RealGM

Who would you pick? Only one, peak season.

I'd go AK by a hair. Think he was a more versatile offensive player, while defense is close to a wash (think Jones had quicker hands and was more disruptive while AK was a bit better rim protector). Very close, and in different situations would go different ways.

Very close, but what little I saw of and read about Bobby Jones, I would probably take him.

Jones's rookie year, he led a Denver team whose second best player was Ralph Simpson (good but not unique big jumpshooting 2 guard) to the best record in the ABA over teams led by peak Julius Erving, peak Artis Gilmore, and peak George McGinnis. Probably his peak "lead" year though depending on talent, some of his more roleplayer years might actually serve you better. AK47 had one great year that compares with that one and might be better though -- after that the next 5 best are all Jones.

I'll go with Jones. IMO he is the best all-around defender ever. Fantastic technique, lateral moves, could go vertical, and quickness to match. BBIQ off the charts. Would be a much sought after player today given his efficient offense as well. While not an elite rim protector, he was good enough to be disruptive, and how many 6'9" players could switch to playing guards on the perimeter and be effective? His man defense (like glue) and help defense were equally good. He is truly one of the great elite defenders in NBA history.

I don't know...pretty close. Jones was probably a better raw athlete, but Kirilenko wasn't deficient. Kirlenko was a better scorer, but Jones fit into the Sixers system perfectly. He could run and jump, play def., and never complain. Sometimes forgotten when talking about those great Sixer teams from the late seventies-early eighties.

I personally have to go with Andrei Kirilenko. I might take some flak for this because it is a painfully subjective statement, but he had one of highest basketball IQ's I have ever seen, the dude was amazing to watch. My viewer's bias aside, I feel Kirilenko was the more well rounded defensive player and was also a tremendous passer (I know the statistics are underwhelming, but he was terrific, I would actually like an explanation on why they would be so low [the answer is likely that I am wrong, haha]).

Bobby Jones was very good player, but I feel Andrei was just a bit better all-around.

Domejandro wrote:I personally have to go with Andrei Kirilenko. I might take some flak for this because it is a painfully subjective statement, but he had one of highest basketball IQ's I have ever seen, the dude was amazing to watch. My viewer's bias aside, I feel Kirilenko was the more well rounded defensive player and was also a tremendous passer (I know the statistics are underwhelming, but he was terrific, I would actually like an explanation on why they would be so low [the answer is likely that I am wrong, haha]).

Bobby Jones was very good player, but I feel Andrei was just a bit better all-around.

Your eyes don't lie. Andrei has TREMENDOUS court vision. The Jazz flex offense did not run through AK. It was PG/Big play. First with Stockton and Malone and later with D-Will and Boozer/Okur. Only one year did the offense run through Andrei: The now famous-in-Utah 42 win season when ESPN predicted 5 wins.

I rate Jones higher on a per minute fashion, but I'd say I'd take AK's big year over Jones because of the greater availability.