With LeBron James capturing his third NBA Championship as well as his third NBA Finals MVP, talk now is about where he fits into the argument about the top NBA players of all time.
Opinions are like hair: Most people have at least one, and it could be wild.
Until recently, it seemed like most debates were whether Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant was the best ever, and while their styles were similar -- as well as their egos and attitudes -- James seems to be pushing Bryant further down the list.
Any list, especially this one of the top 10 NBA players of all time, is subjective and open to disagreement, argument or debate, especially since this list weighs heavily on total rings won. And yes, guys like Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Tim Duncan and many others were great players, too.
No. 10 -- Hakeem Olajuwon. For whatever reason, "The Dream" seems to get overlooked on these lists, but he was one of the few guys who could score on anyone or block anyone's shot. All but one of his 18 seasons were spent in Houston, where he led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points per game, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocked shots, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals. That's a complete player.
No. 9 -- Shaquille O'Neal. The only way to stop him was to use the Hack-a-Shaq, which meant fouling him and sending him to the free-throw line. Under all the bulk and size was a tremendous athlete. He won four NBA titles, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat.
No. 8 -- Oscar Robertson. The "Big O" is the only NBA player to ever average a triple-double for a season. Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists as a 6-5 point guard during the 1961-1962 season.
No. 7 -- Larry Bird. Perhaps the least athletic player on this list, but Bird was dangerous inside and out. He played on three NBA championship teams (all with the Boston Celtics), was a 12-time NBA All-Star and was a three-time league MVP. The rivalry that developed between he and Magic Johnson is credited with increasing the NBA's waning popularity in the early 1980s.
No. 6 -- LeBron James. The only guy on this list who can improve his stock.
No. 5 -- Kobe Bryant. An absolutely amazing athlete who could be almost as disruptive off the court as he was on it. He won five NBA championship rings, played 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers and is the NBA's third all-time leading scorer, but he's 12th in points per game.
No. 4 -- Wilt Chamberlain. "Wilt the Stilt" scored 100 points in a game and in 1961-1962 averaged 50.4 points per game and 25.7 rebounds. He was not especially likeable, but Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game.
No. 3 -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was the league's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, and it was his signature shot, the "Sky Hook," that was the most unstoppable shot ever seen in the NBA.
No. 2 -- Earvin Johnson. No one was more aptly nicknamed than "Magic." Perhaps the game's best all-around player, which was proven his rookie season when he played all five positions. He helped the Lakers win five NBA titles and averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 11.2 assists.
No. 1 -- Michael Jordan. He was known simply as "MJ," an incredible athlete with an unquenchable thirst to win, which explains his six NBA championship rings (aided by Scottie Pippen). Jordan always wanted the ball with the game on the line, and he seemed to be golden with time running out. He's the NBA's all-time leading scorer (by average) at 30.12 per game. He was the NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP six times.
Sports on 06/26/2016