Kobe finally announces retirement at seasons end

[CameronCrazy06]

But I'll do it anyways. Put Russell in today's NBA and what is he, a better version of Hassan Whiteside?

 

[Pugz]

total lack of respect

 

[elcheato]

Whiteside is top 20 all time at worst

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Ive definitely never gotten emotional over an athlete before tho
Probably wont ever again( kershaw has a chance)

Even if im not as active a laker fan as i once was as I transitioned to fan of the game, they'll always be in my blood. They were the team of my childhood/adolescence. That means a lot. And especially Kobe. We've gone to war over him

Fuck, I still watch almost every laker game and follow them. Always have. Just hate how theyre covered now and hate their fans

But yeah i was reading it outloud and half way had to stop and just continue in my head as tears came! Fuck you

You know darn fucking well that if the lakers were good right now that you would be on the bandwagon. Quit being fake

 

[Mexi]

I left as soon as they got Dwight and my idol steve nash
Pretty much when phil, odom, bynum all left and when their new network began
Not a coincidence

 

[Mexi]

And the best player ever is kareem

 

[bosoxlover12]

But I'll do it anyways. Put Russell in today's NBA and what is he, a better version of Hassan Whiteside?

obviously impossible to fully justify, but he'd be a significantly better version. In terms of skill set, they'd be similar, sure. But different impacts


I can't find the infographic, but I saw it about a month ago: the Celtics had some advanced defensive rating of about -14 before Russell's first year. It never dropped below 40 in his thirteen year career, and then was like at 7 once he retired. Would be better if I had the infographic but I can't find it on my phone so oh well.

Point being, he was an elite defender and rebounder, but was also the captain, coach, and leader of the team. He was a motivator that got the most out of the rest of the team.


He definitely would not have been Top 5 level of he played in today's game (neither would Wilt or Big O either) but he'd be much better than Whiteside. Bill also passed the ball lol

 

[cruzg24]

where's bird and lebron

So youre saying that Bird and Lebron are top 8 over Kobe and Duncan?

 

[elcheato]

Bill Russell wouldn't be considered close to an all-time great in today's game, but a big factor should obviously be how they compared to the players of the generation they were in when doing these silly rankings. 

 

[bosoxlover12]

So youre saying that Bird and Lebron are top 8 over Kobe and Duncan?

Definitely Bird, probably Lebron too

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I agree with CC, Russell is overrated

 

[CameronCrazy06]

He should get credit for having a ton of rings but you can't put him #1 solely because of that. The people who say that are nuts. Michael Jordan is the greatest ever and it isn't even close.

 

[Mexi]

Kareem is the greatest

 

[CameronCrazy06]

NBA Player.... to ever appear on Full house, yes.

 

[elcheato]

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Kareem did you see that? I just made it from my sweet spot!

 

[Mexi]

You underestimate kaj

 

[CameronCrazy06]

No, you're just trying to be "hipster" and say somebody other than the guy who is clearly the greatest basketball player of all-time

 

[elcheato]

Yao Ming, still the greatest

 

[Pugz]

kobe listed mj, magic, bird, kareem, and jerry west as his top five