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I was reading the entry on Scottie Pippen from the 1999 Britannica Book of the Year. At one point, it says, "Pippen joined basketball's elite ranks in 1996 when he was honoured as one of the '50 Greatest Players in NBA History.' He was perhaps the only man on that list to be considered the second-best player on his own team."

Is that last part fair to say? Were guys like Kevin McHale or Robert Parish ever considered their team's best player? Should I assume that Britannica doesn't know what it's talking about?

magohaydz

I think there was a point when McHale was the best player on the Celts....I could be wrong. But definitely not Parish. How did he end up on the list anyway?

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Pimped Out

pippen was the best player on his team at one point

magohaydz

oh yeah.....good point.

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Dulli

Dave DeBusschere, Sam Jones, Jerry Lucas, Bill Sharman, John Stockton, and James Worthy all made the 50 and were never the best player on their team either. So yeah, it's an accurate statement.

ehmunro

When does Britannica ever know what it's talking about? Several members of the Top 50 weren't the best players on their team because the list was the best 50 all time, not the "50 best guys that were also the best on their team".

Doubtful. McHale's career was on the decline before Bird's back problems became an issue. At most there was maybe part of one season. All three guys are on the list for being all-time greats. Including Parish.

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Najee

Scottie Pippen was not alone in the regard in not being the primary player on his team named to that NBA at 50 list. John Stockton, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Dave DeBusschere and James Worthy are also some of the names that jump out when it comes to players who may not have been the primary player for any prolonged period.

Of course, it's another manner whether Pippen should have been named to the NBA at 50 list in the first place.

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