All Time Franchise Best Players
by Hoopachoo on Aug 19, 2008 11:14 AM PDT
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PrintESPN has an interesting report up on who the fans think are the all time best NFL players for each particular franchise. Since there is like nothing NBA going on right now (except for the Olympics of course) I thought I'd try to do the same for each NBA team. This is of course just my opinion, some I'd think everyone would agree on, and some maybe you could argue with. By the way, my criteria was that the player could be anyone in the Franchise's history, so for example anyone that played on the Rochester/Cincinatti Royals would be eligible for the Sacramento Kings. Also, if a player was recognized as a great player, but played most of his career with another team, I tried not to put him on the team he only played one season for. Anway, here are my results:
Golden State Warriors: Rick Barry. I considered Wilt, but I knew him better as a Sixer/Laker. Mullin, Richmond and Hardaway I considered, but Barry brought the Bay a championship. I'm hoping that in ten or fifteen years, there will be no argument that Monta will be the Warrior's all time best.
Los Angeles Clippers: Bob McAdoo (Buffalo Braves).
Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson. Lot of great Lakers (pun intended), including Wilt, Jerry West, Kareem, Connie Hawkens, and of course Shaq and Kobe. I'd still take Magic over all of them.
Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash.
Sacramento Kings: Big O - Oscar Robertson (Cincinatti Royals). If you kept it to Sac-Town, I'd give it to either of our boys, Richmond or Webber (yes I'm a Homer).
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki.
Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajawon. (Although Moses Malone is tough not to pick).
Memphis Grizzlies: Pau Gasol?
New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul (already).
San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan. The Admiral gets an honorable mention.
Denver Nuggets: Alex English. Was gonna go with A.I., but he's better known as a Sixer, and did you know that Alex English scored more points than any other player in the decade of the 80's (unless I can't trust Wikipedia)?
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett.
Oklahoma City TBA's: I'll go with Gary Payton over Ray Allen.
Portland Trailblazers: Clyde Drexler. But they have 4 guys on their team currently who could take this over.
Utah Jazz: John Stockton (Pistol Pete was a favorite of mine though).
Boston Celtics: Larry Bird. Again, like with the Lakers, so many great players, and I'd like to give it to Oakland Star Bill Russell, but don't you have to go with the Legend?
New Jersey Nets: I'm going with Jason Kidd. (I like Oakland Point Guards).
New York Knicks: Walt Frazier.
Philadelphia 76'ers: Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt only spent 3 seasons in Philly, but there was that little Championship against the '67 Warriors, and I had to put Wilt on this list, so sorry A.I., Barkley, and Dr. J.
Toronto Raptors: Vince Carter or Chris Bosh? I can't pick one. Actually I will - Carter.
Chicago Bulls: Bill Wennington. Just kidding. Michael Jordan.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Lebron James.
Detroit Pistons: Isiah Thomas.
Indiana Pacers: Reggie Miller.
Milwaukee Bucks: Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabar). Kareem is better known as a Laker, but he had great numbers with the Bucks, and I had to get him on the list. So I've broken my own rule twice now, but thems the breaks.
Atlanta Hawks: Bob Petit (Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks). I was gonna put 'Nique here, but check those crazy-good career stats for Petit - 26.4 ppg, 16.2 rpg, 3.0 apg. I know it was a different era, but daaayyymn. He's a player I wish I could've seen play.
Charlotte Bobcats: Because of my own stupid criteria, I'll pick Emeka Okafor over Jason Richardson. But I'd rather have Richardson on my team.
Miami Heat: Dwayne Wade.
Orlando Magic: Shaquille O'Neal.
Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas.
This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!
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u do realize u will get......
the same answers as a previous post asking whose warriors jerseys should be retired right?
i will keep mine the same then.
Best Goldden State Warrior Ever = Tom Gugliotta
Nice list
A couple quibbles…
• Russell should be the Celtic, hands down (11 rings say hi).
• The Wizards are the Bullets, so Arenas probably shouldn’t even in the Top 5. Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, Earl Monroe, Gus Johnson, Chris Webber…
• I’d probably put David Thompson or Dan Issel over Alex English as the Nugget
Otherwise, I think you mostly nailed them.
Don't mess with ^^^^ !!
Yep
I was gonna put Hayes and then the unabashed homerism took over. And I could definitely see Russell over Bird, but in that case I gave it to someone who I saw play more – I guess I was more subjective then objective in some of my picks.
russell on the celtics… obviously. I think even Larry would tell you that.
Rafael Rodriguez: Pretty young!
by BrianBokake on Aug 19, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions
i'm sure bird would tell you that
but he was still the better player. not by much, but i’d give him the title of ‘best celtic’ by a hair.
by giving wilt the sixers
you have to give dr. j the nets. the same logic applies. it makes no sense to leave him off the list altogether and he led the nets to two championships. he was only there briefly, but it has to be him over kidd.
and okc can’t have payton or allen, their history stays in seattle, per a judge’s decision. so by default i guess their best player is whoever played the best in this year’s summer league for them.
Good point
on OKC – is it Durant by default?
Russel Westbrook FTW
Tony.psd = Da Man
http://nbaokc.blogspot.com/
Check Out My New Blog! (Don't Worry, The Warriors are Still #1)
-1
Barkley played 4 of his 16 NBA seasons with the Suns. He’s probably the “best player ever to play for the Suns” —like MJ is best player ever to player for the Wiz — but I don’t think he’s the all-time Best Sun. Yeah, he was much more productive than MJ was for the Wiz, but his four best seasons, statistically, were all with Philly.
Not sure about Nash either, though: he’s also played only four seasons with Phoenix, hasn’t led his team to the finals, and is starting to decline. By way of a nominee for “Best Sun” … how about Berkeley’s own Kevin Johnson?
• 12 seasons, all but half a season with PHO
• Unquestioned team leader for most of his career
• Winning record in 11 of his 12 full seasons, >50 wins in 9 of them
• Career 20.7 PER
• Career 49.3% FG, 84.1% FT
I’m KJ, dammit!!!
Don't mess with ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Aug 19, 2008 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions
some love for kj
he was a fantastic player who certainly was a bigger part of the phoenix organization than barkley. people seem to forget just how great of a player he really was, i still give the nod to nash, but kj has to be number two.
No Nash 4 Me
Nash won two MVP’s with the Suns, and both of them were extremely arguable (maybe I’m just hating on the guy, but I don’t like the idea of calling players who don’t play any defense the most valuable in the entire league. However, Barkley did win one MVP while with the Suns, and even more importantly, he got the them to the finals (which he might’ve won if not for that Jordan guy :^)). Bottom line, Barkley’s the greatest Sun thus far, hands down. If anybody’s capable of knocking him out of the top spot, it’s probably Amare.
Not buying my KJ argument, huh?
IIRC, he got the Suns to the finals, too. He was the straw that stirred the drink. And with his crazy quickness, he was as tough a matchup for the Bulls as Sir Charles.
Factor in the eight extra seasons he played for the Suns, and I don’t see how one can vote Barkley. Maybe someone should poll a Suns blog?
Don't mess with ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Aug 20, 2008 6:04 AM PDT up reply actions
I buy the KJ argument. For a while, he was the top non-Magic point guard in the game. I know that fg% and scoring in general were up in that era but he was still amazing. If one has to play for some period of time to be identified as the franchise all-time great, then I’d give KJ the nod in Phoenix.
Favorite KJ memory: "Hello, Dream"
I pray i never have to use a gun again...
...unless i'm at a strip club parking lot...
...and somebody tries to run me over with their car...
...But how often does that happen??
Factor in the eight extra seasons he played for the Suns
Is it a longevity award or a best player award? I’d have to go with the fat man or amare based on pure game.
Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me
by Skeptic con Urquell on Aug 20, 2008 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, read the thread title
“All Time Best Franchise Players.”
I think it’s a little open for interpretation, but just as in Hall of Fame voting, longevity has to be a factor, no? If it’s just based on “game,” why isn’t MJ the all-time best Wizard?
Don't mess with ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Aug 20, 2008 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions
But sniffle, sniffle
Nash would have taken the Suns to the championship if it weren’t for Robert Horry. Drat you Horry! You took away my dream of watching a short, skinny white guy holding the NBA Finals MVP trophy. I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied with him winning* two MVP trophies.
When you think of Nash you think of Phoenix AND Dallas. When you think of Barkley, you think of Phoenix AND Philly. When you think of KJ, you think of Phoenix. That has to enter the equation. If Lebron goes to the Knicks and wins a few championships, does that make him the “franchise player” for two teams? If not, which one?
- - winning an award is not necessarily contingent on earning it.
by Dubs fan in Boston on Aug 21, 2008 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions
bobcats
dont see emeka okafor as the pick,
j-rich is more reasonable, after one year he’s already shown himself to b a consistent scorer and proven leader.
emeka was chosen 2 b their franchise cornerstone, but as a lottery pick, he’s not really shown his true potential, and has barely put up starter-esque statistics.
other than that, nice post, i would agree on them all
Thank you, Dubs.
If
you wouldn’t start 14 points 11 rebounds then you would be a terrible coach. Also, he has no big man help and he is playing out of position.
by boomdizzleness on Aug 19, 2008 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions
j-rich
played one season as a bobcat. i know they haven’t been around that long, but he wasn’t even spectacular there. i’d take the guy who’s been there all along putting up solid numbers (okafor), over the guy who just got there a year ago and put up solid numbers (j-rich). if j-rich was an mvp candidate in his one year there, then you could talk about it, considering the franchise’s brief history, but the time spent with the team has to matter at least a little.
nice list
i think zo for the heat, Dr. J for the 76ers and kemp for the sonics
be the change you wish to see in the world.
kemp?
kemp was short lived…i like gary payton for the sonics but how bout Dennis Johnson? or Jack Sikma? or Gus Williams? or Nate McMillan…coulda gone a lotta ways with this one
Atlanta Hawks: Bob Petitt
Boston Celtics: Bill Russell
Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Wallace
Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan
Cleveland Cavaliers: Lebron James
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki
Denver Nuggets: Alex English
Detroit Pistons: Isiah Thomas
Golden State Warriors: Rick Barry
Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olojowan
Indiana Pacers: Reggie Miller
Los Angeles Clippers: Bob McAdoo
Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson
Memphis Grizzlies: Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Miami Heat: Alonzo Mourning
Milwaukee Bucks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett
New Jersey Nets: Jason Kidd
New Orleans Hornets: Glen Rice
New York Knicks: Patrick Ewing
Orlando Magic: Shaquille O’Neil
Philadelphia 76ers: Julius Erving
Phoenix Suns: Kevin Johnson
Portland TrailBlazers: Clyde Drexler
Sacramento Kings: Oscar Robertson
San Antonio Spurs: David Robinson
Toronto Raptors: Vince Carter
Utah Jazz: Karl Malone
Washington Wizards: Wes Unseld
Seattle Supersonics: Gary Payton
by Mr. Monday Night on Aug 20, 2008 5:00 PM PDT reply actions
Best Player of All Time
Adonal Foyle
Comeon, you knew I had to say it!
Tony.psd = Da Man
http://nbaokc.blogspot.com/
Check Out My New Blog! (Don't Worry, The Warriors are Still #1)
by Zorgon on Aug 20, 2008 6:18 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Larry Bird?
Sorry can’t pass up on the GREATEST DEFENSIVE CENTER EVER who created, perfected and defined Celtic Pride: Bill Russel. I think Bird would even agree, seeing as how Russel could let him borrow a few rings if need be….
I like the K.J. pick, and even though it’s completely independent of any statistical merit, I loved watching the left handed bomb he threw down on Hakeem every time the NBA on NBC broadcasts would start back in the day.
And some love please for Mr. Ewing… if it wasn’t for M.J. he would have his ring. A stalwart defender and amazing competitor, Ewing was the face of New York and happened to be part of my personal non-Warrior favorite team. Every time the Knicks dressed to play from 92-96 the opponents feared their physical well-being.
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