I asked ChatGPT to list its top 10 all-time NBA players

[ElPatron1]

The response...

1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Magic Johnson
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Bill Russell
7. Wilt Chamberlain
8. Larry Bird
9. Shaquille O'Neal
10. Tim Duncan

 

[Shanemansj13]

LaThe response...

1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Magic Johnson
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Bill Russell
7. Wilt Chamberlain
8. Larry Bird
9. Shaquille O'Neal
10. Tim Duncan

 

[ElPatron1]

Lol

 

[msgkings322]

The response...

1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Magic Johnson
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Bill Russell
7. Wilt Chamberlain
8. Larry Bird
9. Shaquille O'Neal
10. Tim Duncan

Many of us have Kobe a little lower but that's pretty much the list the average of everyone's lists would look like.

 

[ElPatron1]

Many of us have Kobe a little lower but that's pretty much the list the average of everyone's lists would look like.

My next question for ChatGPT is about NBA refs lol

 

[Mebert]

Kareem is an all time great, but any top 10 ranking is over valuing him based on longevity and the unique shot.

 

[tlance]

Many of us have Kobe a little lower but that's pretty much the list the average of everyone's lists would look like.

Bill Russell should not be on that list.

Most overrated player of all time.

 

[msgkings322]

Bill Russell should not be on that list.

Most overrated player of all time.

Even AI can't see it

But my point was all ChatGPT does is aggregate all the data out there on this topic, so it reflects the 'average fan's' take. And most fans put Russell up there (incorrectly, I agree)

 

[msgkings322]

Kareem is an all time great, but any top 10 ranking is over valuing him based on longevity and the unique shot.

Longevity counts, as LeBron is showing us. Kareem won a ton of MVPs and rings and was the best player in the league in the 1970s. He is not overrated.

 

[Mebert]

Longevity counts, as LeBron is showing us. Kareem won a ton of MVPs and rings and was the best player in the league in the 1970s. He is not overrated.

Not overrayed as an all time great, but he is when listed as top 10 imo. I think he is the 4th best center. Olajuwan, Shaq, Wilt, Kareem. That order.

 

[msgkings322]

Not overrayed as an all time great, but he is when listed as top 10 imo. I think he is the 4th best center. Olajuwan, Shaq, Wilt, Kareem. That order.

This is why I say at the all time great level, there's no scientifically objective way to say Player X is definitively 'better' than Player Y. Different positions, eras, coaches, teammates...you can say Kareem was the best of that group and make a good case, you can make a good case that he was the least of it too.

 

[tlance]

Not overrayed as an all time great, but he is when listed as top 10 imo. I think he is the 4th best center. Olajuwan, Shaq, Wilt, Kareem. That order.

No other center can touch Kareem’s resume.

Olajuwon was the best player in the league for 2 years. Kareem was best in the league for a decade.

 

[Mebert]

No other center can touch Kareem’s resume.

Olajuwon was the best player in the league for 2 years. Kareem was best in the league for a decade.

Kareem is better because his peak didn't overlap Jordans?

 

[Mebert]

This is why I say at the all time great level, there's no scientifically objective way to say Player X is definitively 'better' than Player Y. Different positions, eras, coaches, teammates...you can say Kareem was the best of that group and make a good case, you can make a good case that he was the least of it too.

Very fair take. All of them are legends.

 

[broncosmitty]

Many of us have Kobe a little lower but that's pretty much the list the average of everyone's lists would look like.

I’d have the Big O in there instead of Kobe, but that’s really my only gripe.

And Magic should be third.

 

[broncosmitty]

Bill Russell should not be on that list.

Most overrated player of all time.

He’s the Tom Brady of basketball.


Winning magnifies things.

 

[Mebert]

He’s the Tom Brady of basketball.


Winning magnifies things.

I struggle with Russell, but can't deny his winning and defense. Nobody has or ever will win like he did.

In current NBA is he just a far better Ben Wallace? Which is still very much elite.

 

[msgkings322]

I struggle with Russell, but can't deny his winning and defense. Nobody has or ever will win like he did.

In current NBA is he just a far better Ben Wallace? Which is still very much elite.

Yes today he's Ben Wallace. The winning was being on the most stacked team for a decade in an 12 team league or whatever.

 

[msgkings322]

He’s the Tom Brady of basketball.


Winning magnifies things.

Tom Brady had numbers too not just rings. Russell's numbers are nothing special on offense, and really good on defense but not GOAT level there,

 

[broncosmitty]

I struggle with Russell, but can't deny his winning and defense. Nobody has or ever will win like he did.

In current NBA is he just a far better Ben Wallace? Which is still very much elite.

I’d take Shaq, Wilt, Hakeem and Kareem over him. Don’t get me wrong.

But when you win the championship 11/13 seasons and are the MVP of the league for 5 of those seasons, it’s pretty hard to not be in the Top Ten.

I tend to always think the older era guys would’ve learned to shoot. Brook Lopez being a guy that makes me think that.

 

[tlance]

He’s the Tom Brady of basketball.


Winning magnifies things.

There is a legitimate case to be made that he wasn’t even the best player on his own team.

Hard pass on Russell.