Does it really matter who the greatest player of all-time is?

Question

Honestly, does it?

Why are we so fixated on the G.O.A.T. when basket ball is a team game?

No player, in NBA history, has won a title without a very stacked or at least a very complete team around him.

Shaq had Kobe, Dwayne Wade and great role players under Phil Jackson and Pat Riley to get his rings.

Jordan had Horace Grant, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, and again, Phil was the coach.

Russell had Cousey, Havlicek, Heinson, and several very good perimeter players surrounding him, not to mention Red Aurebeck as coach.

Magic had Kareem, perfect up tempo forwards in A.C. Green and James Worthy. Scott and Cooper were great denfers and shooters, again Riley coached this team.

Bird's Celtics were stacked, Duncan's Spurs, Hakeem's Rockets, etc.

My point is if these players didn't have great management, coaching and had great teammates they would considered great individual players and left out of the G.O.A.T. discussion!

Additional Details

Two very good examples Danny C.

Imagine if Garnett would have retired a T.Wolve, he would probably be known as a great player with no support, or a very talented player that couldn't take his team to the next level.

Now that he's in Boston, he doesn't have that worry, because he's on a great team, and the burden isn't all his.

Same with Kobe. Even though Kobe loves to be the center of attention and score a ton of points, he knows his "legacy post Shaq" is on the line and that the Lakers needed to add some qaulity players around him. The only reason the Lakers made the playoffs was because of Phil jackson's coaching and Kobe's play. But without the maturity of Bynum, the addition of Fisher and Gasol, the Lakers would barely be over .500 and Kobe would be crying daily for a trade.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

"Mark The Protector" said it best.

Honestly, I think it's stupid that people make such a big deal out of it. Being the best player in the world won't win you a championship and being the best player in the world won't entertain the masses because basketball is a TEAM sport!
I don't go to Lakers games to see Kobe Bryant, I go to Lakers games to see the Lakers and to see them WIN.

Besides, there are soooo many great players in NBA history, it is absolutely impossible to have just ONE best player when EVERY player has their own strengths and weakness and every player is different.

For example, I think it's ridiculous that people would compare a center and a guard, it just can't be that way.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks everyone for your answers!

Answer 2

Interesting point...

Answer 3

Yeah, theres really no point in arguing who's the best, but people like to do it.

Answer 4

yeah there is really no greatest player
they all played at different times anyway so its impossible to tell

Answer 5

I know!
For teams this year who could possibly win it.
Kobe has Fisher, Odom, Gasol, Bynum, and Phil Jackson
Garnett has Pierce, Allen, Rondo, and their coach.
I don't know many other teams but those are two examples.

Answer 6

That is correct...teamwork is most important...that is why kobe lovers are morons,,,,they think he is the greatest player of all time but in reality he is the greatest ball hog of all time (beating larry bird)

Answer 7

Because , there needs to be a standard, a bar of measuring excellence.

It is the point where all of us look up to, where we play our game like theirs.

There is always someone who will be brought up to that particular question. whether we like it or not.

I agree with your opinion, and so much of today's players have been hyped up by the media, so far that they say Lebron James is the best player today.
Funny how you measure one half-season as to gauge whether that player is the greatest.
Being great doesn't happen in 2-3 years, it continually grows, for about 8 and above years.
Even though you have great stats to show doesn't mean u are the greatest player.
That just means you are the best in the team.


Why do we need a GOAT?
simply because it will force us to dream, beyond our comprehension, that someday, we would be the dubbed: The Greatest Player of All-Time.

And that spot still belongs to Bill Russell.

Answer 8

No it does not matter who the greatest of all time is or might be. You can never actually get the correct answer to that question. This question is a question of opinion not of fact. We all have an opinion. We can support our opinions with facts. That is why Jordan is considered arguably the greatest player of all time. Key word is arguably. Some would argue that title belongs to Bill Russel. Others might say Magic, Byrd, Jerry West, Kareem, or Wilt. This is an argument with no true winners.

Those championship teams had great players including role player, great coaches and played in a good system for that team.

Kobe and Shaq played together without any championships. They need the play of Fisher, and Fox and belief in the system that Phil gave them to win. The same thing for Jordan.

Answer 9

Everybody needs a hero and most people either aspire too or look up too the best. It is human nature. The truth is that we will never know. There is no way to measure. If Shaq and iverson went 1 on 1 i'd have money on Shaq but that wouldnt mean hes a better player. Comparing Shaq to Russel is impossible as they faced different competition which inevitably lead to the styles in which they played. There are so many variables that you can't compare players in different generations. If the NBA never introduced a 3pt line would Larry Bird have been considered that good, Reggie Miller even. With a 3pt line in Russells day maybe players would shoot from there to avoid his defence, but what was the benefit of shooting a long shot without one.

We will never know and it is egotystical to think we will.

That said Michael Jordan is definately the best.