BadBaronRudigor

It does seem to me that Bird is just one level down from the top GOAT candidates. Chance does play a part and Larry's injury is part of his career just like his good fortune to be on one of the most loaded teams ever is part. The four top GOAT candidates are the two greatest winners in the history of the league, Russell and Jordan, the greatest statistical dominator and individual talent, Chamberlain, and the most sustained period of excellence, Jabbar. Bird and Magic are in the next tier along with Shaq and possibly Hakeem, West, and Oscar (possibly Mikan too, I have a hard time judging the 50s guys). But notice two things. He is one of the top 7 in NBA history and he is the only forward on that list.

The rest are mainly centers. Until the 90s the center position was almost by definition more dominant than any other, both Bird and Magic played with HOF centers, West and Oscar only won their championships when they were paired with HOF centers, only one team other than Jordan's Bulls has won a championship without a dominant center if you count Duncan as the center on SA which is where he plays the majority of his minutes.

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