Are you kidding me? Russell dominated the league like no player has. He took down teams that had both Chamblerlain and Oscar.
Unless LeBron tears an ACL, I seriously doubt it, he impacts the game in so many ways besides scoring, Durant is a great scorer but will never be as good a defender.
I mean Russell #1 and Oscar #3. Usually people who put Russell #1 really value team ball, championships, and being a great team player on top of great player. Oscar contrasted greatly to that type of player. So usually when people put Russell #1, it's those things to use, so having Oscar that high, and higher than Wilt is surprising. I don't think I've seen that before
See this is true. I agree, LeBron makes his living on defense and passing. Scoring though, the crown goes to Durant. I haven't seen someone score like him in a LONG time.
Durant was a good defender this year. He's improved but Lebron is still better when he puts forth the effort. Lebron coasted defensively a lot of the year or it was the minutes he played over the past few years catching up to him.
Really not sure why Wall passed up that 3. I guess the play did not call for it, but he was WIDE open
Yeah, actually that might be the last time. The most amazing thing about his shooting and why he's so good at it, is his height when he releases. He goes over every defender in the league. You can't defend his shot unless you catch it from behind.
Scoring is how you win. Durant is the best at that. Also he won the award for being the best player, and is only getting better, and has a longer career ahead of him. If I'm starting a team right now from scratch, I'm taking KD first overall every single time. Take this all with a grain of salt. I recognize that I'm bias, and have only been really getting into basketball for a few years now, not decades like some of you guys.
Or you can stop the other guy from scoring. Lebron does that better and can guard more people. And Lebron can score and rebound and has incredible passing vision to let other people score too. Lebron is the better player.
Durant was definitely improved defensively but LeBron is such a freak of nature athletically that its hard for others to even compete for best player, he really is like MJ of his generation, just nowhere near the mental assassin.
Agreed but the presence LeBron has in a game is unheard of. He demands so much attention it's not even funny. Look at today for example. The last shot of the game went to whom? Westbrook. Should they have gotten it to Durant? Absolutely. But LeBron James would have never not taken that shot. He's the Jordan of this time. He's the guy you can ALWAYS rely on to take your final shot. I don't think Durant is there yet. He will be one day, but not right now.
I actually disagree. Lebron will get the best shot more often than not. He understands his ability to hit a shot vs an open for 3 for Ray Allen for example. His midrange game feels like it has gotten more consistent and better, but he understands balancing when he just needs to end the game and when he can create a GREAT opportunity for someone else.
Love Kobe, MJ lite right there, I hope he can stay healthy though I'd hate to see his career end without a great year.
He's closer to MJ is the way he approaches basketball than Lebron and Durant. Those two just defy typical NBA positions and conventions.
I don't know man. Even that finals game where Ray Allen took that huge shot, it was off a pass after a LeBron miss. The only way I don't see him taking the shot is because he is being double teamed. He's the guy you look for to take that last shot. That Ray Allen shot was off a missed LeBron shot and was a step back throw up.
Also when deciding the best player/s of all-time, I think it's too hard for the NBA. For example, in the NFL if you made a list of ten best players ever, would you put Otto Graham on there? No of course not. What about Y A Tittle? Hell no. But in the NBA you're going to include Wilt? Why? All these guys are from an era of little to no competition. If these players were around in their prime in this day of age, they would be good sure, but wouldn't be thought of as all time greats. Every time I look at any page of NBA records, it's so disappointing to see 90% of them held by Wilt. It was a different game back then, and imo the stats shouldn't count. When talking football, do people bring up the pre-superbowl era? No, hardly ever...so why is it different when talking NBA? I want to see the best players, records, etc of the last 30 years, not last 70.
