top 5 nba careers

[MR.TRIPDUB]

Im getting sick of reading threads like "where would thisplayer rank if he wins another ring"
can kobes ring count make him a better player than say shaq or duncan or hakeem? I dont think it should but it does give him a better career than those guys.
If lebron doesnt win another title would his rank drop below guys like russell or havlicek when clearly he is the better player.

so who do think have top careers in the nba?

Mine goes:
1. Jordan
2. Russell
3. Shaq
4. Kobe
5. Duncan
i considered longevity, personal accolades, popularity, injuries and a little team success.

[Steelers23_06]

how do you not have the great kareem on ya list take out duncan add kareem knock kobe to 5 and ya good

1. Jordan
2. Russell
3. Shaq
4. Kareem
5. Kobe

[Sly Guy]

I wouldn't put shaq on that list, I'd rather have duncan. Shaq's prime was great, but I think for longevity's sake I'd have duncan over him.

[MR.TRIPDUB]

how do you not have the great kareem on ya list take out duncan add kareem knock kobe to 5 and ya good

1. Jordan
2. Russell
3. Shaq
4. Kareem
5. Kobe

yeah i forgot about kareem and come to think i may have put russell a little too high. I placed a lot of premium to the year he was player coach and won the chip.

[Heediot]

how do you not have the great kareem on ya list take out duncan add kareem knock kobe to 5 and ya good

1. Jordan
2. Russell
3. Shaq
4. Kareem
5. Kobe

Why Duncan and not Shaq? Duncan has more titles.

[JasonJohnHorn]

I'd say Russell had the best career. People play to win, and 11 rings remains untouched by any other player. He won 11 titles and "the man" on his team, and even coached the team for two of those titles.

After that I would say (and in no particular order): Bird, Magic, Kareem and Jordan.

Each won mutiple titles and each were the most popular and dominant players of their generation. Magic and Bird made the league what it is and Jordan took it from them and brought it to another level. Kobe and James are playing in their shadows.

[Swashcuff]

First 3 names that came to mind. Bill Russell, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.

[asandhu23]

Chamberlain, Jordan, Kareem, Russell, Duncan.

[AllKohn]

You said best careers so any list without Robert Horry is just wrong. His career has been ringtastic

[Sly Guy]

Chamberlain, Jordan, Kareem, Russell, Duncan.

maybe not in that order, but this is starting to look more like the list I'd have...

[StinkEye]

Why Duncan and not Shaq? Duncan has more titles.

[Bos_Sports4Life]

Russell, MJ, Kareem, Wilt imo should be locks. they have combined for what? 25 titles and 20 MVP's?

#5 is a little tricky. Duncan/Hakeem/Magic ect all have an argument imo

[asandhu23]

Russell, MJ, Kareem, Wilt imo should be locks. they have combined for what? 25 titles and 20 MVP's?

#5 is a little tricky. Duncan/Hakeem/Magic ect all have an argument imo

not just that. scoring titles (minus Bill ). wins. defensive player awards. expectations and exceeding expectations.

[JordansBulls]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Bill Russell
3. Kareem
4. Magic Johnson
5. Tim Duncan

[Swashcuff]

How much weight does Larry Bird's post playing career have? He has accomplished things that no one else in league history have been able to.