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Karl Malone should probably be higher, as should Larry Bird, who only ranks at number 10. Hakeem Olajuwon should also be much higher, probably in the top ten.
Reggie Miller not even qualifying to be on the list? That seems a bit absurd.
Those are some of the major differences that I had with this list, although I agree with the ultimate top player on the list.
Indeed, there is little argument, as far as I am concerned, with Michael Jordan being the very best basketball player of all time. That one seems a no-brainer, even if some of the younger generation seem to feel that LeBron James should rank there.
The thing is, Jordan completely dominated the league for some time. When he was at his peak, he was unstoppable, and simply dominated like no one else before or since. Nobody could stop him individually and, at his peak, no team could stop the Bulls when he was with them. When he retired briefly for a couple of years, the Bulls dropped off. When he was back and at full strength, once again, all comers were denied the championship. Without Jordan, chances are that Malone, Barkley, Ewing, Payton, and possibly others would have won championship rings. With him, they were completely shut out and their fingers remained empty until the end of their careers.
LeBron James can get his teams to the NBA Final, true. Indeed, what an accomplishment to bring teams to seven straight NBA Finals! However, I think Jordan might also have done just that if he had never retired, as it is entirely possible that he might have gone to, and possibly won, all eight NBA titles from 1991 to 1998. He took over games, and series, and LeBron simply could not match that. After all, he has been to eight NBA Finals, two more than Jordan. Yet, he has not won as many rings as Jordan has, and the two that he earned with Miami were with an incredible amount of superstar talent around him.
So to me, it seems obvious. Michael Jordan still tops this list. There is Jordan, and then there is all the rest. Frankly, I am not entirely certain that LeBron should even be number two, because Kareem Abdul Jabbar changed the game, even dominated the game, in a very long and obviously storied career, becoming one of the most decorated NBA players, and even athletes, in history.
The thing is, Jordan completely dominated the league for some time. When he was at his peak, he was unstoppable, and simply dominated like no one else before or since. Nobody could stop him individually and, at his peak, no team could stop the Bulls when he was with them. When he retired briefly for a couple of years, the Bulls dropped off. When he was back and at full strength, once again, all comers were denied the championship. Without Jordan, chances are that Malone, Barkley, Ewing, Payton, and possibly others would have won championship rings. With him, they were completely shut out and their fingers remained empty until the end of their careers.
LeBron James can get his teams to the NBA Final, true. Indeed, what an accomplishment to bring teams to seven straight NBA Finals! However, I think Jordan might also have done just that if he had never retired, as it is entirely possible that he might have gone to, and possibly won, all eight NBA titles from 1991 to 1998. He took over games, and series, and LeBron simply could not match that. After all, he has been to eight NBA Finals, two more than Jordan. Yet, he has not won as many rings as Jordan has, and the two that he earned with Miami were with an incredible amount of superstar talent around him.
So to me, it seems obvious. Michael Jordan still tops this list. There is Jordan, and then there is all the rest. Frankly, I am not entirely certain that LeBron should even be number two, because Kareem Abdul Jabbar changed the game, even dominated the game, in a very long and obviously storied career, becoming one of the most decorated NBA players, and even athletes, in history.
RANKED: The 32 Greatest Players In NBA History In NBA by Harris Ahmadzai, Jason Fray / January 24, 2018:
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