'Pound For Pound, Iverson is the Greatest Player Ever'

Sorry, folks, but I'd rather have our own Calvin Murphy.

 

Re: Magic -- 20% heavier is a lot! Was the competition as big when Jerry West and Archibald were playing???

Even so....that's pretty elite company you're comparing him to!

AI has got to be one of the most inspiring players of this era. I would have loved to have seen him on a decent team when he was in his prime.

 

wow.

 

Oh... wow... I've never played organized basketball and I think Iverson is the greatest player ever! I also think Marbury and Francis are great, true PG's! Guys who play with heart shouldn't be unanimously considered winners.

There are several players I can think of that would sweep the floor with Iverson thanks to skills AND basketball IQ. John Stockton, Isiah Thomas are just a few examples from the modern era.

 

Why can't a NBA player be the best pound for pound -- if Jordan, Hakeem, Chamberlain, Shaq, etc. were 5' 11" -- 155 pounds would they have won all those championships?

Some of you are also failing to take into consideration that 10% of his body weight is tattoo ink.

 

Iverson would have been an amazing WR or CB in the NFL.

He also would have been an extremely fun to watch QB.

 

Way to sarcastically bash points that no one made in this thread!

 

Way to be defensive and assume I was referring to people in this thread! People can mock society without pointing fingers.

 

Iverson would have been the ultimate striker in soccer -- if he had grown up playing the game his potential would have been unlimited.

 

I think Isiah would school him. My dad swear's up and down that Archibald was better, and believe it or not....Calvin Murphy. I was shocked that he named Murph because pops is a bonafide Rockets hater (we went to a Finals pep rally in 94 and he was cheering for the Knicks).

 

He grew up playing football as a QB if I remember right.

He was something like a top 10 QB in the nation coming out of high school.

 

he was the top player in high school in D.C in both sports, IN THE 11TH GRADE, remember, he spent the 12th in jail

 

Another thing people may not know about Murph is that he was an absolute bad-azz. Would fight at the drop of a hat and they didn't boot you out for several games back then. Heck, it took a lot to get kicked out of a game. Calvin had a rep that kept much bigger guys (well, everyone was bigger!) from messin' with him. A real warrior. Anyone who thinks the Rockets are a bit soft would love Murphy.

 

Deckard, I agree that pound for pound, Calvin is the greatest shooter of all time.

BTW, I believe that pound for pound the little girl I saw in my church league is the greatest basketball player ever. Iverson is too big to win this contest.

 

George Gervin might be a good bet. He was so thin that you'd get the height AND the scoring ability at about the same weight as AI or Murph.

AI vs. Murph in a fistfight would be interesting. My money would be on Calvin, but something tells me Iverson would make it difficult.

 

What was I defensive about? Keep up the great shadowboxing.

 

Iverson IMO is underrated as a player. The Phily team he lead was one of the better EC teams in the early part of this decade--they just ran into the best team of the decade--the Lakers, with Shaq at his prime + a great second fiddle (Kobe) + rock solid rotation role players. In terms of talent, determination, competitiveness and controlling a game in his peak--I'd take AI over Kidd, Tmac, Carter, etc.

As for the pound for pound issue, I don't have a problem with the analogy. It is used in boxing. I think Dr. J used to say Isiah was the toughest 6 foot player or something. Didn't have a problem with that perspective either.

Isiah and AI are certainly among the toughest 6 foot (w/o shoes) or under players, or pound for pound, or whatever. West I would exclude because he was 6'4", and height is more meaningfull in basketball. Paul I would not put at the peak level of Isiah or AI--but if he plays at his current level for a little while and leads his team to some playoff series wins, sure. Paul right now is more in KJ territory--spectacular but let's look at longevity/sustained level.

Can't say about Nate A versus Isiah or AI in terms of personal observation. But looking at his 71-73 seasons he sure looks special, and of course no 3 point rule which I am sure would have made him even better.
http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ARCHINA01

Stockton (listed 6'1" 175--guessing 6 foot w/o shoes) is in the mix too, but I don't think at his peak he had quite the impact of Isiah or AI. Looking at Bob Cousy, his shooting in a time with less defense and no 3 point line would make Rafer's look proud--I am guessing he is somewhat overrated, that other assist/low TO machines like Stockton or Kidd or Isiah were just better players, and those Celt teams would have been better with any of them instead of Cousy.

 

MJ could be the size of a bear and he would still be pound for pound, kilo for kilo, eV/c^2 for ev/c^2 the best player I have ever seen.

I'm pound for pound the best poster here though, clearly. =P