Debate and Discuss: Greatest player in history of each team

He's not wrong though.

Magic, Kareem, Shaq are all arguably better than Kobe.

Kobe has only won 2 rings and 1 mvp as the Lakers' best player. Shaq has won 3 rings and 1 mvp as the Lakers' best player.

 

Sorry, it was a poorly executed joke. I was saying that he was implying HE was the greatest Laker of all time.

 

I actually did this thread about 3 1/2 years back (here). Its interesting to see how perception may changed over time, though.

These were my answers back then:

Code:

Hawks          Bob Pettit
Celtics        Bill Russell
Hornets        Chris Paul
Bulls          Michael Jordan
Cavaliers      LeBron James
Mvericks       Dirk Nowitzki
Nuggets        Alex English
Pistons        Isiah Thomas
Warriors       Wilt Chamberlain
Rockets        Hakeem Olajuwon
Pacers         Reggie Miller
Clippers       Bob McAdoo
Lakers         Magic Johnson
Heat           Dwyane Wade
Bucks          Lew Alcindor
Timberwolves   Kevin Garnett
Nets           Jason Kidd
Knicks         Walt Frazier
Magic          Shaquille O'neal
76ers          Julius Erving
Suns           Charles Barkley
Trail Blazers  Clyde Drexler
Kings          Oscar Roberston
Spurs          Tim Duncan
SuperSonics    Gary Payton
Jazz           Karl Malone
Wizards        Wes Unseld
Raptors        Vince Carter
Grizzlies      Pau Gasol 
Bobcats        Gerald Wallace

I'd still put Bob Pettit over Dominique Wilkins for Hawks franchise. McAdoo for the Clippers (then the Buffalo Braves). I think Anthony may have overtaken English for the Nuggets, even though he didn't really accomplish all that much. Zach Randolph probably gets the node over Gasol for Grizzlies. And the Bobcats still have Gerald Wallace as their greatest player ever, which is pretty pathetic.

 

That's a really good list OP. My only major changes are...

Moses Malone is the best 76er. Sorry Dr. J
Bill Walton is the best Trailblazer. Sorry Clyde

and of course, Kareem as a Buck as others said.

There are minor other suggestions, but the above three I vigorously argue.

 

Durv, you wouldn't put KAJ above Magic? He had a higher peak and spent 14 years with the Lakers. Or are you making a concerted effort to not repeat players?

 

I think that can go either way. I probably gave Magic the edge because he was the Lakers best player through most of their 5 championships in the 80s. Kareem's peak with the Lakers was before Magic arrived when they were good, but not great.

Kobe has a legitimate argument for greatest Laker all-time as well. Shaq too, but he doesn't have the longevity.

 

Magic was the better Laker

 

Are you kidding me. Kareem as a Laker, pre Magic, was like Tracy McGrady. He never did anything in the playoffs and actually missed the playoffs completely. The Lakers actually sucked. They weren't great...they weren't good.

I think you need to look at the success of the Lakers when Kareem was there prior to Magic.

There is no excuse for his failure. Everyone knows Magic resurrected his career.

Even the movie Airplane made a joke of that with Kareem in the cockpit...for crying out loud.

 

Nuggets I'd put David "Skywalker" Thompson over Carmelo Anthony.

Also, Dan Issel and maybe even Allen Iverson (although he only played there 2 years)

 

btw...Next to Moses...I'd put AI and Barkley ahead of Dr J as the best 76er. I'm not even going to argue this.

 

You must think Erving was a very overrated player.

 

Not at all. I think Kareem is a very overrated player.

I think Moses is the best 76er ever...and I think AI and Barkley are underrated. I never said Erving was overrated.

Hell, I think the entire 76er organization is often forgotten. You can't claim a clear favorite here (other than Moses ), anymore than you can the Lakers and Celtics.

 

wow- KAJ overrated? some of you guys need to buy a vowel.

 

Yes, he is overrated if you think he is a top 5 player of all time. Many people do think that.

r e a l l y ... KAJ is a top five player. I never understood that.

You see, my definition of overrated players is they must first be considered great players. So, at of all the great players, who do you consider overrated in that group.

Who cares about average players, in a discussion of overrated players.

 

Rockets: Hakeem
Spurs: Duncan
Bulls: Jordan
Sonics/Thunder: Durant
Blazers: Walton
Warriors: Chamberlain
Kings: Robertson
Clippers: McAdoo
Hornets: Mourning
Lakers: Abdul-Jabbar
Magic: O'Neal
Hawks: Pettit
Suns: Barkley
Knicks: Ewing
Nets: Erving
Mavs: Dirk
Bobcats: Okafor
76ers: Malone
Celtics: Russell
Raptors: Carter
Grizzlies: Gasol
Pacers : Miller
Pistons: Thomas
Jazz: Malone
Cavs: James
Heat: James
Wolves: Garnett
Nuggets: Mutombo
Bucks: Alcindor
Bullets/Wizards: Hayes

 

Wizards- Michael Jordan

 

Magic kept the Lakers successful after Kareem got old and then retired. Vlade Divac took his place and LA reached the finals as late as 1991. And the HIV cut Magic's career short, or his accomplishments would look even better.
Kobe's stats will probably result in him being remembered as the greatest Laker ever, but my vote goes to Magic. He was one of a kind.

 

The Lakers were NEVER successful with Kareem, before Magic. Look it up. It's actually quite Tracy McGrady-esque pitiful, considering the reinvention of Kareem's success. Hell, he MISSED the playoffs twice in his prime...once with the Bucks and once with the Lakers

I think he might be the only player to win an MVP but fail to make the playoffs.

Hence why the movie Airplane had Kareem in the cockpit agreeing to this fact.

 

Hakeem lost in the first round four years in a row and then missed the playoffs in his prime, though I don't think you would say he was unsuccessful. Kareem won two MVPs in LA before Magic got there. The fact that his team didn't win titles without Magic hardly means he had no success. Many great players never won a title, but that doesn't mean they weren't great players.