if you could only modify one ring, either by adding or substracting it who do you think benefits and suffers the most.

[tsherkin]

Some great takes in here, fun to think about some of those. Magic in 91, Ewing in 94, Baylor in 62, 2011 Lebron... Good stuff.

[falcolombardi]

Kareem in 74 for one not mentioned. Wilt is definitely one of the most interesting cases, but I agree I think it has to be Dirk. For better or I would argue worse his entire legacy is defined by that ring.

kareem with 72 and 74 rings would be wild as he would have 8 total and 4 fmvps (which should be 5 tbh)

he would get more respect as a goat candidate in mainstream talk as he should

[trex_8063]

Add - Karl Malone, if he had ring he would be Top 12 player

This was the first that came to mind for me, too.

Suppose the refs don't blow those two shotclock calls in Chicago's favour in '98 (or they do blow them, but suppose review is allowed to get the call right [like today]): Utah wins game 6, and then are the fav for game 7 in SLC [with Pippen wounded].
EDIT: bonus hypothetical--->if they weren't using the stupid 2-3-2 series structure, AND refs don't blow those calls......maybe it's simply over 4-2 in Utah's favour after game 6??? That's much much more of a stretch, though, obviously.

Drastically alters the perception of Malone [and Stockton]. And also Jordan no longer has the "6-0 in the Finals" narrative that is often used as a bullet-proof suit of armour for him.

[falcolombardi]

Add - Karl Malone, if he had ring he would be Top 12 player

This was the first that came to mind for me, too.

Suppose the refs don't blow those two shotclock calls in Chicago's favour in '98 (or they do blow them, but suppose review is allowed to get the call right [like today]): Utah wins game 6, and then are the fav for game 7 in SLC [with Pippen wounded].
EDIT: bonus hypothetical--->if they weren't using the stupid 2-3-2 series structure, AND refs don't blow those calls......maybe it's simply over 4-2 in Utah's favour after game 6??? That's much much more of a stretch, though, obviously.

Drastically alters the perception of Malone [and Stockton]. And also Jordan no longer has the "6-0 in the Finals" narrative that is often used as a bullet-proof suit of armour for him.

another interesting example is the time jordan had 2 bad games in a row vs knicks defense and bulls went 0-2, then he struggles in game 3 too but pippen has the game of his life and saves the bulls from fallin 0-3 (jordan then finally would explode for game 4 and tie the series)

if pippen doesnt go off that would have done so much for ewing legacy

[Homer38]

Add - Karl Malone, if he had ring he would be Top 12 player

This was the first that came to mind for me, too.

Suppose the refs don't blow those two shotclock calls in Chicago's favour in '98 (or they do blow them, but suppose review is allowed to get the call right [like today]): Utah wins game 6, and then are the fav for game 7 in SLC [with Pippen wounded].
EDIT: bonus hypothetical--->if they weren't using the stupid 2-3-2 series structure, AND refs don't blow those calls......maybe it's simply over 4-2 in Utah's favour after game 6??? That's much much more of a stretch, though, obviously.

Drastically alters the perception of Malone [and Stockton]. And also Jordan no longer has the "6-0 in the Finals" narrative that is often used as a bullet-proof suit of armour for him.

The 2-3-2 format did not matter in this serie in a sense since the Jazz won game 5 in Chicago.

[capfan33]

I agree I think it has to be Dirk. For better or I would argue worse his entire legacy is defined by that ring.

For how people would view him, you're right.

But those people would be wrong.

I love Dirk, agree 100%.

[rrravenred]

Wade in 06 is an interesting case. Rightly or wrongly, 06 is considered one of the great carry jobs of a middling supporting cast.

You flip those and you get "peak" Dirk receiving respect as carrying his team to a championship, and Wade as a flash-in-the-pan talent who wasn't able to go all the way until the Big 3 came around.

(I'm old enough to remember the "They're Wade's team, Lebron is just a passenger!" takes).