http://theundefeated.com/features/nba-50-greatest-players-remix/ The Undefeated has taken it upon themselves to update the NBA all-time top 50 players list to include 14 players they feel have earned themselves a spot over the past 20 years. In all, they removed: Pistol Pete Clyde Drexler Bill Walton Lenny Wilkens James Worthy Robert Parish Tiny Archibald Dave Bing Dave Cowens Dave Debusschere Same Jones Wes Unseld Bill Sharman Dolph Schayes And replaced them with: Lebron Kobe Duncan Garnett Durant Dirk Kidd Iverson Nash Wade Pierce Curry Ray Allen Reggie Miller I agree with most of their updates, but there are some that are questionable at best.
Seriously though, there's an argument to be made that it's a bit early in his career to consider Steph an all-timer. However, as they mention in the article, Shaq was included in the 1997 list in just his 5th year in the league, and though it might have been premature, it was undoubtedly correct. Probably the same for Steph.
If it's "all-time," where are all the future players? I want to be ready, maybe watch them in elementary school.
True, but so do Klay and Dray, with more likely in store. I wouldn't be surprised if Klay's resume, for example, surpasses Miller's and Allen's by the time all is said and done. Speaking of whom, the idea that those two were worthy of displacing Clyde seems ludicrous to me.
There's a bunch of old-timers I don't know anything about, but no way do KG / Kidd / Iverson / Allen belong over Walton / Worthy / Parish / Drexler. And I wouldn't put Durant/Curry in there yet - towards the end of their careers almost definitely, but not now.
I can give it up to Miller solely because he's a legacy player - that's big in my book. If you play your entire career - and it's a great one - for a single team, that gives you major bonus points. But Ray Allen? He was a very good player, but that's it - not legendary. Is JJ Redick going to get in too? (Yes, I'm being a little silly, but only a little.)
Def wouldn't take Parrish or Drexler off.... But a lot of those new players, Duncan, Lebron, Dirk, Garnett, can't argue there.
I'll argue to the death about KG over Worthy. I've always felt Worthy was overrated, and I think KG is arguably the best PF of all time (If Duncan is considered a center, as many contend he should).
Timmy Malone Webber (yes I said it) Barkley All better than KG IMO. I might even take Dirk... KG has always been soft on offense. Fadeaways ect. Good defensively but soft offensively.
You're entitled to your opinion. It's wrong, but you're entitled... Seriously though, I'd take KG over all those guys, specifically because of his defense, and he was also more versatile offensively than any of them (save perhaps Webber). Just my opinion, though. Main point is, though, is that I'd put all of them ahead James Worthy, which is what I was really saying.
I'll never agree about KG. He was just such a bitch throughout his entire career. He was good, but never great - a perennial one-and-done until he got traded. Sorry, but Top 50 players don't routinely get punked in the 1st round...when they actually happen to MAKE the Playoffs. He's only a HOFer because he happened to play with Pierce, Rondo, and Ray towards the end of his career. Otherwise, he was a fully-realized version of Aldridge but with defense.
EVERY time he lost in the first round, he lost to another top 50 player with more help around them (Payton, Robinson/Duncan, Pippen, Dirk/Nash, Shaq/Kobe), not to mention that he had Flip Saunders as his head coach for his entire Wolves career. I don't fault him for not being able to overcome the roadblocks to success that he encountered in Minnesota.
