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Starting a new franchise, who you got?

Interesting comparison because these two were really the first guys straight after high school who became superstars in the NBA.

Moses was clearly more ready to compete with the pros in his rookie season (he was actually an ABA All-Star already as a rookie). He's probably the most pro-ready NBA/ABA player ever in that regard, LeBron being the only guy who has any case against him (but I think Moses was clearly better as a rookie), which is pretty surprising, considering Malone came into the league two decades before it became popular to enter the NBA without playing in college (Kobe, JO, T-Mac, Rashard Lewis etc. all followed KG's footsteps.


I'd go with Garnett here, because I'd rather have a bigman who is a dominant defensive, rather than offensive, anchor. Moses was mostly just an average NBA player defensively (sometimes he was even below average, though he also happened to be a very good defender in a season or two - 1983 immediately comes to mind). Moses was obviously a great scorer, but he wasn't really that consistent in the postseason as a scorer.

Yeah, Garnett rather handily to me.

For me, Moses was more dominant. He could get you a title with less around him, and it's pretty likely either of these guys will be your best player. I'd argue Garnett had more help with the Celtics yet the '83 Sixers were a better team - because Moses was so good.

Laimbeer wrote:I'd argue Garnett had more help with the Celtics yet the '83 Sixers were a better team - because Moses was so good.

Yes, but that's in big part because of Moses stepping up defensively big time during that season. It was by far the best defensive season of his career, and he never really came close to it, before or after that. Assuming Moses stays the same defensively as he actually was, it becomes much closer between the two. I'd even argue that Garnett's defense was more consistently great than Malone's scoring. KG has two huge advantages over Moses - defense and passing ability, while Moses is clearly a better scorer. Rebounding in also in Malone's favor, but it's not a huge difference, at least if you compare them prime vs prime.

Hey, does anyone have an article on Moses from high school? Be interested to read the views and opinions during that time.

Quotatious wrote:Malone came into the league two decades before it became popular to enter the NBA without playing in college (Kobe, JO, T-Mac, Rashard Lewis etc. all followed KG's footsteps.

Straight from HS, yea those guys. Never playing college, probably have to add Kemp.

Moses and its not even remotely close. KG proved how limited he is as a star. Moses reached far greater heights as a player.

Funny how most people here are saying Moses, but KG was picked in the first round in the draft and Moses went in the second round.

MisterHibachi wrote:Funny how most people here are saying Moses, but KG was picked in the first round in the draft and Moses went in the second round.

KG's ability to make his teammates better is on the elite of the elite level with Russell, Pippen, Kidd, Magic, Bird etc. KG's problem was he didn't know how to make everyone better while at the same time still getting his own, he's very similar to David Robinson in that way.

Moses on the other hand was going to make everyone better while getting his own every single night with amazing consistency.

Moses easy. He averaged 31.1 PPG and 14.7 RPG in his MVP prime ('81-'82). Better scorer AND rebounder than KG and arguably the greatest offensive rebounder ever. Mo kicked Kareem's ass in the '83 finals (24.5/15.3 in '82-'83) and helped lead the Sixers to a four game sweep. No way KG is kicking Kareem's ass....ever. Also, Mo somehow led a sub .500 Rockets team to the finals in '81 as well. Hakeem used to play ball with Mo in Houston during the off season as a younger player to learn from him. Show Mo some respect.

Moses for me as well. Not to mention he isn't going to want to be the highest paid guy in the league.

Grandpa Waiters wrote:Moses easy. He averaged 31.1 PPG and 14.7 RPG in his MVP prime ('81-'82). Better scorer AND rebounder than KG and arguably the greatest offensive rebounder ever. Mo kicked Kareem's ass in the '83 finals (24.5/15.3 in '82-'83) and helped lead the Sixers to a four game sweep. No way KG is kicking Kareem's ass....ever. Also, Mo somehow led a sub .500 Rockets team to the finals in '81 as well. Hakeem used to play ball with Mo in Houston during the off season as a younger player to learn from him. Show Mo some respect.

Moses Malone quite easily.

I dont see any credible argument for Garnett.

KG stans, where are you guys when you're actually needed to step up?

Seriously, I'm very surprised how lopsided this poll is so far.

Quotatious wrote:KG stans, where are you guys when you're actually needed to step up?

Seriously, I'm very surprised how lopsided this poll is so far.

I'm surprised too. I had a thread last week titled "Is Garnett historically overrated?" where I argued that he was and not deserving of a top 20 GOAT ranking. I got trashed for it. I'm surprised no one is coming to his defense now.

I've heard of the KG lovers, but I've yet to see them.

I'm also of the opinion that it's Moses by a considerable margin. He's one of a handful of players in league history who I believe guarantee you a title as long as you give them a decent amount of help. I don't think that of KG.

I don't think KG is top 20 either. Is that a popular opinion? I haven't really heard it.

Okada wrote:I don't think KG is top 20 either. Is that a popular opinion? I haven't really heard it.

It's a very popular opinion. I think like 30-35% of posters here actually consider Garnett to be a top 15 player, let alone top 20. I happen to be one of them, but from what I've seen, some terrific posters like Doctor MJ, fpliii, bastillon and DavidStern even have him in their top 10.

Quotatious wrote:

Okada wrote:I don't think KG is top 20 either. Is that a popular opinion? I haven't really heard it.

It's a very popular opinion. I think like 30-35% of posters here actually consider Garnett to be a top 15 player, let alone top 20. I happen to be one of them, but from what I've seen, some terrific posters like Doctor MJ, fpliii, bastillon and DavidStern even have him in their top 10.

Wow. I think top 15 is very excessive and top 10 is just absurd. That's a rabbit hole to jump down another time though lol.

JordansBulls wrote:Moses for me as well. Not to mention he isn't going to want to be the highest paid guy in the league.

Lmao. Everyone would take a contract that makes them the highest paid player.

Okada wrote:

Quotatious wrote:

Okada wrote:I don't think KG is top 20 either. Is that a popular opinion? I haven't really heard it.

It's a very popular opinion. I think like 30-35% of posters here actually consider Garnett to be a top 15 player, let alone top 20. I happen to be one of them, but from what I've seen, some terrific posters like Doctor MJ, fpliii, bastillon and DavidStern even have him in their top 10.

Wow. I think top 15 is very excessive and top 10 is just absurd. That's a rabbit hole to jump down another time though lol.

Top ten? That's criminal. Seven first round exits as "the man" in Minnesota. That alone keeps him off any top 20 lists in my opinion let alone top 10.

CaliBullsFan wrote:

MisterHibachi wrote:Funny how most people here are saying Moses, but KG was picked in the first round in the draft and Moses went in the second round.

KG's ability to make his teammates better is on the elite of the elite level with Russell, Pippen, Kidd, Magic, Bird etc. KG's problem was he didn't know how to make everyone better while at the same time still getting his own, he's very similar to David Robinson in that way.

Moses on the other hand was going to make everyone better while getting his own every single night with amazing consistency.

thats a very good analysis of KG,