Lebron James or Larry Bird???

[ambchang]

Bird had an incredible prime. Lebron has the potential, but he is not there yet.

[LkrFan]

Bird had an incredible prime. Lebron has the potential, but he is not there yet.

This. Some of these posters were born in 1998 or something. Bird was a bad dude.

[whitemamba]

This. Some of these posters were born in 1998 or something. Bird was a bad dude.

[TheNextGen]

Lebron is black..i go with Lebron.

[stretch]

Bird was amazing no doubt. One of my 5 favorite players of all time (the others being Dirk, Lebron, Barkley, and MJ).

But he put up big numbers in a league that played far less defense than todays NBA, had a much faster pace of game in general, without the types of athletes we see today.

Athleticism isn't everything, as we see in guys like Gerald Green. But it most certainly still means a whole of a lot. For example, look at Manu Ginobili. I've said for a long time that he is probably one of the most skilled players ever. If you think and look closely, there is basically nothing skill-wise that Kobe can do that Manu cannot do. He is a better shooter, has the same incredible footwork, ball-handling, passing, vision, etc... (give or take a small amount in different areas, but in the end, they are extremely comparable skill-wise) but what holds him back from being anywhere close to as good as Kobe is that he is no where near as athletic as Kobe. The athletic advantage allows Kobe to use his skills in ways that Manu cannot, even though Manu possesses just as much skill as he does, if not arguably more in various areas.

As skilled as Bird was, can you imagine if he had the athletic ability that MJ had??? He would have been the best basketball player ever, in a landslide. MJ wouldn't even come close most likely.

How about Wilt? If he wasn't the athlete that he was (in a league of non-athletes), would gots like cobbler be sitting here trying to argue that he is the greatest player ever? no. That athletic advantage he had is the biggest reason why he was so dominant for his time.

Don't sell the athletic part of the game so short. It certainly means a lot and makes a huge difference for players.

[stretch]

I'd love to see Bird play in today's NBA. You think un-athletic _irk be balling? Bird would be ting on fools and talking mad to the monkeyballers in the process. He'd avg 30/8/8 in today's game. Easily. FT: 90%; FG: 50+%; 3pt Bombs: 45+%. Dude kicked ass in the golden era of basketball - the '80s. In today's game? Fugetabou .

This is ing stupid.

[LkrFan]

This is ing stupid.

Fact: Bird would dominate today. _irk is a weak imitation of him. Unless you are saying _irk > Bird?

[pass1st]

Hard to imagine an athletic Bird, he already had his way with anybody defending him.

[Trainwreck2100]

bird walks into 3 point shooting contest says "who is coming in second" walks out with trophy. Doesn't give a

[stretch]

Fact: Bird would dominate today. _irk is a weak imitation of him. Unless you are saying _irk > Bird?

No im not saying that at all. Bird > Dirk. Although it's funny you keep saying _irk. You might as well say Bir_.

[stretch]

Hard to imagine an athletic Bird, he already had his way with anybody defending him.

Which is exactly my point. If he had anywhere remotely close to MJ or Lebron type athletic ability... he would be the best player ever, and would be no questions about it. It would be:

Bird

MJ

Kareem
the rest of the list...

[DMC]

Hard to imagine an athletic Bird.

The falcon comes to mind.

[dirk4mvp]

The _Allas Mavericks disgust me more than any other team in pro sports history. I actually relocated my family down to Port Arthur because of that team. Ever since Jason Terry punched Michael Finley below the belt, I promised my wife I'd never set foot in that trashy city again. Well, it's been 4 years since then and I'm proud to say I kept my word.

Not only that but I get to root for a team with real class, and that's the San Antonio Spurs. There's a reason we got 4 rings, and those chokers led by _Irk will never see one.

[DMC]

Bird was amazing no doubt. One of my 5 favorite players of all time (the others being Dirk, Lebron, Barkley, and MJ).

But he put up big numbers in a league that played far less defense than todays NBA, had a much faster pace of game in general, without the types of athletes we see today.

Athleticism isn't everything, as we see in guys like Gerald Green. But it most certainly still means a whole of a lot. For example, look at Manu Ginobili. I've said for a long time that he is probably one of the most skilled players ever. If you think and look closely, there is basically nothing skill-wise that Kobe can do that Manu cannot do. He is a better shooter, has the same incredible footwork, ball-handling, passing, vision, etc... (give or take a small amount in different areas, but in the end, they are extremely comparable skill-wise) but what holds him back from being anywhere close to as good as Kobe is that he is no where near as athletic as Kobe. The athletic advantage allows Kobe to use his skills in ways that Manu cannot, even though Manu possesses just as much skill as he does, if not arguably more in various areas.

As skilled as Bird was, can you imagine if he had the athletic ability that MJ had??? He would have been the best basketball player ever, in a landslide. MJ wouldn't even come close most likely.

How about Wilt? If he wasn't the athlete that he was (in a league of non-athletes), would gots like cobbler be sitting here trying to argue that he is the greatest player ever? no. That athletic advantage he had is the biggest reason why he was so dominant for his time.

Don't sell the athletic part of the game so short. It certainly means a lot and makes a huge difference for players.

I agree with this in theory, but in reality had Bird been MJ like athletic, his other skills wouldn't have developed because he wouldn't have needed them as a youngster.

[cobbler]

The average height of those numbers is 80.61" or 6'8.7"

Stretch obviously doesn't grasp the difference between the average and the mode. Go figure.

And leave it to the moron to argue that athleticism gives you an advantage in a sport! Duh.

Classic! What a stretch!

[stretch]

Stretch obviously doesn't grasp the difference between the average and the mode. Go figure.

Cobbler obviously doesn't understand that 6'8.7 is still closer to 6'8 than 6'10 and higher.

And leave it to the moron to argue that athleticism gives you an advantage in a sport! Duh.

Classic! What a stretch!

cool comeback, bro

[stretch]

I agree with this in theory, but in reality had Bird been MJ like athletic, his other skills wouldn't have developed because he wouldn't have needed them as a youngster.

Well, in the end this is all a bunch of coulda woulda shoulda. Point is, athleticism matters, and too many people here are selling it short.

[Latarian Milton]

Bird was amazing no doubt. One of my 5 favorite players of all time (the others being Dirk, Lebron, Barkley, and MJ).

But he put up big numbers in a league that played far less defense than todays NBA, had a much faster pace of game in general, without the types of athletes we see today.

Athleticism isn't everything, as we see in guys like Gerald Green. But it most certainly still means a whole of a lot. For example, look at Manu Ginobili. I've said for a long time that he is probably one of the most skilled players ever. If you think and look closely, there is basically nothing skill-wise that Kobe can do that Manu cannot do. He is a better shooter, has the same incredible footwork, ball-handling, passing, vision, etc... (give or take a small amount in different areas, but in the end, they are extremely comparable skill-wise) but what holds him back from being anywhere close to as good as Kobe is that he is no where near as athletic as Kobe. The athletic advantage allows Kobe to use his skills in ways that Manu cannot, even though Manu possesses just as much skill as he does, if not arguably more in various areas.

As skilled as Bird was, can you imagine if he had the athletic ability that MJ had??? He would have been the best basketball player ever, in a landslide. MJ wouldn't even come close most likely.

How about Wilt? If he wasn't the athlete that he was (in a league of non-athletes), would gots like cobbler be sitting here trying to argue that he is the greatest player ever? no. That athletic advantage he had is the biggest reason why he was so dominant for his time.

Don't sell the athletic part of the game so short. It certainly means a lot and makes a huge difference for players.

manu preponderates kobe skill-wise and thats why hes a better player than TOSB kobe right now imho. dude may still make a dunk once in a long while but you don't see him throwing himself at the hoop that often like he used to do

MJ got a perfect blend of athleticism and skills and that's why he was the greatest to ever play this game w/o a doubt

[cobbler]

Cobbler obviously doesn't understand that 6'8.7 is still closer to 6'8 than 6'10 and higher.



cool comeback, bro

You even refuted your own original post you moron. You claimed 6 to 8 inches shorter and I called you out on it. I didn’t even add em up and guesstimated 6'10 from a glance which was pretty damn close.

It's far cry from your original 6'3 to 6'5 fabrication that for sure. Yikes!

[Brazil]

TOSB kobe t

somewhere DOK is

[stretch]

I didn’t even add em up and guesstimated 6'10 from a glance which was pretty damn close.

You "guesstimated", yet you were the one being a got about doing research?

rofl

Still wondering how a bunch of 6'7 and 6'8 guys who are 40-50 lbs lighter than their opponent are supposed to be able to match up defensively as you continue to suggest...

[dunkman]

@ Bir_

Bird was lightning quick, with great anticipation and fastest hands ever, he was excellent defender on the ball and off the ball. He couldn't jump out of the gym, but he could block and dunk. He was also a great defensive rebounder.

[stretch]

Bird was lightning quick, with great anticipation and fastest hands ever, he was excellent defender on the ball and off the ball.

[ALVAREZ6]

lmao I'd love to see Bird trying to defend Lebron...and then vice versa.

[ALVAREZ6]

Bird was amazing no doubt. One of my 5 favorite players of all time (the others being Dirk, Lebron, Barkley, and MJ).

But he put up big numbers in a league that played far less defense than todays NBA, had a much faster pace of game in general, without the types of athletes we see today.

Athleticism isn't everything, as we see in guys like Gerald Green. But it most certainly still means a whole of a lot. For example, look at Manu Ginobili. I've said for a long time that he is probably one of the most skilled players ever. If you think and look closely, there is basically nothing skill-wise that Kobe can do that Manu cannot do. He is a better shooter, has the same incredible footwork, ball-handling, passing, vision, etc... (give or take a small amount in different areas, but in the end, they are extremely comparable skill-wise) but what holds him back from being anywhere close to as good as Kobe is that he is no where near as athletic as Kobe. The athletic advantage allows Kobe to use his skills in ways that Manu cannot, even though Manu possesses just as much skill as he does, if not arguably more in various areas.

As skilled as Bird was, can you imagine if he had the athletic ability that MJ had??? He would have been the best basketball player ever, in a landslide. MJ wouldn't even come close most likely.

How about Wilt? If he wasn't the athlete that he was (in a league of non-athletes), would gots like cobbler be sitting here trying to argue that he is the greatest player ever? no. That athletic advantage he had is the biggest reason why he was so dominant for his time.

Don't sell the athletic part of the game so short. It certainly means a lot and makes a huge difference for players.

+1


Skills are more important, but superhumanre athleticism + skills is unstoppable. LeBron, Jordan, Shaq...the most dominant offensive and defensive players are athletic and skilled. Lebron is pretty much as close as you can get to the perimeter version of Shaquille O'Neal, who dominated offensively and defensively because of his skill, height, weight, and athletic ability. Both are/were absolute freaks of nature, with skills (minus FT shooting, they both blow at that).


1v1, Lebron absolutely s on Bird, diarrhea style after a long night of wings and 15+ beers. LMAO thinking Bird would have a chance against 6'8" 260 lbs man that jumps insanely high, who could be a starting NFL wide receiver, tight end, or defensive end, depending on his training + diet.