Post by urbanpatrician on Jul 22, 2024 8:11:38 GMT
This is mine:
C - Wilt Chamberlain
This is probably the most glorified position of all time because it was heavily the dominant position for 40 some years until like the mid 80s when Jordan and Magic came on.
Half the Top 10 all-time best basketball players are Centers. But I still say Wilt because his 30.1 ppg and 22.9 rpg makes him the most freakish athlete. Kareem, O'Neal, Olajuwon, Russell.... so many greats in the peripheral tho.
PF - Dennis Rodman
I have him way higher than most people , I know.... but I stand firm. Rodman is usually ranked in the 40s and 50s all time. Tho PF has no agreed upon consensus and the best PF to ever play might not even be in the Top 10 players of all time, so it's not a runaway for anyone.
Most would say Duncan - but he's not really a PF. He was a Center in college. Popovich moved him to PF because Robinson was already Center when he came into the league, otherwise he most certainly stays Center.
Some would say Malone. But I think the main thing knocking him down is the lack of an intimidation factor from him, while many of his peers play a brawl style of basketball - Malone never felt like one of those tough players. He's a good fade away shooter, but he feels more like a small forward to me. His rebounds per game does eclipse 10.0, but it's probably because most of them came to him/where he was positioned. He had one of the greatest passers and distributors for an entire career and never won a championship probably spoke to his lacking ability on the defensive end and his lack of ability to impose intimidation.
I pick Rodman because while his points per game is paltry - he was the leading rebounder of his era. He's only 10th all time because the 9 guys that are ranked ahead of him ALL played in an era where the paint was the dominant. You have to also factor in that he's probably one of the most coachable players of all time, he perfected being taught defense and his contribution on the defensive end shows up on tape. Not to mention, he grabs 5 loose balls per game.... so his what's his real rebounding per game average.... 17 or 18??? He just does the most of any player for his team except score. Even he said on The Last Dance that Jordan and Pippen never did all the things he did.
I don't consider players between the era of post-Wilt/Russell thru Magic/Bird peak (1974-1983) because that's such a forgotten period of basketball.
SF - Larry Bird
I pick Larry over Lebron because Larry's peak was more dominant. Mid-80s he was next level goat. Averages a double-double. 24 points, 10 rebounds for his career - and he's a small forward. His ability to play both small forward and power forward makes him better than Lebron for me. I dunno Lebron as much as his fanboys do, but I never felt he could play Power Forward. Bird was not as long lasting tho. The Pistons series from 1987-1988 did a number on him. He got injured the next year. He didn't fall completely, but enough to where he was passed by Magic and Michael where he would be ahead of them in the 5 years prior.
SG - Michael Jordan
Easily. 2 eras of Michael. Freak athlete Michael from 1984-1993. Michael the ultimate champion 1996-1998. Yes I know he was already a champion during that first era, but I thought the 2nd era of Michael felt different. The first era he would dominate by talent. 2nd era his intelligence, ability to involve his teammates, and get the most out of them each and every night.... (plus he's probably the least pleasant teammate of all time) - made him a leader like we've never seen before. He exhibited some traits of both during both eras, but his 2nd era probably saw more of the latter to a maximum effect.
Plus, his ppg surpasses 30.0 - His defense was immaculate during his heyday. He's 3rd all time in steals per game. He can do freakish athlete things nobody can do. He was a bird like athlete. He got his points by flying thru the air, in the 80s.
PG - Magic Johnson
No debate whatsoever. First all-time in assists per game. Can play Point Guard, Small Forward, Shooting Guard and even Power Forward - as his designated position in 1995-1996. His versatility is unreal. Just a very unique athlete, at his size not sure how he does some of the things he does but he exhibits skills of all positions. A 6'9 point guard who can switch to power forward is something.
C - Wilt Chamberlain
This is probably the most glorified position of all time because it was heavily the dominant position for 40 some years until like the mid 80s when Jordan and Magic came on.
Half the Top 10 all-time best basketball players are Centers. But I still say Wilt because his 30.1 ppg and 22.9 rpg makes him the most freakish athlete. Kareem, O'Neal, Olajuwon, Russell.... so many greats in the peripheral tho.
PF - Dennis Rodman
I have him way higher than most people , I know.... but I stand firm. Rodman is usually ranked in the 40s and 50s all time. Tho PF has no agreed upon consensus and the best PF to ever play might not even be in the Top 10 players of all time, so it's not a runaway for anyone.
Most would say Duncan - but he's not really a PF. He was a Center in college. Popovich moved him to PF because Robinson was already Center when he came into the league, otherwise he most certainly stays Center.
Some would say Malone. But I think the main thing knocking him down is the lack of an intimidation factor from him, while many of his peers play a brawl style of basketball - Malone never felt like one of those tough players. He's a good fade away shooter, but he feels more like a small forward to me. His rebounds per game does eclipse 10.0, but it's probably because most of them came to him/where he was positioned. He had one of the greatest passers and distributors for an entire career and never won a championship probably spoke to his lacking ability on the defensive end and his lack of ability to impose intimidation.
I pick Rodman because while his points per game is paltry - he was the leading rebounder of his era. He's only 10th all time because the 9 guys that are ranked ahead of him ALL played in an era where the paint was the dominant. You have to also factor in that he's probably one of the most coachable players of all time, he perfected being taught defense and his contribution on the defensive end shows up on tape. Not to mention, he grabs 5 loose balls per game.... so his what's his real rebounding per game average.... 17 or 18??? He just does the most of any player for his team except score. Even he said on The Last Dance that Jordan and Pippen never did all the things he did.
I don't consider players between the era of post-Wilt/Russell thru Magic/Bird peak (1974-1983) because that's such a forgotten period of basketball.
SF - Larry Bird
I pick Larry over Lebron because Larry's peak was more dominant. Mid-80s he was next level goat. Averages a double-double. 24 points, 10 rebounds for his career - and he's a small forward. His ability to play both small forward and power forward makes him better than Lebron for me. I dunno Lebron as much as his fanboys do, but I never felt he could play Power Forward. Bird was not as long lasting tho. The Pistons series from 1987-1988 did a number on him. He got injured the next year. He didn't fall completely, but enough to where he was passed by Magic and Michael where he would be ahead of them in the 5 years prior.
SG - Michael Jordan
Easily. 2 eras of Michael. Freak athlete Michael from 1984-1993. Michael the ultimate champion 1996-1998. Yes I know he was already a champion during that first era, but I thought the 2nd era of Michael felt different. The first era he would dominate by talent. 2nd era his intelligence, ability to involve his teammates, and get the most out of them each and every night.... (plus he's probably the least pleasant teammate of all time) - made him a leader like we've never seen before. He exhibited some traits of both during both eras, but his 2nd era probably saw more of the latter to a maximum effect.
Plus, his ppg surpasses 30.0 - His defense was immaculate during his heyday. He's 3rd all time in steals per game. He can do freakish athlete things nobody can do. He was a bird like athlete. He got his points by flying thru the air, in the 80s.
PG - Magic Johnson
No debate whatsoever. First all-time in assists per game. Can play Point Guard, Small Forward, Shooting Guard and even Power Forward - as his designated position in 1995-1996. His versatility is unreal. Just a very unique athlete, at his size not sure how he does some of the things he does but he exhibits skills of all positions. A 6'9 point guard who can switch to power forward is something.
