The GOAT List 2019: Tenth Anniversary

[G.O.A.T]

http://cdn.stereogum.com/img/not_the_mountain_goats_album_cover.jpg

The GOAT List:
The Greatest Players in American Professional Basketball History

http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/Havlicek%27s%20Steal.jpg

In recognition of ten years passed since I first posted the GOAT List on Inside Hoops, I wanted to revisit the concept and present a new list ranking the players on a season-by-season basis instead of evaluating their entire careers. This allows for a more thorough and ever-green discussion to emerge and is less likely to be influenced by recency bias.

I will begin with the 1954-55 season, the first in the shot clock era. The number of players ranked will vary from year to year depending on the number of teams in the league or leagues.

Additionally I will share the information and insights I find most relevant to each season to help provide a context as to what the league was like at the time and why certain players or types of players may be more or less valuable than they are today, or were a generation before or after they played.

As with the previous iteration of this list, I enthusiastically encourage participation, feedback, criticism and commentary from anyone and everyone and hope we can all learn something and enjoy the discussion on the history of the sport we all love.

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1955 - #1 Dolph Schayes (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13688846&postcount=2)
1956 - #1 Bob Pettit (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13688887&postcount=5)
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
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1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
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[G.O.A.T]

1954-55

http://www.thephillysportscave.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Dolph-Schayes.png

NBA Finals: Syracuse Nationals defeat Ft. Wayne Pistons in seven games
MVP: not awarded
Finals MVP: not awarded
Rookie of the Year: Bob Pettit, Milwaukee Hawks

Top Players
1. Dolph Schayes - Syracuse Nationals
2. Bob Pettit - Milwaukee Hawks
3. Neil Johnston - Philadelphia Warriors
4. Bob Cousy - Boston Celtics
5. Larry Foust - Ft. Wayne Pistons
6. Harry Gallatin - New York Knickerbockers
7. Vern Mikkelsen - Minneapolis Lakers
8. Clyde Lovellette - Minneapolis Lakers
9. Paul Arizin - Philadelphia Warriors
10. George Yardley - Ft. Wayne Pistons
11. Ed Macauley - Boston Celtics
12. Bill Sharman - Boston Celtics
13. Paul Seymour - Syracuse Nationals
14. Bobby Wanzer - Rochester Royals
15. Slater Martin - Minneapolis Lakers

AT A GLANCE...

This was the first year of the shot-clock era and it saw a dramatic change in the way the game was played. Scoring jumped from just under 80 points per game to over 93 per game. The increased pace and flow also led to better shooting as the league average rose from 37% to 39%. It would continue to rise over the next three decades peaking at just over 49% in 1984.

In addition to the change in style of play, the previous decades dominant team, the Minneapolis Lakers were entering a new era after the retirement of star George Mikan (he would return briefly the next season). The Lakers, winners of the previous three titles and five of the last six were still the leagues third best team, but they fell to the Pistons in the Western Finals.

It was an eight team league, evolving to be sure, but still a far cry from where the sport was headed in the coming decades. This was a man's league. Paul Arizin, a star forward for Philadelphia had sat out the previous two years fighting in the Korean War. As you can imagine. toughness was as essential as talent for the first generation of players post-WWII. The shot clock had been introduced to open things up and put an end to the incessant fouling and stalling that plagued the sport and made it's marquee match-ups almost unwatchable. Guards rarely looked to be scorers, though Bob Cousy was changing that. Centers were the dominant position, though most still played a plodding, below the rim style. The Forwards were called corner men because they, well, stood in the corners on offense. There were more fights than dunks and probably, more enthusiasm for the former than the latter. But that was all going to change and this crop of stars were the first to put that change in motion.

[FKAri]

I still remember your last thread. I hope it wasn't deleted but have any of your opinions of the 1955-2009 seasons really changed in the last 10 years?

That being said, Non Lebron threads are not allowed on the board but this one shouldn't get locked since it does implicitly reference Lebron (references GOAT).

[G.O.A.T]

I still remember your last thread. I hope it wasn't deleted but have any of your opinions of the 1955-2009 seasons really changed in the last 10 years?

That being said, Non Lebron threads are not allowed on the board but this one shouldn't get locked since it does implicitly reference Lebron (references GOAT).


Without a doubt my opinions have changed. There is just a massive amount of new information available that was not at that time. From all the new video available on youtube, to the evolution of advanced box score stats and impact metrics and even all the new books that have been written and the number of former NBA players on social media who will engage with fans and talk about the sport and their careers, there is a whole new understanding available if you're willing to look.

Back in 2009 I was trading old VHS tapes with guys online and writing to teams asking for media-guides, video and anything else they'd share.

Also, this list is much different than a top 100 players list.

I'm going season by season and sort of doing a chronological cliff notes version of NBA history with some lists mixed in because they are good discussion/debate starters.

[G.O.A.T]

1955-56

https://prohoopshistory.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/bob-pettit-banner.png

NBA Finals: Philadelphia Warriors defeat Ft. Wayne Pistons in five games
MVP: Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks
Finals MVP: not awarded
Rookie of the Year: Maurice Stokes, Rochester Royals

Top Players
1. Bob Pettit - Milwaukee Hawks
2. Paul Arizin - Philadelphia Warriors
3. Neil Johnston - Philadelphia Warriors
4. Dolph Schayes - Syracuse Nationals
5. Bob Cousy - Boston Celtics
6. George Yardley - Ft. Wayne Pistons
7. Larry Foust - Ft. Wayne Pistons
8. Clyde Lovellette - Minneapolis Lakers
9. Maurice Stokes - Rochester Royals
10. Bill Sharman - Boston Celtics
11. Tom Gola - Philadelphia Warriors
12. Chuck Share - St. Louis Hawks
13. Ed Macauley - Boston Celtics
14. Harry Gallatin - New York Knickerbockers
15. Vern Mikkelsen - Minneapolis Lakers

[FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"] AT A GLANCE...

A couple of major changes happened in 1955-56. Geographically, Milwaukee moved to St. Louis, retaining the Hawks moniker. Demographically, the league had its first Black superstar. Maurice Stokes, won rookie of the year while averaging 17 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists for the Rochester Royals. A 6

[NBAGOAT]

i would've suggested you do what realGm does with some of their lists and start with most recent years first. Those will get the most interest. This is fine however and really appreciated

[ArbitraryWater]

were your old threads deleted?

[G.O.A.T]

i would've suggested you do what realGm does with some of their lists and start with most recent years first. Those will get the most interest. This is fine however and really appreciated

I'm going for a chronological narrative. I agree to drum up the most interest I'd start with the most recent years, but I think this works better if you start from the beginning. Seeing the rise and fall of players over the years based on their ranking is a pretty good way to get a sense for their career as a whole if you have some understanding of them going in.

I think if it does get interest, it will be later and all the previous posts will provide effective context to the discussion.

[TheCorporation]

I still remember your last thread. I hope it wasn't deleted but have any of your opinions of the 1955-2009 seasons really changed in the last 10 years?

That being said, Non Lebron threads are not allowed on the board but this one shouldn't get locked since it does implicitly reference Lebron (references GOAT).

ThickAri :applause:

[Gotterdammerung]

Welcome back and thanks for posting, G.O.A.T.!

I always enjoy reading your posts, unlike 99% of the dreck here. Which is why I stick to posting my 2 cents for the playoffs. But every now and then, a classic thread emerges from the usual dreck.

:oldlol:

But what I am really looking forward to is what opinions of yours have changed over these past few years. Unlike most of us who get older, we get more stubborn and set in our ways.
:rolleyes:

Moreover, you have some competition in this regard:
http://www.backpicks.com/2017/12/11/the-backpicks-goat-the-40-best-careers-in-nba-history/

:cheers:

[G.O.A.T]

Welcome back and thanks for posting, G.O.A.T.!

I always enjoy reading your posts, unlike 99% of the dreck here. Which is why I stick to posting my 2 cents for the playoffs. But every now and then, a classic thread emerges from the usual dreck.

:oldlol:

But what I am really looking forward to is what opinions of yours have changed over these past few years. Unlike most of us who get older, we get more stubborn and set in our ways.
:rolleyes:

Moreover, you have some competition in this regard:
http://www.backpicks.com/2017/12/11/the-backpicks-goat-the-40-best-careers-in-nba-history/

:cheers:

I'm pretty sure I know Ben from the last two decades online and I am pretty sure we don't like each other. But there is no doubt he is a brilliant basketball mind and I loved the back picks Goat list.

[G.O.A.T]

1956-57

http://goldenrankings.com/Basketball%20Pictures/Basketball%20Snapshots/1957%20Finals/CousyDrivesOnHawks.jpg

NBA Finals: Boston Celtics defeat St. Louis Hawks in seven games
MVP: Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics
Finals MVP: not awarded
Rookie of the Year: Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics

Top Players
1. Bob Pettit - Milwaukee Hawks
2. Dolph Schayes - Syracuse Nationals
3. Bill Russell - Boston Celtics
4. Bob Cousy - Boston Celtics
5. Paul Arizin - Philadelphia Warriors
6. Neil Johnston - Philadelphia Warriors
7. George Yardley - Ft. Wayne Pistons
8. Maurice Stokes - Rochester Royals
9. Clyde Lovellette - Minneapolis Lakers
10. Harry Gallatin - New York Knickerbockers
11. Bill Sharman - Boston Celtics
12. Tom Heinsohn - Boston Celtics
13. Jack Twyman - Rochester Royals
14. Slater Martin - St. Louis Hawks
15. Ed Macauley - St. Louis Hawks


[FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"] AT A GLANCE...

As much as 1954-55 is a clear line between how the game was played and how it will be played going forward, 1956-57 was the realization of that change. The arrival of Bill Russell in January of 1957, fresh off the 1956 Olympics, changed the landscape of the NBA forever. Over Russell

[sundizz]

What is this shit ain

[Proctor]

Fun read, thanks :cheers:

[ronniec]

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1gMnAx3KTBuNkSne1q6yJoXXaN/1992-USA-Dream-Team-Michael-Jordan-Larry-Bird-Magic-son-Classic-basketball-Poster-Fabric-silk-Print.jpg


Bird, Magic and Jordan, always my starting 5 in any era.

[G.O.A.T]

1957-58

https://prohoopshistory.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/cliff-and-bob.jpg

NBA Finals: St. Louis Hawks defeat Boston Celtics in six games
MVP: Bill Russell, Boston Celtics
Finals MVP: not awarded
Rookie of the Year: Woody Sauldsberry, Philadelphia Warriors

Top Players
1. Bob Pettit - St. Louis Hawks
2. Bill Russell - Boston Celtics
3. Dolph Schayes - Syracuse Nationals
4. George Yardley - Detroit Pistons
5. Cliff Hagan - St. Louis Hawks
6. Maurice Stokes - Cincinnati Royals
7. Paul Arizin - Philadelphia Warriors
8. Neil Johnston - Philadelphia Warriors
9. Clyde Lovellette - Cincinnati Royals
10. Bob Cousy - Boston Celtics
11. Bill Sharman - Boston Celtics
12. Frank Ramsey - Boston Celtics
13. Jack Twyman - Cincinnati Royals
14. Kenny Sears - New York Knickerbockers
15. Vern Mikkelsen - Minneapolis Lakers
16. Larry Foust - Minneapolis Lakers
17. Tom Gola - Philadelphia Warriors
18. Red Kerr - Syracuse Nationals
19. Larry Costello - Syracuse Nationals
20. Tom Heinsohn - Boston Celtics


AT A GLANCE...

The NBA’s talent pool was rapidly expanding in the late 1950’s and a number of college stars were starting to bolsters the sports popularity as well. The small towns of the NBL were finding it harder and harder to compete financially with the larger markets from the BAA, even with quality teams on the court. The Rochester Royals succumbed to that pressure and moved to Cincinnati prior to the 1957-58 season the Ft. Wayne Pistons would do the same, bound for Detroit. That left just Syracuse and Minneapolis in the original cities among the old NBL franchises, both would relocate within five years. Along with the financial benefits of the bigger cities, there was also the issue of territorial draft picks. Prior to the 1957-58 season, the biggest name to be claimed by teritorial selection was Tom Heinsohn in 1956. But over the next seven seasons, a number of future Hall of Famers and Stars would be nabbed by their hometown teams. Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Dave Debusschere, Walt Hazzard, Jerry Lucas, Bill Bradley and Gail Goodrich among them. The rule was changed in 1865, but unquestionably it’s existence had a bearing on the Royals choice to move to Ohio as the Buckeye state had the territorial rights to both Robertson and Lucas, two of the most celebrated high school stars of that era.

Meanwhile the Celtics and Hawks continued to be the league’s premier teams, closely followed by the Nationals and Warriors. In 1958, the Hawks would join the other three as the last four NBA Champions. The Finals rematch between Boston and St. Louis turned in the Hawks favor when Bill Russell turned his ankle in game three. Russell played hurt, but was limited in terms of minutes and impact and the Hawks duo of Bob Pettit and Cliff Hagan were spectacular all postseason. Pettit poured in 50 in the clinching game six, a game that still stands as one of the all-time greatest performances. But it was Hagan who really elevated his game in the postseason. A key piece in the trade that sent Russell’s draft rights to the Celtics, Hagan had been essential to the Hawks second half surge in 1957 and was the teams top scorer in the 1958 postseason averaging 28 points per game on above 50% shooting and adding 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Though just 6’4”, he was a center, in college at Kentucky, started his NBA career at guard and took off when he was moved to forward. A master of the running hook shot, Hagan had an outstanding ten year professional career and is still one of the more underrated players historically.

Tragedy struck as well in 1957-58 as Maurice Stokes, the Royals do-it-all point forwards’ career came to an end before the end of his third season when he was paralyzed after a hard feel left him bleeding internally and the lack of immediate care led to encephalitis setting in. Stokes had averaged 17 points, 18 rebounds and over 6 assists during the season and the Royals were bound for the playoffs for the first time in his career. The idea of him teaming up with Oscar Robertson was tantalizing but never realized. His teammate Jack Twyman would become his unofficial caretaker for the rest of Maurice’s life. Their story, while tragic, remains one of the most touching and beautiful in NBA history.