You have the 10th pick in the post 1980 GOAT draft

[Doomsday Dallas]

1. Jordan
2. Magic
3. Shaq
4. Lebron
5. Bird
6. Kobe
7. Duncan
8. Hakeem
9. Curry

Who is #10?

post 1980, no Kareem, No Julius

who would you pick 10th?

[j3lademaster]

Giannis.

edit: LB and Magic were drafted 78 and 79 respectively

[SouBeachTalents]

I'm taking Giannis too. After those guys it'd be

KD
Jokic
KG
Dirk
Robinson

Obv guys like Wade & Kawhi take a hit in this discussion due to poor longevity.

[Full Court]

First of all, there's no way I'm picking Bronie over Bird, Duncan, and Hakeem.

But for #10, I'd probably go with Giannis or Garnett.

[1987_Lakers]

First of all, there's no way I'm picking Bronie over Bird

Enjoy your 9 healthy seasons with Bird while the guy who picks LeBron has 20+ seasons of elite play.

As for OP. It would be between Giannis & KD, can't go wrong with neither tbh.

[SouBeachTalents]

Enjoy your 9 healthy seasons with Bird while the guy who picks LeBron has 20+ seasons of elite play.

As for OP. It would be between Giannis & KD, can't go wrong with neither tbh.
Yeah, you'd be giving up literally an entire decades worth of superstar level play based solely on spite :lol

[1987_Lakers]

David Robinson is also a low key good selection for the #10 spot. He could literally transform a franchise by himself, elite offensive player and a top 5 defensive player ever, get a good GM to build around him and the sky is the limit.

[Doomsday Dallas]

Giannis.

edit: LB and Magic were drafted 78 and 79 respectively


Yea, but those two players get a pass.

[Kblaze8855]

Enjoy your 9 healthy seasons with Bird while the guy who picks LeBron has 20+ seasons of elite play.


Yea but like 12-13 of them would be for another team.

[1987_Lakers]

Yea but like 12-13 of them would be for another team.

Not if I'm the GM.

[ArbitraryWater]

Yea but like 12-13 of them would be for another team.

why would that be part of the hypothetical lol

[Kblaze8855]

why would that be part of the hypothetical lol

Because people trying to factor in the knowledge that LeBron lasts for 20 years shows they are making the selection with the benefit of hindsight not how you a draft the players without knowing who, and what they would be. And knowing who, and what LeBron would be I would have to drop him a few spots because I can be confident he’s going to do what is best for his winning not for my franchise. And for the record it’s fine. It’s not immoral to look out for yourself. But from the perspective of the company, you kind of have to consider a company man to be more desirable.

When Larry knew he was washed the management told him to hold off on retirement for a few weeks to qualify for a roster bonus of a couple million. They wanted him to have it on general principle. He refused. Said he didn’t want it if he couldn’t earn it.

Dumb from a business standpoint but if I’m drafting a guy…I give extra consideration to the guy who is loyal to a fault and just wants to work hard and earn what he gets.

Id also like to tell him to stop doing yard work and ruining his back like a peasant but it is what it is. Some people are just wired like that. And Lebron is built to look out for Lebron.

Dude changed teams so often he forgot who his teammates were

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/SpottedTintedGoldfish-size_restricted.gif




I’m not counting on him staying for 20 years. And his rookie deal plus first contract wouldn’t even get me to his peak performance according to most. I’m not drafting based on how good he might be for someone else in 13 years.

[John8204]

1. Jordan
2. Lebron
3. Duncan
4. Hakeem
5. Shaq
6. Kobe
7. Curry
8. Giannis
9. Durant

10. Dirk Nowitzki

[Full Court]

Enjoy your 9 healthy seasons with Bird while the guy who picks LeBron has 20+ seasons of elite play.



Bird won championships without all the drama and team cancer that goes along with having Bronie on your team. With the benefit of hindsight, it's an obvious choice.


Yea but like 12-13 of them would be for another team.

And there's this too...

[1987_Lakers]

I’m not counting on him staying for 20 years.

Unless you are playing for a great organization, you can't count on anyone playing for 1 team in today's league.

Easy to praise players for staying with one team when they have teammates like Kareem, Worthy, McHale, Parish etc.

[SaltyMeatballs]

Magic and Bird don't count because they were drafted before 1980

1. Jordan
2. LeBron
3. Shaq
4. Hakeem
5. Duncan
6. Kobe
7. Curry
8. Durant
9. Giannis

At #10 I'm picking Luka Doncic

[Kblaze8855]

You can’t count on them playing for one team even on a great organization. Durant walked on the warriors. Lebron left the heat like 45 minutes after they lost in the finals.

I don’t assume anyone is gonna be on my team for 15-20 years which is why I wouldnt draft with that in mind. A gm can rarely afford to think like that.

[iamgine]

1. Jordan
2. Magic
3. Shaq
4. Lebron
5. Bird
6. Kobe
7. Duncan
8. Hakeem
9. Curry

Who is #10?

post 1980, no Kareem, No Julius

who would you pick 10th?

I'd probably pick Garnett or Karl Malone. Great longevity and loyal to the team.

[SaltyMeatballs]

Yea but like 12-13 of them would be for another team.

That completely depends on what kind of supporting cast he has. Both Bird and Magic were lucky to have talented players around them within their first couple seasons. A handful of them became HOFs

[Xiao Yao You]

I'd probably pick Garnett or Karl Malone. Great longevity and loyal to the team.

Yeah Karl was loyal. Every time he signed a contract he was crying for more almost immediately after while Miller kept Stockton way underpaid his whole career

[1987_Lakers]

You can’t count on them playing for one team even on a great organization. Durant walked on the warriors. Lebron left the heat like 45 minutes after they lost in the finals.

I don’t assume anyone is gonna be on my team for 15-20 years which is why I wouldnt draft with that in mind. A gm can rarely afford to think like that.

That's a fair point, but building a great team around that one great player greatly increases the chance of that player staying.

KD left because fans/media made him feel insecure about that Warriors not being his team, LeBron doesn't have that same mindset. LeBron left Miami because he knew Wade was damage goods and he wanted to win a championship with the team that drafted him, hell Curry has stayed with the Warriors his entire career.

Give LeBron that Lakers supporting cast from 1980-1991 and he isn't going anywhere.

[SouBeachTalents]

That's a fair point, but building a great team around that one great player greatly increases the chance of that player staying.

KD left because fans/media made him feel insecure about that Warriors not being his team, LeBron doesn't have that same mindset. LeBron left Miami because he knew Wade was damage goods and he wanted to win a championship with the team that drafted him, hell Curry has stayed with the Warriors his entire career.

Hell, give LeBron that Lakers supporting cast from 1980-1991 and he isn't going anywhere.
I bet most fans don't even know Magic demanded a trade after already being gifted Kareem and winning a title/FMVP.

[Xiao Yao You]

That's a fair point, but building a great team around that one great player greatly increases the chance of that player staying.

KD left because fans/media made him feel insecure about that Warriors not being his team, LeBron doesn't have that same mindset. LeBron left Miami because he knew Wade was damage goods and he wanted to win a championship with the team that drafted him, hell Curry has stayed with the Warriors his entire career.

Give LeBron that Lakers supporting cast from 1980-1991 and he isn't going anywhere.

what if he had MJ's supposrting cast? How long before he bails?

[Xiao Yao You]

I bet most fans don't even know Magic demanded a trade after already being gifted Kareem and winning a title/FMVP.

and we got the great Pat Riley out of it

[1987_Lakers]

That completely depends on what kind of supporting cast he has. Both Bird and Magic were lucky to have talented players around them within their first couple seasons. A handful of them became HOFs

A great owner, living in LA, Bob McAdoo off the bench, yea.... who wouldn't want to be in that situation? I know LeBron would.

[Kblaze8855]

He left two teams a month after they were in the finals. Being on a contender is not gonna keep Lebron from wanting a team that makes it even easier. Guy does his own thing. Like I said it isn’t a moral issue I just wouldn’t consider 20 years of him when making the call. You count on the rookie deal plus the first extension like you get with everyone.

8 years or so.

That guy might do anything at that point.

[1987_Lakers]

He left two teams a month after they were in the finals.

Stop it, we all know the 2018 Cavs were trash and LeBron carried that team to the Finals.

Management is lucky he didn't demand a trade once Kyrie left.

[iamgine]

You can’t count on them playing for one team even on a great organization. Durant walked on the warriors. Lebron left the heat like 45 minutes after they lost in the finals.

I don’t assume anyone is gonna be on my team for 15-20 years which is why I wouldnt draft with that in mind. A gm can rarely afford to think like that.

Well you can make an educated guess though based on historical data. Damian Lillard hasn't left despite me thinking he should've a long time ago.

[Kblaze8855]

It’s entirely possible he could have. He and much of the modern generation are like that. Even on a team that can and does play well they might demand out because the path isn’t as easy as they would like. Victory is only possible not assured.

If that’s the kinda thing you wanna worry about go right ahead and take him.

Im not saying he shouldn’t be drafted obviously. None of my concern. I’m just telling you what I’d consider. And how good Lebron would be 15 years after being drafted wouldn’t be something I’d prioritize.

History doesn’t suggest to me that me building a good team is gonna make him want to stay on it.

And that’s fine. Free agency is everyones right.

But it makes me unlikely to have a guy like Lebron from 18-40 even if he can play that long. Gms draft for their jobs. Almost none of them last that long even if the team wins.

The guy who actually drafted Lebron was let go and the guy who replaced him and actually won a title hated the whole experience:



Griffin told Sports Illustrated (https://www.si.com/nba/2019/08/01/david-griffin-pelicans-rebuild-zion-williamson-anthony-davis-trade-lebron-james-cavaliers) for a story published Thursday that the annual challenge of building a title contender around James was too stressful, even if it did result in a championship in 2016.

"Everything we did was so inorganic and unsustainable and, frankly, not fun. I was miserable," Griffin said. "Literally the moment we won the championship, I knew I was gonna leave. There was no way I was gonna stay for any amount of money."


Doesnt sound like an environment you stay for 20 years.

You just try to build what you can quickly. There are quite a few people who came in more ready to win than Lebron. I’d be comfortable going with rookie Bird and Duncan who were all timers and professionals on day one. Mature and ready to win. Partly due to age but it is what it is.

If I can count on a rookie deal and likely an extension I’m not counting on the 18 year old who proves willing to walk even if he’s on a contender. Really thin margins.

Anyone could walk these days. So I go for who would be ready the quickest. Loyalty would be nice as well but you can’t count on that at all anymore so 20 years doesn’t even enter my mind.

[FKAri]

Magic and Bird shouldn't be on the list.

Also, don't be talking about loyalty when comparing these players. I don't want to hear how Shaq wasn't loyal but Magic was. Magic in the era of unrestricted free agency would be as loyal as a hooker.

[1987_Lakers]

Magic and Bird shouldn't be on the list.

Also, don't be talking about loyalty when comparing these players. I don't want to hear how Shaq wasn't loyal but Magic was. Magic in the era of unrestricted free agency would be as loyal as a hooker.

:lol

[dankok8]

I agree with kblaze that if we're drafting players with hindsight then something like loyalty can be a factor. Of course different circumstances could change the equation but with someone like Lebron and Shaq you ACTUALLY know they aren't loyal and that they left several franchises on bad terms. It doesn't and shouldn't affect the GOAT debate but in a hypothetical draft I would consider that.

[warriorfan]

Because people trying to factor in the knowledge that LeBron lasts for 20 years shows they are making the selection with the benefit of hindsight not how you a draft the players without knowing who, and what they would be. And knowing who, and what LeBron would be I would have to drop him a few spots because I can be confident he’s going to do what is best for his winning not for my franchise. And for the record it’s fine. It’s not immoral to look out for yourself. But from the perspective of the company, you kind of have to consider a company man to be more desirable.

When Larry knew he was washed the management told him to hold off on retirement for a few weeks to qualify for a roster bonus of a couple million. They wanted him to have it on general principle. He refused. Said he didn’t want it if he couldn’t earn it.

Dumb from a business standpoint but if I’m drafting a guy…I give everts consideration to the guy who is loyal to a fault and just wants to work hard and earn what he gets.

Id also like to tell him to stop doing yard work and ruining his back like a peasant but it is what it is. Some people are just wired like that. And Lebron is built to look out for Lebron.

Dude changed teams so often he forgot who his teammates were

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/SpottedTintedGoldfish-size_restricted.gif




I’m not counting on him staying for 20 years. And his rookie deal plus first contract wouldn’t even get me to his peak performance according to most. I’m not drafting based on how good he might be for someone else in 13 years.

this. was gonna make a post t it this about sums it up

[rmt]

He left two teams a month after they were in the finals. Being on a contender is not gonna keep Lebron from wanting a team that makes it even easier. Guy does his own thing. Like I said it isn’t a moral issue I just wouldn’t consider 20 years of him when making the call. You count on the rookie deal plus the first extension like you get with everyone.

8 years or so.

That guy might do anything at that point.

By that metric, Duncan would be higher on the list - 3 rings, 2 MVPs, 3 FMVP, 8 All-NBA 1st team, 6 All-Defensive 1st team, 2 All-Defensive 2nd team - all before Manu and Parker hit their peak/prime.