Life in the Mind of a Modest Genius

NBA Top 50 All-Time (1)

#1 - Michael Jordan

Was there really any doubt who would be named here?  He's been referenced throughout the entire list as both a measuring stick and an obstacle for several other players previously named.  Fortunately for the cats playing today, they no longer have his airness as an obstacle to get their ultimate pirze.  However, they will forever have to hear about how they stack up to him no matter how many outstanding things they accomplished.  That's how it should be when it's someone like Jordan who invigorated the NBA with his arrival.

I could say that I have been a fan ever since Jordan seemed destined for deity status with the North Carolina shot that won the Tarheels the NCAA title.  The truth is, I barely remember that game.  I wasn't too much into college basketball at that time.  Furthermore, I'm not sure I would even say that was the beginning of his legacy.  A lot of people say it is; however, I would bet to differ.  Sure, it was a big time shot on a big time stage, but how many other players have done something similar only to slip into obscurity later?  Ask Keith Smart.

Jordan's rookie season was when I first took notice of the fact that it was quite possible we were in the presence of greatness.  Nike signed him to a shoe deal that was the first of its kind.  Although there had been signature shoes before there was nothing like what he brought to the scene.  As a matter of fact, his shoes alone set a new standard for basketball shoes that continues to the present day.  They were the first basketball kicks that cost as much as a nice pair of dress shoes and I knew I had to have a pair.  Although the first pair set the bar, my personal favorite were the Air Jordans IV.  These Jordans had a sleek yet rugged look to them what made me get them.  Which reminds me, another thing that he inspired was the fact that people started referring to shoes by a new brand name:  the Jordans.

Jordan really came alive and set the groundwork for his legacy during the 1985 season.  Bird went as far as to call him "God in tennis shoes".  Not to be blasphemous, but that's not far off.  I would readily admit he is NOT God, but he is the god when it comes to hoops.  No one would know this reference better than Bird himself.  It was during the Playoffs that year that Jordan dropped 63 points on the Celts.  A Playoff record that still stands to this day. 

The bulls would go on to lose that series.  Still, to this day, it is THAT performance that is the most remarkable in NBA history.  Not Wilt's 100 points that he scored during a time when there was nobody around close to his skills, or even height, to defend him.  And definitely not Kobe's 81 point outing against the lowly Raptors who were one of the worst teams in the League at the time.  Jordan's performance came against arguably one of the best teams in the NBA at the time and DURING the playoffs no less.  Oh...and it happened on Boston's home court.

Early on, it was clear that Jordan was known for his dunking ability.  No matter whatever happens in any future dunk contests, it was the epic battle between him and Dominique in their face-offs in the 1985 and 1988 Slam Dunk contests that will be permanently etched in my mind.  It was during that same time that he introduced "the leaner" before it was even fashionable, creating the appearance that he truly could fly.  As great as those were, his in-game dunks still were some of the best that often went unheralded.  I remember catching one of his regular season games against the Knicks where he drove thru the lane and dunked on THREE Knicks at the same time while fading away from the basket.  I'm still surprised that I don't see that highlight as often as his slam dunk competitions.

Despite his early accolades, Jordan didn't experience the playoff success that a lot of NBA players are now spoiled with in this era.  During his christening, he had to to up against the likes of Bird, Zeke and Magic in their prime.  Every year was a gradual progression for Mike.  It began with the unforgettable shot over Craig Ehlo to the year when they FINALLY beat the Pistons causing the "Bad Boys" to walk off the court classlessly (not a word but it would fit so appropriately if it was) without even congratulating them.  It only stood to reason  that Isiah would lead that too sicne he was the same that "allegedly" spearheaded Mike's freeze-out during the 1985 All-Star game.  Jordan got his revenge in spades by leading the Bulls to their first Championship of the astonishing six he would obtain.

One of the things that made MJ so legendary was his ability to make everyone around him step up their game.  Look at Scottie Pippen who evolved into a superstar under Jordan's tutelege.  Some of the roster that surrounded him in his pre-championship years were sad, but the ones during those title years weren't a whole lot better.  He won rings with players like Stacy King, Will Perdue, Luc Longley and Dicky Simpkins.  Scott Williams would NOT have signed a multi-million dollar deal after leaving the Bulls if it wasn't for playing alongside Mike that  had people thinking average players could ball.  If only the players of today could realize that it takes more than a killer instinct to be great (...cough...Kobe...cough...).  You need to have the ability to have that killer instinct rub off on your teammates.

Then there was also Mike's style.  He was the NBA dress code long before there was one.  He was always seen in top notch suits before games, after games, during press conferences, etc.  He knew that he had become an icon that crossed even the barriers of sports.  His thought process was that some people may be seeing him in person for the very first time and he wanted it to be a memorable first impression.

Ideally, Mike should have retired for good after his final 1998 Championship.  His final shot of pushing off Byron Russell and hitting the game-winning jumper against Utah should have been the last memory we all had of him on the court.  It was the perfect way to seal his legacy.  Instead, he decided to make another go at it a few years later by coming out of retirement a second time for the lowly Washington Wizards.  Only one person ever looked good in his Wizards jersey and unfortunately, it wasn't Mike. 

Every generation may try to contend that their era had the greatest player of all time.  Maybe Jerry West was so much "Mr. Clutch" that he inspired the NBA logo that still exists today.  Maybe Wilt did revolutionize the game in terms of how it was played, so much so that the rules of the game had to be changed.  Maybe Dr. Jwas the first to play above the rim with regularity while making everyone else look like amateurs.  However, only Jordan encompassed a bit of each of the legends of the past taking it to a newer plateau so high that it couldn't even be considered the "next" level.

What's my favorite Jordan moment?  There are so many to count that I wouldn't even know where to begin.  The 63 points in the Playoffs...the playoff game where he scored a game-high 37 points despite being so sick he nearly had to be helped off the court?  The free throw line dunk to cinch the best Slam Dunk competition of all time?  Chasing down Ron Mercer on a fast break and blocking his lay-up from behind by snatching it off the glass?  No, I'd have to say my favorite Jordan moment was the simple fact that I am able to confidently say that the greatest NBA player of all-time played during my lifetime.

NBA Top 50 All-Time (Recap)

Before I hit you off with the #1 spot, I thought I would run down a recap of how we got to where we are now.  There's really little sense in maintaining the suspense though.  For anyone that's been following the list (or knows anything about me at all), you already know who's getting that top slot.  You should have already known before the countdown even started so the only real mystery was where the other 49 would be ranked.

As we review the previous 49 50, it's important to also reiterate how all these cats made the list and why folks like Connie Hawkins, Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West didn't make it.  I had to have witnessed the baller play in my lifetime in order for them to be eligible.  Videotape does enable us to see highlights of the older legends in their prime, but it's just not that seem as being to witness them in the present game.  Don't get me wrong...I can appreciate everything they did for the game; however, the cats on this list are the ones who really did it for me because I was able to see them unadulterated on a semi-regular basis.  I can appreciate that more.

Ladies and gentlemen...your runners-up :

50 - Earl Boykins
49 - Kareem Abdul Jabbar
48 - Carmelo Anthony
47 - Nate Robinson
46 - Chris Webber
45 - Penny Hardaway
44 - Grant Hill
43 - Stephon Marbury
42 - James Worthy
41 - Tony Parker
40 - Ron Artest
39 - Rasheed Wallace
39 - Rip Hamilton
38 - Latrel Sprewell
37 - Amar'e Stoudamire
36 - Chauncey Billups
35 - Steve Nash
34 - Clyde Drexler
33 - Chris Paul
32 - Larry Johnson
31 - Alonzo Mourning
30 - Dennis Rodman
29 - Vince Carter
28 - Dwight Howard
27 - Jason Kidd
26 - Kevin McHale
25 - Shawn Kemp
24 - David Robinson
23 - Kevin Johnson
22 - Ray Allen
21 - Tim Duncan
20 - Patrick Ewing
19 - Dwyane Wade
18 - Dominique Wilkins
17 - John Stockton
16 - Scottie Pippen
15 - Julius Erving
14 - Reggie Miller
13 - Karl Malone
12 - Gary Payton
11 - Hakeem Olajuwon
10 - Allen Iverson
9 - Charles Barkley
8 - Kobe Bryant
7 - Kevin Garnett
6 - Isiah Thomas
5 - Larry Bird
4 - LeBron James
3 - Shaquille O'Neal
2 - Magic Johnson

 

NBA Top 50 All-Time (2)

#2 - Earvin "Magic" Johnson

It was November of 1991.  I had just returned home from a long day of classes at Iowa State.  The first thing I heard when I walked in the door was the then-missus telling me news that sounded far too incredulous to believe:  "Magic Johnson just announced he's retiring because he has AIDS".  The fact that I can remember what I was doing at that time so vividly says a lot about what a huge star Magic was.

I have always maintained that I don't  have a favorite team in the NBA simply because my hometown (Kansas City) doesn't have a franchise.  I suppose I could loosely pick the Kings since they moved from KC to Sacramento, but that's a stretch.  However, the Lakers during the Magic Johnson era ranked up there among my all-time favorite teams to watch.  Even with all the superstars and future hall-of-famers that squad had, Magic was the reason why I relished watching their games.

The guy was a freak of nature.  At least during that time period.  He was 6'9" and playing point guard.  Point guards weren't supposed to be that big.  And he was doing it flawlessly, I might add.  He had uncanny court vision to find the smallest opening to get a pass thru to any of several weapons he had to choose from on the Lakers.  As soon as he let the ball go, you would wonder what he was thinking because we simply didn't see the same opportunities he saw.  However, he was on the money more often than not.  He's the NBA's all-time leader in assists per game at 11.2 so apparently he knew what he was doing.

It was more than just his ability to drop dimes though.  It was also how he did it.  Magic made the game look WAY too easy because he would have so much fun with it.  One of the main reasons he got his name was because he manipulated the ball like a magician en route to dispensing it to his teammates.  It was like witnessing one of the Harlem Globetrotters playing in the NBA.  Unlike the players of today, there was no carrying  or palming violations in the process.  He brought the "Showtime" era to the Lakers which in turn ushered in that style of play into the League.

Magic's size allowed him to be versatile as well as an invaluable asset to the Laker franchise.  Nowadays, it's fairly common for a player to have the skills to play at least three different positions.  Back then, it was just Magic doing it.  The most notable moment was during Magic's rookie season when the Lakers reached the 1980 Finals. Kareem sprained his ankle and couldn't go in Game 6.  Lakers coach Paul Westhead started Magic at center instead.  That would have been a difficult transition for about 99% of the point guards of the day.  Not for Magic who answered the challenge with 42 points towards the 123-107 victory.

Some of the folks slightly older than me have fonder memories of Magic dating all the way back to his college days at Michigan State.  The NCAA Championship game between MSU and Indiana State was widely known as the start of one of the greatest rivalries in basketball as it saw Magic's squad facing a Larry Bird's Indiana State squad.  The funny thing is, they never even guarded each other in that game.  But they would sure make for some epic showdown in the NBA Playoffs.

My personal favorite Magic moment was the game-winning jump hook he hit in Game 4 of the 1987 Finals. You can check it out here in its reincarnated glory.  I didn't think there was any way he was going to get a shot off going to the middle over Boston's biggest and best defenders, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale.  At the very least, I thought he would find some way to get it to an open man.  Nope.  He took it right to the big fellas in THEIR house.  It was one of the most memorable plays in NBA Finals history.

Something else that stood out about Magic was his ability to motivate others.  A point guard is supposed to be an extension of the coach as the general on the floor.  Magic did that by leading by example.  The aforementioned moment is glowing illustration of such.  His play and leadership was so exemplary that he made others around him better.  Although to be fair, it sure didn't help that the Lakers consistently had a roster of perennial All-Stars that surrounded Magic.

Magic was another one who had that charming personality that went beyond the borders of just the NBA.  He was one of the biggest reasons why the NBA's popularity rose so high in the 80s.  There was something about his interaction with everyone that gave you the impression he could be anyone's friend.  That's why his shocking HIV announcement touched even those non-sports fans.  He wasn't just another NBA baller, he was the man who helped make the NBA a worldwide phenomenon.

It was a tragedy that Magic had to retire without truly going out on his own terms.  However, at least it allowed him to leave the game before he started hanging on for too long.  I did not want to see Magic traveling the League and suiting up with an inferior team in an effort to get that one last ring.  He nearly did that in another way by getting into unsuccessful stints in coaching and broadcasting.  It didn't matter though because no mis-steps he made were great enough to make us forget what an amazing treasure he was to the sport of basketball.

NBA Top 50 All-Time (3)

#3 - Shaquille O'Neal

There are some cats in the NBA who haven't quite gotten to the level where they have a nickname associated with them yet.  There are those that have one and that's good enough.  Then there's Shaq.  He has more than enough aliases to last him a lifetime.  Shaq...Shaq-Fu...The Diesel....Superman (yes youngsters...he had it before Dwight)....the Big Aristotle...and more recently, the Big Witness Protection Program.  It's actually fitting that a man who has brought so much to the League would have so many monikers associated with him.  It's funny because you can almost chronicle his career based on his nicknames.

Shaq Diesel.  Shaq entered the NBA as a rookie with the Orlando Magic making an impact in more ways than one.  Of course he was the #1 overall pick.  Of course he ended up walking away with the Rookie of Year Award.  What we didn't expect was him dunking the ball so hard that he broke the backboard support at the Meadowlands.  Check it out here.  Do you know how strong a person has to be to do that??  Guys have shattered the glass before but NEVER had anyone broke the whole backboard support.  He had the sheer brute strength that had never been seen before.  That's when I started really paying attention to him.

Superman.  I was a little slow on the take for appreciating what Shaq had to offer.  Probably because I still connected more readily with guards.  My man E was a different story altogether.  At 6'6", he has always admired the big guys and was probably a Shaq fan since day one.  When we played in our Sunday night basketball league, E would take on Shaq's number as well as his kicks.  Shaq's presence in Orlando was a big reason why E remains a Magic fan to this day.  I never went as far as converting to a Magic fan, but Shaq's indestructible nature did cause me to become more interested in his playing the center position.

M.D.E. (Most Dominant Ever).  The League had seen other great centers in the course of the NBA in the likes of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and even Kareem.  None of them had the power that Shaq did in his prime though.  The longer he was in the League, the stronger and bigger he got.  There was no other center that came close to being able to compete with him down low.  It didn't matter that Shaq's kryptonite was free throws.  Most of the time, he had already gotten his dunk and/or shot off before his opponent knew what hit them.

The Big Sidekick. Shaq came close to his first championship in Orlando with Penny but their lack of experience kept them from taking home the gold.  By the time he joined the Lakers in 1996, he had the necessary Playoffs experience as well as an up and coming Kobe.  The two of them brought the Lakers three championships and could have been even more if they could have gotten along.  Instead, Shaq returned to the east cost to play for the Miami Heat where D-Wade helped get Shaq another ring.  The early great championship teams always had that one dominating big man and a quintessential guard.  Shaq brought that back to the League. 

The Big Aristotle.  This one came about during Shaq's 2000 MVP season.  The rationale was that he was consistently great.  Shaq would win the scoring title that year while finishing second in rebounds and third in blocked shots.  Thanks to Phil Jackson's influence as the Lakers head coach, Shaq garnered his first All-Defensive Team selection that year as well.  Oh..not to mention Finals MVP (his first of three) and another Championship.  2000 turned out to be a very good year for the big man.

Shaq-Fu.  This is where Shaq gets separated from most of his peers. Including the legendary centers of other eras.  It originated very early on when he appeared with the hip-hop group Fu-Schnickens back in the early 90s.  That eventually resulted in a rap career that produced quite a few sub-par cds.  We definitely could have done without that, but the ill-advised foray into music did have a positive result.

The whole Shaq-Fu experiment gave Shaq the opportunity to transcend the NBA and diversify his entertainment value.  Not everyone can do this.  Shaq has a very likable personality and a boyish charm that translates into tremendous market value.  He was able to assume a bigger than life persona which matched his physical appearance.  Movies such as former Vault Pick "Blue Chips"  further endeared him to advertisers which meant more endorsements which meant more exposure.  All of it making Shaq an international phenomenon which is something very few athletes have obtained.   

L.C.L. (Last Center Left).  Hardly anyone uses this one and it is probably the most appropriate.  Over the past several years, it has become apparent that there has been a shift to teams having big men that are more versatile.  They don't want to them to just be confined to the post like a true center.  They should be able to be on the wing and even the perimeter if necessary.  Shaq is a throwback to the big man who makes his living in the paint and isn't ashamed of it.  Although at 37 his body has much wear and tear from the abuse of that role, he continues to be the epitome of what a center should be. 

NBA Top 50 All-Time (4)

#4 - LeBron James

If there was ever a person who the term "man-child" more appropriately applied to, it would be LeBron.  Primarily because as a high school kid, he did NOT look like your typical high school kid when he was out there ballin'.  He was leaps and bounds (no pun intended) above everyone else he faced.  LeBron had the game of someone nearly twice his age.  Never was there ever such a clear example of someone being a man among boys.

We had seen several kids try to make the jump directly from high school into the NBA.  For every Kevin Garnett success story, there was a Leon Smith.  But LeBron was different.  We could see at least since his junior year in high school that he was ready.  By the time his senior year rolled around, he had not only the skills, but even the physique and the demeanor.  He handled the pressure of the national spotlight with great ease and you could tell that he was destined for greatness.

The one thing I could never figure out was why LeBron decided to continue playing with the #23 when he entered the NBA.  He did so in high school because he admitted Jordan was his idol.  However, he knew by his senior year that he was going do big things in the League.  You would think he want to forge his own legend which would mean taking a different number.  That way it could be associated with him and not with THE legend.  We would find out later that he finally recognized that himself.  He's recently announced that he's changing his number in the 2010 season citing his respect for MJ.  That's all fine and good, but the more important thing is he can not only continue to make a name for himself but also for whatever number he chooses.

LeBron going pro in 2003 was a foregone conclusion.  For anyone that was cray enough to wonder why, those doubts were quickly dismissed with the impact of his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.  There have always been those rookies that showed out during their first season, but none with as much force as LeBron.  The power forward position is one of the hardest spots for a young player to adjust to because of the size and experience around the league at that spot.  An 18-year-old kid wasn't supposed to be able to adapt so quickly.  However, LeBron was far from your average 18-year-old. 

The reason James is able to be so successful was because he is a bit of anomaly.  He has the power and strength of  a Mack truck but the speed of a Ferrari.  It's a rare combination that you don't expect to see at the power forward position.  It makes him a nightmare to defend because many teams have players that possess those traits just not in one person.  As if that wasn't bad enough, James can also extend his game to the perimeter where his long range skils continue to get increasingly better. 

There was talk early on that folks were anointing James prematurely.  Especially when he picked up the moniker King James.  Could a teenager who hadn't fully yet proven himself be considered "King" even if the name was merely a play on his name?  James answered that in just his second year when he made his first All-Star game appearance.  I thought for a minute there that the other All-Stars would pull a 21st century version of the Jordan "freeze-out" due to the jealousy of James getting so much attention.  Fortunately it didn't happen.  His 13 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds were integral in getting the Eastern All-Stars past the West. 

Despite all of LeBron's accomplishments the first two seasons, his Cavs missed the Playoffs both years.  That became his new mission.  He once again showed that when he put his mind to it, he can achieve just about any goal.  In just his fourth year, LeBron put the Cavs on his broad shoulders and they did more than make the Playoffs in the 2007.  They advanced to the Finals riding LeBron's MVP season the entire way there.  The Spurs were just too much for them though and they were swept in 4 games.  So far, it's the closest LeBron has gotten to a Championship.  So far.

It's easy to forget sometimes that LeBron is only 24-years-old.  He has more accolades, awards and recognitions in his first five years in the NBA than some players will see in their entire career.  Still, he will have relapses that will show his youth and immaturity.  Such as when he refused to congratulate the Orlando Magic when they defeated him in last year's Playoffs.  I started having an Isiah Thomas flashback and hoped that it was just a temporary lapse in judgment on LeBron's part.  I'd hate to find out that that is really his true nature after I've invested so much time in being a witness.

LeBron is approaching a crossroad next year when he becomes one of the most sought after free agents in the history of the League.  He still hasn't announced his plans yet doesn't seem to be doing much do diffuse the rumors of his going to the New York Knicks.  I personally hopes he stays with the Cavs.  The Knicks are already storied franchise with plenty of tradition.  LeBron has the opportunity to make that happen in Cleveland.  The Cavs can gain even more prominence than they had in the heyday of the early 80s and King James will go down as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game in the process.

3 - 7

You'll have to excuse me for a moment while I go find some crow.  Either that or some hot sauce for my foot that will need to go in my mouth.  I don't mind it in this instance though.  Plus, I'm pretty sure that  not the only person who is eating his words about this week's Chiefs game.  Who could have ever predicted that Kansas City would shock the Steelers??  Nobody could have called that.

This is another game that I didn't follow.  That is up until the overtime when I started getting strange messages on Twitter and Facebook updates.  The game wasn't televised but I thought I would go on a hunch to see if the networks were carrying the last few minutes.  One of them did.  I turned on just in time to see Ryan Succop nail a 22-yard field goal that sealed the Steelers' fate for a 27-24 Chiefs' victory.

There were a few things that made this win significant.  First and foremost was the fact that it came against the Steelers.  These were the defending Super Bowl Champions.  Even though the game was at Arrowhead, it should have been a cake walk for Pittsburgh.  That was undoubtedly what led to their demise.  They were overlooking this game and KC was able to capitalize on that in the second half.  Of course it probably didn't mean much to Steelers fans, but for us Chief's' fans who haven't had much to cheer about the past couple of seasons, this was a great win.

Secondly, this was the first time Kansas City has won back to back games since 2007.  Let me rewind that.  It has been TWO YEARS since the Chiefs have won two games in a row.  That means despite all their best efforts, the coaches have never been able to be consistent enough to put together AND execute a winning game plan for two consecutive games until just now.  Hopefully the players and coaches can start feeling better about the fact that it is possible and will be able to do it again.

Lastly and certainly not least, is a stat that is very said but true.  This marks the first home win this season for Kansas City.  There was a time when opponents used to dread coming to Arrowhead Stadium.  It was so infamous for giving the Chiefs home field advantage that it was known as the 12th Man.  As their record clearly indicates, that hasn't been the case for quite a while.  For at least this one Sunday, the Chiefs were able to relive that magic. 

What I like most about this victory is how it instills confidence in things are gradually looking better.  Even though their record doesn't display it, the Chiefs have been steadily improving this season.  It's been very slowly, but you could see it happening.  They're getting better at stepping up in the fourth quarter as well as finding a way to close out games.  We have to keep reminding ourselves that this is still a fairly young team.  The more they make significant positive strides, the better it will be for the future. 

NBA Top 50 All-Time (6)

#6 - Isiah Thomas

It is with great hesitation that I place this cat so high on the list.  There are so many things wrong him as a person that those alone should have kept him from making it.  Isiah is just shady all the way around.  Not only that, but it seems that the more time that passes the more we find out him that is less and less flattering.  So having said all that, how could he possibly be included?  Well there is no denying the fact that during his time in the NBA he could flat out play.

You have heard me reiterate repeatedly throughout this odyssey that I have a penchant for the little guys that played in the League.  I couldn't in good conscience have this list and not include one of the best little men to ever play the game.  As a matter of fact, he would have been the best little man to ever play in the modern era.  Just ask any point guard 6' and under and they'll readily admit Isiah was someone they looked up to.

Zeke was amazing to watch because of how effortlessly he would slice thru defenses.  He was able to use quick speed combined with a low center of gravity to get to the rim on a regular basis.  Once close enough to the goal, he could then capitalize on his deceptive vertical leap to execute.  I don't ever recall him dunking the ball, but I can remember plenty of times where he got up high enough that he could have. 

What set Zeke's career apart from most other guards was how he excelled in the Playoffs.  He came thru during the era when the NBA was at its apex and legends such as Bird and Magic were dominating the League.  It made for some awesome Playoff games for us, but usually bitter sweet endings for Thomas.  There were quite a few times that he would get to cusp of breaking thru and one of the two aforementioned legends and their squad (either Lakers or the Celtics) would eventually thwart him.  That still didn't stop Zeke from turning in some extremely memorable one-man shows.

One of my personal favorites was when the Pistons made their first trip to the Finals in 1988 (great year) to face the Lakers.  No, I don't mean that distracting half court kiss that he and Magic exchanged prior to tip-off of each game.  I'm talking about Game 6 when Zeke severely sprained his ankle late in the game.  You could see him hobbling and in obvious pain but  he still managed to score 25 points in the fourth quarter.  Although the Lakers would go on to win the game and eventually the series, Zeke demonstrated just how lethal he could be.

The following season would finally be the Pistons' year.  They defeated an up and coming Bulls franchise to meet the Lakers in the Finals again.  That would be the year that Detroit would legitimately early their "Bad Boys" moniker due to their rough style of play.  While so many players on that squad were known to get grimy and show it, Thomas was always slick about his.  He had that babyface appearance, but could play dirty with the best of them while still being effective.  That was one of the biggest reasons he was also known as "The Smiling Assassin". 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the things that kept me from not giving Thomas more props that his play should have earned him.  The first that really irritated me was his treatment towards the Bulls when they finally defeated the Pistons in the 1990 Western Conference Finals.  Isiah knew that Jordan had been trying for year to get to the next level.  Isiah had experienced similar heartache in his earlier years so knew what a great sensation that was for Jordan to finally get to the Finals.  He should have congratulated Jordan and the Bulls for their accomplishment.  Instead, he and the Pistons walked off the court without so much as even acknowledging the Bulls' presence.

We would find out later that it wasn't the first time Isiah played Mike.  It turns out he was also part of a "freeze out" in the 1985 All-Star game because of jealousy against Mike for all the attention he was getting as a rookie.  Turnabout is fair play though.  After Mike had permanently imprinted his name on the League, he made sure that Zeke wasn't part of the 1992 Dream Team that went to the Olympics.  Somebody should have tried to tell Isiah that God don't like ugly.

All of Zeke's shortcomings don't change the fact that he was one of the best players to ever play in the League.  That's saying alot because believe me, when you include his time after his NBA career, he had ALOT of shortcomings.  Still, I have to give credit where credit is due.  During his 13 years with the Pistons he became the franchise's all-time leader in points, steals, games played and assists.  You may not like him, but you had to respect the skills.

NBA Top 50 All-Time (7)

#7 - Kevin Garnett

There have been a few different players to enter the NBA that have been considered a "man-child" at one point or another.  It is quite commonly bestowed on that cat who comes in at a very young age but seems to have the talent to play well above their years.  LeBron James is the most notable one, but there was one before him who nearly did it better.  That would be the one and only KG.

Garnett burst onto the national scene becoming a trendsetter immediately.  When he was drafted as the 5th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, he became the first player drafted directly out of high school in 20 years.  He made such a huge impact so quickly that other teams started to jump on the bandwagon.  It became commonplace to look for the next KG that would make the jump.  Unfortunately, not all high school kids come equipped with KG's type of ability.

I was rather skeptical of him at first.  They had shown clips here and there from his time at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, but not enough to truly grasp what he was capable of.  He just looked entirely too skinny to hang in the NBA with the big fellas. How was somebody his size going to be able to compete down low?  More importantly, how was he going to keep from being injured with as frail as he looked?

It turned out KG was an anomaly because of how versatile he was at his size.  Players at 6'11" were supposed to be making their living down low.  The good ones would have a little range to their shot where they could be dangerous outside the paint, but never as far out as the perimeter.  Garnett had the range to be a threat from the shooting guard range.  That posed serious match-up problems because his defenders couldn't leave him open from as far away from the basket as 24-feet.  Maybe more on one of KG's good days. 

Garnett became a different type of trailblazer when it came time to sign his 6-year contract extension during the 1997-98 season.  He inked a deal worth a then unheard of $126 million.  It essentially led to the lockout that occurred the following season.  The NBA wanted to make sure a contract of that magnitude would never happen again.  Granted, it was a huge amount of cash for someone that hadn't even gotten his team to the Finals, but Da Kid was getting better by leaps and bounds.  If he didn't make the money, it would have just went to the owners anyway so better him than them.  Although it did prevent the Timberwolves from getting the proper supporting cast to help him succeed.

For several years, KG was essentially a one-man show in Minnesota.  Any success the team had was due largely in part to his fiery competitiveness that translated into passionate aggression.  The franchise finally found a way to get him the help he needed when they brought in Sam Cassell and Latrell Spreewell in the '03-'04 season.  The presence of those two inspired KG to step up his game even more casuing him to win his first (and will probably be only) MVP Award.  I thought for sure they would find a way to get past the Lakers to keep Kobe from getting another ring, but it didn't happen.  In a roundabout way, KG did though.  I'd like to think that that series with the Lakers softened L.A just enough to eventually fall to Detroit in the Finals.

KG would ultimately become innovative again when he was traded to the Boston Celtics.  There were a couple of different reasons.  The first was because of what Boston had to give up to get him.  They traded Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, cash consideration, their 2009 first-round pick AND the 2009 first round pick the Timberwolves had traded to Boston in 2006.  The 7-for-1 deal was the largest number of players traded for a single player in League history.  But it was more than that.  It was something personal that it did for me.

I was never a fan of the Boston Celtics.  Even with Bird and his crew long gone and the Paul Pierce era later being ushered in, I could never find myself getting behind them.  However, once they got KG there, I found myself having a new found respect for them.  Then they brought in Jesus too and it was on.  The Celtics had added two of my favorite current players.  They couldn't win the Championship soon enough as far as I was concerned.  Never ever did I think there would ever be a Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals where I was cheering for the Celtics, but there I was.  I couldn't have been more ecstatic when KG played a huge part in getting the Big Three their first championship rings in 2008.

We will most likely see more players of Garnett's ilk enter the League in years to come.  It's already becoming a norm to have cats over 6'10" playing the power forward as a swingman slot thanks to how KG re-imagined the position.  However, it may be a while that someone with KG's overall package will come thru again.  Someone with the game, the tenacity, the intelligence AND the personality to polarize the League is a difficult feat to achieve.  Knowing that, it makes me wish that KG era would never end.

NBA Top 50 All-Time (8)

#8 - Kobe Bryant

Out of every cat that's on this list who I don't care for personally, this one is numero uno.  Something about him just rubs me the wrong way.  It doesn't even matter that some basketball pundits says he has the potential to be the best player to ever play the game.  I wouldn't give it a second thought to say that it's not true and never will be.  Potential essentially means you're not doing anythin now, when he clearly is.  Regardless of how tight his game is, he just has a history of making my skin crawl.

As one of the top high school preps, Kobe was given the popular advice that every decent high school baller was given at the time:  jump to the pros.  He held a press conference and had the nerve to make a dramatic pause before he made the announcement.  It's as if he was the second coming and already knew it.  Then he pulls an Eli Manning before Eli even thought of it and insisted that he only play in Los Angeles.  Nevermind the fact that he should be humble and thankful that he was given the opportunity to play in the NBA.  Why shouldn't he be given special treatment?  I mean he is the spoiled son of a former NBA player (that I've never heard of) so isn't he supposed to get whatever he wants?

He finally gets to the League in 1996 and starts immediately stinking it up.  Okay...he did display moments of brilliance and maybe he didn't quite stink it up, but he did show more often than not that he needed more work.  His three airballs against Utah in the playoffs were a telling sign of things to come:  although he would shoot for big success, he would ultimately miss but have more opportunities to get there.

Eventually, Kobe would start to come into his own.  It was due in large part to the fact that he did start putting in work.  He bulked up to add muscle to the skinny frame that apparently had been holding him back the first couple of years.  Then he was capable of being that formidable swingman to be part of the one-two punch that the Lakers had with him and Shaq.  However, he was too young and stupid to realize the good thing he had so he eroded the relationship to the point where one of them had to go.  That pond wasn't big enough for two big fish and the Lakers put their cart behind the horse that still had plenty of years in front of it.

It's funny that he has been compared to Jordan because his career has an arc entirely different from what MJ had.  Kobe had to struggle to find his game early on while Mike's was clear from the onset.  Kobe got three quick Championships early on while MJ had to wait years before he would see his first one.  Kobe has to now struggle at the peak of his career to keep the Lakers competitive while MJ made it look effortlessly easy during his prime.

Despite any and all success that Kobe has, he just does NOT come across as a likable guy.  AT. ALL.  He has more of a sleezebag quality about him.  There was the "alleged" sexual assault case in Colorado back in 2003 that really showed him in the worst light possible.  As if that case wasn't bad enough, how about how he tried to throw his then teammate Shaq under the bus when the police were interviewing Kobe about HIS situation?  Or how even recently, he's going out of his way to be demonstrative after great plays when that has never before been his M.O.? It's almost as if he relishes doing things that rub folks the wrong way.

There is no denying that success he has had recently with getting his 4th title in 2009.  He silenced some of the critics who said he would never get another one without Shaq.  He didn't silence me.  I still contend that he benefited from a watered down League and some lopsided calls.  They never should have gotten past the Rockets, but the League wasn't about to have a Finals with Ron-Ron and no Golden Boy.  Now, as fate would have it, they could possibly luck up and get a Finals with both of them on the same squad.

So what of Kobe's future legacy or possibly even lack thereof?  He is arguably the best overall player in the League today.  Because of that, he is really playing against the players of other eras when you try to consider any legacy he might have.  With that being the case, it's  a losing battle for him.  He doesn't have the polish of Jordan.  He doesn't have the style of Dr. J.  He doesn't have the finesse of Magic.  What he does have is the unmitigated arrogance of pretty much all of them combined.  That's one heck of a foundation to build a legacy on.  It's the very reason why regardless of what he may accomplish during the course of his career, he will never go any higher on my list.  He should consider himself VERY lucky I had him this high.

NBA Top 50 All-Time (9)

#9 - Charles Barkley

Every now and then I will get some random stranger make a comment to me that I resemble somebody famous.  When I was slimmer and had hair, I would occasionally get told it was Muhammad Ali.  Especially when "When We Were Kings" was playing in theaters.  But the one I got more often than not was the Barkley comparison.  Didn't particularly care for that one too much; however, I sure wouldn't have minded having his skills on the court.  Oh...and his bank account.

Charles had the fortunate luck of coming into the NBA and joining a Philadelphia 76er franchise that already had a legend on board.  It didn't matter that Dr. J and Chuck didn't play the same position.  It didn't matter that Dr. J was in the twilight of his career.  He had already forgotten more basketball than Chuck had learned at that point and he was the perfect person to serve as a mentor.  It may have even helped to temper Barkley's outspoken demeanor that eventually exploded once Dr. J retired.

In his early years with the Sixers, Barkely had earned the title "The Round Mound of Rebound".  It was pretty self explanatory, but it also spoke volumes about how deceptively good he was on the boards.  Barkley had the appearance of someone you would think could never play above the rim well enough to get rebounds on a regular basis.  However, he was able to use his size to his advantage and create space and opportunity to be a persistent force down low.  At 6'5" (although listed at 6'6"), he was always shorter than his opponent at the power forwrad position.  Even with that he still managed to dominate his defender on a regular basis. 

Barkley's signature move wasn't so much a move as much as it was an actual play. He would slowly and methodically back his opponents down to the point where he would be able to get off a shot in his range or create an open shot for a teammate.  No one was better at making that happen than he was.  I think the NBA even toyed with the idea of making a rule against that since it slowed down the pace of the game and didn't always translate into high ratings.

Sir Charles had clearly established himself as a franchise player as well as a perennial All-Star with Philly, but it was obvious he wasn't going to get far into the Playoffs with them so he demanded a trade.  When he got sent to Phoenix, it was as if new life had been breathed into him.  He lost excess body fat and replaced it with muscle.  That made him even more dangerous in the post because he was not only stronger then, but more agile too. 

The new frame and new location enabled him to finally get to the Finals in 1993 against Jordan and the Bulls.  We all know how that ended for Charles.  He didn't go down without a fight though.  He was going at it tooth and nail with not only Pippen but even Jordan.  Barkley didn't back down from either one, talking constant smack and backing it up with his ferocious play.  That Suns-Bulls series was probably my favorite out of all the Championships the Bulls won simply because of how those three superstars went at it every night.  If Jordan would have stayed retired for good after that series, he would have went out with an epic battle being the final one on his resume.

The one thing I will always remember Barkley most for during his playing career had nothing to do with his game at all.  It was that infamous Nike commercial where it showed just his face and he declared "I am not a role model".  He caught a lot of flack for that, but he couldn't have been more right.  While pro athletes should be responsible with how they carry themselves because younger kids look up to them, they should not be held accountable as role models.  That should be the responsibility of the adults that are in that child's life.  His/her parents, relatives, guardians or whatever adult is raising them.  I knew what Barkley was trying to say, but not enough people were intelligent enough top pick that up from a 15-second commercial.

These days, Sir Charles is still continuing his controversial ways as an NBA analyst on TNT.   And no, I'm not referring to his gross error in judgment.  I mean that he doesn't hold his tongue at all when offering his opinion on the state of the NBA, players and even coaches.  He tells it like it is as almost the Simon Cowell of NBA analysts.  One thing about NBA game on TNT is even if the game turns out being dull, you can count on Barkley's commentary being entertaining.  He proves that he's still reliable even in retirement.