NBA players that can break into top 5 ever in their positions

[played0ut]

Kobe and Lebron are already undeniably in top 5 for SG's/SF's, whether you hate them or not.


PF's.... they make up at least half of top 5. I won't even bother saying who they are. :oldlol:


PG's
SG's
SF's
PF's
C's





go.

[navy]

Are we only listing current players?

Lebron-lock
Wade-lock
Kobe-lock
CP3
Durant
Duncan-lock
Dirk
KG

[played0ut]

What the hey.

All time PF's

1. Tim Duncan
2 - 5. Barkley/Malone/Garnett/Dirk,


And honestly they're comparable enough that you could pick any of them depending on what your team needs.

i.e,

Good scoring team and you need defensive anchor, pick KG
Totally crappy team that needs a star, pick Barkley
Moderately well-rounded team, Tim Duncan


etc etc etc.

[J Shuttlesworth]

PG: CP3, Westbrook
SG:
SF: Durant
PF: Love, Griffin
C: Anthony Davis

[BigTicket]

Kevin Durant might already be top 5

Others with a chance of getting there:

Chris Paul
Anthony Davis

[played0ut]

Are we only listing current players?

Lebron-lock
Wade-lock
Kobe-lock
CP3
Durant

yeah. And oh yeah, i forgot about Wade...


my top 5 SG's

MJ
Kobe
Wade
West
hmmm..... Clyde? Ray Allen?

[played0ut]

PG: CP3, Westbrook
SG:
SF: Durant
PF: Love, Griffin
C: Anthony Davis

Forgot about Griffin. But it'll be tough as hell unless he wins rings.

I think 00' is the best PF era in NBA.



Kevin Durant might already be top 5

Others with a chance of getting there:

Chris Paul
Anthony Davis

Who are your top 5 SF's right now

[KyleKong]

Who are not already considered top 5 now? Hmm.

PG's: Paul, Westbrook, Curry, maybe Rondo and Rose
SG's: Lillard, Harden
SF's: Melo, Durant
PF's: Griffin, Aldirage maybe, Anthony Davis
C's: Howard

:confusedshrug:

[KyleKong]

Forgot about Griffin. But it'll be tough as hell unless he wins rings.

I think 00' is the best PF era in NBA.




Who are your top 5 SF's right now

only thing more stacked then Power Forwards right now are point guards.

[JohnFreeman]

SG: Maybe Ginobili

[navy]

Who are not already considered top 5 now? Hmm.

PG's: Paul, Westbrook, Curry, maybe Rondo and Rose
SG's: Lillard, Harden
SF's: Melo, Durant
PF's: Griffin, Aldirage maybe, Anthony Davis
C's: Howard

:confusedshrug:

Howard has no chance.
Russell, Wilt, Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem.

[Milbuck]

Listing players that can, not will. Some of these guys are already there, some will get there, some won't.

PG: CP3, Westbrook, Rose

SG: Kobe, Wade...garbage young talent pool outside of those two obvious picks.

SF: Lebron, Durant, Giannis, Jabari

PF: Duncan, Dirk, KG, Davis. Blake has an outside chance.

C: Embiid...only Embiid, if he completely reaches his potential 100% by staying fully healthy, has a shot at being top 5 for centers..and even if he does max out his game he probably won't..Shaq, Kareem, Hakeem, Wilt, and Russell are just too ****ing good. The top 5 for centers could be locked for quite some time.

[KyleKong]

Howard has no chance.
Russell, Wilt, Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem.

Kareem was not a center

Kareem was a God.

:coleman:

[navy]

Kareem was not a center

Kareem was a God.

:coleman:

What's a God to a nonbeliever?


http://my.execpc.com/~pjsports/BASKETBALL%20PLAYER%20SCANS/MOSES%20MALONE.jpg

[played0ut]

Top 5 centers is nigh impossible to break into now.

Top 5 PF's is probably 2nd most stacked position of all time.

3rd is SG's.

PG's could be making history now...


You wanna make top 5 better quickly be a PG or an SF :oldlol:



Howard has no chance.
Russell, Wilt, Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem.

After them there's still Ewing and Robinson


only thing more stacked then Power Forwards right now are point guards.

yeh. 00's era of the PF's. (They're all getting old anyway). 10' is PG's turn.

[Kvnzhangyay]

Top 5 centers is nigh impossible to break into now.

Top 5 PF's is probably 2nd most stacked position of all time.

3rd is SG's.

PG's could be making history now...


You wanna make top 5 better quickly be a PG or an SF :oldlol:




After them there's still Ewing and Robinson



yeh. 00's era of the PF's. (They're all getting old anyway). 10' is PG's turn.

Cp3 has a definite chance of becoming top 5 if he wins a ring or has impressive longetivity

[played0ut]

Funny how everyone's been lamenting the fact that there hasn't been any good centers forever.


When the all-time center position is the most stacked of all. :oldlol:


Russell
Wilt
Kareem
Shaq
Hakeem
Moses
Ewing
Robinson
Mikan

[pastis]

Are we only listing current players?

Lebron-lock
Wade-lock
Kobe-lock
CP3
Durant
Duncan-lock
Dirk
KG

so wade is lock and not dirk for his position? wow your trolling are getting as weak as the SG position.

[BigTicket]

so wade is lock and not dirk for his position? wow your trolling are getting as weak as the SG position.

PF position is much stronger than SG, so it's harder for Dirk to make it.

You could make a case for the five guys being above Dirk:

Duncan
Malone
Barkley
Garnett
Pettit

All of them MVPs, while only 2 SGs have ever won the award.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Hmm does Dragic stand a chance?

Definitely could be top 5 at the WP position

[KyleKong]

PF position is much stronger than SG, so it's harder for Dirk to make it.

You could make a case for the five guys being above Dirk:

Duncan
Malone
Barkley
Garnett
Pettit

Minus Pettit, I've seen posters make arguments that all those players are the best PF of all time.

[BigTicket]

Top 5 centers is nigh impossible to break into now.

Top 5 PF's is probably 2nd most stacked position of all time.

3rd is SG's.

PG's could be making history now...


You wanna make top 5 better quickly be a PG or an SF :oldlol:

SG position is weaker than SF.

After Jordan, Kobe and West, who are the other members of the top 5 ?

SF has Bird, Lebron and Dr. J as the top 3, with Pippen, Baylor, Havlicek and Durant competing for the last two spots.

[no pun intended]

PG: CP3, Westbrook
SG:
SF: Durant
PF: Love, Griffin
C: Anthony Davis
He's not primarily a center.

[played0ut]

It's no coincidence that the deepest positions ever are the big men positions.


I don't think the smaller guys are necessarily inferior talent-wise. But when it comes to impact nothing compares to a big man.

Makes you really appreciate how outstanding the top non-big players are.

Mother fucing MJ. :applause:



PF position is much stronger than SG, so it's harder for Dirk to make it.

You could make a case for the five guys being above Dirk:

Duncan
Malone
Barkley
Garnett
Pettit

All of them MVPs, while only 2 SGs have ever won the award.


I forgot, there's also McHale. Barkley called him the hardest player he ever had to play against, and was completely unstoppable in the post. Long ass dangly arms and the instinct for scoring.

But playing on a team with someone like Bird, it's hard not to get overlooked...

[BigTicket]

Number of NBA MVPs per position:

Center - 26 ! (12 different players)

Power Forward - 9 (6 different players)

Small Forward - 9 (4 different players)

Shooting Guard - 6 (2 different players)

Point Guard - 9 (6 different players)

Although it has the GOAT, shooting guard is clearly the weakest position overall, while center is obviously the strongest.

[pastis]

PF position is much stronger than SG, so it's harder for Dirk to make it.

You could make a case for the five guys being above Dirk:

Duncan
Malone
Barkley
Garnett
Pettit

All of them MVPs, while only 2 SGs have ever won the award.

petit, barkley, mchale, garnett are clearly under dirk.

but i give you credit: sg position is low. like the competition for the all nba team every year. kobe and wade no competition. so easy for them.:facepalm

[played0ut]

petit, barkley, mchale, garnett are clearly under dirk.

but i give you credit: sg position is low. like the competition for the all nba team every year. kobe and wade no competition. so easy for them.:facepalm

Not clearly.


Pettit
1x NBA champ
2x NBA MVP

-First NBA player to ever score 20,000 pts
-And averaged 20/20 season

Yeah, he's from one of the first eras but his impact relative to his time was still staggering.

Kevin McHale
3x Champ
2x 6th player of the year (consecutively)
6x All-Defensive

And he was UNSTOPPABLE in the post.
For two seasons he averaged 60%+ FGA shooting 26/10 and 22/8.5


You crazy, man. I'm not saying they're definitively over Dirk but you could really go either way. It's not clear cut.



His only knock is he happened to play beside Larry Bird.

[TimmyDuncan]

Funny how everyone's been lamenting the fact that there hasn't been any good centers forever.


When the all-time center position is the most stacked of all. :oldlol:


Russell
Wilt
Kareem
Shaq
Hakeem
Moses
Ewing
Robinson
Mikan

None of them played in the last 5 years and no current C has the potential to join that list

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

LMFAO @ some of these answers. Westbrook:roll: :roll: :roll: Fright:roll: :roll: :roll:

Ill use players who are 30yo or younger

Lebron already is.
CP definitely will be his peak is already top 3 at worst
KD will be his for sure

...............Thats it. No PF from this era is taking a spot from KG/Dirk/Timmy/Chuck/Mailman

No C is sniffing KAJ/Shaq/Russ/Hakeem/Wilt

SG might be at its worst ever. No way any of these yung nikkas gon be in the realm of MJ/Kobe/Wade/Glide/Manu

Lebron and KD are the only alltime great SF talents

PG CP obviously. No one else. Steph maybe if he has Reggie Miller longevity but with his injuries....................no one else gonna approach that lvl

[OncePerMonth]

PG: CP3, Westbrook
SG:
SF: Durant
PF: Love, Griffin
C: Anthony Davis

Davis will need to drop to PF to have a chance.

[OncePerMonth]

None of them played in the last 5 years and no current C has the potential to join that list

Exactly.

[BoutPractice]

Duncan, LeBron, Kobe, Dirk, KG, Wade are almost locks. Nash is arguable but essentially retired.

In the new generation:

PG: CP3 (Westbrook, Rose?)

This generation's PG are some of the most talented ever to play, but there's also high turnover from one year to the next. CP3 is the only one so far to have had a consistent enough career... and what a career it has been. But after him, the revolutionary freaks like Rose and Westbrook haven't completely delivered on the promise yet. Rose, because of the injury... which he might still recover from, so there's still hope, as he's one of the few PGs to have ever won MVP... Westbrook is a superstar masquerading as a sidekick, similar to early 00s Kobe, but the position is historically deeper than you'd think. You have to compete with Magic, Oscar, Stockton, Kidd, Isaiah, Payton, Nash, and now CP3...

SG: No one active

It's that bad. Harden is the only franchise player at the position, but a top 5 SG has to find room next to the likes of Jordan, Kobe, Jerry West and D-Wade...

SF: Kevin Durant

The greatest player of his generation, who's shown he can compete with one of the best to ever play the game.

PF: Anthony Davis

If they stay healthy Griffin and Love will be HOFers one day... I think Griffin can be a poor man's Malone and Kevin Love a slightly richer man's Jerry Lucas. This is all very good and will make this generation another PF-rich one, but the position is historically stacked, as you need to compete with the likes of Duncan, KG, Barkley and Malone.

Davis has accomplished less than those two so far, but his potential is through the roof. He's the only player with that kind of ceiling.

C: No one "active" (very, very remote possibility for Embiid, who at least looks like we might want to give him a chance before we rule him out)

C is the greatest position in NBA history, and not only the top 5 but the top 6 is well set. Kareem, Russell, Wilt, Shaq, Hakeem, Moses... these are absolute titans of the game. That top 6 doesn't include ridiculously dominant players like David Robinson... The best center from this era, Dwight Howard, is barely top 10.

We're talking about extremely select groups, it's not open to anyone.

[aj1987]

SG position is weaker than SF.

After Jordan, Kobe and West, who are the other members of the top 5 ?

SF has Bird, Lebron and Dr. J as the top 3, with Pippen, Baylor, Havlicek and Durant competing for the last two spots.
If we're talking about all time, it's MJ, Kobe, West, and Wade in the top 4. Then we have Drexler, AI, Gervin, Pistol, and T-Mac.

[NBAplayoffs2001]

Top 5 centers is nigh impossible to break into now.

Top 5 PF's is probably 2nd most stacked position of all time.

3rd is SG's.

PG's could be making history now...


You wanna make top 5 better quickly be a PG or an SF :oldlol:




After them there's still Ewing and Robinson



yeh. 00's era of the PF's. (They're all getting old anyway). 10' is PG's turn.

early 2000 western conference power forwards :bowdown: :bowdown: including rasheed before he went to Detroit.

[Meticode]

PG: CP3, Westbrook
SG:
SF: Durant
PF: Love, Griffin
C: Anthony Davis
Davis is a natural PF. And he'll finally be starting that spot this year with Asik on the team.

[navy]

Davis is a natural PF. And he'll finally be starting that spot this year with Asik on the team.
Ssmall ball league.

Asik and Davis may be better off playing separately.

[Flash31]

Centers---NOT Happening period

Wilt,Kareem,Russell are goat candidates

Then you have Shaq,Hakeem,Malone

Then Mourning,Robinson,Ewing,Mikan,Thurmond

An all star C or great C nowadays barely cracks 15,10
much less 25-30 ppg,along with 10-15 rbs along with all the accomplishments,awards,WINNING


PF--Do not see anyone aside from Dirk and maybe Bosh if he wins more getting there
Duncans 1st

Duncan,Barkley,Karl Malone,Mchale,Baylor,Garnett,Dirk
so PF NOT Happening unless Griffin can Win an put up stats or has longevity

PG--NOT HAPPENING PERIOD aside from CP3.

Oscar,Stockton,Magic no ones passing
Then you got Kidd,Isiah,Cousy,Frazier,Payton,Hardaway


SG--No One in league will surpass Kobe,Wade,Jordan so

Ya got West,Goodrich,AI,Havlivek,McGrady,Carter,Gervin,Al len

no sg in the league is even close to Top 5 aside from Wade,Kobe so
NoNE


SF-LeBron,possibly Durant
SF i easiest to break into top 5 if youre great

Bird,Pippen,Dr J,Rodman,Worthy

A couple of MVPs,rings,stats and top 5

Pippen was a good 2nd option,Rodman didnt have much offense,
The Best SF only has 3 Rings and the two with more
Pip,Worm are seen as less than so


PG-CP3 maybe
SG-none
SF-KD
PF-Griffin maybe
C--Absolutely 0

Kobe,Wade,TD,Dirk,KG,LJ in Top 5 already

[Nowitness]

Totally crappy team that needs a star, pick Barkley


Duncan made a conference finals and won a ring under those circumstances. :biggums:

[StephHamann]

Who are not already considered top 5 now? Hmm.


C's: Howard

:confusedshrug:

Russel Chamberlain Shaq, Abdul-Jabbar, Dream , Walton, Sabonis, Robinson, Ewing, Mourning Mikan Parish and Mutombo

[TylerOO]

Very confused as to why people are listing Cliff Paul

[aj1987]

Duncan made a conference finals and won a ring under those circumstances. :biggums:
His teammates sucked ass in the PO's (and Duncan literally carried them), but they didn't have a garbage team.

[k0kakw0rld]

Are we only listing current players?

Lebron-lock
Wade-lock
Kobe-lock
Nash-Lock
Durant
Duncan-lock
Dirk
KG
Aaah Kids :facepalm
Replace CP3 by Nash

[dreamwarrior]

PG - Dante Exum
SG - Zach Lavine
Swingman - Andrew Wiggins
PF - Julius Randle
SF - Jabari Parker
C - Joel Embiid
F/C - Noah Vonleh

[GODbe]

Kawhi

[SamuraiSWISH]

PG - Magic, Stockton, Isiah

Don't know who you pick after: Payton, Kidd, Nash, Frazier, KJ, T. Hardaway etc.

CP3 could break in if things begin to go his way. Derrick missed 2 years of prime due to injury, we'll see how things shake out. Outside chance for Westbrook.

SG - Kobe, and Wade (MJ, West, and Drexler)
SF - LeBron, and Durant (Bird, Baylor, and Big O)
PF - KG, and Duncan (Barkley, Malone, and Moses)
C - No Chance In HELL

[ninephive]

By the time it's all said and done Tony Parker's playoff resume will make almost any other PGs look laughable:

1. He already has more playoff points than any other PG in NBA history.
2. This year he should easily pass Hakeem, Havilicek, & Bird to move to #9 in playoff scoring history (any position).
3. Has all the playoff hardware: 4 titles, 1 FMVP currently and is the scoring and assist leader on the NBA favorite for winning a title next season. And consistently has beaten all the other PG "greats" in the playoffs (Paul, Westbrook, Curry, Lilliard, Nash, Deron, Kidd, etc.)
4. This year will easily pass Nash & some others and move to 4th all time in playoff assists.
5. In 2/3 years, he could pretty easily pass Kidd and end up #3 all time in playoff assists (behind Magic & Stockton).
6. #8 in all-time playoff wins right now.
7. Has a outside chance to end up with the most playoff wins of all-time, but would have to play another 5+ seasons.

[Nowitness]

By the time it's all said and done Tony Parker's playoff resume will make almost any other PGs look laughable:

1. He already has more playoff points than any other PG in NBA history.
2. This year he should easily pass Hakeem, Havilicek, & Bird to move to #9 in playoff scoring history (any position).
3. Has all the playoff hardware: 4 titles, 1 FMVP currently and is the scoring and assist leader on the NBA favorite for winning a title next season. And consistently has beaten all the other PG "greats" in the playoffs (Paul, Westbrook, Curry, Lilliard, Nash, Deron, Kidd, etc.)
4. This year will easily pass Nash & some others and move to 4th all time in playoff assists.
5. In 2/3 years, he could pretty easily pass Kidd and end up #3 all time in playoff assists (behind Magic & Stockton).
6. #8 in all-time playoff wins right now.
7. Has a outside chance to end up with the most playoff wins of all-time, but would have to play another 5+ seasons.

what duncan and pop can do for a career.

he was the best player on his team for one year and thats when they got bounced in round 1. :bowdown:

[Lebronxrings]

By the time it's all said and done Tony Parker's playoff resume will make almost any other PGs look laughable:

1. He already has more playoff points than any other PG in NBA history.
2. This year he should easily pass Hakeem, Havilicek, & Bird to move to #9 in playoff scoring history (any position).
3. Has all the playoff hardware: 4 titles, 1 FMVP currently and is the scoring and assist leader on the NBA favorite for winning a title next season. And consistently has beaten all the other PG "greats" in the playoffs (Paul, Westbrook, Curry, Lilliard, Nash, Deron, Kidd, etc.)
4. This year will easily pass Nash & some others and move to 4th all time in playoff assists.
5. In 2/3 years, he could pretty easily pass Kidd and end up #3 all time in playoff assists (behind Magic & Stockton).
6. #8 in all-time playoff wins right now.
7. Has a outside chance to end up with the most playoff wins of all-time, but would have to play another 5+ seasons.
Pop is a genius.

[ninephive]

what duncan and pop can do for a career.

he was the best player on his team for one year and thats when they got bounced in round 1. :bowdown:
Who was the best player on the Spurs this year?

[Nowitness]

Who was the best player on the Spurs this year?

kawhi tim manu were better. :confusedshrug:

[dubeta]

Duncan, LeBron, Kobe, Dirk, KG, Wade are almost locks. Nash is arguable but essentially retired.

In the new generation:

PG: CP3 (Westbrook, Rose?)

This generation's PG are some of the most talented ever to play, but there's also high turnover from one year to the next. CP3 is the only one so far to have had a consistent enough career... and what a career it has been. But after him, the revolutionary freaks like Rose and Westbrook haven't completely delivered on the promise yet. Rose, because of the injury... which he might still recover from, so there's still hope, as he's one of the few PGs to have ever won MVP... Westbrook is a superstar masquerading as a sidekick, similar to early 00s Kobe, but the position is historically deeper than you'd think. You have to compete with Magic, Oscar, Stockton, Kidd, Isaiah, Payton, Nash, and now CP3...

SG: No one active

It's that bad. Harden is the only franchise player at the position, but a top 5 SG has to find room next to the likes of Jordan, Kobe, Jerry West and D-Wade...

SF: Kevin Durant

The greatest player of his generation, who's shown he can compete with one of the best to ever play the game.

PF: Anthony Davis

If they stay healthy Griffin and Love will be HOFers one day... I think Griffin can be a poor man's Malone and Kevin Love a slightly richer man's Jerry Lucas. This is all very good and will make this generation another PF-rich one, but the position is historically stacked, as you need to compete with the likes of Duncan, KG, Barkley and Malone.

Davis has accomplished less than those two so far, but his potential is through the roof. He's the only player with that kind of ceiling.

C: No one "active" (very, very remote possibility for Embiid, who at least looks like we might want to give him a chance before we rule him out)

C is the greatest position in NBA history, and not only the top 5 but the top 6 is well set. Kareem, Russell, Wilt, Shaq, Hakeem, Moses... these are absolute titans of the game. That top 6 doesn't include ridiculously dominant players like David Robinson... The best center from this era, Dwight Howard, is barely top 10.

We're talking about extremely select groups, it's not open to anyone.
:oldlol:

Durants part of lebrons generation

Unless you think the 3 years and 9 months between them is a completely different generation

[ninephive]

kawhi tim manu were better. :confusedshrug:
:facepalm

Scoring: Parker (#1) Ginobili (#4)
Assists: Parker (#1) Ginobili (#2)

Manu had the 10th best FG% ON THE SPURS this season.
He had the WORST FG% on the team in the playoffs!!! (13th!)

How is someone considered better than Parker when he's by far one of the worst shooters on your team (and gets even worse in the playoffs)!??!

[noob cake]

Being a all time great requires both TALENT and ACCOMPLISHMENT. Lack of talent is why Horry was never considered great. Lack of accomplishment hurts players like Melo, Iverson, Barkley.

C: Center position is locked. Until, we get the next skilled big like Hakeem or size big like Shaq, no one is entering top 5, or top 7-8 for that matter.

PF: Dirk is on cusp of top 5. Duncan is obviously #1/2 already. Blake has a long way to go, but he has a few years with CP3.

SF: LeBron is already #2-3. Durant will have a hard time in the west. I don't see OKC winning anything with Duncan playing for another year or two, LeBron in east, CP/Blake in LA, Harden/Dwight in Houston.

SG: Harden is a long shot. Peopple don't realize how young he is: 24.

PG: CP3 needs to win a few rings; his play is there, just no rings so far. Irving depending on how many rings he can pickup with LeBron during the next half a decade. There are a lot of young talented PG ranging from Westbrook, Wall, Rose who are all not in deal situations to all-star levels one like Lillard, Curry, Lowry, Bledsoe, Dragic who clearly lack talent, to a varying degree, to be considered a top 5. Parker could get there if he manages to win after Duncan is gone, but his individual accomplishments and level of play has never been there.

[bballnoob1192]

no one in the nba right now that is not already in the top 5 can break into the top 5 of their position except durant. I believe this person is someone that has yet to come into the nba or maybe one of the rookies drafted this year.

CP3 is the closest after durant, but i don't think he will make it cuz he won't win shit in the west. I'm pretty sure of that.
Westbrook gets too much "low BBIQ" crap from the media to even get consideration.
The rest of the PG's are not transcendent enough for consideration, so unless they win a ton of rings which is pretty unpredictable. They have no chance. Also TP prolly won't ever be considered top 5 just cuz he played second and sometimes third banana on the spurs team for his most of his career.

SG. Prolly someone who hasn't entered the league or maybe one of the rookies from this year's draft (doubtful though)

SF. Durant. and a snowball's chance in hell for Melo if NY can miraculously turn the franchise around with a trade or in one season. IMO Melo doesn't even have two seasons to turn around his career. He needs to make a big playoff push this season and win a ring next year to even be considered. Which is pretty much impossible.

PF. Davis. He has KG's ceiling at least and most would agree KG is in the top 5 PF. I think griffin is already what he is going to be for the rest of his career. I don't think he will ever be a decent midrange shooter. LMA not transcendent enough IMO. Klove will always be a second banana type player IMO. plus hes never going to be a two way player.

C. Prolly still just a sperm in some dude's ******** yet to be used.

[ninephive]

Being a all time great requires both TALENT and ACCOMPLISHMENT. Lack of talent is why Horry was never considered great. Lack of accomplishment hurts players like Melo, Iverson, Barkley.

C: Center position is locked. Until, we get the next skilled big like Hakeem or size big like Shaq, no one is entering top 5, or top 7-8 for that matter.

PF: Dirk is on cusp of top 5. Duncan is obviously #1/2 already. Blake has a long way to go, but he has a few years with CP3.

SF: LeBron is already #2-3. Durant will have a hard time in the west. I don't see OKC winning anything with Duncan playing for another year or two, LeBron in east, CP/Blake in LA, Harden/Dwight in Houston.

SG: Harden is a long shot. Peopple don't realize how young he is: 24.

PG: CP3 needs to win a few rings; his play is there, just no rings so far. Irving depending on how many rings he can pickup with LeBron during the next half a decade. There are a lot of young talented PG ranging from Westbrook, Wall, Rose who are all not in deal situations to all-star levels one like Lillard, Curry, Lowry, Bledsoe, Dragic who clearly lack talent, to a varying degree, to be considered a top 5. Parker could get there if he manages to win after Duncan is gone, but his individual accomplishments and level of play has never been there.
How many PGs on the top 5 list won championships without a strong supporting cast? You're saying that a FMVP and being the best player on a championship team isn't enough...that now he has to do it without a good cast? Who are the 5 PGs that did this?

[ninephive]

no one in the nba right now that is not already in the top 5 can break into the top 5 of their position except durant. I believe this person is someone that has yet to come into the nba or maybe one of the rookies drafted this year.

CP3 is the closest after durant, but i don't think he will make it cuz he won't win shit in the west. I'm pretty sure of that.
Westbrook gets too much "low BBIQ" crap from the media to even get consideration.
The rest of the PG's are not transcendent enough for consideration, so unless they win a ton of rings which is pretty unpredictable. They have no chance. Also TP prolly won't ever be considered top 5 just cuz he played second and sometimes third banana on the spurs team for his most of his career.

SG. Prolly someone who hasn't entered the league or maybe one of the rookies from this year's draft (doubtful though)

SF. Durant. and a snowball's chance in hell for Melo if NY can miraculously turn the franchise around with a trade or in one season. IMO Melo doesn't even have two seasons to turn around his career. He needs to make a big playoff push this season and win a ring next year to even be considered. Which is pretty much impossible.

PF. Davis. He has KG's ceiling at least and most would agree KG is in the top 5 PF. I think griffin is already what he is going to be for the rest of his career. I don't think he will ever be a decent midrange shooter. LMA not transcendent enough IMO. Klove will always be a second banana type player IMO. plus hes never going to be a two way player.

C. Prolly still just a sperm in some dude's ******** yet to be used.
How is a FMVP who this year was the only All-Star, top scorer, facilitator, and highest paid player on the Spurs a 2nd/3rd option? What in the hell does this guy have to do? It wasn't enough for him to lead the team in scoring and assists throughout the playoffs? It wasn't enough for him to score more than the FMVP in the Finals?What do you want him to do? Outscore and out-assist and out-rebound everyone by 75% or something? Freaking Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul BOTH had top-3 MVP candidates on their teams THIS SEASON!

[bballnoob1192]

How is a FMVP who this year was the only All-Star, top scorer, facilitator, and highest paid player on the Spurs a 2nd/3rd option? What in the hell does this guy have to do? Outscore and out-assist and out-rebound everyone by 75% or something? Freaking Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul BOTH had top-3 MVP candidates on their teams THIS SEASON!
What I meant was that just like RW "Low BBIQ" stigma BS that is fake. TP''s stigma is having duncan on his team and playing in a Goat basketball system.

[ninephive]

What I meant was that just like RW "Low BBIQ" stigma BS that is fake. TP''s stigma is having duncan on his team and playing in a Goat basketball system.
Fair enough...but that's such a catch-22 argument. Every great dynasty could be attributed to a system. Showtime LA with Kareem/Magic/Worthy/Riley, 90's Bulls with MJ/Pippen/PJax, 2000's Lakers with Shaq/Kobe/PJax, Current Spurs with Duncan/Parker/Ginobili/Pop.

Now, everyone on that list is widely considered a top-50 player or top-5 coach. EXCEPT Parker & Ginobili of course, who are just "system" players. Apparently the Spurs are the only "5 championship" system with only 2 great pieces, Duncan and Pop. Somehow they managed to win 5 freaking titles without more than one top-50 player, something that has never been done before in NBA history and will never be done again....or we can stop being dumb and give Parker (especially) and Ginobili the credit they deserve.

[bballnoob1192]

Fair enough...but that's such a catch-22 argument. Every great dynasty could be attributed to a system. Showtime LA with Kareem/Magic/Worthy/Riley, 90's Bulls with MJ/Pippen/PJax, 2000's Lakers with Shaq/Kobe/PJax, Current Spurs with Duncan/Parker/Ginobili/Pop.

Now, everyone on that list is widely considered a top-50 player or top-5 coach. EXCEPT Parker & Ginobili of course, who are just "system" players. Apparently the Spurs are the only "5 championship" system with only 2 great pieces, Duncan and Pop. Somehow they managed to win 5 freaking titles without more than one top-50 player, something that has never been done before in NBA history and will never be done again....or we can stop being dumb and give Parker (especially) and Ginobili the credit they deserve.
They are the exception that proves the rule?