Who your top 5 skilled players of all time?

[BigShotBob]

He's probably the most skilled big man of all time, but he's 7 foot tall and plays right near the rim. How could you think his skill is comparable to a guard's skill?

He's literally taking centers off the dribble from the three-point line and pulling up like KD.

"Near the rim"

He scored from practically anywhere. His game wasn't limited to the post in spite of it being his bread and butter.

[AlternativeAcc.]

Kobe?


Anyways...

This is a list for guys like Pistol Pete,Jerry West (who was extremely skilled for his time), Bird, and Nash.


Kobe isn't in the same universe as these guys in terms of skill.

[sd3035]

Curry
Kyrie
Durant
Kobe
MJ/Larry Legend

[BarberSchool]

Scoring is the most important skill of all.
Passing OUT OF DOUBLE TEAMS is the 2nd most important skill.
Guys under 6'5" with shorter vertical may pass well in the open court, or in pick and rolls,
but they don't pass well or pass with versatility OUT OF BIG DOUBLE TEAMS.

So:

1. Jordan
2. Kobe
3. TMac
4. Durant
5. Bird


People can talk about point guard passing all they want,
but how many point guards fit these criteria:

a. Score well enough from 2pt range to command double teams
b. Shoot off the dribble well enough to command doubles (Steph is in rare company here, Lillard and very few others meet this standard)
c. Pass well out of long-wingspan double teams (players with height and wingspan like Chris Paul do not do this well at all, the passes will arrive later than optimal for several reasons involving defender wingspans, and teamamtes cannot capitalize against incomplete rotations at a high enough percentage)

This is why taller players with longer wingspans like Durant and Nowitzki pass out of double teams so well, not only can they see over the defenders to make high reward reads, but they can snap passes around or over double teams without leaving their feet or putting any arc on the pass.

[72-10]

Scoring is the most important skill of all.
Passing OUT OF DOUBLE TEAMS is the 2nd most important skill.
So:

1. Jordan
2. Kobe
3. TMac
4. Durant
5. Bird

Pure shooting is the 2nd most important skill and the 2nd rarest.

[BarberSchool]

Pure shooting is the 2nd most important skill and the 2nd rarest.

Shooting is one element which is the most important WITHIN scoring.

[72-10]

Right. You know, I mean I'm talking mostly about having a jay, having good shot form, etc. Being able to score from mid-range and out the rarest group....

[tpols]

First players to come to mind are Kobe and Chris Paul. Then, Kyrie, Nash, Iverson.

was gonna say cp3.

people mentioning tmac smh his skill / uniqueness was only above average for his height...guy was 6'9 and played like a guard.

chris paul had more impact at 5'11, that takes a retarded skill advantage.

[Vino24]

Tim Duncan is the best. Fundamentals skill, footwork, timing. No flash all precise movements no wasted movement for the best play possible. A lot of players listed here are flashy not best skilled.

[tpols]

Tim Duncan is the best. Fundamentals skill, footwork, timing. No flash all precise movements no wasted movement for the best play possible. A lot of players listed here are flashy not best skilled.

yup...

my list

Bird
Kobe
Curry
Jordan
Duncan

[Vino24]

yup...

my list

Bird
Kobe
Curry
Jordan
Duncan

One of these things is not like the other

[Reggie43]

Jordan
Bird
Stockton
Olajuwon
Mullin

[Dr Hawk]

yup...

my list

Bird
Kobe
Curry
Jordan
Duncan

No CP3?

[SomeBlackDude]

Tim Duncan is the best. Fundamentals skill, footwork, timing. No flash all precise movements no wasted movement for the best play possible. A lot of players listed here are flashy not best skilled.

was just watching a rookie highlight reel of timmy. crazy how polished he was in his first season. if you didn't know better, you'd think he was a 10 year vet just toying with some atgs (rodman, malone, etc). he was a top 5 player in the league the minute he stepped onto an nba court.

dude could score from either block, with either hand, had an array of moves, impeccable footwork, nice shooting touch. and the high bball iq to go with all that.

[BarberSchool]

No CP3?

Why CP3 is rated so highly on any all time list, by some fans, boggles my mind.