Greatest Player From Each NBA Franchise. Not as Easy as you Think it is.

[antidope]

On my way home I was thinking about Steve Nash and how this is probably the end of the road for him and I eventually made it back to his PHX days and it somehow crossed my mind that he may or may not be the best Sun ever. Then I tried to compile a list of the greatest players from each Franchise ever and some where easy and some were not so easy.

I figured that I'd bring the topic to NT and see where peoples heads are at. There are a couple of teams where I considered it a toss up and want to see which guy people are going to lean to. For the sake of this conversation the Pelicans/Bocats are the Hornets. Neither of the former have enough of an established history to deserve their own spot. The Sonics/Thunder will also be one franchise for the simple fact that if we split them it'll just be people posting Kevin Durant for the Thunder and it makes for a dull spot when the opportunity to spice it up is there.

Please refrain from doing things like posting Hakeem for the Raptors and Jordan for the Wizards. Because people are lazy, here is a list that you can just copy and paste.

Atlanta Hawks 
Boston Celtics 
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls 
Cleveland Cavaliers 
Dallas Mavericks 
Denver Nuggets 
Detroit Pistons 
Golden State Warriors 
Houston Rockets 
Indiana Pacers 
LA Clippers 
LA Lakers 
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies 
Miami Heat 
Milwaukee Bucks 
Minnesota Timberwolves 
New Orleans Pelicans/Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats
New York Knicks 
Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics 
Orlando Magic 
Philadelphia 76Sixers 
Phoenix Suns 
Portland Trail Blazers 
Sacramento Kings 
San Antonio Spurs 
Toronto Raptors 
Utah Jazz 
Washington Wizards

 

[rck3sactown]

Atlanta Hawks- Nique
Boston Celtics- Bird
Brooklyn Nets- Kidd (Dr. J was ABA)
Charlotte Bobcats- Mourning
Chicago Bulls- Jordan
Cleveland Cavaliers- Lebron 

Dallas Mavericks- Dirk
Denver Nuggets- English, suck it Melo
Detroit Pistons- Zeke
Golden State Warriors- Wilt 
Houston Rockets- Hakeem
Indiana Pacers- Miller
LA Clippers- McAdoo or Brand.... probably Brand based on years spent with the Clips. CP3 & Blake need more time
LA Lakers- Kobe
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies- Pau
Miami Heat- Wade, I guess since he's got tenure on Lebron
Milwaukee Bucks- Lew Alcindor
Minnesota Timberwolves- KG 
New Orleans Pelicans/Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats- Mourning
New York Knicks- Pat
Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics- Payton
Orlando Magic- T-Mac 

Philadelphia 76Sixers- Iverson 

Phoenix Suns- Nash
Portland Trail Blazers- Clyde 
Sacramento Kings- Robertson, wish I could say Webber tho 

San Antonio Spurs- Duncan
Toronto Raptors- Carter
Utah Jazz- Malone  
Washington Wizards- Hayes 

 

[CP1708]

Atlanta Hawks Nique
Boston Celtics Russell
Brooklyn Nets Kidd
Charlotte Bobcats Al Jeff
Chicago Bulls MJ
Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron
Dallas Mavericks Dirk
Denver Nuggets Alex English
Detroit Pistons Isiah
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets Hakeem
Indiana Pacers Reggie Miller
LA Clippers Blake Griffin
LA Lakers Magic/Kobe
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies Pau Gasol
Miami Heat ****.....LeBron or Wade
Milwaukee Bucks Kareem
Minnesota Timberwolves KG
New Orleans Pelicans/Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats Anthony Davis
New York Knicks Patrick Ewing
Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics Gary Payton, for now......
Orlando Magic Shaq
Philadelphia 76Sixers Dr J
Phoenix Suns Barkley
Portland Trail Blazers Clyde Drexler
Sacramento Kings Chris Webber
San Antonio Spurs Duncan
Toronto Raptors Vince Carter
Utah Jazz Karl Malone
Washington Wizards Arenas????

 

[jay y kay]

Atlanta Hawks - Nique or Petitt
Boston Celtics - Bill Russell
Brooklyn Nets - Kidd
Chicago Bulls - MJ
Cleveland Cavaliers - Ilgauskas... just kidding! LeBron... but I'd also take Mark Price with pride
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk
Denver Nuggets - Alex English
Detroit Pistons - Isaiah Thomas
Golden State Warriors - Rick Barry
Houston Rockets - Olajuwon
Indiana Pacers - Reggie Miller
LA Clippers - McAdoo? But it will eventually be Blake Griffin
LA Lakers - 1a Magic 1b Kobe
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies - Pau Gasol
Miami Heat - Wade
Milwaukee Bucks - Lew Alcindor or Glenn Robinson
Minnesota Timberwolves - KG
New Orleans Pelicans/Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats - Chris Paul
New York Knicks - Patrick Ewing
Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics - Payton (for now)
Orlando Magic - TMAC
Philadelphia 76Sixers - Julius Erving
Phoenix Suns - Charles Barkley
Portland Trail Blazers - Drexler
Sacramento Kings - Oscar Robertson
San Antonio Spurs - Duncan
Toronto Raptors - Vince
Utah Jazz - Stockton and Malone
Washington Wizards - Hayes or Unseld.. can't really decide

It's weird how HOF players like Shaq or Wilt isn't named on any team.

 

[antidope]

Atlanta Hawks-N/A 
Boston Celtics-Russell 
Brooklyn Nets-Kidd
Chicago Bulls-Jordan 
Cleveland Cavaliers-LeBron 
Dallas Mavericks-Dirk 
Denver Nuggets-English 
Detroit Pistons-Thomas 
Golden State Warriors-Rick Barry  
Houston Rockets-Hakeem 
Indiana Pacers-Miller 
LA Clippers-Lamar Odom? 
LA Lakers-Kobe 
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies-Pau Gasol 
Miami Heat-LeBron 
Milwaukee Bucks-Oscar Robertson 
Minnesota Timberwolves-KG 
New Orleans Pelicans/Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats
New York Knicks-Ewing 
Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics-Kevin Durant 
Orlando Magic-Shaq 
Philadelphia 76Sixers-Wilt 
Phoenix Suns-Barkley 
Portland Trail Blazers- Drexler
Sacramento Kings-Webber 
San Antonio Spurs-Duncan 
Toronto Raptors-Carter 
Utah Jazz-Malone 
Washington Wizards-Arenas?

 

[ValarMorghulis]

Atlanta Hawks - Nique

Boston Celtics - Bird

Brooklyn Nets - LOLOPEZ

Chicago Bulls- MJ  

Cleveland Cavaliers- Mark Price

Dallas Mavericks- Dirk  

Denver Nuggets- Alex English

Detroit Pistons - Isiah

Golden State Warriors - Rick Barry

Houston Rockets - Dream 

Indiana Pacers - Reg

LA Clippers - Elton Brand 

LA Lakers - Magic

Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies - Shareef  

Miami Heat - LeBron

Milwaukee Bucks - Kareem

Minnesota Timberwolves - KG

New Orleans Pelicans/Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats Mourning

New York Knicks - Ewing

Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics Durant

Orlando Magic - Shaquille

Philadelphia 76Sixers - Dr. J  

Phoenix Suns  Charles Barkley

Portland Trail Blazers - Drexler 

Sacramento Kings - Webber

San Antonio Spurs Duncan

Toronto Raptors Vince

Utah Jazz  Karl Malone

Washington Wizards - Stackhouse?
[/quote]

Kings, Clips, Wiz by far the hardest for me

 

[finallyfamous]

P4L but LeBron is easily the best Cav ever.

 

[osh kosh bosh]

i dont get it is it.

best career with that franchise, best player or like what do they mean to the franchise.

like i understand that young laker fans have and irrational attachment to kobe, but Magic is the best player, SHaq was more dominant.

 

[CP1708]

Shaq only 8 years tho.

Magic 12

Kobe 17. Owns almost every Laker record both regular season and playoffs.

I can see, hear, understand Magic over Kobe. But not Shaq, no way, no how. Kareem would even slot ahead of Shaq.

8 years isn't a ton when the others are all 12+.

 

[antidope]

i dont get it is it.

best career with that franchise, best player or like what do they mean to the franchise.

like i understand that young laker fans have and irrational attachment to kobe, but Magic is the best player, SHaq was more dominant.

Tenure is a factor imo. In some cases like the Lakers it's giving Kobe the edge, and in other cases like the Heat it's not enough to make a difference.

 

[urbetterthenme]

So Shaq isnt on anybody list.

 

[angliatzj]

Atlanta Hawks- Nique
Boston Celtics- that one guy who won 11 nba championships and they named the finals mvp trophy after..
Brooklyn Nets- if aba counts, dr. j. if not, probably j kidd.
Chicago Bulls- Jordan
Cleveland Cavaliers- LBJ, if lebron dont count mark price
Dallas Mavericks- Dirk
Denver Nuggets- David Thompson 
Detroit Pistons- Isiah
Golden State Warriors- Rick Barry
Houston Rockets- Hakeem
Indiana Pacers- Reggie
LA Clippers- it might just be blake lol
LA Lakers- Magic/Kobe tossup
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies- Marc Gasol
Miami Heat- Tim Hardaway unless LBJ counts twice
Milwaukee Bucks- Big O
Minnesota Timberwolves- KG
New Orleans Pelicans/Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats- CP 3?
New York Knicks- Bernard King
Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics- KD
Orlando Magic- Shaq
Philadelphia 76Sixers- AI
Phoenix Suns- Nash/Kevin Johnson
Portland Trail Blazers- Walton
Sacramento Kings- C Webb
San Antonio Spurs- Timmy
Toronto Raptors- VC
Utah Jazz- Pistol Pete/Karl
Washington Wizards- Earl the Pearl/Wes Unseld

 

[jetpackbirdy]

Atl- Pistol Pete
Bos- Russell
Bkn- Kidd
Cha- G.Wallace
Cha H- LJ
Chi- Jordan
Cle- Lebron
Dal- Dirk
Den- Thomps
Det- Thomas
GSW- Wilt
Hou- Hakeem
Ind- Miller
LAC- Mcadoo
LAL- Magic
Mem- M.Gasol
Mia- Lebron
Mil- Kareem
Min- KG
NO- A.Davis
NYK- Reed
OKC- Durant
Orl- Shaq
Phi- Moses
Pho- Barkley
Por- Walton
Sac- Oscar
SA- Duncan
Sea- Payton
Tor- Carter
Utah- K.Malone
Was- Unseld

 

[100027]

Honest question.  How is Kareem always rated behind Magic/Kobe?  Seems like he is really disrespected.

 

[CP1708]

Honest question.  How is Kareem always rated behind Magic/Kobe?  Seems like he is really disrespected.

He's not.

As a Laker, Kobe/Magic did/meant more.

Total career, including his Buck years, Cap is in that 2-3 all time range.

 

[cashbanks]

Honest question.  How is Kareem always rated behind Magic/Kobe?  Seems like he is really disrespected.

i feel like he might be the best big ever and doesn't get his proper credit

the older i get the harder it is for me not to put him on that Jordan level he has it all numbers, rings, longevity, awards

 

[100027]

He's not.

As a Laker, Kobe/Magic did/meant more.

Total career, including his Buck years, Cap is in that 2-3 all time range.

So it's just about emotional attachment to the franchise, then?

 

[cashbanks]

Kareem played more games as a laker than Magic

and was more successful as laker than kobe

Kareem's personality just rubbed some the wrong way i guess

 

[100027]

Kareem played more games as a laker than Magic

and was more successful as laker than kobe

Kareem's personality just rubbed some the wrong way i guess

That is definitely true.

Also big men generally don't seem to get the same love as wing players.  Kobe and Magic were definitely "sexier" (Pause)

 

[cashbanks]

That is definitely true.

Also big men generally don't seem to get the same love as wing players.  Kobe and Magic were definitely "sexier" (Pause)

bingo

and it wasnt like Kareem just overwhelmed cats with his size and brute force homie was as skilled as anybody

 

[deuce king]

Kareem's personality just rubbed some the wrong way i guess

Exactly.  This is the part about Kareem that alot of folks either don't talk about or simply don't know.  To this very day, Kareem still doesn't necessarily get the respect or mention that he "deserves" to some.

 

[8pm at msg]

Atlanta Hawks - Nique
Boston Celtics - Bill Russell
Brooklyn Nets - Dr. J
Chicago Bulls - MJ
Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk
Denver Nuggets - English
Detroit Pistons - Isiah
Golden State Warriors - Rick Barry
Houston Rockets - Olajuwon
Indiana Pacers - Reggie
LA Clippers - Blake
LA Lakers - Magic
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies - Pau
Miami Heat - LeBron
Milwaukee Bucks - Kareem
Minnesota Timberwolves - KG
New Orleans Pelicans/Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats - Chris Paul
New York Knicks - Patrick Ewing
Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics - Durant
Orlando Magic - T-Mac
Philadelphia 76Sixers - A.I.
Phoenix Suns - Charles
Portland Trail Blazers - Clyde
Sacramento Kings - C-Webb
San Antonio Spurs - Duncan
Toronto Raptors - Vince
Utah Jazz - Karl Malone
Washington Wizards - Earl Monroe

 

[100027]

Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics - Durant
 

  this needs to be eliminated from this thread.

Seattle Supersonics- Gary Payton

Tumbleweed Town Thunder- Kevin Durant

 

[cashbanks]

Exactly.  This is the part about Kareem that alot of folks either don't talk about or simply don't know.  To this very day, Kareem still doesn't necessarily get the respect or mention that he "deserves" to some.

I've always felt like it was a cop out from media types who just didn't give big men enough credit, bacuase MJ was/is an ******* but he played a "sexier position" etc.

 

[deuce king]

 

Exactly.  This is the part about Kareem that alot of folks either don't talk about or simply don't know.  To this very day, Kareem still doesn't necessarily get the respect or mention that he "deserves" to some.

I've always felt like it was a cop out from media types who just didn't give big men enough credit, bacuase MJ was/is an ******* but he played a "sexier position" etc.

I definitely agree with you there.  Kareem for whatever reason to most people did look "intimidating" mostly due to his height and he wasn't a very open guy both on and off the court.  Kareem for the most part didn't really have the "support" of his teammates and more so the media.  For those that don't know, from the media and reporters standpoint, Kareem was the NBA's version of Barry Bonds before Barry Bonds.