Any Disagreement about the Top 12?

cms11 · 01-30-2026, 02:49 PM

I put them in alphabetical order to avoid the ranking arguments. What I'm interested in is whether there's any one else to deserves to be in the top 12?

Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant
Wilt Chamberlain
Stephen Curry
Tim Duncan
Lebron James
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Hakeem Olajuwon
Shaquille O'Neal
Bill Russell

asujbl · 01-30-2026, 02:58 PM

Not from me

boxbuster7 · 01-30-2026, 03:05 PM

Can't believe you left out kwame brown

smh

hermanotarjeta · 01-30-2026, 03:06 PM

That sounds just right.

maj78 · 01-30-2026, 03:08 PM

Good-looking list!

Above the Rim · 01-30-2026, 03:27 PM

Who knows how many more accolades he will acquire. Let him finish out his career, then we get to better digest his career stats. But Jokic is one of only 3 players in NBA history to have a top 2 MVP finish for 5 or more consecutive seasons.

eastbayak · 01-30-2026, 03:30 PM

Smart move to make it a top 12 to include Kobe and Hakeem.

asujbl · 01-30-2026, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Smart move to make it a top 12 to include Kobe and Hakeem.

Hakeem and Curry

But I see what you did there

pingbling23 · 01-30-2026, 04:00 PM

Player or career? I would give the edge player wise to joker over curry and slight edge career to curry.

Above the Rim · 01-30-2026, 04:02 PM

As a Laker homer, I gotta plug Jerry West. If he had the 3-point line, OMG !

hermanotarjeta · 01-30-2026, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asujbl

Hakeem and Curry

But I see what you did there

This guy is right.

CKB · 01-30-2026, 04:24 PM

Missing Bob Cousy.

Zedlaw · 01-30-2026, 05:06 PM

I agree with the list but it’s interesting how much Oscar has fallen off in the consensus and Hakeem has grown.

the mesiah · 01-30-2026, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Above the Rim

As a Laker homer, I gotta plug Jerry West. If he had the 3-point line, OMG !

Who you leaving off ?

mikejones · 01-30-2026, 05:43 PM

List is wrong. Barkley fleer rookie sells for more than Hakeem so I'd swap those two.

eastbayak · 01-30-2026, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Above the Rim

As a Laker homer, I gotta plug Jerry West. If he had the 3-point line, OMG !

Quote:

Originally Posted by the mesiah

Who you leaving off ?

If using a top 12, that's easy. Kobe or Hakeem (probably Kobe too).

Unsure if he cracks the top 10 list though.

Above the Rim · 01-30-2026, 06:00 PM

My family grew up in SoCal. My parents went to Lakers games - saw Wilt, West, Elgin Baylor. With my folks we saw Magic era, Kobe/Shaq.

From what my dad says, West was unquestionably a better shooter than Kobe. West was a sniper, great Defense, heck - won Finals MVP for losing team. Kobe was awesome, great, top flight defense. But a volume shooter.

Yes, is debateable, but my dad said he would always take Jerry West over Kobe. So, kill me if you want, but take West over Kobe.

cms11 · 01-30-2026, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zedlaw

I agree with the list but it’s interesting how much Oscar has fallen off in the consensus and Hakeem has grown.

Oscar is a really tough one to fit in.

hermanotarjeta · 01-30-2026, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cms11

Oscar is a really tough one to fit in.

The main reason he is being left off is he only has one ring.

rats60 · 01-30-2026, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cms11

I put them in alphabetical order to avoid the ranking arguments. What I'm interested in is whether there's any one else to deserves to be in the top 12?

Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant
Wilt Chamberlain
Stephen Curry
Tim Duncan
Lebron James
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Hakeem Olajuwon
Shaquille O'Neal
Bill Russell

Drop Curry, Shaq and Olajuwon.

Add Jokic, Big O and West

rats60 · 01-30-2026, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

The main reason he is being left off is he only has one ring.

It is hard for one guy to beat a team with 8 or 9 Hall of Famers on it.

hermanotarjeta · 01-30-2026, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rats60

It is hard for one guy to beat a team with 8 or 9 Hall of Famers on it.

It’s also hard to beat a team with Jordan on it.

But that’s why Malone, Ewing, Barkley, etc are nowhere close to this list.

CommomSensei88 · 01-30-2026, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asujbl

Hakeem and Curry

But I see what you did there

Curry and Kobe

CommomSensei88 · 01-30-2026, 08:09 PM

Kevin Durant?

hermanotarjeta · 01-30-2026, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommomSensei88

Kevin Durant?

He would be top 16.

01-30-2026, 02:49 PM	#1
cms11 Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,497	Any Disagreement about the Top 12? I put them in alphabetical order to avoid the ranking arguments. What I'm interested in is whether there's any one else to deserves to be in the top 12? Kareem Abdul Jabbar Larry Bird Kobe Bryant Wilt Chamberlain Stephen Curry Tim Duncan Lebron James Magic Johnson Michael Jordan Hakeem Olajuwon Shaquille O'Neal Bill Russell

01-30-2026, 02:58 PM	#2
asujbl Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 64,546 ohiosundevils	Not from me __________________ https://ohiosundevils.smugmug.com/ Browns/Cavs/Tribe/Buckeyes/Jackets/Devils TheFrenzy - “Blowout ain't a place for normies”

01-30-2026, 03:05 PM	#3
boxbuster7 Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 13,343 boxbuster777	Can't believe you left out kwame brown smh __________________ Psa 9 > psa 10

01-30-2026, 05:43 PM	#15
mikejones Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: fresno Posts: 5,323	List is wrong. Barkley fleer rookie sells for more than Hakeem so I'd swap those two. __________________ Why the hell are you buying Siemian stuff. Dude is done, can't you tell I'm trying to get rid of him because he'll never be our starting QB again....

01-30-2026, 03:06 PM	#4
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 23,367	That sounds just right.

01-30-2026, 03:08 PM	#5
maj78 Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TX Posts: 698	Good-looking list!

01-30-2026, 03:27 PM	#6
Above the Rim Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 803	Who knows how many more accolades he will acquire. Let him finish out his career, then we get to better digest his career stats. But Jokic is one of only 3 players in NBA history to have a top 2 MVP finish for 5 or more consecutive seasons.

01-30-2026, 03:30 PM	#7
eastbayak Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 16,990 eastbayak	Smart move to make it a top 12 to include Kobe and Hakeem.

01-30-2026, 04:00 PM	#9
pingbling23 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 16,003 pingbling23	Player or career? I would give the edge player wise to joker over curry and slight edge career to curry.

01-30-2026, 04:02 PM	#10
Above the Rim Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 803	As a Laker homer, I gotta plug Jerry West. If he had the 3-point line, OMG !

01-30-2026, 04:24 PM	#12
CKB Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: East Coast Posts: 167	Missing Bob Cousy.

01-30-2026, 05:06 PM	#13
Zedlaw Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 1,385	I agree with the list but it’s interesting how much Oscar has fallen off in the consensus and Hakeem has grown.

01-30-2026, 06:00 PM	#17
Above the Rim Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 803	My family grew up in SoCal. My parents went to Lakers games - saw Wilt, West, Elgin Baylor. With my folks we saw Magic era, Kobe/Shaq. From what my dad says, West was unquestionably a better shooter than Kobe. West was a sniper, great Defense, heck - won Finals MVP for losing team. Kobe was awesome, great, top flight defense. But a volume shooter. Yes, is debateable, but my dad said he would always take Jerry West over Kobe. So, kill me if you want, but take West over Kobe.

01-30-2026, 08:09 PM	#24
CommomSensei88 Member Join Date: Oct 2025 Posts: 71	Kevin Durant?