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TheCorporation

08-10-2015, 03:18 AM

#10 Shaquille O'Neal
Years Played: 1992-2011

Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics

Positional Rank: No. 4 C

Those who watched Shaquille O'Neal during the 1990s and early 2000s saw a dominant force at the center position. The big man was the rare player who could terrorize the opposition on both ends of the court, dazzling with his unique combination of grace and power. He couldn't shoot a lick from outside the paint—including at the free-throw line—but that still didn't matter.

His 1999-00 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, in which he averaged 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 57.4 percent from the field and posting a 30.6 PER, remains arguably the greatest individual season of all time, especially since he led the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship.

But those who watched the man of many nicknames suit up after winning a 2006 title with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat saw something different. Though he was still capable of unadulterated domination, he was having a bit too much fun and playing his way into shape, gearing up for the inevitable playoff run. During the last few years of his career, he was something even less than that, a shadow of his former self.

O'Neal's career stats—advanced, per-game and performance metrics—are all supremely impressive. But if he'd known when to pull the plug, they'd look even better. You'll see some who list O'Neal as everything up to the best player of all time. Elliott Kalb, a noted statistician who has worked with ABC and ESPN, has him at the No. 1 spot in his book Who's Better, Who's Best in Basketball? just for example. But that shortened true prime hurts him in this career-oriented ranking.

O'Neal's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.3 blocks

Ultimate Season: 29.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 3.5 blocks

Career Advanced Stats: 26.4 PER, .586 TS%, 113 ORtg, 101 DRtg, 181.7 WS, 0.208 WS/48, 4.380 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 4190.4 PP, 1113.62 AS, 384.31 CC, 20.23 CC/Season, 0 LMVPs, 1.86 LMVP Shares

#9 Larry Bird
Years Played: 1979-92

Teams: Boston Celtics

Positional Rank: No. 2 SF

Even though he had a short career, Larry Bird managed to rack up some seriously impressive accomplishments. Playing alongside Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, he seemed to advance to the NBA Finals during each and every year of the 1980s, and he managed to win his fair share of titles.

Even with career shooting percentages of 49.6 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from beyond the arc and 88.6 percent at the stripe, he's widely viewed as one of the greatest shooters of all time. There's not much statistical backing, but the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming. Few have ever been feared like Bird, and it seemed like every big shot he took was going to fall through the net, to the point that gasps could be heard when he didn't connect.

Rarely has there been a more appropriate nickname than "Larry Legend." His trash-talking skill is legendary, and as a competitor, few have topped him—particularly as he continued to squeeze out excellent performances while dealing with an injured back. And it's that back that limits him here, as he couldn't sustain his prime as long as many of the remaining players.

Were we looking only at five-year stretches, Bird would be in that group of the top five players in basketball history that he so often seems to get placed in.

Bird's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocks

Ultimate Season: 29.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.2 blocks

Career Advanced Stats: 23.5 PER, .564 TS%, 115 ORtg, 101 DRtg, 145.8 WS, 0.203 WS/48, 5.693 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 3580.12 PP, 979.67 AS, 275.43 CC, 21.19 CC/Season, 0 LMVPs, 1.843 LMVP Shares

#8 Jerry West
Years Played: 1960-74

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers

Positional Rank: No. 2 PG

Of the 100 players featured in these rankings, only 17 players managed to earn more Career Contributions per season than Jerry West. Thanks to his longevity, he passes five of them when we look at his lifetime total.

However, despite his fantastic shooting, impressive rebounding and stellar distributing all leading to some great offensive numbers, his total value still isn't totally encapsulated. After all, West is a historically underrated defender who made the All-Defensive squad in four of his final five seasons. Remember, those teams didn't even exist until he only had five years left before retirement.

West was clutch. He remains the logo. He fought through one injury after another. He could do everything on the basketball court. But above all, he was a complete perfectionist, as explained in his profile on NBA.com:

”West was motivated by a relentless drive to succeed. Years after a game in which he hit 16 of 17 shots from the field, sank all 12 free throw attempts, and notched 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 blocked shots, West told the National Sports Daily, "Defensively, from a team standpoint, I didn't feel I played very well. Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played." This obsessive quest for perfection was a constant during West's playing years, and it continued in his later roles as coach and general manager of the Lakers and as president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies.”

Whether he's satisfied with a spot in the top 10 or wants something even more lofty, West's place among the all-time greats is indisputable.

West's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 2.6 steals, 0.7 blocks

Ultimate Season: 31.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 2.6 steals, 0.7 blocks

Career Advanced Stats: 22.9 PER, .550 TS%, 95 DRtg, 162.6 WS, 0.213 WS/48, 2.090 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 3489.93 PP, 955.83 AS, 356.81 CC, 25.49 CC/Season, 1 LMVP, 2.687 LMVP Shares

#7 LeBron James
Years Played: 2003-Current

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat

Positional Rank: No. 1 SF

As Paul Pierce wrote about LeBron James on The Players' Tribune:

“

”A 6-8, roughly 260 lb point guard/shooting guard.

How ridiculous is that?

And at his size, he's still hands down the most athletic and fastest player in the league. Who ever heard of a guy that's 6-8, 260 lbs being faster than everybody else in the NBA — and stronger?”

It may seem ridiculous to have a 30-year-old listed as the No. 7 player of all time, but James has been so durable and in the league for so long that he already has enough of a resume to justify the spot. After all, he's now played in more games than Larry Bird, and no one is going to doubt the credentials of the Boston Celtics' legend. James has thrived ever since entering the league, racking up every type of conceivable recognition and winning two titles with the Miami Heat.

His 31.93 Career Contributions per season are more than any player in the top 100 except for George Mikan, Adrian Dantley, Wilt Chamberlain and Neil Johnston. Though he's never actually won LMVP, his 4.333 LMVP Shares put him at No. 7 all-time. And in terms of real MVPs and real MVP shares, James excels as well. Just Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan have more of the former, and only the second two have more of the latter.

His statistical achievements are ridiculous, his playoff resume is already fantastic, and he still has plenty of great years left. Knock him all you want for coming up short in the NBA Finals a few times, but you can't deny the simple fact that he carried his team there on many occasions. That's more impressive than exiting in an early round any day of the week.

James' Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 27.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocks

Ultimate Season: 31.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.1 blocks

Career Advanced Stats: 27.7 PER, .581 TS%, 116 ORtg, 103 DRtg, 177.3 WS, 0.24 WS/48, 6.1 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 3735.12 PP, 747.57 AS, 351.21 CC, 31.93 CC/Season, 0 LMVPs, 4.333 LMVP Shares

TheCorporation

08-10-2015, 03:19 AM

#6 Magic Johnson
Years Played: 1979-96

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers

Positional Rank: No. 1 PG

Though his career was cut short after he tested HIV positive, the legendary floor general has still left an indelible mark on the league, one that established him as one of the most creative offensive players in NBA history. Magic Johnson was never much of a shooter—or a scorer, for that matter—but his distributing prowess and work running the Showtime Lakers still allowed him to thrive on the offensive end of the floor.

Among all qualified point guards, Johnson leads the field in the following categories: Playoff Performance, Advancement Shares, assists per game, true shooting percentage (despite his lack of three-point range), total rebounding percentage, MVPs and MVP shares.

Additionally, he checks in as a top-five floor general in Career Contributions per season, titles (he won five of them during the league's golden years!), rebounds per game, blocks per game, PER, offensive rating, win shares, win shares per 48 minutes, All-Star selections and All-NBA honors.

No one has dominated the league's most glamorous position to this extent, nor won the hearts of so many fans due to his sheer affability and magical performance on the floor. Johnson's career could've been longer, which likely would've pushed him up closer to the No. 1 spot in these rankings, but it was unforgettable all the same.

Johnson's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.4 blocks

Ultimate Season: 23.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 3.4 steals, 0.7 blocks

Career Advanced Stats: 24.1 PER, .610 TS%, 121 ORtg, 104 DRtg, 155.8 WS, 0.225 WS/48, 5.129 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 4208.5 PP, 1384.98 AS, 270.76 CC, 20.83 CC/Season, 0 LMVPs, 1.2 LMVP Shares

#5 Tim Duncan
Years Played: 1997-Current

Teams: San Antonio Spurs

Positional Rank: No. 1 PF

Fundamental excellence has always been Duncan's calling card, and it's allowed him to submit one ridiculous season after another.

He's so much of an ageless wonder that he's spent parts of his 2014-15 season serving as a front-runner in the competitive race for Defensive Player of the Year, which is pretty much the only major honor he hasn't yet won during his spectacular career with the San Antonio Spurs. He's made the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams on countless occasions, dominated as a scorer, won MVP twice and filled up an entire hand with championship rings.

Consistent greatness is one thing, but what Duncan has done goes beyond that.

His per-minute numbers from the early portion of his career, his true prime and his twilight are virtually indistinguishable and all fantastic. And it's not as though he's shrunk during the postseason either, as his Playoff Performance score (4,429.62) and Advancement Shares (1,197.53) rank No. 3 and No. 12, respectively, with remaining opportunities to improve both.

Duncan's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 19.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.2 blocks

Ultimate Season: 25.5 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.9 blocks

Career Advanced Stats: 24.5 PER, .551 TS%, 109 ORtg, 96 DRtg, 198.7 WS, 0.210 WS/48, 4.278 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 4429.62 PP, 1197.53 AS, 392.99 CC, 23.12 CC/Season, 1 LMVP, 2.17 LMVP Shares

#4 Wilt Chamberlain
Years Played: 1959-73

Teams: Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers

Positional Rank: No. 3 C

Wilt Chamberlain is arguably the greatest physical specimen this sport has ever played witness to. He was a monster who had the advantage of immense size (7'1"), strength that allowed him to compete in the weight room with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the sheer athletic ability to dominate in sprints and jumping events. He wasn't fair back in the 1960s, and he'd still be able to hold his own—and then some—against modern-day big men.

That said, Chamberlain's statistics are inflated by the era he played in. Not because of the competition—it was weak, but the myth that he only played against people he towered over is very much, well, a myth—but because of the pace of play.

I already explained that Chamberlain's 100-point game was the equivalent of a 74-point outing in 2013-14 (and the game is historically overrated for other reasons as well), but how about his 1961-62 season as a whole? The big man averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game that year, but the 2013-14 equivalent is "only" 37.4 and 19.

Again, "only."

Some who watched Chamberlain will always cling to the notion that he's the best there ever was. Some of his numbers justify that line of thinking. But, as is always the case, context is vital, and Chamberlain's desire to pursue statistics—sometimes at the expense of winning—is one of a few things that came back to bite him here.

Chamberlain's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists

Ultimate Season: 50.4 points, 27.2 rebounds, 8.6 assists

Career Advanced Stats: 26.1 PER, .547 TS%, 247.3 WS, 0.248 WS/48, 4.269 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 4166.4 PP, 1180.08 AS, 568.71 CC, 40.62 CC/Season, 6 LMVPs, 8.12 LMVP Shares

TheCorporation

08-10-2015, 03:20 AM

#3 Bill Russell
Years Played: 1956-69

Teams: Boston Celtics

Positional Rank: No. 2 C

Bill Russell was never a dominant scorer, topping out at 18.9 points per game during the same 1961-62 seasons that saw Wilt Chamberlain post such pace-inflated numbers. And while his 47.1 true shooting percentage might seem remarkably low for a big man who wasn't a go-to scorer, it was a decent mark for the time. In that 1961-62 campaign, for example, the league average was 47.9 percent.

Of course, defense was Russell's speciality. He anchored some of the league's best point-preventing units of all time (by adjusted defensive efficiency, five of the top seven seasons in NBA history belonged to his Boston Celtics, including the entirety of the top four), and he changed how blocked shots were viewed. To this day, no one has been able to start fast breaks with rejections like Russell could throughout his career.

If only blocks and steals had actually been tracked during his career so that we knew just how many he swatted…

The big man is the sport's greatest champion, winning 11 rings during his NBA career and only missing out on a 12th because he was injured one year, which allowed Bob Pettit to steer the St. Louis Hawks past his C's. His 2,773.72 Advancement Shares are easily the top mark in NBA history, and the gap between him and second-ranked John Havlicek is as large as the chasm between Havlicek and Bill Sharman.

Sharman checks in at No. 34.

Russell's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists

Ultimate Season: 18.9 points, 24.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists

Career Advanced Stats: 18.9 PER, .471 TS%, 163.5 WS, 0.193 WS/48, 4.827 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 3636.6 PP, 2773.72 AS, 333.64 CC, 25.66 CC/Season, 0 LMVPs, 1.67 LMVP Shares

#2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Years Played: 1969-89

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers

Positional Rank: No. 1 C

Lew Alcindor came to the NBA after owning college basketball at UCLA, and he immediately became one of the league's best two-way forces. While blocking shots and anchoring great defenses, he even led the league in scoring during his sophomore season.

But by the time he retired, he was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the all-time leading scorer in basketball history, the undisputed master of the skyhook and the best center to ever play the sport, thanks to his combination of effectiveness and remarkable longevity.

The 7'2" center has the No. 1 Playoff Performance score in NBA history, and his 1,520.97 Advancement Shares leave him behind only John Havlicek and Bill Russell. But while Russell was more successful in the playoffs and Wilt Chamberlain posted better individual numbers, Abdul-Jabbar played for 17 years, was great throughout his career and boasts six rings of his own.

Only Chamberlain and Michael Jordan have earned more LMVPs and LMVP Shares. No one else has won six MVPs, and Abdul-Jabbar was such an impressive big man that he remains the only player to win the league's premier individual honor on a non-playoff team. Plus, his first and last MVPs bookend an entire decade. In these rankings, excellence at the peak of a career matters, and the same can be said about longevity.

Abdul-Jabbar had both.

Abdul-Jabbar's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.6 blocks

Ultimate Season: 34.8 points, 16.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 4.1 blocks

Career Advanced Stats: 24.6 PER, .592 TS%, 115 ORtg, 99 DRtg, 273.4 WS, 0.228 WS/48, 6.203 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 4915.38 PP, 1520.97 AS, 554.3 CC, 27.72 CC/Season, 5 LMVPs, 7.25 LMVP Shares

#1 Michael Jeffrey Jordan

Years Played: 1984-2003

Teams: Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards

Positional Rank: No. 1 SG

It's honestly just not even close.

Michael Jordan was not a perfect basketball player, and in some ways, he's been mythologized by those who refuse to admit that he was anything less than the NBA messiah. Jordan was not infallible in big games, struggled with his shot on occasion and certainly had flaws. He just had less of them than anyone else, and he worked so hard to correct any that he was aware of.

Much like Ben Wallace, Jordan could have taken a seat whenever the Chicago Bulls had the ball, and he still would have played defense well enough to emerge as a top-100 player. Just like Steve Nash, he could have played remarkably little defense and still been a dominant enough offensive player to get in with room to spare.

Instead, he did both.

The numbers speak for themselves, and Jordan is just about at the top of every leaderboard imaginable, even without playing for nearly as long as some of the other legends in basketball history. He was a winner (a six-time champion, even), a dominant individual and a two-way force the likes of which the NBA had never seen before he emerged from Chapel Hill.
In time, Jordan could be surpassed by someone else. But for now, no one is all that close.

Jordan's Statistical Glossary

Career Per-Game Stats: 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.8 blocks

Ultimate Season: 37.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 3.2 steals, 1.6 blocks

Career Advanced Stats: 27.9 PER, .569 TS%, 118 ORtg, 103 DRtg, 214.0 WS, 0.250 WS/48, 8.138 MVP Shares

Performance Metrics: 4591.35 PP, 1379.96 AS, 444.7 CC, 29.65 CC/Season, 7 LMVPs. 7.75 LMVP Shares

Honorable Mentions:

#11 Kobe Bryant
#12 Oscar Robertson
#13 David Robinson
#14 Hakeem Olajuwon
#15 Kevin Garnett

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2232060-br-nba-legends-100-ranking-the-greatest-players-of-all-time/page/89

“This is about more than those few standouts who still suit up in the Association, though studs like Bryant, James and Tim Duncan will certainly be included. We're interested in how all the legends of the five positions compare to one another.

We're not just concerned with the best peaks. It's not about the longest careers. Instead, we're interested in the strength of an entire career that is evaluated largely by using numbers. But the prominence of metrics and advanced statistics doesn't mean context can be thrown out the window either.

Everything matters.

*Note: All stats come from Basketball-Reference.com and are current through March 21 unless otherwise indicated. That's also the source of positional decisions throughout this series of articles. Whichever position a player is listed at for the majority of the seasons in his career is where he'll be placed in the series.”

GreggPopazit

08-10-2015, 03:27 AM

I've seen many variations of the top 10+, but D-Rob at 13 and Olajuwon at 14 are new to me. :biggums:

Springsteen

08-10-2015, 03:28 AM

No Kobe? :eek:

stalkerforlife

08-10-2015, 03:30 AM

:biggums:

bdreason

08-10-2015, 03:32 AM

I have West and LeBron just outside the top 10.

Rose'sACL

08-10-2015, 03:33 AM

I would change it to this:

1. MJ
2. Kareem
3. Wilt
4/5. Russell/Duncan
6. Kobe
7. Shaq
8. Magic
9. LeBron
10. Bird(mostly because of injuries shortening his career)

Defensive abilities during prime years was also taken into consideration for my top 10. Magic is above bird for longer prime even though bird was the better player when healthy.
! more ring+FMVP and lebron would tie kobe at the 6th spot. Some people might think that i am ranking kobe too high but his prime lasted a very long time.

toxicxr6

08-10-2015, 03:35 AM

Duncan's rank is perfect
Kobe is where he belongs

brownmamba00

08-10-2015, 03:39 AM

I love the Logo probably the greatest bball mind of all time but better than Kobe Shaq Hakeem Bird?

GIF REACTION

08-10-2015, 03:40 AM

So let's go back to when people called me nuts because I said it's now a consensus that Lebron is definitively above Kobe... Check mate nerds.

TheMarkMadsen

08-10-2015, 03:41 AM

you are really desperate tonight,, :oldlol: :lol:

Fox sports news top 10

10) Duncan
9) Shaq
8) Kobe
7) Oscar
6) Wilt
5) Bird
4 ) KAJ
3) Russell
2) Magic
1) Jordan

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/lists/Top-10-players-in-NBA-history#photo-title=Magic+Johnson+%25281979-96%2529&photo=30219330

International business times (2015)

10) Lebron
9) Duncan
8) Kobe
7) Bird
6) Magic
5) Oscar
4) Russell
3) KAJ
2) Wilt
1) Jordan

http://www.ibtimes.com/top-50-greatest-nba-players-all-time-where-jordan-kobe-lebron-bird-land-basketball-1952638

Cohen NBA.com

1) Magic
2) Shaq
3) Jordan
4) Kobe
5) Lebron
6) Hakeem
7) Bird
8) Oscar
9) KAJ
10) Duncan

http://www.nba.com/magic/cohen-8ball_ranking-top-20-players-nba-history_062413

Dallas Morning News

1) Wilt
2) Jordan
3) KAJ
4) Russell
5) Magic
6) Kobe
7) Shaq
8) Erving
9) Duncan
10) Bird

http://interactives.dallasnews.com/2015/nba-top-25/

stalkerforlife

08-10-2015, 03:43 AM

GIF REACTION

08-10-2015, 03:44 AM

Angel Face

08-10-2015, 03:46 AM

Admiral over Hakeem? :facepalm

TheCorporation

08-10-2015, 03:46 AM

I've seen many variations of the top 10+, but D-Rob at 13 and Olajuwon at 14 are new to me. :biggums:

No Kobe? :eek:

These all threw me off, too. But we all have our different opinions.

I found it interesting to have D-Rob over Hakeem and not having Kobe in the top 10.

TheCorporation

08-10-2015, 03:49 AM

GIF REACTION

08-10-2015, 03:55 AM

@Marc, how am I "desperate"

Bleacher Report is pretty reputable among sports fans. But, as I've already said above, not having Kobe in the top 10 threw me off. So yeah, not gonna get into a Kobe vs LeBron battle. I obviously know how you feel about Kobe. Kthxbye
Considerably more so than International Business Times, Dallas Morning News and FOX.

Seems anyone who really knows anything about the NBA has Lebron above Kobe

Lebron23

08-10-2015, 04:11 AM

Lebron would be top 5 after next season.

Marchesk

08-10-2015, 05:44 AM

Oscar getting some top 10 love in those other polls. West, Oscar and Erving seem to me to be about the same rank. Top 10 has gotten crowded with Duncan, Kobe, and Lebron getting in there. It's really a top 15 now.

Marchesk

08-10-2015, 05:44 AM

Lebron would be top 5 after next season.

Lebron ain't passing the Big Dipper.

nzahir

08-10-2015, 05:59 AM

Lebron ain't passing the Big Dipper.
The guy whose numbers always went down in the playoffs? He already did after he won his 2nd ring.

rmt

08-10-2015, 07:19 AM

Mr Feeny

08-10-2015, 07:21 AM

It's remarkable hoe highly Lebron seems to be ranked in these lists given that he's only 30. By the time he's done - should the Cavs win a title or two over the next few years - he just might be a top 2 or 3 player all time.

Incidently, I thought Hakeem would have been in there instead of West. Kobe, for me, is where he belongs. Robinson is a bit high as well.

Mr Feeny

08-10-2015, 07:22 AM

Any list that doesn't have MJ as #1 can't be taken seriously. And Erving better than Duncan - from a Texan source? - that's disgraceful. Don't know if that's more nuts than an NBA source saying that KAJ < than all those listed (except MJ, of course). No Shaq on International business times list? Trust you to pick up some of the sh**iest lists ever created.

Yup. I didn't even want to waste my time commenting. Those are the worst lists I've ever seen, anywhere, anytime. He's bitter kobe hasn't been ranked in the top 10. That's about it. So transparent and so sad.

rmt

08-10-2015, 07:31 AM

The only one we should really take seriously is the NBA one. All the others are just big media outlets that don't specifically cover sports. Bleacher Report is a sports specific outlet, and the NBA is.. The NBA.

Cohen NBA.com

1) Magic
2) Shaq
3) Jordan
4) Kobe
5) Lebron
6) Hakeem
7) Bird
8) Oscar
9) KAJ
10) Duncan

http://www.nba.com/magic/cohen-8ball...history_062413

1. Magic and Shaq over MJ?
2. KAJ below all those (except MJ)?
3. Oscar above KAJ and Duncan?
4. Kobe at #4/Lebron at #5?

This list is the WORST because it's FROM the NBA - they should know better - at the least the others are from business or mainstream media.

BuffaloBill

08-10-2015, 07:34 AM

Cohen NBA.com

1) Magic
2) Shaq
3) Jordan
4) Kobe
5) Lebron
6) Hakeem
7) Bird
8) Oscar
9) KAJ
10) Duncan

http://www.nba.com/magic/cohen-8ball...history_062413

1. Magic and Shaq over MJ?
2. KAJ below all those (except MJ)?
3. Oscar above KAJ and Duncan?
4. Kobe at #4/Lebron at #5?

This list is the WORST because it's FROM the NBA - they should know better - at the least the others are from business or mainstream media.

Might be the worst list I've ever seen

KembaWalker

08-10-2015, 07:45 AM

Dragonyeuw

08-10-2015, 08:30 AM

Does anyone else just sit back and realize how pointless and stupid it is to argue over someones Top 10? :roll:

People literally spend hours arguing back and forth over an OPINION, it's crazy

Whether it's from a forum poster, a reporter or even a player themselves, there is always gonna be bias

Kobe not in someones Top 10? Who gives a sh*t
LeBron not in someones Top 10? Who gives a sh*t

But it's whatever, keep doing your thing fellow ISH members :roll:

It is pointless.

'Kobe is 8th on my list'

'No way, he's 6th!!!'

I mean, it really is retarded as hell.

Rocketswin2013

08-10-2015, 08:37 AM

The top 7 is actually really good. Shaq needs to be a tad higher.

I actually don't know about where Johnson should be since I've seen the least of his c games than any legend.

West? Too high imo.

The top 5 is practically mines.

Rocketswin2013

08-10-2015, 08:40 AM

It is pointless.

'Kobe is 8th on my list'

'No way, he's 6th!!!'

I mean, it really is retarded as hell.
Yeah and people are using different criteria. I'd see if people used the same criteria and argued it.

sdot_thadon

08-10-2015, 09:59 AM

We're not just concerned with the best peaks. It's not about the longest careers. Instead, we're interested in the strength of an entire career that is evaluated largely by using numbers.But the prominence of metrics and advanced statistics doesn't mean context can be thrown out the window either.*

Everything matters.
Criteria. That's why kobe isn't in the top 10 and why David robinson is above hakeem.

kshutts1

08-10-2015, 10:17 AM

I never looked at Win Shares before, but it was nice to see that Wilt had the second highest WS per 48 minutes on that list, behind only Jordan.

TheCorporation

08-10-2015, 03:02 PM

Criteria. That's why kobe isn't in the top 10 and why David robinson is above hakeem.

Well, it appears that going off of that criteria is pretty accurate and straight forward (at the least). I mean, most would have Kobe higher and D-Rob/West a little lower but other than that it's a pretty good list for using a straight-forward criteria.

It's better than going off of pure emotion or biased opinions.

rmt

08-10-2015, 03:12 PM

I've seen many variations of the top 10+, but D-Rob at 13 and Olajuwon at 14 are new to me. :biggums:

13. DRob
14. Hakeem
15. KG

I would have Hakeem higher, but if you look at it in terms of who you'd start a franchise with, those are fine choices.

And using numbers - DRob had very good numbers - it's just people's perception of him vs Hakeem in one playoff series that hurts him.

TOLATE

08-10-2015, 04:53 PM

yea...
bleacher report
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/871743-the-nbas-50-greatest-players-of-all-time-where-do-lebron-and-kobe-rank/page/52

TheMarkMadsen

08-10-2015, 04:57 PM

yea...
bleacher report
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/871743-the-nbas-50-greatest-players-of-all-time-where-do-lebron-and-kobe-rank/page/52

:roll: :roll:

TheCorporation

08-10-2015, 04:59 PM

yea...
bleacher report
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/871743-the-nbas-50-greatest-players-of-all-time-where-do-lebron-and-kobe-rank/page/52

Posts article from 2011

:roll: :roll: :roll:

It's actually 2015, now. Check a calendar, your smart phone, ask a friend, etc. But yes, it is in fact the year 2015, now. No longer 2011.

Anything else?

TheMarkMadsen

08-10-2015, 05:02 PM

Posts article from 2011

:roll: :roll: :roll:

It's actually 2015, now. Check a calendar, your smart phone, ask a friend, etc. But yes, it is in fact the year 2015, now. No longer 2011.

Anything else?

how do you not see how this destroys your entire argument

what did Kobe do in 2012 & 2013 to drop 10 spots :oldlol:

that destroys their entire credibility on this subject

too bad :confusedshrug:

sdot_thadon

08-10-2015, 06:08 PM

Well, it appears that going off of that criteria is pretty accurate and straight forward (at the least). I mean, most would have Kobe higher and D-Rob/West a little lower but other than that it's a pretty good list for using a straight-forward criteria.

It's better than going off of pure emotion or biased opinions.
It's a solid list considering the criteria. The world(and ish) would be a better place if people were upfront about their criteria for goat lists. Everyone values different aspects differently, and everyone's list changes along the way.

Derka

08-10-2015, 06:10 PM

Disagree with Lebron over Larry. Had Lebron won this series against GS, I would have probably agreed.

kuniva_dAMiGhTy

08-10-2015, 06:10 PM

BR article written on 4/1/15. Nice April fools joke OP, but we're no longer in April.

:oldlol:

Hey Yo

08-10-2015, 06:12 PM

Dallas Morning News

1) Wilt
2) Jordan
3) KAJ
4) Russell
5) Magic
6) Kobe
7) Shaq
8) Erving
9) Duncan
10) Bird

http://interactives.dallasnews.com/2015/nba-top-25/
Reggie Miller at #22

"Anytime you are the best in NBA history at one specific thing, you have my attention. So never mind that Ray Allen has more 3-pointers than Miller. Reggie is still the most-feared 3-point shooter of all time. When he was in a groove, he was so much fun to watch."

:roll: :roll:

He's lucky to even be in the HOF

And1AllDay

08-10-2015, 10:02 PM

Does anyone else just sit back and realize how pointless and stupid it is to argue over someones Top 10? :roll:

People literally spend hours arguing back and forth over an OPINION, it's crazy

Whether it's from a forum poster, a reporter or even a player themselves, there is always gonna be bias

Kobe not in someones Top 10? Who gives a sh*t
LeBron not in someones Top 10? Who gives a sh*t

But it's whatever, keep doing your thing fellow ISH members :roll:

I think it's a part of what makes us fans :confusedshrug:

And any reputable company like Bleacher Report deserves a shoutout for a recent list they made. I'd like to see ESPN do a top 20 list, and see who they keep in the top 20 and who they don't. I'd also like to see who they keep in the top 10.