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If we throw out legacy, accolades and team accomplishments.

If you look at just strictly how good a player was during the peak of their prime years I think you can make an argument for

Bird
Hakeem
Shaq
Wilt
Bill Russell
Kareem
Magic

I don't see Duncan as a player being better than Shaq/Hakeem/Wilt, I just think those guys were more dominant and imposing on competition. (Legacy wise is a different story, Duncan is lock top 10, borderline top 5)

Also Oscar Robertson is fringe. My Gps friend to this day says Oscar is the greatest player whoever played. Although I hear more about Wilts dominance for that ERA and and Bill Russell for his rings than I do Oscar, (So not really sure)

I was flirting with Bill Russell being in that list since Wilt was clearly a superior player when you add in offense. Bill averaged like a whopping 15 points a game on 40% shooting for his career? My god.

And for 3rd best player of all time I would go Wilt his combination of defense and offense is what IMO wins him the crown. And if I were to rank them not on accolades but just best during prime I would go...

#1. MJ 100/100
#2. Lebron 99/100
#3. Wilt Chamberlain 98.5/100
#4. Kareem 98.5/100
#5. Shaq 98.5
#6. Bird 98
#7. Hakeem 98
#8. Magic 97.5
#9. Bill Russell 97
#10. Oscar Robertson 97

I voted for Kareem but yes,Wilt has also a good argument

Lebron isn't #2, so thread premise is a leading question. First thing you need to do is set a criteria because even MJ gets questioned at #1

I don't have these two as my best players ever.

I go by career value but also have a small peak component. I have LeBron no. 1 comfortably.

I have Jordan at 2 and Kareem at 3. Kareem probably has a bit more career value but I think Jordan's peak has him at 2.

Wilt most likely has the highest peak ever as his 1967 season was God tier from start to finish.

As in the 1967 playoffs he averaged 21.7 PTS 29.1 REBS 9.0 ASTS 9.2 BLKS FG% 57.9


Also in that same playoff run he had the most consecutive triple-doubles in the same postseason (4) (April 9–16, 1967)

Seriously just think about how many quadruple-doubles Wilt must have had when he's nearly averaging 10 assists and 10 blocks (and always having 10+ points and boards).

many people dont have jordan/lebron as their top 2 so they should be included in the third place discussion

An Unbiased Fan wrote:Lebron isn't #2, so thread premise is a leading question. First thing you need to do is set a criteria because even MJ gets questioned at #1

I always thought that was just about the unamanimous belief system

I can't see any compelling argument for any of those guys over KAJ at three.

picko wrote:I can't see any compelling argument for any of those guys over KAJ at three.

When they matched up in the playoffs a past his prime Wilt held Kareem to FG%s of .48.1 and .45.7 in those two series.

In seasons in which Kareem shot .57.7 and .57.4 and he outrebounded and out shot-blocked Kareem in both, as well.


Wilt would most likely destroy Kareem head to head in each of their respective primes.


He was much bigger, much faster, much more athletic and agile, much more durable, and was better at everything than Kareem was at except free throws.

Consider this: Moses Malone and Kareem faced off 41 times, including the playoffs.

Moses totally shut down Jabbar, especially with his total domination of Kareem in the playoffs, when he went 28.1/17.9 to Kareem's 24.9/11.4.

Malone's Rockets and Sixers went 6-1 against Jabaar's Lakers in their careers, in the playoffs.


Now, you have to ask...what could Moses Malone do better, skill-wise, than prime Wilt Chamberlain? A: Nothing, as far as I know...(besides make free throws).

picko wrote:I can't see any compelling argument for any of those guys over KAJ at three.

In the 1971 WCF's, the 34-year-old Chamberlain outplayed the 24-year-old Abdul-Jabbar in 3 of the 5 games.

The Bucks were a better team, however, and they defeated the Lakers in 5 games.

1971 Western Conference Finals

Game 1 Abdul-Jabbar 32 Points 22 Rebounds 2 Blocked Shots 14-30 From The Field
Chamberlain 22 Points 20 Rebounds 8 Blocked Shots 10-19 From The Field

Game 2 Abdul-Jabbar 22 Points 10 Rebounds 2 Blocked Shots 9-19 From The Field
Chamberlain 26 Points 22 Rebounds 3 Blocked Shots 10-21 From The Field

Game 3 Abdul-Jabbar 20 Points 19 Rebounds 1 Blocked Shot 8-16 From The Field
Chamberlain 24 Points 24 Rebounds 3 Blocked Shots 9-19 From The Field

Game 4 Abdul-Jabbar 31 Points 20 Rebounds 3 Blocked Shots 14-20 From The Field
Chamberlain 15 Points 16 Rebounds 6 Blocked Shots 7-14 From The Field

Game 5 Abdul-Jabbar 20 Points 15 Rebounds 3 Blocked Shots 7-23 From The Field
Chamberlain 23 Points 12 Rebounds 6 Blocked Shots 10-21 From The Field



In the 1972 WCF's, Kareem outplayed Wilt in the first 2 games of the series.

But with the series tied at 1-1, the 35-year-old Chamberlain turned up the defensive pressure on the 25-year-old Abdul-Jabbar.

In Game 3, Wilt held Kareem scoreless in the last 11 minutes of the game.

And in the last 4 games of the series, Chamberlain blocked 33 shots and held Abdul-Jabbar to a FG% of .414


With the series tied at 2-2, Wilt closed the show with back to back clutch performances.

Jerry West called Wilt's Game 6 performance, "the greatest ball busting performance I've ever seen."

Game 5 12 Points 26 Rebounds 6 Assists 10 Blocked Shots 2-3 From The Field 8-8 From The Free Throw Line
Game 6 20 Points 24 Rebounds 9 Blocked Shots 8-12 From The Field

Now, imagine how a prime Abdul-Jabbar would fare against a 25-year-old or 30 year old Wilt Chamberlain?

thread makes no sense...

Why do you believe 02 or 03 Duncan are a clear step down from the group you mentioned? Just curious.

Talent and skill doesn’t neccesarily equate to impact. I’d argue talent wise Wilt is likely 3rd. He didn’t get fat like Shaq, and was more athletic than Kareem. Impact is probably either Kareem or Russell I guess, but Russell’s impact isn’t as translatble across eras.

70sFan wrote:I don't have these two as my best players ever.

Who's your top 2.

It's Shaq.

2000s is very "scary". You can put 4 scrubs in 2000s and Shaq can carry them to a title.

uberhikari wrote:

70sFan wrote:I don't have these two as my best players ever.

Who's your top 2.

Kareem and LeBron, but in terms of average prime season I'd also consider Russell here. I have Jordan 4th.

2klegend wrote:It's Shaq.

2000s is very "scary". You can put 4 scrubs in 2000s and Shaq can carry them to a title.

Shaq never played with bad rosters in his prime ane yet he got swept 3 times. I think it's a bit too optimistic view on him.

70sFan wrote:

uberhikari wrote:

70sFan wrote:I don't have these two as my best players ever.

Who's your top 2.

Kareem and LeBron, but in terms of average prime season I'd also consider Russell here. I have Jordan 4th.

Yeah, I've gotten to the point that it's become increasingly difficult for me to rank between Jordan, LeBron, Kareem, and Russell. I just know those 4 are at the top in any order.