Since the beginnings of the NBA back when it wasn't even called the NBA (BAA), George Mikan was teaaing up the league. He was voted the greatest basketball player the first half of the decade by the The Associated Press.
He was the greatest player of All-Time up until Bill Russell took the crown from him as reported by Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980.
Michael Jordan has since took over the top billing from both of these great big men as the Greatest of All-Time.
These are only 3 of the GOATs of NBA history, as their has been other will will probally be many more to come.
Since the beginnings of the NBA back when it wasn't even called the NBA (BAA), George Mikan was teaaing up the league. He was voted the greatest basketball player the first half of the decade by the The Associated Press.
He was the greatest player of All-Time up until Bill Russell took the crown from him as reported by Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980.
Michael Jordan has since took over the top billing from both of these great big men as the Greatest of All-Time.
These are only 3 of the GOATs of NBA history, as their has been other will will probally be many more to come.
what is your definition of "Goat"....when I think of Goats, I think of these guys:
John Starks in game 7 of the NBA finals
Nick Anderson in the 95 NBA finals
Patrick Ewing missing a putback in game 7 of the 95 ECSF
Tracy Mcgrady in all of his first round series
Karl Malone in the 2004 NBA finals
what is your definition of "Goat"....when I think of Goats, I think of these guys:
John Starks in game 7 of the NBA finals
Nick Anderson in the 95 NBA finals
Patrick Ewing missing a putback in game 7 of the 95 ECSF
Tracy Mcgrady in all of his first round series
Karl Malone in the 2004 NBA finals
Believe the point is, a 'new' goat would have to be better than the previous to take the reign. And no one is saying that any of todays stars have had a better career and were better in their prime than MJ. So far.
Let's say Kobe wins a few more championships, a few MVPs, sets a few records, then maybe. But a further 1, 1, 1, and 1 won't cut it.
Wow that list sucks.What about Kareem abduljabar.Or Wilt Chamberlin?.Or Oscar robertson?Jordan this and jordan that.It's disrespectful for othesrs that have acomplished the same if not more.Not to be mentioned.
BULLS, L. Kizzle is talking about GOATs of that generation, for instance when the league was still early, Mikan seemed to be the GOAT, he's talking about perspective from Mikan's era's standpoint, not from a modern standpoint, and then counting up how many G.O.A.T.s there were in total.
For the first two seasons of the BAA, Joe Fulks was the GOAT for the league. George Mikan was in the NBL then. Fulks figured prominently in The Associated Pess vote, too, if I recall correctly. Hank Luisetti, who was a pro, but not in the BAA, NBL or NBA, was neck and neck with Mikan in that vote (but Mikan was in the midst of his career). George Mikan was the clear GOAT after a while, though.
Yeah, then it was Bill Russell. Wilt Chamberlain had a lot of supporters from the beginning, too. The media was more on Chamberlain side in the beginning, then shifted towards Russell (where players and most fans had tended to be), but now most have gone completely to Chamberlain.
Kareem, Bird and Magic have significant supporters, too. Jordan, of course. Kalb said Shaq--he's not alone.
Id also say Bird would have had peoples support for GOAT going into the 87 finals. SI named hims the best ever in like 86. Kareem probably took it around 89 when people started heaping the praise on him as he left. Overall...
Mikan
Bob Pettit
Wilt
Bird
Kareem(I assume Wilt and Russell were ranked higher all time all during his prime)
MJ starting around 92 and going on to today. Nobody has taken his status in the eys of most.
I left out Russell not for personal opinion but because I think most of the basketball world had Cousy over Russell the first few titles in that period. Both Bobs made more money than Bill and probbaly got more credit. Bill never got paid till Wilt came along and got 100,000 a year and Red gave Russell 100,001 just to support Bills case as the most valuable bigman and player. Red himself has said they didnt really understand the value of what Bill did back then. Players did im sure. They voted him MVP in one season. Players voted on MVP back then(the two Bobs got the other 3 in that 4 year period). Fans were slow to see his impact though.
If its by my opinion Russell was the GOAT from his rookie year till Wilts but going by what they people probably thought? It may have been Cousy getting the love after Petitt and not Bill.
Last edited by Kblaze8855 : 08-12-2007 at 05:35 PM.
Who were all of the GOATs in NBA History?
