Slam Magazine Top 50 Greatest Players of all time

[JordansBulls]

SLAM - Top 50

http://www.slamonline.com/online/wp-...130mj_0808.jpg


1) Michael Jordan

2) Wilt Chamberlain

3) Bill Russell

4) Shaquille O'Neal

5) Oscar Robertson

6) Magic Johnson

7) Kareem Abdul Jabbar

8) Tim Duncan

9) Larry Bird

10) Jerry West

11) Elgin Baylor

12) Kobe Bryant

13) Hakeem Olajuwon

14) Bob Pettit

15) Julius Erving

16) Moses Malone

17) John Havlicek

18) Karl Malone

19) Isiah Thomas

20) Charles Barkley

21) Rick Barry

22) John Stockton

23) Elvin Hayes

24) Bob Cousy

25) David Robinson

26) Kevin McHale

27) Scottie Pippen

28) Jason Kidd

29) George Mikan

30) Kevin Garnett

31) Willis Reed

32) Wes Unseld

33) Nate Thurmond

34) Dolph Schayes

35) Walt Frazier

36) Patrick Ewing

37) Jerry Lucas

38) Gary Payton

39) Allen Iverson

40) Billy Cunningham

41) Clyde Drexler

42) LeBron James

43) Dominique Wilkins

44) Dave Cowens

45) George Gervin

46) Bob McAdoo

47) Earl Monroe

48) Dennis Rodman

49) Walt Bellamy

50) Steve Nash

*Bold = Active NBA Players

By the way here's Slam Magazine Top 75 greatest players of all time back in 2003.


1.Michael Jordan
2.Wilt Chamberlain
3.Oscar Robertson
4.Bill Russell
5.Magic Johnson
6.Larry Bird
7.Kareem-Abdul Jabbar
8.Jerry West
9.Shaquille O'Neal
10.Julius Erving
11.Elgin Baylor
12. Hakeem Olajuwon
13.Karl Malone
14.Bob Petitt
15.John Havlicek
16.Moses Malone
17.Isiah Thomas
18.John Stockton
19.Charles Barkley
20.Walt Frazier
21.Rick Barry
22.Bob Cousy
23.Elvin Hayes
24.Dave Cowens
25.George Gervin
26.Kevin McHale
27.Dominique Wilkins
28.Patrick Ewing
29.Willis Reed
30.Wes Unseld
31.George Mikan
32.Earl Monroe
33.Nate Thurmond
34.Dolph Schayes
35.Walt Bellamy
36.David Robinson
37.Billy cunningham
38.Paul Arizin
39.Dave DeBusschere
40.Alex English
41.Scottie Pippen
42.Nate Archibald
43.Adrian Dantley
44.Clyde Drexler
45.Bernard King
46.Bob McAdoo
47.Gary Payton
48.Artis Gilmore
49.Jerry Lucas
50.Pete Maravich
51.Hal Greer
52.Reggie Miller
53.Allen Iverson
54.Dan Issel
55.Tim Duncan
56.Robert Parish
57.James Worthy
58.Sam Jones
59.Kobe Bryant
60.Lenny Wilkens
61.Jason Kidd
62.Bob Lanier
63.Dennis Johnson
64.Chris Webber
65.Chris Mullin
66.Mark Aguirre
67.Connie Hawkins
68.Spencer Haywood
69.Dennis Rodman
70.Kevin Garnett
71.Dave Bing
72.Alonzo Mourning
73.Bill Walton
74.Grant Hill
75.Tracy McGrady

Dennis Rodman at 69 in 2003
Dennis Rodman at 48 in 2009.

wonder what Dennis did in those 6 years to go up 21 places....

[JordansBulls]

How is Oscar ahead of Magic and Kareem?



How is Hakeem outside the top 10 and behind Baylor and West?

[29$JerZ]

Nash and LeBron don't deserve a top 50 spot imo.

Too early for LeBron , could win up like Grant Hill for all we know and Nash had a great stretch but I don't think it can really be put up their with the all time greats.

[ManRamForPrez24]

Nash and LeBron don't deserve a top 50 spot imo.

Too early for LeBron , could win up like Grant Hill for all we know and Nash had a great stretch but I don't think it can really be put up their with the all time greats.

Disagree. Nash is a two time MVP award winner. That alone is enough to be top 50 ever. Only Kareem, Russell, MJ, Wilt, Moses, Larry and Magic have won more than 2 MVP awards. And only Pettit, Karl Malone and Timmy have won 2. Everyone else on the all-time 50 list either won it once, or never at all.

LeBron already has one, something Grant didn't have. He's been a top 3 player in the league for a while now. He is a superstar, and the face of the NBA. He's questionable, but I wont complain.

I do agree 100% with JordansBulls on his comments.

[MPScribbles]

http://www.slamonline.com/online/wp-...130mj_0808.jpg


1) Michael Jordan

2) Wilt Chamberlain

3) Bill Russell

4) Shaquille O'Neal

5) Oscar Robertson

6) Magic Johnson

7) Kareem Abdul Jabbar TOO HIGH

8) Tim Duncan

12) Kobe Bryant

13) Hakeem Olajuwon TOO LOW

18) Karl Malone BELOW DUNCAN WHERE HE BELONGS

19) Isiah Thomas

20) Charles Barkley BETTER PLAYER THAN MALONE

22) John Stockton SHOULD BE HIGHER

25) David Robinson TOO LOW

26) Kevin McHale

27) Scottie Pippen LITTLE LOW

28) Jason Kidd

29) George Mikan WAY OVERRATED! THIS GUY WAS THE 1ST GOOD BIG, TIME TO MOVE ON. HE SHOT 40% FOR HIS CAREER DESPITE BEING MUCH BIGGER THAN ALL HIS COMPETITION. HE WOULD GET EATEN ALIVE IN ANY OTHER ERA.

30) Kevin Garnett

39) Allen Iverson

42) LeBron James GOOD TO SEE SOME LOVE FOR SOME OF THE CURRENT PLAYERS

48) Dennis Rodman HAPPY HE MADE THE LIST

50) Steve Nash

*Bold = Active NBA Players

My take on some of the entries.

[i.got.the.nutz]

My take on some of the entries.

You don't think Kareem is a top 7 all time player?

[effen5]

I definetly wouldnt put Lebron on that list yet.

[MPScribbles]

You don't think Kareem is a top 7 all time player?

I think he gets overrated due to playing in an era where there was very little competition at his position. I place Hakeem second in the list of all time centers because he was the best center in the best era for centers. Actually, as a rule I think that big men get overrated due to the fact that there have been so few great bigs and so many great wings and pg's.

[Lakersfan2483]

How is Shaq ahead of both Kareem and Magic? Also, there is no way Hakeem should be out of the top ten.

[JordansBulls]

How is Shaq ahead of both Kareem and Magic? Also, there is no way Hakeem should be out of the top ten.

Not sure, however Shaq has a small case. He has 3 finals MVP's just like Magic, but Shaq also is 4th all time in playoff PER

http://www.basketball-reference.com/..._career_p.html

And is 2nd all time in season PER

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...er_career.html

I would still rank both Kareem and Magic ahead of him. With them being 2nd and 3rd on my all time list.

[SwaggaIke]

The Shaq hate astounds me. IMO he is the best center to ever do it.

[JordansBulls]

The Shaq hate astounds me. IMO he is the best center to ever do it.

Do what?

[SwaggaIke]

Do what?

Play the game, like I said...its my opinion and I'm entitled to it.

[MPScribbles]

Play the game, like I said...its my opinion and I'm entitled to it.

Absolutely. No one can stop you from having your opinion and no one can stop you from being wrong. Shaq isn't even top 5 in terms of a center's basketball playing ability.

[Raoul Duke]

No Joe Dumars, even in the top 75? Someone tell me I'm not the only one that finds that odd.