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

[Darrell Green Fan]

basketball was a team game in the 1960's and is still a team game today. chamberlain couldn't carry a team to a championship in the 60's and no center could do it today.

players peak years are generally in their 20's. players slowing down as they approach their 30's still happens.

personally, i don't think the current teams are that great. physical talent seems to have leveled off since the 1980's. i'd take the 1980's lakers teams over any of the more recent championship teams in about 5 games.

While I don't think there is any doubt players have gotten better over time I'll take a team with Magic, Kareem and Worthy over any team playing today every time.

 

[BostonBlackie]

Top 10:

Russell
Bird
McHale
Havlicek
Cousy
MJ
Wilt
LeBron
Magic
Jabbar

 

[desert heat]

While I don't think there is any doubt players have gotten better over time I'll take a team with Magic, Kareem and Worthy over any team playing today every time.

the lakers offense was near unstoppable, inside, outside, or running the break.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

the lakers offense was near unstoppable, inside, outside, or running the break.

As crazy as it sound I firmly believe Kareem is underrated. I often see him omitted from poster's top 10 all time list and that's crazy to me. The most unstoppable shot in the history of the game, won titles at every level and was still a good player when he was like 58.

 

[desert heat]

As crazy as it sound I firmly believe Kareem is underrated. I often see him omitted from poster's top 10 all time list and that's crazy to me. The most unstoppable shot in the history of the game, won titles at every level and was still a good player when he was like 58.

probably mostly people who just never saw him play, just like chamberlain and Russell.

nowadays its seems the game is mostly played around the 3 point line.

 

[trojanfan12]

There are a handful of 60s greats who could indeed compete today. Russell would be a solid player, 1 or 2 allstar games, Rudy Gobert like ceiling. Wilt would be a perennial allstar, as would Oscar. But they wouldn't dominate.

Wilt and Oscar would likely dominate assuming they were taking advantage of today's training methods. But they wouldn't dominate today's game like they did in the 60's.

Wilt wouldn't be averaging 50 points or having a 100 point game.

 

[trojanfan12]

As crazy as it sound I firmly believe Kareem is underrated. I often see him omitted from poster's top 10 all time list and that's crazy to me. The most unstoppable shot in the history of the game, won titles at every level and was still a good player when he was like 58.

Yeah, Kareem does tend to get underrated, especially by media types. Not only was he a great player for most of his career, he was still a very important part of the Lakers success until he retired (he was a finals MVP at 38 years old).

Not only is he the all time leading scorer in NBA history...he was a 6 time league MVP, won 6 titles, was a 2 time finals MVP, a 19 time all star and was all NBA first team 10 times.

He definitely should be solidly in the GOAT conversation (if not considered the GOAT), but gets left out more than probably any other all time great.

I think a lot of it has to do with his demeanor, especially towards reporters. He was pretty aloof for most of his career.

 

[desert heat]

Wilt and Oscar would likely dominate assuming they were taking advantage of today's training methods. But they wouldn't dominate today's game like they did in the 60's.

Wilt wouldn't be averaging 50 points or having a 100 point game.

a 100 point game is doable, just have to give him a lot of shots. a player averaging 50 a night, is probably not something any coach would want.

 

[desert heat]

Yeah, Kareem does tend to get underrated, especially by media types. Not only was he a great player for most of his career, he was still a very important part of the Lakers success until he retired (he was a finals MVP at 38 years old).

Not only is he the all time leading scorer in NBA history...he was a 6 time league MVP, won 6 titles, was a 2 time finals MVP, a 19 time all star and was all NBA first team 10 times.

He definitely should be solidly in the GOAT conversation (if not considered the GOAT), but gets left out more than probably any other all time great.

I think a lot of it has to do with his demeanor, especially towards reporters. He was pretty aloof for most of his career.

same reason Russell gets underrated, both had great supporting casts.

 

[tlance]

As crazy as it sound I firmly believe Kareem is underrated. I often see him omitted from poster's top 10 all time list and that's crazy to me. The most unstoppable shot in the history of the game, won titles at every level and was still a good player when he was like 58.

Really?

I think he is pretty clearly the greatest big man ever and belongs somewhere in the top 4 with MJ, Magic and LeBron. He was the bridge between the center dominant old school game and the more guard dominant modern game and he was the best player in the league for quite a few years.

Where you choose to rank Kareem within the top 4 is up for debate, but anybody who leaves him off their top 10 has a really bad list.

Personally, I have him at 3

 

[msgkings322]

Really?

I think he is pretty clearly the greatest big man ever and belongs somewhere in the top 4 with MJ, Magic and LeBron. He was the bridge between the center dominant old school game and the more guard dominant modern game and he was the best player in the league for quite a few years.

Where you choose to rank Kareem within the top 4 is up for debate, but anybody who leaves him off their top 10 has a really bad list.

Personally, I have him at 3

Anybody with him out of the top 5 is an idiot

 

[msgkings322]

the lakers offense was near unstoppable, inside, outside, or running the break.

So was the KD Warriors offense. They actually scored a lot in the paint, but off transition or Curry drives or great passing and cutting not just feeding a guy on the block to post up

 

[trojanfan12]

Really?

I think he is pretty clearly the greatest big man ever and belongs somewhere in the top 4 with MJ, Magic and LeBron. He was the bridge between the center dominant old school game and the more guard dominant modern game and he was the best player in the league for quite a few years.

Where you choose to rank Kareem within the top 4 is up for debate, but anybody who leaves him off their top 10 has a really bad list.

Personally, I have him at 3

It's weird with Kareem. On this site, he seems to get proper credit and I don't think he's as overlooked/underrated as he used to be. But for years he was easily the most overlooked all time great.

 

[broncosmitty]

Wilt > Kareem

Neither would be in my Top 4.

Mike
LeBron
Big O
Magic


All were\are vastly superior to every post player in the games history.

 

[desert heat]

So was the KD Warriors offense. They actually scored a lot in the paint, but off transition or Curry drives or great passing and cutting not just feeding a guy on the block to post up

the warriors are an exceptional shooting and passing team, although i don't think magic running the break, kareem's sky hook, or their own half court passing game has an equal.

 

[desert heat]

Wilt > Kareem

Neither would be in my Top 4.

Mike
LeBron
Big O
Magic


All were\are vastly superior to every post player in the games history.

wilt owns about 90 different records. jabbar 9 titles. to each his own.

 

[broncosmitty]

wilt owns about 90 different records. jabbar 9 titles. to each his own.

Wilt was a superior athlete imo.


I get the love for Lew, I do.


But the over the top, you suck if Kareem isn't in you top whatever, is silly.

 

[desert heat]

Wilt was a superior athlete imo.


I get the love for Lew, I do.


But the over the top, you suck if Kareem isn't in you top whatever, is silly.

i guess the same way i feel about a #2 guard named micheal jordan.

 

[broncosmitty]

i guess the same way i feel about a #2 guard named micheal jordan.

I'm cool with Bron at 1. But I didn't want open that door.

 

[desert heat]

I'm cool with Bron at 1. But I didn't want open that door.

i'm cool with magic, or wilt at #1 too. guess i'd give wilt an edge over kareem because he's just a better athlete. while magic is the greatest team player ever.