In the 92 playoffs, Kevin Gamble named Kareem as the greatest player he had ever seen

[72-10]

So, think about that.

[SpaceJam2]

Kareem is a tier 1 or tier 2 player so I'm not sure where you're going with this?

Tier 1
Jordan
Magic
LeBron
Shaq

Tier 2
Duncan
Kareem
Wilt
Russell

Tier 3
Hakeem
Kobe
Zeke
Bird

[Celtics 1825]

Kareem is a tier 1 or tier 2 player so I'm not sure where you're going with this?

Tier 1
Jordan
Magic
LeBron
Shaq

Tier 2
Duncan
Kareem
Wilt
Russell

Tier 3
Hakeem
Kobe
Zeke
Bird

Bird tier 3?!?

[SpaceJam2]

Bird tier 3?!?

Swap out...Wilt then?

[Celtics 1825]

Swap out...Wilt then?

Personally I would put Bird in tier 1, move Shaq down to tier 2, and then Wilt down to tier 3.

[SpaceJam2]

Personally I would put Bird in tier 1, move Shaq down to tier 2, and then Wilt down to tier 3.

And I'm sure having "Celtics 1825" in your name has nothing to do with it

Bird is tough for me to rank because his longevity was just okay and he did have a couple poor Finals showings. But the man was a a do-it-all type of player.

Score. You got it.
Rebound. I'm on it.
Facilitate. Watch me work.

He also went up against very stacked teams in the Pistons/Lakers but then again he also had a very stacked team. He is very hard to rank for me.

[SouBeachTalents]

Kareem is a tier 1 or tier 2 player so I'm not sure where you're going with this?

Tier 1
Jordan
Magic
LeBron
Shaq

Tier 2
Duncan
Kareem
Wilt
Russell

Tier 3
Hakeem
Kobe
Zeke
Bird

The fck is Isiah doing there

[plowking]

Kareem is a tier 1 or tier 2 player so I'm not sure where you're going with this?

Tier 1
Jordan
Magic
LeBron
Shaq

Tier 2
Duncan
Kareem
Wilt
Russell

Tier 3
Hakeem
Kobe
Zeke
Bird

Bird was always considered the better player between him and Magic when they were playing.

Then this new era dawned where apparently championships mean everything, and what we watched on the court doesn't matter, and then Magic leapfrogged him.

[3ball]

.
Stats for first 13 seasons (Kareem's stats aren't viable after that)


REGULAR SEASON - 85-98' vs 70-82'

Jordan:[COLOR="White"]..[/COLOR] 31.5 ppg.. 58.0 ts.. 35.3 usg.. 120 ortg.. 29.1 PER.. 0.274 ws/48.. 9.0 bpm
Kareem:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 26.5 ppg.. 59.0 ts.. 25.1 usg.. 118 ortg.. 26.5 PER.. 0.255 ws/48.. 7.9 bpm


PLAYOFFS

Jordan:[COLOR="White"]..[/COLOR] 33.5 ppg.. 56.8 ts.. 35.6 usg.. 118 ortg.. 28.6 PER.. 0.255 ws/48.. 10.1 bpm
Kareem:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 29.1 ppg.. 56.7 ts.. 26.1 usg.. 118 ortg.. 25.8 PER.. 0.232 ws/48.... 8.7 bpm


FINALS

Jordan:[COLOR="White"]..[/COLOR] 33.5 ppg.. 6 fmvp
Kareem:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 26.0 ppg.. 2 fmvp



[COLOR="DarkRed"]^^^(Rebound/Blocks and Assists/Steals are positions-dependant and not included)[/COLOR]


[I]SUMMARY - jordan has a massive statistical and winning edge over kareem.. this is despite Kareem not winning much in the 70's and playing for himself, while MJ was restricted by a winning system and brand of ball

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Bird was always considered the better player between him and Magic when they were playing.

Then this new era dawned where apparently championships mean everything, and what we watched on the court doesn't matter, and then Magic leapfrogged him.

Bird was clearly better from 80-86 but then his back issues started taking its toll. After 88 he wasnt really in his prime anymore despite a few solid seasons

Magic meanwhile had 3 of his best years from 89-91 and improved his game with improved shooting from the 3, midrange and FT. Bird from 89-91 was a shell of himself but then Magic got aids

[LostCause]

Kareem is a tier 1 or tier 2 player so I'm not sure where you're going with this?

Tier 1
Jordan
Magic
LeBron
Shaq

Tier 2
Duncan
Kareem
Wilt
Russell

Tier 3
Hakeem
Kobe
Zeke
Bird

Kareem has a legit argument as GOAT. These "tiers" are terrible

[Manny98]

Kareem is a tier 1 or tier 2 player so I'm not sure where you're going with this?

Tier 1
Jordan
Magic
LeBron
Shaq

Tier 2
Duncan
Kareem
Wilt
Russell

Tier 3
Hakeem
Kobe
Zeke
Bird

Swap Kareem with Magic and take out Zeke and that tier list is perfect

[72-10]

The Bulls were dusting Kevin's Celtics all the time by the 90s. I find it quite shocking that he would still hold this view. Perhaps not enough accolades accrued and winning under the belt for another GOAT candidate at the time.

I believe the Bulls were 6-4 or 6-5 in head-to-head match ups between the two, with a Celtics team including: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Reggie Lewis.

[insidehoops]

This topic reminds me, would be cool to rewatch a whole bunch of Kareem. Refresh memories of past rewatches

[FKAri]

Bird was always considered the better player between him and Magic when they were playing.

Then this new era dawned where apparently championships mean everything, and what we watched on the court doesn't matter, and then Magic leapfrogged him.

Exactly. But I think Magic still performing while injuries plagued Bird's last few years also changed that. Even though it shouldn't have.