Which player do you rank higher on your all-time list?

[ontnut]

It's way closer than most people here are making it out to be.

Both are clearly top 10 players now. I give Duncan the slight edge because of longevity and # of rings, but Lebron is maybe 1 or 2 spots behind him in that 5-10 range. By the end of his career, with his current trajectory, I think it's very likely that Lebron will end up above Duncan, and perhaps above some guys in that top 5 when it's all said and done.

Can't believe people list Kareem so high. Not even one of the 3 best centers ever. He just played a long time.

Kareem career avg: 24.6 / 11.2 / 3.6 / 0.9 / 2.6 / 56%fg / 72% ft / 24.6 PER. ROY, 6x MVP, 2x finals MVP, 6x champion, 19x AS. He also had the most undefendable shot of all time.
Duncan career avg: 19.9 / 11.1 / 3.1 / 0.7 / 2.2 / 50%fg / 69% ft / 24.6 PER. ROY, 2x MVP, 2x finals MVP, 4x champion, 14x AS.
Hakeem career avg: 21.8/ 11.1 / 2.5 / 1.7 / 3.1 / 51%fg / 71%ft/ 23.6 PER. 2x DPOY, 1x MVP, 2x finals MVP, 2x champion, 12x AS.
Shaquille career avg: 23.7/ 10.9/ 2.5/ 0.6 / 2.3 / 58%fg / 53% ft / 26.4 PER. ROY, 1x MVP, 3x finals MVP, 4x champion, 15x AS.
They are very similar, stat wise, but Kareem has the highest scoring, rebounds, assists, ft%, championships, MVPs amongst them. He's up there with Wilt and Russell in that top tier imo, but it's hard to compare to those two since they played in completely different eras.


Lebron career avg: 27.5 / 7.2 / 6.9 / 1.7 / 0.8 / 50%fg / 75%ft / 27.8 PER. ROY, 4x MVP, 2x finals MVP, 2x champion, 11x AS.
Bird career avg: 24.3 / 10 / 6.3 / 1.7 / 0.8 / 50%fg / 89%ft / 23.5 PER. ROY, 3x MVP, 2x finals MVP, 3x champion, 12x AS.
It's actually a bit spooky how similar they are, stats wise at this point in their career. It's really a toss up as to who you take first on your list, and by the time it's done, I think there will be little doubt Lebron ends up above Bird.

MJ, MJ, Russell, Wilt, Bird, Hakeem, Duncan, Shaq, Lebron, KAJ are in my top 10 (not necessarily in that order). Where they land is debatable to some extent, depending on the context of the list. For example, if talking about who I'd pick in a pick-up game, in their prime, I might have to go with Shaq for his pure physical dominance, but he's not in my top 5 players of all time.

[dautjazz]

Is this a real question? It's Duncan, and it's not close. Lebron is not yet in the top 10. I have Duncan as the 4th best player of all time, behind only Jordan, Russell, Magic. Bird is directly behind him. Can't believe people list Kareem so high. Not even one of the 3 best centers ever. He just played a long time.


Duncan did more with less around him at a greater level than any player in NBA history. Parker just recently became a true superstar, and Manu never was. He won his first three titles without another in their prime superstar on his team. No one else in NBA history has done that.

You think Kareem is overrated? One of the best college careers and NBA careers, If you blocks and steals measured in first couple of years he might have the highest PER in NBA history. In his prime he was an absolute MONSTER. His numbers held up quite well throughout his career, remember he played until 41 years of age. More MVPS than anyone in NBA history, 2 finals MVPs (14 years apart), 6 championships, 18 All-Star selections, countless All-NBA and All-Defense, and the list just goes on. I think the only centers that have a case are Wilt and Russell, but I believe Kareem is #2 overall all time.