basketball mount rushmore

by speedostuffer on Jan 28, 2009 10:01 AM CST

Since we(PTRers not the actual players) have a days rest before we head to Phx I thought it'd be fun to have a little debate amongst fellow basketball scholars. That means Ankle Bones isn't aloud to participate. So anyway last night I saw an ESPN thing about voting for your sports Mount Rushmore. Honestly I don't follow football or hockey close enough to be a part of that argument so I thought "who would be on my basketball Mount Rushmore...?" And this is what I came up with:

MJ- I think this is the most obvious one. If you say he's not the greatest ever it's impossible to phathom someone thinking he isn't part of a top four list.

Duncan- This is a spurs blog right? Even if it wasn't though how do you leave the best power forward of all time off the list? I have a feeling Gary Payton would opt for Shawn Kemp though.

Magic- Arguably the greatest point guard ever in the body of a power forward. Yikes! I could list all his statistical accolades but I think the most impressive is 3 time finals MVP and 5 chips in all.

Russel- This man I did not have the pleasure of watching except for on ESPN classic but I can't ignore 11 rings. Can you?

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

great list. I don’t really know much about professional football (just became interested in it like 2-3 years ago) or hockey either (i know that gretsky fella was good). Actually only got interested in pro basketball in ‘03 too, so it’s hard for me to remember what happened or who was good in the ’80s and ’90s.

i’d toss in kareem, Dr. J, Pistol Pete, Wilt Chamberlain

What the Bowen giveth Horry taketh away. --LatinD (2008 Playoffs Round 2, Game 1)

the Spurs do not defeat you so much as they grind you into tiny shards of psychological wreckage.
-the Denver Post

by Hamer_SpursFan on Jan 28, 2009 10:46 AM CST reply actions

Pistol Pete doesn’t really belong, but you could make strong arguments for the other three.

Catch the Spurs Spirit! It's a Fast-breakin' Fiesta!

by tomasito on Jan 30, 2009 2:38 PM CST up reply actions

once again, i can’t really say much about the past years (since i got into pro bball in ‘03), i’m going by what i have heard by the Almighty ESPN. The old legends have always said Pistol Pete was incredible, more so than other greats. The spurs vs. lakers rivalry is the farthest i go back (i dont even remember the bulls dynasty) so i can’t really comment. i think i made it clear, but i’m just yappin about who i think was good.

but i KNOW Russell, Chamberlain, Dr. J, Bird, Magic, and Jordan were superior

What the Bowen giveth Horry taketh away. --LatinD (2008 Playoffs Round 2, Game 1)

the Spurs do not defeat you so much as they grind you into tiny shards of psychological wreckage.
-the Denver Post

by Hamer_SpursFan on Jan 31, 2009 2:59 AM CST up reply actions

Pistol Pete was incredible to watch, he was incredibly creative with the ball, and a great scorer. But he never led his teams to championships and he wasn’t dominant they way those other guys were.

I'm comfortable winning -- Emmanuel Ginobili

by pollackj on Jan 31, 2009 9:35 AM CST up reply actions

also, he didn’t play much defense to speak of — and playing on bad teams in college apparently formed him into a bit of a ball hog

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 31, 2009 3:00 PM CST up reply actions

I like your list speed...

…and would have absolutely zero problem with your 4 choices being the basketball Mount Rushmore. MJ is a given. Tim is my favorite player and has the numbers, achievements, and most importantly, the attitude of champion. Ervin Johnson lived up to his nickname. Here’s where, for kicks and giggles, I’d start throwing around a few more names. I’ve always been a huge Bill Russel fan, and believe he’s the greatest center of all time…but why not Wilt the Stilt? 100 in one game, 50 point scoring average for a season? Russel edges him out with 11 rings, to Wilt’s 2. But if we have Wilt and Bill, we must mention Kareem (6 rings, 6 MPV awards). If we include Magic, let’s not forget his rival in the green Larry Legend. Then there’s the man with possibly the greatest statistical season in the history of the game…The Big O, Oscar Robertson.

I love these lists like this, and will most likely be adding a few more names as they come to mind. Good call on this post!

"It's not how you enter your sport, it's how you exit." - Dr. J
http://myspace.com/eme0916
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=569220294&ref=profile

by Ed (dfjmed) on Jan 28, 2009 11:33 AM CST reply actions

I would put Kareem over Russell and Wilt. Just because those last 2 were atlhetic black players who were guarded by 6’6 white skinny players. Its like Amare or Howard playing against my university team.

"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."

by Chilai on Jan 28, 2009 12:13 PM CST reply actions

Definately a fair assessment...

How many teams were in the league when Russell and Wilt played, as well? Russell’s Celtics damn well better have won 11 titles!

"It's not how you enter your sport, it's how you exit." - Dr. J
http://myspace.com/eme0916
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=569220294&ref=profile

by Ed (dfjmed) on Jan 28, 2009 12:44 PM CST up reply actions

I’d like to nominate Tony Parker….Obviously, anyone who is confident enough in his own beauty to pose nearly naked with a golden basketball should be forever enshrined in the Basketball Mt. Rushmore.

::gags::

Leave the gun; take the Ginobili.

by surfergirlsa on Jan 28, 2009 1:05 PM CST reply actions

The top guy is MJ, obviously, with Magic getting the next spot. After those guys, there’s a slew of deserving players: Timmeh, Bill Russell, Wilt, Larry Bird, Hakeem, Snaq (even though he’s a witless oaf), and Kareem. The next plane would be guys like Dr. J, Oscar Robertson, David Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Kobe…

So I guess I’m saying it’s easy to pick two, or easy to pick nine or ten, but much tougher to narrow it down to 4.

Catch the Spurs Spirit! It's a Fast-breakin' Fiesta!

by tomasito on Jan 28, 2009 1:08 PM CST reply actions

Something about The Admiral’s nickname just sounds appropriate that he’d be on Mount Rushmore.

"It's not how you enter your sport, it's how you exit." - Dr. J
http://myspace.com/eme0916
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=569220294&ref=profile

by Ed (dfjmed) on Jan 28, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

I pretty much agree with your picks, it’s a good question. MJ, Russell, Magic and Duncan are pretty safe; with Bird, O, Mikan, and Kareem following up the first 4.

For your next post, I want to see the “NBA Douchbag Mt. Rushmore” starting with Spreewell.

by SgtinManusArmy on Jan 28, 2009 1:28 PM CST reply actions

Since it’s a b-ball Mt Rushmore, there should be five spots. I would take your first three (MJ, TD, Magic), plus Bird and Robertson. The Big-O is the only player who averaged better than 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game over a career (LeBron will probably be next), and he actually averaged a triple-double one season (and in another season missed doing so again by one-tenth of a rebound per game).

by 4Him on Jan 28, 2009 2:09 PM CST reply actions

Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird & Jerry West

"....It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can’t do it. I want winners!" - Mike Singletary

by DennardC on Jan 28, 2009 3:20 PM CST reply actions

Maybe they should have one player from every position?

In that case…

PG – Magic
SG – MJ
C – Russell
SF – Larry Legend
PF – Duncan

"It's not how you enter your sport, it's how you exit." - Dr. J
http://myspace.com/eme0916
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=569220294&ref=profile

by Ed (dfjmed) on Jan 28, 2009 3:25 PM CST reply actions

Rodman. Drag Rodman. Damn, he made this game exciting.

If you want to be boring-serious, I’m with dfjmed.

by LatinD on Jan 28, 2009 3:40 PM CST reply actions

Along with these luminaries:

PG – Stephon Marbury
SG- Vernon Maxwell
C – Jerome James
PF – Dennis Rodman
SF – Ron Artest

"....It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can’t do it. I want winners!" - Mike Singletary

by DennardC on Jan 28, 2009 3:45 PM CST up reply actions

is Stephen Jackson the 6th man?

What the Bowen giveth Horry taketh away. --LatinD (2008 Playoffs Round 2, Game 1)

the Spurs do not defeat you so much as they grind you into tiny shards of psychological wreckage.
-the Denver Post

by Hamer_SpursFan on Jan 28, 2009 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

Is that the all time Mt. Douchebag team?

Let’s not forget Latrell Sprewell, Bonzi Wells, Josh Howard, the entire Portland Jailblazers (circa 2000-2003), and The Bad Boys (mid 80s- 1991). (more to come as I think of them.)

"It's not how you enter your sport, it's how you exit." - Dr. J
http://myspace.com/eme0916
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=569220294&ref=profile

by Ed (dfjmed) on Jan 28, 2009 4:59 PM CST up reply actions

a few more names that came to mind...

… – Anthony Mason (Knicks)
    - John Starks (Knicks)
   - Xavier McDaniel (Sonics/Suns/Knicks)
   - Craig Ehlo (Cavs)

"It's not how you enter your sport, it's how you exit." - Dr. J
http://myspace.com/eme0916
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=569220294&ref=profile

by Ed (dfjmed) on Jan 29, 2009 7:25 PM CST up reply actions

As great as Duncan is, he doesn't belong on the basketball Mt. Rushmore

I’d put Wilt, Russell, Bird, MJ, and Magic as my five.

Duncan would be in the next five along with Kareem, Baylor, West and Robertson.

by Aaronstampler on Jan 28, 2009 5:35 PM CST reply actions

By what measure is Bird better than Duncan? Other than media adulation, that is.

Catch the Spurs Spirit! It's a Fast-breakin' Fiesta!

by tomasito on Jan 28, 2009 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

thought the same

"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."

by Chilai on Jan 29, 2009 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

Bird was MUCH better at getting drafted by the Celtics in the first round than Duncan was.

by SgtinManusArmy on Jan 29, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions

Well put. Can you imagine if Boston had won that lottery and drafted TD? And, for the sake of argument, say Duncan had won three or four titles with the Celtics (after murdering Rick Pitino and coaching the team himself). Where would he rank in the basketball pantheon if that had happened? I bet some people would make arguments for him as the best player of all time, period, comparing and contrasting his career with MJ’s.

Catch the Spurs Spirit! It's a Fast-breakin' Fiesta!

by tomasito on Jan 29, 2009 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

::shuddering uncontrollably::

Seeing something like this, it’s impossible for me not to believe there is a God. And you’re definitely right on; TD in Boston would guarantee that he’d be looked at as a Top 3 all-time player instead of a Top-10.

by SgtinManusArmy on Jan 29, 2009 2:48 PM CST up reply actions

So fucking true guys

"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."

by Chilai on Jan 29, 2009 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

That image is infinitely worse than ATS’s ankle.

Catch the Spurs Spirit! It's a Fast-breakin' Fiesta!

by tomasito on Jan 30, 2009 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

I love the tag line: “what happens when the NBA draft lottery goes very, very wrong.” As if it is a tragedy that those stuck-up, entitled, yahoos from Boston didn’t get another great player.

I'm comfortable winning -- Emmanuel Ginobili

by pollackj on Jan 30, 2009 10:44 PM CST up reply actions