Was Muggsy Bogues the best player in the world?

ChuckChilly · Post #1 » by **ChuckChilly** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:20 pm

I was watching the NBATV documentary on him and Kenny Smith made that claim. It really made me think, that you could genuinely argue that he was, considering the huge handicap of height he played with.

Do you think we will ever see another player under 5'5 on an NBA roster again?

iLLmatic860 · Post #2 » by **iLLmatic860** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:26 pm

Stop it

wojoaderge · Post #3 » by **wojoaderge** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:26 pm

ChuckChilly wrote:I was watching the NBATV documentary on him and Kenny Smith made that claim. It really made me think, that you could genuinely argue that he was, considering the huge handicap of height he played with.

Do you think we will ever see another player under 5'5 on an NBA roster again?

By that explanation, i'd tend towards yes

ChuckChilly · Post #4 » by **ChuckChilly** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:29 pm

iLLmatic860 wrote:Stop it

Do you think there are other 5'3 players that could have a 12+ year career in the NBA?

Post #5 » by **Capn'O** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:31 pm

I'd consider arguments for "best athlete" but best player accounts for limitations so... nowhere close.

Post #6 » by **-Sammy-** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:33 pm

By this logic, we need to factor height into our evaluation of every player or we're being preferential. Why should Muggsy get special consideration in that area just because he's the shortest-ever player? Earl Boykins gets no clemency because he had two extra inches? What's the cutoff for compulsorily factoring height into player evaluation?

We'd then need some metric by which we factor height consistently across the spectrum as it relates to position, skillset, etc., as well as how it would inform our evaluation of performance and accomplishments-- prepare for endless topics along the lines of 'Ray Allen was actually a better rebounder than Karl Malone because he was much shorter', 'Spud Webb would have as many rings as Shaq if he was the same height', etc.

It's a silly notion by Smith. It might be different if Bogues had a gaudy resume; he had a solid, serviceable career, but nothing that suggests he would've been Jordanesque if only he'd been taller.

Someone has to be the shortest guy.

First Step · Post #7 » by **First Step** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:34 pm

I'm the best chess player in the world when you adjust for IQ.

miamiheat319 · Post #8 » by **miamiheat319** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:36 pm

He's definitely the best 5'3" player in the world

ChuckChilly · Post #9 » by **ChuckChilly** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:48 pm

I agree that he wasn't the best player in the world, but I think some of you all are downplaying just how much he had to overcome to make it and stay on a roster for so many years. There's a certain level of talent he had to EXCEED over guys at least 8 inches taller than him at his position alone to be a starter/ play against them.

With that said, there's no way he had bench player level talent but in a smaller package which some are making it seem.

Stan · Post #10 » by **Stan** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:49 pm

Must be a slow NBA news day

JJ_PR · Post #11 » by **JJ_PR** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:54 pm

ChuckChilly wrote:I agree that he wasn't the best player in the world, but I think some of you all are downplaying just how much he had to overcome to make it and stay on a roster for so many years. There's a certain level of talent he had to EXCEED over guys at least 8 inches taller than him at his position alone to be a starter/ play against them.

With that said, there's no way he had bench player level talent but in a smaller package which some are making it seem.

I agree with this.

hauntedcomputer · Post #12 » by **hauntedcomputer** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:07 pm

Didn't Smith say "pound for pound, the best player in the world" or something like that?

Would you rather have three Muggsies or one Zion?

ChuckChilly · Post #13 » by **ChuckChilly** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:10 pm

Stan wrote:Must be a slow NBA news day

His documentary came out this weekend.

CIN-C-STAR · Post #14 » by **CIN-C-STAR** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:15 pm

5' 3" is crazy.
I dont think there are even any WNBA players that short.
Glad he's getting some due.

Myth · Post #15 » by **Myth** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:27 pm

CIN-C-STAR wrote:5' 3" is crazy.
I dont think there are even any WNBA players that short.
Glad he's getting some due.

Just looked it up. They've had two 5'2" and one 5'3" player.

Post #16 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:46 pm

3rd option shouldn't even be on here. You don't play nearly 33 MPG in the league for 7 seasons, mostly as a starter if you're a sideshow. The crazy part is he was almost out of the league on the bullets. Amazing what second chances can do for a player.

I do blame him for making me think i had a future in the league when i was in 4th grade tho (i was 5'3" at the time LOL)

theforumblue · Post #17 » by **theforumblue** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:52 pm

there's short, and then there's 5'3. hard enough to get a run at high school level let alone nba. Isaiah thomas looks so small out on the court, and he's got 6 inches on muggsy.

on any list dealing with pound-for-pound or inch-for-inch, he's gotta be at the top.

nikster · Post #18 » by **nikster** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:13 pm

First Step wrote:I'm the best chess player in the world when you adjust for IQ.

dont think chess is that strongly associated with IQ tho

ChuckChilly · Post #19 » by **ChuckChilly** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 11:12 pm

Clyde Frazier wrote:3rd option shouldn't even be on here. You don't play nearly 33 MPG in the league for 7 seasons, mostly as a starter if you're a sideshow. The crazy part is he was almost out of the league on the bullets. Amazing what second chances can do for a player.

I do blame him for making me think i had a future in the league when i was in 4th grade tho (i was 5'3" at the time LOL)

I put that option because in the documentary he mentioned that he felt like the Washington Bullets were using him and Manute Bol as a sideshow at a times. And that Charlotte drafted him in the expansion draft for the same reason.

GregOden · Post #20 » by **GregOden** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:09 am

Well you would hope the best pound for pound player in the world would be able to shoot a higher career FT% than 82.7...

Was Muggsy the best player in the world?