Bringing up the most heated debate in Basketball..

[Manos]

A lineup of Russell-Duncan-Bird-Jordan-Magic, IMO, could beat a lineup of anyone else.

All depends on what era you are talking about. If you are going by current NBA rules Russell even in his prime would be fouled out in the first quarter. Old school rules and no one post Jordan era would do well at all. Maybe Lebron because he is a physical freak but I would be hesitant to bet on him. If I was building an ultimate starting lineup(that is well balanced in terms of play style and fit and built for today's nba not necessarily the best 5 players at their position) it would probably look like Shaq-Duncan-Durant-Jordan-Stockton. Plenty of floor balance and power offensively and just enough defense. Honorable mentions to Hakeem Malone Lebron Bird and Magic. Also just for the record my top 5 all time would look like 1: Jordan(self explanatory) 2: Shaq(single most dominating physical force I've ever seen) 3: Hakeem(insanely polished and gifted player) 4: Duncan(a guy I feel is insanely underrated because of how reserved he is) 5: Lebron(if his career continues with its current arc) Granted this is all opinion and I am by no means a basketball historian so this list is very biased and largely flawed. Sent from my XT907 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[Mvp2014]

I take Durant over prime Kobe any day of the week.

Hahahahaha. I love KD but the Kobe hate is too strong in this forum. Kobe was a fuging monster and IMO second to only Jordan. Obviously u guys just started watching basketball

[MichaelNewtonII]

I'm not sure which games you're watching. I agree with LeBron being the best player in the NBA currently, but they put up very similar stats in head to head games this year.

Durant: 30.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals, 4.5 turnovers

LeBron: 33.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals, 5.5 turnovers

If giving up 30.5 points per game is making someone his b*tch then I'll take that "b*tch" any day of the week on my team.

If you actually watch their games instead of just look at stats you would notice that LeBron gets the the basket at will against Durant, it looks effortless. LeBron could take Durant to the cup every single time and draw a foul or draw help and kick. I honestly haven't figured out why they don't do this, but I can guess they want to have the whole team involved instead of just let LeBron abuse Durant.

[Carl Spackler]

All depends on what era you are talking about. If you are going by current NBA rules Russell even in his prime would be fouled out in the first quarter. Old school rules and no one post Jordan era would do well at all. Maybe Lebron because he is a physical freak but I would be hesitant to bet on him. If I was building an ultimate starting lineup(that is well balanced in terms of play style and fit and built for today's nba not necessarily the best 5 players at their position) it would probably look like Shaq-Duncan-Durant-Jordan-Stockton. Plenty of floor balance and power offensively and just enough defense. Honorable mentions to Hakeem Malone Lebron Bird and Magic. Also just for the record my top 5 all time would look like 1: Jordan(self explanatory) 2: Shaq(single most dominating physical force I've ever seen) 3: Hakeem(insanely polished and gifted player) 4: Duncan(a guy I feel is insanely underrated because of how reserved he is) 5: Lebron(if his career continues with its current arc) Granted this is all opinion and I am by no means a basketball historian so this list is very biased and largely flawed. Sent from my XT907 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

 

I'd say putting Shaq 2nd is a bit high, just because I'd keep Kareem over him. But Shaq was basically unguardable from 1999-2002. Olajuwon, though? Nah. He's a great. But not that high IMO. 

[SpeedOFLight]

It is really hard to compare at times. For one, some of the players play different positions. I guess you can bring it down by grouping them by their respective positions. I.E. Who is the top 5 SG? Centers?PF. I also think people underrate Tim Duncan. He is a quiet solid player. I agree with the fact that Shaq was unguardable. They had to change the officiating just guard him. Also remember Hack a Shaq? lol. It's fair to say all these players mentioned in this thread are elite and in a class of their own.

[ZB1224]

I'm obviously a little bit biased and I am willing to admit that. 

 

However to not have Kobe in a top 10 list is a little off imo. If I had to create a list it would go something like this:

 

Jordan

Kareem

Magic

Kobe

Bird

Wilt

Russell

Duncan

Shaq

LeBron

 

I have a tough time actually putting them in order after MJ, because I feel like you could argue just about anyone from 2-10 as the 2nd best player. It also really depends on what criteria you base it on. You can look at purely stats, winning, a mix of both, demeanor + stats/winning, etc. Some are going to have Wilt much higher than Russell and some are going to lean the opposite way. Some people will take era into considering while others will solely look at legacy. I'm not sure that there is a sure fire top 10 list. The only thing that fair to create and say "top 10 all time" is a list based on criteria. 

[intangiblejohnny]

Anyone old enough to have actually watched Jordan play, even before the Bulls became loaded with talent, wouldn't even compare the two. I hated Jordan back then but I had to watch him play because he could do things that were seemingly impossible.

LeBron's game is great and getting better but he will never be Jordan. (or maybe I'm just old)

[Rise of The Hive]

I don't think there is any debate to be had?

[Implied Volatility]

I'm obviously a little bit biased and I am willing to admit that. 

 

However to not have Kobe in a top 10 list is a little off imo. If I had to create a list it would go something like this:

 

Jordan

Kareem

Magic

Kobe

Bird

Wilt

Russell

Duncan

Shaq

LeBron

 

I have a tough time actually putting them in order after MJ, because I feel like you could argue just about anyone from 2-10 as the 2nd best player. It also really depends on what criteria you base it on. You can look at purely stats, winning, a mix of both, demeanor + stats/winning, etc. Some are going to have Wilt much higher than Russell and some are going to lean the opposite way. Some people will take era into considering while others will solely look at legacy. I'm not sure that there is a sure fire top 10 list. The only thing that fair to create and say "top 10 all time" is a list based on criteria. 

 

A top-10 list without Olajuwon? I'd rank Hakeem above Shaq, Duncan, Kobe and LeBron.

 

[Implied Volatility]

MJ would have lost with the Cavs team Lebron took..... Lebron gets punished for making it too early in his career and losing to a Spurs Dynasty? 

 

He is most likely refering to his lost against the Mavs.

[Jangler]

I don't think there is any debate to be had?

 

this sentence is debatable

[4Corners]

I've never had a say in this and I've never really cared because it's stupid but, here goes...

 

This person on twitter was talking about how Michael Jordan is the greatest. This group of Heat fans jumped this dude. They obviously just search twitter looking to pick a fight with a Jordan fans. I just couldn't believe the argument that was being made. How the hell does anyone believe Lebron is the greatest of all time? Forget the Jordan vs Lebron debate, how can these players for get about such players as. Shaq, Kobe, Bird, Kareem, Magic Johnson. Lebron isn't even the best player in the NBA right now. Let alone the greatest ever. How is this even a debate?

 

Just stop right there. The heat "fans" you're referring to are probably a bunch of bandwagon, flatbill wearing kids that fall in the 15-20 year old demographic.They don't know any better. They probably think Kyrie Irving is the best player to ever come through duke, too. I'd take Kobe in his prime over Lebron. 

[4Corners]

I'm obviously a little bit biased and I am willing to admit that. 

 

However to not have Kobe in a top 10 list is a little off imo. If I had to create a list it would go something like this:

 

Jordan

Kareem

Magic

Kobe

Bird

Wilt

Russell

Duncan

Shaq

LeBron

 

I have a tough time actually putting them in order after MJ, because I feel like you could argue just about anyone from 2-10 as the 2nd best player. It also really depends on what criteria you base it on. You can look at purely stats, winning, a mix of both, demeanor + stats/winning, etc. Some are going to have Wilt much higher than Russell and some are going to lean the opposite way. Some people will take era into considering while others will solely look at legacy. I'm not sure that there is a sure fire top 10 list. The only thing that fair to create and say "top 10 all time" is a list based on criteria. 

 

This is a good list, but it's hard for me to put guys like Bill Russell and Wilt on mine. I didn't see them play (obviously), and the game was completely different. Even Kareem I only caught  on the tail end of his career. I'm not saying they couldn't play at a high level in the NBA today, and I'm not trying to disrespect them, I'm just a different type of grader I guess. I get into the same drunken arguments with my bros when we start ranking NFL running backs or ACC basketball players. Someone always brings up Jim Brown in football and I'm always just like dude - your parents weren't even married when he retired. 

 

my list off the top of my head would go something like this

 

Jordan

Kobe

Shaq

Magic

Larry 

Hakeem

Stockton

Kareem

Isiah Thomas

Tim Duncan

Lebron

 

and then there's tons of guys who have legit arguments like Drexler, Barkley, Steve Nash, DRJ, Iverson, Karl Malone, James Worthy, Patrick Ewing, Moses Malone, Kevin McHale, Bernard King

[ZB1224]

A top-10 list without Olajuwon? I'd rank Hakeem above Shaq, Duncan, Kobe and LeBron.

 

 

Hakeem is definitely way up there (top 15 at absolute worst). I couldn't take Hakeem above any of those guys though. Shaq was more dominant and won more, Duncan won more and had very similar stats, Kobe has won more and we all know what he has been able to do statistically, and finally LeBron has top 5 stats of all time and is working on winning his 3rd championship. I definitely wouldn't argue with Hakeem being 11th or 12th though.