Top 15 Players of All-Time List

[HammerDown]

Winning is important, but there are too many things outside the player's control that lead to winning rings. Karl Malone never really had a chance with Utah because he always had either Jordan or Hakeem in his way. Does that make him less great? I don't think so, just unfortunate.

Also, if Jordan had played his entire career with the Bullets, he may not have won any rings. Ownership and front office are pretty important.

Like I said, if we were going to lay ground rules for this list and winning was weighted heavily, then I'd sneak Russell in near the bottom of my list. When I have some time, I want to think about it and redo my list based on winning. That would take some thinking.

 

[Sman2011]

Just ridiculous. I guess winning is overrated. Russell wasn't about the stats, he was about winning and knowing roles. Greatest leader, winner, and player in NBA history.

I read that Wilt's career avrage against Russell was 30 points and 20 rebs. So perhaps Boston was winning those rings because of other player besides Russell?

It's also true that Russell was often the 5th leading scorer on the Celdicks.

 

[HammerDown]

I read that Wilt's career avrage against Russell was 30 points and 20 rebs. So perhaps Boston was winning those rings because of other player besides Russell?

It's also true that Russell was often the 5th leading scorer on the Celdicks.

Russell was very, very bitter about how Wilt victimized him his whole career. He speaks about it a little bit in this rare interview with Roy Firestone.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljpxUVqcKxs]Wilt Chamberlain interview, 1987 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Heatles84]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Magic Johnson
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Wilt Chamberlain
5. Bill Russell
6. LeBron James
7. Shaquille O'Neal
8. Kobe Bryant
9. Tim Duncan
10. Larry Bird
11. Oscar Robertson
12. Hakeem Olajuwon
13. Karl Malone
14. Moses Malone
15. Julius Erving

 

[iowajerms]

1. MJ
2. Magic
3. Kareem
4. Kobe
5. Wilt
6. Larry Bird
7. Bill Russell
8. Oscar Robertson
9. Pistol Pete
10. Dr J
11. Lebron James
12. Shaq
13. Jerry West
14. Karl Malone
15. Tim Duncan

 

[Shanemansj13]

I also wanted to put Russell lower. He is a great, but is vastly overrated.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Russell had game. Taking it coast to coast

 

[wildturkey]

All this Russell talk, there's a topic here from a few weeks back with pace adjusted stats from the 60s to the 90s. You can go there to get a sense for how the era inflated Russell's (and other old guys') numbers. Long story short, Russell doesn't come out so good. Sure, you can say he held back and sacrificed his own numbers so he was better than indicated, but that's just conjecture. You can only judge on what was put forth.

1.Michael Jordan

2.Magic Johnson

3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

4.Larry Bird

5.Wilt Chamberlain

6.Bill Russell

7.Kobe Bryant

8.Tim Duncan

9.LeBron James

10.Oscar Robertson

11.Shaquille O'Neal

12.Jerry West

13.Moses Malone

14.Hakeem Olajuwon

15.Charles Barkley

 

[HammerDown]

Russell had game. Taking it coast to coast

We've got guys in here saying he was the GOAT and THAT's the best highlight we can come up with? A layup against a bunch of 40 yr old short white guys name George and Fred? Not impressed. Bill Russell would have a very difficult time making a roster in today's game. He just wasn't that good, as Wilt proved.

 

[GunsUp_ShootinBlanks]

All this Russell talk, there's a topic here from a few weeks back with pace adjusted stats from the 60s to the 90s. You can go there to get a sense for how the era inflated Russell's (and other old guys') numbers. Long story short, Russell doesn't come out so good. Sure, you can say he held back and sacrificed his own numbers so he was better than indicated, but that's just conjecture. You can only judge on what was put forth.

While I am sure that is great for accounting for points and rebounds, does it take into consideration how much more difficult is was to rack up assists back then?

 

[HammerDown]

All this Russell talk, there's a topic here from a few weeks back with pace adjusted stats from the 60s to the 90s. You can go there to get a sense for how the era inflated Russell's (and other old guys') numbers. Long story short, Russell doesn't come out so good. Sure, you can say he held back and sacrificed his own numbers so he was better than indicated, but that's just conjecture. You can only judge on what was put forth.

1.Michael Jordan

2.Magic Johnson

3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

4.Larry Bird

5.Wilt Chamberlain

6.Bill Russell

7.Kobe Bryant

8.Tim Duncan

9.LeBron James

10.Oscar Robertson

11.Shaquille O'Neal

12.Jerry West

13.Moses Malone

14.Hakeem Olajuwon

15.Charles Barkley

Sir Charles doesn't belong and even if you're factoring winning, Russell is way too high.

 

[tlance]

Very impressive. Russell was a fantastic athlete and a true champion. Still, at 6'9 he lacks the size to be a dominant center today, and he lacked the skills to play on the perimeter. Maybe he would be a 3 in today's basketball. Still not the greatest ever.

 

[bksballer89]

We've got guys in here saying he was the GOAT and THAT's the best highlight we can come up with? A layup against a bunch of 40 yr old short white guys name George and Fred? Not impressed. Bill Russell would have a very difficult time making a roster in today's game. He just wasn't that good, as Wilt proved.

Difficult time making a roster??

 

[HammerDown]

It's a sports opinion site. How can you expect us not to judge? Anyways,

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Bill Russell
5. Magic Johnson
6. Larry Bird
7. John Stockton
8. LeBron James
9. Oscar Robertson
10. Shaquille O'Neal
11. Karl Malone
12. Hakeem Olajuwon
13. Tim Duncan
14. Moses Malone
15. Kobe Bryant

Kareem, Wilt and Russell ahead of Magic? The two greatest to ever play the game are Michael and Magic. Is that really even debatable?!

 

[GunsUp_ShootinBlanks]

Very impressive. Russell was a fantastic athlete and a true champion. Still, at 6'9 he lacks the size to be a dominant center today, and he lacked the skills to play on the perimeter. Maybe he would be a 3 in today's basketball. Still not the greatest ever.

I think he would be a 4. Plenty of undersized guys at that position in today's NBA. Hell, he could still probably play center if he had to. The Rockets had 6'5 Chuck Hayes as their starting center for a minute there.

 

[Flauge]

1a. LeBron James --- no one has him here now but me. 10 years, everyone will have him or mj here

1b. Michael Jordan
3. Wilt
4. Magic
5. Larry
6. Bill Russell
7. Shaquille O'Neal
8. Kobe Bryant
9. Tim Duncan
10. Dr J
11. Kareem
12. Hakeem Olajuwon
13. Big O
14. Moses Malone
15. Jerry West

 

[HammerDown]

1a. LeBron James --- no one has him here now but me. 10 years, everyone will have him or mj here

1b. Michael Jordan

You can leave the thread now. Seriously man, get real. :rollseyes:

 

[wildturkey]

Very impressive. Russell was a fantastic athlete and a true champion. Still, at 6'9 he lacks the size to be a dominant center today, and he lacked the skills to play on the perimeter. Maybe he would be a 3 in today's basketball. Still not the greatest ever.

Fun nugget to think about. Russell and Kevin Durant are the same size. Any by size I mean height AND weight.

 

[HammerDown]

Fun nugget to think about. Russell and Kevin Durant are the same size. Any by size I mean height AND weight.

Russell's height was also universally known to be exaggerated. Wilt was 7' 1" without shoes. Russell was 6' 10" in shoes standing on a new york phonebook.

 

[Shanemansj13]

This is your opinion, don't judge.

1. MJ (nuff said)
2. Magic
3. Kareem
4. Larry Bird
5. Wilt
6. Kobe
7. Shaq
8. Lebron James
9. Hakeem
10. Oscar Robertson
11. Julius Irving
12. Tim Duncan
13. Karl Malone
14. Bill Russell
15. Jerry West

Honestly, mine looks the best. Adjusted it.