Asking for a top 10 is fixing for a fight, but mostly it’s a matter of perspective. A lot of guys who watched 00s ball will say Kobe because of how electric he was, 90s Jordan, 80s Bird. Each era has their guys, and it’s hard to be objective. I’m not the guy you asked but for me:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Michael Jordan
Lebron James
Bill Russell
Wilt Chamberlain
Hakeem Olajuwon
Magic Johnson
Larry Bird
Shaquille O’Neal
Steph Curry, Elgin Baylor, Dr. J, Tim Duncan, Kobe, Dirk, Big O
I have my reasons, but Kareem was a men among boys and changed the game so much, on and off the court. He, and others, pushed for black rights while still being the best in the court and dealing with the push back from the side who didn’t want that change. He’ll always have my respect. Amazing person, I think if you can’t put him as a number one for his on court he has to be up there for his off court contributions too.
I think the last two break the mold that today’s greats wouldn’t stand a chance in previous decades leagues, Steph may not have survived, but giannis and Nikola would’ve wrecked 90s basketball.
And #11 goes to dirk nowitzki, because my grandma was in Sacramento for a doctor’s visit when the Mavericks were in town, and she got in an elevator with him (she had no idea), and she hit him with “you’re so tall, do you play basketball?” (She was like 85 at the time) and he was apparently super sweet to her, we had to look up who was in town that night and gave her a lineup of faces, yup, she picked out one of the taller people in the NBA! I bet he was a mountain compared to her!
That’s really fascinating. Thanks for explaining it to me.
You don’t have to, but out of curiosity, what would your personal top ten list look like?
Asking for a top 10 is fixing for a fight, but mostly it’s a matter of perspective. A lot of guys who watched 00s ball will say Kobe because of how electric he was, 90s Jordan, 80s Bird. Each era has their guys, and it’s hard to be objective. I’m not the guy you asked but for me:
I have my reasons, but Kareem was a men among boys and changed the game so much, on and off the court. He, and others, pushed for black rights while still being the best in the court and dealing with the push back from the side who didn’t want that change. He’ll always have my respect. Amazing person, I think if you can’t put him as a number one for his on court he has to be up there for his off court contributions too.
I see your list and I’m ready to fight.
Jks, but it is a very divisive question!
Wilt Chamberlain
A decently long break
Michael Jordan
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Kobe Bryant
Larry Bird
LeBron James
Shaquille oneal
Steph Curry
Giannis ant…eto…koun…mpo
Nikola jokic
I think the last two break the mold that today’s greats wouldn’t stand a chance in previous decades leagues, Steph may not have survived, but giannis and Nikola would’ve wrecked 90s basketball.
And #11 goes to dirk nowitzki, because my grandma was in Sacramento for a doctor’s visit when the Mavericks were in town, and she got in an elevator with him (she had no idea), and she hit him with “you’re so tall, do you play basketball?” (She was like 85 at the time) and he was apparently super sweet to her, we had to look up who was in town that night and gave her a lineup of faces, yup, she picked out one of the taller people in the NBA! I bet he was a mountain compared to her!