Slam Magazine just came out with their list of the 75 greatest players of all time here it is... 1.Michael Jordan 2.Wilt Chamberlain 3.Oscar Robertson 4.Bill Russell 5.Magic Johnson 6.Larry Bird 7.Kareem-Abdul Jabbar 8.Jerry West 9.Shaquille O'Neal 10.Julius Erving 11.Elgin Baylor 12. Hakeem Olajuwon 13.Karl Malone 14.Bob Petitt 15.John Havlicek 16.Moses Malone 17.Isiah Thomas 18.John Stockton 19.Charles Barkley 20.Walt Frazier 21.Rick Barry 22.Bob Cousy 23.Elvin Hayes 24.Dave Cowens 25.George Gervin 26.Kevin McHale 27.Dominique Wilkins 28.Patrick Ewing 29.Willis Reed 30.Wes Unseld 31.George Mikan 32.Earl Monroe 33.Nate Thurmond 34.Dolph Schayes 35.Walt Bellamy 36.David Robinson 37.Billy cunningham 38.Paul Arizin 39.Dave DeBusschere 40.Alex English 41.Scottie Pippen 42.Nate Archibald 43.Adrian Dantley 44.Clyde Drexler 45.Bernard King 46.Bob McAdoo 47.Gary Payton 48.Artis Gilmore 49.Jerry Lucas 50.Pete Maravich 51.Hal Greer 52.Reggie Miller 53.Allen Iverson 54.Dan Issel 55.Tim Duncan 56.Robert Parish 57.James Worthy 58.Sam Jones 59.Kobe Bryant 60.Lenny Wilkens 61.Jason Kidd 62.Bob Lanier 63.Dennis Johnson 64.Chris Webber 65.Chris Mullin 66.Mark Aguirre 67.Connie Hawkins 68.Spencer Haywood 69.Dennis Rodman 70.Kevin Garnett 71.Dave Bing 72.Alonzo Mourning 73.Bill Walton 74.Grant Hill 75.Tracy McGrady
The only beef I have is with Pippen being ranked so low. I think he should replace John Stockton. Pippen is one of the most under rated player in the history of the game.
I agree that Pippen is ranked too low (Dominique Wilkins was better? Please.) but he is rated by most observers just fine and he was/is certainly not as good as Stockton. I appreciate what he's done - he was the perfect complement to Jordan and the point forward position was created specifically for him. But his stints in Houston and Portland have shown that he is not the type of player who can singlehandedly lead a team night after night, and make his teammates better the way Stockton, Cousy, or even Barkley did. At his peak, he was one of the top 5 players in the league, but he was always at his best supporting Jordan than as a leader Right now, Tracy McGrady is doing Pippen better than Pippen himself.
I was about to say that Pippen was ranked too high. Yes, he has rings. Yes, he helped Michael get them. But better than Clyde Drexler, Pete Maravich, James Worthy, even Kobe Bryant? Not in my opinion. And I grew up a Bulls fan.
Joe D has always been and always will be underrated, even if he was the only guy in the history of basketball to slow down MJ. He may now be the best GM in the NBA, as well. Better yet, Shaq over Dr. J????
Amen, Scottie is this high on this list and the 50 greatest because he played along side #1. He is a good player, but, he aint all that. Joe Dumars deserves this list more than Pippen. Givem the choice between the two..no contest on my starting 5. but enough about that, look at the bottom.. Grant Hill? i mean he had a great college career, and a few good years with the pistons..but?
I've been saying it for years...If Scottie Pippen is a top 50 player, then I have to be right around 70th. The only other name that jumped out at me as not deserving to be on the list in my opinion is Dennis Rodman.
Agree with my man bopper. We have very short memories. The year Jordan left to do the baseball thing, Pippen pimped the whole freakin' league. Every night there were Pippen highlights slammin' over fools, stealing, assisting, three pointers -- the complete game. If not for a very, very bad last second foul call against the Knicks in the east conference finals, the Bulls would have returned to the NBA Finals sans Jordan. Who will ever forget the Pippen jam over Ewing in that series - when he gives the big guy a mouth full of nuts and stands over him flat on his back....I won't. When Jordan returned he said that he didn't know if he could come back as the best player on his own team. But this list is so stacked with greats I'd only move him up seven or so notches to no. 34 (yes, above English and Robinson). And yes, Hakeem should be ranked higher than Shaq. Finally, how are they ranking relatively new players, like McGrady, in this list? What's the basis? Not to say that he won't make it, but if his career ended today would he deserve to be 75th above such skilled warriors as Sydney Moncrief, or the aforementioned Joe D - I think not.
tell'em tpmazembe Scottie did do a nice job when MJ left. Ewing was at his peak and could not deal with Pippen. BTW that was the greatest in game dunk I have ever seen. I'm sure no Knicks will forget that one. Rodman was the games greatest rebounder ever. he was 38 and bringing down the ball. He played excellent D throughout his career, always getting into opponents head and throwing their game off.
I'd probably move Hakeem and Reggie Miller higher up the charts and Pippen and Shaq should be lower in my opinion.
Re: tell'em tpmazembe The Kinicks beat the Bulls that year. And Rodman's rebounding numbers were not near Wilt's.
Grant Hill? He shouldn't be on there. And if he should, my fav two Spree and Houston should be there. TMAC rules.