Franchise Tournament Archives - Page 4 of 8

All-Time Atlanta Hawks vs. All-Time Dallas Mavericks

Our next match features two teams who have each won one championship in their history. The Hawks experienced their greatest success behind a legendary power forward in the middle of Bill Russell’s Celtics dynasty. The Mavericks won their championship behind another legendary power forward in the bridge year between the reigns of Kobe Bryant’s Lakers and LeBron James’s Heat. Who will win the battle between the All-Time Atlanta Hawks vs. All-Time Dallas Mavericks? Each side holds key advantages.

Atlanta’s Advantages

Interior Play: The Hawks’ big men should have their way in this series. The combination of Dikembe Mutombo, Al Horford, and Zelmo Beaty is superior to that of Sam Perkins, Roy Tarpley, and James Donaldson. In addition, while Bob Pettit and Dirk Nowitzki should cancel each other out, Dan Roundfield, an excellent defender, will make things difficult for Dirk when he’s in the game.

Defense: The Hawks have a number of defenders who can slow down the Mavericks’ offensive attack, including Mutombo, Roundfield, Horford, and Mookie Blaylock. Conversely, the Mavericks do not have many plus defenders, especially up front, where the Hawks will hold a large rebounding advantage as well.

Dallas’s Advantages

Outside shooting: Expect the Mavericks to spread the floor as a counter to Atlanta’s bigger lineups. Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Jason Terry, Michael Finley and Jason Kidd can all shoot from deep, and even Perkins, their starting center, will try to draw Mutombo away the basket with his outside shot.

X-Factors

1. Who wins the battle of the high-scoring forwards? Expect both teams to run their offenses through their forwards: Pettit and Dominique Wilkins for Atlanta, and Nowitzki and Mark Aguirre for the Mavericks. Atlanta has the deeper roster, so the Mavericks need to win this match up, which is improbable.

2. 66 to 35: That’s the number of years that the Hawks and Mavericks have been in existence, respectively. While Dallas fields an explosive all-time team, they do have holes on their roster, while Atlanta has a complete team.

Results

Atlanta, with the deeper, more physical roster, proves superior over the course of the series. Down the stretch of game six, Pettit ensures that the series doesn’t go to a deciding game.

Hawks win, four games to two.

Next Round

Atlanta faces the All-Time Chicago Bulls.

All-Time Dallas Mavericks Team

Our next franchise has only been in existence for 35 years. They found immediate success in the 1980s, making the playoffs five years in a row, culminating in a seven-game Western Conference Finals showdown with the eventual league champions. The next decade wasn’t as kind, as they never made the playoffs from 1991 to 2000, and bottomed out with one of the worst teams in league history. Since then, they’ve become one of the league’s model franchises, behind a legendary star and a trailblazing owner. The All-Time Dallas Mavericks team is very good considering their relatively short history, filled with offensive play makers who will make them very difficult to defend.

I’ve already discussed how Steve Nash is one of the greatest offensive players ever; in Dallas, he didn’t reach the MVP heights that he did under Mike D’Antoni, but he was still an all-star player who was one of the best shooters in the NBA. He’ll share the ball-handling duties with Derek Harper, an excellent defender who is one of the best players to have never made an all-star team, and Jason Kidd, who spent early and late years of his brilliant career with the Mavericks. While Kidd wasn’t the force that he was with the Nets or Suns, he was still an elite play maker, who shot over 40 percent from three point range in two of his last four seasons with the team. Rolando Blackman is the team’s starting shooting guard. Blackman was a four-time all-star who peaked during the 1984 season, when he averaged 22.4 PPG while shooting 54.6 percent from the field (he somehow was not honored with an all-star berth that year – go figure). Jason Terry was a hybrid guard who could handle the ball and stretch the defense with his three-point shooting. He was also one of the league’s best sixth men for years, and will be able to play alongside all of the other guards in the rotation.

The starting forwards are the two highest scoring players (on a points per game basis) in team history: Mark Aguirre and Dirk Nowitzki. Aguirre was an incredibly versatile offensive player who was one of the best scorers of the 1980s. He’ll have to play a lesser role on this team than he was used to playing as a Maverick; he led the league in usage percentage in both 1983 and 1984. However, his success as a role player on the two-time champion Detroit Pistons teams demonstrates his adaptability. Nowitzki is the greatest player in franchise history; he may be the best shooting big man the NBA has ever seen, and he makes any team that he plays on an offensive force. Backing them up are two small forwards who experienced great success alongside Nowitzki; Michael Finley, a tremendous athlete who’s another three-point threat, and Josh Howard, who may have been their second best player when they made their first NBA Finals appearance in 2006.

The Mavericks have not had dominant play from the center position in their history; Tyson Chandler may be the best center they’ve ever had, but he’s ineligible for this tournament because he only played on the team for two years. Instead, three big men will share time: Sam Perkins, Roy Tarpley, and James Donaldson. Perkins, AKA “Big Smooth,” played more power forward in Dallas before becoming a center later in his career, and is not an ideal fit alongside Nowitzki, especially on the defensive end of the court. They will create headaches for opponents on offense, however, as both can space the floor and create matchup problems for traditional big men who are used to protecting the paint. Roy Tarpley was an incredible player before personal issues derailed his career; in 17 games in the 1988 playoffs, he averaged 17.9 PPG, 12.9 RPG, and 23.1 PER in 33 MPG off the bench. He’s also a former Sixth Man of the Year Award winner, and will get plenty of minutes as the team’s most talented option at center. James Donaldson was a mammoth player (7’2”, 275 lb), who provided a stabilizing force for the successful Mavericks teams in the 1980s. He and Tarpley will provide this team with rim protection, and should both play well off of Nowitzki.

Overall, this team is full of offensive play makers, but they may struggle against big, physical teams. They’re also lacking on the defensive end, and will need to outscore their opponents to have a chance to compete. The 19th seeded team in our tournament, they have a first-round match up against the All-Time Atlanta Hawks team.

Coach: Rick Carlisle

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .510

All-Time Atlanta Hawks Team

The All-Time Atlanta Hawks team is…deep. So deep, in fact, that you could make a competitive team with those individuals who didn’t make the cut: Doc Rivers, Joe Johnson, Steve Smith, Bill Bridges, Kevin Willis, Josh Smith, Clyde Lovellette, and Walt Bellamy, among others. Even though they’ve had many unremarkable seasons in their 66 years of existence, their all-time team is full of Hall-of-Fame and all-star level performers, and they’ll present match up problems for all opponents in our tournament.

Lenny Wilkens and Mookie Blaylock will split time at the lead guard position. Wilkens made five all-star game appearances in his eight seasons with the franchise, and finished second in the MVP voting in 1968, when he averaged 20.0 PPG and 8.3 APG. Blaylock was a defensive menace who led the league in steals per game twice and made six all-NBA defensive teams as a Hawk. “Sweet” Lou Hudson and “Pistol” Pete Maravich will share time at the two. Hudson has a great case to make the Basketball Hall of Fame (compare his numbers with recent inductee Mitch Richmond and try to justify one being in over the other), and was one of the top scorers in the league in his prime. Maravich only spent four seasons with the franchise, but was a brilliant play maker in that time, and both will benefit from having a three-point line in their tournament matches.

The starting frontcourt consists of three Hall-of-Famers who each brings a critical component to the team. Dominique Wilkins was one of the NBA’s best players in the 1980s, and was the last player to lead the league in scoring before Michael Jordan won seven straight scoring titles through 1993. I’ve already argued that Bob Pettit is the second greatest power forward of all-time; he’s the premier player in franchise history, and is one of the best scorers and rebounders in NBA history. Recent Hall-of-Fame inductee Dikembe Mutombo provides them with a great defensive and rebounding presence, and will help to compensate for the defensive shortcomings of his offensive-minded teammates.

Off the bench, Cliff Hagan and John Drew will provide more firepower from the forward position. Hagan worked beautifully with Pettit during the team’s glory years, while Drew was a talented and efficient scorer before personal problems ended his time in the NBA. Dan Roundfield was one of the league’s best all-around players during his prime, averaging a double-double from 1978 to 1983, and making the all-NBA defensive team every year from 1980 to 1984. Al Horford is one of the best and underappreciated players in today’s game; his versatility and all-around game are ideally suited for a team with this much talent. Similar to Horford, Zelmo Beaty was an undersized center, but he was also a multiple-time all-star who provides great depth at the center position.

This team has a nice mix of explosive scorers (Pettit, Wilkins, Maravich, Hudson) and dominant defenders (Mutombo, Roundfield, Blaylock). With one championship, they are seeded 14th in our tournament, and have an opening round match against the all-time Dallas Mavericks.

Coach: Lenny Wilkens (our first coach who will be leading multiple teams)

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .498

All-Time New Orleans Pelicans Team

It’s hard to know what to do with our next franchise. They’ve only been in existence for 13 seasons, and it’s hard to define who they really are. What do I mean by that? Well, the Charlotte Hornets were established in 1989. They moved to New Orleans in 2003, becoming the New Orleans Hornets. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Bobcats were established in 2005, two years after the Hornets left town. In 2014, New Orleans decided to change their name to the Pelicans, seemingly for comedic purposes. Since the ‘Hornets’ name was now up for grabs, the Bobcats decided to change their name to the Hornets, starting in 2015. Somehow the former Bobcats seem to have magically adopted the history of the Hornets franchise, while the first year of the New Orleans franchise is considered to be 2003, even though they really have been in existence since 1989. Confused yet? You should be. The All-Time New Orleans Pelicans team considers only those players who have been a part of the franchise since that original 2003 date, even though that doesn’t make any logical sense.

Since this is technically our newest franchise, they don’t have the longevity to field a team that complies with our rules (namely, each player having played at least four seasons and 200 games with the franchise). So we’ll make a team with the best players in franchise history, regardless of longevity, and, to be fair, they’ll forfeit the opportunity to advance in our tournament. With that out of the way, this team is anchored by two players who have a chance to be among the greatest to ever play their respective positions. Chris Paul played his first six years with the franchise, and garnered some of the most impressive statistics ever seen at the point guard position. He led the league in assists twice in New Orleans, and in steals three times. He also finished second in MVP voting in the 2007-08 season, when he led the team to 56 wins and an improbable Southwest Division title. Anthony Davis is just beginning his reign of excellence, but is already one of the best players in the league at 22 years of age. In 2014-15, Davis accumulated the 11th greatest player efficiency rating in NBA history, and if he continues on this path, he has a great chance to join the list of all-time great power forwards.

The other starters are David West, along with the oft-injured Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn. West was an excellent complement to Paul, and earned two all-star appearances with the franchise. Davis was a dynamic play-maker when healthy and motivated; however, he was also a woefully inefficient shooter who wasn’t known for his work ethic. Jamal Mashburn made the All-NBA third team in 2002-03, when he played all 82 games for the only time in his career. He only played 19 more games with the franchise before retiring, but he remains the leading scorer on a points per game basis in New Orleans’ history.

Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans are the backup guards. The Eric Gordon signing hasn’t worked out well for New Orleans, but he’s re-discovered his three-point stroke in his last two seasons, and will open up the floor when he’s on the court. Tyreke Evans has switched to primarily playing small forward, and his ballhandling has helped the team adjust to the constant absence of Jrue Holiday (due to injuries). Peja Stojakovic and Ryan Anderson can stretch the floor from both forward positions. The three-headed big man combo of P.J. Brown, Tyson Chandler, and Emeka Okafor can protect the paint and make New Orleans competitive on the glass. Expect big minutes from this trio, especially since the starting lineup lacks a true center.

Down the road, this team will be intriguing, since they’re anchored by two Hall-of-Famers in the making. In the meantime, their forfeit allows the All-Time Bulls to advance to the second round of our tournament, where they’ll face the winner of the All-Time Hawks vs. the All-Time Mavericks.

Coach: Byron Scott

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .474

All-Time New York Knicks vs. All-Time Cleveland Cavaliers

Our next match up features two teams who have suffered a lot of pain in their respective histories. One franchise has not won a championship since 1973, while the other is still waiting for their first ring. They’re united in their hatred of this man, who caused both franchises much misery during his reign of dominance. They’ve both been around long enough, however, to field competitive all-time franchise teams, each of whom can advance in our tournament. Who would win the battle between the All-Time New York Knicks vs. All-Time Cleveland Cavaliers? Each team holds several key advantages.

New York’s Advantages

Depth: The Knicks have been around for 24 more years than the Cavaliers, and this difference is reflected in their respective benches. Every Knicks bench player was a multiple-time all-star with the team (other than Walt Bellamy, who’s a Hall-of-Famer), while the Cavs only have two players off the bench with these credentials (Terrell Brandon and Zydrunas Ilgauskas – neither of whom is a future Hall-of-Fame player). The Cavs’ starters will play heavier minutes than their counterparts, and may wear down over the course of the series.

Rebounding: New York features six players who averaged a double-double in scoring and rebounding on their team, while the Cavs don’t feature any. While part of this is due to generational differences (see below), the Knicks should maintain an advantage in this area.

New York’s Question Marks

Two-Center Lineup: How will Willis Reed and Patrick Ewing co-exist alongside one another? Both are natural centers, even though each has experience in a twin towers lineup (Reed with Walt Bellamy, and Ewing with Bill Cartwright). Expect Dave DeBusschere and Harry Gallatin to get plenty of minutes alongside each starter, with Willie Naulls occasionally mixed in as well.

Cleveland’s Advantages

James-Price Two-Man Action: What a perfect pairing. LeBron James is the one of the great playmakers ever, and Mark Price is one of the great shooters ever. In addition, Kyrie Irving, Terrell Brandon, and World B. Free are all capable shooters who should play well off of LeBron.

Multiple Points of Attack: Cleveland has multiple ways they can attack an opponent and initiate their offensive sets. They have three players in their starting lineup who can play point guard (Price, Irving, and James), and a great passing center in Brad Daugherty. Expect this offense to thrive, especially when the starting unit is on the floor.

Cleveland’s Question Marks

Depth: How many minutes can James play while guarding one of New York’s multiple perimeter threats? LeBron has averaged 39.9 minutes per game for his Cavaliers career, but that type of workload isn’t ideal when guarding Bernard King and Carmelo Anthony.

High Usage Scorers: James, Irving, and Free are all high usage players who are accustomed to having the ball in their hands. Each will have to adjust to not having the ball every possession, and Coach Lenny Wilkens will have to design an offense that emphasizes ball movement over one-on-one play.

X-Factor

When adjusting for era, will the Knicks maintain their statistical advantage on the glass? Rebounding percentage is not available in the basketball-reference.com database prior to the 1970-71 season, so it’s difficult to compare the raw totals of several of the Knicks’ pioneering big men to their modern-day counterparts. However, in the latter stages of Reed’s career, he still held an edge in this category over Larry Nance’s career total, as Ewing did over Daugherty. DeBusschere’s mark from 1971 on eclipses the total of Nance and Hot Rod Williams. While Naulls and Gallatin are difficult to contextualize, the Knicks should still maintain their advantage on the glass, even without major contributions from these two.

Results

In the words of sports writer Bill Simmons, “God hates Cleveland.” The Knicks have a deeper, more physical roster, and wear the Cavs down over the course of the series. Walt Frazier, the Knicks’ Mr. Clutch, wreaks havoc on the Cavs’ talented backcourt, and leads the team to victory.

New York wins, four games to two.

Next Round

New York faces the All-Time 76ers team.

All-Time Cleveland Cavaliers Team

Our next franchise has struggled for much of their history. They only made the playoffs four times in their first 17 seasons, and have somehow earned the number one overall pick in the NBA draft six times. While many of those picks have been more solid than spectacular (and in one case, completely disastrous), they were able to acquire one franchise-changing talent who seemed destined to take them to the Promised Land. This Chosen One has taken them to two NBA Finals appearances, but, unfortunately, had his greatest success with another franchise. Now that he’s back, they may finally be on the verge of winning their first ring. Does the All-Time Cleveland Cavaliers team have enough talent around him to advance in our tournament?

Mark Price is the second greatest player in franchise history, and was the leader of the team during their first great run in the late 1980s to early 1990s. One of the greatest shooters that has ever played in the NBA, he’s currently second in NBA history in free-throw percentage. He’s paired in the backcourt with another primary ballhandler, Kyrie Irving. Even though he’s just starting his career, Irving is one of the most skilled players in today’s game, and is another excellent shooter who can stretch the floor. They’re backed up by Terrell Brandon, who Sports Illustrated once touted as the best point guard in the league. Brandon became a star as the team played at a mind-numbingly slow pace (last in the league in both of his all-star seasons), and peaked in the 1996 season, when he was sixth in the league in PER and third in win shares per 48 minutes. World B. Free is one of the unique characters in league history, but he was also a great scorer who some credit with saving professional basketball in Cleveland. Austin Carr was the first number one overall pick in franchise history, and was a solid scorer who’ll also get minutes at shooting guard.

LeBron James, the aforementioned Chosen One, is the starting small forward, and the centerpiece of this team. James is the only MVP in franchise history, and has led the team to its only two NBA Finals appearances. He’s joined in the frontcourt by Larry Nance, who was an excellent all-around player who will serve as the team’s best rim-protector (similar to his role on the All-Time Suns team). They’re backed up by two solid scorers, Mike Mitchell and Campy Russell, along with another premier rim-protector, Hot Rod Williams.

Brad Daugherty was an overlooked player during a golden age for NBA centers, but he was a five-time all-star who became an excellent scoring threat as his career progressed. In 1993, he led the league in true shooting percentage, and he doubled as an excellent passing big man, averaging nearly four assists per game over the course of his career. He’s backed up by 7’3” Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a two-time all-star who was an offensive threat from both inside and out.

This team has one transcendent star, surrounded by a group of all-star level performers. They should be an excellent passing team, that will be better on the offensive end of the court. The 23rd seeded team in our tournament, they have a first-round match against the All-Time New York Knicks team.

Coach: Lenny Wilkens

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .459

All-Time New York Knicks Team

Our next franchise has been in existence since the inaugural season of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946-47, which later merged with the National Basketball League to create the NBA that we’re familiar with today. They’ve experienced more heartbreak than triumph in that time, with a cumulative record slightly below .500. Despite their troubles, they’re one of the league’s signature franchises, and they have an important role in professional basketball history. The All-Time New York Knicks team is steeped in tradition, featuring a number of basketball pioneers and Hall-of-Famers.

Walt “Clyde” Frazier may be the funniest person in broadcasting history, but he first was a Hall-of-Fame point guard who was one of the best defenders ever at his position. Frazier’s signature game came in game seven of the 1970 Finals, when he led the Knicks to their first title with 36 points and 19 assists. He was a clutch player throughout his Knicks tenure, averaging 20.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.4 APG, 19.8 PER, and shooting .511 in 93 playoff games. He’s joined in the starting backcourt by fellow Hall-of-Famer Richie Guerin. The Bronx-born Guerin was one of the top guards of his era, peaking in the 1962 season with averages of 29.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.9 APG, and 20.9 PER. They’re backed up by two other Hall-of-Famers: Dick McGuire, who was one of the league’s premier play makers in its earliest days, and Earl “the Pearl” Monroe, who adjusted his game to fit alongside Frazier in the 1970s, and helped the team win its second championship in 1973.

Bernard King, perhaps the greatest scorer in team history, is the starting small forward. Much like Bill Walton in Portland, King’s reign as an elite player did not last long. When he was healthy, however, he was spectacular: he averaged a league-leading 34.8 PPG on .574 shooting in 12 playoff games in 1984, then led the league in regular season scoring the next year at 32.9 PPG (on .530 shooting). Willis Reed, the most decorated player in team history, is the starting power forward. Although he primarily played center in his career, he also spent some time at power forward as well, and was the team’s pillar during their glory years. The under-appreciated Patrick Ewing is the team’s starting center. While the conversation around Ewing often centers on what he was not able to accomplish (namely, winning a championship), he led the team to championship contention for years while serving as its only star. He was one of the greatest shooting big men in NBA history, and will combine with Reed to give them a forceful interior presence on both ends of the court.

Off the bench, Carmelo Anthony can replicate King’s role as a scoring extraordinaire, and with a few more productive seasons, he has a good chance of supplanting King in the starting lineup. As previously mentioned, Hall-of-Famer Dave DeBusschere is one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, and will also see plenty of minutes. Hall-of-Famer Harry “the Horse” Gallatin led the league in rebounding in 1954 despite being built like a modern shooting guard (6’6” 210 lb), and Willie Naulls also attacked the glass (11.7 RPG as a Knick) while doubling as a high scoring threat (25.0 PPG in 1962). Walt Bellamy, the backup center, was no longer the scoring force that he was with the Bullets franchise, but was still a double-double machine in New York, who provides them with another great interior scoring threat.

This team is marked by physicality, rebounding, and toughness. They have several different lineup combinations they can utilize, with great depth in the frontcourt. The 10th seeded team in our tournament, they have an opening round match up with LeBron James and the All-Time Cleveland Cavaliers.

Coach: Red Holzman

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .495

All-Time Philadelphia 76ers vs. All-Time Minnesota Timberwolves

Commentary

SWEEP!

Results

Philadelphia wins, four games to none.

Next Round

Philadelphia faces the winner of the All-Time Knicks vs. All-Time Cavaliers.

More Commentary

The only interesting battle between the All-Time Philadelphia 76ers vs. All-Time Minnesota Timberwolves is at the power forward position, where three legends will face off (Charles Barkley, Dolph Schayes, and Kevin Garnett). Garnett was part of a recent renaissance at the position that re-set the all-time rankings. Here are the statistics for the greatest power forwards ever, and then my rankings, from 10 to one (note: Elgin Baylor, Billy Cunningham, Chris Bosh, and Pau Gasol had more years at other positions than at power forward in the basketball-reference.com database, so they’re not included in this analysis).

Honorable Mention

Bailey Howell, Tommy Heinsohn, and Vern Mikkelsen were multiple time all-stars who contributed to championship teams over the course of their underrated careers…Through nine seasons, Shawn Kemp made six all-star game appearances, and was an integral cog in several championship-level teams in Seattle. However, his career soon fell off of a cliff, and he has the least compelling case of the 19 players listed here…Spencer Haywood won Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season in the American Basketball Association, but had his greatest NBA success on a string of losing teams in Seattle…Dave DeBusschere and Dennis Rodman are two of the greatest defensive players of all time, who were key contributors to championship teams. It’s difficult to leave them out of the top 10, but their combined three all-NBA team appearances and limited offensive arsenals prevent them from being placed above the other legends on the list…Chris Webber and George McGinnis have similar statistical profiles, and each has an intriguing Hall-of-Fame case. However, Webber’s prime was cut short by injuries, and McGinnis was not nearly as dominant in the NBA as he was in the ABA.

10. Jerry Lucas
Lucas was a rebounding machine who made three all-NBA first-team appearances in the 1960s ahead of the likes of John Havlicek and Willis Reed (who was considered a power forward for a few years in his career). He was a contributor to the second Knicks championship team (off the bench), had a very high field goal percentage for his era, and currently ranks as the fourth leading rebounder in NBA history on a per game basis.

9. Kevin McHale
McHale never had to carry a team on his own, and came off the bench for the majority of his career. When he was on the court, however, he was an offensive force, and currently has the highest field goal percentage in NBA history for a non-center (outside of Bo Outlaw, who rarely shot the basketball). He was also a brilliant defender, making six all-NBA defensive teams. Similar to Rodman and DeBusschere, he lacks the all-NBA team appearances that others on the list accumulated. However, he was a far superior offensive player to either of those two, and while his excellent defense may not have been as renowned as either of theirs, it was still elite, and thus, his all-around play lands him in the top 10.

8. Elvin Hayes
I’ve already chronicled the many criticisms of Hayes, who was as difficult a personality as there was in the NBA. However, it’s hard to look past his 12 all-star game appearances, six all-NBA appearances, and the fact that he was the leading scorer and rebounder on a team that won the NBA championship. You could win with Elvin Hayes, despite his personality issues, and his resume secures his place on this list.

7. Dolph Schayes
Schayes was one of the NBA’s best players in its infancy, making six All-NBA first team and six All-NBA second team appearances from 1950 to 1961. He was the best player on a championship team (the 1955 Syracuse Nationals), and was one of only 10 players to make the league’s Silver Anniversary team.

5. (Tie) Charles Barkley and Dirk Nowitzki
These are two of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. Dirk is one of the greatest jump-shooting big men ever, while Barkley did his best work near the basket. Barkley was also a relentless rebounder, while Nowitzki is one of only two players to register below eight rebounds per game on this list. Both thrived in the playoffs; in 123 playoff games, Barkley averaged 23.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, and had a 24.2 PER, while Nowitzki averaged 25.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 24.0 PER in 140 playoff games. Barkley infamously never won a championship, while Nowitzki was the best player on the Mavericks only championship team in 2011. Each won one MVP award, and each led the league in PER one season. Nowitzki gets extra credit for leading a constantly rotating supporting cast to 11 straight 50 win seasons during the prime of his career.

4. Karl Malone
As Jack McCallum described in Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever, I believe that Barkley was a better player than Malone during their respective primes. However, Malone’s work ethic allowed him to get the very best out of his body, and his 14 all-star game and all-NBA appearances reflect this. Malone was fortunate to play his entire career with one of the greatest orchestrators in NBA history, while Barkley didn’t play with an elite playmaker until he was traded to Phoenix, and Nowitzki lost Steve Nash just as both were entering their respective primes. Malone’s PER dropped from 23.9 in the regular season to 21.1 in the playoffs, and he wasn’t at his best in his two NBA Finals appearances. Malone gets credit for being a solid defender, which isn’t something that can be said about Barkley or Nowitzki. Numbers three through six are very close, and could change once Nowitzki’s career is finished.

3. Kevin Garnett
During his prime, Garnett may have been the best all-around player in the NBA. While he wasn’t the scorer that Barkley, Nowitzki, or Malone was, he was still a multitalented offensive threat, who once averaged a mind-blowing six assists per game from the power forward position. He’s also one of the handful of greatest defensive players in NBA history, operating almost as a giant Scottie Pippen, who could singlehandedly disrupt opposing offenses. In Minnesota, his postseason play was sometimes criticized, but he never had adequate talent around him to win a championship. He led the Celtics to a title in his first year with the club, and could have repeated if he hadn’t suffered a season-ending injury the next year (he was never the same player after that). His all-around play places him in the top three.

2. Bob Pettit
Pettit has an unassailable resume. He made the all-star game every year of his career. He made the All-NBA first team in each of his first 10 seasons, and made the second team in his 11th and final year. He was the best player on a championship team, and led the Hawks to three other NBA Finals appearances. Advanced statistics support the fact that he was one of the handful of greatest players ever, and he is one of only three players on this list to win multiple regular season MVP awards.

1. Tim Duncan
The only ‘criticism’ of Duncan is that he’s played half of his career at center, but for our purposes, he’s eligible for this list (basketball-reference.com has him listed as playing primarily power forward in 10 seasons, and primarily playing center in eight). Like Malone and Nowitzki, Duncan has aged like fine wine, and has accumulated the most all-star game, all-NBA, and all-NBA defensive appearances on this list. His advanced statistics are spectacular. He’s a two-way player, who can operate as the offensive and defensive anchor on championship-level teams. He’s won five championships, and has been the clear-cut best player on four of those teams. His playoff PER is virtually identical to his regular season PER. And he’s still going! Duncan is the greatest ever.

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