PAGE 11 • June 2020
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Sports Take by MIKE LINDSLEY
Top 10 NBA Players of All-Time. As of this writing, we have been in quarantine for around eight weeks without sports. So we watch The Last Dance, watch old games (not me), read articles and books and…..make lists! ESPN recently came out with their top NBA players of all-time and of course it created controversy, which is what lists are intended to do (Russell Westbrook at 42 would be my bone to pick, as he should be way lower). Well, I haven’t done a lot of basketball historical stuff at the pro level, so I am doing a Top 10 NBA All-Time player list here. The list is based on criteria that includes the quality of the overall player, overall success like winning titles, because that is hugely important in basketball where one player can make such a difference, and overall impact on the game. No era-based stuff here. When you get to these short lists of the elite players, they all could play in any era. Enjoy. Rant. Agree. Disagree. Hit me on Twitter @MikeLSports with anything. You know I will respond.
2.Magic Johnson.
3. Bill Russell.
TABLE HOPPING
Bill Russell
Greatest point guard of all-time. Revolutionized the position at 6’9. Five NBA titles, nine Finals appearances. Averaged a double-double in points and assists in his career. Saved the league with Larry Bird. Imagine his fast breaks and no-look passes in today’s social media age. Played all five positions in the 1980 NBA Finals as a rookie, helping the Lake Show to victory with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. “Showtime Lakers?” Try “Showtime Magic.”
Michael Jordan
Changed the game with rebounds, blocks and a big man outlet for a fast break. 11 titles in 13 years. Arguably the greatest leader in team sports history. 11-time All-Star. Five NBA MVP awards. The only guy who could regularly stand-up to Wilt Chamberlain. Averaged 15.1 PPG and 22.5 RPG. continued on pg 12
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1.Michael Jordan.
“Be Like Mike.” There was only one player historically we all wanted to be like. From the post-up turn-around shots to the tongue out
Bikers e! m Welco
Magic Johnson
to the shoes to the Gatorade to the #23. MJ was so good at basketball that he won three titles, retired to play baseball, changed his workouts and rode buses and came back and won three more. Career stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG. 6-0 in the NBA Finals. Six Finals MVP awards. Five league MVP awards (should have been 6-8). Great defensive player as well. And his global impact is unmatched on and off the floor. More people play basketball around the world today because of MJ. Sneakers? He sells more than anyone in today’s game and has been retired nearly two decades. Bird and Magic may have saved the league, but this guy took the torch and made the game what it is today and forever. GOAT.
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