If You Could Pick 5 NBA Players, Past or Present, To Create One Starting Lineup...

oh hell no, you arent winning (*)(*)(*)(*) without your clutch players.

 

There hasn't been a center in the NBA that could be mentioned in the same breathe with Kareem since Shaq was in his prime & very few in the history of the NBA period. Stick to football where you have a clue.

 

Seriously??!! I think your Laker Hate is drastically showing. By any measuring stick you want to use, Kareem is on the short list of the greatest centers in the history of the game, which include: Wilt, Russell, Hakeem, Shaq & Kareem, with Moses Malone(debatable whether F or C) & Walton(injury riddled career) just in or just out, depending on opinions. What in the world is your criteria again? Since you disparaged Russell's stats, we'll start with that. Kareem's career statistics are better than everybody elses except for Wilt's(for the record, Kareem had a higher playoff scoring avg. than Wilt, 24.3 to 22.5; A better shooting % in the regular season, .559 to .540 & in the playoffs, .533 to .522 & let's not even bring up free throw shooting). Kareem had a longer career than everybody else & that brought down some of his career averages.
Kareem won 6 regular season MVP trophies, more than ANYBODY in the history of the NBA. He won more Championships than Wilt, Hakeem & Moses Malone combined & as many as Walton & Shaq combined. And by the way, Kareem wasn't the "Robert Horry" on any of his Championships or the tag-a-long like Walton & Shaq were their last titles.
As far as Bill Russell goes, his stats just didn't matter. The dude was a leadership genius & his basketball IQ was off the charts. Wilt was an egomaniac & a basketball mental midget compared to Russell. I'd be willing to bet that Wilt, with the best team that he played on, couldn't beat Russell's best team in a 7 game series even if they played ten of 'em in a row.
Russell may be the only center I would possibly put ahead of Kareem.
Who are these "many centers that were better" than Kareem?
PS: Just to let you know, I'm more than OK with your pick of Hakeem as your center. It's your team & your pick in who you would want to "go to war with".
Although I view Wilt as was of the greatest players, not just centers, in the history of the NBA, a top ten all-timer for sure, I wouldn't want him anywhere near "my" team. Just my opinion.

 

Again, he was great for his time. Put a prime Kareem into todays NBA and he's not half the player he was. Put Kareem in the low post against a prime Shaq and he would get manhandled. A 225 lb Kareem against a 320 lb Shaq - I'll take Shaq in that matchup any day. He would be completly outmuscled in the paint.

Ali is considered the greatest boxer ever, yet a Klitschko would mop the floor with a prime Ali. Think Babe Ruth would have batted .690 today? Think Jesse Owens could run with Usain Bolt? You're living in the past, wake up and smell the athletic superiority of todays athlete.

 

Steve Nash
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
The Doctor
Wes Unseld

 

I included him. How could anybody not?

 

Really, are we so quick to forget about the Admiral? David Robinson was a master of his craft.

 

The best college team ever was probably that team that had Alcindor, Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Henry Bibby and Mike Warren (they also had a left-handed shooter, can't remember his name). I saw them play Notre Dame just after ND came off the best recruiting class in the country. Wooden came onto the court and opened his program like it was the first time he had scouted ND, and then UCLA abused ND the whole afternoon.

 

NBA.com has Kareem listed at 267 lbs.(I think he 225 when he first came in the league). I get your point & I don't disagree that Shaq's girth would be a problem for Kareem & every other center in the history of the game. But I seriously doubt that Shaq could have made a dent in Kareem's sky hook & in just about every other phase of the game, Kareem was better. The "best" centers of today are Howard(260 lbs.) & Bynum(285 lbs.), right? Well, Bob Lanier & Moses Malone were in 250 to 260 range & neither Howard or Bynum could shine there shoes as offensive players. In fact, Howard's "offensive" game is in the Darryl Dawkins range, otherwise known as the Neanderthal Division. Kareem did more than ok against players that were heavier than him & I'm quite sure he would do fine now. Kareem's footwork is something most centers of today could only dream of.
Pretty much whatever sport you're talking, the game has changed, but for the most part the only thing that separate's the "old" players players from today's players is training...NOT talent, instincts or desire. You need to look at your bias.

 

NBA.com has Kareem listed at 267 lbs.(I think he 225 when he first came in the league). I get your point & I don't disagree that Shaq's girth would be a problem for Kareem & every other center in the history of the game. But I seriously doubt that Shaq could have made a dent in Kareem's sky hook & in just about every other phase of the game, Kareem was better. The "best" centers of today are Howard(260 lbs.) & Bynum(285 lbs.), right? Well, Bob Lanier & Moses Malone were in 250 to 260 range & neither Howard or Bynum could shine there shoes as offensive players. In fact, Howard's "offensive" game is in the Darryl Dawkins range, otherwise known as the Neanderthal Division. Kareem did more than ok against players that were heavier than him & I'm quite sure he would do fine now. Kareem's footwork is something most centers of today could only dream of.
Pretty much whatever sport you're talking, the game has changed, but for the most part the only thing that separate's the "old" players players from today's players is training...NOT talent, instincts or desire. You need to look at your bias.

 

Sorry, but I don't put him in Shaq & Kareem's category(as a center), but that's just my opinion. He was a great player & all, but I thought of him as more of a forward, but, again, it's just my opinion.

 

Wes Unseld...The man who may not have invented the outlet pass, but he surely perfected it. Didn't care for him in his playing days, Kareem adversary & all, but the guy was as hard nosed as they came. He was undersized for a center, but the dude could play the game.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareem_Abdul-Jabbar

My ass he weighed 265. The dude was a tooth pick. Maybe towards the end of his career, but (*)(*)(*)(*) sure not in his prime...And we've already gone over this - he did great for his time, and that's all. Putting him up against a prime Shaq would be a mauling. Shaq would muscle him around, out rebound him 2 to 1 and have his way on the in the paint. I can't even believe I'm debating this.

TALENT!!! How are you going to deny the huge level of talent difference in the NBA 30 years ago to today? THe number of kids who play basketball today vs. 30 years ago is miles apart, we're talking millions more. And with those millions comes more talent. Training is far better in every aspect of athletics. Dietary measures, etc. What used to be considered a great athlete 30 years ago, today is just another guy on the court or field.

 

Wow, I just notice how you contradict yourself with your choice of Charles Barkley & Isiah Thomas on your team. Sir Charles admits to being "only" 6'4 & Thomas was 6'0, if that, yet they are the starters on your team? Of course I don't take issue with that because A)It's your team & your opinion & B) THE DUDES WERE GREAT & COULD PLAY THE GAME, NO MATTER THE ERA.
So I call your bluff & say you are full of it. If the great players of yore had the access to training of today they'd dominate even more. Right now, all the major leagues are watered down with mediocre talent.
Wasn't David Robinson somewhat of a peer of Shaq? He wasn't far off of Kareem's size(NBA.com has him listed at 7'1 & 250). Why didn't Shaq double Robinson's stats like you say Shaq would to Kareem? 'Cause your full of it, that's why.
I also notice you don't bring up the "great" centers of today. I'll assume you concede that they can't shine Kareem's shoes.
I'll also agree that you "can't even believe you are debating this", because you are dead wrong.

 

I put those two on my team b/c I liked them as players, goofball, not because they were the best in the world at the game. You know what you look like when you assume, right?

LOL. If you consider them watered down with mediocre talent today, then what do you consider them 30 years ago with inferior athletes?

Good grief. David Robinson could probably lift twice as much as Kareem in the weight room, had 25-30 lbs on Kareem, and did get mauled by Shaq on numerous occasions.

No, because I try not to randomly change the topic. And no, if you think Kareem would step into today league and dominate like he did in the 70's, I can only laugh.

Again, no. I can't believe it because I feel like I'm debating a semi retarded child, and that even that stupid child should know better. The same type that say Bruce Lee would whip Anderson Silva, the same type that think Ali could hang with today's HW's. It's like you're living in a alternate universe where athletes don't actually get better through time...and for you to say players of old are as talented as the ones today - that really sums up your ridiculous argument.

 

5 out of ten are Lakers....Why not throw in West, Baylor and Chaimberlain?

 

Not the top 5 best players at their positions, but a team I think would gel well.

PG- Steve Nash
SG- Reggie Miller
SF- LeBron James
PF- Tim Duncan
C- Shaquille O'Neal

 

Well first of all even though I am a laker fan are you really gonna deny the trio of bird, Jordan and magic? Those 3 are probably the first 3 names you think of when someone brings up greatest players ever. Magic arguably the very best pg of all time, and considering the man is a true hybrid who could play every position from pg to pf , yeah I want him as my starter. I mean also let's not forget the damage that was dealt in the nba by bird, Malone,Jordan, and magic not only in the nba, but the world as well. So yeah no brainer.

Kareem, I mean he is only the the NBA's all time leading scorer and his defense was also very solid. Yes I'll take Kareem over any other center in nba history to play on my all time squad.

And then Kobe and lebron as teammates can't be denied, they may be arch rivals but together they are seriously deadly. And you really gonna hate on James worthy? Oh and shaq was on more than just the lakers, he dominated on evey team he was with.

And sorry I'm not gonna put "the logo" on my greatest squads, he was good but Maravich was much better and I didn't even throw him in there.

Don't get mad that the lakers have a great legacy of hall of famers lol and overall greatest players in the nba.

 

I feel Lebron has Magic's versatility as well, he can play any position. He was asked the other day what position he plays, and he replied with "I entered the NBA as a small forwarded, I don't know now." I agree with that, he can play any position.

As far as the dream team goes, it may even be fun to break it down. You can have a defensive, offensive, and "flash". Flash would be the...strange individuals over the years. Dennis Rodman, etc.

You guys have done better than I have, as far as coming up with a list. Every player I pick I think of another that puts up a good argument.

I would start with Lebron and Magic, because of their versatility. After that I'm stuck.

 

Since your evolutionary ascent has seemed to descend into name calling, I'll give my last response on the subject & then you can give yours.
A baby born 100 years ago, 50 years ago or today are no different from each other, other than the environment that they are brought up in, with better education & medical science available in the womb & as they grow up, in theory at least. Athletes & potential athletes have better training methods, coaching available, diet & so on, than ever before. If you want to believe humans are evolving into greater athlete, well, whatever.
And no I did not "randomly change the subject" ...You stated "He was great for his time.....But much like Muhammad Ali, he would get destroyed against a top tier athlete from 2013."
You keep bring up Shaq, but he's retired & hasn't been relevant for 8 years now.
At least I see why you're so cranky, with your Buckeyes having their lunch handed to them by Illinois. Have a nice day.

 

Um, Olajuwon would like a word with you...

 

Steve Nash is legit at the point, though, I'd still go with Magic, or even CP3 over Nash...

 

That would be dangerous right there...

Nash would have so many outlets on the floor, like he should right now...

 

For defense, I'd add Scottie Pippen.

If you include Jordan, you have to include Pippen.

The dynamic duo of the Bulls' dynasty...

I'd argue, more successful than Wade/Lebron...

I don't think the Heat will repeat on the level of the Bulls' 1990's absolute domination of the NBA.

 

I didn't include Pip because I think LBJ & Duncan are far superior forwards overall...

But, it can't be denied that Pip was integral to the Bulls' success in the 90's...