Bill Russell is the GOAT

[geneh_33]

Michael Jordan was the greatest athlete ever. I don't think it's close. Ali was great and so was Gretzky but MJ was the bomb.

But I would pick Bill Russell over Leclown any day.

 

[PackMaster]

Its michael jordan, don't play ****a

 

[Jims_Doors]

Michael Jordan was the greatest athlete ever. I don't think it's close. Ali was great and so was Gretzky but MJ was the bomb.

But I would pick Bill Russell over Leclown any day.

 

[Brahmsian]

This Russell advocate probably won't read any more of this thread.

So long!

 

[RoboticDreams]

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Jordan is universally regarded as the GOAT... not only among fans, but also in the eyes of players, coaches, analysts, and just about everyone else.

Because that is what the media has said and what Stern has sold.

This Russell advocate probably won't read any more of this thread.

So long!

Posts have been made saying that this 1 player here or that 1 player there did this 1 thing better or that 1 thing better but nobody showed a complete package of player better than Russell.

 

[Brahmsian]

Jordan is universally regarded as the GOAT... not only among fans, but also in the eyes of players, coaches, analysts, and just about everyone else.

"Widely regarded" would be better phrasing.

No denying he was extremely good, but "Greatest Of All Time?" That is open todebate.

 

[HammerDown]

"Widely regarded" would be better phrasing.

No denying he was extremely good, but "Greatest Of All Time?" That is open todebate.

No, as a matter of fact, it's not. If you poll 10,000 basketball fans, 9,990 will freely admit what everyone knows; that Michael Jordan was the greatest who ever played the game. 10 will be bitter, delusional Boston Celtics fans stuck in the 1960s.

 

[Brahmsian]

No, as a matter of fact, it's not. If you poll 10,000 basketball fans, 9,990 will freely admit what everyone knows; that Michael Jordan was the greatest who ever played the game. 10 will be bitter, delusional Boston Celtics fans stuck in the 1960s.

Maybe the people you know personally are unanimous on the question but that changes nothing.

 

[HammerDown]

Maybe the people you know personally are unanimous on the question but that changes nothing.

And by "changes nothing" you mean that someone else (read: Bill Russell) and not Michael Jordan is the best ever. You and about 9 other people on this planet are delusional enough to actually believe such nonsense.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Or maybe we are not products of the Stern media machine?

 

[HammerDown]

Or maybe we are not products of the Stern media machine?

Yep, David Stern spun his web of wickedness and mesmerized us all into believing a shocking lie that Michael Jordan was the greatest ever when in reality it was a 6' 8" forward from the 60s with Kwame Brown offensive skills.

 

[trojanfan12]

And by "changes nothing" you mean that someone else (read: Bill Russell) and not Michael Jordan is the best ever. You and about 9 other people on this planet are delusional enough to actually believe such nonsense.

What if you believe Magic is the GOAT?

 

[mrwallace2ku]

In my OP, IF one were to take away ANY one piece of those Celtic teams of lore starting lineups, they would not have won a championship in any given year. Russell was the engine (heart) that drove those teams.

Basketball IS a team game isn't it?

GOAT (Russell)? No... GOAT TEAM (CELTICS)?...Yes

 

[gordontrue]

I don't get the Russell argument at all. A great player in his era, sure, but putting him up against some of the great players from the last few decades, MUCH is left wanting.

The biggest thing on his resume is # of rings. But when you consider the fact that he played in a league with fewer than 10 teams in the entire league, and that he played with as many as 8 Hall of Famers AT THE SAME TIME, it suddenly doesn't mean as much.

Oh yeah, and the dude shot like 42% from the field... as a center.

 

[HammerDown]

What if you believe Magic is the GOAT?

It's just not true, as much as I held on to that belief as long as I could. MJ passes every possible test as the GOAT. He just was. In every way.

I love Magic and no one in my lifetime will surpass him on my list as my favorite all-time athlete. There's no way to explain how much I loved Showtime basketball but he wasn't better than MJ. He was a distant #2, then Bird, then everyone else. To me, those 3 positions are not debatable but everything after that is.

 

[HammerDown]

I don't get the Russell argument at all. A great player in his era, sure, but putting him up against some of the great players from the last few decades, MUCH is left wanting.

The only thing on his resume is # of rings. But when you consider the fact that he played in a league with fewer than 10 teams in the entire league, and that he played with as many as 8 Hall of Famers AT THE SAME TIME, it suddenly doesn't mean as much.

Oh yeah, and the dude shot like 42% from the field... as a center.

He's a glorified Kwame.

 

[LogicMan]

I suspect most fans would/should say MJ. I think that makes sense. Bill was special too and is the only other person who even qualifies for the debate with MJ.

Its similar to quarterback debate. Its probably Montana, and some might suggest Brady.

All others are a few rungs lower than the above

 

[HammerDown]

I suspect most fans would/should say MJ. I think that makes sense. Bill was special too and is the only other person who even qualifies for the debate with MJ.

Its similar to quarterback debate. Its probably Montana, and some might suggest Brady.

All others are a few rungs lower than the above

Your trolling skills leave allot to be desired.

 

[Brahmsian]

What if you believe Magic is the GOAT?

Magic has a better claim to the GOAT title than most non-Celtics. Or most Celtics for that matter.