Elvin (The Big E) Hayes played power forward.
What about Toni Kukoc in his prime? Do we want anyone not born in the good ole US of A, except for Hakeem?
Pretty sure the Big O ran the point, though I s'pose he may have done so from a forward position.
Nominate Kevin McHale at power forward...
I believe patiodog is on target re the Big O's position. One of the leading assist totals of all time...
"In the process of averaqing a triple-double, The Big O also became the only guard in NBA history ever to lead his team in rebounding, and the only player ever to total 900 assists and 900 rebounds in the same season.
For his first five years in the league, the 6-5, 210-pound Robertson cumulatively averaged a triple-double: 30.3 points per game, 10.6 assists per game and 10.4 rebounds per game.
Quite impressive!
I don't feel that I can make a logical selection, since there were too many great players in action before wide spread TV coverage. In addition the installation of the 24 second clock in the mid 50's made the game quite different. Also, I seem to remember an even earlier rule where a fouled team after sinking the first of two shots had the option of keeping possession rather than taking the second shot. One more major difference, it was not too long ago when "traveling" was a violation on the floor, not just in the rule book.
oscar robinson was the most underrated player in league history. had he played in the major media centers of the day, new york, or LA, hands down he would be considered the very best who ever played.
as an aside, did you know that the team he played for in high school was the one that played the real team for the state championship after which the movie "hoosiers" was made?
but since basketball is a team sport, it matters as much how a player helps his temmates excel as does the player's individual acheivement,
thus my dream team consists of players who were not only great individual players but also elevated their teammates play
center. bill russell (10 championships in 12 years)
forwards; larry bird, dr J
guards michael jordan, oscar robinson
second team
center wilt.
forwards elgin baylor, elvin hayes
guards, magic, jerry west
third team
center kareem
forwards karl malone, kevin mchale
guards john stockton, pete maravitch
however, i do believe that bill walton was the most complete center who ever played. he could shoot, rebound, pass like a point guard, and boy, could he play D. had his career lasted as long as russell's, kareem's or wilt's, he would have been considerd the best.
walton played the best basketball game i ever saw, in the NCAA championship in '73,
21 for 22. Unbelievable. I mean, why couldn't he make that one shot?!
A question: how good do you think Sabonis would've been in the NBA in his prime? I've seen old film of him on the Soviet team, and the things he did as a 7'3" guy were incredible. Of course, the things Toni Kukoc did in Europe looked pretty damn good before he came over here, too...
I think Sabonis would have been amazing. He showed better adaptation than the meek Kukoc.
Vlade Divac says he is the best player he has seen.
I'll believe Vlade on that one, since he played with Magic and all...
BillW,
...the Globetrotters actually beat the world champion, Minneapolis Lakers, in an exhibition game.
...My first string...PG: Magic Johnson...SG: Michael Jordan...SF: Dr. J... PF:Dennis Rodman... C: Wilt Chamberlain.
...Second string...Big O... Jerry West...Larry Bird...Charles Barkley
...Eleventh and twelth men...Reese (Goose) Tatum, and Marques Haynes
...Rodman is on the first string rather than Barkley, because with all those great shooters, someone's got to do the dirty work.
1st team:
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
Karl Malone
Wilt Chamberlain
(In addition to the scoring, Wilt was the second most prodigious rebounder ever, is the only center ever to lead the NBA in assists, and never fouled out of a game. And I hear the ladies liked him, too.)
2nd team:
John Stockton (sorry, Cousy and Isiah)
Jerry West
Dr. J (sorry Elgin Baylor)
Kevin McHale
Hakeem Olajuwon
and...
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Arvydas Sabonis (hey, it's another center, but I think this team can handle it. Besides, Hakeem was quick enough to defend forwards and Sabonis can play the high post or the perimeter on O.)
If you're gonna have Stockton and Malone, shouldn't they be on the same team? They had something that went beyond individual ability.
That's how I initially had them, then figured that Malone should get some Kudos over McHale for longevity. (Shouldn't Bird and McHale be together, too?)
Bird and McHale were both good but they were more intellectually good (I know, intellectual and Bird really don't belong in the same sentence...) I think they would've been good with anyone else of comparable atheletic ability. Stockton and Malone had some kinda psychic thing goin' on.
Why the past tense? They're still out there. (Actually have a long-lived hatred of the Jazz, but the way they carried themselves in losing in last year's playoffs spoke volumes about dignity in the face of defeat.)
Patiodog,
...I believe Mchale was playing until he was about 40.
True. He wasn't nearly as effective as Malone still is, though. Hell, the Mailman is chasing Kareem's scoring record (but it doesn't look like he'll make it).
Hey, what about Moses Malone? Too many centers already, I guess...
Whoops. I thought Stockton retired. Checked it out, I'm wrong. (I'm mere days away from being in full football mode, so I'm not at all up to speed.)
Yeah.... He was just effective enough to pick up a few rings.
But hey... Mailman's got those great stats!
Okay,Okay, I know it's not a fair comparison. I'm messin' with you Patio
