This is being discussed in another thread and thought it might be best to have its own. I have a high criteria for generational talent. To me that means once in a generation. or the best of a generation. I pit a handful of players in that category. Wilt Mj Shaq Lbj Giannis Curry Bird Kareem a “b list of Oscar Kobe Durant Duncan Russell Nowitski Im sure im missing a few, but to me, its not a long list. whats your list and what defines a generational talent to you?
The NBA recently acknowledged 75 of the best players for the last 75 years. Im not sure Russ Westbrook is one of them, imo. I wont use Westbrick anymore as he's gone public stating it disrespects his last name and his family members. They wont even go to home laker games anymore because of it. I respect his request and will no longer mock his family name.
Giannis shouldn't be on the list if Kobe isn't. Bird shouldn't either. A general talent is someone who can dominate the league over a period of time. Someone you have to plan your entire offense around.
I consider a generational talent to be a player who, for the majority of their career, was the best player at their position. The best of his generation. I go by position rather than overall because, for example, I think Magic, Jordan, and Bird were all generational talents. However Clyde wouldn't be, because he was overshadowed by Jordan.
didnt one own the other in the playoffs though? Making one pretty much better than the other? Or was it one guy put up stats becuase he was on a lesswrctalented team so numbers wer eaiswr to get? This is another factor when using stats to compare. Some people feel players like Dame get his numbers because of lack of talent of the teammates. Does that make them a generational talent because everyone else on the team sucked?
I think they would be known as "the exception that proves the rule". In response to... ...I would have to ask: How do you define the term?
If you chooses generational talent, there could only be about 4 or 5 guys on the list. Too touch for me to choose right now without research. I mean do you need a player from like each 15 seasons or so? Is George Mikan a generational talent because he was the best back in his time, but couldn't hold 3 centers from the 80s/90s jock straps? Get's confusing. It's almost like you have to choose the best 5 players EVER regardless of when they played.
If you're in the basketball HOF you're a generational talent. Sabonis, career stats in the NBA not the greatest. But still a generational talent. And in the HOF. Lillard: NBA top 75. Future HOF. Generational talent.
This is just my opinion and it's in no way Steph slander because I definitely think he's "generational" but having him on your A list with The Big O, Bill Russell, Kobe and Duncan on your B list is absurd. I don't even think there's an argument against those guys all being better than Steph. Steph is Steve Nash with a better shot. The only difference is the system Steph has played in and his ridiculously high level complementary teammates. I mean you listed 13 players and I don't know if Steph is one of the 15 best of all time. I don't know who goes on there in front of him but for sure Hakeem goes in front of him. I'd probably have Barkley in front of Steph. KG, both Karl and Moses Malone might be ahead of him too. Steph is such a limited defensive player, he just has guys covering for him all of the time but he really is a one way player. Greatest shooter of all time, one of the best ball handlers of all time, definitely a generational facilitator/passer and that's a ton of the game on the offensive end but that's really where it stops for me for skills he's even at an all star level at let alone an all time level.
i put Steph on there because he has won an mvp, a ring and he largely forced the nba to change how the game is played. Few have ever done that. Shaq did it. Jordan did it. To say he is steve nash with a better shot, to me is vastly underselling how good of a shot that is. Many already have him as the best shooter ever. How does one not consider that a generational talent? One could say jordan had the system with pippen. Or kobe and shaq had each other. There will always be something one can point at to say the player had help. For that matter you mention kg. He couldn't win without paul pierce aNd ray allen. The system they had. Hcp is right that it is not easy. I think thats why its somewhat importNt to define generational, prior to listing players. Seems some have a bit different meaning and i don't think there is one right one. But i think there is a right set of lists of players for each definition.
What constitutes a generational talent is subjective like so many other labels, there is no right or wrong STOMP
