Thread: Best basketball player ever

Who is the best basketball player ever and why? Who are the top five basketball players ever?

The best: Bill Russell.

The top five: Bill Russell, Karim Abul Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Larry Byrd.

Originally Posted by Bourne

The best: Bill Russell.

The top five: Bill Russell, Karim Abul Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Larry Byrd.

No "Big O" (Oscar Robertson)?

Originally Posted by Conservative15

No "Big O" (Oscar Robertson)?

I could only pick five. It was a toos up between Byrd and Robinson. Byrd got it by hair. Robertson was indeed outstanding.

Originally Posted by Bourne

I could only pick five. It was a toos up between Byrd and Robinson. Byrd got it by hair. Robertson was indeed outstanding.

I actually have Robertson #1.

I have 1. Robertson, 2. Wilt, 3. Magic Johnson, 4. Bird, 5. Jordan.

It's nice to see that you don't have Jordan #1 like most people have.

Originally Posted by Conservative15

I actually have Robertson #1.

I have 1. Robertson, 2. Wilt, 3. Magic Johnson, 4. Bird, 5. Jordan.

It's nice to see that you don't have Jordan #1 like most people have.

Mike's good, but my all time favorite is Bill Russell. Not only was a true gentleman and an outstanding multi-talented player, but he was one of the pioneers that opened the NBA to blacks.

Did you know that Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double for an entire season? He also averaged a triple double over his first five seasons when you combine all of those seasons.

I'd like to hear an argument against Jordan Con. 6 rings during a pretty decent B-ball era. There was never a doubt who was the best man on the floor during his prime. Only one game that I can recall did another player have the ball for the last shot. Knowing he was getting the ball, then delivering anyway.

It's tough to compare by position, but give me one player, and I take MJ. What other measure is there?

Originally Posted by Babylon

I'd like to hear an argument against Jordan Con. 6 rings during a pretty decent B-ball era. There was never a doubt who was the best man on the floor during his prime. Only one game that I can recall did another player have the ball for the last shot. Knowing he was getting the ball, then delivering anyway.

It's tough to compare by position, but give me one player, and I take MJ. What other measure is there?

There is an important detail we need to consider when discussing the best player of all-time... Criteria. It all depends on one's criteria for why they think someone is the best ever. Stats? Rings? Conbination of those? ect.

Now, if you consider rings to be the most important thing, then Jordan is far behind Bill Russell. Jordan has 6 rings and Russell has 11 rings (including 8 in a row!).

When I am deciding who the best player ever is, I do not factor rings in at all. I consider that to be a team accomplishment that relies too much on who a player is surrounded by.

You need to look at the era they played in too. Jordan played against Duncan, who would have given Russel a run for his money if they played at the same time.

1.MJ
2.Wilt Chamberlin
3.Magic Johnson
4.Bill Russell
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

Larry Bird makes the top ten list, but no way he's top five material. Oscar Robinson had great statistics, but he played in a limited league.

Not only was MJ clutch, he made everyone around him better, and he was the top defensive player in the league.