Who are your Top Ten Players of all-time?

[drtom2005]

This was a talk in another thread about Kobe. I picked my players based on defining eras or changing the way the game was played. My list is below. I start to get stuck around 9. Who are yours?
1)Bill Russell
2)Michael Jordan
3)Wilt Chamberlain
4)Dr. J
5)Larry Bird
6)Magic Johnson
7)Shaq
8)George Mikan
9)Oscar Robertson?
10)Jerry West?
11)Kobe?
12)Tim Duncan?
13)Hakeem?

[jeebus86]

1.) Michael Jordan
2.) Magic Johnson
3.) Kareem Abdul Jabar
4.) Bill Russell
5.) Wilt Chamberlain
6.) Kobe Bryant
7.) Shaq
8.) Jerry West
9.) Dr. J
10.) Larry Bird
11.) Elgin Baylor
12.) Oscar Robertson
13.) Hakeem

[NickRadz23]

1.Bill Russell
2.Wilt Chamberlain
3.Michael Jordan
4.Oscar Robertson
5.Magic Johnson
6.Larry Bird
7.Julius Erving
8.Elgin Baylor
9.Kobe Bryant
10.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar


Had to edit it once or twice, but this is my final list. thanx

[WilyWestbrook0]

1) Jordan
2) Russell
3) Chamberlain
4) Oscar
5) Magic
6) Shaq
7) Bird
8) Hakeem
9) Kobe
10) Havlicek

Eh, I probably should include Mikan as he dominated his era..but given modernity, is he the same talent level as these other guys? My mom says he was, but I just don't have enough firsthand knowledge myself to judge.

[HIJACK12]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Bill Russell
3. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Magic Johnson
5. Shaq
6. Larry Bird
7. Hakeem The Dream
8. Oscar Robertson
9. John Stockton
10. Johnny Havilicek

Whenever these conversations come up, I always have 2 rules, they have to be retired, and that rings are very important.

[JesRey]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Bill Russell
3. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Magic Johnson
5. Shaq
6. Larry Bird
7. Hakeem The Dream
8. Oscar Robertson
9. John Stockton
10. Johnny Havilicek

Whenever these conversations come up, I always have 2 rules, they have to be retired, and that rings are very important.

Where's Robert Horry???

Here are mine:
1. Michael Jordan
2. Bill Russell
3. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Magic Johnson
5. Oscar Robertson
6. Kobe Bryant
7. Kareem
8. Larry Bird
9. Jerry West
10. Shaq

[jeebus86]

What? Nobody else appreciates The Captain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. I mean, he's only the leagues scoring leader, and has the record for the most MVPs. No big deal i guess.

[drtom2005]

What? Nobody else appreciates The Captain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. I mean, he's only the leagues scoring leader, and has the record for the most MVPs. No big deal i guess.

You know I have to watch more old footage on him sometime. I haven't seen enough or read enough about him.

[gatorboymike]

1. Wilt Chamberlain
2. Bill Russell
3. Michael Jordan
4. Magic Johnson
5. Larry Bird
6. Julius Erving
7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
8. Karl Malone
9. Jerry West
10. Elgin Baylor

[WilyWestbrook0]

Kareem is one of the all-time greats, no doubt, but he never was really the leader of his championship teams (Oscar and Magic were, IMO). The other guys I listed (including Kobe, finally, this season) are going to be or already were leaders of championship teams. I'd put Kareem in my top 15, but not top 10. I don't think he was greater than Russell, Wilt, Shaq, or Hakeem. He's all-time scoring champ in part because he played so many years..his scoring average is not the highest. And I don't think he really deserved a couple or so of his MVPs. But again, still a top 15 guy, but not top 10 for me.