How many players can replace MJ on 90's Bulls team and still win 6 titles or more?

[Fatal9]

The other top 10 players and the # of titles I think they win:

KAJ - 7+
Wilt - 6+
Bird - 6+ (with no back injuries)
Shaq - 5
Duncan - 5
Kobe - 5
Hakeem - 5
Magic - 3
Russell - ?

Think about some of the combinations: Pippen & Bird, Pippen & Kareem

[NBASTATMAN]

The other top 10 players and the # of titles I think they win:

KAJ - 7+
Wilt - 6+
Bird - 6+ (with no back injuries)
Shaq - 5
Duncan - 5
Kobe - 5
Hakeem - 5
Magic - 3
Russell - ?

Think about some of the combinations: Pippen & Bird, Pippen & Kareem

If they did what mj did ... Retire and come back in two years.. Than no other player can do that and win 6.. But if they played the two years mj missed than yea I could see Some guys winning close to 6.. People don't understand how great Mj was... This guy was Kobe type skills with Lebron type dominance .... His PER was always at the top... He provided more than any other player in the league now or ever..


kareem gets six and maybe seven
wilt chokes and gets 3 or 4
bird not going to get by the great defenses,, people forget bird had his problems too bird gets 5
Magic gets close to 6
hakeem gets close to 6
kobe gets 4 if he played smart
Duncan gets 4 or 5

[Revelation]

The 90s Bulls was featuring 2 other great talents in Pippen and Grant. Later, Pippen and Rodman. Plus excellent role players. How many players do you feel can take MJ's place on that team and still win at least 6 titles?

Can Hakeem? Shaq? Duncan? Wilt perhaps? Bird? Magic? Lebron? Kobe? D-Rob?

The best players (Bird, Magic, Hakeem, Shaq) would probably win the first three (91-93) and possible 1 or 2 of the second three (96-98). Very unlikely that any of them get to 6 unless they play in 94 and 95. Jordan was the perfect fit for the Bulls and the Bulls were a perfect team for Jordan.

Bird: 4-5
Magic: 4-5
Hakeem: 4
Shaq: 4
Duncan: 3-4
Kobe: 3
LeBron: 3
D-Rob:3

[Fatal9]

Kareem and Pippen, provided they are healthy, would have a great chance to sweep the decade (or at least get 7-8 rings, considering Kareem's longevity, good passer too who'd fit very well in the triangle). The 90s elite competition wise were that weak imo. You guys really think the aging '91 Lakers, '92 Blazers (not as good as the '90 ones imo, who got nearly swept by prime Bad boy Pistons), '93 Suns, '97/'98 Jazz, '94 Rockets have ANY shot at winning a single championship, let alone a single finals appearance in the 80s? Seriously, a team with the GOAT removed was still a contender (major credit to Pippen though)!

[Revelation]

Think about some of the combinations: Pippen & Bird, Pippen & Kareem

Pippen & Jordan is better. They complimented each other like few players ever have.

[NBASTATMAN]

Kareem and Pippen, provided they are healthy, would have a great chance to sweep the decade (or at least get 7-8 rings, considering Kareem's longevity, good passer too who'd fit very well in the triangle). The 90s elite competition wise were that weak imo. You guys really think the aging '91 Lakers, '92 Blazers (not as good as the '90 ones imo, who got nearly swept by prime Bad boy Pistons), '93 Suns, '97/'98 Jazz, '94 Rockets have ANY shot at winning a single championship, let alone a single finals appearance in the 80s?

One thing is sure.. Kareem would have to make all the big shots.. Cuz Pippen is probably the least clutch great player I have ever seen.. Now that is a thread..

[NBASTATMAN]

Pippen & Jordan is better. They complimented each other like few players ever have.

Defensively Bird would not contribute the way mj did either....

[CantStop]

Kobe.
Wade

Give any great 2 guard a HOF SF, amazing 3 point shooters, great rebounders, great coach and they're gonna win 6.

[Fatal9]

One thing is sure.. Kareem would have to make all the big shots.. Cuz Pippen is probably the least clutch great player I have ever seen.. Now that is a thread..

Kareem has hit several big shots in his careers, in the finals too (game 6, sweeping sky hook in '74). He's a great FT shooter for a big man so he doesn't come with the liabilities of Shaq and Wilt near the end of games.

at Pippen being not clutch. Have you watched the '93 ECF vs. Knicks? Who hit the series clinching three when MJ was 0-7 in the fourth quarter of the elimination game? Who showed up in the series deciding game 3 when MJ went 3-18 (or Bulls go down 0-3)?. EVERYONE was buzzing about Pippen's clutch play in the series.

[lilgodfather1]

Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem, Magic, Russel, Oscar, LeBron, Wade, Baylor, Wilt. Those are the players that could win 6 or more titles with MJs teams.

LeBron would potentially get 8 (he would only be 32 when they won their last).

[NBASTATMAN]

Kobe.
Wade

Give any great 2 guard a HOF SF, amazing 3 point shooters, great rebounders, great coach and they're gonna win 6.

A young Kobe was not efficient enough to win those titles.. Kobe now plays efficiently and smart.. Todays kobe would be efficient enough to win but not six... Wade under the old rules would have alot more problems than Kobe winning because he drives more.. Neither win six though..

[NBASTATMAN]

Kareem has hit several big shots in his careers, in the finals too (game 6, sweeping sky hook in '74). He's a great FT shooter for a big man so he doesn't come with the liabilities of Shaq and Wilt near the end of games.

at Pippen being not clutch. Have you watched the '93 ECF vs. Knicks? Who hit the series clinching three when MJ was 0-7 in the fourth quarter of the elimination game? Who showed up in the series deciding game 3 when MJ went 3-18 (or Bulls go down 0-3)?. EVERYONE was buzzing about Pippen's clutch play in the series.

My goodness.. Pippen actually hit a big shot... So did Lamar in this playoffs ... I still don't think he is clutch... And yes , Pippen had his best series ever in that Knicks series... X was gone and the Knicks had Charles smith who could not stay with pippen..But we all know what happened when Pippen took over the reign over the bulls.. It was Kukoc who took the big shots, and in portland Pippen again choked.. The guy will forever be known as a choker.. How did Portland lose that game seven... Pippen, Smith, DAMON, RASHEED, GRANT, and others.. That team was loaded and still Pippen dissapeared when it mattered most.. If Portland wins that game ,Pippen wins a title on his own... It didn't happen..

[guy]

Kobe.
Wade

Give any great 2 guard a HOF SF, amazing 3 point shooters, great rebounders, great coach and they're gonna win 6.

LOL, sounds like something Kobe had for about 8 years, except he had a HOF C (which is historically more impactful then a HOF SF + he was a top 10 player ever) instead. And how many does he have? And besides the fact that he isn't as great of a player, you really think Wade would be durable enough to win 6 titles in a more physical era?

[VeeCee15]

No one would win 6 with Jordan's teams get real.

He shot over 50% name me a two guard who can do that?

[Fatal9]

LOL, sounds like something Kobe had for about 8 years, except he had a HOF C (which is historically more impactful then a HOF SF + he was a top 10 player ever) instead. And how many does he have?

Except, during his prime '05 onwards, he has had a good team for only 1.5 years out of 4 years (not to mention injuries/personal scandal robbing him of two potention prime years from '03-'05). Jordan had a great team for 3 of his 4-5 absolute prime years.

No one would win 6 with Jordan's teams get real.

He shot over 50% name me a two guard who can do that?

If you take a real scoring efficiency measure like eFG%, Kobe's playoff scoring efficiency, as #1 option (ie. same age) is virtually even with MJ's during the first three-peat.