Best and Greatest are considered different in comparisons. Best usually tells us that Kareem was better than Wilt because a prime Kareem would have schooled a Prime Wilt. However, if you look at the "Greatness" of the two players than a better case can be made for Wilt and his dominance/accomplishments. So, I like to believe that Kareem was indeed fact better than Wilt. Whether Kareem had played in Wilts era or vice versa.
I don't agree with Wilt at #2. I'd put Kareem at #2 personally and Magic at #3. So I guess if the thread is who is the best player besides MJ and wilt I'll say Kareem. 6 MVPs. 6 rings. most points all time. 35-15 seasons. Won rings with two separate teams. this says it all:All-Star1969-70 NBA1970-71 NBA1971-72 NBA1972-73 NBA1973-74 NBA1974-75 NBA1975-76 NBA1976-77 NBA1978-79 NBA1979-80 NBA1980-81 NBA1981-82 NBA1982-83 NBA1983-84 NBA1984-85 NBA1985-86 NBA1986-87 NBA1987-88 NBA1988-89 NBAAwards1969-70 NBA ROY1969-70 NBA TSN ROY1970-71 NBA Finals MVP1970-71 NBA MVP1970-71 NBA TSN MVP1971-72 NBA MVP1971-72 NBA TSN MVP1973-74 NBA MVP1973-74 NBA TSN MVP1975-76 NBA MVP1975-76 NBA TSN MVP1976-77 NBA MVP1976-77 NBA TSN MVP1979-80 NBA MVP1979-80 NBA TSN MVP1984-85 NBA Finals MVPHonors1969-70 NBA All-Defense (2nd)1969-70 NBA All-NBA (2nd)1969-70 NBA All-Rookie1970-71 NBA All-Defense (2nd)1970-71 NBA All-NBA (1st)1971-72 NBA All-NBA (1st)1972-73 NBA All-NBA (1st)1973-74 NBA All-Defense (1st)1973-74 NBA All-NBA (1st)1974-75 NBA All-Defense (1st)1975-76 NBA All-Defense (2nd)1975-76 NBA All-NBA (1st)1976-77 NBA All-Defense (2nd)1976-77 NBA All-NBA (1st)1977-78 NBA All-Defense (2nd)1977-78 NBA All-NBA (2nd)1978-79 NBA All-Defense (1st)1978-79 NBA All-NBA (2nd)1979-80 NBA All-Defense (1st)1979-80 NBA All-NBA (1st)1980-81 NBA All-Defense (1st)1980-81 NBA All-NBA (1st)1982-83 NBA All-NBA (2nd)1983-84 NBA All-Defense (2nd)1983-84 NBA All-NBA (1st)1984-85 NBA All-NBA (2nd)1985-86 NBA All-NBA (1st)Field Goal %1969-70 NBA .518 (7)1970-71 NBA .577 (2)1971-72 NBA .574 (2)1972-73 NBA .554 (3)1973-74 NBA .539 (2)1974-75 NBA .513 (4)1975-76 NBA .529 (5)1976-77 NBA .579 (1)1977-78 NBA .550 (4)1978-79 NBA .577 (2)1979-80 NBA .604 (2)1980-81 NBA .574 (5)1981-82 NBA .579 (4)1982-83 NBA .588 (4)1983-84 NBA .578 (7)1984-85 NBA .599 (4)1985-86 NBA .564 (7)1986-87 NBA .564 (5)NBA .559 (8)Career .559 (8)Rebounds Per Game1969-70 NBA 14.5 (3)1970-71 NBA 16.0 (4)1971-72 NBA 16.6 (3)1972-73 NBA 16.1 (4)1973-74 NBA 14.5 (4)1974-75 NBA 14.0 (5)1975-76 NBA 16.9 (1)1976-77 NBA 13.3 (2)1977-78 NBA 12.9 (7)1978-79 NBA 12.8 (3)1979-80 NBA 10.8 (8)1980-81 NBA 10.3 (7)NBA 11.2 (24)Career 11.2 (29)Blocks Per Game1973-74 NBA 3.5 (2)1974-75 NBA 3.3 (1)1975-76 NBA 4.1 (1)1976-77 NBA 3.2 (2)1977-78 NBA 3.0 (2)1978-79 NBA 4.0 (1)1979-80 NBA 3.4 (1)1980-81 NBA 2.9 (3)1981-82 NBA 2.7 (3)1982-83 NBA 2.2 (9)1983-84 NBA 1.8 (9)1984-85 NBA 2.1 (10)NBA 2.6 (9)Career 2.6 (9)Points Per Game1969-70 NBA 28.8 (2)1970-71 NBA 31.7 (1)1971-72 NBA 34.8 (1)1972-73 NBA 30.2 (2)1973-74 NBA 27.0 (3)1974-75 NBA 30.0 (3)1975-76 NBA 27.7 (2)1976-77 NBA 26.2 (3)1977-78 NBA 25.8 (4)1978-79 NBA 23.8 (8)1979-80 NBA 24.8 (6)1980-81 NBA 26.2 (4)1981-82 NBA 23.9 (6)NBA 24.6 (12)Career 24.6 (13)Player Efficiency Rating1969-70 NBA 22.5 (3)1970-71 NBA 29.0 (1)1971-72 NBA 29.9 (1)1972-73 NBA 28.5 (1)1973-74 NBA 24.4 (2)1974-75 NBA 26.4 (1)1975-76 NBA 27.2 (1)1976-77 NBA 27.8 (1)1977-78 NBA 29.2 (1)1978-79 NBA 25.5 (1)1979-80 NBA 25.3 (2)1980-81 NBA 25.5 (2)1981-82 NBA 23.4 (5)1982-83 NBA 23.6 (5)1983-84 NBA 21.3 (10)1984-85 NBA 22.9 (5)1985-86 NBA 22.7 (6)Need I say more? He's so consistent and distinguished over the years and his career accomplishments are nearly unparalleled. not to mention he was the best college player ever too.
Magic Johnson. Unbelievable all around PG. He could score, he is the best passer ever, he is so versatile, he could rebound, he was a winner, he won championships....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Apr 13 2007, 08:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Magic Johnson. Unbelievable all around PG. He could score, he is the best passer ever, he is so versatile, he could rebound, he was a winner, he won championships....</div>Was about to say that, suiting up as a center when your a PG in a Finals game is unheard of, versatile players dont get much recognition in today's game, I think they should, espicially when you are talking Magic Johnson.
Really the truth is behind Micheal Jordan there is no set #2. I have trouble putting Wilt ahead of guys like Magic and Russel. If I was forced to make a list I'd say:1. Micheal Jordan2. Magic Johnson3. Bill Russel#3 could change very easily. There have been tons of legendary players but the man with the rings stands out to me as the big man who changed the NBA.
I think Russell should definitely be considered after Wilt, but it is tough. I think unless you were there to watch them all you need to have 2a. b. and c.'s and 3a. b. and c.'s. It's tough. You have Russell, Wilt, Magic, Kareem, Robertson...then Bird. It's hard. I've always had my list as Jordan, Wilt, Russell, Magic and Kareem with Robertson a close 6th, but I can understand any combo.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>#3 could change very easily. There have been tons of legendary players but the man with the rings stands out to me as the big man who changed the NBA.</div>Wilt "changed the NBA" a lot more than anybody else.Without Russell they'd probably still have won 5 rings at least. They were that stacked.
After #1 (obviously Michael Jordan) ranking the best players all-time is a waste of time and a crapshoot. I can make a list of the general top 10 or so players of all-time, but specificly ranking them to me is a waste of time, but if thats what your into, go for it.
Magic Johnson, but let me make it clear that it's behind MJ and Kareem, not MJ and Wilt or any other combination.
