Greatest players of all time (number 12)

[Luke]

Y'all know what to do.

Our list looks like -

1.) Jordan
2.) Wilt
3.) Magic
4.) Kareem
5.) Russell
6.) Bird
7.) Shaq
8.) Duncan
9.) Hakeem
10.) Kobe
11.) LeBron
12.) ?

[Dornado]

I like the Big O. I get all of the arguments about pace... I understand that he only averaged a triple double because his team was scoring in the 120's and giving up a ton of points on the other end. Just compare him to his peers... his assist numbers are so much better than anyone elses in his era it is ridiculous. When I talk to people who watched the NBA during that era they all seem to universally agree that Big O was the man. I'll probably go Jerry West, Moses Malone and Isiah Thomas after that, in no particular order.

[Luke]

I can see arguments for Oscar, West, and Moses here. I just can't forgive Oscar for missing the playoffs three straight times in his prime though. That's KG territory.

I'm going Moses again.

[jericho]

Going Moses again here, with West, Oscar and Dr. J as the next tier.

[Dee-Zy]

Moses gets my vote over Big O here. His 3 MVPs and title wins it over Big Os 1 MVP, 1 title and triple double season.

One can argue that Big O won it in the Russel/Wilt era but Moses got 3 during the Kareem/Bird/Magic times so that gives him the nod for me.

[Dornado]

Originally Posted by Luke

I can see arguments for Oscar, West, and Moses here. I just can't forgive Oscar for missing the playoffs three straight times in his prime though. That's KG territory.

I'm going Moses again.

For the sake of argument, the Royals record over that 3 year span was 116-130... the Lakers record from '04-'05 to '06-'07 was 121-125.... a whopping five game difference over 3 years. If you raised the same concerns about Kobe Bryant, I must have missed it.

[23AJ]

The Chairman of the Boards gets my vote.

[Luke]

Originally Posted by Dornado

For the sake of argument, the Royals record over that 3 year span was 116-130... the Lakers record from '04-'05 to '06-'07 was 121-125.... a whopping five game difference over 3 years. If you raised the same concerns about Kobe Bryant, I must have missed it.

The Lakers made the playoffs two of the three years in a tougher conference. Put them in the east and they probably push 50 both years. And the year that they finished 35-47 was a result of injuries and Rudy T's heart complications. When healthy that team was in the playoff picture and had they not hit a shit storm then they likely make the postseason.

[PauloCatarino]

Originally Posted by Luke

Y'all know what to do.

Our list looks like -

1.) Jordan
2.) Wilt
3.) Magic
4.) Kareem
5.) Russell
6.) Bird
7.) Shaq
8.) Duncan
9.) Hakeem
10.) Kobe
11.) LeBron
12.) ?

There hasn't been any percievable (sp?) criteria regarding voting on players.
I once thought this could have been an interesting essay, but after reading posts regarding the last two couple of picks, i understood that it ain't happening.

Carry on. I won't waste my (and everywelse - sp?) time.

[GrandKenyon6]

Originally Posted by Luke

Put them in the east and they probably push 50 both years. And the year that they finished 35-47 was a result of injuries and Rudy T's heart complications. When healthy that team was in the playoff picture and had they not hit a shit storm then they likely make the postseason.

This same excuse applies to Oscar's Royals.

[Luke]

Oscar missed 16 games in the same transition season that his coach almost died and quit mid season?

[Jamel Irief]

I'm torn between Mikan and Dwight Howard here.

[Jamel Irief]

Ok, in all seriousness, Lebron has had a better career than West, Oscar and Elgin Baylor how?

[jericho]

Originally Posted by Jamel Irief

Ok, in all seriousness, Lebron has had a better career than West, Oscar and Elgin Baylor how?

Part of the maddening fun of exercises like this is arguing past each other because different people are using different criteria. I didn't help vote Lebron into that spot, but I could argue that he belongs above those three because of his three regular season MVPs, and unlike any of those three dudes he was clearly the best player on a championship team. I happen to like West's game and character better, and I think Oscar and Elgin are starting to get underrated in these debates, but I don't think it's crazy to put Lebron right around where he is on this list.

[Jamel Irief]

Originally Posted by jericho

Part of the maddening fun of exercises like this is arguing past each other because different people are using different criteria. I didn't help vote Lebron into that spot, but I could argue that he belongs above those three because of his three regular season MVPs, and unlike any of those three dudes he was clearly the best player on a championship team. I happen to like West's game and character better, and I think Oscar and Elgin are starting to get underrated in these debates, but I don't think it's crazy to put Lebron right around where he is on this list.

If you look at the top 3 seasons of each of those guys and compare it to Lebron's top 3 seasons they measure almost equally. Hell Baylor almost put up a average of 40-20! Oscar a triple double! Then you factor in that Lebron hasn't even played 10 seasons yet and doesn't have more rings than any of them and I just can't see the arguement.

I say he needs to play about 2-3 more seasons before he can be up there.