Who is better... Larry Bird or Magic Johnson...\nGive me a long answer and be detailed and if you are you're sure to get the best answer.
138240
That first one was a great, great answer! At least up until the last sentence.... show me someone who thinks Michael Jordan is the greatest player ever, and I'll show you someone who grew up watching ESPN instead of watching basketball...\n\nThe question as to whether Magic or Bird is better depends on a number of factors...primarily, what year are we talking about?  btw, I am writing this as a Laker and one of the all time greatest fans of Magic...\n\nYou also have to realize that, because they played different positions, they had different responsibilities. Also, forward is the absolute toughest position from which to dominate a game...\n\n1979, in college, Magic won the National Title game over Bird and Co... Michigan State was the far better team, but Bird deservedly was the College player of the year. Bird was held to 19 pts in the championship game (Magic had 24).\n\n1980, Bird deserved Rookie of the year, led the Celtics to 61 wins (they won 29 the year before). Magic helped lead the Lakers to 60 wins. The Lakers won the title. Magic was MVP of the Finals (in reality, Jabbar was the playoff and finals MVP. The original vote of the writers was 4-3 for Kareem but after the votes were counted, one writer changed his vote from Kareem to Magic). Magic played one of the greatest finals games in history, scoring 42, grabbing 15 rebounds, dishing out 7 assists, and playing all five positions. The games was (unfortunately) shown at 11:30 pm on a Friday night, via tape delay. We already knew who won the game before the telecast (we'd listened on the radio).\n\n1981, Magic was hurt, missed 45 games, Bird led the Celts to the Championship, Magic threw up an air ball with 5 seconds left (on a six foot shot in the lane, he was off balance) in the 3rd and deciding game of the first round series against Houston, Lakers were eliminated, 2 games to 1.\n\nMagic's 1981 injury actually put Bird ahead in their individual competition as to who was the best player in the game. Magic didn't catch back up to Larry until 1987, when he passed him and pretty much left him in the dust.\n\n\n1982 - Magic again leads the Lakers to the title, with another finals MVP (probably deserved, but Norm Nixon and Bob McAdoo could have an argument).... this was more workmanlike than Magic's 'magical' performance in 1980.\n\n1983 - Lakers get swept in finals to Moses Malone and the 76ers (this 76er team, along with the 86 Celtics, were probably the two best one-season teams of the 80s, with the 87 Lakers third on that list). The Celtics were a team in disarray and were demolished by Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference semi finals.\n\n1984 - the moment we all waited for...Lakers vs Celtics for all the marbles... Celtics win a tough 7 game series, with Bird as finals MVP. The Lakers, in this series, played well enough to win 5 games, but unfortunately for them, they only ended up winning 3.  In game two, the Lakers have a chance to win it on the last shot, with the score tied, but Magic inexplicably dribbles out the clock without getting a shot off (there were 13 seconds left when the Lakers got the ball in a tie game...Magic apparently couldn't see the clock from where he was...the play was supposed to go to Kareem down low)..  The Celtics won this game in overtime, tying the series at 1 game apiece (with 18 sec left, and the Lakers up by two,  Kevin McHale missed two free throws, and the Lakers got the rebound and called time out...Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass and laid it in w/ 13 sec left in the 4th qtr to tie the score, setting the stage for Magic to dribble out the clock).\n\nIn game 4, with the Lakers up 2 games to 1, Magic turned the ball over with less than 30 sec left (he threw a bad pass to James Worthy, and Robert Parrish stole it)... the Lakers blew a 5 pt lead with under a minute to play in this game, and the Celtics tied the series at 2-2... Magic also missed two cricial free throws in the final seconds of
16590
Mine's retired, It's MJ, the secon on the list's also retired and it was another MJ (Magic Johnson), I'm not an old school guy, I'm just 24, but the basketball played from the early 80's till the mid 90's was the best for me (remember the dream team?)
644947
The Celtics w/ Bill Russell. They had an amazing team and you said it, they won an insane amount of championships. I think that the Bulls w/ MJ in his prime would beat the Celtics, but they don't have the Nba titles that the Celtics do.
279638
dude definitely Michael man. He is the greatest player in NBA history, and Vince Carter doesn't even come close to what Michael achieved in both personal and team achievements.
658278
Magic was the best player since he could play every position on the floor at an All-Star level and was able to carry his team to championships that they would've had no shot at without him.
322490
They are difficult to compare, since they play two completely different positions. Wallace is the better defender, but Parker is obviously the better offensive player. I would have to say that Tony is better because his team depends on him more, especially, this year. Wallca is a pretty integral part of the Pistons, but I would still stick with Parker.
89676
Yes, Kobe Byrant is the best. Don't hate on him. Ya'll some lames why ya'll hating. he cold and ya'll know it
650536
I am 40 years old and len bias is the best college basketball player that I have ever seen. Yes and that include MJ. Len bias was suppose to carry the touch when larry bird retired. Boston would have won more championships if bias would have played and yes boston would have been in good shape today. Bias death set boston back for years.
16694
I think LBJ would win not because he's better than Melo, but because he's got a better all around game. LBJ can really burn you on the perimeter and that's something that Melo hasn't quite perfected yet. But Melo would have a slight advantage inside because he has better post moves. So If those two go 1 on 1, LBJ would probably win but it would be darned close.
646780
Best player or most dominant. We don't have a Magic or a Bird right now. \nBest player: Nash\nMost dominant: Garnett
620792
1. Michael Jordan - I couldn't and still can't stand him, but everyone else wanted to "Be like Mike"\n\n2a. Magic Johnson - made all guys 6-9 and up want to be guards instead of forwards and centers\n\n2b. Larry Bird - the last Great White Hope of the NBA\n\n*The Magic vs Bird rivalry reinvigorated the NBA, so I gave them both #2.
211635
Truth is, there are about 8 players in NBA history who have a legitimate argument to be called the best (or most dominant) player of all time...\n\nThey are:\n\n1) Wilt Chamberlain\n2) Bill Russell\n3) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar\n4) Larry Bird\n5) Magic Johnson\n6) Oscar Robertson\n7) Michael Jordan\n8) Shaquille O'Neal\n\nTim Duncan probably comes the closest to matching the skill level of these guys, in terms of fundamentals...but Duncan does not have a claim to be called the best ever...\n\nWilt was really the most dominant player ever (on BOTH ends of the court), and his basketball skills far exceeded those of Shaquille O'Neal. Although Jordan's strong suit is his scoring, his scoring feats really pale in comparison with Wilt.\n\nRussell led his team to 11 NBA titles in his 13 year career. Were Jordan around back then, he'd be just another guy who lost to the Celtic machine.\n\nJordan and Shaq are the only players on the above list who had the luxury of playing against what amounts to 'high school' players. The level of competition and overall skill levels of todays players is not as good as during, for example, the 1980s. But players today are adjusting to the way the NBA wants the game played. Traveling is never called, nor is 'palming' the ball (probably no one under 25 today even knows what 'palming the ball' even means...)\n\nThe All Defensive teams were not selected until after the 1969 season, so Wilt only made that team 3 or 4 times, but would have made it more often had there been such a thing in the '60s. So the idea that Jordan is the greatest defender ever because of his All Defensive number of selections is not well-founded.\n\nIf anyone thinks that todays players are more highly skilled than players of the 60s 70s and 80s, we need only look as far as the U.S. recent international performances, or lack thereof. Teams from Europe are beating our NBA "All Star" teams on a regular basis the last few years, because they (the Europeans) are still playing the game the way the U.S. played it in the 60s and 70s, when the U.S. truly dominated the world in basketball. They have taken the way we taught them the game and are now using that style against us. The U.S. international teams have been pathetic during the 21st century.\n\nMcGrady is not even close to being the best player of all time... there's no argument that one can make to place him anywhere near the company of the guys on this list. Being able to dunk doesn't make you the greatest player of all time.  If you think T-Mac is one of the two greatest players ever, you obviously haven't watched very much basketball.
186374
Larry Bird\nLarry Bird\nLarry Bird\nLarry Bird\nMichael Jordan (probably only need one of him)
596100
i think that mj (michael Jordan) is the best cuz he changed how the game is played. i think that he is an amazing role model for me!!! lol!! MJ!!!!
99112
The best white player of all time would have to be Mr. Larry Bird. The best player EVER would have to be Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan was the most dominant player the NBA had ever seen. Jordan has set the bar so high for players like, LeBron, Anthony, and Kobe that they might never be able to reach it.\n\nMichael Jordan was SO good that the whole NBA could be considered overrated talent compared to him. Jordan is what hype is compared to. IF you don't reach up to Jordan's level you could be percived as failure. I believe that if Lebron, KG or Wade never a championship during their career, they will be called "overrated."\n\nJordan is the greatest basketball talent to ever play the game.
119638
jimi hendrix or jim morrison...its a toss up
93930
Pound for Pound, I would have to say Allen Iverson. He is an amazing player for his size and he has great heart. He has a "Never say die" attitude that makes him a competitor. He isn't even six foot tall, and yet he still averages over 30 points a game in a leage that the average height is more around 6'5". He is an all around, truly amazing player. Not to mention my idol!