An interesting challenge (maybe): create a 10-year list

[-Sammy-]

I don't know if something similar has been done at RGM before, but this seems like a cool idea to me and I hope enough of y'all stat-junkies jump in to make the thread interesting.

The challenge is to create a 10-year list of what you think are the best NBA careers after the number of seasons in each place of the list.

If I think Magic had the best rookie season, Duncan had the best two-year start to a career, Sam Cassell (possibly debatable) had the best three-year start, etc., my list will look like so:

1.) Magic
2.) Duncan
3.) Cassell(!)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)

Etc. Players can be used multiple times.

I know it would be good form to start the thread with my own list, but I started working on one and have found it a little more challenging than I expected, so this thread is also an attempt to glean a little education from those of y'all with greater knowledge and insight than I have.

I hope some folks participate!

[70sFan]

Interesting idea indeed, what are the criteria for the best career though? Should I look just at the performance or accolades are should be taken into account?

[Cavsfansince84]

Sort of an interesting idea. I will try it and give 2nd & 3rd place finishes.

1. Magic, Wilt, Russell
2. Kareem, Duncan, Bird
3. Kareem, Russell, Duncan
4. Kareem, Russell, Duncan
5. Russell, Kareem, Bird
6. Russell, Duncan, Kareem
7. Russell, Duncan, Bird
8. Russell, Magic, Duncan
9. Russell, Magic, Duncan
10. Russell, Duncan, MJ

Decided to leave out Mikan just because its hard enough already to do as it is. He would make some of these numbers though otherwise.

My primary considerations were 1st team all nba selections, mvps, rings, playoff performances and games missed.

[-Sammy-]

Interesting idea indeed, what are the criteria for the best career though? Should I look just at the performance or accolades are should be taken into account?

Whatever criteria you think make the case! Maybe you can give a one-sentence summary of your rationale for each rank or something.

[eminence]

Leaving out Mikan.

1 Season: KAJ
2 Season: KAJ
3 Season: KAJ
4 Season: KAJ
5 Season: KAJ
6 Season: Russell
7 Season: Russell
8 Season: Russell
9 Season: Russell
10+ Season: Russell

[f4p]

interesting (edit: actually more fun than i thought to try to put it all together). initial thoughts are:

1) Wilt
2) Kareem, Wilt
3) Kareem, Wilt, Russell
4) Kareem, Russell, Wilt
5) Kareem, Russell, Wilt
6) Russell, Kareem, Wilt
7) Russell, Kareem, Wilt
8) Russell, Wilt, Kareem
9) Russell, Jordan, Kareem
10) Russell, Jordan, Kareem (if I'm counting 1995 for jordan, otherwise if it was 1996, i would pick Jordan 1st),
11) Jordan, Kareem, Russell, Magic, Hakeem
12) Jordan, Kareem, Magic, Hakeem
13) Jordan, Kareem, Lebron, Magic, Hakeem
14) Jordan, Lebron, Kareem, Magic, Hakeem
15+) Jordan, Lebron, Kareem, Magic, Hakeem (lebron probably passes Jordan in career value either last season or this season but i still have him #2 on my all time list)

[70sFan]

Interesting idea indeed, what are the criteria for the best career though? Should I look just at the performance or accolades are should be taken into account?

Whatever criteria you think make the case! Maybe you can give a one-sentence summary of your rationale for each rank or something.

Ok, then I will do that my usual way - on-court career value without taking into account accolades too much.

1. Kareem

HM: Wilt, Robinson

2. Kareem

HM: Wilt, Duncan, Hakeem

3. Kareem

HM: Wilt, Hakeem

4. Kareem

HM: Russell, Duncan, Oscar

5. Kareem

HM: Russell, Wilt, Duncan, Hakeem

6. Kareem

HM: Russell, Duncan, Wilt

7. Russell

HM: Kareem, Jordan, Duncan

8. Kareem

HM: Russell, Jordan, Wilt

9. Russell

HM: Kareem, Jordan, Wilt

10. Russell

HM: Kareem, Jordan, Wilt

11. Russell

HM: Kareem, Hakeem, Duncan

12. Russell

HM: Kareem, Jordan, Hakeem

13. Russell

HM: Kareem, James, Jordan

14. Kareem

HM: (Russell), James, Jordan, Hakeem

15. Kareem

HM: (Russell), James, Jordan, Hakeem

16. Kareem

HM: (Russell), James, Duncan, Jordan

17. James

HM: Kareem, (Russell), Jordan, Duncan

18. James

HM: Kareem, (Russell), Jordan, Duncan

19. James

HM: Kareem, (Russell), Jordan, Duncan

20. James

HM: Kareem

[Doctor MJ]

I don't know if something similar has been done at RGM before, but this seems like a cool idea to me and I hope enough of y'all stat-junkies jump in to make the thread interesting.

The challenge is to create a 10-year list of what you think are the best NBA careers after the number of seasons in each place of the list.

So I like the idea in principle but at least for me, I think these things tend to settle pretty quickly at the very tippy top. I could see going with something like:

1. Kareem
2. Kareem
3. Kareem
4. Russell
5. Russell
6. Russell
7. Russell
8. Russell
9. Russell
10. Russell

Others consider: Mikan, Bird, Magic

Things would get a bit more interesting if we went by age, and there I might actually say:

19. Tatum
20. Magic
21. Magic
22. Magic
23. Magic
24. Magic
25. Magic
26. Magic
27. Magic
28. Magic

Others considered: Mikan, Russell, Kareem, Jordan, LeBron

[falcolombardi]

1-russel -wins ring most likely league top player in 1957 + already has a gold medal and two ncaa titles to boot
2-russel
3- russel
4-russel
5-russel
6-russel
7-russel
8-russel
9-russel
10-russel at 1966 he has 9 rings + 1 finals run and has been arguably the league top 1 player for almost all of these seasons