[jjonzParticipant]

I wish i had more than to delve into this topic but Oatmeal awaits me. If you guys get time answer this ? In the History of the NBA in Dirk Top 10 or is his coaching going over the top for his Star

[LawDeeZeeParticipant]

top 10 in history?!?!?! honestly, dirk has been underrated forever and has carried a bad rep since losing in the finals, but … top 10 in history!?!?!?!? i can’t go there and quite frankly i think it’s a little absurd, especially currently standing without a single ring

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Not top 10 in hitory, but you could argue top 5 power forward. Duncan, Malone, Garnett, Barkley, Dirk seems about right.

[FritzParticipant]

I think Kevin Garnett has had a better Career then Dirk and I dont think he is top ten. If he was an elite defensive player to go along with his unguardable offensive game then I think he would be deserving of top ten, but because his defense is not near what Kevin Garnett brings I dont think he will ever be a top ten of all time.

[TyroberParticipant]

There is no doubt Dirk is the best shooting big man of all time. Hes a great player, but he definitely isnt top 10 all time.

[jayfrazParticipant]

agrred…top 5 PF all time sounds right, but top 10 player all time…no way…where would yall rank him amongst the all time greats anyways? top 50? top 30?

[capecodderParticipant]

 Maybe top 50

How about McHale in that top 5 PF list?

[NJHooper95Participant]

We are getting just a bit carried away. Dirk is a fine player, but I doubt if makes top 20 as it stand right now, let alone top 10. Shaq, Magic, Jordan, Oscar, Wilt, Duncan, Malone, Barkley, Kobe, Adul-Jabbar. This is not the top ten but are ten of the greatest players ever, who would you remove for Dirk?  Then we have others such as Garnett, Hakeem, Isiah, Cousy, David Robinson. The list goes on.

[NJHooper95Participant]

Im sorry it would be an injustice not to mention Bird and Russell, I just dont see Dirk in the Company yet.

[raybeasParticipant]

foreign-born players in NBA history. Probably top 5 after Ewing, Duncan, Nash and Dream.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Coaches who are winning tend to talk up their players, much like players who are winning tend to talk up their coaches. In my right mind, I can not find a way that Dirk Nowitzki fits into the 10 best players of All-Time. He is incredibly unique, and he has had amazing success over a long period of time, but he has yet to win a ring, and their are simply players that accomplished more during their careers. Not to mention, his defense has never caught up to his offense. He is certainly a unique player, maybe one of the more unique ever to play in the NBA, and he is very difficult to defend. I think he has to be in your top 50, maybe even top 30 or so, but saying he is top 10 is a gross exaggeration.

My top 10 (Only Including Players who either played 10 years or have finished their career):

1. Michael Jordan

2. Kobe Bryant

3. Shaquille O’Neal

4. Bill Russell

5. Wilt Chamberlain

6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

7. Tim Duncan

8. Larry Bird

9. Magic Johnson

10. Oscar Robertson

Gosh, it is hard to even make one of these anymore with having to leave some incredible players out who used to be mainstays (Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Erving, Rick Barry, Bob Pettit, Moses Malone, etc.). I also think that Nowitzki is indeed behind Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley at this current point in time. With Pettit probably being considered a PF, it might be hard for me to put Dirk in my top 5 there right now. He definitely could make it, but seeing that I think LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will likely surpass Dirk as players as well, I doubt that I would ever include him my top 10 players of all time. Others may, but I think the WIDE consensus outside of people in Dallas is that he is not really that close.

[omphalosParticipant]

I think Kobe is ranked too highly there, and also I’m not sure if I agree that Shaq is the best C to ever play the game. I’m always surprised by how often Shaq is ranked over Kareem.

[Jlv2011]

German professional basketball players.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Another Bandwagon Jumper I SEE…This is just like last season there were alot of people  that said Pau was a top 10 player of Alltime…Just becuz he was winning….

I dont see him in the Top 10..Not even the Top 50 Alltime..But maybe Top 100…There are guys like Scottie Pippen,Clyde Drexler,Rick Barry, Kevin McHale and Dominique Wilkens that were better players than Dirk and neither 1 of them will be considered Top 10 Alltime…He’s among the top 10 power forwards of alltime…

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Quite simply; no. Dirk is a great player, arguably the best European baller of all time and a lock for the Hall of Fame after his playing days are done. But top 10 is reserved for the pantheon of basketball greats; guys who dominated the league for a number of years. MJ, Magic, Kobe, Big O, West, Bird, Erving, Havlicek, Baylor, Duncan, Karl Malone, Kareem, Wilt, Russell, Shaq, Hakeem, and Moses Malone should all be without a doubt ahead of him right now. And I would put Isaiah Thomas, Cousy, Stockton, Frazier, Iverson, Gervin, Barry, Pippin, Lebron, Barkley, Garnett, Petit, Hayes, Mchale, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing ahead of him as well.

That being said, he has stayed relatively injury free most of his career and plays a style that contributes to longevity. This year he averaged 23 PPG and shot a career high 51.7% from the field at the age of 32. Karl Malone averaged at least 20 PPG until he was 39 years old. If Dirk can somehow come close to that, play another 6 years at a high level, make around 4 more All-Star games, win a championship and score about 9000+ more points in his career (putting him at around fourth place behind Kareem, Malone, Kobe who will prob stay ahead of him and maybe MJ) he will deserve to be talked about in the top 20 list of all time

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Not even top 50? I for one would definitly give him that; 10 all-star games, 4 time all-NBA first team selections, an MVP, career averages of 23 PPG and 8.4 RPG and still playing at very high level. Barring a major injury or a surprising early retirement he will probably end up among the top 8 highest scorers in NBA history when all is said and done, maybe even higher.

[GlenTaylorSucksParticipant]

I think Dirk may be the best Euro baller of all time…yes, even better than Drazen and Sabonis. As for top 10 all time…no. Just…no.

[suddsParticipant]

Describes Dirk better than anything, but there is no way he is a top ten PF of all time with a career reb avg like that. There is a reason he hasn’t got a ring on his finger. Top 50 player would be a good case though.

He is an good scorer, and mismatch, but he can’t play very good D or rebound great, which is why there would be at least 10 PF’s I’d take over him.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Top 10 all time is silly. Not ranked that high now no chance short of leading a 4-peat run of championships to even be considered.

But top 5 power forward. Hmm? Maybe. Power forward might be the weakest positions as far as NBA greats is concerned. Everyone above has Malone and Barkley in their top five but they don’t have any rings. Certainly there is no such thing as a "Top Five Center" who didn’t win a championship. I guess at other positions you can be ringless and be top five. Stockton is in my top five point guard list, for example.

If Dirk gets a ring (and considering they just demolished the Lakers there seems a good chance that this is the year), I think we are definitely all going to put him on that top five power forward list. So let’s see how these playoffs work out. He might be establishing his legend.

[jjonzParticipant]

I simply posted a question that RCarlisle thought about his player. In his era Dirk will go down as the 3rd best PF.

1.Duncan

2.KG

3. Dirk

If he can put together a string of 2-3 rings in next 5 years as the 1st option on his team then he may surpass KG as the best PF when both entered the L seperated by 3-4 years. But there is no way he is better than TD.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

No.

My top 10.

1. Jordan

2. Wilt

3. Russell

4. Shaq

5. Magic

6. Kareem

7. Bird

8. Oscar Robertson

9. Tim Duncan

10. Kobe

11-15: West, Baylor, Olajuwon, Stockton, Moses Malone

16-20: Dr. J, Scottie Pippen, LeBron James, Hondo, Karl Malone

21-25: Bob Petit, George Mikan, Bob Cousy, David Robinson, Walt Frazier

26-30: Kidd, KG, Charles Barkley, Ewing, Zeke

 

Honorable mention: Wade, Dirk, McHale, Rodman, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Dominique, Gary Payton, Drexler, Steve Nash, Pistol Pete

 

Right now, Dirk is just outside the top 30.   A ring would help a lot.  If he could stay in top form for another 3 or 4 years then he will be in the top 25.  With an MVP, a ring (if he can win one this year), a long consistent career then he will be up there with Dr. J, Moses Malone and Jerry West as great players who have won a championship.  I have to put Jason Kidd in the top 25 for the way he dominated his position for years, his assists, steals 3’s, and the way he is putting together a very effective season this year as the best quarterback in Dallas.  KG also has an MVP, many great seasons, but he he also has a ring.  Barkley was a top guy who changed the game too.  Great stats, memorable, member of the 1992 Dream Team.  Also lacks a ring.  If Dirk wins one he will pass Chuck.  Zeke has two rings.  Had a great career.  Ewing was a top flight center for close to a decade when there were more centers in the game.  If Dirk wins a ring he will also pass Patrick Ewing.

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

No!! I wouldn’t put Dirk in the top 50 alltime..Becuz if you look at the Top 50 Greatest of Alltime,guys like Dominique Wilkens,Bob Lanier didnt make the list..And i think they were better players than Dirk..

If you re-did a top 50 list today,you have to include players like Duncan,Lebron,Kobe,Iverson & Garnett..

Who do you take off to make room for Dirk? If you make a case for Dirk ,you can also make a case for Paul Pierce….Their careers have been kind of similar…And nobody is saying Pierce is top 10 alltime…

Sometimes we forget how great some of the past players becuz they played in the past, Dirk is current…

[jjonzParticipant]

Just because they swept the Lakers his coach says this, if they had choked against the Blazers he would be PManning before he won the SuperBowl.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

No one agrees with this statement.

1.Wilt
2.Oscar Robertson
3.Michael Jordan
4.Larry Bird
5.Magic Johnson
6.Kareem
7.Bill Russell
8.Kobe Bryant
9.Jerry West
10.Allen Iverson (Look at da Stat$ yo)

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

ProudGrandpa, do you have home videos of you,John Wooden and Dr. Naismith when yall were in high school?

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

But I managed to hang on to a few daguerreotypes…

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I have Duncan and Kobe at 9 and 10.  No way Dirk passes those guys. 

If he wins a ring and plays a few more good years (3 or 4) then I would put him ahead of Barkley and the Mailman.

Top 5 power forwards in no particular order: McHale, Karl Malone, Duncan, KG, Sir Charles.  Dirk is right behind those guys.  He lacks Karl Malone’s numbers and McHale’s, Duncan’s, and KG’s rings.  

I think Barkley was a top 5 player for a few years when the NBA was at its peak.  Dirk has been more of a top 10 guy throughout his career.

But, he still has time.  If he can win a title this year, and then come back and win another one next year or the year after then he will move up the charts.  Two rings with two Finals MVP’s would really help his cause.

 

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

He hate Jews, you kno?

[Steven]

 IMO not even top 50, close but not top 50. 

[TRC1991Participant]

really? 23 and 8 over a 12 year career and hes not top 50? you guys are f’ing insane

[NYK2010Participant]

Dirk isn’t top 10 of all time maybe top 20-35 where to rank a 7 ft guy who can shoot and is a great closer.  Obviously he has plenty left in his career.

KG has one ring relax and he got out of the 1st round 1 year in Minnesota he’s done nothing without Pierce and Allen.  KG’s great accomplishments are in the regular season.

Dirk isn’t better than Duncan, Malone,  KG but he’s on the next tier for sure.

Pippen better than Barkley or Ewing by that much hmmm.

Can’t be really accurate about the list because doubtful any of us saw much of Russell, Wilt, West, Oscar play or Kareem in his prime.

1. MJ, 6 titles, 6 Finals MVP’s, 5 league MVP’s, 88-93 made All NBA 1st team on offense and defense every yr

2. Wilt, 4 times MVP, 7 time scoring champ, 11 time rebounding champ, if not for Celtics all time great team he would’ve won more titles.

3. Russell, 11 Nba titles, 5 league MVP’s, 11 time All NBA 1st or 2nd team, All Nba defense didn’t start till 68-69 his last year in the league.

4. Kareem, 11 time All NBA Defense 1st or 2nd team, 15 times 1st or 2nd All NBA, 6 time league MVP, 6 titles too.  Some argue he’s the greatest big man ever.

5. Bird, 3 time All NBA Defense 2nd team, 3 league MVP’s, 10 time All NBA 1st or 2nd team in 13 years.

6. Magic, 5 NBA titles, 3 time league MVP, 9 straight All NBA 1st team

7. Olajuwon, 2 Nba titles, 12 time NBA 1st, 2nd or 3rd team, 9 time All Nba Defense 1st or 2nd team, All time leader in blocks.

8. Duncan, 4 Nba titles, 12 time NBA 1st, 2nd or 3rd team, 13 time All Nba Defense 1st or 2nd team.

9. Kobe, 5 Nba titles, 12 time Nba 1st, 2nd or 3rd team, 11 time all Nba Defense 1st or 2nd team.

10. Shaq, 4 Nba titles, 3 Finals MVP, 14 time All Nba 1st, 2nd or 3rd time, 3 time All Nba 2nd team.

11-15. Oscar, West, Baylor, Moses Malone, Karl Malone

16-20: Hondo, Stockton, Hondo, George Mikan, Dr. J

21-25: Walt Frazier, Gary Payton, Bob Petit, Bob Cousy, Kidd

26-30: Ewing, David Robinson, Pippen, KG, Kevin McHale

Some active players I left off this list

Nash, Lebron, Wade, Dirk since they have plenty left.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

NYK2010

Pretty good list. My only small differences would be Kareem and Kobe up a few spots. You have Hondo on twice, so I’d probably have Isaiah Thomas in the top 20 ( a bit surprised you don’t have him in your top 30 to be honest).

Mikan is a hard one to rank in the top 20. Sure he was one of the first dominant NBA players in the late 40’s early 50s but that were strange era for the NBA; when several of the best basketball players didn’t even bother playing in the league because it was such an unrefined sport, I mean Bob Cousy refused to play at first because it interfered with his job as a driving school instructor. Most of Mikan’s contemporaries argued that 7 foot phenom Bob Kurland was just as good (if not better) as Mikan and Kurland never bothered playing in the NBA after his All-American college career, playing AAU ball instead.

To round out my own list I’d probably add Dave Cowens, Willis Reed, Charles Barkley, Elvin Hayes, Allen Iverson, and George Gervin to my top 40. But yes I’d probably have Dirk in my top 40 list with room to move upward.

Another note, not with your list but everybodies lists (including my own); It’s kind of funny how everyone has Kevin McHale ranked higher than Dirk. Yes McHale was a superior defender but I feel the main reason everybody is rating Dirk lower is because of McHale’s three rings. Let’s be fair, McHale was fortunate enough to play with someone who was actually one of the ten greatest players of all time (Bird), and would have had a very difficult time winning a championship as the focal point of an offence. Nowitzki’s career accomplishments (other than championships) are more impressive than McHale, 3 more all-star games, 3 more All-NBA first team selections, an MVP award and 23 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 2.7 APG to McHale’s 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG and 1.7 APG. That being said I still had McHale ranked higher ’cause of his defensive ability and championships so I guess I’m a hypocrite lol.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Nash…since they have plenty left.

Steve Nash is 37.  He’s on a mediocre team that won’t win a title anytime soon…How does he have anything left?  He won three MVP’s (and though I love the guy, I don’t think he deserved all three) so I’d say his body of work should merit him a spot in your pitiful top 30.

[NYK2010Participant]

Yeah I forgot about Nash he’s definately a top PG but behind the greats Magic, Stockton, Frazier, Payton, Kidd.

Pitiful yeah okay look at your stupid list, Iverson top 10 and Jordan 3rd.

[StF616Participant]

 My Top 10:

1.Michael Jordan 
2.Wilt Chamberlain
3.Kobe Bryant
4.Oscar Robertson
5.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
6.Magic Johnson
7.Shaquille O’Neal
8.Tim Duncan
9.Larry Bird
10.Hakeem Olajuwon

I dont think dirk is near any of these guys in terms of what he has accomplished. I would say he(dirk) is top 50 maybe around the 35-50 range. Really the top players of all time are your own opinion and preferences.

[aamir543Participant]

Hey Proud Grandpa, you got your stats wrong. Nash has 2 MVPs, not 3. Do your research before you post.

[aamir543Participant]

I do not think Nowitzki is top 10 all time…………. yet. Now I think it would still be hard for him to be top ten, but three more years of 22 and 7.5, and I say he might crack the top 15. As of now, I’d say he is top 25, and I also believe that Duncan and Garnett have had better careers so far. But Garnett and Duncan’s days of being a first option with 20 and 10 are over, but Nowitzki’s style of play has extended his prime past the others. I say if he gets a title, and puts up 20 and 7 for 6 more years, you have to give him a spot in the top ten. And if he does average 20 for the next 6 years (which sounds crazy, but if you watch his game closely, i dont think age will take away too much of his ability) and asuming he plays an average of 75 games a season, he will be at almost 32,000 points for his career. So anything is possible, but he not top ten yet.   

[joecheck88Participant]

who would you put higher allen iverson or dirk nowitzki? both were prolific scorers, both have an mvp, both made it to a finals with no ring, multiple all nba teams, multiple all star appearances, and both unique talents.

and to add to the conversation, no, dirk is not top 10 all time. without making a list he is probably top 40.

[kaceyParticipant]

Alot of you all are considering Garnett a top 5 PF of all time?

Wasn’t he a small forward for most of his career? Or did I play too many video games where he was incorrectly listed as a SF. I’m not accussing anyone of being wrong, I’m just wondering how do you go about ranking some players by position when that player was a SF for a majority of his career, and really wasn’t a PF until the latter part.

[kaceyParticipant]

As for Dirk…

Dirk is my favorite player, but no way is he top 10 all time. Like others mentioned, he was never a force on defense. Top 10 players make an impact on both sides of the ball.

[Author]

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