Do you have the NBA Lockout blues? We feel your pain and have a cure
for you. The Hoops Manifesto has gathered together Bloguin's best
basketball writers to rummage through the annals of NBA (and
ABA) history (sounds dirty, but it's not - honest) to bring you rankings
of the best players to have ever laced them up. Next up: Top Ten NBA (or ABA) Small Forwards of All-Time.
Voting panel: Jeff Fox from The Hoops Manifesto, College Wolf from the TWolves Blog, Philip from Orlando Magic Daily, Diego from Hot Hot Hoops, Don and brumbygg from With Malice and Ezra from the Purple and Gold Blog.
10) Alex English - Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks - 1976 - 1991Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame
- eighth all-time in field goals made in NBA history
- eight-time NBA All-Star
- three-time All-NBA selection
"A pure scorer who never had the supporting cast around him to get anywhere near a title." - brumbygg
9) James Worthy - Los Angeles Lakers - 1982 - 1994
Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame
- member of three NBA championship teams
- seven-time NBA All-Star
- NBA Finals MVP
- NBA All-Rookie Team
- two-time All-NBA selection
"Big Game James. No one in the history of the game has a bigger
reputation for the ability to "step it up" when the playoffs hit, and
deservingly so - he had an almost uncanny ability to rise to the
occasion. Perhaps the greatest testament to him is that he is one of
only seven jerseys retired by the L.A. Lakers." - Don
"Big
Game James was an integral part of the great Lakers of the late 80s.
His triple-double in Game 7 of the '88 Finals -36/16/10 - was one of the
all-time great Game 7 performances." - brumbygg
"The
main weapon of the Lakers "Showtime" famous fastbreaks. No other player
in the game had a better array of post moves or quicker spin move than
"Big Game" James. To top it off, he could rebound, spread the floor,
make plays for his teammates, defend, block shots and make clutch shots.
Truly one of the most dynamic athletes ever." - Ezra
""Big
Game James" was the quiet member of the Lakers' big three in the
Showtime Era. Magic was all flash. Kareem was the rock down low. Worthy
filled in the gaps and often gets forgotten from those Lakers teams." - Philip
8) LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat - 2003 - presentCareer accomplishments:
- fifth all-time in minutes per game in NBA history
- third all-time in points per game in NBA history
- two-time NBA MVP
- NBA Rookie of the Year
- seven-time NBA All-Star
- NBA All-Rookie Team
- seven-time All-NBA selection
- three-time All-Defensive Team selection
"Until a few months ago, I would have said that undoubtedly, LeBron James
will one day find himself at the very upper levels of lists like
this... but now, well... I do have doubts. The meltdown in the NBA
Finals not only sunk LeBron James
down a few spots, but raised some very real question as to his NBA
genetic coding. Is it hardwired to succeed, along the lines of Scottie
Pippen? Or is his basketball DNA more akin to Dominique Wilkins?
Flash, excitement... but no real bang for the buck." - Don
"No player in the game right now is more dynamic than LeBron James.
He stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs 250 pounds, similar to the listed
height and weight of Karl Malone. Yet James is so athletic that he
covers ground unlike any other. He possesses great ball-handling ability
for a player his size and - in recent years - became one of the best
defensive playersin the game. He made the regular season MVP Derrick Rose
look like a basketball amateur in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals.
His disappearing act in the 2011 Finals prevents him from getting
higher, but his unique talent made all of those general managers grovel
at him last summer." - Diego"Destined
to move a long way up this list when it's all said and done. Has
changed the way this position is played and has been a dominant regular
season force. Needs to get it done in the post season to be one of the
all-time greats." - brumbygg
"Outside
his atrocious mental toughness in the game's biggest stage, Lebron
possesses the rarest combination of size, speed, quickness, athleticism,
power, passing and floor vision. His final verdict on this list may
still be written, but it will take a monumental change of attitude, work
ethic and sacrifice for him to get to a higher level." - Ezra
"For
all the hate that has come James' way in the last year, it is still
hard to deny how talented he is. We are still waiting for James to break
through and win a championship to cement his legacy, but his stats
should already place him among the best small forwards in league
history. His passing ability is really what sets him apart. He has great
floor vision and defenses have to respect his driving and scoring
ability at all times. He can simply take over games as he did against
the Pistons in 2007. And it still feels like he is only scratching the
surface." - Philip
7) Dominique Wilkins - Atlanta Hawks, L.A. Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic - 1982 - 1995, 1996 - 1999
Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame
- tenth in all-time field goals made in NBA history
- nine-time NBA All-Star
- NBA All-Rookie Team
- seven-time All-NBA selection
"The
Human Highlight Reel. His signature windmill dunk is one of the game's
most dramatic images... but despite amazing athletic ability, and
highly entertaining, thunderous jams, 'Nique never even really came
close to the NBA Finals, his Hawks inevitably running into a green
wall." - Don
"Do
people forget how truly great he was since there were so many other
amazing players in the NBA at that time? I think so. He played during
the "Golden Age", and unfortunately for 'Nique, he was never able to get
over the hump. A little more assistance on his teams would have helped
his cause." - College Wolf
6)
Rick Barry - San Francisco/Golden State Warriors, Washington Capitals,
New York Nets, Houston Rockets - 1965 - 1967, 1968 - 1980
Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame
- member of one NBA championship team
- NBA Finals MVP
- third all-time in free throw % in NBA history
- 12-time NBA/ABA All-Star
- 10-time All-NBA/ABA selection
- NBA Rookie of the Year
"The
patriarch Barry (his sons are John, Brent & Drew) possessed an
incredible basketball IQ. Underrated, Barry was a prolific scorer who
reinvented himself as a playmaker as he aged. Perhaps most famous for
his "bucketshot" or "granny throw" free throw technique. It worked, as
Rick Barry lead the league in FT% six times, and finished with a career
mark just shy of 90%." - Don
"Rick
may have had the most awkward free throw shooting style, but he was
nearly automatic from the stripe. An extremely deceptive slasher and
ball-handler, Barry was a walking nightmare to the opposing team, whose
weapon of choice was his dead-eye jump shots." - Ezra
"If
you can make the granny free throw cool, you must be pretty good. Barry
was a pure scorer simple as that. He was often tempestuous, he left the
NBA to play in the ABA because of a contract dispute three years into
his career, but he came back five years later (after averaging more than
30 points per game there) and helped the Warriors win a championship.
He showed he could be a team player. But he was definitely more about
himself and that will be his knock - teammates just did not like him." -
Philip
5) Scottie Pippen - Chicago Bulls - 1987 - 2004
Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame
- member of six NBA championship teams
- sixth in steals in NBA history
- seven-time NBA All-Star
- 10-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection
- seven-time All-NBA selection
"Say what you will about Scottie Pippen being nothing more than a
"second banana", but the truth is that the man excelled even without
Michael Jordan at his side. While MJ was off shagging fly balls, Pippen
came third in MVP voting in 1994, posting averages of 22.0 ppg, 8.7
rpg, 5.6 apg and 2.9 spg, while leading the Bulls to 55 wins and the
second round of the playoffs" - Jeff Fox
"Is there a man in
sports more famous for being a sidekick than Scottie Pippen? With no
Robin to his Batman, do the Jordan years exist the way we know them? I
doubt it. Obviously, Scottie Pippen doesn't win those titles without
his Airness either, but MJ did need him." - Don
"Despite
playing Robin to MJ's Batman, Scottie was a great player in his own
right. A forerunner of the style now embodied by LBJ, but Pippen was a
truly outstanding defensive player. At his prime, Pippenguarding LBJ
would be worth the price of admission on its own." - brumbygg
"Pippen
is perhaps the #1 number 2 ever. MJ didn't star winning titles until he
showed up to help set the table, spread the floor, defend anyone, take
over offensively or rack-up rebounds. Scottie practically invented the
point-forward position and created the versatility category." - Ezra
4) Elgin Baylor - Minnesota/Los Angeles Lakers - Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers - 1958 - 1971
Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame
- sixth all-time in minutes per game in NBA history
- fourth all-time in points per game in NBA history
- ninth all-time in rebounds per game in NBA history
- 11-time NBA All-Star
- NBA Rookie of the Year
- 10-time All-NBA selection
"Example #1 of why transcendent talent on a basketball court does not
necessarily transfer over to the executive offices. You paying
attention, Mr. Jordan?!" - Jeff Fox
"27 points per game. Nearly 14 rebounds per game. Career averages.
Perhaps the greatest statistical season ever: 38.3 ppg, 18.6 rpg,
nearly 5 assists per. Are you kidding me? One of the greatest to ever
pull on the jersey for L.A., a legend of the game. In addition to all
of these accolades, Elgin Baylor is also unfortunate enough to also wear
the title of "greatest player to never win a title" - Don
"Why
is he not in more "best of all-time" discussions? Is it because he
only played 846 career games and never won a title? Not his fault." - College Wolf
"About
the only slide to Baylor's exceptional career is the lack of
championships. Elgin was a phenomenal scorer who was also a cerebral
talent. He could create shots for his teammate like a point guard, crash
the boards like a center, and of course, overwhelm opponents with his
ability to score." - Ezra
"Baylor
was the first real above-the-rim player the NBA had seen. He played in
the very early days - his jersey hangs at the Target Center in
Minneapolis to commemorate his time with the Minneapolis Lakers - and
retired before he could win a title (he retired in the middle of the
Lakers' record-breaking 1972 season when they won the title). But Baylor
was the Lakers' first great perimeter scorer and began changing the
artistry of the basketball game." - Philip
3) John Havlicek - Boston Celtics - 1962 - 1978
Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame member
- member of eight NBA championship teams
- NBA Finals MVP
- NBA All-Rookie Team
- 11-time All-NBA selection
- eight-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection
- 13-time NBA All-Star
- ninth all-time in minutes played in NBA history
- ninth all-time in field goals made in NBA history
"Started life as a 6th man, but quickly became an integral part of the
Celtics engine room. Hondo could do everything - score, pass, rebound -
but it was his defense which separated him from the rest. Still most
remembered with that famous line “Havlicek stole the ball.”" - brumbygg
""Hondo"
was a total package who could play in any era. He was tough, tenacious
on defense, unstoppable on offense, a hard worker and loved nothing
better than making things happen for his teammates. Bob Cousy may be the
general of the Celtics dynasty era, but Havlicek was the heart and soul
of the team." - Ezra
2) Julius Erving - Virginia Squires, New York Nets, Philadelphia 76ers - 1971 - 1987
Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame
- member of three NBA/ABA championship teams
- 16-time NBA/ABA All-Star
- four-time NBA/ABA MVP
- 12-time All-NBA/ABA selection
- ABA All-Rookie Team
- one-time ABA All-Defensive Team selection
- fifth all-time in field goals made in NBA/ABA history
- seventh all-time in steals in NBA/ABA history
- fifth all-time in points in NBA/ABA history
"How good was Julius Erving? So good that the NBA was willing to absorb the ABA to get him." - Jeff Fox
"When
I started watching the NBA, our Michael Jordan was named Dr J. Air
Erving was electrifying and with Moses Malone, Andrew Toney and Maurice
Cheeks his Sixers team was a joy to watch." - brumbygg
"Few players have had the cultural impact that Dr. J had. From the
afroin the ABA to the high-flying dunks that inspired countless
youngsters including Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Erving was a
magnificent scorer and one of the true artists of the game." - Philip
1) Larry Bird - Boston Celtics - 1979 - 1992
Career accomplishments:
- basketball Hall of Fame
- member of three championship teams
- 10th all-time in free throw % in NBA history
- three-time NBA MVP
- NBA Rookie of the Year
- two-time NBA Finals MVP
- 10-time All-NBA selection
- 12-time NBA All-Star
- NBA All-Rookie Team
- three-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection
"Bird...
sigh. I hated Bird with a passion as a kid. As a fan of Magic
Johnson's Lakers, how could I not? Probably for the same reason
Rob/Brumbygg loved Bird, I despised him. The guy didn't look like a
basketball player. He couldn't run, he couldn't jump. Yet at every
turn, there he was. Winning.
We often talk of passion for the game, the player's will to strive, to take their game to higher levels, ever higher. Kobe Bryant
is oft-pointed to as an example of this. Of course, Jordan. But I
don't think the story's complete without the inclusion of Larry Joe
Bird. His will was legendary. To finish, a quote from perhaps my
favourite movie of all time: "And then he showed these men of will what
will really was."" - Don
"Back
in the 80s the two big choices you had to make were Madonna or Cyndi
Lauper and Magic or Larry Legend. I was always a Larry Legend kinda
guy. Couldn't run that fast, couldn't jump that high, but man could he
pass and shoot! Coupled with a fierce desire to win (or simply beat YOU)
the hick from French Lick was the ultimate competitor. Finished with a
career average of 24.3 points, 10 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game."
- brumbygg
"Very few
players in NBA history had the competitive streak and the talent to
match it that Larry Bird did. He always seemed to be in the right place
at the right time and had a second sense about what his team needed and
the right moment to take over. Bird might have been one of the most
instinctual players the game has ever seen. He just seemed to know where
that rebound would fall. More importantly though, he took basketball
serious - sometimes too serious - but still made it seem like he was
playing a game." - Philip
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