Welcome to part three of our six-part series to figure out the greatest player in NBA history. We are down to the final 16 in hypothetical dream bracket of NBA greats that spans all generations and eras.
Last round saw some truly special talents get eliminated (including some that are amongst the top 16 players in NBA history overall in my opinion) including most notably Hakeem Olajuwon, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Scottie Pippen and Walt Frazier to name a few.
We also have one quasi Cinderella story remaining in the field (if that’s possible in this hypothetical tournament) as 12th seeded Kevin Durant has conquered a couple of old-time legends in Elgin Baylor and John Havlicek to set up a showdown with top-seeded Larry Bird.
Before we jump into the dream matchups that are pervasive throughout the Sweet 16, here again is a brief breakdown of the four regions:
Floor Generals:
This region includes the best point guards in NBA history.
Sensational Scorers:
This bracket is full of the best shooting guards in NBA history
All-Around Athletes:
This bracket includes the best small forwards of all-time
Men in the Middle:
This highly competitive bracket features the best centers and power forwards in NBA history
Floor General Region:
(1)Magic Johnson over (4) John Stockton
This is a matchup of the two best pure passers in NBA history, and the league top two all-time assist leaders. One of which is the antithesis of what a true point guard should be: a tough, leader who is a pass-first player who makes his teammates better and can knock down a shot from anywhere on the court when needed. The other took the point guard position to new heights literally and figuratively as a once in a lifetime 6’9” talent who possessed the ball handling and passing ability to play the point guard position better than anyone had ever seen and be a constant match up nightmare.
In my view Stockton’s toughness, unselfishness, leadership, sweet stroke, defense and longevity make him the greatest true point guard in NBA history, but Magic’s out of this world ability and success at the NBA level and unmatched success at the point guard position with five championships, three MVP’s and three NBA Finals MVP’s mean that Magic was the greater overall player and has to move on here.
(2)Oscar Robertson over (3) Isiah Thomas
This is a brutally tough matchup of two supremely talented and feisty players. I feel like in our hypothetical tournament this would have been a OT thriller and an instant classic. Thomas won two NBA titles back to back in the NBA’s most competitive era with a young Jordan and Magic and Bird at the tail end of their primes. Oscar Robertson averaged an incredible 26-9-7 over his career including averaging a triple-double for an entire season and has an NBA MVP award and a championship to his name. As incredible as Thomas was, the “Big O” changed and revolutionized the game with his ability and was the most versatile player the league had ever seen in its. It will be Magic vs. Oscar for a Final Four spot.
Men in the Middle Region:
(4) Tim Duncan over (1) Bill Russell
We have our first upset of the Sweet 16 round as “The Big Fundamental” quietly defeats top-seeded Bill Russell to make it to the Elite Eight Round.
These are the two most selfless, humble and dependable big men in NBA history and each was the heart and soul at the center of an amazing 10-15 year run of high level success for their franchise at the NBA level. Both of these players didn’t subsist on flash and did whatever is necessary to win.
Although Russell’s 11 NBA titles will never be matched and he is the greatest winner in NBA history, he played in a league with no more than 8-12 teams and was a 6’9” player who was limited offensively. Duncan is the prototype of what a big man should be in today’s day and age and is an incredible gifted and skilled big man on both ends at 6’11”, not to mention the most selfless, low-maintenance superstar potentially in the history of the league.
As great as Russell is, I don’t think he was ever the player that Tim Duncan has been and that’s why Duncan moves on.
(3)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar over (6) Shaquille O’Neal
Two more Lakers greats square off in this round as we have the most durable and smooth big man in NBA history vs. the most rambunctious and powerful. Shaq boasts an incredibly impressive resume including four NBA titles, an MVP, a Finals MVP and about 24-11 for his illustrious career. He also may have had the most potential of any center in NBA history. There is always the nagging feeling that he got about 92% out of his potential though due to his diet and interest in being a celebrity on and off the court.
Kareem meanwhile is the most durable and accomplished big man to ever grace an NBA hardwood and averaged 24 & 11 over a twenty year career which included six championships, six MVP’s, 19 all-star appearances and the designation as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Kareem moves on for an Elite Eight showdown with Tim Duncan.
Sensational Scorers Region:
(1)Michael Jordan over (4) Dwayne Wade
By no means is Dwayne Wade an underrated player in NBA circles but historically I don’t think people truly appreciate how elite he is compared to his counterparts at the two-guard position. Wade is 33 now and definitely on the downside of a Hall of Fame career but his resume is pretty impressive: Has averaged 24-6-5 for over a decade with three NBA Championships and a Finals MVP award in 2006 when he averaged 35-8-4-3 for six games in one of the most dominant and overlooked Finals performances ever. He also was one of the greatest Robin’s ever to LeBron’s Batman for the past four years in Miami.
He is still no match to the ultimate Batman and Alpha Dog in NBA circles in Michael Jordan as MJ averaged 30-6-5 over 15 years with six championships, five MVP’s and six NBA Finals MVP’s. Game, set, match.
(2)Kobe Bryant over (3) Jerry West
This is an epic generational battle between the two greatest Lakers shooting guards of all time. “The Logo” played all 14 of his NBA seasons in a Lakers uniform averaging 27-7-6 and making nine All-NBA 1st Team appearances, winning one championship in 1972 as part of possibly the greatest team ever (they won 33 straight games that season) and having the designation as the only player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP award in a losing effort in 1969.
“The Black Mamba” has quite the resume as well as he has played 18 seasons in purple and gold and in that time has averaged 25-5-5 while 11x member of the All-NBA 1st team, winning five championships, two Finals MVP’s and one regular season MVP award. He also has scored the 2nd most points in one game in NBA history with 81 points against the Raptors on January 22, 2006.
As great and legendary as Jerry West is Kobe moves on and sets up the matchup that everybody is licking their chops for and has had circled on their hypothetical bracket in the Elite Eight between Kobe and MJ.
All-Around Stars Region:
(1)Larry Bird over (12) Kevin Durant
This is a matchup of the two small forwards with quite possibly the silkiest strokes and most terrifying capability to heat up in an instant. Larry Legend is revered and worshipped for his incredible ability to shoot the basketball from anywhere on the floor while telling you exactly how he was going to do it. Kevin Durant or the “Durantula” or “Slim Reaper” as he has been referred, is a truly a sight to behold as a silky smooth and fluent athlete at 6’11” who can handle the ball, move and shoot like an elite two-guard.
Kevin Durant at the tender age of 26 (let’s all pray to the basketball gods that his foot issues don’t become chronic and dim the flame for yet another potential first-ballot hall of famer) has already won four scoring titles and an MVP award while averaging 27-7-3. Bird meanwhile won three NBA championships, three straight MVP’s and averaging 24-10-6 over a career. Bird at this point is the much more accomplished and complete player so Durant streak of upsets comes to a halt.
The one and only “Larry Legend” played 13 seasons in Celtic green and averaged 24-10-6 with 3 titles and three straight MVP awards from 1984-1986. The “Hick from French Lick” wins this battle.
He was never the innovator, icon and generational talent that The Doctor was. Julius Erving was the first mega star to play above the rim and wow fans with his world-class athleticism and paved the way for players who would follow in his footsteps such as MJ, Vince Carter, LeBron etc.
(2)LeBron James over (3) Julius Erving
As mentioned previously Dr.J was truly elevated (pun intended) the entertainment value and athleticism of the game of basketball as his leaping ability and hire wire acts grab the attention of a whole new generation and sector of fans and helped usher in the era of basketball we have today.
He was a star on the court and a great ambassador off of it and won and MVP award and a championship in his NBA career.
LeBron is the evolutionary, lab created, super-human Frankenstein version of The Doctor though as he is potentially the most supremely gifted player in NBA history at 6’9” 260 lbs. with elite basketball IQ, athleticism, strength, power, speed, passing and scoring ability. He is part Dr. J, part Magic Johnson, and part Michael Jordan. He also won five MVP’s, two championships and two Finals MVP’s by the age of 30. He moves on to face Bird.
There you have it the Elite Eight dream matchups are set: Magic vs. Oscar, Duncan vs. Kareem, Jordan vs. Kobe and Bird vs. LeBron. Come back next week for part four of our series to find out the greatest player in NBA history.
