Why are Larry Bird and Wilt are ranked so high on the All time list?

[theoneneo]

Not a troll thread, just a young nicca tryna understand what makes these two top 5(6).

Larry Bird had 8 solid seasons in the NBA, just 8... the rest were injury plagued, then he finally retired, granted within those 8 solid seasons he won 3 rings, and 3 MVPs, but still, it doesn't measure up to the resumes of Kobe, Shaq, and Duncan(soon to be Lebron as well).

Maybe Larry is ranked so high because of his feud with magic, IDK

Which brings me to Wilt Chamberlain why in the world is he ranked higher than Shaq? Surely not because of that 100 point game?

[Rose'sACL]

Not a troll thread, just a young nicca tryna understand what makes these two top 5(6).

Larry Bird had 8 solid seasons in the NBA, just 8... the rest were injury plagued, then he finally retired, granted within those 8 solid seasons he won 3 rings, and 3 MVPs, but still, it doesn't measure up to the resumes of Kobe, Shaq, and Duncan(soon to be Lebron as well).

Maybe Larry is ranked so high because of his feud with magic, IDK

Which brings me to Wilt Chamberlain why in the world is he ranked higher than Shaq? Surely not because of that 100 point game?

what is a "nicca"? some African tribe name?

[TheMilkyBarKid]

Wilt played against probably the most stacked team ever in his prime and disrespecting bird get outta here

[1987_Lakers]

Bird won three straight MVPs and won 3 championships. How many people can say that?

Wilt was the most dominant player the NBA has ever seen.

nuff said

[RichieW]

Was Bird not consistently considered a better player than Magic throughout his career?

[iamgine]

Not a troll thread, just a young nicca tryna understand what makes these two top 5(6).

Larry Bird had 8 solid seasons in the NBA, just 8... the rest were injury plagued, then he finally retired, granted within those 8 solid seasons he won 3 rings, and 3 MVPs, but still, it doesn't measure up to the resumes of Kobe, Shaq, and Duncan(soon to be Lebron as well).

Maybe Larry is ranked so high because of his feud with magic, IDK

Which brings me to Wilt Chamberlain why in the world is he ranked higher than Shaq? Surely not because of that 100 point game?

What resume are you talking about?

[jlip]

80's Bird GOAT conversation

[jzek]

Because Larry is the GOAT SF. Don't agree with me? Here's a scenario - 3s left on the clock, who would you rather take the last shot for your team to win the game - Larry or LeBron?

[dr.hee]

Not a troll thread, just a young nicca tryna understand what makes these two top 5(6).

Larry Bird had 8 solid seasons in the NBA, just 8... the rest were injury plagued, then he finally retired, granted within those 8 solid seasons he won 3 rings, and 3 MVPs, but still, it doesn't measure up to the resumes of Kobe, Shaq, and Duncan(soon to be Lebron as well).

Maybe Larry is ranked so high because of his feud with magic, IDK

Which brings me to Wilt Chamberlain why in the world is he ranked higher than Shaq? Surely not because of that 100 point game?

First of all, 9 very good seasons before 88/89, not 8. And you're calling those "solid"? Are you kidding me? And the "injury plagued" version of Bird, in his last 3 years still dropping 21/9/7 while being washed up. Add MVPs and rings to that. So what in the hell are you talking about?

Now your next move should be to talk about the weak era, then maybe bad defenders and Bird being white and unathletic. You can do it.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Not a troll thread, just a young nicca tryna understand what makes these two top 5(6).

Larry Bird had 8 solid seasons in the NBA, just 8... the rest were injury plagued, then he finally retired, granted within those 8 solid seasons he won 3 rings, and 3 MVPs, but still, it doesn't measure up to the resumes of Kobe, Shaq, and Duncan(soon to be Lebron as well).

Maybe Larry is ranked so high because of his feud with magic, IDK

Which brings me to Wilt Chamberlain why in the world is he ranked higher than Shaq? Surely not because of that 100 point game?

Nice thread

Already great responses on this one. I'll just say...

Solid seasons? During those 9 (not 8) seasons he "only" averaged 25/10/6/2/1 on 50/38/88 in the regular-season and around the same in the playoffs. In his first year, he turned a team with the 2nd worst record into a team with the best record making noise in the playoffs, with basically the same roster. In those 9 seasons, his teams only had less than 60 regular-season wins 3 times, he made all-nba 1st team every single season and was only twice out of the top3 in MVP voting, winning 3 rings as the main man/leader.
Furthermore, he had some of the greatest absolute prime-years, winning 3 straight MVPs, making 4 straight Finals (injured in one and not much chances in the last one), winning 2 FMVPs, with godly performances, averaging like 27/10/7/2/1 on 50/40/90, playing some of the best basketball ever seen, having a top5 peak of all-time, being considered GOAT while he was still playing.
And those last 3 seasons, as a complete shell, would've still been career years for most players lol.
Oh and let's not forget his competition, he was playing in arguably the greatest decade, in the best conference, facing all types of stacked teams (not that he didn't "have" those) and with numerous all-time greats, tremendous superstars at the top.
And all of that above is just scratching the surface, if that doesn't make him top5 I don't know what will.

Wilt's one of the most dominant players of all time, owning all types of records, doing mythical stuff. Yes pace was considerably higher than afterwards but nobody else was even close to his type of all-around numbers and individual dominance, during those days. And you can mention the competition - if you're ignorant enough - but he, at some point or another, schooled the likes of Russell, Thurmond, Reed, Bellamy, Kareem or Lanier, and that's major. Plus he was facing the greatest dynasty ever.
And while I do agree that he had plenty of "choke jobs" or whatever you wanna call it, he still had a top5 peak of all-time imo, won 2 rings, 2 FMVPs and 4 MVPs, and was a beast of a player, no matter which way you wanna look at it.

Now read some of these responses, learn something and gtfoh with this type of ignorant-ass threads.

[Akrazotile]

Nice thread

Already great responses on this one. I'll just say...

Solid seasons? During those 9 (not 8) seasons he "only" averaged 25/10/6/2/1 on 50/38/88 in the regular-season and around the same in the playoffs.

Considering he played against 4'7 white guys, it's really not that impressive.

Larry Bird modern NBA comparison = poor man's Nick Calathes

[I<3NBA]

because they deserve it

[LAZERUSS]

Bird's resume...

Three straight MVPs (one a near unanimous one), 2 FMVPs, Three rings, one the greatest "winners" of all-time, and high scoring regular and post-seasons...among his many accomplishments.

Wilt's resume...

Literally OWNs the NBA record book (hundreds of records); statistical titles that no one will ever approach, much less surpass; absolute domination of his peers...arguably more than any other player in NBA history; 4 time MVP and deserved a unanimous MVP in '67; held a 7-2 edge over Russell in First team All-NBAs in their 10 seasons together; six Finals; lost to the eventual champion 10 times...five in game seven's, and four by margins of 2, 1, 4, and 2 points; two titles, four teams with 60+ wins, including two that went 68-13 and 69-13 (and including a 33 game winning streak)...among his many accomplishments.

Of course I'm sure that you can find many players who had better overall resumes than those two, though, right?

[SHAQisGOAT]

Considering he played against 4'7 white guys, it's really not that impressive.

Larry Bird modern NBA comparison = poor man's Nick Calathes

Can't tell if you're joking or not but

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msEmcemLR7M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksp82aw-jqg

^^ Just some "examples"

Michael Cooper, Bobby Jones, Dennis Rodman, Rodney McCray, Buck Williams, Scottie Pippen, Cliff Robinson, Dan Roundfield, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Paul Pressey, Larry Nance, Xavier McDaniel, Dominique Wilkins, Jerome Kersey, James Worthy, Orlando Woolridge, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Marques Johnson, Lonnie Shelton, Sidney Moncrief.... Those ****ing un-athletic midgest
Nobody would do a better job today or in any era, plus he was facing tougher rules and less superstar treatment. Oh and that dude could rebound with the best bigs, pass with the best PG's and played some great team defense.

Can't be quite compared to anyone nowadays, but imagine a 6'9'' (most likely listed at 6'10 or more nowadays), 220+ lbs player - with just above average athleticism, don't underrate that - with unreal skill and top-notch intangibles.. One of the best all-around shooters in the league, if not the best, one of the best in the post, one of the best passers, a top rebounder playing great team defense, able to create his own shot or catch-n-shoot, able to read defenses like nobody else, able to finish really well with either hand, master of floaters, beast in the clutch, able to work with any teammate and strategy, competitive like crazy, tremendous impact, very strong willed and minded.. that's Larry Bird for ya. Say a mix (not "addition" of course but "parts" from each) between Dirk, Love, KD, David Lee, Duncan, Melo and Bron, while better individually than any (Lebron and Durant close right now) and best player in the league.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Bird's resume...

Three straight MVPs (one a near unanimous one), 2 FMVPs, Three rings, one the greatest "winners" of all-time, and high scoring regular and post-seasons...among his many accomplishments.

Wilt's resume...

Literally OWNs the NBA record book (hundreds of records); statistical titles that no one will ever approach, much less surpass; absolute domination of his peers...arguably more than any other player in NBA history; 4 time MVP and deserved a unanimous MVP in '67; held a 7-2 edge over Russell in First team All-NBAs in their 10 seasons together; six Finals; lost to the eventual champion 10 times...five in game seven's, and four by margins of 2, 1, 4, and 2 points; two titles, four teams with 60+ wins, including two that went 68-13 and 69-13 (and including a 33 game winning streak)...among his many accomplishments.

Of course I'm sure that you can find many players who had better overall resumes than those two, though, right?

You forgot to add the greatest choker of alltime to Wilt's resume. "Literally OWNS the choking record book".