What are the career defining games of the top 10 players of all time?

[SouBeachTalents]

After seeing the thread about LeBron, I was curious to see what games people would say for some other players as well. Some are definitely easier to identify than others

Jordan: 1998 Finals Game 6
Wilt: 100 point game
Magic: 1980 Finals Game 6
Duncan: 2003 Finals Game 6
Kobe: 81 point game

Anyone disagree with the above? And what would you say for the rest

Russell (his 30/40 Game 7?)
Kareem
Bird
Hakeem
Shaq

[SamuraiSWISH]

It's not his best game, but I think the NBA Finals Flu Game, and Game 6 @ Utah describe the essence of Jordan. His career in a nut shell. What separated him from his peers was his heart, and will power. Always delivering, even when things were at their bleakest.

[La Frescobaldi]

After seeing the thread about LeBron, I was curious to see what games people would say for some other players as well. Some are definitely easier to identify than others

Jordan: 1998 Finals Game 6
Wilt: 100 point game
Magic: 1980 Finals Game 6
Duncan: 2003 Finals Game 6
Kobe: 81 point game

Anyone disagree with the above? And what would you say for the rest

Russell (his 30/40 Game 7?)
Kareem
Bird
Hakeem
Shaq
Wilt's career defining moment wasn't a game, it was a series that defined his career:


1967 Eastern Division Finals

Game 1.
Russell 20 pts 15 rebs 4 assists
Chamberlain 24 pts 32 rebs 13 assists + 12 blocks

(the blocks were reported by Sports Illustrated.)

That's a Chamberlain quadruple double.

Game 2.

Russell 14 pts 24 rebs 5 asts
Chamberlain 15 pts 29 rebs 5 asts

Game 3
Russell 10 pts 29 rebs 2 asts
Chamberlain 20 pts 41 rebs 9 asts

Chamberlain's 41 rebounds against Russell is the NBA playoff record.

Game 4
Russell 9 pts 28 rebs 5 asts
Chamberlain 20 pts 22 rebs 10 asts

Chamberlain with the triple double against Russell.

Game 5
Russell 4 pts 21 rebs 7 asts
Chamberlain 29 pts 36 rebs 13 asts

Chamberlain with the triple double against Russell.

*****************

Nobody knew about triple double, or quadruple double back then. There was no such thing. Those terms were invented many years later. But that game 5 brought on a debate that has raged for 40 years.

One of my friends marked his scorecard to show Chamberlain with 16 blocks, but another friend had it with only 15. They still argue about it.

But even without knowing what a quadruple double was (and maybe Harvey Pollack knows the answer), it was plain to everyone that Chamberlain had demolished Russell in every possible way.

****************************
Playoff lines:
Russell 11 ppg 23 rpg 4 apg
Chamberlain 21 ppg 32 rpg 10 apg

Wilt Chamberlain averaged a triple double against Bill Russell over the entire series, and had (at least according to Sports Illustrated & some basketball maniacs in the bleachers) 2 quadruple doubles.

* To me, Bird's left-hand game was his career defining moment - dazzling skill, arrogance, brilliance, nonchalance all rolled into one devastating basketball statement.

* Russell's defining moment to me is the '69 Finals game 7 when once again a Celtics fluke shot went in, this time by Don Nelson. That play is so incredibly stupid it still makes old guys furious to think about. (http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2011/07/22/history_1969_nelson_shot.nba/)

Russell gets credit for winning all those rings on stacked teams but the reality is he was more bailed-out by role players than LeBron ever dreamed of. Over and over and over......

* Shaq's career defining moment to me would be when he bulldozed Rik Smits in game 2 of the 2000 Finals and the refs swallowed their whistles so Pacers Coach Larry Bird was forced to use the Hack-a-Shaq just to get calls. As a Lakers fan I was ecstatic, but as a basketball fan it was a disgusting display of **star** treatment.

[L.Kizzle]

Olajuwon when he impregnated David Robinson in 95 playoffs.
Iverson game 1 NBA Finals
Zeke Thomas ankle game
Nique game 7 vs Bird

[Helix]

Hey Fresc..........interesting take on Russell.

[the mesiah]

Olajuwon when he impregnated David Robinson in 95 playoffs.
Iverson game 1 NBA Finals
Zeke Thomas ankle game
Nique game 7 vs Bird
:biggums: Hate to see ur top 10 player list

[triangleoffense]

shaq: free-throw line

[HOoopCityJones]

Kobe game 6 2010 Finals.

[Uncle Drew]

Kareem's game 5 in the 1980 finals was alright, too bad he got robbed from the finals MVP, despite not being able to play game 6. The gamewinning and-one dunk over Erving on a badly twisted ankle. :applause:

[La Frescobaldi]

Kareem's game 5 in the 1980 finals was alright, too bad he got robbed from the finals MVP, despite not being able to play game 6. The gamewinning and-one dunk over Erving on a badly twisted ankle. :applause:
you mean the one where KAJ threw down a measly 40 pts, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMIC4zKK_nE

Kareem's gorgeous, Chamberlain-esque finger roll at 3:40 is where he stood on Lionel Hollins and turned his ankle.

I had forgot this til I was watchin the replay.... that game was where I wanted to smash Darryl Dawkins right in the mouth because I thought he faked that fall so he could crash right onto Kareem... trying to put him out of the game in the 4th quarter :lol

and then at the end Julius Erving 'going for the ball' smashed him full arm right in the face. If he did that today he'd be suspended then and there and miss the next game at the least.

Early '80s Sixers were a dirty squad tbqh but that was the game back then and so were quite a few other teams

[LAZERUSS]

Wilt's career defining moment wasn't a game, it was a series that defined his career:



* To me, Bird's left-hand game was his career defining moment - dazzling skill, arrogance, brilliance, nonchalance all rolled into one devastating basketball statement.

* Russell's defining moment to me is the '69 Finals game 7 when once again a Celtics fluke shot went in, this time by Don Nelson. That play is so incredibly stupid it still makes old guys furious to think about. (http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2011/07/22/history_1969_nelson_shot.nba/)

Russell gets credit for winning all those rings on stacked teams but the reality is he was more bailed-out by role players than LeBron ever dreamed of. Over and over and over......

* Shaq's career defining moment to me would be when he bulldozed Rik Smits in game 2 of the 2000 Finals and the refs swallowed their whistles so Pacers Coach Larry Bird was forced to use the Hack-a-Shaq just to get calls. As a Lakers fan I was ecstatic, but as a basketball fan it was a disgusting display of **star** treatment.

Agree with the Wilt post.

Chamberlain proved what many already knew at the time...give him an equal roster as to what Russell had, and healthy...and guess what...a blowout series win.

Swap rosters in their ten years in the league together, and Wilt likely would have had 10 rings.

[SouBeachTalents]

It's not his best game, but I think the NBA Finals Flu Game, and Game 6 @ Utah describe the essence of Jordan. His career in a nut shell. What separated him from his peers was his heart, and will power. Always delivering, even when things were at their bleakest.

True, you could definitely argue the flu game for Jordan

[Shih508]

Kobe game 6 2010 Finals.

Give it up, Kobe's never has a top 10 worthy playoff game or series although he played 2nd most playoff games. The guy is just a product of David Stern.

[COnDEMnED]

3/16/2007 vs Blazers 65 points
3/18/2007 vs Timberwolves 50 points
3/22/2007 vs Grizzlies 60 points
3/23/2007 vs Hornets 50 points

I believe from 3/16/2007 to 4/16/2007, Kobe had a couple 60+ point games, seven 50 point games, and a few 40 point games. I've never seen anything like that since.

Kobe 62 points, Dallas team 61 after 3rd quarter. Phil Jackson ****ed the history books by sitting him the entire 4th quarter.

Two months later, 81 points in a game.

[La Frescobaldi]

3/16/2007 vs Blazers 65 points
3/18/2007 vs Timberwolves 50 points
3/22/2007 vs Grizzlies 60 points
3/23/2007 vs Hornets 50 points

I believe from 3/16/2007 to 4/16/2007, Kobe had a couple 60+ point games, seven 50 point games, and a few 40 point games. I've never seen anything like that since.

Kobe 62 points, Dallas team 61 after 3rd quarter. Phil Jackson ****ed the history books by sitting him the entire 4th quarter.

Two months later, 81 points in a game.

Nor before that either, really. Dude was just ramming it down with great ease.

[Shih508]

3/16/2007 vs Blazers 65 points
3/18/2007 vs Timberwolves 50 points
3/22/2007 vs Grizzlies 60 points
3/23/2007 vs Hornets 50 points

I believe from 3/16/2007 to 4/16/2007, Kobe had a couple 60+ point games, seven 50 point games, and a few 40 point games. I've never seen anything like that since.

Kobe 62 points, Dallas team 61 after 3rd quarter. Phil Jackson ****ed the history books by sitting him the entire 4th quarter.

Two months later, 81 points in a game.

regular season, mostly against very weak opponents

[La Frescobaldi]

regular season, mostly against very weak opponents

did you ever see a run like that ever in the NBA ?