Centers 10 Guards 20 Forwards 20 What other method is fair? Some think we should actually have more centers, as more championships have been won with dominant centers than dominant guards, or dominant forwards.
And how do we determine who is best? Statistics? Championship rings? Eras they played in? I would have a very difficult time comparing a guard to a center. Apart from MJ who won without a dominant center, or perhaps Detroit who only had Lambier, nearly all the championships of the past 50 years had dominant centers, and it would be difficult to imagine any of those teams winning 6 titles with a triple headed monster like the Bulls had with Jordan. I think Seattle won without a big name center, and the Warriors of Barry's era, but who else? So, at a minimum, centers are the "best" players on the team in terms of importance, and a limit of only 10 centers seems more than fair. Was Jerry West a better guard than his peers of his era, than Ewing was a better center of his peers of his ear? I say yes, but then why do we need 50 players, and not just the best player at each position? Should we just include the greatest player of their generation? Should we leave off Earl Monroe because he played in Jerry West's era? Leave out McHale because he played in Dr. J's era? Leave out Isiah Thomas, because he played in Magic's era? And, while we are at it, why not just he best player? To heck with the second best player of all time. Forget about Bird, forget about Doctor J, as they arent the best player of all time. Forget Jerry West, forget Oscar Robertson, Rick Barry, Bob Cousy, Earl Monroe, Kevin McHale, Pete Maravich, John Havlicek....why bother to talk about anyone but MJ, Magic, Kareem, Wilt, Oscar Robertson, Baylor, Bird or Russell? Dave Bing is on the list? Dave Bing? Greater than Ewing? Scottie was greater than Ewing? Clyde Drexler? Walt Frazier? Bill Sharman? Hall Greer? Dave DeBusscher? Paul Arizin? Tiny Archibald? Dolph Schayes? Ewing was at least the 3rd or 4th best center of his era, with Hakeem, David, and maybe Shaq taking the lead, although Shaq is really the king of his ear---the others were on the downside before Shaq really came into his own in LA under Jackson's coaching. Best player? How do you decide? Give me your criteria that excludes Ewing from the current top 50? And by the way, it is not the "50 best players" it is the 50 Greatest Players.
Old school..... I wonder what this photo would be worth autographed by both Brid and Dr. J Bird tries to hold back Dr. J (literally) No one was ever longer or more graceful....
we always have to call someone "the greatest ever". MJ is the best of the last 10 years, but that's it. Even to say he's the best scorer ever is close. Bernard King is his prime was up there. There are others, Wilt. MJ? best of last 10 years, then comes Bird DRJ and then the 70's etc.
You must be a Knicks fan. How many times was Bernard King on the all defensive team? Hey, if the majority of current and former players, including Wilt, Dr. J and Bird think MJ is the best ever, what is your opinion worth?
if those guys are saying it, Wilt is dead anyway. If they said it then they were being nice. I know Wilt thought he was the best ever. As do a few others. What are they going to say when MJ is still playing BB?? I cant see BIRD saying "I am the greatest". I like MJ, he's missed quite a few game winning shots recently, but has played well. I hope the wizards go deep into the playoffs. Jordan should have hired a point guard to help his airness, and that will come back to bite them later.
I am, sadly, a life long tormented Knick fan.....Unfortunately, i watched year after year as MJ beat my beloved Knicks.....Every year we brought in all these free agents like Blackmen, Vandaweigh, Charles Smith , X-man.....end every year he swatted us away....In addition, he did it with a team that had an aging ex knick at center.....MJ is without a doubt the greatest professional athlete of ANY sport....DR. J was a wonderful scorer but he also played forward...In today's NBA he would have to play guard....not as easy. Bird was great...but please...and Wilt was without a doubt the most overrated player of our generation....he was 7-1 at a time when everyone was 6-6 on average....Shaq would have thrown him around like a rag doll, and think of the numbers shaq would put up if Kurt Thomas of the Knicks had to guard him every night??