From FB: MY 15 GREATEST NBA PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME

(This was originally posted as a Facebook note earlier this week. Sorry to be lazy...I'll try to think of something interesting later this weekend.) :-)

My 15 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time

In yet another attempt to create a diverting Facebook time killer, I’ve decided to list my choices for the 15 greatest NBA players of all time. Inspired by Bill Simmons’ The Basketball Book (which is a great read by the way), I’ve given a few reasons to support my choices, but I don’t want to pontificate. I really want to know how my list compares to yours. So let me have it! And pass this on to the sports fans/basketball junkies in your life.

Remember: if you had to pick the greatest 15-man squad in NBA history, regardless of position, who would you pick? It can’t just be all of your favorite players…

1. Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls/Washington Wizards, 1984-2003) - In the NBA, stats aren’t the truest measure of a man’s greatness. This ain’t baseball after all. When you think of one player making the biggest plays in the game’s biggest moments over the last thirty years, who do you think of? Air Jordan, that’s who. Six titles in eight years don’t hurt the rep either.

2. Bill Russell (Boston Celtics, 1956-1969) – Eleven titles in 13 seasons. Greatest shot blocker and post defender in NBA history (back before the league officially kept track of blocked shots.) Also one of the best at starting the fast break via the entry pass and an underrated clutch scorer. He drove Wilt nuts and that’s worth a lot right there.

3. Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis & Los Angeles Lakers, 1958-1972) – My first slightly off the wall choice, but it’s hard to argue that Baylor wasn’t one of the most athletically gifted, game changing players of all time. He scored over 23,000 points despite missing all or most of four different seasons to either injury or military service. He was a stalwart and articulate spokesperson for civil rights too, like Russell.

4. Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia & San Francisco Warriors/Philadelphia 76ers/Los Angeles Lakers, 1959-1972) – 31,419 career points. Over 23,000 rebounds. About 20,000 women (allegedly). Only two championships and a knack for alienating teammates and disappearing in the clutch. That’s why Wilt is fourth—but you can’t put him lower because “The Stilt” once averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds in a season and we’ll never see that kind of dominance again.

5. Oscar Robertson (Cincinatti Royals/Milwaukee Bucks, 1960-1974) – Once averaged a triple-double FOR AN ENTIRE SEASON. Almost did it three years in a row. Terrific scorer both inside and outside and probably still the best all-around point guard to ever play the game.

6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks/Los Angeles Lakers, 1969-1989) – You can’t leave the leading scorer in NBA history out of the top six. Plus he won five titles with two different teams and early in his career he was a dominating all-around force in the middle a la Chamberlain.

7. Jerry West (Los Angeles Lakers, 1960-1974) – The Logo. The Original Mr. West. That should be enough said, but then there’s this: from 1960-66 he was the most prolific scoring non-center in the league and a great passer and defender to boot. Mr. Lakers as far as I am concerned.

8. Larry Bird (Boston Celtics, 1979-1992) – Injuries robbed him of a couple of more years of greatness, but before the rise of Jordan, Bird was the best clutch championship player between Russell and Air Jordan. He still looked like a dork in that feathery porn star mustache though.

9. Moses Malone (several teams over 19 seasons, most notably the Houston Rockets [1976-82] and the Philadelphia 76ers [1982-86]) – I’d argue Moses was the second most dominant “undersized” (less than 7’) center of all time after Russell. In a five year stretch from 1978-83, Malone averaged better than 25 points and 14 rebounds a game while making an otherwise bad Houston team better than average and a very good Sixer team championship quality. He scored over 27,000 points and grabbed over 16,000 rebounds in his career.

10. Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers, 1979-1991, 1995-96) – The quarterback of “Showtime”, the straw that stirred the Lakers drink during their 80’s dominance, Johnson revolutionized his position and was the best passing point guard since Bob Cousy. If he had played any real defense, he would have made my top five.

11. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers, 1996-present) – Hate him or hate him, his 25,000 points and counting plus blistering defense and four championships have earned him this position.

12. Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics/Cincinatti Royals, 1950-1969) – Don’t forget about the Cooz, who brought flash to a mostly white, very stale NBA when it most needed it in the mid-1950’s and as a player always made the right pass to the right player at the right time.

13. Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs, 1997 – present) – Sure, he can be like watching paint dry…unless watching smart, winning, team first basketball is exciting to you. Then, suddenly “TIMMY!” becomes as exciting as Lady GaGa in concert. Oh and he still has over 20,000 career points and 11,000 career rebounds in case you’re wondering.

14. Hakeem Olijuwon (Houston Rockets/Toronto Raptors, 1984-2001) – Best footwork and prettiest offensive game of any pivot man ever. Won two championships with the Rockets. How the hell did he finish in Toronto?

15. Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves/Boston Celtics, 1995-present) – Already destined for the Hall of Fame, the skill and intensity of his all-around game will be most appreciated after he retires. Garnett pretty much willed the Celtics to their 2008 championship.

On the verge, but not quite...: LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki (is he the best Euro ever?)

Hall of Famers who didn't make the cut: Julius Erving, Wes Unseld, David Robinson, John Havlicek, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Frazier, Isiah Thomas, Elvin Hayes, Charles Barkley.

Peace...