NBA Hierarchy as Monarchy: All-time Greats - Part One

[G.O.A.T]

Just another way of looking at the best players of all-time. Think of them as Kings or Khans or Emperors, who has had the longest reign. I'm going to try and use the absolute longest time periods I can for each one, we'll save the debate for the overlapping years...


I - King George The First
1946-1954
Challengers to Throne: Bob Davies, Dolph Schayes, Bob Cousy,



-Using Brute Force George the Giant crushes the competition laying waste to anyone who dare stand in his way. Even when his leg is broken and he is beaten in battle he ultimately takes back what was rightfully his and wins the war. Though his methods were medieval and his look may not strike fear into the hearts of folks today, there is no denying his place as history as the First Emperor of Basketball, a true King...


First Period of Transition - The Quickening
1954-1957

-Throne abdicated by Mikan in 1954, conquest takes on a more rapid pace. Schayes, Arizin, Cousy, Pettit all have moments where it seems they could assert themselves as heir, but then something entirely different rolls in from the West.

II - William the Conqueror
1957-1967
Challengers to Throne: Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson



Unlike anything the known Basketball world has ever seen, The most thoughtful King revolutionizes defense and his Kingdom constructs a Great Wall that stands longer than any before or since. The Green Kingdom with it's Elder council led by Arnold the Red and Walter the Brown would allow Russell to elevate a race of people previously thought not fit for rule in Basketball-Dumb. Eventually becoming so great a force he powered the entire army of the Green Kingdom on his own, William is the only King/General to have never fallen in a do or die battle...

III - Wilton The Giant King
1965-1972
Challengers to Throne: Bill Russell, Jerry West, Willis Reed, Lew Alcindor



They knew he was coming and they knew they couldn't stop him. His only weakness early on seemed to be strategic as he searched for the right force to assemble around him. Individually he commanded battle like no one else ever has. Wreaking havoc from the moment he arrived on the landscape, some recognize his domination having begun by 1965 but it was in 1967 that he left do doubt eviscerating the Kingdom of Green and collecting a herom that has never been matched...

Period of Three Kings
1969-1970

In between the time of Wilt and Kareem, as both battled injuries and inexperience and could not take firm hold of the Throne, three other warring factions, the Celts, led by Hondo the Energetic, the Yorkshires, led by Willis the Unbreakable and the Westerners led by Jerry of Westland all took their turns on the top of the mountain but none held the throne alone until...

IV - Alcindor the Wise
1970-1981
Challengers to Throne: Willis Reed & Walt Frazier, Havlicek & Cowens, Unseld and Hayes, Bob McAdoo, Bill Walton, Julius Erving



In an era of Basketball Renaissance, Great alliances and new exploration opening up more colorful Worlds to the Basketball universe, it was stoic discipline that won out in the form of Alcindor the wise. Intent to do things his way he moved from the Northern Native Lands of Mil-Wau-Kee to the Great Western Dynasty, intent to be it's next ruler. A man of principal and a master of efficient scoring He would convert Basketball to the Muslim Religion one sky hook at a time...

Second Period of Transition - The Dawn of the Golden Age
1981-1984

After a long and fruitful reign, Alcindor the Wise (known by now as Kareem the surly to many) while not yet ready to relinquish power was under too great of attack to hold the keys to the kingdom on his own. Two young princes, one from the great city and other from the vast farmlands emerge as does a Man-Child deep in the heart of Texas and a "Doctor" in the Basketball Holy Land of Philadelphia. The Great King Lew aligns with one of the young princes and so begins a Great and glorious war that will launch the league into the stratosphere.

V - Larry the Legendary
1981-1987
Challengers to Throne: Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone







After many great battles dating back to their adolescence a showdown with the Westerners in 1984 finally cemented Larry the Legendary as supreme ruler of Hoopdom and he and the Celtic tribes took up residence in the East. There they ruled with a mix of long and short range attacks as Larry's star ascended. His tenacious, arrogant manor of rule divided the plebeians and the aristocracy alike, but no one could deny he was one tough S.O.B ...

VI -Earvin the Magician
1985-1991
Challengers to Throne: Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan



After serving alongside Alcindor the Wise and losing his first great battle with Larry the Legendary, Earvin the Magician conjured up some sorcery and mystified the lands with a form of rule that both captivated and terrified the people as the Throne returned West. His battles with Larry the Legendary and the Kingdom of Green were Epic and ended with his side prevailing in 19 and 87. Hiding behind the enigmatic smile he often wore was a competitive fire that would allow him to slit your throat if you gave him the chance...

Third Period of Transition - The Barbarian Invasions
1989-1991



With the Sun setting on the great rule of the two princes, from the great Fresh Coast came an army of invaders more cruel and callus than anyone that has come before or since. A brutal blood thirsty bunch with Barbaric names like Zeke, Lamb, Thump (or was it bump), Worm, Spider, Microwave and Joe. (okay they weren't all evil) They would tear down the New Kingdom of Green and the Great Western Dynasty en route to planting their own flag a top the mountain and holding up the inevitable on coming Arial assault from a futuristic warrior no one could have seen come.

[SsKSpurs21]

this was freakin awesome! is there a part 2 or are you working on it! keep it coming.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Good thread idea..

[riseagainst]

great post. I wonder what the 2000s gonna be like. And lebron. The return of the KING!!

[L.Kizzle]

Nice, as always.

The first period of transition 54-57, I'd add Neil Johnston and Maurice Stokes.

[ralph_i_el]

OP is going for the longest green bar in ISH history

[L.Kizzle]

V - Julius the Doctor
1967-1976
Challengers to Throne: Mel Daniel, Connie Hawkins, Artis Gilmore, Spencer Haywood, George McGinnis, Dan Issel

Julius is that important, he belongs with the Mikans, Russels, Wilts, Kareems, Birds and Magics.
To go along with your theme, something about an enemy that ends up finally getting dethroned.

[G.O.A.T]

V - Julius the Doctor
1967-1976
Challengers to Throne: Mel Daniel, Connie Hawkins, Artis Gilmore, Spencer Haywood, George McGinnis, Dan Issel

Julius is that important, he belongs with the Mikans, Russels, Wilts, Kareems, Birds and Magics.
To go along with your theme, something about an enemy that ends up finally getting dethroned.

Ah the King of the far away colorful land of the ABA.

If I were to give Julius a reign it would be from '74 to '77 while Kareem was struggling with bad teams, but even Julius showed some vulnerability when his Kingdom was laid to waste by the cracked out visagothic--esque Spirits of St. Louis and their very own Attila the Hun, Marvin Barnes.

this was freakin awesome! is there a part 2 or are you working on it! keep it coming.

Thanks. Part two tonight or tomorrow, as soon as I find good enough pictures.

[ArbitraryWater]

Thats pretty sick...


BTW, LeBreon's reing starts in 2009... Since then hes the best.

Shaq was 00-02, Timmy was 03-05..Or make Timmy 03-07, fits better to this idea i guess.

[BasedTom]

Nice thread.

[G.O.A.T]

Thats pretty sick...


BTW, LeBreon's reing starts in 2009... Since then hes the best.

Shaq was 00-02, Timmy was 03-05..Or make Timmy 03-07, fits better to this idea i guess.

The idea is to cover every possible year they could be considered the best. So the spans will be a little longer than the absolute peaks you suggest. Think of years overlap as years where the two (or more) were at war to prove who was truly elite.

[ArbitraryWater]

The idea is to cover every possible year they could be considered the best. So the spans will be a little longer than the absolute peaks you suggest. Think of years overlap as years where the two (or more) were at war to prove who was truly elite.

Gotcha

[moe94]

Wonderful shit

[ArbitraryWater]

Why are jealous retards one starring this shit?

[moe94]

Why are jealous retards one starring this shit?

Because they can. It's that simple.