Kareem writes open letter to Pippen about LeBron, Jordan

[.infamous]

Everyone has climbed all over Scottie Pippen in recent days for putting LeBron James on the same pedestal with Michael Jordan, calling Jordan the best scorer of all time but LeBron a potentially better all around player. At best it felt a little premature. In Chicago that was blasphemy.

Now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has entered the discussion with an open letter to Scottie Pippen given to our man Mark Medina at the Los Angeles Times.

The letter says Pippen is wrong — Jordan isn’t even the best scorer ever.

Dear Scottie,

I have nothing but respect for you my friend as an athlete and knowledgeable basketball mind. But you are way off in your assessment of who is the greatest player of all time and the greatest scorer of all time. Your comments are off because of your limited perspective. You obviously never saw Wilt Chamberlain play who undoubtedly was the greatest scorer this game has ever known. When did MJ ever average 50.4 points per game plus 25.7 rebounds? (Wilt in the 1962 season when blocked shot statistics were not kept). We will never accurately know how many shots Wilt blocked. Oh, by the way in 1967 and 68, Wilt was a league leader in assists. Did MJ ever score 100 points in a game? How many times did MJ score more than 60 points in a game? MJ led the league in scoring in consecutive seasons for 10 years but he did this in an NBA that eventually expanded into 30 teams vs. when Wilt played and there were only 8 teams….

In terms of winning, Michael excelled as both an emotional and scoring leader but Bill Russell’s Celtics won eight consecutive NBA Championships. Bill’s rebounding average per game is over 22.5 lifetime, MJs best rebounding years was eight per game (1989).… Bill played on a total of 11 championship teams and as you very well know, Scottie, the ring is the thing, and everything else is just statistics. So I would advise you to do a little homework before crowning Michael or LeBron with the title of best ever. As dominant as he is, LeBron has yet to win a championship. I must say that it looks like Miami has finally put the team together that will change that circumstance. Its my hope that today’s players get a better perspective on exactly what has been done in this league in the days of yore.

Affectionately,

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,
NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer

I love that Kareem puts on his letters “NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer.” Which also was a reminder to Pippen that there were other guys at other positions who could score a little.

Damn lol

 

[footballplaya52]

lol wow. it was a different game back then though.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

Wilt also played against dudes half his size. Wilt ain't averaging 50 a game if he played in MJ's time. MJ is probably averaging over 30+ a game playing against teams that had restrictions on the number of blacks a team could have. No offense to Wilt, but this argument is a little dumb by Kareem. Why compare a center's rebounding numbers to a guards? LOL

 

[Pugz]

ive always said bill russel and wilt are 1 and 2..

 

[The Young One]

Props to Kareem for enlightening Scottie about Wilt and Russell...and also throwing in the NBA's All Time Leading Scorer on the end just to let him know...Kareem is ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I'm confident MJ would score at least 40 PPG in today's day and age with the way superstars get calls now.

 

[SaintFan25]

lol wow. it was a different game back then though.

Yeah it's hard to compare players based off stats alone if they're from different eras, the game is constantly changing.

 

[lonesomefx]

Kareem is just as dumb as Scottie if he thinks Wilt is the best of all-time. As we've stated 25432663 times, Wilt was at least 4 inches taller then everybody else he played against, wasn't hard for him to go over the top of them to score or pull down a rebound.

 

[SaintFan25]

Kareem is just as dumb as Scottie if he thinks Wilt is the best of all-time. As we've stated 25432663 times, Wilt was at least 4 inches taller then everybody else he played against, wasn't hard for him to go over the top of them to score or pull down a rebound.

Yeah plus playing minutes he played helps. I think Wilt's still the greatest center of all time but the greatest player? Nah.

 

[werebarret]

I'm confident MJ would score at least 40 PPG in today's day and age with the way superstars get calls now.

Agreed. with the way perimeter players are protected now, as well as the fact that big dues basicall aren't allowed to protect the paint, Jordan would be scoring at a ridiculous clip.

also, I felt like this letter made Kareem seem pretty insecure tbh. signing it as "NBA's all-time leading scorer?" dude is begging for attention

 

[lakerfan]

Its my hope that today’s players get a better perspective on exactly what has been done in this league in the days of yore.

I loved this, and I think that it should be an open call to everybody that watches the NBA. Some of the arguments comparing generations do not make much sense to me. You can hypothetically teleport today's players in a different era and state how they would dominate all you want, but it should never take away from the accomplishments of their predecessors, because the fact of the matter is, they did not play in them. Why is basketball the only sport where this type of agrgument happens? In baseball nobody ever discredits the feats of Babe Ruth, Cy Young, or Roger Maris because Roy Halladay or Albert Pujols would thrive in those environments. I think he is saying that there should be more respect for the accomplishments of yesterday- evidenced by Pippen's statements- and that is a message I can agree with.

 

[lonesomefx]

Maybe because if Babe Ruth was at least 4 inches taller then every other player when he played, it wouldn't make a difference except for how high he was throwing the ball from as a pitcher or how big his strike zone was as a hitter. It's not like height changed how many homeruns he hit. Basketball is a game of size when it comes to rebounding and scoring. Some scorers know how to create, like LeBron, D-Wade, Kobe, Melo, Jordan etc. However, some can just go over the top of guys, like Wilt.

 

[The Young One]

Wilt actually had skill..not like he just laid the ball up for all his career points...

And he'd probably be the best big in the league if he played today. Would he put up 50/20..today hell no. But he'd be a 20/10 guy easily.

 

[lakerfan]

Maybe because if Babe Ruth was at least 4 inches taller then every other player when he played...However, some can just go over the top of guys, like Wilt.

As we've stated 25432663 times, Wilt was at least 4 inches taller then everybody else he played against, wasn't hard for him to go over the top of them to score or pull down a rebound.

Wilt also played against dudes half his size

You're better than this. I think you are old enough to remember the likes of Shawn Bradley and Manute Bol, who were among the tallest players in the history of the NBA. They were easily 'inches' taller than a majority of their positional competition but their careers are little more than an afterthought in NBA history. You are putting height on a much higher pedestal than should be.

But more importantly, we should really correct the 'misunderstanding' about height that's going on here. For reference, Wilt Chamberlain was 7'1. Here's a short list of other centers that played in the league during his career.

Walter Dukes (7'0", 220 lbs.)
Swede Halbrook (7'3, 235 lbs.)
Tom Boerwinkle (7'0", 265 lbs.)
Bob Lanier (6'11", 265 lbs.)
Darrall Imhoff (6'10", 220 lbs.)
Otto Moore (6'11", 210 lbs.)
Sam Lacey (6'10", 235 lbs.)
George Johnson (6'11", 245 lbs.)
Paul Ruffner (6'10", 230 lbs.)
Dick Cunningham (6'10", 245 lbs.)
Walt Bellamy (6'11", 225 lbs.)
Leroy Ellis (6'10", 210 lbs.)
Nate Thurmond (6'11", 235 lbs.)
Mel Counts (7'0", 235 lbs.)
Nate Bowman (6'10", 230 lbs.)
Clyde Lee (6'10", 210 lbs.)
Walt Wesley (6'11", 230 lbs.)
Henry Akin (6'10", 225 lbs.)
Hank Finkel (7'0", 240 lbs.)
Lew Alcindor aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7'2", 225 lbs.)
Neal Walk (6'10", 220 lbs.)
Elmore Smith (7'0", 250 lbs.)
Jim McDaniels (6'11", 230 lbs.)
LaRue Martin (6'11", 215 lbs.)
Tom Riker (6'10", 225 lbs.)
Conrad Dierking (6'9", 225 lbs.)
Johnny “Red” Kerr (6'9", 230 lbs.)
Bob Pettit (6'9", 220 lbs.)
Spencer Haywood (6'9", 230 lbs.)
Rick Roberson (6'9", 230 lbs.)
Luke Jackson (6'9", 240 lbs.)
Duke Hogue (6'9," 240 lbs.)
Zelmo Beaty (6'9", 230 lbs.)
Len Chappell (6'9", 240 lbs.)
Elvin Hayes (6'9", 235 lbs.)
Hub Reed (6'9", 220 lbs

...not to mention the undersized Bill Russell and Willis Reed, who were no slouches. Was Wilt among the tallest of his generation? Yes. But this notion that he was playing against 6'6'' dwarves is a lazy and misguided fallacy that has no place here. There were actually many players that matched up in size and are even proven to have gotten the better of him in terms of success (See: Bill Russell). And even then, I don't see how Wilt's situation is any different than say Shaquille's, who during the peak of his career was heavier than a majority of his positional counterparts. However, his traits are considered 'advantages' and not Wilt-like injustices. Why is that?

I'll leave you with this thought-- Magic Johnson, I'm sure you would agree, is widely considered one of the best PG's to ever play basketball. Are you going to take away from his achievements because he was one of the taller players to play that position?

 

[.s31t]

Walter Dukes (7'0", 220 lbs.)
Swede Halbrook (7'3, 235 lbs.)
Tom Boerwinkle (7'0", 265 lbs.)
Bob Lanier (6'11", 265 lbs.)
Darrall Imhoff (6'10", 220 lbs.)
Otto Moore (6'11", 210 lbs.)
Sam Lacey (6'10", 235 lbs.)
George Johnson (6'11", 245 lbs.)
Paul Ruffner (6'10", 230 lbs.)
Dick Cunningham (6'10", 245 lbs.)
Walt Bellamy (6'11", 225 lbs.)
Leroy Ellis (6'10", 210 lbs.)
Nate Thurmond (6'11", 235 lbs.)
Mel Counts (7'0", 235 lbs.)
Nate Bowman (6'10", 230 lbs.)
Clyde Lee (6'10", 210 lbs.)
Walt Wesley (6'11", 230 lbs.)
Henry Akin (6'10", 225 lbs.)
Hank Finkel (7'0", 240 lbs.)
Lew Alcindor aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7'2", 225 lbs.)
Neal Walk (6'10", 220 lbs.)
Elmore Smith (7'0", 250 lbs.)
Jim McDaniels (6'11", 230 lbs.)
LaRue Martin (6'11", 215 lbs.)
Tom Riker (6'10", 225 lbs.)
Conrad Dierking (6'9", 225 lbs.)
Johnny “Red” Kerr (6'9", 230 lbs.)
Bob Pettit (6'9", 220 lbs.)
Spencer Haywood (6'9", 230 lbs.)
Rick Roberson (6'9", 230 lbs.)
Luke Jackson (6'9", 240 lbs.)
Duke Hogue (6'9," 240 lbs.)
Zelmo Beaty (6'9", 230 lbs.)
Len Chappell (6'9", 240 lbs.)
Elvin Hayes (6'9", 235 lbs.)
Hub Reed (6'9", 220 lbs

-- The names in bold are the ones that stand out... No lie Wilt played with HoFers and All-Stars that are always shadowed in history of the NBA... Lakerfan made a great point about players in Wilts Generation not being Dwarfs... I just don't think we should compare Centers and Power Forwards on the same scale as Guards and Small Forwards... Just a thought because those positions have different skill sets... Facing the Basket And Posting Up to the Basket... I honestly never thought Michael was the greatest to play... Maybe the greatest clutch player to play in modern history but not the GOAT... I usually reserve that spot for Magic since Showtime was the most was watched player the league had ever seen (32% of households compared to Michael's 28%) and career ended to short because of contracting HIV. I'm also a firm believer that Len Bias would of translated into the best all-around forward the league had ever seen if he never OD'd on coke in 86'. Never have I seen a game like his watching old Maryland tape. I think he would of made the Celtics win 3-4 more championships in the 90's (Hard for me to say that as a Laker fan but its true) making the East tougher to win in... But I can go on for days about that... But I honestly think Scottie Pippen is crazy comparing LBJ to Michael on a F-G basis... Just 5 years ago Scottie said Kobe Bryant was going to be better than Michael after he dropped 81 against Toronto... Scotties just hopping on the trending now... LBJ might be a top 10 player but without a

Slam Magazine top 100 list top 10:

1. Michael Jordan 6x Champion
2. Wilt Chamberlain 2x Champion
3. Bill Russell 11x Champion
4. Shaquille O'Neal 5x Champion
5. Oscar Robertson 1x NBA Champion
6. Magic Johnson 5x Champion
7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6x Champion
8. Tim Duncan 4x Champion
9. Larry Bird 3x Champion
10. Kobe Bryant 5x Champion
*30. Kevin Garnett 1x Champion
31. LeBron James 0x Champion
*The magazine was published before Kobe's 5th ring and noted if he won his 5th he'd slide in to Timmy D's spot...

I just dont see the LBJ to Michael Jordan comparison. If anyone deserves that on a Big Three team it might as well be D-Wade. LeBron reminds me more like a Scottie Pippen than he does of Michael... At the end of the day I see Kevin Durant passing LeBron on the all-time list and LeBrick will fall 15 maybe with 2 championships... Just saying the Knicks might be a team to wreck-en with if they manage to get Chris Paul...

 

[Elite]

Letting your LeBron hate cloud your judgement like everybody else ^

 

[.s31t]

Letting your LeBron hate cloud your judgement like everybody else ^

Eh, wouldn't go that far. Ive watched LeBron since he was in HS and he was the biggest hyped product back then when I was in 7th grade. I just don't like his game nor the comparison he gets to Jordan maybe an underprivileged Oscar Robertson but not Michael Jordan. He players more like Scottie Pippen and should be a second option instead of the first. Yeah, I have no right saying LeBron is selfish since I'm a Kobe Bryant fan but you could see it down the stretch where he's not clutch and still wants to take a game over instead of keep feeding D-Wade or seems to get hot in the 4th with 5 minutes to go. I hate using stats to compare players because honestly greatness is revolutionary like MJ once said but there is no way in hell LeBrick will ever finish as a top 10 player to play this game when you talk about Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson... Top 25 (yes) Top 20 (yes) Top 15 (yes) Top 10 (No) (11-15) when its all said and done.

 

[Elite]

Really not even worth a legit response if you believe a top 5 scorer in the NBA is a #2 option.

LeBron is a better player than Scottie ever was

 

[.s31t]

Really not even worth a legit response if you believe a top 5 scorer in the NBA is a #2 option.

LeBron is a better player than Scottie ever was

The Miami Heat is Dwayne Wades team and will be in the next 5 years. It doesn't matter how you look at it. Dwayne Wade is the best player on that team followed by LeBron and then Chris Bosh but sometimes it looks like Joel Anthony comes to play instead of CB some games. I might be ridiculous but I don't buy the LBJ as the greatest player the league has seen. I'll sell that any day of the week. Quick fact: Allen Iverson was a top 5 scorer in 2007-08 in the NBA and was his team leading scorer but was the Second option to Carmelo Anthony... I guess a top 5 scorer can be a second option when your teammate falls into the same category.

 

[Elite]

It's Wade's team in terms of who their vocal leader is, but LeBron is the best player on the team and it's not even arguable.

Typical LeBron hater

I love Wade more than anybody, but Bron is the the best player