24. Elgin Baylor -- now, Baylor is #3 all-time in points per game and #10 all-time in rebounds per game. Baylor also had 10 healthy seasons and was 10X first-team all-NBA. Baylor never won an MVP, but was recognized 8X as a top 6 MVP candidate. Against this backdrop, why is he way down here at #24? Well, 0 MVP, 0 titles, struggled to stay on the court (846 career games), and his Win Shares and WS/48 numbers are by far the worst of the Final 24 (last in WS, last in playoff WS/48, last in 10 Win Share seasons (only had 3)). Great, great player, but he is dropped off at #24.
23. Dirk Nowitzki -- Nowitzki lacks the first-team all-NBA honors of those ranked higher (4x first-team) but he has 12 all-NBA designations total, and his Win Shares, WS/48, VORP and raw numbers (6th in points, 28th in rebounds) all say "top 15 player." I deduct some from Dirk as follows -- only 1 MVP, 27th in MVP Award Shares, poor defender, not a great rebounder, not a great passer. He was a great, great shooter and scorer, incredibly efficient and won a title. Deserving of consideration for a higher spot, which I considered, and which I have now rejected.
22. Kevin Durant - No, it is not "too soon." He has played 11 seasons in the NBA. He has an MVP (and 3 second place finishes), a Finals MVP, a title, 5 or 6 first-team all-NBAs (depending upon this year). He has 130 WS - more than Mikan or Baylor and 15 less than Bird and 25 less than Magic. Arguably, he could be rated higher than KG or Barkley. But those two guys also had an MVP and played far longer and played at a quality level that was very similar to Durant, so they still enjoy the edge over KD for this 2018 survey. By 2021, if Durant can add an MVP and a few first-team all-NBAs, he may be up there around Bird.
21. Kevin Garnett -- If you ignore his "all-rookie" designation, KG is 21X all-NBA:9X some sort of all-NBA, and 12X some sort of all-defense. He was Defensive Player of the Year, and that occurred in Boston, when he was roughly 75% of the player he was in Minnesota. He was 2003-04 MVP. KG's longevity was amazing, as is demonstrated by his 9th in WS. 4th in VORP, 20th in points and 10th in rebounds. Drawbacks? Only 4X first-team all-NBA and 17th in MVP Award Shares, WS/48 in regular season and playoffs -- not so great (as in, not worthy of top 24 status). Truly "great" for 9 seasons. Could be placed higher, could be placed lower. I love KG, but I think 21 is about as far as I can push.
20. Charles Barkley -- There will always be the ZERO titles. Also, only 5x first team all-NBA. Only 21st in MVP Award Shares. But if you review raw stats (20th in rebounds, 31st in points) and also WS (16th) and VORP (5th) and WS/48 (.216 regular season .193 playoffs) 10 Win Share Seasons (10X), Barkley was a statistical monster. Had he just won 1 more MVP or even one title, he could make a claim to be much higher. Never made an all-defensive team, and certainly no one ever suggested that he should. But still gets a barely-there edge on KG for #20.
19. Julius Erving -- Julius Erving is the most difficult person to evaluate on the entire list. If you give him 100% credit for his ABA days, he is a top 12 player. If you give him no credit, he probably is not even a top 50 all-time player. Is he a 4X MVP or a 1X MVP? Is he 13th in career WS or 68th? Is he 9th in career VORP or 29th? Is he 8th in career points, or 67th? I will give him some, but not all, credit for his ABA stats. His 18 WS pace in the ABA certainly never carried over to the NBA. He never was a super wonderful playoff performer outside of the ABA either. Still, he was NBA MVP and had 5 excellent NBA seasons. Was 5X first-team all-NBA and 4X all-ABA. I will put him here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment