[lalailaParticipant]

i was watching some films videos analyzing their stats and what each player would do in this or that era and now i have one question?

 

What makes Jordan and even other laker Magic better that Kareem? i mean by no means im saying he is the best in the history of the NBA i just have in my head since young days that MJ is the best and that’s it, but i just would like to hear an arguments..

Kareem had it all, all the tools skills and physical, supreme stats on surpeme team, multiple team and individual awards records and so on.. 

[HaleParticipant]

Jordan accomplished everything Kareem did without being 7’2 or 7’3, while being screwed out of at least 2 MVP’s.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Kareem only one won title without Magic. And that one was with the Big O. Great player though. Top 3 center with Bill Russell and Wilt. Shaq is even a step below those guys in fourth place.

He is one of those guys in a mythical Mount Rushmore of basketball players. Guys who are the best of the best with each one adding something different. My Mount Rushmore would be Wilt, Russell, and Kareem as the big men with Jordan and Magic at guards with Larry Bird as the representative small forward (and probably holding a place for LeBron James).

No arguments there.

But, you could also make a case for Shaq, the Big O, Jerry West, Kobe, Tim Duncan, and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Kareem gave you the longevity, Wilt’s unreal numbers (career and his peak seasons) to go along with Russell’s winning and Shaq’s larger than life presence and unstoppable offensive game (Shaq within 5 feet or so, with Kareem’s range extending further out), plus some finesse of Hakeem, and the cerebral game of Tim Duncan. Oh yeah, and the unstoppable sky hook.

[The Game_GMParticipant]

 Kareem won 1 title without magic , true but Magic won none without Kareem…The other Kareem won with Oscar but how many did Oscar win without Kareem? None. Common denominator, Kareem, they needed him as much or more then you are saying he needed them..Also, think UCLA….I know it’s college but it shows, people needed him more than he needed them.

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I think it’s also worth mentioning that Kareem wasn’t exactly the friendliest guy to the media, which unfortunately has an impact on how we perceive players. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Hard to compare centers with guards. People put Jordan over Wilt all the time. But, could Jordan score 50 points a game? What about getting 20 rebounds per game, every game? Wilt even led the league in assists one year.

The only way you can compare the best of the best all-time is to do it by position — if that. In that case, Kareem matches up very well with Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, the other two of the Big Three. Shaq has a case to make that group into a Big Four but he left some stuff on the table and didn’t age as gracefully as Kareem.

If you had to have an all-time starting five you could go with Magic, Jordan, Bird at forward, and Kareem and Bill Russell inside with Wilt Chamberlain as the ultimate 6th man.

I can see LeBron joining those six guys but I think he needs one more title (maybe we can make 2 titles the minimum to join the Mount Rushmore of basketball).

If Kobe gets to 7 rings and makes a great run at Kareem’s scoring record then I think he will be up there too. But, right now he does have 5 rings, but only two as the main guy (with only two Finals MVP’s), and he only has one regular season MVP trophy.

In a couple more years or so we could have an All-Time Elite Eight: Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Bird, Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron. You can’t argue with those guys.

[blood]

 is the most underrated player ever.Imagine if he played in 90s,with record that never will be broken(maybe James if he contiues with 26+ seasons) he will probably be considered for GOAT

[NYK2010Participant]

Not sure what you mentioned but Kareem is better than Magic.

He could go down as the best Center anyone who makes an All Defensive team 11 times and 1 at age of 36 is up there.

Shaq never won a title w/out Wade or Kobe and wasn’t even the go to guy in the 06 series.

Also he got swept in the playoffs so many times I think he could be a little high on everyone’s list.

 

[lalailaParticipant]

actually Shaq might be the favourite my player and his 2000 campaign alone makes him dominant and legendary and i always considered him better then those old school big fellas but watching closely i saw Kareem might be better..so thats make me asking how close he was from being the best ever 

[The Game_GMParticipant]

I know we are talking NBA but it you take a look at his college numbers, it’s clear as to why he could be the best ever. NBA/NCAA/Overseas, whatever..

[The Game_GMParticipant]

 Im glad you posted this..Kareem is right there with Mike as the best ever..Always has been. When you lookat his accolades, it’s unreal. All-time leading scorer, MVP’s, titles, defense, on and on..Somebody said Kareem only one one ring without Magic..Well how many did Magic win without Kareem? None. It was also stated that Kareem won the other ring with Oscar, well how many did Oscar win without Kareem?None. Furthermore, how many did Jordan win without Pippen? NONE!  Let’s not play ourselves here, Jabbar was great! The years they won those rings with La, he was the guy. They talk about Showtime and fast breaks ect..but when it came down to the finals and needing half court buckets against Boston and Philly ect.., Jabbar was the guy..Worthy was special also and Magic did his thing in the 80"s finals when Jabbar was hurt but Jabbar was their guy easy. I could easlity make an areguement that He is the best ever. IT’S EASY TO DO. 

[HOops1562Participant]

Hakeem over Kareem … yeah kind of a bold statement but you have to look at the Talent Kareem had with him to win his rings … his first one i have to give him credit he led that Milwaukee team but he had the Big O who was near the twlight of his Career but way better then anything Hakeem was rolling with Kenny Smith ? and Sam Cassel ? … once he arrived in LA he missed the playoffs once and for 4 years they couldn’t make it to the Finals … intill the arrival of the greatest PG of all time in Magic Johnson they won the championship his rookie … he also had James Worthy to help him too … and for me ill take the word of the GOAT over anyone 

If I had to pick a center [for an all-time best team], I would take Olajuwon. That leaves out Shaq, Patrick Ewing. It leaves out Wilt Chamberlain. It leaves out a lot of people. And the reason I would take Olajuwon is very simple: he is so versatile because of what he can give you from that position. It’s not just his scoring, not just his rebounding or not just his blocked shots. People don’t realize he was in the top seven in steals. He always made great decisions on the court. For all facets of the game, I have to give it to him.

-Michael Jordan 

[HadzialijagicParticipant]

 Its really tough to compare people that play different positions and in different times. Michael Jordan might be the "best player of all time" or the most talented but think about it this way. If you put a team of Michael and role players and put them against Kareem and role players who would win? What about Hakeem and role players? Wilt and role players?

The center position imo is more valuable then all positions. Because they affect the game more than any other position. Defensively the center position can help slow down a top notch scorer. While no matter how good MJ is defensively theres not much he can do to stop an elite center. Thats just my opinion though.

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