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Best Rookie Games in NBA History

Ja Morant did his best to carry the shorthanded Grizzlies to the playoffs, but they fell short in the play-in game, despite his career-high 35 points. Morant capped a dominant rookie season with his clutch performance, but he unfortunately won’t be able to continue his journey into the playoffs. In honor of Morant, here are the 10 best rookie games in NBA history. Only playoff games were considered for this list, as many first-year players have stepped up when the stakes are highest.

(Note: This list focuses on the NBA, so noteworthy rookie performances by Julius Erving, George Mikan, and others in the ABA, BAA, and NBL are not included).

10 (tie) Alvan Adams, 1976 Western Conference Finals, Game 7 (18 points, 20 rebounds, 3 assists); Bill Russell, 1957 NBA Finals, Game 7 (19 points, 32 rebounds): The 1976 Western Conference Finals pitted the 59-win defending champion Warriors against the 42-40 Cinderella Phoenix Suns. In Game 7, Phoenix used a balanced attack to shock the Warriors at home and make their first Finals appearance. Adams, the Rookie of the Year, dominated the boards, and helped hold the opposing center, Clifford Ray, to two points on 0 for 6 from the field. Nineteen years earlier, Russell helped lead the Celtics to their first title in what may be the greatest game of all time. He played 54 minutes in the double-overtime thriller, and his two-way impact is perfectly encapsulated by this highlight.

9. Larry Bird, 1980 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 4 (34 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 13 for 20 from the field): Bird had a good debut playoff run, and in this game, he finished off the Houston Rockets with a virtuoso performance. He struggled in the previous games of this series, averaging 15.7 PPG in the first three contests on 45.8% from the field, but he found his rhythm here to lead Boston to the Eastern Conference Finals. Ironically, Boston would face Houston in the NBA Finals the following year, and would continue their domination of the Rockets with their first title of the Bird era.

8. Elgin Baylor, 1959 Western Division Finals, Game 6 (33 points, 8 rebounds, 13 for 23 from the field): Baylor carried a 33-39 Lakers team to the NBA Finals in his rookie season. In the Western Division Finals, they faced the defending champion St. Louis Hawks, who finished 16 games ahead of Minneapolis in the standings. While the Hawks blew the Lakers out in games 1 and 3 (by 34 and 30 points respectively), Minneapolis won the close games, including this series-clincher by two points. Although they would get swept by Boston in the NBA Finals, Baylor, the Rookie of the Year that season, was fearless throughout that run.

7. Hakeem Olajuwon, 1985 Western Conference First Round, Game 5 (32 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 12 for 19 from the field): Dream capped a brilliant rookie season with a clutch performance in the deciding game of the first round. Utah struggled with both of Houston’s Twin Towers, as Ralph Sampson went for 23 and 13. Despite their dominance, Utah prevailed, but Olajuwon foreshadowed his future playoff excellence with this masterpiece.

Olajuwon was dominant (and clutch) from day one Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

6. Tom Meschery, 1962 Eastern Division Finals, Game 7 (32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 19 from the field): As previously mentioned, Meschery almost led the Warriors to an upset over the three-time defending champions. This was an amazing game, which is described in detail in the top comment at this link. Meschery’s season-high point total wasn’t enough to topple the mighty Celtics, as Sam Jones’s game-winning jumper sent Boston to their sixth straight Finals appearance.

5. Jamaal Wilkes, 1975 Western Conference Finals, Game 7 (23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 10 for 19 from the field): Wilkes (who went by Keith at the time) may have been the best player on the floor of this slugfest, which ended with the Warriors winning 83-79 to advance to the Finals. Outside of Wilkes, Golden State shot 27 for 77 from the field, and Rick Barry was miserable at the outset, shooting 2 for 15 into the third quarter. Barry played better in the second half, and Chicago faded due to their lack of bench support, but Wilkes was the key factor that led Golden State to the Finals (and an eventual championship).

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1970 Eastern Division Semifinals, Game 5 (46 points, 25 rebounds): Kareem capped a masterful series (36.2 PPG, 15.8 RPG) with his most prolific performance, clinching the series 4-1 and advancing Milwaukee to the Eastern Division Finals. Philadelphia had nobody who could stop Jabbar, who put up 36 shots from the field while shooting 15 free throws. Although they’d lose to the Knicks in the next round, Kareem would continue to dominate, averaging 34.2 PPG and 17.8 RPG against league MVP Willis Reed in their five-game loss.

3. Tom Heinsohn, 1957 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 23 rebounds): Heinsohn’s masterpiece was previously highlighted in this space as the 10^th best Game 7 performance of all time. Before he fouled out, he helped carry Boston’s offense, which was suffering due to the meltdown of their starting guards. The Rookie of the Year never had a finer moment, and his effort launched the greatest dynasty in history.

2. Wilt Chamberlain, 1960 Eastern Division Semifinals, Game 3 (53 points, 22 rebounds): Even though this was the third game of the series, think of it as a game 7, since the semifinals were best of three at the time. Chamberlain, who was Rookie of the Year and MVP, shredded the Nationals, shooting 24 for 42 from the field and helping to give Philadelphia a +20 advantage on the glass. As usual, the only thing that Wilt didn’t do was shoot free throws well, as he went 5 for 16 from the stripe. It didn’t make a difference, as Philadelphia built a 15 point halftime lead and never looked back, on the shoulders of their superstar rookie.

1. Magic Johnson, 1980 NBA Finals, game 6 (42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists): 40 years later, this remains the gold standard of rookie games, and it is in the running for best game ever played, regardless of tenure. Johnson showcased his one-of-a-kind versatility by playing every position and filling Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s shoes as the dominant force on the floor. Kareem was still the best player in the league at this point, so Magic was often overlooked that season, as seen in the Rookie of the Year voting (Magic lost 63-3 to Larry Bird). This quote, by Philadelphia’s Doug Collins, says it all: “Magic was outstanding. Unreal…I knew he was good but I never realized he was great…You don’t realize it because he gives up so much of himself for Kareem.” This performance singlehandedly propelled him to win the Finals MVP award, and everyone recognized his greatness from that point forward.

Honorable Mention:

Wilt Chamberlain’s playoff averages in 1960: 9 games, 33.2 PPG, 25.8 RPG, a league-leading 27.0 PER…Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s (Lew Alcindor at the time) playoff averages in 1970: 10 games, a league-leading 35.2 PPG, 16.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, a league-leading 56.7% field goal percentage, plus league-leading PER, defensive rating, true shooting percentage, and WS/48. Clearly, they could (and should) have had more entries on this list (including Wilt’s 50 point, 35 rebound effort against Bill Russell in a Game 5 win in the Eastern Division Finals to stave off elimination), though we only highlighted their single best effort here…In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Magic Johnson put up 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to clinch the series over the defending champion Sonics. This sent the Lakers to the Finals, and set up Magic’s MVP performance against the Sixers…Andrew Toney became the “Boston Strangler” in his first season, overwhelming the Celtics with 61 combined points in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals off the bench. The Sixers would take a 3-1 lead in that series, before succumbing in seven games…In the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals, Charles Barkley helped Philadelphia avoid a sweep with 15 points, 20 boards, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Philadelphia would ultimately succumb in five games, and Barkley would never get this close to a title again until he was traded to Phoenix…In the first round of the same playoffs, Michael Jordan helped Chicago stave off elimination with 35 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals against a 59-win Bucks team…David Robinson dominated the Nuggets in the first round of the 1990 playoffs, leading San Antonio to a three-game sweep. In game 2, he put up 31 points on 11 for 16 from the field, with 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots…Sam Cassell was a key cog on the ’94 championship Rockets team. In Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Suns, he scored 22 points on 8 for 12 from the field and dished out 7 assists in 29 minutes off the bench…In his first playoff game ever, Tim Duncan scored 32 points and grabbed 10 boards to lead San Antonio to victory. Then, in the next round against the defending Western Conference champion Utah Jazz, he put up 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots in a narrow Game 1 defeat…Boobie Gibson had one of the great random games ever in Game 6 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals, scoring 31 points on 5 for 5 shooting from downtown to help send the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals. He led all scorers on that magical night in only 29 minutes off the bench…In his playoff debut, Derrick Rose scored 36 points, and had 11 assists to lead Chicago to an upset victory over Boston. Rose shot 12 for 19 from the field and 12 for 12 from the foul line in his breakout performance. This overtime game foreshadowed what was to come in this series, which might have been the best first round series ever…Ja Morant’s play-in game performance wasn’t perfect (8 turnovers, 15 missed shots), but he kept Memphis competitive against a superior opponent despite a fractured thumb.

Best Game 7 Performances in NBA History

In part two of this series, I’m highlighting the best game 7 performances in NBA history. As a reminder, I’m only looking at the highest stakes games – the NBA Finals or the Conference Finals. On to the list…

Honorable Mention: Tom Meschery, 1962 conference finals, game 7 (32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 19 from the field) – Meschery, the Warriors’ rookie forward, almost led them to a shocking upset over the favored Celtics, ultimately losing by two points…Oscar Robertson, 1963 conference finals, game 7 (43 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 11 for 24 from the field, 21 for 22 from the line) – Oscar led a mediocre Royals team to the brink of the Finals, but the deeper, better Celtics stopped them in Game 7 (more on this game shortly)…George Gervin and Bob Dandridge, 1979 conference finals, game 7 (Iceman – 42 points, 16 for 31 from the field; Dandridge – 37 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 16 for 31 from the field) – this may have been Gervin’s best chance for a ring, but he was stopped by the defending champion Bullets and their clutch swingman, Bob Dandridge…Jack Sikma, 1979 conference finals game 7 (33 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 18 from the field, 13 for 15 from the line) – Sikma helped lead Seattle to victory over a game Suns team to advance to their second straight NBA Finals…Eddie Johnson, 1993 conference finals, game 7 (34 points, 12 for 17 from the field, 9 for 9 from the line in 26 minutes off the bench) – considering the context, this was one of the more remarkable bench performances we’ve ever seen, but Johnson’s effort falls under the radar due to the result of the game…Patrick Ewing, 1994 conference finals game 7 (24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 10 for 23 from the field) – A virtuoso all-around performance that included a key put-back dunk to put the Knicks up by one point with 27 seconds left. The Knicks earned their first Finals birth in 21 years due to this effort…Stephen Curry, 2016 conference finals game 7 (36 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 13 for 24 from the field, 7 for 12 from 3) – Curry helped Golden State overcome a 3-1 deficit to a hungry Oklahoma City team. In a low-scoring game (96-88), he was a game-high +18…LeBron James, 2018 conference finals game 7 (35 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 12 for 24 from the field) – James played all 48 minutes in this game, carrying an undermanned Cavs team to their fourth straight Finals appearance.

10. Tom Heinsohn, 1957 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 23 rebounds, 17 for 33 from the field, 3 for 10 from the line): Before he fouled out, Heinsohn and fellow rookie Bill Russell held the team together while their starting backcourt fell apart. Heinsohn’s effort was particularly impressive considering the rest of the team shot a combined 31.6% from the field. While his free-throw shooting left something to be desired, the 1957 Rookie of the Year (over Russell!) had the greatest moment of his career leading the team to their first championship.

9. Draymond Green, 2016 NBA Finals game 7 (32 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 11 for 15 from the field, 4 for 4 from the line, 6 for 8 from 3): This is one of the great under-the-radar performances of all time. Golden State only scored 89 points in their disappointing Game 7 effort, with Curry and Klay Thompson combining to go 12 for 36 from the field, and the team as a whole shooting 31% outside of Green. Draymond filled the box score while playing his typical stout defense. The one drawback is that Green could not stem the ugliness of the team’s offensive meltdown down the stretch, as they scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, and failed to score in the final 4:40 of this game. While that prevents this game from being placed higher on this list, his performance deserves recognition.

8. Allen Iverson, 2001 Eastern Conference Finals game 7 (44 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 17 for 33 from the field, 6 for 7 from the line, 4 for 6 from three): The indefatigable Iverson never had a problem getting his shot off. This skill proved extremely valuable in the 2000-01 season, with a scrappy roster of defenders and supporting players around him who all had limited offensive skillsets. Iverson dominated in the biggest game of his career to date, and carried the Sixers to their first championship series in 18 years with his performance.

Iverson led the Sixers to the Finals in his MVP season
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

7. Sam Jones, 1963 Eastern Division Finals, game 7 (47 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 18 for 27 from the field, 11 for 12 from the line): This series seemed like a mismatch, with the 58-win, four-time defending champions taking on a team that was barely over .500 during the season (the 42-38 Royals). Cincinnati proved resilient, however, behind Oscar Robertson’s brilliance, and forced an unexpected Game 7. As usual, Boston rose to the occasion, this time behind their clutch shooting guard. Boston as a team shredded the Royals defense, scoring 142 points and shooting .520 from the field in the win.

6. Charles Barkley, 1993 Western Conference Finals, game 7 (44 points, 24 rebounds, 12 for 20 from the field, 19 for 22 from the line): In the biggest game of his career (up to that point), Barkley played up to his MVP credentials, dominating the Sonics and sending the Suns to their second Finals appearance. His rebounding prowess was staggering: Barkley collected 24 rebounds while the Sonics as a team collected 31, with their starting frontcourt grabbing only 14. He repeatedly went to the free throw line and carried the Suns when they needed him most. Unfortunately, he ran into the ultimate MVP in the Finals, but his performance here should be lauded.

5. Bill Russell, 1962 NBA Finals, game 7 (30 points, 40 rebounds, 4 assists, 8 for 18 from the field, 14 for 17 from the line): Russell never lost a Game 7 in his career, and this ’62 Finals game may have been his signature performance. He played the entire 53 minutes (the game went into overtime), and helped hold the Lakers to 35% shooting from the field. Nobody shot particularly well in this game, as the Celtics were even worse from the field (32.7%). They withstood their poor shooting effort by defending and dominating the glass, with Russell hauling in 40 of the team’s 82 rebounds, and giving them a +17 rebound advantage for the game.

4. James Worthy, 1988 NBA Finals, game 7 (36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 15 for 22 from the field, 6 for 10 from the line): How is it possible for a player to get the only triple double of his career in game 7 of the NBA Finals? Worthy’s signature performance helped lead a weary Lakers team to their second title in a row. This effort was crucial because Detroit looked like the better team for much of the series, and Laker captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was running on fumes (he had 4 points on 2 for 7 from the field and 3 rebounds in 29 minutes). Worthy’s effort pushed L.A. to their final title of this era, though they made two more Finals appearances in the next three seasons.

3. Jerry West, 1969 NBA Finals game 7 (42 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 14 for 29 from the field, 14 for 18 from the line): The first ever Finals MVP remains the only one who won the award in a losing cause. From a team perspective, this was one of the worst losses in league history, with the Lakers, led by the triumvirate of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and West, losing on their homecourt to what was supposed to be a broken-down Celtics team (they were 48-34 during the season). West was valiant in defeat, playing the full 48 and having one of the great all-around games of his career. As usual it wasn’t enough, as Russell, Sam Jones and company won their final ring. The Celtics duo retired after this game, with West having lost to them 6 times, and Baylor having lost to them an impossible 7 times in the Finals.

2. LeBron James, 2013 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 12 for 23 from the field, 8 for 8 from the line, 5 for 10 from three): When thinking of the greatest game 7 performers in history, two players rise to the top of the list: Bill Russell, who went 10-0 in game sevens in his career, and LeBron James, the career postseason leader in game 7 scoring average (currently 34.9). James struggled with his shot earlier in this series, with San Antonio using a similar defensive tactic that flummoxed him in the 2007 Finals. However, the 2013 version of James was unstoppable, and with the Heat backed against the wall, he devastated the Spurs from long-range, after previously struggling from 3 in the series (29% prior to game 7). He also hit a crucial jump shot with 28 seconds left to put them up by 4. In a low scoring game (95-88), against the premier perimeter defender of his generation (Kawhi Leonard), James cemented his legacy and earned his second straight championship.

1. Walt Frazier, 1970 NBA Finals game 7 (36 points, 7 rebounds, 19 assists, 12 for 17 from the field, 12 for 12 from the line): The Lakers misery continued in the first year after Bill Russell retired. L.A. had bad luck that season, only getting 12 regular season games from Wilt Chamberlain and 54 from Elgin Baylor. Even though they came together in the playoffs, they ran into another great team in the Finals. While Willis Reed often gets the shine due to his courageous effort, he only scored four points, all in the first moments of the game. With the league MVP compromised, “Clyde” was the one who carried the Knicks. He played a brilliant all-around game, and never gave L.A. any signs of hope (the halftime score was 69-42 in favor of NY). By leading a shorthanded team, outplaying the legendary West, and dominating on both ends of the court, Frazier deserves recognition for the greatest game 7 performance ever.

All-Time Los Angeles Lakers vs. All-Time Philadelphia 76ers

Our next match features two of the most storied franchises in NBA history. They’ve met in the championship round six times, with legendary competitors deciding each outcome (from George Mikan vs. Dolph Schayes, to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson vs. Julius Erving and Moses Malone, to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant vs. Allen Iverson). Though they’ve both fallen on tough times in recent years, each has a chance to prevail in the NBA Franchise Tournament. The battle between the All-Time Los Angeles Lakers vs. All-Time Philadelphia 76ers has the most collective star power of any match up to date, and promises to be a classic.

All-Time Los Angeles Lakers vs. All-Time Philadelphia 76ers

Key Matchups

Lakers’ firepower vs. Philadelphia’s defensive versatility: The Lakers feature six of the top 28 scorers in NBA history, four of whom spent the prime years of their career with the franchise (a fifth, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, may not have reached the heights that he did with Milwaukee but still won three MVP awards in Los Angeles). Sixers player/coach Billy Cunningham has several options: he can try to outscore L.A. with his own Hall-of-Fame offensive weapons, or play his defensive lineup, featuring Maurice Cheeks, Andre Iguodala, and Bobby Jones, in hopes of slowing the Lakers’ offense down. Cunningham will likely mix and match his offensive playmakers with his defensive stoppers. The Sixers will also have to figure out how they guard 6’9” Magic Johnson; Allen Iverson, who stood almost a foot shorter, seems ill-suited for this role, so they may have to start Cheeks or Iguodala in his place.

All-Time Philadelphia 76ers — Maurice Cheeks (#10) will get plenty of minutes alongside Philly’s Hall-of-Fame frontcourt
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

Battle of the Boards: The Lakers do not start a traditional power forward, relying on the versatility of Elgin Baylor and Magic Johnson to help Abdul-Jabbar on the glass. Abdul-Jabbar will also have his hands full trying to keep Philly’s Wilt Chamberlain off the glass, as Baylor and Johnson will with the irrepressible Charles Barkley. Philly’s ability to seize an advantage on the glass will be an important indicator of their ability to win this series. The Lakers have behemoths George Mikan, Shaquille O’Neal, and their own version of Wilt Chamberlain coming off the bench, but they would be awkward fits alongside each other or Jabbar, so they will likely play one at a time. Philly’s Dolph Schayes and Billy Cunningham can take advantage of the Lakers forwards, and give the Sixers a rebounding advantage off the bench, assuming Moses Malone can hold his own against L.A.’s fleet of backup big men.

Biggest Mismatch

Los Angeles’s backcourt advantage: The Lakers have the best starting backcourt in our tournament, with three MVP-level performers in Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Kobe Bryant (who will masquerade as a small forward at the beginning of the each half). Philly features former MVP Allen Iverson, along with Hall-of-Famer Hal Greer and versatile defensive stoppers Maurice Cheeks and Andre Iguodala. While the Sixers’ backcourt is excellent, none of these players can match the accomplishments of the Lakers’ trio. Magic Johnson will create tons of matchup issues, and West and Bryant have the ability to take over any game they play in.

X-Factor

Defensive matchups: If Philadelphia starts Cheeks or Iguodala, then Magic Johnson has a logical resting place on defense. If they start Allen Iverson, the cross-matches will be fascinating. Expect Pat Riley to have Jerry West guard Iverson, with Magic either checking Hal Greer or Charles Barkley (while the latter suggestion seems bizarre, it creates logical matchups for Elgin Baylor (Julius Erving), Kobe Bryant (Greer) and West). On the other end of the court, Philly would have the 6’2” Greer guarding Johnson, and likely offering him little resistance. The 6’6” Iguodala is best suited to guard Magic, and will see a large increase in minutes from the previous series.

Results

While the Sixers have championship-worthy talent, they drew a brutal matchup in the Elite Eight. Even though they’re one of the best teams in our tournament, they struggle to contain L.A.’s backcourt, particularly Magic Johnson. The Lakers struggle with Philadelphia’s deep and talented frontcourt, but they finish out Philadelphia in six competitive games.

Lakers win, four games to two.

Next Round

Los Angeles faces the winner of the All-Time Bulls vs. All-Time Pistons.

All-Time Philadelphia 76ers vs. All-Time New York Knicks

Our next matchup features two teams who have played in the same division for the past 67 seasons, and who’ve had 440 regular season battles as of this posting. They’ve also met 10 times in the playoffs, though only two of those series have had a deciding, winner-takes-all game (both in the early 1950s). Considering their proximity to each other (in location), and the frequency of their matches, this should be a celebrated NBA rivalry. Though their real-life matches have failed to live up to these expectations, the battle between the All-Time Philadelphia 76ers vs. All-Time New York Knicks is highly anticipated, and should ignite the two franchises’ fan bases.

76ers vs. Knicks

Key Matchups

Battle of Hall-of-Fame frontcourts: These two teams feature a number of Hall-of-Fame and all-star level performers in their frontcourts. Philadelphia starts perhaps the greatest frontcourt in this tournament, with three legends who were all MVP-level performers (Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, and Wilt Chamberlain). They also feature one of the deepest frontcourt benches, with four Hall-of-Famers coming off the bench along with Bobby Jones, one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. New York’s frontcourt is also impressive, featuring two former scoring champions splitting time at small forward (Bernard King and Carmelo Anthony), a two-time NBA Finals MVP (Willis Reed), and a member of the 50 Greatest Players list (Patrick Ewing). They also have three Hall-of-Fame frontcourt players coming off their bench, and in total have a whopping six players on their roster who averaged a double-double (scoring and rebounding) with the franchise.

Defensive stalwarts: With so much offensive talent on each team’s roster, the defensive aces on both sides will see big minutes in this series. Walt Frazier, arguably New York’s best all-around player, will have to chase around the lightning-quick Allen Iverson. Dave DeBusschere, one of the NBA’s greatest defensive forwards, will see plenty of minutes against Charles Barkley, Dolph Schayes, and Billy Cunningham. Philadelphia’s Maurice Cheeks will play alongside both Iverson and Hal Greer, and will take turns defending New York’s high-scoring guards (Frazier, Richie Guerin, and Earl Monroe). Bobby Jones will see time against the Knicks’ small forwards (King and Anthony) and their bruising power players (including Reed and Harry Gallatin).

Biggest Mismatches

Philadelphia’s athleticism advantage: The Sixers have one of the most athletic teams in the tournament. Erving, Chamberlain, Barkley, and Iverson were all exceptional athletes in the starting lineup, in addition to Andre Iguodala, Chet Walker, and Billy Cunningham off the bench. New York does not have the same assortment of athletes, and will need to slow down the tempo of the games to compete.

X-Factor

The Answer: can Allen Iverson become a pass-first distributor? Iverson is one of the most ball-dominant players in NBA history, with the third highest career usage percentage since this statistic has been tracked (starting in 1978). While he was used to playing with non-offensive threats in his days in Philly, he’s now on a team that features some of the biggest names in NBA history. How will he adjust to being a secondary option? Will he get their dominant frontcourt players enough shots for their liking as the de facto point guard in the starting lineup?

The question: Who is Philly's wild card? The Answer: Allen Iverson Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com — The question: Who is Philly’s wild card? The Answer: Allen Iverson
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

Results

New York keeps the series close against Philadelphia, and Walt Frazier harasses Iverson into a few horrendous shooting nights. With the series tied at two, player-coach Billy Cunningham replaces Iverson in the starting lineup with Mo Cheeks, and the offense runs smoothly through their Hall-of-Fame frontcourt. Iverson proves to be terrific in the sixth man role, and the Sixers clinch in six.

Philadelphia wins, four games to two.

Next Round

The Sixers battle the All-Time Lakers Team.

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.

All-Time Philadelphia 76ers Team

The All-Time Philadelphia 76ers team is…explosive. They have explosive play makers, hall-of-famers, and MVPs littered throughout their roster. They also have explosive personalities (namely, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson) who will make for an interesting mix alongside their controversial center. With three championships, they are the seventh-seeded team in our tournament, and have one of the most talented overall rosters.

Starting is a sign of respect in the NBA. The starting backcourt for this team may not fit perfectly alongside each other and the high scoring frontcourt, but they deserve recognition for their Hall-of-Fame caliber careers. Allen Iverson, a four-time scoring champion, will be the primary ballhandler. Iverson’s score-first mentality isn’t ideal for a team this loaded, so expect him to play plenty of shooting guard as well. Hal Greer, the starting two guard, is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, field goals, and points. He’ll get plenty of minutes as the team’s best long-range shooting threat. Although he’ll come off the bench, Mo Cheeks will operate almost as the third starting guard, since he’s a good fit alongside either starter. Cheeks was an excellent defender, efficient scorer, and solid play maker, and has a legitimate Hall-of-Fame case. Andre Iguodala, the team’s fourth guard, is one of the most versatile players in today’s game. Although miscast as a primary offensive option in Philly (the “second A.I.”), Iguodala is much better suited for the role he’ll play on this team as a defensive stopper who can lead the break and facilitate on the offensive end.

The starting frontcourt is as accomplished as any in the tournament. Julius Erving is one of the game’s greatest ambassadors, and may have been the most exciting player to ever step on a court. He’s also one of the greatest forwards ever, and was a prolific winner who led the team to an average of 55 wins per year and four NBA Finals appearances. Barkley is one of the greatest power forwards ever, and had the greatest offensive efficiency rating among players who used as many possessions as he did. One could argue that the great Wilt Chamberlain experienced his peak years with the Sixers. He led the league in field goal percentage and rebounds every year he was on the team. In his three full seasons with the team, he won MVP each year. He led the league in PER and WS/48 in those three years as well. He led the league in total assists in 1968, just because he could. Although he once again was traded for an embarrassing haul, this version of Wilt has a legitimate argument as the best center in the tournament.

The bench is filled with impact frontcourt players. Hall-of-Famer Chet Walker will back up Erving. Although he wasn’t as efficient in Philly as he was with the Bulls, he was still a wonderful player who made three all-star teams. Billy Cunningham is one of seven players on the roster who was named as one of the league’s 50 greatest players in 1996. Cunningham was a relentless competitor who could play either forward position, and will also serve as the team’s head coach (where he amassed a remarkable .698 career winning percentage). The legendary Dolph Schayes, who made 12 all-star game and All-NBA appearances in his illustrious career, led the franchise to its first title in 1955. He’ll provide a different look as a dangerous outside shooter who can play as a ‘stretch-four.’ Bobby Jones was one of the greatest defenders of all time, and Moses Malone, who led the team to its last championship in 1983, will back up Chamberlain.

This team’s frontcourt is absolutely loaded, and player-coach Cunningham will have to find a way to spread the minutes around. They can trot out a great defensive lineup featuring Chamberlain, Jones, Cheeks, and Iguodala, and will be unstoppable on the other end of the court.

Coach: Billy Cunningham

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .520

All-Time Houston Rockets vs. All-Time Phoenix Suns

Our next match features two teams with contrasting styles. The All-Time Rockets are one of the biggest teams in our tournament, and feature two of the greatest big men in history, Hakeem Olajuwon and Moses Malone, in the starting lineup. The All-Time Suns are one of the tournament’s most offensively explosive teams, and feature a trio of dominant point guards, Steve Nash, Kevin Johnson, and Jason Kidd, who can dictate a breakneck pace. Who will advance? Here’s the tale of the tape.

Houston’s Advantages

Size, rebounding, and interior defense: Dream. Moses. The Big E. Yao. Sampson. Houston has a collection of big men that can wear down any opponent, especially the undersized Suns. This group can dominate the glass, and control the paint on defense.

Phoenix’s interior defense: Conversely, Phoenix starts one of the worst defensive big men pairings in the tournament. The 6’4” Charles Barkley and the 6’10” Amar’e Stoudemire were brilliant offensive playmakers, but were deficient on the defensive end. Off the bench, Larry Nance was a good interior defender, but Alvan Adams and Tom Chambers weren’t known for their work on that end of the court. Houston’s big men should feast in this series.

Phoenix’s Advantages

Perimeter play making: The Rockets don’t have a good counter for Phoenix’s trio of point guards. Phoenix also has superior shooting, and a deeper perimeter arsenal. Expect them to speed up the games, and try to outrun the Rockets.

Positional flexibility: Phoenix has the ability to throw many different looks at Houston. They can use several different two point guard sets, go small with Shawn Marion or Connie Hawkins at the four, or try to contend with Houston’s size with some combination of Barkley, Nance, Chambers, Stoudemire, and Adams.

X-Factor

Pace: Who will be able to control the tempo in this series? Phoenix will try to run-and-gun, with their elite perimeter play makers. Houston will play very deliberately, running their offense through their fleet of elite big men. The team that’s better able to dictate the pace may wind up winning the series.

Results

Barkley’s Suns were never able to beat Olajuwon’s Rockets in the 1994 and 1995 playoffs, losing in two incredible seven game series. The common thread was that nobody on Phoenix could stop one of the greatest big game players in NBA history, Hakeem Olajuwon. With Moses Malone by his side, that pattern continues.

Rockets win, four games to three.

Next Round

Houston faces the All-Time Warriors.

All-Time Phoenix Suns Team

The All-Time Phoenix Suns team is exactly what you’d expect them to be. Exciting. Full of brilliant play makers. Deep. The Suns have a rich tradition, currently ranking fourth among all active franchises in all-time winning percentage, at .551, behind three teams that have combined for 38 championships (the Lakers, Spurs, and Celtics). Unfortunately, Phoenix has not yet been able to break through, twice losing in the Finals. Why have they not been able to win it all? Personally, I always considered them to be an offensive-minded franchise, but that has not always been the case, as seen in their year-by-year ranks in offensive and defensive rating:

Sure, they’ve had more years where they were dominant on the offensive side of the ball, but they have had periods where they were able to compete at a high level defensively, as well. Other than the period from 1989-1993, however, they haven’t been great on both ends of the court at the same time, which may be a reason why they’ve never been able to win the big prize. Regardless, their all-time team is one of the most fun in our tournament, and will present match up problems for their first round opponent.

The starting backcourt consists of the dynamic combination of Steve Nash and Paul Westphal. For his Phoenix career, Nash was able to cumulatively surpass the shooter’s holy grail of 50-40-90 (50 percent field goal percentage, 40 percent three-point field goal percentage, 90 percent free throw percentage). Certain calculations had Nash leading the league’s top offense for nine straight years, and even if his two MVP awards sparked some controversy, he’s undoubtedly one of greatest offensive players ever. Westphal was a superstar in his prime, making the all-NBA first team three out of four years from 1977-1980 (and making the second team the other year), and leading the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance in 1976. There’s little drop off to the guards on the bench. Kevin Johnson was a dynamic playmaker who has a legitimate Hall-of-Fame case. Jason Kidd is one of the greatest all-around guards ever, and adds a much needed defensive presence to this backcourt. Walter Davis, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, will also see heavy minutes as the best shooter (outside of Nash) on the team.

Shawn Marion, the starting small forward, will play a key role as the main (and only) defensive stopper in the starting lineup. He provides this team with great flexibility, since he can play either forward position. Charles Barkley, the team’s first MVP, who led the franchise to its second NBA Finals appearance, is the starting power forward. Though he wasn’t the athletic marvel that he was in Philadelphia, he was still one of the best players in the league on the Suns, and provides them with a dominant low-post scorer. Amar’e Stoudemire, one of the great pick-and-roll big men ever in his prime, is the starting center. At his peak, Stoudemire was one of the best offensive players in the league. For his Suns career, he had a cumulative .606 true shooting percentage. In 15 games in the 2005 playoffs, he averaged 29.9 PPG, 10.7 RPG, shot 53.9% from the field, and had a 27.6 PER. Off the bench, Hall-of-Famer Connie Hawkins can play at either forward position. Though he sadly wasn’t able to enter the NBA until he was 27, he still made a great impact on the Suns, and was named to the All-NBA first team in his first year with the franchise. Larry Nance was a great all-around player, who will be this team’s best rim protector. Tom Chambers was another offensively talented big man, and Alvan Adams, one of the great passing centers ever, rounds out the bench.

This team will be an offensive force that can throw many different looks at their opponents. A big issue will be the defensive performance of their starting lineup. Paul Westphal, Barkley’s former coach, was once quoted as saying, “next to Shaq, Charles may have been the worst player in history at defending the pick-and-roll.” Stoudemire and Nash were poor defenders as well. Expect big minutes for Marion, Kidd, and Nance to help make up for the defensive deficiencies of their teammates.

Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons (you can’t go wrong with John MacLeod, Paul Westphal, or Mike D’Antoni, but Fitzsimmons led the team to top 10 finishes in both offense and defense from 1989-1992)

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .551

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