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Trying another tack on the longevity idea. Let's try to put together the GOAT 8 man rotation using only each player's final NBA season. So we do have Russell in 69, Wilt in 73, but for guys like Michael Jordan, it's his second year with the Wizards; Kobe it's his ugly 96 campaign. Larry Bird was great but only for 45 games, Magic is his 32 game comeback in 96, Bob Pettit was not 1st team NBA for the only time in his career and only managed 50 games, Bob Cousy and George Mikan made abortive comeback and were ineffective.

Who went out on top -- 8 man rotation?

Will avoid the morbidity of choosing shall we say never intended “farewell” years.

I would play Russell and Wilt together. Not exactly pretty offence, but strong defensive base.

2005 Reggie Miller seems like a pretty obvious choice at shooting guard (or maybe at small forward if people come up with another strong option). 2003 John Stockton is the only point guard name coming to mind… maybe 1974 Oscar Robertson, but Stockton is the easier fit. 1987 Julius Erving was still pretty okay, so will list him as my placeholder small forward.

Off the bench is where I would grab 1996 Magic, 1992 Bird… and 1974 Dave DeBusschere. Love that group against weaker lineups. Also considered 2004 Karl Malone, and 2016 Tim Duncan. I was not sure whether Bosh’s retirement errs too close to bad taste / not in the spirit of the exercise, but the missed postseason takes him out of 8-man consideration for me anyway.

PG: 2003 Stockton
SG: 2005 Reggie
SF: 1987 Erving
PF: 1969 Russell
C: 1973 Wilt

BG: 1996 Magic
BW: 1992 Bird
BF: 1974 DeBusschere

Off the top of my head:

C - Bill Russell
F - Chris Bosh
F - Reggie Lewis
G - Clyde Drexler
G - Isiah Thomas

C - Andrew Bynum
F - Carlos Boozer
F - Magic Johnson
G - Reggie Miller
G - Latrell Sprewell

'13 Kidd could work at PG

BenoUdrihFTL wrote:Off the top of my head:

C - Bill Russell
F - Chris Bosh
F - Reggie Lewis
G - Clyde Drexler
G - Isiah Thomas

C - Andrew Bynum
F - Carlos Boozer
F - Magic Johnson
G - Reggie Miller
G - Latrell Sprewell

Yeah this was what I was trying to avoid lol.

AEnigma wrote:Will avoid the morbidity of choosing shall we say never intended “farewell” years.

I was not sure whether Bosh’s retirement errs too close to bad taste / not in the spirit of the exercise

BenoUdrihFTL wrote:F - Chris Bosh
F - Reggie Lewis

And today we've learned that AEnigma comports himself with greater tact than the scoundrel Beno

Nobody else like Stockton? Plays the full 82. Production still at a very good level. Impact indicators still clearly in the positive.

1969 Bill Russell
2004 Karl Malone
1978 John Havlicek
2005 Reggie Miller
1990 Dennis Johnson

Bench: 2014 Ray Allen
1973 Wilt Chamberlain
2003 John Stockton

Probably missing some older guys

I think 74 West needs more mention. He was still a good player. 20.3/3.7/6.6 on ts+ of 103 and 2.6 spg in the only year it was recorded for him.

West was there for thirty regular season games and essentially absent for the postseason.

03 Stockton
05 Reggie / 14 Allen
03 Jordan
04 Malone
03 D-Rob

Stockton
Wade
Drexler
Russell
Chamberlain



Isiah Thomas
Reggie Miller
Tim Duncan