My new philosphy, as I told my buddies at the tavarn.............I am through debating who the best was/is in ANY sport when it comes down to comparing LEGENDARY GREAT PLAYERS.
Not worth the effort or the sanity.
For instance, if anybody can flat out say MJ was BETTER than say OSCAR, MAGIC, or WILT.........that is some crazy shit man!!
Same applies the opposite way, if anybody can say that so and so was BETTER than MJ.......that MAY be even crazier.
Not worth the effort or the sanity.
For instance, if anybody can flat out say MJ was BETTER than say OSCAR, MAGIC, or WILT.........that is some crazy shit man!!
Same applies the opposite way, if anybody can say that so and so was BETTER than MJ.......that MAY be even crazier.
not on the list - but the answer is:
Wilt
NO ONE had more rules adapted because of his game (the key was widened because of wilt). say what you will about jordan - but did jordan ever score 100 in a game? did he ever average OVER 48 minutes a game for a season? did he ever lead the league in assists?
jordan is top 5 (and i would even place him below magic - for magic could go scoreless in a game - and still have a great game but if jordan went scoreless - his team would get killed - and magic made EVERYONE on the team better - while jordan WAS the team) but to put him above wilt is not right.
i realize many here never got to see wilt play - and i barely got to see him but wilt is the answer to your question here - NOT jordan!
Wilt
NO ONE had more rules adapted because of his game (the key was widened because of wilt). say what you will about jordan - but did jordan ever score 100 in a game? did he ever average OVER 48 minutes a game for a season? did he ever lead the league in assists?
jordan is top 5 (and i would even place him below magic - for magic could go scoreless in a game - and still have a great game but if jordan went scoreless - his team would get killed - and magic made EVERYONE on the team better - while jordan WAS the team) but to put him above wilt is not right.
i realize many here never got to see wilt play - and i barely got to see him but wilt is the answer to your question here - NOT jordan!
1. Jorday
2. Magic & Bird (tossup)
3. Russell (?) from the list.........
Once again, I stand by my belief that players from yesteryear couldnt play with today's era. Shaq,Charles Barkley would/would of embarrased Russell, Chamberlain........
2. Magic & Bird (tossup)
3. Russell (?) from the list.........
Once again, I stand by my belief that players from yesteryear couldnt play with today's era. Shaq,Charles Barkley would/would of embarrased Russell, Chamberlain........
Are you kidding??? Wilt could not play with Shaq???
First of all, when Wilt played there was only 12 teams. That means that he faced Russell, Thurmond, Reed, Bellamy, and the likes every night. No Duleak's, no Earvin Johnson's, Camby's or those other imposters who play today.
IMHO, Wilt would embarrass Shaq if he was in his prime.
true story. In the early 80's, The lakers use to play at UCLA in the off season, Magic, Worthy, Scott, Cooper and other NBA players who were in the LA area. larry brown was coaching UCLA at the time and he poked his head in the gym one day to watch. One this day, Wilt and Jerry West had shown up to play. Wilt was in his mid 40's at the time. As Brown tells the story, magic took one into the lane and Wilt sent it back and Magic called a foul. Wilt got a bit upset about the call. Wilt then made it clear that no one was going to score in the paint again the rest of day. brown says that for the next 30 minutes, Wilt absolutely dominated these NBA stars in there prime. Wilt sent shot after shot into the stands, to half court, down their throats, etc. On the other end, West keep dumping it into the box to Wilt who threw then down, banked them off glass, and took the boys to school.
Wilt was a world class track man and a world class volleyball player into his 40's. Hank Stram tried to get him to play football and he came very close to getting into the ring with Muhammad Ali. Wilt was one of the greatest athletes ever but this was overshadowed by his size.
Wilt and Jordon were 1 and 1a in my book.
Wilt could not play with Shaq??? Your out of your mind.
First of all, when Wilt played there was only 12 teams. That means that he faced Russell, Thurmond, Reed, Bellamy, and the likes every night. No Duleak's, no Earvin Johnson's, Camby's or those other imposters who play today.
IMHO, Wilt would embarrass Shaq if he was in his prime.
true story. In the early 80's, The lakers use to play at UCLA in the off season, Magic, Worthy, Scott, Cooper and other NBA players who were in the LA area. larry brown was coaching UCLA at the time and he poked his head in the gym one day to watch. One this day, Wilt and Jerry West had shown up to play. Wilt was in his mid 40's at the time. As Brown tells the story, magic took one into the lane and Wilt sent it back and Magic called a foul. Wilt got a bit upset about the call. Wilt then made it clear that no one was going to score in the paint again the rest of day. brown says that for the next 30 minutes, Wilt absolutely dominated these NBA stars in there prime. Wilt sent shot after shot into the stands, to half court, down their throats, etc. On the other end, West keep dumping it into the box to Wilt who threw then down, banked them off glass, and took the boys to school.
Wilt was a world class track man and a world class volleyball player into his 40's. Hank Stram tried to get him to play football and he came very close to getting into the ring with Muhammad Ali. Wilt was one of the greatest athletes ever but this was overshadowed by his size.
Wilt and Jordon were 1 and 1a in my book.
Wilt could not play with Shaq??? Your out of your mind.
twofingers, I will always stand by my belief that baseball is the ONLY sport where players from yesteryear could compete with todays. I know it's difficult for some to admit it, because those older players were in many people's era when growing up, so they feel inslulted when someone says players from back then can't compete with todays. I'm sure when I get older, I will argue 30 years from now that my era of players could compete with those in that distant future, but the truth is, I will be wrong also. Fact is, todays players are bigger, faster, and DEFINITELY more athletic than players of yesteryear.Just no comparison......
This type of ERA argument comes up every few months here. Like a lot of things it is impossible to change minds already made up. Hache really believes today's players are better, which is fine with me. I watched Wilt in his early years play against Bill Russell more than once, great battles.
wil.
wil.
nice posts twofingers....Hache in general I would agree with you but Wilt is definietely the exception to that rule. He was a a superstar in any era. Unstoppable in the paint, one of the best rebounders ever, incredibly athletic and near the end of his career I believe he actually led the league in assists one year (plus he banged over 20,000 ladies....LOL)
heche,
one more thing...
Bigger, stronger, and faster does not equate with Wilt. he is as big as any player today (except Yao ), was stronger then any player today, and was a world class track man. of course he was EXCEPTIONAL, as there always is in any era.
Bigger, faster, and stronger, does not matter as much is basketball IMHO. Certainly, players today are no where near as good at the fundamentals of the game as they were in Wilt's era. you only have to look at shooting averages to see that this is true. Players today do one thing better and that is flying down the lane and dunking the ball, but basketball was a much more physical game back then. if a player was showboating in the lane, the next time they came down they would be flat on their ass.
Boxing is another sport where I don't believe the atheletes of today match up. I would take Dempsey or Louis at 205 lbs to polish off any heavyweight of the last 20 years.
one more thing...
Bigger, stronger, and faster does not equate with Wilt. he is as big as any player today (except Yao ), was stronger then any player today, and was a world class track man. of course he was EXCEPTIONAL, as there always is in any era.
Bigger, faster, and stronger, does not matter as much is basketball IMHO. Certainly, players today are no where near as good at the fundamentals of the game as they were in Wilt's era. you only have to look at shooting averages to see that this is true. Players today do one thing better and that is flying down the lane and dunking the ball, but basketball was a much more physical game back then. if a player was showboating in the lane, the next time they came down they would be flat on their ass.
Boxing is another sport where I don't believe the atheletes of today match up. I would take Dempsey or Louis at 205 lbs to polish off any heavyweight of the last 20 years.
Thanks fingers, no offense, of course to you either.I understand it's difficult for people not to defend the players or era they grew up in or around through the years. Like I said above, 30 years from now, I too will be wrong when I try to say my era of players could compete with those. Ive followed the NBA & NFL since I was 7, and I've played serious and organized ball, and I see the difference in people/players through the years. I was always well above what I would consider average competitors, but I still play recreation and city leagues today, and the difference is ridiclous in these kids. I used to have my way, but I would even go as far to say that if I took myself from back then and had to match up with some of the younger generation today, I hate to say I would have it a little tougher than back then.....
NBA players from the past (alphabetically) that could play today:
Rick Barry
Elgin Baylor
Walt Bellamy
Dave Bing
Wilt C.
Dave Cowens
Adrian Dantley
Julius Erving
Walt Frazier
George Gervin
Artis Gilmore
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Elvin Hayes
Bernard King
Bob Lanier
Jerry Lucas
Moses Malone
Pete Maravish
Bob Macadoo
Earl Monroe
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
Bill Russell
Paul Silas
Nate Thurmond (eat Shaq alive)
Wes Unseld
Chet Walker
Bill Walton
Jerry West
To name the most prominent - I know a few are recently retired (80's).
wil.
Rick Barry
Elgin Baylor
Walt Bellamy
Dave Bing
Wilt C.
Dave Cowens
Adrian Dantley
Julius Erving
Walt Frazier
George Gervin
Artis Gilmore
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Elvin Hayes
Bernard King
Bob Lanier
Jerry Lucas
Moses Malone
Pete Maravish
Bob Macadoo
Earl Monroe
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
Bill Russell
Paul Silas
Nate Thurmond (eat Shaq alive)
Wes Unseld
Chet Walker
Bill Walton
Jerry West
To name the most prominent - I know a few are recently retired (80's).
wil.
