Bill Russell shouldn't be on anyone's top 10 list.

[GNG]

Including Bill and Wilt there were only 4 players over 6'8". His toughest test was Wilt but Bill had a much superior team most of the time when they met.

You have a weak point.

 

[Bart]

It's one facet of the classic problem of comparing different eras.

Not really. Russell would be a midget center in most eras.

 

[SU Nittany Tide]

Wilt banged over 2,000 women which may be an all-time record.

I believe he's in the five figures actually.

 

[Bart]

Most of today's players are a bunch of pansies.

Bill's a bigger pansy. He bullied much smaller players.

 

[GNG]

I believe he's in the five figures actually.

WOW !!!

 

[Bart]

One of the midgets Russell played against.

4 players over 6-8 including bill and wilt.

 

[Gman]

Not really.

No... really. Comparing different eras is super hard and not terribly fair.

Russell would be a midget center in most eras.

Russell had a giant wingspan.

 

[Bart]

You have a weak point.

Why?

 

[Bart]

No... really. Comparing different eras is super hard and not terribly fair.

Russell had a giant wingspan.

No doubt he was a defensive stud but offensively being undersized with a limited offensive skill set, he would be atrocious offensively. He only had a 15 point average against midgets. Dude would have a career arc similiar to Ben Wallace.

 

[broncosmitty]

Not even close to my Top Ten.


Top Ten Center, yeah, I guess. But not Top Five.

 

[broncosmitty]

Most of today's players are a bunch of pansies.

Especially the ones that wear capris.

 

[Gman]

Not even close to my Top Ten.


Top Ten Center, yeah, I guess. But not Top Five.

5 time NBA MVP.

Tied 2nd most all time on that honor, only surpassed by Kareem.

 

[GNG]

Especially the ones that wear capris.

 

[tlance]

Bill Russell at a glance:

• 2 time NCAA Champion
• 11 time NBA Champion
• 5 time NBA MVP
• Led the league in rebounding 4 times
• 2nd all time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game
• Career regular season averages of 15 ppg, 22.5 rpg and 4.3 apg
• Career playoff averages of 16 ppg, 25 rpg and 4.7 apg

Blocks weren't tracked in his era, which is a shame. No doubt he would be right towards the tops in this category.

Dude is perhaps the ultimate winner in the history of the game.

Is he top 10, or "merely" top 15?... ... not sure that's an argument that we need to destroy each other over.

I have no idea where to rank Bill Russell on all time lists.

He was great in his era.

But at the same time, I am also fairly confident that if he were in the NBA today he would not be a top 20 player.

My guess is somewhere between Draymond Green and Ben Wallace in terms of impact. Really good player, probably not an all time great IMO.

 

[Bart]

I have no idea where to rank Bill Russell on all time lists.

He was great in his era.

But at the same time, I am also fairly confident that if he were in the NBA today he would not be a top 20 player.

My guess is somewhere between Draymond Green and Ben Wallace in terms of impact. Really good player, probably not an all time great IMO.

Great post, very sensible and realistic take on Russell.

 

[douggie]

Not even close to my Top Ten.


Top Ten Center, yeah, I guess. But not Top Five.

Historically its always a difficult task to rank the greatest of all-time,

Mine would be:

1) Wilt Chamberlain
2) Kareem Jabbar
3) Hakeem Olajuwon
4) Shaquille O’Neal
5) Bill Russell

Maybe the next five:

6) Moses Malone
7) David Robinson
8) Wes Unseld
9) Artis Gilmore
10) Willis Reed

The game today has changed so much from the way it used to be played and forever will be.

 

[broncosmitty]

5 time NBA MVP.

Tied 2nd most all time on that honor, only surpassed by Kareem.

Nobody can ever take that away either.


But I'm still taking Wilt, Shaq, Hakeem and Kareem before him without remorse.

 

[realityball]

He played against Wilt Chamberlain in his prime.

... he meant the other midgets I guess

 

[broncosmitty]

Historically its always a difficult task to rank the greatest of all-time,

Mine would be:

1) Wilt Chamberlain
2) Kareem Jabbar
3) Hakeem Olajuwon
4) Shaquille O’Neal
5) Bill Russell

Maybe the next five:

6) Moses Malone
7) David Robinson
8) Wes Unseld
9) Artis Gilmore
10) Willis Reed

The game today has changed so much from the way it used to be played and forever will be.

Pat Chewing is in my Top Ten Centers. Lanier and Nasty Nate Thurmond too.

 

[realityball]

One of the midgets Russell played against.

... sorry