HeartBreakKid wrote:SNPA wrote:CharityStripe34 wrote:Longevity isn't the sole factor for determining the greatest players/careers. Not sure who was making that case.
Not sole or strictly…deterministic. You’re right no one makes that case, but the case is made that longevity puts player A over player B in a GOAT conversation.
I mean some people take into account how long a player was great for - that doesn't sound all that far off? You don't think Tracy McGrady or Bill Walton or Yao Ming would be seen as a greater players by most people if they did not play longer?
I don't see the confusion.
In the case of why GOAT players get ranked over GOAT players "because of longevity", it's because their level of play is comparable but one played for at the top level for considerably longer. That makes sense to me, and that isn't how I even rank players.
9.9 player for 5 years vs 9.8 player for 15 years. It's absurd to take the latter?
It makes sense to take him on your team, but the 9.8 player isn’t GOAT IMO. The other guy was better for 5 years.