Would you rather be Karl Malone or Robert Horry?

[EGarrett]

I remember the Sports Guy wrote a column on this, and the other thread about Robert Horry made me want to ask this question. I think it's great.

As a basketball player, would you rather have an NBA career like a Karl Malone (or Charles Barkley), or Robert Horry?

As Karl Malone you will have won as many individual trophies as almost anyone who has played basketball. You'd be a perennial All-Star in your time, and be widely considered the greatest player of All-Time at your position, while being #2 All-Time in Points Scored and having legendary longevity and durability. You'd also be a lock for the Hall of Fame and a retired Jersey on your team.

BUT, you would also have never won an NBA Championship. And you'd have a reputation for not having the nerve to deliver in the clutch. Some might even consider you a loser at heart.

As Robert Horry, you will never have won any individual trophies, pretty much. You'd also never be an All-Star, and will have played for a number of different teams. You'll never be counted among the Greatest Players of All-Time, at your position or any other position.

BUT, you'd have 5 (coming up on 6) rings with three different teams, and you will have played a major role in all of them. You'd have a reputation for delivering in the clutch, and teams would always have feared letting you get the ball when everything's on the line. You'd be known and remembered for a long time as a battle-tested winner with the highlights to prove that you had ice-water in your veins.

So which would it be?

[Fresh8]

It's either you make the Hall of fame with no rings or stay in the history books with your rep. As a RObert Horry, you'd have the rings to prove you got to the one ultimate thing: Winning.

Winning it all is a feeling that is unique... I would love to taste it. When you get to the grand stage, sure you can get money and get rich from being a star, be a hall of famer... a legend but that feeling, IMO, shouldnt be as special as the few minutes after you won it all.... especially if you played a major role in winning any specific game.

Sure, being the 'man' and all sounds great but as the players like Karl and Charles have uttered, winning a ring is soemhting different!

[air gordon]

for me, robert horry no doubt. if i were in the NBA, my 2 goals would be financial security and be a contributor on a championship team

individual accolades and becoming legendary are nice but you play the game to win. plus i don't want to be remembered as a choker

besides, horry is somewhat legendary for his clutch play in the postseason.

[Andrew]

for me, robert horry no doubt. if i were in the NBA, my 2 goals would be financial security and be a contributor on a championship team

individual accolades and becoming legendary are nice but you play the game to win. plus i don't want to be remembered as a choker

Agreed. Obviously it would be great to be remembered like a Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Bill Russell etc, but being a key contributor on a great team is in some ways getting the best of both worlds, though perhaps not as much as a James Worthy-type player.

I think there'd be a greater sense of satisfaction at the end of your career, as well. Jerry West seems to have some bitterness towards his playing career despite the fact he has a ring and plenty of individual accolades that rank him as a great player in history. And for the success, acclaim and financial security their careers have brought them, I'm sure players such as Malone, Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller are at least a little disappointed they didn't get to experience the feeling of winning a ring.

[J@3]

I'd want to be Karl Malone. I'd trade an Championship for an MVP award any day, it's not a matter of being selfish or not team oriented it's the fact that basketball is a team game. You can't always guarantee you're going to end up on a team that will win a championship, Robert Horry also managed to win his championships without the Bulls seemingly running rampant over the whole NBA. It's all about right time, right place, right team which is why I'd much rather retire and be remembered for what I did as a player, not for playing on championship teams and occassionally hitting a big shot.

[Fenix]

Kinda off topic:

That's why I wanna be Karl Malone!

(Edit: there's a link to a picture of Karl Malone competing in the WCW, but it just doesn't show up.)

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

I'd want to be Karl Malone. I'd trade an Championship for an MVP award any day, it's not a matter of being selfish or not team oriented it's the fact that basketball is a team game. You can't always guarantee you're going to end up on a team that will win a championship, Robert Horry also managed to win his championships without the Bulls seemingly running rampant over the whole NBA. It's all about right time, right place, right team which is why I'd much rather retire and be remembered for what I did as a player, not for playing on championship teams and occassionally hitting a big shot.

Amen to that... Karl was one shot and a good game away from a ring... not making it doesn't mean he was a choker... I'd rather be one of the best and enjoy the game at the top, rather than just have rings to show off... I deeply respect and admire Horry, but Malone is at least two levels higher on my list... Playing up until I'm 39 and still scoring 20ppg on a winning team, that's something I would like to achieve more than winning the title...

Plus you can do no wrong having Malone's physique...

[Fenix]

Plus you can do no wrong having Malone's physique...

Damn right you can't. He was the best conditioned athlete in the history of basketball. His training regime is a borderline torture.

http://www.coachmarian.de/Spezials/Workouts/MaloneWorkoutSecrets.htm

[Jackal]

I'd like to be Malone, he's probably one of the best PF's of all time.

[The X]

I'd prefer to leave the game with a good rep as we all know Robert Horry will....he is one of the greatest clutch players of his time (up there with the likes of Reggie Miller, MJ, etc) and a proven winner....

and once I finished my NBA career, I would want to have a choice of what to do....whilst Malone will be able to do many of the same basketball-related jobs, if I was say sick of basketball I could walk away from the game and within a couple of years be unrecognisable in public, except to fanatics....

[cyanide]

I pick Robert Horry for the same reasons The X just listed. I know it's nice to be well recognized and having a successful career like Malone, but to me, I'm not a big fan of fame, and I'd like a championship ring, so I'd go with Horry.

The only problem is, Horry looks like Will Smith

[Fenix]

and once I finished my NBA career, I would want to have a choice of what to do....whilst Malone will be able to do many of the same basketball-related jobs, if I was say sick of basketball I could walk away from the game and within a couple of years be unrecognisable in public, except to fanatics....

Yeah, you would feel pretty invisible as an 6'10'' black man.

[Drex]

^^

I would like to be Horry. Scoring when the team needs to. Having many championships, that couldn't be without my help in crucial times. Hitting jumpers in the clutch, etc...

[air gordon]

i'm not knocking anyone for choosing malone...

dweaver & jae..

lol this argument never seems to die about malone never winning a title...

it's not because the stars were not aligned properly as to why he never got a ring as jae says it the guy was in position several times to win the title and did not deliver. the greatest players transcend this so called team concept and win the titles. it wasn't shandon anderson, ogretag, or even hornacek that had the ball in key situations. it was karl malone and stockton.

he had just as many good games as he did bad in the finals vs the bulls. settling for fadeway jumpers instead of driving, getting the ball stolen from him, missing ft's in crucial possesions is choking.

how can you considered 'one of the best' or 'enjoy the game at the top' if you never got there in the 1st place/ couldn't accomplish the ultimate goal: winning a nba championship?

malone will be remembered for his mvp, scoring, and all that good stuff. but he'll also be remembered for not winning a championship

[J@3]

the guy was in position several times to win the title and did not deliver.

That's all well and good to say he didn't make the last shot or whatever, but what about the other 47 minutes of a basketball game? If your team is good enough, it doesn't come down to having to make a final shot to win the game.

he had just as many good games as he did bad in the finals vs the bulls. settling for fadeway jumpers instead of driving, getting the ball stolen from him, missing ft's in crucial possesions is choking.

Why does this guys career seemingly "live and die" based on what happened in a few finals series? 82 games in a season, he played for bloody ages and did more for that team then any other player ever has yet because of a few games in the finals his legacy is tainted? I think people here put WAY too much emphasis on championships and clutch performances, there's alot more to basketball then winning a best of 7 series and hitting shots towards the end of the game.

Edit: Probably should explain why I'm constantly going on about the lack of importance of championships... basically it's a team sport, you rely on your teammates no matter how good you are... even Kobe. When it comes down to discussing individuals I don't see why championships and such are constantly brought into it. Unless the guy scored 108 points on his own and told his teammates to go and have a spa or something it makes no sense to me... sure superstars can lead their team to championships, but no one can do it on their own. If you took Michael Jordan and put him on the Bobcats, they'd probably win an extra 20 games and that'd be it.

Although it is kinda funny to me that alot of Americans go on about how important team achievements are, when the NBA is more selfish then it's ever been. Probably a testament to San Antonio and Detroit that the 2 best teams in the league are two of the least selfish as far as the players go. Rant over. For now

[air gordon]

That's all well and good to say he didn't make the last shot or whatever, but what about the other 47 minutes of a basketball game? If your team is good enough, it doesn't come down to having to make a final shot to win the game.

are you serious? the past nba champions are exactly that because they execute down the stretch, make the big plays in crunchtime, find ways to steal victory from defeat. yes, the previous 47 mintues are important, as they set the stage for the climax, so to speak. it does come down to the final possesions. they don't hand out medals for leading the game after 3qtrs.

and it wasn't just the last shot. it was key possesions as i had mentioned earlier where malone kept settling for fadeaway jumpers instead of driving to the basket

Why does this guys career seemingly "live and die" based on what happened in a few finals series?

i didn't say anything about his career living or dying by this. he's a great player but couldn't win the championship... all the of the all time greats have distinguished themselves from the rest of nba players by what they have done in the postseason.

82 games in a season, he played for bloody ages and did more for that team then any other player ever has yet because of a few games in the finals his legacy is tainted

he's not getting shortchanged. utah will no doubt retire his jersey, he'll be remembered as one of the best jazz players. he gets applauded for his longevity & dedication to staying in shape. some may consider amongst the best pf's.

I think people here put WAY too much emphasis on championships and clutch performances, there's alot more to basketball then winning a best of 7 series and hitting shots towards the end of the game.

why wouldn't people use this to measure the greatness of a player? ex-players, coaches, hall of fame voters seem to share this train of thought.

lol that's just ridiculous putting more importance in regular season play instead of postseason

Edit: Probably should explain why I'm constantly going on about the lack of importance of championships... basically it's a team sport, you rely on your teammates no matter how good you are... even Kobe. When it comes down to discussing individuals I don't see why championships and such are constantly brought into it. Unless the guy scored 108 points on his own and told his teammates to go and have a spa or something it makes no sense to me... sure superstars can lead their team to championships, but no one can do it on their own. If you took Michael Jordan and put him on the Bobcats, they'd probably win an extra 20 games and that'd be it.

malone didn't play on the bobcats. the team was built around stockton and malone so don't give that crap argument. yes, it's a team sport. as mentioned previously, the great players transcend this concept and find ways to win. no excuses. malone lead his team in shots attempted. it was malone who the jazz went to on key possessions, etc.. this isn't like american football where there 11 players on the field/so many factors. basketball is one of the few sports where one individual can determine the outcome

[J@3]

Aren't we having this conversation elsewhere

[air gordon]

lol sorry. i was almost done when you contacted me via msn

[J@3]

ah i see, at least it didn't go to waste.

[air gordon]

jae's a winner! citing great basketball players thoughts as evidence to back up my points has no credence compared to one south australian's opinon.

championships don't mean anything. karl malone. greatest. ever.

[Jackal_]

I'd have to say I would be Karl Malone. He's a well respected legend across the world and left a legacy in the NBA. Horry is also an exceptional player and has won a couple rings. But if you ask someone in 20 years this question I guarantee you not many would even know who Robert Horry is. Karl Malone will be remembered as one of the greats of all time.

[[L3]1101]

Basketball is a team sports, but it's a different feeling when you are the main guy on the team and you get to lead the team, than coming off the bench and is expected to hit a couple of shots. Malone is no doubt the better basketball player. Getting the ring certainly proves something, but sometimes it's not something you can control. You get drafted by a team, and you are stuck with the team for a few years. During the course of time, if your team suck, what can you do? Then your contract expires, and you deserve a big contract and the wining teams can't afford you, then you still can't find a good team to play for. In the case of Malone, he's one of the greatest, so he was able to bring his team to the NBA finals a few time, but to his luck MJ was there to stop him. In the case of Robert Horry, he doesn't need to get paid big bucks, so he's more flexible when it comes to choosing teams. So he just choses a team that has already been developed to be a championship caliber team(Spurs) and comes off the bench and score some points. Malone made a shitty team to the NBA finals in his long career. He was there from the beginning, no shortcuts. That's dedication and love for the game. I would say it's a heck of a career he had and not many people can top that, certainly not horry. An great NBA career is not always about the ring, but it's how hard you worked trying to get it. I would say Malone worked a lot harder than Horry trying to get the ring.

[J@3]

jae's a winner! citing great basketball players thoughts as evidence to back up my points has no credence compared to one south australian's opinon.

championships don't mean anything. karl malone. greatest. ever.

Aww look at little Mr. Maturity having a hissy fit

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Look at it this way... who would YOU rather be?

Darko Milicic (1 ring) OR ....hmmmm.... Rik Smits (no rings) ???

[Jackal_]

Look at it this way... who would YOU rather be?

Darko Milicic (1 ring) OR ....hmmmm.... Rik Smits (no rings) ???

I wouldn't think of it like that at all. Think of it this way... Horry (2 Rings) Malone (Future Hall of Famer), 2nd all-time scoring...thats almost better than a ring dude. Just cuz Horry has rings doesn't make him ANY better than Malone. I personally can't even believe people are comparing the two players. They're in two different worlds man.