Best Player SInce the Day he Joined the NBA

[calamity]

GOATs are subjective. It's too hard to compare players from different eras. But, we always have that "player of a generation" we can find who can be objectively defined.

In my lifetime there were definitely three. A fourth might be in the conversation, but I was a little too young at the time to really know if that player was truly that good or not. I'm talking about Bill Russell.

Anyway, the for sure best of their class:

Magic
Jordan
Lebron

 

[OrphanSlug]

Pointless debate, all were outstanding and marquee players in their time and for a host of reasons. But to compare them across these times and suggest one is the greatest of all time opens up a mess of a discussion where all the factors become slide rules in comparison. The game is not the same from Magic to Jordan to Lebron, nor are the players themselves.

We are never going to agree.

 

[ecofarm]

GOATs are subjective. It's too hard to compare players from different eras. But, we always have that "player of a generation" we can find who can be objectively defined.

In my lifetime there were definitely three. A fourth might be in the conversation, but I was a little too young at the time to really know if that player was truly that good or not. I'm talking about Bill Russell.

Anyway, the for sure best of their class:

Magic
Jordan
Lebron

Not so quick, slick. You can't just shoehorn Magic in with G2OAT.

 

[calamity]

Pointless debate, all were outstanding and marquee players in their time and for a host of reasons. But to compare them across these times and suggest one is the greatest of all time opens up a mess of a discussion where all the factors become slide rules in comparison. The game is not the same from Magic to Jordan to Lebron, nor are the players themselves.

We are never going to agree.

Right. That's why I went with guys who were the best players in the league from pretty much their first day on the court. The three I listed were probably the only ones that fit that bill.

Other great players always had someone overshadowing them. In fact, of the three, I'd say Magic had the lowest margin of greatness between him and runners up, guys like Dr J & Bird. Jordan was head and shoulders above his contemporaries, as is LBJ.

 

[haymarket]

GOATs are subjective. It's too hard to compare players from different eras. But, we always have that "player of a generation" we can find who can be objectively defined.

In my lifetime there were definitely three. A fourth might be in the conversation, but I was a little too young at the time to really know if that player was truly that good or not. I'm talking about Bill Russell.

Anyway, the for sure best of their class:

Magic
Jordan
Lebron

Wilt Chamberlain was a better and more skilled player who had far more tools and abilities than Bill Russell. Russell was the consulate teammate and winner however.

Larry Bird was better than Ervin Johnson and you can tell that by the impact he had in his rookie year where the other four Celtics were starters the previous year and Bird doubled the wins. Plus Bird easily bested Magic in two of the three major offensive categories only bested by Johnson in assists. And they both were the same size.

Jordan was indeed the best during his prime as is James today.

 

[calamity]

Not so quick, slick. You can't just shoehorn Magic in with G2OAT.

Pls, see bold below.

Right. That's why I went with guys who were the best players in the league from pretty much their first day on the court. The three I listed were probably the only ones that fit that bill.

Other great players always had someone overshadowing them. In fact, of the three, I'd say Magic had the lowest margin of greatness between him and runners up, guys like Dr J & Bird. Jordan was head and shoulders above his contemporaries, as is LBJ.

 

[calamity]

Wilt Chamberlain was a better and more skilled player who had far more tools and abilities than Bill Russell. Russell was the consulate teammate and winner however.

Larry Bird was better than Ervin Johnson and you can tell that by the impact he had in his rookie year where the other four Celtics were starters the previous year and Bird doubled the wins.

Jordan was indeed the best during his prime as is James today.

I was thinking of Wilt, but something about his inability to win stopped me. I never saw him or Bill play. So, :shrug:

Bird and Magic were pretty close for many years, but Bird fell apart sooner. And, well, Magic got sick. So, it kind of sucked there because Magic had at least 5 more good years left.

 

[haymarket]

I was thinking of Wilt, but something about his inability to win stopped me. I never saw him or Bill play. So, :shrug:

Bird and Magic were pretty close for many years, but Bird fell apart sooner. And, well, Magic got sick. So, it kind of sucked there because Magic had at least 5 more good years left.

I saw the last few years of both Chamberlain and Russell and have read and researched much about the two and Chamberlain simply was the best in every single category except ability to win.

here is the head to head competition and you will see Wilt totally dominated in every category except championship rings.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.fcgi?id=PAGXr

Have you ever read the excellent book FOUL about the life of Connie Hawkins? They tell a story about Hawkins playing against Chamberlain in the Harlem Rushers tournament one summer and it is perhaps the single best Chamberlain story ever. If you have not heard it, I will retell it but it takes a lot of space so let me know.

https://www.amazon.com/Foul-Connie-Hawkins-Story-David/dp/0030860210

Also there is a great book called THE RIVALRY about Russell and Wilt that any serious hoops fan who never seen them actually play should read.

https://www.amazon.com/Rivalry-Russell-Chamberlain-Golden-Basketball/dp/0812970306

 

[Rexedgar]

Wilt got more “action” than all the rest!

 

[ecofarm]

Pls, see bold below.

You frame it as if to put Magic in the same category.

 

[gdgyva]

as an individual player, Wilt beats Russell one on one

as part of a team, Russell dominates Wilt in every aspect of the game

and because basketball is a team game....i have always given the edge to Russell on my MT Rushmore of basketball

11 titles is something i dont think will ever be done again....

there are some records in sports that we can say NEVER....that is is as close to a never as you will find imo

trying to compare era to era, and player to player is futile at best

I have been blessed to watch some since the middle 60's....so i have seen some of the greatest

Lebron fits in there with the ones on top...where, who knows...his legacy is still being written

but in the end, he will be on that mountaintop of greats with his peers, and others will be chasing him

until another comes along

 

[VanceMack]

I have never been a huge LeBron fan. Still not. But after watching the Celtics series and especially game 7, its hard to deny he is a special player. The GOAT. No...not even close. But special.

The thing I really dont like about the star treatment in the NBA today (that has really existed ever since the advent of 'the Jordan Rules') is how easily and obviously star players are allowed to push off, hold, travel, carry (I mean is that even a call in the NBA anymore???) etc. I think if I was an opposing coach Id put my #11 and #12 guys on the star player for the first half and point out ever push and grab and force the refs hand until they reigned at least some of that crap in.

 

[Bucky]

How is lbj the goat when he isnt even the best player in the nba - kevin durant.

 

[calamity]

You frame it as if to put Magic in the same category.

As one of if not the best player in his era? He was. Magic, Bird, DR J and trailing the pack Isaiah T.

 

[calamity]

How is lbj the goat when he isnt even the best player in the nba - kevin durant.

KD sucks, considering how young he is. He can barely win with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on his team. :lol:

 

[Nickyjo]

KD sucks, considering how young he is. He can barely win with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on his team. :lol:

Ok, there is greatness measured by stats, and there is greatness measured by grace and beauty that make it pleasant to watch a player. No one beats Dr J in that category.

 

[calamity]

Ok, there is greatness measured by stats, and there is greatness measured by grace and beauty that make it pleasant to watch a player. No one beats Dr J in that category.

Dr J was Jordan before there was Jordan. I totally loved watching that man play.

 

[Bucky]

KD sucks, considering how young he is. He can barely win with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on his team. :lol:

What is your definition of barely win because they beat the Cavs last year in 5 games.

 

[Port & Starboard]

GOATs are subjective. It's too hard to compare players from different eras. But, we always have that "player of a generation" we can find who can be objectively defined.

In my lifetime there were definitely three. A fourth might be in the conversation, but I was a little too young at the time to really know if that player was truly that good or not. I'm talking about Bill Russell.

Anyway, the for sure best of their class:

Magic
Jordan
Lebron

Jordan rarely won against a old Larry Bird team.


Jordan's six title were against a weak league, and he would have gotten into the paint against the likes of Moses Malone.

 

[calamity]

Jordan rarely won against a old Larry Bird team.


Jordan's six title were against a weak league, and he would have gotten into the paint against the likes of Moses Malone.

The man was good, but he certainly traveled on nearly every play, pushed off incessantly, and got far more calls then LeBron gets today. Lebron is a bruiser. But, Jordan could fly.

 

[calamity]

What is your definition of barely win because they beat the Cavs last year in 5 games.

Needing to come from behind twice against a Rockets team without Paul would be "barely win."

And, Curry won that game last night, not Durant.

 

[Bucky]

Needing to come from behind twice against a Rockets team without Paul would be "barely win."

And, Curry won that game last night, not Durant.

Q:

If Lebron signed with Golden State in the offseason, would that lessen your opinion od the king?

 

[Howard the Duck]

Q:

If Lebron signed with Golden State in the offseason, would that lessen your opinion od the king?

He won't.

1. There isn't enough cap space at GS.
2. Only the Cavs can offer a supermax contract.
3. Junior will be a freshman next year. He will play for LeBron's foremost male role model, Dr. Dru Joyce, at his alma mater Akron SVSM. LeBron isn't going to break up his family.

 

[Bucky]

He won't.

1. There isn't enough cap space at GS.
2. Only the Cavs can offer a supermax contract.
3. Junior will be a freshman next year. He will play for LeBron's foremost male role model, Dr. Dru Joyce, at his alma mater Akron SVSM. LeBron isn't going to break up his family.

And if he does?

Cleveland is not even the favorite. LA, and Phili seem to have taken the "lead."

 

[calamity]

Q:

If Lebron signed with Golden State in the offseason, would that lessen your opinion od the king?

Yes. I didn't like him signing with Miami either. And, I consider his rings there tainted. The King has only one true Ring.