I've been around and had 3 rd. row seats to see a lot of the great ones play. Wilt, Jerry West. Dr. J, Oscar, Walton, Jabbar, Magic, Bird, Jordan, Elgin Baylor ...Oh I'm sure I'm missing a bunch. However Magic stands out above all the rest. I know I will get plenty of laughs here but if I had to start a team and had my choice of all the best... I would start my team with Magic Man. He made everyone around him better and He helped Jabbar and the Lakers win a NBA Championship in his Rookie season when in the Championship final when Jabbar was injured, He took Jabbar's Center position and led the Lakers to the Championship by scoring 42 points and grabbing 17 rebounds as I recall. Some people forget that Michael Jordan's Bulls didn't win a Championship until Jordans 7 th. year as I recall. Do I think Magic is better than Jordan ? No.. but I believe they were by far the best 2 ever and actually very close in all around ability. Far closer than anyone gives Magic credit for. Also I will never say that Jordan won championship number 6 as his obvious pushoff that knocked the opponent to the ground has always proven to me that there were Jordan rules and then there were rules for the others. One must remember that Jordan got by with his push -off and it was on the opponents own court. there are many purists like me that still remember this blantant offensive foul that won the 6 th. so called Championship for Michael and his bulls. I hear it all the time here in Vegas by Mitch Moss on am 1120 !
I saw it. It happened and it's BS ! 5 Championships for Bulls and Jordan... not 6 ! JMHO
I saw it. It happened and it's BS ! 5 Championships for Bulls and Jordan... not 6 ! JMHO
Magic Johnson was a great player and probably the most unique of all time. I just dont understand how someone who has admitted many times including just recently on one of the pre game shows that he was not a good defensive player, can be considered the 2nd greatest player ever. Once again Magic Johnson was a GREAT player but not on both ends of the court. Lebron has yet to win a championship but he does not have Michael Cooper, James Worthy, Abdul Jabar and Byron Scott on his team. When and not if because he will win at least one championship- When Lebron wins one he will be recognized as the 2nd greatest ever. If he wins 6 or more he will be considered the best ever IMO.
Don't let my being from Michigan mean anything. I am only an hour from Chicago and hate all Michigan teams.
Magic was more a freak because he was a 6'8" PG. When he came into the league in '79 the typical PG were players like Phil Ford, Tiny Arcibald, Norm Nixon, Mo Cheeks. All were about 6'0" to 6'3" and were pass-first (except Maravich and Archibald). PG's didn't rebound either. Magic had a huge advantage physically over the other PG's. He could post them up and they were defenseless. He could move to other positions on the court, like Game 6 of the Finals in '80.
LeBron's physical advantage is much less than others at his position. I wonder is the added weight will be good for him as his career wears on. I like the guy, like his game, but I have seen his game played by others.
