Bird, Kobe, Hakeem and Magic. How do you rank them

[John8204]

Probably not, but Jerry West is right behind him, if you consider him a SG, some list West as a PG.

Out of all the positions, the SG is the weakest in terms of top tier talent. You can make a case for Harden, Iverson, or Drexler being slotted in the #5 spot in terms of greatest SGs ever, all 3 of those players had noticeable flaws.

I agree I got Kobe at #9 and Jerry in the #11-13 all-time range. I think winning rings as a SG is damn near impossible so for me 1/2/3 is easily Jordan/Kobe/Jerry and then I would lean towards Gervin, Maravich, and Iverson. Hakeem on the other hand is good but he's kinda in a class with a bunch of other great centers.

[WhiteKyrie]

Career
Magic
Bird
Hakeem
Kobe

Peak

Hakeem
Bird
Magic
Kobe

How is one a “Laker Fan” but such a Kobe hater?

Career:
Magic
Bird
Kobe
Hakeem

Peak:
Hakeem
Bird
Kobe
Magic

Prime:
Hakeem
Kobe
Magic
Bird

[1987_Lakers]

Where do you rank Wade regarding all time SGs?

1. MJ
2. Kobe
3. West
4. Wade
5. Harden

[WhiteKyrie]

1. MJ
2. Kobe
3. West
4. Wade
5. Harden

Exactly correct. However I could make a case for Drexler over Harden.

[1987_Lakers]

Exactly correct. However I could make a case for Drexler over Harden.

Nah, Harden was a superior scorer.

[WhiteKyrie]

Nah, Harden was a superior scorer.

Nah, Harden plays in a more super star ball dominate as both the facilitator and scorer era.

So of course he would have gaudier stats. I could still make the case Drexler was the better all around player and didn’t crash and burn in the playoffs. As I said, the case can be made.

Harden is still kind of in many ways a joke based on his spectacularly underwhelming playoff career and collapses. It’s not a lock for #5

[1987_Lakers]

Nah, you could make the case Drexler was the better all around player and didn’t crash and burn in the playoffs. As I said, the case can be made. Harden is still kind of a joke based on his spectacularly underwhelming playoff career and collapses. It’s not a lock for #5

Drexler had two playoff runs at his peak in '90 & '91 where he averaged 21.5 ppg on 45-46 fg%, his scoring skills in general weren't really that impressive.

Maybe Drexler was better all-around if you factor in defense (even though Drexler wasn't known for his defense), but Harden was an elite playmaker along with Drexler and such a superior scorer that it's an easy choice for me.

[3ba11]

Neither is superior. They're completely different players in completely different circumstances in completely different eras.

Kobe's elite jumpshooting skill can score a lot while the ball moves (good brand of ball) and therefore beat top teams with high scoring levels or volume.

Otoh, Magic is just a ball-dominator at high scoring levels (weak brand), so he gets demolished when he tries to carry the scoring load like the upset loss to KJ in 1990.

Since Magic can't carry the scoring load, he needs more star help (scoring help) such as Kareem and can't win with sidekicks like Worthy or Pau.. aka Magic was demolished with All-NBA Worthy in 90' and 91', including the 91' loss where Worthy, Vlade and Perkins got 17+ in the Finals.. So Kobe repeated with casts that Magic was demolished with

[ShawkFactory]

Magic Johnson played a weak brand of basketball.

Now I've heard it all.

[3ba11]

Magic Johnson played a weak brand of basketball.

Now I've heard it all.

Magic can't win with high scoring while Kobe can

Since Magic can't carry the scoring load, he needs more star help (scoring help) such as Kareem and can't win with sidekicks like Worthy or Pau.. aka Magic was demolished with All-NBA Worthy in 90' and 91', including the 91' loss where Worthy, Vlade and Perkins got 17+ in the Finals..

So Kobe repeated with casts that Magic was demolished with..

[1987_Lakers]

Since Magic can't carry the scoring load, he needs more star help (scoring help) such as Kareem and can't win with sidekicks like Worthy or Pau..

Wtf are you talking about? Magic won a title with Worthy as his sidekick in '87 & '88.

Then again, I'm talking to someone who once said Worthy > Durant.

[ShawkFactory]

Magic can't win with high scoring while Kobe can

Since Magic can't carry the scoring load, he needs more star help (scoring help) such as Kareem and can't win with sidekicks like Worthy or Pau.. aka Magic was demolished with All-NBA Worthy in 90' and 91', including the 91' loss where Worthy, Vlade and Perkins got 17+ in the Finals..

So Kobe repeated with casts that Magic was demolished with..

Wasn't Worthy famously injured in that series in 91? And when you're trying to make another type of argument (I believe it's a Worthy > Pippen one) haven't you attributed the Bulls win on Worthy being hurt?

The answer to both of those questions is yes.

[3ba11]

Wtf are you talking about? Magic won a title with Worthy as his sidekick in '87 & '88.

PLAYOFFS

87' Worthy..... 24 on 59%
87' Magic'...... 21 on 54%

88' Worthy..... 21 on 53% (FMVP)
88' Magic...... 20 on 51%

Everyone in history had teammates lead in scoring for entire playoff runs except MJ, who led his sidekick by 10-30 in every SERIES, let alone playoff run.

And that's the key - CARRYING the scoring load - only MJ and Kobe did it for multiple title runs

Since Kobe could carry the scoring load like MJ, he therefore didn't need an all-time producer at sidekick like Kareem and could win with Pau or Worthy -caliber

[1987_Lakers]

PLAYOFFS

87' Worthy..... 24 on 59%
87' Magic'...... 21 on 54%

88' Worthy..... 21 on 53% (FMVP)
88' Magic...... 20 on 51%

Completely disregards Magic's playmaking abilities, but you know what's worse? You lying about stats again.

Worthy averaged 23.6 ppg in '87 postseason, you rounded that up to 24.
Magic averaged 21.8 ppg in '87 postseason (also dished out 12 apg), you rounded that down to 21.

Shameful.

[3ba11]

Wasn't Worthy famously injured in that series in 91? And when you're trying to make another type of argument (I believe it's a Worthy > Pippen one) haven't you attributed the Bulls win on Worthy being hurt?

The answer to both of those questions is yes.

Magic was massive upset by KJ in 90' because tried to be a scorer

And a hobbled Worthy still nearly matched Pippen's ppg in the 91' Finals - Magic had 3 teammates average 17+ in that series

Magic simply can't win without goat scoring help like Kareem because he himself cannot carry the scoring load and therefore win with less help like Pau or Worthy