Mount Rushmore should be for those that changed the game from a historical perspective, not necessarily who was the best. Since it is "NBA" that leaves the most obvious choices out, so no James Naismith or Abe Saperstein. Using that criteria, you have to go with Mikan, Russell, Dr. J, and Jordan. Those four define the major eras of modern NBA basketball. For those questioning Dr. J, you have to remember he had a ridiculous influence on both the way the game is played and the business of the game. When I was a kid, everyone had a Dr. J ABA ball and a pair of Dr. J Converse. Dr. J was the main reason the NBA-ABA merger happened the way it did. I still remember this si cover:
Modern Game Mt Rushmore: Magic, Bird, Jordan, Kobe (but will be replaced by Lebron real soon) Big Man (Old School Game) Mt. Rushmore: Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq Active Players Mt. Rushmore Lebron, Durant, Griffin, George
I sort of consider Moses Malone to be a Sixer, but if we included him, wouldn't the Rockets Mt. Rushmore be: Hakeem Olajuwon Moses Malone Calvin Murphy Elvin Hayes
I think there are two categories when considering the greatest ever. You can rate them based on how they compared against their own generation or you can rate them straight up against each other. Because I'm an optimist and think we as a human race are always improving from generation to generation, the modern day players are always better than players of the past if you compare them straight up. Also, there's technology in medical care and fitness that give modern day players an advantage. That said, everyone is going up against tougher competition than they did in the past. MJ was the first to really push himself with a personal trainer and complete fitness so he was always in better shape than his competition at the time. During the Magic/Bird era, they just played a lot of basketball to stay in shape. But after MJ became an icon to all those than mimicked him, it followed suit with his discipline off the court. Now most players have the military workout regimen like MJ so competition is tougher.
Taking into account popularity, what they did for the league, and accomplishments... Wilt Jordan Magic Bird Jordan's obvious. Seems weird to include only one of Magic/Bird without the other. And I just think Wilt was simply a much better individual basketball player than Russell and a bigger icon.
One more to add...Mt Rushmore for people (not just players) that made the NBA what it is today: 1. David Stern (Took league barely on TV to a global brand name) 2. Michael Jordan (Put NBA on the map in terms of marketability) 3. Jerry Buss (Turned the game from a sport to an entertainment medium...added Laker girls, celebrities in crowd, and timeout entertainment to Laker games and all teams followed suit) 4. Magic/Bird (How can they not be included as one? The set the foundation for the NBA that Jordan took to sky high)
Lebron will be there. KD...come back to ask me this question after he has become 2 times better a player than he is now and won at least 2 championships.
By decade, 1950s Mikan, Cousy, Arizin, and Pettit 1960s Russell, Wilt, West, and Big O 1970s Dr. J, Kareem, Gervin, and (toss up) Pistol Pete, Clyde Frazier, or Rick Barry 1980s Magic, Bird, MJ, and Isiah Thomas 1990s MJ, Olajuwon, Shaq, and Barkley 2000s Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, and LeBron 2010s Lebron, Durant, Paul, and (toss-up) Melo. I know I just pissed off a crop of Jazz and
I would put Wilt and Russell on there because of what they pioneered. MJ would be on there for sure. And probably LeBron for the last spot just because he is the greatest talent the league has ever seen. TOUGH to leave out other guys but there have been a lot of great players. Guys would get consideration: Magic Bird Kareem Hakeem Duncan Shaq Moses Oscar
Moses took this team to a finals in 81 and won 2 of his MVPs with the Rockets. He played on the Rockets for more years than he did with any other team. He absolutely is on there. Guys like Hayes (remembered more as a Bullet) and Drexler (remembered more as a Trailblazer) would be on a Houston Basketball Mount Rushmore imo but not a Rockets one
