Kobe Bryant: After Passing MJ, Where Does He Rank All-Time
The Locks
There will always be controversy as to what order these three legends fall into, but I would not consider anybody’s NBA opinion if they do not have these three in their list: Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell.
Unlike the MLB and the NFL, and really most other sports, there is a clear G.O.A.T. in basketball history. His name is Michael Jordan, and he is pretty darn good. Jordan’s career totals are not the best, but it’s his accomplishments that make him numero uno. MJ’s finals performances are what stand out the most, going a perfect 6-0 and walking away as the MVP in each. Some say, and I am a believer, that he would have won 8 in a row had he not decided to give baseball a try. My favorite Jordan stat is that he did not allow one finals series to go to seven games.
MJ’s legacy is unmatched, and his impact on the game of basketball is what shaped the modern NBA superstar. Dominant athleticism, fierce competitiveness, and highlight reel dunks make Jordan’s career above all else’s.
I have a hard time comparing bigs and guards, but the skill set that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar portrayed was more impressive than most guards. Jabbar shot a respectable 72% from the free throw line, compared to the other great big man, Jabbar was automatic from the line. Jabbar also had the most unstoppable shot in NBA history. The sky hook is why Jabbar was able to average 23.4 points per game at nearly 40 years old.
Jabbar’s 6 finals, and 6 regular season MVPs speak for themselves. Let’s not forget that Jabbar is the NBA’s all time leading scorer, and nobody will ever catch him.
The last of the “locks” is Bill Russell. Similarly to Chamberlain, Russell’s basketball skill wouldn’t even place him in the top 50. But, its the 11 championships that make Bill Russell’s career better than all but two players’. The man won 8 straight NBA titles, and holds the name in which the Finals MVP is named after.
Do I even need to mention his stats to sell him as a top three player ever?