MJ is my vote for the GOAT but after that my Laker instincts kick in and i would choose Magic as #2.
I've been watching alot of old Laker games recently from the 80 and Magic was just incredible. Maybe the greatest leader and motivator in NBA history, if you watch him play he always knows who needs to get a shot and where they like the ball. If a guy started to heat up Magic made sure he milked the hot hand while finding time get his own pts to.
Another thing i like about Magic is the work he put into improving his weaknesses, he was never a great shooter or defender but during his career he improved them both to a level where it didnt hurt his team. In fact he was often looked for to take the game winner, which you wouldnt ask of someone who cant shoot.
If you ever get a chance to watch the game 6 finals game from his rookie year, do so. He played every position on the court including center and went for 42 pts 15 boards and 7 dimes without the injured Kareem. That is just nuts when you think of a rookie doing that.
So yeah Magic is my all time favorite player and my #2 on best player of all time.
all those guys r legends.they all revolutionized the sport and have paved the way for players such as leBron,Kobe,Shaq ect.ect. It's really hard 2 choose and u have 2 consider a lotta things. But no one revolutionized the sport better than his airness.he made basketball one of the most popular sports of all time and his stats, well they say it all.
They all need to get 5-6 championships for the general public to see them as better than Jordan. If Kobe wins a couple more with less help than he got during the threepeat, he may get that honor. Another reason Jordan will be hard to pass up in the fans' eyes is because once he started winning, he never was stopped. He won 3 in a row, then retired. He came back and lost 1 year, but the public acknowledged it was simply because he was rusty. He then won 3 in a row again and retired. It gives the image that he couldn't be beaten when he was in his prime. Kobe won 3 in a row, but then lost, which never happened to Jordan. I think it will be really tough for anybody to pass Jordan in most people's eyes.
Originally posted by Myth
They all need to get 5-6 championships for the general public to see them as better than Jordan. If Kobe wins a couple more with less help than he got during the threepeat, he may get that honor. Another reason Jordan will be hard to pass up in the fans' eyes is because once he started winning, he never was stopped. He won 3 in a row, then retired. He came back and lost 1 year, but the public acknowledged it was simply because he was rusty. He then won 3 in a row again and retired. It gives the image that he couldn't be beaten when he was in his prime. Kobe won 3 in a row, but then lost, which never happened to Jordan. I think it will be really tough for anybody to pass Jordan in most people's eyes.
That's true in most people's eyes, meaning fans who don't know much about the game. Mostly people who think only winning championships determines it.
Of course not, all I'm saying is that how many rings you have isn't everything. If Kobe retires with 3 rings, that's not going to necessarily make me think Jordan was a better player. Same thing with LeBron. I like to compare them with the stats, not so much with how many championships they have. Others may think otherwise, this is just my opinion.
Im not attacking your opinion bro, im was just asking a question.
The fact is that winning a championship propels good players into another category, Wade is the latest example. Before he won a title he was considered top 10, now you have "experts" claiming he is the best player in the league. Im not saying i agree with this way of grading but i also dont think stats tell the whole story, the truth is usually somewhere in between imo.
If Kobe ever got to Jordans level (which was total dominance on both sides of the ball) and never won any more rings, Jordan would still be considered greater - thats just the way it works.
I know. Players look better when they win championships, it's just the nature of the game. But, what I don't like is when people stretch it too far and use them as the ultimate indicator of one's greatness. To me, Wade was just as great before he won the ring than after. His image is merely polished now because of it. Even if Miami lost in the finals, that doesn't take anything away from his heroic performances. If Kobe were to be equal with Jordan, but Jordan ends up with more rings, then Jordan would naturally be considered greater. However, let's say Kobe or LeBron turn out better than Jordan at the end of their careers. I personally wouldn't want "who's got more rings" to deny that fact.