this comments thread is dripping with potential...
I wonder how hollinger's rankings went down in this. half the top 10 list weren't even ranked by him if i'm reading it correctly

is just about right. No, he's not known for defense, but he was one of the few absolutely unique players in NBA history. The statistics are obvious: 26,595 career points, an incredible streak of scoring double figures in 407 consecutive games, 12 straight All-Star games, a .511 career shooting percentage as a guard [not even MJ could top that]. He was the best offensive producer I've ever seen.

But more than all the stats, Gervin transcended the way the game was played. He redefined the SG position when he moved from forward to become the first big [read: tall and very skinny] guard to excel at the position. He was so smooth, and made seemingly-impossible shots look easy. You had to see it to believe it. Even when the Spurs were only run-and-gun with no defense they were so fun to watch, and mainly b/c of Gervin. Absolutely no one ever had the arsenal of shots that the Iceman did. And he also has one of the all-time greatest nicknames.  

Maybe the greatest testimony to Gervin's greatness comes from the man who is #3 on the all-time SG list - Jerry West. West said this about Ice: "He's the one player I would pay to see." There you have it. Other than the top three, who would you rank higher?

P.S. In glancing through the list, I noticed that the anti-foreigner bias is as strong as ever. Both Manu and Drazen Petrovic should be much higher on the list.

While the Iceman stories are endearing and obviously true, they do not address the fundamental point: is being a shooting guard only about offense? If there is some consensus that it is, then fine, list away. Certainly no one will argue that probably a good 98% of pundits, commentators, "experts", only consider offense when rating all NBA players, with the occasional exception of center. Yet, those same gasbags will also tell you that championships are won with defense and never make the connection with their own skewed analysis. In fact, you can take it a step further: look at any player in terms of the whole package. Shooting, passing, assists, rebounds, defense, leadership, free throw shooting, hussle, competitiveness, performance in crunch time. Sure, each position makes different demands. But all positions require defense if the team is to be successful. And perhaps most importantly, all players realize that their defense will not put them on the highlight reel or get them to the All Star game or the giant contract. So few work at it. That's what makes guys like Timmy and Manu so damn special. Kobe? He plays good defense WHEN HE FEELS LIKE IT! Well, fuck that. Lebron ... please! Yet they're the face of the NBA. Now how fucked up is that!