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10 best players I have seen in my time watching the NBA

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Yze_Magic

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Without giving away my age too much, I have been watching the NBA since about 1989, and have seen thousands of games, regular season and Playoffs. My fondest memories, being a Jazz fan, are our back to back Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, and Karl Malones 1997 MVP where he egded out Michael Jordan for the award

the best 10 players I have seen, in order



1. Michael Jordan - even though he broke my heart in 97 and 98 versus the JAzz, he has to be number 1. He is the most dominant scorer I have ever seen, and his defense and leadership are undeniably brilliant. Refused to lose, and rarely did

2. John Stockton - controlled a game of basketball like no other. When the ball was in his hands, he did what he wanted with it. I could go on for pages and pages, but if you saw him play, you dont need me to. All time assists and steals leader. Phenomenal

3. Karl Malone - greatest power forward of all time, hands down. The strongest player I have ever seen, and scored at will in the post. The perfect off-sider to the great John Stockton

4. Shaquille O'Neal - just have him ahead of Olajuwon, but I had to flip a coin. Dont need to say much here, except he is a one-man wrecking crew

5. Hakeem Olajuwon - amazing player. Points, rebounds, steals and of course, plenty of blocked shots. the ' Dream Shake' was one of the most unstoppable offensive moves in the game

6. Charles Barkley - for his size, he put up some crazy numbers, particularly rebounding wise. God knows what he could have done if he was a couple of inches taller.

7. Scottie Pippen - talk about versatility. This man could do it all. From small forward to point guard, he was a lethal weapon. No question that without him, MJ would not have a ring to show

8. David Robinson - I am not a huge fan of the Admiral, but his numbers can not be denied. MVP, championship ring, scoring title.... and 71 points in a single game

9. Tim Duncan - again, not a huge Duncan fan, but his effect can not be denied. Like the Admiral, he has the ring and is an MVP

10. Kevin Garnett - this was the hardest choice, Had to fit the Big Ticket in, based on just how freakin' good he has become over the last 12-18 months. What doesnt this man do?



Honorable mentions - Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant
 
Magic was pretty much done by 89, or getting close to it was he not...
 

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1) Gary Payton

The rest can jostle amongst themselves for the minor positions.
 
Yze_Magic said:
Without giving away my age too much, I have been watching the NBA since about 1989, and have seen thousands of games, regular season and Playoffs. My fondest memories, being a Jazz fan, are our back to back Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, and Karl Malones 1997 MVP where he egded out Michael Jordan for the award

the best 10 players I have seen, in order



1. Michael Jordan - even though he broke my heart in 97 and 98 versus the JAzz, he has to be number 1. He is the most dominant scorer I have ever seen, and his defense and leadership are undeniably brilliant. Refused to lose, and rarely did

2. John Stockton - controlled a game of basketball like no other. When the ball was in his hands, he did what he wanted with it. I could go on for pages and pages, but if you saw him play, you dont need me to. All time assists and steals leader. Phenomenal

3. Karl Malone - greatest power forward of all time, hands down. The strongest player I have ever seen, and scored at will in the post. The perfect off-sider to the great John Stockton

4. Shaquille O'Neal - just have him ahead of Olajuwon, but I had to flip a coin. Dont need to say much here, except he is a one-man wrecking crew

5. Hakeem Olajuwon - amazing player. Points, rebounds, steals and of course, plenty of blocked shots. the ' Dream Shake' was one of the most unstoppable offensive moves in the game

6. Charles Barkley - for his size, he put up some crazy numbers, particularly rebounding wise. God knows what he could have done if he was a couple of inches taller.

7. Scottie Pippen - talk about versatility. This man could do it all. From small forward to point guard, he was a lethal weapon. No question that without him, MJ would not have a ring to show

8. David Robinson - I am not a huge fan of the Admiral, but his numbers can not be denied. MVP, championship ring, scoring title.... and 71 points in a single game

9. Tim Duncan - again, not a huge Duncan fan, but his effect can not be denied. Like the Admiral, he has the ring and is an MVP

10. Kevin Garnett - this was the hardest choice, Had to fit the Big Ticket in, based on just how freakin' good he has become over the last 12-18 months. What doesnt this man do?



Honorable mentions - Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant
Click to expand...


I disagree with a few of them, but your explinations of why make good sense.

I would have had hakeem higher and IMO Garnett is better than Timmy D. Nice thread though...
 
Stiffy_18 said:
Why was it a farce????:confused:
Click to expand...

Wasn't it against the Clippers? That's farcical enough.

From memory, he needed something like 50 points to overtake Shaq for the scoring title, and I'm guessing he got a lot of easy shots and all his teammates just looked for him the whole night. Then again, that's no different to any other Spurs game from that time.
 
Petrie Dish said:
Wasn't it against the Clippers? That's farcical enough.

From memory, he needed something like 50 points to overtake Shaq for the scoring title, and I'm guessing he got a lot of easy shots and all his teammates just looked for him the whole night. Then again, that's no different to any other Spurs game from that time.
Click to expand...
You still got to score them ;):p
 

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Mike33 said:
IMO Garnett is better than Timmy D.
Click to expand...

Maybe right now (still debatable), but Timmy's got 2 rings, 2 MVPs and 2 Finals MVPs... and probably adding to that cabinet this year.
 
LeBron James said:
Hakeem was the second best player of the 90's.
Click to expand...

So would I, Hakeem was a freak. He was obviously a gun inside, but his speed and agility were amazing for someone his size

And although he was a gun I don't think Stockton is the 2nd best player of the last 15 years, I'd have him either just in or just out of the ten. As has been said if u had two of the top 3 players you'd think you would have won a title

I might also find a spot for Patrick Ewing and I think Dominique deserved a place at least on your honourable mentions

Although I don't agree with your order, if I did my own ten I'd probably have the same 10, although possibly without Stockton and Garnett
 
more honorable mentions(they were all better in the earlier part of the 89-04 era, age or injuries did them in)

Terry Cummings
Dominique Wilkins
Tom Chambers
Xavier McDaniel
Chris Mullin
Reggie Lewis(plus the big 3 at Boston still played some quality ball for 3-4 yrs too)
Michael Adams
Alex English
Fat Lever
Dale Ellis
Joe Dumars(plus most of the bad boys)

i think you get the idea, no beef with the original 10 though, maybe an injury free G Hill could be on there.
 
Stocktons way to high.

Hakeem would definitely be second in my opinion. There was nothing he could not do, even came top ten in steals despite being 7 foot in many seasons
 
10 best players Ive ever seen?? My bracket is more from 80 onwards because Ive only ever really seen short bits of footage and clips from anything older than that. But I have seen a fair amount of basketball from 1980 to now. Although the game has changed from 80 to 04, I think the players can still be compared to one another. Whereas comparing a player like Russell, Cousy, Chamberlain, West, Mikan etc to todays players is IMO fruitless.

1. Michael Jordan - No explanation needed.

2. Magic Johnson - what can you say about Magic? The flair, the passing, the scoring, the unpredictable, the boards, the wins, the big shots, the showtime, the awards, the determination, the championships and the smile. If you extended this list to include any basketballer from all time, the top two would remain the same.

3. Larry Bird - the greatest shooter the game has ever seen. Won everything there was to win. You could probably say he was a freak because he was so good he should have been black. Im not being racist either im just telling like it is.

4. Isiah Thomas - second greatest PG in history. The fearless leader of the Bad Boys. He was heartless and thats what got him to the top. He's got 2 rings, two more than Stockton. Im sick of all the Stockton love, yeah he was a solid PG but Isiah and Magic are milleniums in front of him.

5. Hakeem Olajuwon - Although his two titles will forever have an asterix next to them, he did still win them. The Dream Shake was unguardable and he could do it all. We look in wonder at KG now, but Olajuwon could do all that and more 10 years before KG showed up.

6. Patrick Ewing - One of the many who was cursed to play in Jordan's era and hence he finished his career without winning a title. But the guy was a warrior, on both ends of the floor. He had so much determination and he wanted it more than anyone out there, sadly he never got it.

7. Charles Barkley - Add Barkley to the Jordan denial pile. He was a freak to accomplish what he did in the body he was given. I mean, think....Othella Harrington! At 6'4 he was one of the best rebounders you will ever see.

8. Scottie Pippen - could lay claim to being the greatest all round player of all time. Could simply do it all. Right there with Jordan as the best small defender of all time. Won 6 titles, cant argue with that.

9. Shaquille O'Neal - the big man. So dominant. Won titles, MVP's, finals MVP's, not a lot he hasnt done. Could have been higher had he had half the drive and determination of a Jordan, Isiah, Bird, Magic or Ewing.

10. Karl Malone - probably the best PF of all time? Another one of the Jordan denial pile. Deserved more than he got but no question about his status as a future HOFer and an all time great.

Honourable mentions - Wilkins, Robinson, Stockton, Drexler, Miller, Duncan, Hill (injuries), Payton etc etc
 

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Yze_Magic said:
Without giving away my age too much, I have been watching the NBA since about 1989, and have seen thousands of games, regular season and Playoffs. My fondest memories, being a Jazz fan, are our back to back Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, and Karl Malones 1997 MVP where he egded out Michael Jordan for the award

the best 10 players I have seen, in order



1. Michael Jordan - even though he broke my heart in 97 and 98 versus the JAzz, he has to be number 1. He is the most dominant scorer I have ever seen, and his defense and leadership are undeniably brilliant. Refused to lose, and rarely did

2. John Stockton - controlled a game of basketball like no other. When the ball was in his hands, he did what he wanted with it. I could go on for pages and pages, but if you saw him play, you dont need me to. All time assists and steals leader. Phenomenal

3. Karl Malone - greatest power forward of all time, hands down. The strongest player I have ever seen, and scored at will in the post. The perfect off-sider to the great John Stockton

4. Shaquille O'Neal - just have him ahead of Olajuwon, but I had to flip a coin. Dont need to say much here, except he is a one-man wrecking crew

5. Hakeem Olajuwon - amazing player. Points, rebounds, steals and of course, plenty of blocked shots. the ' Dream Shake' was one of the most unstoppable offensive moves in the game

6. Charles Barkley - for his size, he put up some crazy numbers, particularly rebounding wise. God knows what he could have done if he was a couple of inches taller.

7. Scottie Pippen - talk about versatility. This man could do it all. From small forward to point guard, he was a lethal weapon. No question that without him, MJ would not have a ring to show

8. David Robinson - I am not a huge fan of the Admiral, but his numbers can not be denied. MVP, championship ring, scoring title.... and 71 points in a single game

9. Tim Duncan - again, not a huge Duncan fan, but his effect can not be denied. Like the Admiral, he has the ring and is an MVP

10. Kevin Garnett - this was the hardest choice, Had to fit the Big Ticket in, based on just how freakin' good he has become over the last 12-18 months. What doesnt this man do?



Honorable mentions - Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant
Click to expand...

the only problem I have with your list is that it sounds like it was written in little soundbites by someone who has never really watched any of these players.
 
Stiffy_18 said:
Why was it a farce????:confused:
Click to expand...

Individualism and ego's are the root of all evil in Professional American sports (as well as too many games making too many meaningless, but that's for another day).

When a team then goes out and plays for an individuals award, it is a farce. He did deserve it (iirc his opponent for the award used the same strategy in the final game) but that last game of the season in getting it was a farce.
 
jod23 said:
7. Charles Barkley - Add Barkley to the Jordan denial pile. He was a freak to accomplish what he did in the body he was given. I mean, think....Othella Harrington! At 6'4 he was one of the best rebounders you will ever see.
Click to expand...

Urban myth

If he's 6'4" I'm 4'11


charles-barkley.jpg
 
Crow-mosone said:
the only problem I have with your list is that it sounds like it was written in little soundbites by someone who has never really watched any of these players.
Click to expand...


I have seen them all countless times
 
jod23 said:
10 best players Ive ever seen?? My bracket is more from 80 onwards because Ive only ever really seen short bits of footage and clips from anything older than that. But I have seen a fair amount of basketball from 1980 to now. Although the game has changed from 80 to 04, I think the players can still be compared to one another. Whereas comparing a player like Russell, Cousy, Chamberlain, West, Mikan etc to todays players is IMO fruitless.

1. Michael Jordan - No explanation needed.

2. Magic Johnson - what can you say about Magic? The flair, the passing, the scoring, the unpredictable, the boards, the wins, the big shots, the showtime, the awards, the determination, the championships and the smile. If you extended this list to include any basketballer from all time, the top two would remain the same.

3. Larry Bird - the greatest shooter the game has ever seen. Won everything there was to win. You could probably say he was a freak because he was so good he should have been black. Im not being racist either im just telling like it is.

4. Isiah Thomas - second greatest PG in history. The fearless leader of the Bad Boys. He was heartless and thats what got him to the top. He's got 2 rings, two more than Stockton. Im sick of all the Stockton love, yeah he was a solid PG but Isiah and Magic are milleniums in front of him.

5. Hakeem Olajuwon - Although his two titles will forever have an asterix next to them, he did still win them. The Dream Shake was unguardable and he could do it all. We look in wonder at KG now, but Olajuwon could do all that and more 10 years before KG showed up.

6. Patrick Ewing - One of the many who was cursed to play in Jordan's era and hence he finished his career without winning a title. But the guy was a warrior, on both ends of the floor. He had so much determination and he wanted it more than anyone out there, sadly he never got it.

7. Charles Barkley - Add Barkley to the Jordan denial pile. He was a freak to accomplish what he did in the body he was given. I mean, think....Othella Harrington! At 6'4 he was one of the best rebounders you will ever see.

8. Scottie Pippen - could lay claim to being the greatest all round player of all time. Could simply do it all. Right there with Jordan as the best small defender of all time. Won 6 titles, cant argue with that.

9. Shaquille O'Neal - the big man. So dominant. Won titles, MVP's, finals MVP's, not a lot he hasnt done. Could have been higher had he had half the drive and determination of a Jordan, Isiah, Bird, Magic or Ewing.

10. Karl Malone - probably the best PF of all time? Another one of the Jordan denial pile. Deserved more than he got but no question about his status as a future HOFer and an all time great.

Honourable mentions - Wilkins, Robinson, Stockton, Drexler, Miller, Duncan, Hill (injuries), Payton etc etc
Click to expand...


no Stockton in the top 10?

youre kidding right?

Barkely calls Srtockton the best player he has ever seen

Ill try and find a quote
 
jod23 said:
4. Isiah Thomas - second greatest PG in history. The fearless leader of the Bad Boys. He was heartless and thats what got him to the top. He's got 2 rings, two more than Stockton. Im sick of all the Stockton love, yeah he was a solid PG but Isiah and Magic are milleniums in front of him.
Click to expand...

Are you pulling my leg?

Stockton is leagues above Isiah Thomas. He has 2 more titles than Stockton, yes. And he also had Dumars, Laimberr, Aguirre, and Rodman

Calling Stockton a 'solid' point guard is like calling Michael Jordan a 'decent' athlete
 

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