- Joined
- Apr 16, 2020
- Messages
- 1,916
- Reaction Score
- 3,193
Who do you like?
For the stints that he was healthy, and excluding his later years as a role player for the Celtics, Bill Walton was great offensively and defensively and dominated a game. Yao Ming was also dominant. If you judge by pure results of team wins, then you have a strong case for Bill Russell as the best ever.Jabbar
Chamberlain
Russell
Olajuwon
Shaq
Jabbar and Wilt were the two most unstoppable players in the history of the league. Offense, defense, athleticism and changing rules of the game because of their ability. Jabbar may be most underappreciated player based on his collegiate and NBA accomplishments.
Russell was a great anchor surrounded by talent but couldn't compete offensively. Just not that good on half the floor.
Like Olajuwon slightly better than Shaq. When Jordan went bye bye for two years Olajuwon took out Robinson, Ewing and Shaq while all were in their primes.
"Best" is a relative term.. If best means performance/results/rings.. Bill Russell would have my vote..
I'd have to agree here.
Team player - Bill Russell
Most skilled - Kareem
Most athletic - Wilt
Most dominant - Shaq/Wilt
Overall, I'd have to go Russell.
Have you seen Bill Russell play?
Kareem is the Hank Aaron of the NBA. Still the all-time points leader and far, far ahead of all of the players who are discussed as the "greatest of all time".
6 titles (same as Jordan)
6 MVPs (most of all time, Jordan/Russell with 5)
19x All Star
3rd most rebounds all time (Wilt and Russell 1-2)
Never, ever, ever discussed as the greatest of all time. Not really even at his own position!
Totally agree, but also there IS a reason for that ... he wasn't necessarily the most dominant but he had the greatest overall career. That's how Hank was too. Incredibly consistent, always great, and played for a darn long time.
Totally agree, but also there IS a reason for that ... he wasn't necessarily the most dominant but he had the greatest overall career. That's how Hank was too. Incredibly consistent, always great, and played for a darn long time.
Each of these guys had their own unique qualities and skills.. Yes I saw Russell play(vs Wilt).. He was a defensive savant who consistently won big games on the biggest stages.. He did not have the offensive skills of Jabbar/Wilt/Walton.. He just won championships..IMO.. An important criteria for the "best".. Era and style of play and the team they played on.. All influenced their careers.This is a silly rebuke. Many on this board have not seen Russell, Wilt, Kareem, etc. play in person. Does the fact we haven't seen them play detract from their greatness?
Any given player's greatness can only be defined by comparing them to their peers and era. That's why comparing players across generations is also silly and irrelevant.
The man won 11 rings and was by far the best player on his team.
I would take Kareem over Wilt based on his overall skill set and individual/team accomplishments..Never said he wasn't dominant, I said he wasn't the most dominant. He wasn't the most flashy.
I even started my post with "TOTALLY AGREE."
I agree with the premise of the original Kareem statement, and I believe he's in the top 5 all-time, probably 3rd. PLAYERS, not just centers. I didn't watch him in his prime, but I can still say that fairly safely. Was he as dominant as Wilt? Probably not, but was he better? Yes. That's all I'm saying.
He was compared to Hank Aaron here, which is a great comparison - super long careers, consistently great but maybe not the flashiest nor the MOST dominant.