Kobe Bryant puts Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Bill Russell on his Mount Rushmore

[Sportsguy9695]

LeBron James said he'll be there one day, but Kobe Bryant said Bill Russell is there right now.

Four days after it was revealed James said he'll go down as one of the four best players in NBA history, Bryant offered up his Mount Rushmore on Sunday night at the All-Star Game.

Bryant's picks? Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Russell. LeBron also listed Jordan, Bird and Johnson, but ultimately settled on Oscar Robertson as his fourth choice.

"I would say Magic, Bird, Michael, and Russell," Bryant said during a news conference before Sunday's All-Star Game. "That's impossible to do four, though, man. Come on. That's crazy. That's tough. Absolutely tough."

Robertson is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season (1961-62), while Russell has more NBA titles as a player than anyone else with 11.

"It doesn't matter who he says, inevitably you're going to leave somebody out," Bryant said during an in-game interview on TNT's All-Star broadcast. "... It's tough."

Source: ESPN LA

 

[BOTSLAYER]

And Kareem?

Kareem, Russell, MJ and...Magc/Bird share a space.

 

[trojanfan12]

Kobe pretty much nailed it. It's impossible to pick just 4.

Aside from the 5 that Kobe and Lebron mentioned, there are so many more who have strong arguments (Kareem, Wilt, West, among others) and those who are in the process of making their own arguments (Lebron, KD, etc.).


The NBA Mt. Rushmore needs about 10 spots!!

 

[RobToxin]

I've got Sydney Durso, Kathryn Dunn, Brooke Sorenson and Kandi Harris on my Mount Rush More!

 

[RoboticDreams]

Kobe got it right.

 

[HammerDown]

Bill Russell wasn't even the best player on how own team.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Bill Russell wasn't even the best player on how own team.

"Bill Russell is so classy and humble."

According to Bill Russell he was not the best player on his team, yet when the players decided who the MVP was they selected Russell 5 times.

So maybe Bill Russell is humble and great and you just don't like him?

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Kobe pretty much nailed it. It's impossible to pick just 4.

Aside from the 5 that Kobe and Lebron mentioned, there are so many more who have strong arguments (Kareem, Wilt, West, among others) and those who are in the process of making their own arguments (Lebron, KD, etc.).


The NBA Mt. Rushmore needs about 10 spots!!

 

[trojanfight]

notice kobe didn't feel need to throw his own name how someone needs to be bumped off etc

 

[Flauge]

According to Bill Russell he was not the best player on his team, yet when the players decided who the MVP was they selected Russell 5 times.

So maybe Bill Russell is humble and great and you just don't like him?

Or maybe Bill Russell was really good at winning popularity contests. Because that explanation is alot more likely than him being the best player on the Celtics teams. He averaged 15 points a game shot 44% and hit 56% of his free throws.

He is probably the most overrated legend in the NBA. And he is a legend. But winning all those titles gets him up there. What is lost.. the NBA had about 10 teams at the time. He commonly finished 3rd or 4th on his team in scoring. To be on Mt Rushmore of basketball.. you need to be able to dominate the court on both offense and defense. Kobe's 5 titles against 30 teams is alot more impressive than Russels 11 against 10. Russell isnt even a top 10 player all time. He was a great defender with a very average offensive game. And one hell of a popular guy.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Flauge, that has been discussed and explained in the Russell GOAT thread. His FG% was well above average for the era and the first few years of his career he not only had a top FG% but led the league in PER a couple times.

 

[Brahmsian]

He was never the leading scorer on his team but so what?

He knew his teammates were better offensive players than him and so focused on other parts of the game.

Try telling teammates on his many championship teams he was overrated. Laughter would probably be their politest response.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

He was never the leading scorer on his team but so what?

He knew his teammates were better offensive players than him and so focused on other parts of the game.

Try telling teammates on his many championship teams he was overrated. Laughter would probably be their politest response.

Only a Celtics fan would say this also.

 

[HammerDown]

"Bill Russell was the third best player on his own team but the greatest player ever." - Celtics fan logic

 

[HammerDown]

According to Bill Russell he was not the best player on his team, yet when the players decided who the MVP was they selected Russell 5 times.

So maybe Bill Russell is humble and great and you just don't like him?

Oh yeah, real humble. Bill Russell never toots his own horn.

 

[Brahmsian]

Say hello to my "Ignore" list.

 

[HammerDown]

Say hello to my "Ignore" list.

Noooooooooooo! Not that! Anything but that!

 

[Brahmsian]

It was LALakersboy24.7 I put on that list, not you.

The quote link I clicked on should have made that clear. Why the quote show up I wish I knew.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

Say hello to my "Ignore" list.

Are you catching feelings bro?