The Top 50 NBA Players of My Generation

[AboveAverage484 0]

Here are the top 50 players of my generation, 1984 to the present day. Only players whose whole careers encompassed that span are eligible. I made the list more in terms of career performance rather than peak performance, so players like Garnett or Kobe aren't as high as they would be if I did this list five years from now.

 

Here they are:

 

50. Charles Oakley

 

49. Mookie Blaylock

 

48. Antoine Walker

 

47. Alvin Robertson

 

46. Otis Thorpe

 

45. Vin Baker

 

44. Kevin Willis

 

43. Brad Daugherty

 

42. Terry Porter

 

41. Paul Pierce

 

40. Anfernee Hardaway

 

39. Glen Rice

 

38. Detlef Schrempf

 

37. Vince Carter

 

36. Latrell Sprewell

 

35. Stephon Marbury

 

34. Ray Allen

 

33. Mark Jackson

 

32. Dennis Rodman

 

31. Alonzo Mourning

 

30. Mark Price

 

29. Dirk Nowitzki

 

28. Steve Nash

 

27. Shawn Kemp

 

26. Joe Dumars

 

25. Dikembe Mutombo

 

24. Tracy McGrady

 

23. Chris Mullin

 

22. Kevin Johnson

 

21. Grant Hill

 

20. Reggie Miller

 

19. Chris Webber

 

18. Mitch Richmond

 

17. Tim Hardaway

 

16. Kobe Bryant

 

15. Jason Kidd

 

14. Allen Iverson

 

13. Kevin Garnett

 

12. Scottie Pippen

 

11. Gary Payton

 

10. Clyde Drexler

 

9. Tim Duncan

 

8. Patrick Ewing

 

7. David Robinson

 

6. John Stockton

 

5. Charles Barkley

 

4. Shaquille O'Neal

 

3. Hakeem Olajuwon

 

2. Karl Malone

 

1. Michael Jordan

 

There you have it.

[razazteca 0]

Grant Hill is too high for a person who sat out 3 years with bad legs.

[AboveAverage484 0]

Grant Hill is too high for a person who sat out 3 years with bad legs.

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Yeah, but he was also five time All-NBA and a seven time all-star, that should count for something and it's more than just about anybody below him has.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Scottie Pippen is the most consistently overrated player in any sport that I have ever seen. You have him ranked over KG and AI? That's a joke.

[Dangerous A 0]

Scottie Pippen is the most consistently overrated player in any sport that I have ever seen.  You have him ranked over KG and AI? That's a joke.

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Agreed. Pippen should be ranked somewhere in the 30's.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Scottie Pippen is the most consistently overrated player in any sport that I have ever seen.  You have him ranked over KG and AI? That's a joke.

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Agreed. Pippen should be ranked somewhere in the 30's.

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That would put him ahead of at least a few of:

 

39. Glen Rice

38. Detlef Schrempf

37. Vince Carter

36. Latrell Sprewell

35. Stephon Marbury

34. Ray Allen

33. Mark Jackson

32. Dennis Rodman

31. Alonzo Mourning

30. Mark Price

 

No way would I rank a player who made his career off of another player above any of those on this list.

[AboveAverage484 0]

I guess the fact that Pippen scored 18,940 points, had 6,135 assists, was named one of the 50 greatest players of all time, made All-NBA seven times, was selected for seven all-star games, and made all-defensive first team eight times in a row seems to slip people's minds.

 

It's also very possible that Garnett and AI would end up ranked higher after their careers are over.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I guess the fact that Pippen scored 18,940 points, had 6,135 assists, was named one of the 50 greatest players of all time, made All-NBA seven times, was selected for seven all-star games, and made all-defensive first team eight times in a row seems to slip people's minds.

 

It's also very possible that Garnett and AI would end up ranked higher after their careers are over.

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Nah, you're just bad at ranking people. Quit being defensive.

[AboveAverage484 0]

I guess the fact that Pippen scored 18,940 points, had 6,135 assists, was named one of the 50 greatest players of all time, made All-NBA seven times, was selected for seven all-star games, and made all-defensive first team eight times in a row seems to slip people's minds.

 

It's also very possible that Garnett and AI would end up ranked higher after their careers are over.

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Nah, you're just bad at ranking people. Quit being defensive.

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Yeah, God forbid I defend my own list with facts and figures.

 

And who said I was being defensive?

[alfdogg 0]

I'm not the president of Pippen's fan club or anything, but Jesus, give me a break, you guys. Detlef Schrempf and Glen Rice? I'm a big fan of both those guys, but you've got to be shitting me if you honestly think Pippen ranks with those guys. I don't really like to dwell on personal achievements too much, but what was posted above really speaks for itself. Granted, I think some of the All-defensive berths really are given out on reputation after you've been selected two or three times, but Pippen is 5th all-time in steals, and with 25 more of them would be third. And the eight first-teams in a row, without looking it up, I believe is unmatched. And he *did* make the Bulls a threat the year after Jordan retired, but no one was going to overcome Stern's "I'LL GET THE KNICKS TO THE FINALS OR DIE TRYING" campaign in '94. I could very easily have bought them winning a fourth straight that year. Pippen is top 15 at the absolute lowest.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I agree quite strongly with alf here. How you can not have Pippen as one of the top 15, especially against who you're talking about here, is beyond me.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

He played his entire career with Michael Jordan, that's how. What did he do without him? OH nothing. That's right. He was a good defender and an average scorer and that's it. That top 50 players of all time list was a joke. Making all-star teams doesn't make you great, just popular.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Michael Jordan, and Michael Jordan alone, wouldn't have won all those titles. Even if he was the best player to have ever played the game (which is debateable), it was having Pippen, Rodman, and the triangle offense, and whole host of other great players that propelled the Bulls to all those championships and dominate for so long.

 

And to play devil's advocate here, what did Michael Jordan do without Scottie Pippen? After 1998, neither did much of anything, with the exception of Scottie helping the Blazers reach the Western Conference Finals and take the eventual champ Lakers to 7 games. Pippen was an excellent defender and a good scorer, and complemented Jordan's skills nicely.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

I think you are underestimating Jordan greatly here VX. I'd love for you to name some of that whole host of other great players too. Bill Wennington? Luc Longley? Who?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I don't think he's underestimating the Jordan. THe point is that Jordan won championships when Pippen was on his teams, and wasn't quiote good enough without Pippen. And people forget that Pippen was on the 2000 Portland Trailblazers, who nearly made the Finals.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

When did Jordan play without Pippen? How old was he?

 

That Portland team was stacked too, Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, Steve Smith, Arvydas Sabonis, Bonzi Wells, Jermaine O'Neal, Detlef Schrempf. All better than ANYONE that Jordan had outside of Rodman really.

[Brett Favre 0]

Dude you just ignored the years Jordan wasn't with the Bulls in '94, and '95. Pippen lead the Bulls to 55 wins one year, and 47 the other, and lost in 6 and 7 games in the playoffs, in the conference semi-finals.

 

Oh, and Jordan had Pippen. Jermaine O'Neal didn't play shit with the Blazers.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

What did he win those years (Pippen that is)?

 

 

I know Jordan had Pippen, I was talking about the surrounding cast for both teams. I hope you are not going to tell me that Chicago's roster was EVER better than that Portland team (during the years Jordan was there).

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

What did he win those years (Pippen that is)?

 

 

I know Jordan had Pippen, I was talking about the surrounding cast for both teams. I hope you are not going to tell me that Chicago's roster was EVER better than that Portland team (during the years Jordan was there).

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By the same token, what did Kevin Garnett and Allen Iverson win? You argued that Pippen does not rank with those two, when they do not have superior championship credentials. So what makes them better than Pippen?

[Ripper 0]

The fact that anyone is even trying to argue that pippen isn't in the top 15 of the players of this generation is ridiculous.

 

Is is one of the best on the ball defenders of all time. he could score, he could run the point, he could rebound, he could block shots. All excedingly well.

 

And dude...really...I am an Atlanta fan and I got to say Kevin Willis and Mookie Blaylock being on the list while Steve Smith and a GOD of a man like Tom Chambers not being on there is a crime. I know its your opinion and all, but seriously....Tom fucking Chambers.

[alfdogg 0]

Didn't Chambers start before 84, though. This list is players whose entire careers happened since 84.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

What did he win those years (Pippen that is)?

 

 

I know Jordan had Pippen, I was talking about the surrounding cast for both teams. I hope you are not going to tell me that Chicago's roster was EVER better than that Portland team (during the years Jordan was there).

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By the same token, what did Kevin Garnett and Allen Iverson win? You argued that Pippen does not rank with those two, when they do not have superior championship credentials. So what makes them better than Pippen?

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You're clearly missing my point. Pippen played with Jordan. In my opinion, that's the only reason he won a damn thing. I'm not saying he wasn't GOOD, just not GREAT. He was a good player who's career was MADE by playing alongside one of, if not THE best player of all time.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Oh and one more thing:

 

24. Tracy McGrady

 

23. Chris Mullin

 

 

Just no.

[Black Lushus 0]

What did he win those years (Pippen that is)?

 

 

I know Jordan had Pippen, I was talking about the surrounding cast for both teams. I hope you are not going to tell me that Chicago's roster was EVER better than that Portland team (during the years Jordan was there).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

By the same token, what did Kevin Garnett and Allen Iverson win? You argued that Pippen does not rank with those two, when they do not have superior championship credentials. So what makes them better than Pippen?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You're clearly missing my point. Pippen played with Jordan. In my opinion, that's the only reason he won a damn thing. I'm not saying he wasn't GOOD, just not GREAT. He was a good player who's career was MADE by playing alongside one of, if not THE best player of all time.

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I'm with Crimson, history has shown that Scottie can't win without Michael...I shouldn't even have to explain said history...

[Ripper 0]

How does history show that? I think if you look at his post Jordan history, he was averaging around 45-50 wins per season. Plus seriously, 55 wins out of a Bulls team with Pete Fucking MYERS being part of the big three major offensive threats. Stop and think about that for a second. Pete FUCKING MYERS. If not for that bullshit call against the Knicks the Bulls would have went on to get destroyed by the Rockets in the Finals instead of the knicks.

 

Like it has been said. Look at his points, steals, blocks, assist, what he did to opposing players...dude really is top 15 since 1984.

 

 

And if it is peoples whos entire career was from 1984, then okay. No Tom Chambers. But damn...Steve Smith did alot more for Atlanta than Mookie Blaylock. Mookie just had a name that stood out.(actually I like mookie...he just was no Smity)

[AboveAverage484 0]

Oh and one more thing:

 

24. Tracy McGrady

 

23. Chris Mullin

 

 

Just no.

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This is a career ranking, I'm going to post my "peak" rankings later.

 

Chambers started in '83, so he misses it by one year. Steve Smith was a pretty decent scorer but I don't think he was top 50 material. Willis makes it on their for longevity, if nothing else.

[Ripper 0]

What did he win those years (Pippen that is)?

 

 

I know Jordan had Pippen, I was talking about the surrounding cast for both teams. I hope you are not going to tell me that Chicago's roster was EVER better than that Portland team (during the years Jordan was there).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

By the same token, what did Kevin Garnett and Allen Iverson win? You argued that Pippen does not rank with those two, when they do not have superior championship credentials. So what makes them better than Pippen?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You're clearly missing my point. Pippen played with Jordan. In my opinion, that's the only reason he won a damn thing. I'm not saying he wasn't GOOD, just not GREAT. He was a good player who's career was MADE by playing alongside one of, if not THE best player of all time.

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But the other point is that Jordan wouldn't have won SHIT without Scottie Pippen. Thats right. I will say it. Pippen was the guy that would fuck up the other teams offense and shut down their big time player. If it weren't for scottie shutting down Mark Jackson, the Pacers would have spanked the Bulls a couple of those years. Same thing with the Knicks, and when they finally took the Pistons. It was Scottie that did what was necessary. When the Blazers were blowing the Bulls out in game 6 of the finals, it was scottie and a bunch of reserves that got the game tied with Mike on the bench, ending it there(cause they did not want to fuck with Portland in a game 7 in portland).

 

The guy did the dirty work, the clean work and everything else in between while Mike scored alot of points. Pippen kept that offense going

[alfdogg 0]

The finals are 2-3-2, remember.

[Black Lushus 0]

oh please Rip, if it wasn't Scottie it would have been someone else, come off it...if he's so instrumental in helping Jordan win the titles, why couldn't he help someone else elevate their game? bullshit calls aside, he alone couldn't get the job done...

[alfdogg 0]

Since the argument against Pippen seems to be that he couldn't win on his own, where are the complaints about Patrick Ewing being in the top ten?