OT: Is Dirk top 12 of all time??

[RHODEY]

When you say scorer look who he is going up against...

Jordan, Wilt, Kareem, Durant (4 time champion), Kobe, etc.

His Career was curtailed due to injury but no one listed above out side of Jordan (and Wilt under different rules) averaged 33pts for a season @ %53 shooting clip. Durant comes close in this era , when you cant even sneeze on a player. I put Bernard over Pippen who was indeed a great two way player.

The 53% year was only 55 games. I'm more impressed by what he did the year before, to be honest. 26 PPG on 57% shooting? WTF? But damn, he only scored. Rebounding? Assist numbers were nothing great. Steals / blocks were meh. He also turned the ball over a bunch.

I never saw BK play besides on NBATV Hardwood Classics games, but I think LeBron (present day version) and KD are more well rounded in terms of scoring.

Maybe but there's something to be said for being unstoppable and arguably outside of Jordan, I have never seen a more unstoppable scorer than Benard.

[Never Wrong]

I don't even know if I'd put Dirk over McHale.

[HixNixKnicksTix]

i don't think dirk is top 12 and i'm a big fan. stockton, who's missing from the OP, is.

[Greenie]

I think he's just outside top 15. I mean very barely outside. On same tier as Malone and KG - maybe slightly above. Also, LeBron isn't 7...not anymore, at least.

he has a long way to go...
he messed up his own legacy....right or wrong what's done is done.

[Greenie]

I think he's just outside top 15. I mean very barely outside. On same tier as Malone and KG - maybe slightly above. Also, LeBron isn't 7...not anymore, at least.

Is Lebron higher or lower than 7?

yep

[kane2021]

Amazing how much winning one ring changes peoples perception of a player.

[NBA Fan 1234]

Amazing how much winning one ring changes peoples perception of a player.

The thing is, the same thing can be said for KG as well as people's opinions on players that have not won a title.

Even without the ring, I'd put Dirk pretty high. Best jump shooting big at all time who adapted his game as he got older, shot that is un-guardable, good passer for position, very nice team defender, and a good rebounder on the defensive end. The ring definitely bumped him up a bit, after all, his run in the playoffs was incredible, but I don't think it was as big a bump as some like to make it out to be.

[FlashFlood]

Dirk's the best player Europe's produced, but there's too many monsters on the all-time list for him to be considered. Sorry, he's not holding scoring records, rebounding records, assists steals blocks etc. He doesn't have the rings to be measured that way...

I really really like Dirk and consider him one of the best in the league given his age, but top 12 all time is ridiculous.

[blueNorange]

dirk is one the all time greats.

[blueNorange]

dirk on the elbow is automatic

[NBA Fan 1234]

dirk on the elbow is automatic

There really isn't any spot on the court where Dirk isn't incredibly effective / near automatic. Doesn't matter who is guarding him, either. He's adapted his game soooooo well as he's aged.

[Hijinks]

dirk on the elbow is automatic

There really isn't any spot on the court where Dirk isn't incredibly effective / near automatic. Doesn't matter who is guarding him, either. He's adapted his game soooooo well as he's aged.

i think offensively he can hang with the best players. it's his defense, that isnt on the level of his offense, that will always have him outside of those lists.

[Thugger HBC]

My top 20....just a list not in order of course...

Jordan
Russell
Kareem
Bird
Magic
Wilt
Hakeem
Shaq
Duncan
Kobe
Dr. J
West
Oscar
Karl Malone
Moses Malone
LeBron
Barkley
Havlicek
Baylor
Garnett

I wanted add Isiah, Iceman and Stockton to this...so no to Dirk.

[N8isScofield]

maybe he meant hes the 12th best white player of all time?

[gavran]

My top 20....just a list not in order of course...

Jordan
Russell
Kareem
Bird
Magic
Wilt
Hakeem
Shaq
Duncan
Kobe
Dr. J
West
Oscar
Karl Malone
Moses Malone
LeBron
Barkley
Havlicek
Baylor
Garnett

I wanted add Isiah, Iceman and Stockton to this...so no to Dirk.

You could've and Dirk would still be ahead of those guys. As well as Baylor and Barkely.

[gavran]

Amazing how much winning one ring changes peoples perception of a player.

Plus his MVP trophy, his consistently great scoring, his legendary playoffs the year he won his ring, and his clutch play, etc.

[MaseInYourFace]

haven't analyzed it in a while but off top of my head I would say no

[MaseInYourFace]

Rick Carlisle thinks so...

I could name at least 15 players who were better. I have him at 18.

1. Jordan
2. Magic
3. Kareem
4. Russell
5. Bird
6. Wilt
7. Lebron (although I hate him)
8. Shaq
9. Big O
10. Hakeem
11. Duncan
12. Jerry West
13. Kobe
14. Moses Malone
15. Pippen
16. Karl Malone
17. Garnett
18. Dirk

I think you have Pippen too high. But I guess you are accounting for rings....Otherwise were is Benard King

I wouldn't put Pippen ahead of Malone personally.

BTW no love for Rick Barry? I would say he was better overall player and had better overall career than Dirk.

Some other notable names that were missed: Dr. J, Zeke, Barkley, Stockton

[KnIcKsYaNkSmEtS1127]

Look at the Dallas team Dirk willed to an NBA title he deserves credit for that. Him and Duncan might be the two most underrated stars of this generation. Although Dirk is a sub par rebounder and defender his passing, dribbling and ability to create space with nothing is remarkable. And the guys tough as nails gets his teeth knocked out and doesn't miss a beat. Dirk deserves some love maybe not 12th a time but def in the conversation.

[Fury]

Dirk is better than Karl Malone IMO. He's only behind duncan and Barkley and kg at pf.