If jordan didn't exist in the NBA, who do you think would get the title as the 'greatest player'?

Question

i'll either choose magic or shaq.

magic cause eventhough he was 6'9, he played the PG position with better precision than that of smaller guards. and with the sick passes that he made back then, its definitely going to be him.

shaq because of his dominance inside the paint. he posterized everyone who defended him. no one was strong enough to push him out of the paint during his time. he was simply the biggest match-up problem back then.

your thoughts?

Answer 1

i think Wilt Chamberlain would be the greatest player because the fact that he was a good scorer and a rebound points all time 31,419 thats good rebound all time stats 23,924 and led Philadelphia to a title in 1967 what more can you ask for he was a winner  

Answer 2

Magic.

Answer 3

Magic and wilt the stilt

Answer 4

pffft I can't believe people actually answered Bill Russel.

As for your question Kareem's got the whole package, including a whole slew of titles, and an offensive game better than any other big mans ever. Even in his mid thirties he was able to dominate the game. To go with that he had not quite Bill Russel like D but still all world defense.

Answer 5

magic if he didnt get aids. isiah thomas if he was just 2 or 3 inches taller. russell if he played long enough for media to hype him and  people to know him.  

Answer 6

Bill Russell: 5 MVPs, 11 rings in 13 years as pro.

Michael Jordan: 5 MVP's, 6 rings in 15 years as a pro.

Bill Russell: 1 NCAA Most Outstanding Player, 2 NCAA titles in 3 years of college.

Michael Jordan: 0 NCAA Most Outstanding Player, 1* NCAA titles in 3 years of college.

* As a role player to James Worthy 1982 UNC Championship team.

As a sidenote, Russell already clinched the title as the "Greatest Basketball player" during a 1980's sportswriters poll, iirc by a significant margin, over the likes of Wilt, Oscar and Mikan. As shown above, Jordan (or Bird, Magic and Kareem) certainly did not accomplish anything that would put them above Russell and so regardless of hype, William Felton Russell is still the GREATEST.

Answer 7

wilt chamberlain, no doubt.  russel was amazing, but he was defensive.  sometimes never getting double digits in points.

Answer 8

Magic because if Mike wasnt around, Magic was good for two more titles, so he would have seven rings. And when Magic retired he was in that Best Ever conversation before mIke ended it.

It would be interesting to see the effect Kobe would have because we wouldn't have anyone to compare him to, but I doubt he would be making a dent in the G.O.A.T. conversation.

Answer 9

Kareem. 6 time MVP. First all-time in points, one of the greatest rebounders ever, and the best defender of his time by far. Most importantly, six championships in a league with more than twice as many teams as the league with Russel.

Basically, like Jordan, he's the only other player in history who was the best scorer and defender of his time. You mention Shaq, but I think he's better because he was just as dominant of a presence (but with greater post moves) and he was a much better defender. He's better then Magic because he won a championship without Magic. And Kareem held many NBA records.

Answer 10

LeBron James, when he retires

Answer 11

Wilt is the greatest Basketball player of all time even with Jordan existing.

why is Shaq there?

Answer 12

MAgic Johnson. This guy can play all 5 positions.

Answer 13

chris Bosh

Answer 14

Aside from Jordan there are only four strong contenders to the claim Magic, Bird, Wilt and Bill...

Another that could have contended to that claim is Maurice Stokes a very complete player that plays the same way as Jordan... Even pre-dating Elgin Baylor's genius... Unfortunately tragedy struck him.

In the last game of the 1957-58 NBA season, in Minneapolis, Stokes drove to the basket, drew contact and fell to the floor, hit his head, and was knocked unconscious. He was revived with smelling salts and returned to the game. Three days later, after a 12-point, 15-rebound performance in an opening-round playoff game at Detroit against the Pistons, Stokes became ill on the team's flight back to Cincinnati. "I feel like I'm going to die," he told a teammate. Stokes fell into a coma and was left permanently paralyzed. In the end, he was diagnosed with "post-traumatic encephalopathy, a brain injury that damaged his motor control center."

Stokes only played three (3) years in the league, those who have witnessed him says he was a pure basketball genius, during his rookie season, averaged 16.3 rebounds per game overall, and was named NBA Rookie of the Year. The next season, he set a league record for most rebounds in a single season with 1,256 (17.4 per game) the most pre-Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

God bless his soul.

Hope this helps.

Answer 15

Bill Russell

Answer 16

Magic? I'm a Laker fan and this guy isn't even the Greatest Laker. His career was cut wayy to short because he had to sleep with s****s and get HIV. I think Kareem Abdul Jabbar should be the greatest NBA player ever not named Jordan.

Answer 17

bill russell.  11 rings

Answer 18

lakers would be nothing without kobe and would lose several championships without kareem or magic

Answer 19

id say magic, bird or wilt ...

Answer 20

Magic or Wilt or even Kareem

Maybe Kobe Bryant when he retires ... he still got like 5 good years left in him .. and has chance to win at least few Championship ..

If you gonna say what if ...

If Len Bias didn't die .. i think he coulda have been better than Michael Jordan ... he was bigger and stronger version of Jordan in College ..with better jump-shot

And he was better than Jordan in College

Answer 21

I would say either Kareem or Magic. Magic passed like nobody ever before while Kareem was just too dominant.

Answer 22

kareem,magic,larry,kobe,wilt

one of those