Is James Harden already the best left handed player ever? D. Rob, Russell & Ginobili also in the conversation.

[NoBias]

Bill Russell shot like 40% from the field in an era that was obviously less advanced and had far fewer Black players. There's absolutely nothing impressive about him when watching videos, he looks like any decent HS player.

I'm not even sure if he would make a Div-1 Women's team if he played today.

It's crazy to think how perception in sports is impacted heavily on when you were born. Somebody like Clint Capela is viewed as a largely unknown, quality starting C today, but he would be seen the same way as Bill Russell if he had been born 50 years earlier.

A guy like TJ McConnell would be revered the same way as Bob Cousy if time played out differently. Crazy.

I'm not a fan of Russell at all, but cmon dude he's better than every one in the WNBA. He'd be a great athletic energy big OFF the bench. Something like a Jordan Bell.

[Zingod]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robinda01.html

Yeah, no.

[IAmTheBest]

you know someone's clueless about basketball when he thinks harden can even sniff drob's or BILL FUQIN RUSSELL's jocks

[spicy6]

Do you account for defense

[THE J0KER]

I'm the one of those 10% who voted so far for Harden, not because I'm thinking he is the any better player than Russel or D.Robinson, but because I think Harden and Ginobili are the only players I ever watched which use fact that they are left-handed like clear advantage (opponent players is less adjusted vs left-handed). While Russel and Robinson are also known for their very high BBIQ, on Center position player have no too much options to use left-handed trait as any kind of advantage, so in their cases, it is just trivia fact.

Basketball is positional team sport only by "depth", not by "depth and side" like most of the others team sports where being a lefty is a great benefit, so in basketball, it will never be a big deal if someone is left-handed. But some players can find a way to use it as an advantage doing unusual moves for their defenders, like Harden, Ginobili, IT, Derek Fisher, Kukoc...

[Lazy Faizy]

Harden is not even close to Bill Russell or David Robinson

I agree with this but for homer purposes I voted Harden in the poll

[Dopeness]

Ill take all 3 of those players over Harden.

[Rob Diaz]

I'm the one of those 10% who voted so far for Harden, not because I'm thinking he is the any better player than Russel or D.Robinson, but because I think Harden and Ginobili are the only players I ever watched which use fact that they are left-handed like clear advantage (opponent players is less adjusted vs left-handed). While Russel and Robinson are also known for their very high BBIQ, on Center position player have no too much options to use left-handed trait as any kind of advantage, so in their cases, it is just trivia fact.

Good post, interesting perspective that I didn't think about. In regards to bigs that actually used craftiness with their left hand as an advantage, Lamar Odom is a name that comes to mind. His style was unique and unconventional for his time, opposing bigs were barely accustomed to guarding perimeter bigs at the time, let alone one that always drove left.

[MovieMuscle]

This is the wrong time for this thread. Sorry, but people care when you're winning.

[HeartBreakKid]

I'm the one of those 10% who voted so far for Harden, not because I'm thinking he is the any better player than Russel or D.Robinson, but because I think Harden and Ginobili are the only players I ever watched which use fact that they are left-handed like clear advantage (opponent players is less adjusted vs left-handed). While Russel and Robinson are also known for their very high BBIQ, on Center position player have no too much options to use left-handed trait as any kind of advantage, so in their cases, it is just trivia fact.

Basketball is positional team sport only by "depth", not by "depth and side" like most of the others team sports where being a lefty is a great benefit, so in basketball, it will never be a big deal if someone is left-handed. But some players can find a way to use it as an advantage doing unusual moves for their defenders, like Harden, Ginobili, IT, Derek Fisher, Kukoc...

Fisher? Even in his prime he was pretty lousy.

[Dave_From_NB]

It's convenient to poo poo the games of previous players, playing in crap shoes, in smoke filled arenas with bad lighting, no 3 point gimmicks, with little of the medical science, diet, training and everything else that has changed in the game. They received little coaching in their early days, they weren't going to basketball prep schools, and many of these guys like Russell were living in poverty and segregation. They fundamentally changed how the game was played, because of how advanced they were compared to everyone else playing.

[The_Hater]

Bill Russell is left handed, the poll could have been avoided at that Point.

[The_Hater]

Left handed players who have been League MVP

Bill Russell
David Robinson
Dave Cowens
Willis Reed

Others in the HOF:

Tiny Archibald
Bob Lanier
Artis Gilmore
Billy Cunningham
Chris Mullin
Lenny Wilkens
Gail Goodrich

[NeoWarriors]

Bill Russell, Bob Lanier, David Robinson, Nate Archibald, Artis Gilmore. All better than James Harden.

Sent from my Golden State Warriors ProToast Elite Toaster using RealGM mobile app

[FuShengTHEGreat]

One name not mentioned in the poll was Chris Mullin. He was very comparable at his peak offensively to James Harden and was easily a better shooter as well.

[mucciniale]

Bill Russell shot like 40% from the field in an era that was obviously less advanced and had far fewer Black players. There's absolutely nothing impressive about him when watching videos, he looks like any decent HS player.

I'm not even sure if he would make a Div-1 Women's team if he played today.

It's crazy to think how perception in sports is impacted heavily on when you were born. Somebody like Clint Capela is viewed as a largely unknown, quality starting C today, but he would be seen the same way as Bill Russell if he had been born 50 years earlier.

A guy like TJ McConnell would be revered the same way as Bob Cousy if time played out differently. Crazy.

You can't put today players with a time machine in the past.
Today players are good because the game evolved thanks to the great players of the past.
Russell at his time was the best, you cannot' compare time in sports, every sport.
LeBron James is that good because before him there was Jordan, before Magic, before Doctor J, before Jerry West, etc. Innovators and great players helped the game developement.

[ChartFiction]

People are still scared to admit that the value that Harden brings is better than 99% of players that have played in this league including David Robinson. Maybe people will respect his greatness when he retires.

[Doctor MJ]

D. Rob, Russell...also in the conversation.

If Robinson & Russell are in the conversation, then Harden is not.

[mucciniale]

People are still scared to admit that the value that Harden brings is better than 99% of players that have played in this league including David Robinson. Maybe people will respect his greatness when he retires.

When he will achieve something with his team (winning a ring) I'll admit his greatness,

For the moment I see a very talented player who doesnt even try on defense and play iso ball in offense, and has also an history of mental collapsing coming playoffs time. Not my favourite kind of player at all.

[ChartFiction]

People are still scared to admit that the value that Harden brings is better than 99% of players that have played in this league including David Robinson. Maybe people will respect his greatness when he retires.

When he will achieve something with his team (winning a ring) I'll admit his greatness,

For the moment I see a very talented player who doesnt even try on defense and play iso ball in offense, and has also an history of mental collapsing coming playoffs time. Not my favourite kind of player at all.

When was he suppose to win a ring in his career? When OKC made the finals and their players were the same age as Kuzma facing prime Lebron, Wade, and Bosh?

At what point in his career did Robinson win his rings and what were his playoff numbers in those two rings? Robinson was also seen as a choker in the playoffs.