SLAMMED

Yes, I know right off the bat many are going to have a problem with me taking SLAM to task over putting "The [Alleged] G.O.A.T." in the top spot. First, it's almost impossible to compare eras and the players that played in them. How to compare Jordan to Robertson? Shaquille O'Neal to Wilt? Well, that's upon which sports debates are built. To the people who say Jordan is "unquestionably" the greatest, I have one question: why? He doesn't possess the most rings. Bill Russell does [11!]. Heck, even Robert Horry has more [seven]. He isn't the all-time scoring champ. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is. Finals and regular season MVPs? Yes, Jordan has a plethora but remember, the awards -- specifically the Finals MVP -- wasn't even created until the season after Russell retired. In fact, Russell is such a great winner that the NBA renamed the Finals MVP the "Bill Russell Award." An award that its inaugural recipient, Kobe Bryant, was just awarded last week...more on his status later. Some claim Jordan's overall competitiveness as a reason to end this debate. What, Russell, Robertson, Magic, Kobe, Walt Frazier, etc., didn't want "it" as much? Some say his high-flying attributes pushed him over the top. Julius "Dr. J" Erving was just as adept. In fact, Erving beget Jordan, Connie Hawkins beget Dr. J, and Elgin Baylor beget all! And not to sound facetious but Jordan's overwhelming popluarity wasn't just his other-worldly talents but he was the founding father of the new age media machine that pumped out 24/7 opinions and analysis, and shoved these analyst's opinions down our throats. Jordan's talents + the ESPN age = this G.O.A.T. character. This isn't to kill Jordan -- or the voters -- but let's kill that noise that it's a slam dunk Jordan is without a doubt the greatest. His 30.1 career scoring average is tops all-time; and his 10 scoring titles, five regular-season MVPs/six Finals MVPs stand on its own. But simmer down with all this talk that no one else is even in the discussion. In my opinion, Jordan is definitely in the top five overall, and unquestionably the top shooting guard ever. Ask any old-timer over 50 who had the pleasure of spanning the Russell, Wilt, Magic, Bird, and Jordan eras, and most will verbally hit you over the head with this same argument.

Which brings me to my personal #1 overall draft pick: Wilt! He was the most dominating force ever...sorry Shaq, he was. Wilt changed the game. Rules were literally changed to try and slow him down. He once scored 100 points in a game. 55 rebounds in one game. Led the NBA in assists once. Never fouled out. Played all but eight minutes in one season. Dominated Russell statistcally, despite Russell being widely considered the greatest defender ever. The fact Russell hoared all the rings during Wilt's stint, isn't a true reflection on Chamberlain. Rather, it just showed how insanely deep those Celtics were, never having less than five Hall of Famers on its roster during that stretch. Remember, when the talent pool was finally even, Wilt's 1967 Sixers team wiped up Russell's Celtics in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

As a Lakers fan, my heartstrings also tug towards Magic. But don't get it twisted: this is not a biased pick, either. I just feel Magic could do just as much as Jordan. Surely, Magic could've went for 30 a night. A 6'9 point guard who could get to the tin at will; and when there, bust you inside with either hand is unguardable. It just happened that Magic was surrounded by Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy -- a glarig omission on SLAM's list, I might add. Magic's role didn't call for him to be primary scorer, but he could've if asked. I feel he was more of an all-around threat than Jordan. You want stats? Magic nearly averaged a triple-double for his career: 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. And throw in two steals per. You want versatility? Magic played all five positions. Jordan could never do that. Magic, as a 20-year old rookie, hung 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists on the Sixers in the deciding game of the 1980 Finals -- while playing center for an injured Abdul-Jabbar. Re-read that line and think that over. Only one guy before Magic -- Robertson -- could hang with those stats. And certainly no one since...although LeBron James may be the closest [more on him later, too]. And Magic did this all this in a far more competitive era than Jordan. Imagine if any of those 80's Lakers teams or 80's Celtics teams traded eras with Jordan's Bulls and were able to feast on expansion and the wave of high schoolers like Jordan's Bulls did! Jordan wouldn't have six rings, while Magic's five and Bird's three would've been upped...way upped!

Next beef goes to SLAM having Shaq at #4 all-time! Maybe it was for the best that I wasn't invited to pool together this list because NOT having Magic in at least the Top 5 is hot garbage. Having Shaq as #4 all-time is a farce. He's a Top 5 center all-time in my opinion, falling behind Wilt, Kareem, Russell, and Hakeem Olajuwon, but all-time?! No way...and I'm a "Shaq Guy."

Even this Laker fan/Celtic hater can admit Bird should be higher than say a Tim Duncan; also Kevin McHale was too low; and if this is a CAREER achievements list and not a PROJECTION, can someone tell me why LeBron is ahead of Dominique Wilkins? LeBron may be the most talented player ever, just based on sheer given-talent, size, strength, and speed, but let's stop with this HoF coronation already. He's barely won anything, barely scratched the surface, and hasn't accomplished anything near what 'Nique and Worthy had. Dennis Rodman, either. "The Worm" over "Big Game James"? Yikes!

As for James's contemporary, Bryant, I think #12 is about right for now. But he's climbing; especially if he adds more rings. Remember, it's officially his team, he'll only be 31 by the start of the season, and outside of Derek Fisher, no one else in the Lakers' main rotation is over 29. Scary. Check back in 10 years and maybe Bryant will in fact rival Wilt and Magic...or maybe even this G.O.A.T. guy.

Below is the complete list. Enjoy and debate!
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 Petit
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. Dominque Wilkins
44. Dave Cowens
44. Ice Man Gervin
46 Bob McAdoo
47. Earl "The Pearl" Monroe
48. Dennis Rodman
49. Walt Bellamy
50. Steve Nash

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