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Yeah, LBJ seems too high on the list, but I'm sure ESPN is projecting out the rest of his career and what his stats will look like if he plays x amount of years more, combined with what he's already accomplished... I think by the time he is done he will merit his spot, but I'm not sure he's there yet. As for Shaq vs. Hakeem, it's a touch call, but I'd give it to Hakeem over Shaq. Not taking anything away from Shaq because he was truly dominant in his prime, but Hakeem was a more complete player and probably the only Superstar to win a Championship without a HOF sidekick when they beat the Knicks in '94. Just about every other Champion has had 2 HOF players except for that Rockets team.
If you look at the year Shaq beat the 76ers in the finals....Kobe only played something like 3ish games of the series and was not yet the player he would become. Shaq carried the Lakers to that championship.
I'd also suggest that the Lakers couldn't even make it to the playoffs the year after Shaq left and won another championship with Wade.
I love Olajuwon and he was the more complete player but I can see how shaq could be rated above him.
My favorite part was near the end where you could see the Laker bandwagon pull up alongside the GSW bandwagon.....kinda like the end of the movie Speed where they unloaded all the passengers.
Since I'm not too far from Toronto, and the Knicks are bombing, I think my Raptors are going to have a good season! lol
Since I'm not too far from Toronto, and the Knicks are bombing, I think my Raptors are going to have a good season! lol
Yeah, I went to Toronto once back during the Reagan administration, if they get good enough I might have to buy a retro-jersey and wash in 20-30 times.
I thought that too, but the older timers have decent representation on that list.
Whoever said take Duncan off the list, I think I agree with that. He may be the greatest PF ever, but top 10 of all time of all positions? Idk.
I think advanced stats probably played a big part in the rankings. His advanced stats are some of the best ever. Most people aren't data focused though. The average fan will likely regard Lebron's legacy this way.
Great regular season stats
Choker in the NBA Finals
The Decision
Could only win rings by teaming up with D-Wade
Lost 4 of the 6 Finals he played in
A lot of people feel his legacy is too tarnished to be on a Top 10 list.
I do like advanced stats though because it provides detail and context. Any argument with my Dad goes like "The Big O averaged a triple double; Wilt scored 100 points in a game; Russell won 11 rings; Jordan did not. Case closed." With advanced stats, we get a rough measurement of what an individual's contribution was to a team win, and also how far away they are from the mean. Averaging 14 assists per game is impressive when the League average is 5 assists per game but it's not so impressive when the League average is 11 assists per game.
Kareem Abdul Jabar (70-71) - 22.31
Kareem Abdul Jabar (72-73) - 21.86
Michael Jordan (87-88) - 21.23
Michael Jordan (95-96) - 20.43
Lebron James (08-09) - 20.25
David Robinson (93-94) - 19.98
Michael Jordan (88-89) - 19.80
Lebron James (12-13) - 19.30
Kevin Durant (13-14) - 19.22
Michael Jordan (89-90) - 18.99
Kevin Durant (12-13) - 18.90
Shaquille O'Neal (99-00) - 18.65
Lebron James (09-10) - 18.46
Kareem Abdul Jabar (73-74) - 18.45
Kevin Garnett (03-04) - 18.33
Michael Jordan (96-97) - 18.30
Chris Paul (08-09) - 18.29
David Robinson (95-96) - 18.26
Tim Duncan (01-02) - 17.81
Kareem Abdul Jabar (76-77) - 17.81
Chris Paul (07-08) - 17.78
Michael Jordan (91-92) - 17.73
Dirk Nowitzki (05-06) - 17.72
David Robinson (94-95) - 17.46
Charles Barkley (89-90) - 17.30
Michael Jordan (92-93) - 17.24
David Robinson (90-91) - 17.04
Kareem Abdul Jabar (75-76) - 17.01
Shaquille O'Neal (93-94) - 16.91
Michael Jordan (86-87) - 16.89
Charles Barkley (87-88) - 16.71
Karl Malone (96-97) - 16.71
Magic Johnson (89-90) - 16.55
Tim Duncan (02-03) - 16.45
James Harden (14-15) - 16.44
Karl Malone (97-98) - 16.35
Dirk Nowitzki (06-07) - 16.34
Lebron James (05-06) - 16.26
Dirk Nowitzki (02-03) - 16.14
It's interesting how David Robinson had some of the best seasons of all-time in terms of what he contributed to team victories yet he's rarely brought up in any Top 10 discussions. The knock on him was that he was soft.
Quote:
“David Robinson has always been nice,” says Detroit’s Isiah Thomas, “and their team has always been nice. But do you want a bunch of guys who are nice all the time, or do you want to win championships? If Dennis [Rodman] can keep David angry, they could make it out of the West.”
It's funny that Isiah would say that when he was sort of the reverse of Robinson. He didn't carry the load that Robinson did but he's revered for his toughness.
Does Lebron win championships playing with the Showtime Lakers?
Does Jordan win championships with Lenny Wilkens instead of Phil Jackson and Tex Winters?
Would Larry Bird be more effective in OKC than Durant has been?
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