Why doesn't Kareem get more love in the GOAT debate?

[jontaejones]

... because he wasn't the best player on most of the teams he won titles

 

[jontaejones]

Another thing mentioned by Kareem himself is the height thing.

Guys who rely mostly on size have to be a little better.

So, Wembayama is going to have to be a little more dominant than MJ... or even Luka for that matter.

Because ... it's just more impressive when a 'relatively' normal size guy does it. And there is some subjectivity in the matter.

 

[BigFin]

He was dominant because of his height and skill set within 10ft from the hoop but that doesn’t make him better at basketball than Lebron or MJ IMO.

 

[msgkings322]

I consider Kareem the best basketball player of all time and am upset that the whining baby LeBron broke his scoring record.

I'll alert the media

 

[Mecca]

His personality.

 

[broncosmitty]

Rusty Kuntz has to be up there……

Was Dick Trickle technically an athlete?

 

[UK Cowboy]

Because he didn't play in this era where Ant Man is compared to Michael Jordan lol

 

[Picklerick 2.0]

There are a few reasons.

1. He was too aloof and didn't really get along with the press. Because of that, he has been largely ignored in GOAT convos by them.

2. When he did most of his winning and won 5 of his titles, he was the leader in name only. Magic always called him 'Cap' and would defer to him publicly out of respect...but everyone knew Magic was the leader.

3. His play has been called "joyless" at times and his teams, especially the "pre-Magic" seasons with the Lakers, underachieved with him as the leader.

4. His era was a long time ago and several of the years were when the NBA was a niche sport and about to collapse. By the time the NBA really got big, he was older and overshadowed by Magic and Bird.

His on court resume is as good as anyone, but he just wasn't all that likeable for the first several years of his career. He finally turned a bit of a corner on that when his house burned down, he lost his prized collection of jazz albums and fans started sending albums to build it back up.

Damn. This nailed it.

 

[tlance]

Because he didn't play in this era where Ant Man is compared to Michael Jordan lol

In style only.

Nobody saying Anthony Edwards is as good as MJ. Or will be anything close.

 

[eaglesnut]

Because he didn't play in this era where Ant Man is compared to Michael Jordan lol

Astute observation

The best player ever is clearly the next hyped guy!

 

[realityball]

Here’s the ‘Dad Version:’

We all know it’s not a good idea comparing different players from different eras, but rather their impact to the game during the time played.
Bill Russell was the epitome center of his time with Cousy perfecting the fast break against old-fashioned set defenses. Almost humorous now, but at the time it was absolutely stunning to watch … and their effectiveness was proven with their championships.
Wilt Chamberlain came along and practically redefined the game and I believe more than one rule was initiated because of him. He was an individual phenomenon.
Kareem followed shortly after but was really just a better Chamberlain, especially in offense.
Jordan came along and was the symbol of a one-man show … and is still thought as the best ever by many.
Bryant and LeBron, like Kareem, followed and may have been better in ways than Jordan, but really, not that much.

My point is, in their time, Chamberlain and Jordan played the game unlike anyone else before them, and while others may be better, they raised the bar higher from the era before.

 

[UK Cowboy]

In style only.

Nobody saying Anthony Edwards is as good as MJ. Or will be anything close.

Nobody on here. Click on talk radio or ESPN sometime...

 

[PolarVortex]

You could argue he's the best HS player ever, best college player ever and he's definitely got the best resume ever for NBA career

Yet when people talk GOAT he's usually brought up 3rd or 4th

I think he's pretty obviously and easily the GOAT

Is it a a generational thing?

He's the Derek Jeter of the NBA - a compiler, not a dominator. Okay that's not completely true. He was dominant in his early years as a Milwaukee Buck and Lew Alcindor, but he isn't really known for those years. He is known for his years as a Laker where he was rarely even the best player on his own team. But, unlike Derek Overrated Jeter, he did have a few dominant years early in his career.

Hope this helps.

 

[Old Lion]

Great pilot though……

Roger that

 

[tlance]

Nobody on here. Click on talk radio or ESPN sometime...

Eh…

Those guys don’t believe what they are saying. Just put out extreme takes to get people going.

 

[Old Lion]

Was Dick Trickle technically an athlete?

That name becomes funnier the older you get.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Great pilot though……

Cory Lidle thread?

 

[redskinsfan1963]

He was dominant because of his height and skill set within 10ft from the hoop but that doesn’t make him better at basketball than Lebron or MJ IMO.

great shot blocking and great hook shot helped.

That name becomes funnier the older you get.

rusty kuntz disagrees.

 

[Old Lion]

great shot blocking and great hook shot helped.

rusty kuntz disagrees.

Maybe Rusty Kuntz is why Dick Trickles?

 

[redskinsfan1963]

Maybe Rusty Kuntz is why Dick Trickles?

their parents did think much before giving them names obviously.