebounds in a game, 32 in a half). Russell, a lot like Duncan right now, only brought it when he needed to. If Wilt wanted to score 60 or whatever points one night and the game was virtually over, Russell would let him.

Every player from that era (other than, again, Wilt) reveres Russell, and today the Finals MVP trophy is named after him. And as we proved with earlier sections, Russell didn’t always have the most stacked team either. (It should be pointed out he coached the last two titles too).

#1. Michael Jordan

Resume

NBA MVP: 5x (’88, ’91, ’92, ’96, ’98)

NBA Finals MVP: 6x (’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ‘98)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘85)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1x (’88)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 9x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ‘98)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’85)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’85)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 3x (’88, ’96, ’98)

NBA All-Star: 14x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’02, ‘03)

NBA Points Leader: 11x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Steals Leader: 3x (’88, ’90, ’93)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 9x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97)

NBA Offensive Win Share Leader: 8x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 8x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ‘97)

NBA PER Leader: 7x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93)

NBA Top 4 Steals: 9x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 1x (’88)

NBA Top 4 PER: 11x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Top 2 Win Shares: 11x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Top 3 WS/48: 11x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Top 6 Defensive Win Shares: 8x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’98)

NBA Career Points: 4^th

NBA Career PPG: 1st

NBA Career Assists: 42^nd

NBA Career Steals: 3^rd

NBA Career Win Shares: 4^th

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 19th

NBA Career Win Shares: 17^th

NBA Career WS/48: 1st

Best Player on Six Champions: ’91 Bulls, ’92 Bulls, ’93 Bulls, ’96 Bulls, ’97 Bulls, ’98 Bulls

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 1st

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 1st

I assume I don’t really need to argue this. Let’s just close up the top 100 list with some Jordan facts/stories.

Jordan holds the record for playoff PPG as well at 33.4.

Pistons Coach Chuck Daly basically said he was so good it was an embarrassment to the league, and it was insane how hard it was to gear his entire team to stop one man.

Not only was he the best offensive player in NBA history, he was one of the best defensive players as well, even winning Defensive Player of the Year!

His destruction of the Trail Blazers and Clyde Drexler in Game 1 of the 1992 Finals stands tall as the greatest “FU” performance in NBA history.

Averaged a 41-9-6 in the 1993 Finals.

Basically won Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals by himself. (scored 45 of Chicago’s 87 points, Pippen was injured and played limited minutes, layup, steal of Karl Malone, famous game winner ending sequence).

Just to list some of his famous playoff game winners: The Shot vs. Cleveland, The Shot II against Cleveland in ’93, the ’97 Finals Shot against Utah, and of course, the famous Game 6 winner in ’98 against Utah.

There are countless other great game winners out there for Jordan. For example, looking up the “Shot II” I found a video of Jordan beating Cleveland when playing for Washington with a game winner called “The Shot III”.

Scored 63 against the ’86 Celtics in the playoffs. With all the crazy high scoring numbers from Wilt etc., this actually stands as the highest total ever.

Look, MJ’s the best ever. I wouldn’t be writing anything new here. Maybe LeBron has a 1% shot of getting here, but I don’t like his chances.

Basketball

Top 100 Pro Basketball Players Ever: #90 – #81

July 2, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

See the tab at the top of this article to understand the process for these selections

#90: Shawn Kemp

Resume

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 3x (’94, ’95, ‘96)

NBA All-Star: 6x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘98)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 3x (’95, ’96, ‘97)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 2x (’93, ‘94)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 1x (‘94)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 3x (’94, ’95, ‘99)

2^nd Best Player on one Runner-Up: 1996 Sonics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 88th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 150th

Everyone talks about The Fab Five and Lenny Bias bringing playground to the big time, but Shawn Kemp was right there with them. Kemp was a symbol of the 1990s attitude that combined flash with power. Kemp is one of the all-time greatest dunkers, which was further amazing as he played power forward. Each night there seemed to a differently angled alley-oops between Kemp and Gary Payton. Kemp was going to be one of those players that kept people watching the NBA in the post MJ era…assuming that fans wouldn’t be turned off by that attitude.

But yeah, Kemp was really good too. The Kemp-Payton era peaked with 55 wins in 93 and a Conference Finals Game 7 loss to Barkley’s Suns, a 63 win campaign in ’94 (where they were the first #1 seed to be upset in Round 1 by Mutombo’s Nuggets), a 57 win 1995 (another bad first round loss), a 64 win 1996 (and a near title win, losing in six to the 72 win Bulls) and a 57 win 1997 (lost another tough seven gamer to the Hakeem-Drexler-Barkley Rockets). That’s a pretty nice peak. Kemp was a 18-10 guy for each of those teams with offensive ratings between 110 and 115 when the average was about 108. Kemp was also a very good defensive player, something that was missing when Blake Griffin was compared to Kemp earlier in his career.

Things fell apart in Seattle when Jim McIlvaine, a terrible center who averaged 2 PPG and 3 RPG in 14 MPG the season before, got paid money that Kemp was expecting. Kemp forced a trade, which landed him in Cleveland. Kemp’s personal life began to fall apart, and while he had a still okay 1998 (bad offensively though) and a surprisingly good 1999 (Cavs GM Wayne Embry said he weighed 315. Kemps normal playing weight was around 230), he got caught up in drugs, had weight problems and had seven kids with six women. He had some stints in Portland and Orlando, but it was over.

Kemp makes the list because his peak was pretty good. If it were longer, he’d be higher up. You could win a NBA Title with Shawn Kemp as one of your top two guys for sure. He was also successful in a Western Conference that had tons of great big men (Karl Malone, David Robinson, Hakeem, Barkley) and held his own in most of those match-ups (while outplayed by him, Kemp holding his own against Malone, including shooting 69%, was a big reason the Sonics and not the Jazz made the 1996 NBA Finals).

#89: Robert Horry

Resume

All-NBA Rookie 2^nd Team: (’93)

Role Player on seven NBA Champs: 1994 Rockets, 1995 Rockets, 2000 Lakers, 2001 Lakers, 2002 Lakers, 2005 Spurs, 2007 Spurs

Played in the Playoffs Every Season of His Career

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 84th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 355th

I’m with Simmons on this one. It takes a special choice to be a guy who says “you know what, instead of being this 30 minutes a game, high scoring popular athlete, I’m going to sit back, wait till coach calls me, and hit all the big shots I’m asked to”. I’m going to just post a bunch of box scores and clutch shots Horry completed over the years here. Remember that Horry’s career averages are 7 PPG and 5 RPG. There are ALL playoff/Finals games.

5/22/93: In Game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Sonics and the game tied at 91, Horry beats the shot clock with 33 seconds left for a two point lead. Rockets would end up losing though. He was a rookie here by the way.

6/1/95: The Rockets defeat the San Antonio Spurs in six games of the Conference Finals. Horry had a good series, with a 22-7 in the clincher with six three pointers.

6/11/95: The Rockets go up 3-0 on the Magic in the NBA Finals. Horry has a 20-9-4, where he also scored 11 fourth quarter points. Three of those were a dagger with 15 seconds left that gave Houston a 4 point lead.

6/14/95: Horry goes for 21/13/5 as the Rockets complete the sweep of the Magic.

6/19/00: With the Pacers pushing for a Game 7 in the 2000 NBA Finals, Robert Horry scores eight points in the 4^th and helps the Lakers put it away.

5/26/02: Lakers vs. Kings, Game 4 in the Conference Finals. Surely everyone remembers the final shot where Horry hits the game winner after Kobe and Shaq miss. But you know what else? Horry actually hit a three with 1:30 left to bring the game to 96-93. That’s two threes in the last 90 seconds of game time that the Lakers won by one. Here’s a video of the winner.

6/19/05: With the Pistons looking to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals, Big Shot Bob does it again with a 21-7 game with five three pointers in Game 5. The crazy part? He had 0 points in the first 35:57 of regulation. He scored all 21 points starting with 3 seconds left in the third. Oh yeah, he also scored the Spurs last 5 points in OT when they were down 95-91, including a gem of a three pointer with 6 seconds left when Rasheed Wallace left him open.

I’m starting to think I put him too low.

#88: Chris Mullin

Resume

All-NBA 1^st Team: 1x (’92)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 2x (’89, ‘91)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 1x (’90)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ‘93)

NBA Top 10 Points: 4x (’89, ’90, ’91, ‘92)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 3x (’89, ’91, ‘92)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 3x (’90, ’91, ‘92)

Member of one Runner-Up: 2000 Pacers

Member of the 1992 Dream Team

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 82nd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 88^th

Chris Mullin, like some others on this list, represents someone who threw away part of their career due to a vice, in this case alcohol. To Mullin’s credit though, he beat the disease and became one of the best dead eye shooters in the NBA, even rivaling Larry Bird. Mullin would put together five straight seasons of 26 PPG in one of the toughest eras in NBA history talent wise. Unfortunately, his body began to break down in 1993.

Why Mullin over someone like Kemp? Mullin was regarded as THE small forward in 1992 once Bird was pretty much done. To put things in perspective, Scottie Pippen was coming along and the 1992 Bulls were regarded as the best team in forever. And Mullin beat Pippen for All-NBA First team that year. At his peak, Mullin was an unstoppable shooter. Problem was, his peak didn’t last too long.

#87: Bob Dandridge

Resume

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 1x (‘79)

All-NBA Defensive 1^st Team: 1x (’79)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’70)

NBA All-Star: 4x (’73, ’75, ’76, ‘79)

One of the Best Three Players on two NBA Champions: 1971 Bucks, 1978 Bullets

Third Best Player on one Runner-Up: 1974 Bucks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 80th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 91st

One of the players that I have to read about more than actually see. There are two defining Bob Dandridge stories. The first (according to Simmons) is that in the 1978 Conference Finals Dandridge outplayed Julius Erving which was a key factor in the Bullets getting past the Sixers in route to their title. The only stats show that Dandridge hit 61 FGs in the series and averaged 22.8 PPG while Dr. J hit 53 and scored 21.5 PPG. The second defining story is really an anti-Elvin Hayes story. Turns out that Hayes fouled out of Game 7 against the Sonics in the ’78 Finals, and Dandridge led the Bullets to the Championship anyway.

That’s enough winning for me. Combine that with his Pyramid and 500 rankings and I feel good about his spot here.

#86: Paul Westphal

Resume

All-NBA 1^st Team: 3x (’77, ’79, ’80)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 1x (‘78)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81)

NBA Top 10 Points: 3x (’76, ’78, ’79)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 2x (’77, ’79)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 1x (’76)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 2x (’76, ’79)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 4x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 3x (’78, ’79, ’80)

Role Player on one NBA Champion: 1974 Celtics

Best Player on one Runner-Up: 1976 Warriors

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 79th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 141th

Seemingly an all offense point guard who scores a lot and gets a lot of assists. Westphal makes it this high as he was the top PG of the late 70s, highlighted by his three 1^st Team selections. He was a solid role player for the 1974 Celtic title team and almost won the title in 1976 against the same Celtics. He led the upset over Rick Barry’s Warriors in 1976 as well.

Westphal is more of a resume thing. By all indications he was a top player of the late 70s, even though it was a short period of time.

#85: Dan Issel

Resume

All-ABA 1^st Team: 1x (‘72)

All-ABA 2^nd Team: 4x (’71, ’73, ’74, ‘76)

ABA All-Star Game MVP: 1972

ABA All-Star: 6x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA All-Star: 1x (’77)

ABA All-Rookie 1^st Team: (’71)

ABA Rookie of the Year: 1971

ABA Points Leader: 3x (’71, ’72, ’73)

ABA Top 10 Points: 5x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Points: 2x (’80, ‘82)

ABA Top 10 Rebounds: 5x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76)

ABA Top 10 PER: 5x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76)

NBA Top 10 PER: 4x (’77, ’80, ’81, ’82)

ABA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 2x (’74, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 5x (’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82)

ABA Offensive Win Shares Leader: 2x (’73, ’74)

ABA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 5x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 5x (’77, ’78, ’80, ’81, ’82)

ABA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ‘75, ’76)

ABA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80)

ABA Top 10 WS/48: 6x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 4x (’77, ’78, ’80, ’82)

ABA All-Time Points: 2^nd

ABA+NBA All-Time Points: 10^th

ABA All Time Rebounds: 6^th

ABA+NBA All-Time Win Shares: 22^nd

Best Player on one ABA Champion: ’75 Colonels

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 76th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 106th

One of the toughest to rank for sure. His ABA stats just scream offensive player and little else, although he did seem like a good defensive player by ABA standards. Ironically, his worst ABA season led to a Championship, showing perhaps Kentucky was better off with him being the 2^nd guy. He seemed like a very good but not great NBA guy as well. He won two NBA playoff series as a featured guy, and as soon as the Nuggets moved on to Alex English and Calvin Natt, the Nuggets nearly went to the Finals. So I don’t know. He doesn’t seem that highly regarded. We’ll go with very good offensive weapon that could be a 3^rd guy on your NBA title team. Seems fair.

#84: Artis Gilmore

Resume

ABA MVP: 1x (’72)

All-ABA 1^st Team: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

All-ABA Defensive 1^st Team: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

All-NBA Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’78)

All-ABA Rookie 1^st Team: (’72)

ABA All-Star: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA All-Star: 6x (’78, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’86)

ABA Top 10 Points: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Points: 2x (’78, ’79)

ABA Rebounds Leader: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 7x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85)

ABA Blocks Leader: 3x (’72, ’73, ’75)

ABA Top 5 Blocks: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 7x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85)

ABA PER Leader: 1x (’72)

ABA Top 5 PER: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 PER: 5x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’81, ’82)

NBA Offensive Rating Leader: 1x (’82)

ABA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 1x (’76)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 5x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85)

ABA Defensive Rating Leader: 2x (’74, ’75)

ABA Offensive Win Share Leader: 1x (’72)

ABA Top 5 Offensive Win Shares: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 5x (’78, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’83)

ABA Defensive Win Shares Leader: 4x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75)

ABA Top 5 Defensive Win Shares: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 5 Defensive Win Shares: 1x (’77)

ABA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’72, ’73)

ABA Top 5 Win Shares: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 7x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85)

ABA WS/48 Leader: 2x (’72, ’73)

ABA Top 5 WS/48: (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 5x (’77, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’83)

All-Time ABA Points: 17^th

All-Time ABA+NBA Points: 24^th

All-Time ABA Rebounds: 2^nd

All-Time ABA+NBA Rebounds: 5^th

All-Time ABA Blocks: 1^st

All-Time NBA Blocks: 23^rd

All-Time ABA+NBA Blocks: 4^th

All-Time ABA PER: 3^rd

All-Time NBA Offensive Rating: 116.9 (21^st)

All-Time ABA Defensive Rating: 95.0 (1^st)

All-Time ABA Win Shares: 82.2 (1^st)

All-Time ABA+NBA Win Shares: 189.7 (9^th)

2^nd Best Player on one ABA Champion: ’75 Colonels

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 75th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 84th

Quite the resume. Gilmore dominated the ABA obviously and the NBA he was quite good as well. Has to get the edge on Issel because his NBA career is stronger, although not great either. Gilmore’s Bulls teams didn’t win anything and only made the playoff twice, but when he got to team up with George Gervin the Spurs were a force. They still couldn’t get by the Lakers in ’83 and wouldn’t have any success in the Gilmore era.

Still, both Issel and Gilmore were quite good players.

#83: Tracy McGrady

Resume

All-NBA 1^st Team: 2x (’02, ’03)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 3x (’01, ’04, ‘07)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 2x (’05, ‘08)

NBA Most Improved Player: 2001

NBA All-Star: 7x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ‘07)

NBA Top 10 Points: 6x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ‘07)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 1x (‘05)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: (’00)

NBA PPG Leader: 2x (’03, ’04)

NBA PER Leader: 1x (’03)

NBA Top 5 PER: 4x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04)

NBA Offensive Win Shares Leader: 1x (’03)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 4x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04)

NBA Top 5 Defensive Win Shares: 1x (’05)

NBA Top 10 NBA Win Shares: 3x (’01, ’03, ’05)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’03)

NBA All-Time Single Season WS/48: .262 (59^th, 40^th in 3P Era)

NBA All-Time Single Season PER: 30.3 (17th, one of eight players to hit 30)

Has a 62 Point Game

Never Won a Playoff Series

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 77th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 97th

When I wrote my “What-If Injury All-Stars” article one name I did not include but I was asked about was Tracy McGrady. And while yes, injuries did cut short a tremendous career, the truth of the matter is T-Mac still had the opportunities to have a better career than he did, but he just didn’t want it badly enough.

There was an article that I read a while ago that I THINK came from Grantland that wrote about how everything came so easily to McGrady that the drive to push himself just wasn’t there. Here’s someone with such physical gifts that he actually was Top 10 in blocks one year (2000) despite being a small forward and 6’8”. He also managed to have a top 10 season in steals as well. What you are looking at is someone who had everything offensively. He could be an elite shooter, an elite driver, an elite passer (and in 2003, was those things) and POTENTIALLY could be as good as, if not better than, Scottie Pippen defensively. That is no exaggeration.

In 2003 in terms of pure physical gifts I would take McGrady over Kobe Bryant without question…that’s how great McGrady was. T-Mac’s 2003, before hand checking was banned, was 32.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 46% FG, 38% 3P, 80% FT, 116 Offensive Rating on 35.2 % usage for a WS/48 of .262 and a 30.3 PER (one of eight players to hit 30). Kobe never touched that. Not even Kobe’s crazy 2006. The only teammates T-Mac had that season with a PER above 15? Grant Hill for 29 games and Drew Gooden for 19.

T-Mac was so good that he nearly led his Magic team to a huge upset of the 2003 Pistons. The Magic were up 3-1 (T-Mac famous said that “it was nice to finally get past the first round) but the Pistons won three straight. T-Mac shouldn’t be faulted though, as here were the players who started with him in those playoffs: Gooden (7 games), washed-up Darrell Armstrong (1 game), Pat Garrity (1 game), Gordan Giricek (7 games), Jacque Vaughn (6 games), and Andrew DeClerq (6 games). Even a “how the hell is this guy still in the league” Shawn Kemp played about 10 minutes per game. This team was awful. The fact that McGrady got this team almost over a Pistons team that would make six straight Conference Finals is nuts. It’s also a great what-if, as I think T-Mac’s Magic can beat Iverson’s Sixers in Round 2, and then I have no idea how the Nets planned to guard him.

Back to reality, McGrady never reached those heights again, which was crazy because he was only 24. He had a good season in 2004…he still led the league in PPG, but it wasn’t as transcendent as the year before and since the Magic still sucked around him the team plummeted (and got Dwight Howard in the draft). McGrady went to Houston to team up with Yao, only they couldn’t both stay healthy or win anything (and when the Rockets did win a playoff series…McGrady was injured). McGrady’s last great moment was when he led the 2008 Rockets to 22 straight wins. Those 2008 Rockets again lost in Round 1.

It all comes down to how hard did Tracy McGrady try. I think up until 2003 he tried his damnest (although, even then, the destructive defensive potential he had wasn’t being realized). Then he coasted on his natural talents. When Phil Jackson wrote about how McGrady was potentially going to get traded for Kobe, Jackson said “everytime someone asked McGrady to play defense his back hurt”. Ouch. Even T-Mac’s 62 point game, there’s a point near the end where he could have gotten more but he starts laughing and missing free throws. It’s an odd lack of focus (it’s also the most entertaining game between two 20 wins teams ever probably, as Gilbert Arenas also goes for 40).

I think that’s the big difference between T-Mac and Kobe. Yes T-Mac had an edge in physical, pure basketball talent. But Kobe wanted it more. Kobe wanted to be the greatest. Kobe worked out every day. I think that’s why T-Mac’s body fell apart when Kobe’s didn’t. And that’s a big reason why Kobe is where he is and T-Mac’s down here. Nothing wrong with #83, but he’s someone who should be in the top 20.

#82: Joe Dumars

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’89)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 1x (‘93)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 3x (’90, ’91, ’93)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’86)

All-NBA Defensive 1^st Team: 4x (’89, ’90, ’92, ’93)

All-NBA Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’91)

NBA All-Star: 6x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’95, ‘97)

NBA Top 10 Points: 1x (‘93)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 1x (’97)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 1x (‘93)

Role Player on two NBA Champions: 1989 Pistons, 1990 Pistons

Role Player on one Runner-Up: 1988 Pistons

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 74th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 78th

Dumars is also a tough one to rank, as his advanced metrics defensively suck (as do pretty much all the Piston players of those title teams do…just wait till we get to Isiah) and a lot of his greatness seems to hinge on reputation. Truth is though, Dumars was a tough defensive player, one who gave Jordan tons of problems in the late 80s. Defensive rating just isn’t going to capture a perimeter player’s value. Dumars was so respected defensively that it was considered that he would replace the injured John Stockton on the Dream Team. That’s high praise for sure.

Otherwise, Dumars was fit as a 2^nd or 3rd option for title team. His 1989 Finals, where he won MVP, were pretty ridiculous at 27 PPG, 6 APG, 58% FG. That actually made me want to rank him higher. He couldn’t be a leader of a playoff team, but as a 2^nd or 3^rd guy he was a deadly weapon.

#81: Sidney Moncrief

Resume

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: (’83, ’84)

All-NBA 1^st Team: 1x (’83)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 4x (’82, ‘84, ‘85, ‘86)

All-NBA Defensive 1^st Team: 1x (‘83)

All-NBA Defensive 2^nd Team: 4x (’82, ‘84, ‘85, ‘86)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Offensive Rating Leader: 1x (’81)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 5x (’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’86)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 5x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 1x (’84)

NBA Top 5 Win Shares: 5x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 6x (’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86)

NBA All-Time Offensive Rating: 119.4 (6^th)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 73rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 90th

“When you play against Moncrief, you’re in for a night of all-around basketball. He’ll hound you everywhere you go, both ends of the court. You just expect it.”

That’s a quote from none other than Michael Jordan.

Moncrief’s Bucks were always a tough out in the playoffs. In 1981 they lost by 1 point in Game 7 to the Sixers (although Moncrief was merely a role player then). In 1982, another tough loss to the Sixers although still Moncrief was coming along.

1983 was a breakout, as Moncrief average 23.3 PPG as the Bucks beat Bird’s Celtics in a sweep…but again fell to the (best) Sixers team in the Conference Finals. The Bucks would be back in the Conference Finals again, but this time Bird’s Celtics were ready for them.

The 1985 playoffs are notable because Moncrief’s Bucks are historically one of seven teams to beat a Michael Jordan team in the playoffs, and one of four unique teams (’85 Bucks, ’86 Celtics, ’87 Celtics, ’88 Pistons, ’89 Pistons, ’90 Pistons, ’95 Magic). Moncrief had an insane 150 offensive rating against the Bulls in that series. Jordan was still great, but his 44% shooting was low for him even as a rookie and part of that was because of Moncrief. The Bucks would fall to the Sixers again.

The Bucks would make their third Conference Finals in four years, but the best Celtics team was ready for them. In 1987 it took seven games for the Celtics to get by the Bucks. Moncrief’s body would break down after that, and Terry Cummings and an old Jack Sikma weren’t enough to contend in the East.

Losing to Dr. J, Moses Malone and Larry Bird year after year isn’t that bad. If his career was longer and healthier, who knows, perhaps it’s the Bucks in the 1987 Finals. Too bad Moncrief couldn’t stay healthy. He’s one of the best two way players of all time. Even Michael Jordan said so.

Basketball

This Day In Sports 6-12: The Chicago Bulls…and Michael Jordan win Title #1 (1991)

June 12, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

On this date 24 years ago, Michael Jordan shed the label of a star who couldn’t win like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. On June 12th, 1991 Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls over Magic’s Lakers four games to one to win the NBA Championship.

Jordan had a monster series: 31.2 PPG-6.6 RPG-11.4 APG-2.8 SPG-1.4 BPG on 56% shooting. Scottie Pippen provided the Bulls that extra push with a big series himself.

Game five historically was the last NBA Finals game of Magic Johnson’s career, and the last regular season or playoff game for him until his brief comeback in 1996.

RDT World of Sport

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This Day In Sports 6-12: The Chicago Bulls…and Michael Jordan win Title #1 (1991)

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