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Inspired mainly by thinking about LeBron's career, and how it is kind of crazy that as long as he maintains his health, he's STILL a top 10 player in the league.

When did the following players stop being top 10 players in the league? And how many years do you have them in the top 10?

Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowtizki
Steve Nash
Chris Paul
Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin

Kobe Bryant: 2013; 12 to 13 years

Tim Duncan: 2011; 13 to 14 years

Kevin Garnett: 2012; 13 to 14 years

Dirk Nowtizki: 2012; 10 to 11 years

Steve Nash: 2011; 6 to 8 years

Chris Paul: 2022; 13 to 14 years

Shaquille O'Neal: 2005; 12 to 13 years

Kevin Love: 2014; 1 to 2 years

Blake Griffin: 2017; 2 to 3 years

Kobe Bryant - 2014 (12yrs)
Tim Duncan - 2009 (11yrs)
Kevin Garnett - 2009 (10yrs)
Dirk Nowtizki - 2012 (11yrs)
Steve Nash - 2011 (6yrs)
Chris Paul - 2019 (10yrs)
Shaquille O'Neal - 2007 (13yrs)
Kevin Love - 2015 (was he ever top 10?)
Blake Griffin - 2017 (3yrs)

I struggle to think of 10 players i would pick above duncan in the 09-13 period

He was not a lead scorer anymore but he was still a defensive anchor with elite add up skills (intangibles, some iso scoring, rebounding)

Interesting then to see how long these primes or post prime years are in terms of years as a top player. Nash particularly grades out worse than the others of his generation, but that’s not a big secret.

Kobe/Duncan/Garnett/Shaq/Dirk look pretty good, and CP3 much better than you would think given his injuries.

Kobe Bryant: 2014, 14 years (2000-2013)

Tim Duncan: 2014, 14 years (1998-2010, 2013)

Kevin Garnett: 2013, 11 years (1999-2008, 2012)

Dirk Nowtizki: 2015, 13 years (2001-2012, 2014)

Steve Nash: 2013, 8 years (2005-2012)

Chris Paul: 2021, 11 years (2008-2009, 2011-2018, 2021)

Shaquille O'Neal: 2007, 14 years (1993-2006)

Kevin Love: 2015, 1 year (2014)

Blake Griffin: 2016, 2 years (2014-2015)

therealbig3 wrote:Inspired mainly by thinking about LeBron's career, and how it is kind of crazy that as long as he maintains his health, he's STILL a top 10 player in the league.

When did the following players stop being top 10 players in the league? And how many years do you have them in the top 10?

Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowtizki
Steve Nash
Chris Paul
Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin

Could you list your current top 10 then?

So Dirk went from arguable best in 2011 to not being top 10 in 2012? That doesn’t seem right imo

Love: fringe 2014 (maximum 1)

Griffin: fringe 2014/15 (maximum 2)

Nash: 2005-12 (8), with arguments in 2002-04 (11 maximum)

Chris Paul: 2008/09 + 2011-18 + 2020/21 (12)

Dirk: 2001-12 (12), plus maybe 2014 (13)

Shaq: 1993-05 (13)

Kobe: 2001-13 (13), plus maybe 2000 (14)

Garnett: 1997-2008 + 2010-12 (15)

Duncan: 1998-08 + 2013 (12), with arguments in 2009/10/12/14/15 (17 maximum)

AEnigma wrote:Love: fringe 2014 (maximum 1)

Griffin: fringe 2014/15 (maximum 2)

Nash: 2005-12 (8), with arguments in 2002-04 (11 maximum)

Chris Paul: 2008/09 + 2011-18 + 2020/21 (12)

Dirk: 2001-12 (12), plus maybe 2014 (13)

Shaq: 1993-05 (13)

Kobe: 2001-13 (13), plus maybe 2000 (14)

Garnett: 1997-2008 + 2010-12 (15)

Duncan: 1998-08 + 2013 (12), with arguments in 2009/10/12/14/15 (17 maximum)

I think Kobe was definitely top 10 in 2000. Shaq/Mourning/Malone/KG/Hill/Payton definitely over him. Robinson too I guess but hard to pick Duncan when he missed the Playoffs. Kidd and Carter are the only other arguables, but that puts Kobe at least at 10.

And I would say Duncan was definitely top 10 in 2009 and 10. LeBron/Kobe/Wade/CP3/Dwight/Dirk the only ones for sure above him in 2009, and LeBron/Kobe/Wade/Durant/Nash/Dwight/Dirk in 2010.

I didn't think there was an argument in 2015 but honestly now I think there is after looking at that year a bit more. Curry/CP3/LeBron/Harden/Westbrook/Davis/Kawhi/Marc/Blake above him, but it's between him and Aldridge for the 10 spot, and I think it's a fair argument in either direction.

Agree on both counts, but felt I could see arguments to the contrary. You are right about 2000 though; listing out the names, feels like I would need to try to put Kobe out of the top ten.

therealbig3 wrote:Inspired mainly by thinking about LeBron's career, and how it is kind of crazy that as long as he maintains his health, he's STILL a top 10 player in the league.

When did the following players stop being top 10 players in the league? And how many years do you have them in the top 10?

Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowtizki
Steve Nash
Chris Paul
Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin

Kobe: last year 2013, 14-15 total years
Duncan: sometime between 10-13, 13-16 yrs
KG: last year between 09-11, 11-13 yrs
Dirk: last year 2014, 13-14 yrs
Nash: last year between 10-11, 8-9 yrs
CP3: last year between 18-20, 11-13 yrs
Shaq: last year 2005, 13 years
Love: last year 2014, 1-3 yrs?
Blake: last year 2015, 1-4 yrs?

therealbig3 wrote:Inspired mainly by thinking about LeBron's career, and how it is kind of crazy that as long as he maintains his health, he's STILL a top 10 player in the league.

When did the following players stop being top 10 players in the league? And how many years do you have them in the top 10?

Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowtizki
Steve Nash
Chris Paul
Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin

This is a great question and unfortunately one that I don't have a clear answer to because I only track Top 5. So I'll go through Top 5 and then estimate Top 10.

Starting with LeBron:

LeBron James - Last Top 5: 2020 (35), Last Top 10: 2024 (39)

Kobe Bryant - Last Top 5: 2010 (31), Last Top 10: 2013 (34)
Tim Duncan - Last Top 5: 2007 (30), Last Top 10: 2014 (37)
Kevin Garnett - Last Top 5: 2012 (35), Last Top 10: 2012 (35)
Dirk Nowitzki - Last Top 5: 2011 (32), Last Top 10: 2014 (35)
Steve Nash - Last Top 5: 2007 (32), Last Top 10: 2012 (37)
Chris Paul - Last Top 5: 2015 (29), Last Top 10: 2022 (36)
Shaquille O'Neal - Last Top 5: 2002 (29), Last Top 10: 2006 (33)
Kevin Love - never Top 5, Last Top 10: Last Top 10: 2014 (25)
Blake Griffin - never Top 5, Last Top 10: Last Top 10: 2015 (25)

Add just because I'm on a kick, here are some all-timers for comparison:

George Mikan - Last Top 5: 1954 (29), Last Top 10: 1954 (29)
Bob Pettit - Last Top 5: 1964 (31), Last Top 10: 1964 (31)
Bill Russell - Last Top 5: 1969 (34), Last Top 10: 1969 (34)
Elgin Baylor - Last Top 5: 1963 (28), Last Top 10: 1969 (34)
Wilt Chamberlain - Last Top 5: 1973 (36), Last Top 10: 1973 (36)
Oscar Robertson - Last Top 5: 1971 (32), Last Top 10: 1971 (32)
Jerry West - Last Top 5: 1972 (33), Last Top 10: 1973 (34)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Last Top 5: 1985 (37), Last Top 10: 1986 (38)
Larry Bird - Last Top 5: 1988 (31), Last Top 10: 1990 (33)
Magic Johnson - Last Top 5: 1991 (31), Last Top 10: 1991 (31)
Michael Jordan - Last Top 5: 1998 (34), Last Top 10: 1998 (34)
Hakeem Olajuwon - Last Top 5: 1997 (34), Last Top 10: 1997 (34)
Karl Malone - Last Top 5: 1999 (35), Last Top 10: 2000 (36)
David Robinson - Last Top 5: 1999 (33), Last Top 10: 2000 (34)

So just because this cries out to me to be ranked:

By Oldest Top 5:
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 37
2. Wilt Chamberlain 36
3. Kevin Garnett 35
(tie) LeBron James 35
(tie) Karl Malone 35
6. Michael Jordan 34
(tie) Hakeem Olajuwon 34
(tie) Bill Russell 34
8. David Robinson 33
(tie) Jerry West 33
10. Steve Nash 32
(tie) Dirk Nowitzki 32
(tie) Oscar Robertson 32

And finally, by Oldest Top 10:
1. LeBron James 39
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38
3. Tim Duncan 37
(tie) Steve Nash 37
5. Wilt Chamberlain 36
(tie) Karl Malone 36
(tie) Chris Paul 36
8. Kevin Garnett 35
(tie) Dirk Nowitzki 35
10. 7 tied at 34

therealbig3 wrote:Inspired mainly by thinking about LeBron's career, and how it is kind of crazy that as long as he maintains his health, he's STILL a top 10 player in the league.

When did the following players stop being top 10 players in the league? And how many years do you have them in the top 10?

Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowtizki
Steve Nash
Chris Paul
Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin

Regarding the bolded, I think I'll just give a span of duration when they were an in-prime Top 10 level players.

So LeBron James: 2005-2024. 20 year span

Kobe Bryant: 2000-2013. 14 year span.
Tim Duncan: 1998-2014. 17 year span.
Kevin Garnett: 1997-2012. 16 year span.
Dirk Nowitzki: 2001-2014. 14 year span.
Steve Nash: 2002-2012. 11 year span.
Chris Paul: 2008-2022. 15 year span.
Shaquille O'Neal: 1993-2006. 14 year span.
Kevin Love: 2014. 1 year span.
Blake Griffin: 2014-2015. 2 year span.

George Mikan: 1947-1954. 8 year span.
Bob Pettit: 1955-1964. 10 year span.
Bill Russell: 1957-1969. 13 year span.
Elgin Baylor: 1959-1969. 11 year span.
Wilt Chamberlain: 1960-1973. 14 year span.
Oscar Robertson: 1961-1971. 11 year span.
Jerry West: 1962-1973. 12 year span.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 1970-1986. 17 year span.
Larry Bird: 1980-1990. 11 year span.
Magic Johnson: 1980-1991. 12 year span.
Michael Jordan: 1985-1998. 14 year span (with 2 year gap in the middle of course)
Hakeem Olajuwon: 1986-1997. 12 year span.
Karl Malone: 1988-2000. 13 year span.
David Robinson: 1990-2000. 11 year span.

And organizing by longest span:

1. LeBron James 20
2. Tim Duncan 17
(tie) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17
4. Kevin Garnett 16
5. Chris Paul 15
6. Kobe Bryant 14
(tie) Wilt Chamberlain 14
(tie) Michael Jordan 14 (or 12 if you insist)
(tie) Dirk Nowitzki 14
(tie) Shaquille O'Neal 14

MrPainfulTruth wrote:

therealbig3 wrote:Inspired mainly by thinking about LeBron's career, and how it is kind of crazy that as long as he maintains his health, he's STILL a top 10 player in the league.

When did the following players stop being top 10 players in the league? And how many years do you have them in the top 10?

Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowtizki
Steve Nash
Chris Paul
Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin

Could you list your current top 10 then?

Assuming everyone is completely healthy:

Jokic, Luka, Giannis, Embiid, and SGA are obviously better than LeBron at this point. I’d add Kawhi to that group as well, but assuming health for him is MUCH iffier than the others.

Then you’ve got guys like Brunson, Davis, Tatum, Butler, Gobert, Edwards, George, Harden, Curry, Durant, and Booker in the next general tier with each other along with LeBron. And I think I’d honestly take LeBron over any of them.

I do expect Wemby this year to crack into that 1st tier though, so that’s 6-7 players I’d expect to definitely take over LeBron.