Welcome to part four of our six-part series to assess the greatest player in NBA history debate. We are truly in rarefied air now as we are down to the final eight and four dream match-ups that pit the two greatest players at any position against one another for ultimate supremacy.
The four regional finals are as follows: Magic vs. Oscar, Duncan vs. Kareem, Jordan vs. Kobe and Bird vs. LeBron (the fact that you don’t have to say their full names shows how legendary they are).
Before we dive into these hotly contested and incredibly important debates for all NBA aficionados and historians let’s briefly explain each of the four regions in this hypothetical 64 player tournament.
Floor Generals:
This region includes the best point guards in NBA history.
Men in the Middle:
This highly competitive bracket features the best centers and power forwards 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
Floor General Region Final:
(1)Magic Johnson over (2) Oscar Robertson
Both of these legends are otherworldly talents who revolutionized and changed the game in different eras. “Big O” was the first true, do it all superstar who could dominate the game in innumerous ways and is still (and will always be) the only man to average a triple-double for a season.
They both formed super-duos and won a title with Kareem and both could take over a game in as many different ways as anybody the first 40 years of the league.
Tale of the Tape:
Magic:
19-11-7 52% from the field over a 13-year career that included five NBA championships, three MVP awards, three NBA Finals MVP awards, nine 1st team All-NBA appearances and an incredible nine NBA Finals appearances in all.
Oscar: 25-9-7 on 48% shooting over a 13-year career that included nine 1st Team All-NBA appearances, one MVP award and one NBA Championship.
Although Magic was gifted with much more talent in his NBA career than Oscar, his sheer breadth of individual and team success and accolades earns him the title of greatest point guard in NBA history and a spot in the final four.
Men in the Middle Region Final:
(2) Kareem Abdul-jabbar over (4) Tim Duncan
This is a fitting match-up between what should be regarded as the two elite big men with the most longevity in NBA history.
Both played large roles for championship caliber teams into their late 30s and both have been able to dominate and their ability to remain at the peak of their profession for such a long period is a testament of their work ethic and fundamentals to be able to remain effective even after much of their youthful exuberance has faded.
In my opinion, these two players boast resumes worthy of inclusion in the top five greatest players to ever play this game and are the measuring stick for the big man position in terms of career accomplishments, longevity and leadership.
Tale of the Tape:
Kareem:
24-11-3-2.5 on 56% shooting over a 20-year career that included six NBA championships, six MVPs, two NBA Finals MVP’s, ten 1st Team All-NBA appearances, 19 all-star appearances. NBA’s all time leading scorer.
Duncan:
19-11-3-2.5 on 51% shooting including five NBA championships, two MVP’s, three NBA Finals MVP’s, 15 all-star appearances and ten 1st Team All-NBA appearances.
As incredible as Duncan has been and continues to be (he had 28 and 11 the other night) he still hasn’t quite matched the pure dominance, longevity and success of Kareem in the NBA. He is the greatest big man in NBA history and will face his former running mate Magic Johnson in the final four.
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.
Sensational Scorers Region Final:
(1)Michael Jordan over (2) Kobe Bryant
Ah yes the classic (and mostly foolish) debate: MJ or Kobe? We’ve all seen the eerie similarities in their games and personalities and most of us have seen the highlight mash-ups between the two that really shows much Kobe has modeled his game and how close he’s come to replicating his airness.
They both have dominated the league with the intense and borderline maniacal desire to win and dominate their adversaries and both have adjusted their games to become more finesse and less taxing as they began to age. They are clearly the two most gifted and accomplished two-guards the league has ever seen.
Tale of the Tape:
Jordan:
30-6-5 on 50% shooting including six NBA championships, six NBA Finals MVP’s, five regular season MVP’s, ten 1st Team All-NBA appearances, nine scoring titles and nine 1st team All-Defensive appearances
Kobe:
25-5-5 on 45% shooting including five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP’s, one regular season MVP award, eight 1st Team All-Defensive appearances and two scoring titles.
As amazing as the Black Mamba has been he is still no match for Jordan. MJ is the greatest shooting guard in NBA history and moves on to the final four.
All-Around Stars Region Final:
(2) LeBron James over (1) Larry Bird
This is an incredible matchup and completely warranted debate of the two most supremely skilled and talented small forwards and all-around players the NBA has ever seen.
Both of these players are capable of dominating or taking over a game in a number of ways and have single-handedly willed their teams to postseason victories and glory with all-time performances in tight playoff series.
Bird was clearly the superior shooter, while LeBron is clearly the superior athlete and powerful force. They are two of the most cerebral, high IQ players the game has ever seen and both seem a move or two ahead of their contemporaries on the hardwood.
Bird had to overcome the stigma of being a white superstar in a black man’s game while LeBron has had to deal the most pressure and expectation of any professional athlete of all time and they both have lived up to their hype and billing.
Tale of the Tape:
Bird:
24-10-6 on 50% shooting over a 12-year career including three NBA championships, three MVP’s, two, NBA Finals MVP’s, nine 1st Team All-NBA appearances and three 1st Team All-Defensive appearances
LeBron:
25-6-6 on 50% shooting with two NBA championships, five MVP’s, two NBA Finals MVP’s, nine All-NBA first team appearances, five 1st Team All-Defensive appearances and one scoring title.
As of this year LeBron will have had as long of a career as Larry Bird did at the tender age of 30. At this point it is a relative toss up for who has accomplished more in a career with maybe the slightest of edges going to Bird. When you consider LeBron will continue to add to this resume for 7-10 more years though more than likely I am willing to already anoint him the greatest small forward in NBA history. He will meet Jordan in a titanic final four match-up.
