We've had similar discussions in a number of different threads, but figured a new thread would be worth talking about ranking the greatest NBA players of all-time. Bleacher Report listed a Top 50 Players of All-Time, which you can see here:
View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2854727-bleacher-reports-all-time-player-rankings-nbas-top-50-revealed#slide51
The Top 15 are:
1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Magic Johnson
5. Larry Bird
6. Shaquille O'Neal
7. Tim Duncan
8. Bill Russell
9. Wilt Chamberlain
10. Steph Curry
11. Oscar Robertson
12. David Robinson
13. Hakeem Olajuwon
14. Kobe Bryant
15. Kevin Durant
The take that is making the most noise on social media is Kobe at 14, particularly four spots behind Curry. Obviously, the list values more modern players and rates their accomplishments as more significant than players from the pre-merger era. I don't necessarily agree with that methodology, but I understand why some people would evaluate it like that. If you were to take every player in a vacuum and have a draft for playing basketball in 2019, I might rather take Shaq over Russell, but if we add the caveat that Russell was born in 1990 instead of 1934, I'd rather have Russell.
The Kobe stans are mad, but honestly I wouldn't have him much higher than 14. It is odd seeing Curry at #10 because we usually don't think of players in their prime as being worthy of the discussion, but his resume: 3 rings, 5 Finals appearances, 2x MVP, 1x scoring champ, iconic playing style, stacks up with almost everyone else. Kobe does have the five rings and a longer career, Curry has the edge in efficiency, but Kobe in his prime was a better defender. Both of the stigma of probably being the second best player on some of their championship teams. You could make the argument that Durant is actually better than both of them.
Despite this being more of a modern list, they totally shafted Kawhi Leonard at #42. Kawhi was the best player on two NBA championship teams and is one of the most complete two-way players in the history of the game. Not sure how you could rank Curry #10 and Leonard that low.
The guy who has no business here is David Robinson, who was an awesome player that everybody loved...but there is no way you can rank him higher than Hakeem. If Duncan didn't come along, Robinson is Karl Malone without the longevity.
My Top 15 would probably go:
1. Jordan
2. Russell
3. Kareem
4. LeBron
5. Duncan
6. Magic
7. Bird
8. Wilt
9. Jerry West
10. Kobe
11. Shaq
12. Oscar
13. Durant
14. Curry
15. Havlicek
View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2854727-bleacher-reports-all-time-player-rankings-nbas-top-50-revealed#slide51
The Top 15 are:
1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Magic Johnson
5. Larry Bird
6. Shaquille O'Neal
7. Tim Duncan
8. Bill Russell
9. Wilt Chamberlain
10. Steph Curry
11. Oscar Robertson
12. David Robinson
13. Hakeem Olajuwon
14. Kobe Bryant
15. Kevin Durant
The take that is making the most noise on social media is Kobe at 14, particularly four spots behind Curry. Obviously, the list values more modern players and rates their accomplishments as more significant than players from the pre-merger era. I don't necessarily agree with that methodology, but I understand why some people would evaluate it like that. If you were to take every player in a vacuum and have a draft for playing basketball in 2019, I might rather take Shaq over Russell, but if we add the caveat that Russell was born in 1990 instead of 1934, I'd rather have Russell.
The Kobe stans are mad, but honestly I wouldn't have him much higher than 14. It is odd seeing Curry at #10 because we usually don't think of players in their prime as being worthy of the discussion, but his resume: 3 rings, 5 Finals appearances, 2x MVP, 1x scoring champ, iconic playing style, stacks up with almost everyone else. Kobe does have the five rings and a longer career, Curry has the edge in efficiency, but Kobe in his prime was a better defender. Both of the stigma of probably being the second best player on some of their championship teams. You could make the argument that Durant is actually better than both of them.
Despite this being more of a modern list, they totally shafted Kawhi Leonard at #42. Kawhi was the best player on two NBA championship teams and is one of the most complete two-way players in the history of the game. Not sure how you could rank Curry #10 and Leonard that low.
The guy who has no business here is David Robinson, who was an awesome player that everybody loved...but there is no way you can rank him higher than Hakeem. If Duncan didn't come along, Robinson is Karl Malone without the longevity.
My Top 15 would probably go:
1. Jordan
2. Russell
3. Kareem
4. LeBron
5. Duncan
6. Magic
7. Bird
8. Wilt
9. Jerry West
10. Kobe
11. Shaq
12. Oscar
13. Durant
14. Curry
15. Havlicek