NBA Legends Not Forgotten

[cyanide]

I was just watching some YouTube clips of some great players from the 80's in their prime, and while most of us have never seen these guys play, or have watched them in their aging years, here are some players who really dominated the 80's not named Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson.

Charles Barkley
Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4gDGTYKKuo&NR
Duration: 10 minutes
Comments: This is my favorite clip. This undersized power forward not only had strength, but his quickness, speed, dribbling, and vertical reached freak-like proportions.
Today's Player Comparison: There's a little bit of Barkley in PJ Tucker

Dominique Wilkins
Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j1cS4n7tuI
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: Before Shawn Kemp wowed the fans, this guy dueled Michael in slam dunk competitions and did the things that Jordan did best: score.
Today's Player Comparison: A more athletic Amare Stoudemire pre-surgery

Hakeem Olajuwon
Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKKOfkaoMVs
Duration: 10 minutes
Comments: One of the greatest centers of all time, bar none. This guy had amazing footwork, timing, and instincts. He made David Robinson and Shaq look like shit.
Today's Player Comparison: Nobody, because this guy will eat you for breakfast.

Larry Bird
Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULvo7__wwBU
Duration: 6 minutes
Comments: Maybe he should've been omitted from this list, but before anybody thinks he's just a slow white guy who can't jump, his basketball IQ and fundamentals make him one of the greatest of all time.
Today's Player Comparison: Adam Morrison's not going to get any closer than this guy.

John Stockton
Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbqdxlZr4_0
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: With Steve Nash winning two MVPs, I gotta give Stockton a tribute. He did average 14.5 assists per game in one season and not one MVP.
Today's Player Comparison: Steve Nash

Clyde Drexler
Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-b2Jtv4qJI
Duration: 3 minutes
Comments: Often overlooked, but this guy was right up there with Jordan and Dominique. Reminds me of Dr. J.
Today's Player Comparison: Edit: Jason Richardson, thanks jwin!

Run TMC
Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwhFfttASc0
Duration: 2 minutes
Comments: Tim Hardaway's legendary crossovers, Chris Mullin's sweet stroke, and a very young Mitch Richmond made this team damn fun to watch.
Today's Player Comparisons: Not really, but talent position-wise, you could say Kidd/Jefferson/Carter

[jwin]

nice clips, and comparisons. jason richardson seems sort of in the drexler mode, but a bit more erratic, clyde showed up every game.
young vince carter reminds me of 'nique a little also.

larry bird had something that you just couldn't quite figure out what to call, i think magic said he just had "it". he made it look like he did everything right on the court, and everyone else was just getting lucky.

barkley was like a college player in a pickup game with 6th graders. he body-slammed shaq in that fight didn't he?

[J@3]

Good idea, nice to see some of those higlights A few of the player comparisons are terrible but even still.

[cyanide]

I know, I had trouble thinking of present day players to go with those guys.

[Jowe]

Clyde Drexler was the main reason why the blazers didnt' draft Jordan instead deciding to go big.

How about adding the guy who Michael Jordan was compared to when he entered the league? Dr J
clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nPYJodKri9c

[Rip]

With Steve Nash winning two MVPs, I gotta give Stockton a tribute. He did average 14.5 assists per game in one season and not one MVP.

what a silly thing to say. i agree steve nash shouldn't have won an mvp, stockton shouldn't have won one either. but saying stockton should've won one because steve nash did while averaging less than 14.5 assists is a tad comical

[Dean]

I dont think thats what hes saying..

[Matt]

There is no comparison to Stockton......no one out there plays like he does. You can argue Nash but Stockton was actually a very good defender.

[BigKaboom2]

cy - your custom title confused the hell out of me. That's probably what you were going for

Watch ESPN Classic all the time and you'll see plenty of those guys.

[---]

Closest guy to Larry nowadays imo is Dirk, but Larry was a better passer, defender and was just smarter. Charles... well no one plays like Charles nowadays, but PJ Tucker played like him in college as a "watered-down" version of Chuck. I still remember back in primary school getting beat up because I said Charles was better than Mike

[The X]

I'd be surprised if any real NBA fan hadn't seen some of what the above guys were capable of

as for Stockton, I loved the guy, but he played in a time when MJ, David Robinson, Hakeem & Barkley were cleaning up the MVP awards....Steve Nash doesn't have that competition....Duncan had his run of MVP's, but there was a void there for a season or two & Nash grabbed them....

yeah, some of those comparisons are poor....when you talk Dominique, you gotta look at an All-World scorer from the wing as well as an athletic freak....maybe think a taller D-Wade meets T-Mac with the power of Amare....it's a hard one to compare, but Nique was a superb scorer....scrap that comparison, these people just need to watch him & enjoy

[grusom]

There is no comparison to Stockton......no one out there plays like he does. You can argue Nash but Stockton was actually a very good defender.

Stokton was more than a very good defender - he is the NBA's all time leader in steals, and a Five-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection

[Gedas]

Wery nice videos, very few players dominating these days like they did on their time.

[cyanide]

what a silly thing to say. i agree steve nash shouldn't have won an mvp, stockton shouldn't have won one either. but saying stockton should've won one because steve nash did while averaging less than 14.5 assists is a tad comical

I didn't say Stockton should have won an MVP; I wanted to give tribute to Stockton because Nash is getting so much recognition these days. Averaging 14.5 assists a game is a feat that no one has done before, and there were two season that he averaged over 14 assists. I'm trying to say that Stockton was amazing in his prime and as great a player that Steve Nash is, Stockton was the better.

[Chris_23]

I think you are missing the point cyanide. It really is not about who is better individually when you compare Stockton to Nash. The thing is, Nash is so great because he runs the offense in, what is all-around called as the most entertaining team in the league. Sport for fans is entertainment, thus it's important for media.

You can look at great players in the league who rarely get the recognition they deserve just because they are not that entertaining to watch. It is not about statistics either, never has been and never will be (for example, Kobe made one of the most impressive individual perfomance seasons in the last decade last season).

Did Stockton deserve MVP award? Looking back, thinking if Stockton of his prime would be in the league today, he would definetly be an MVP worthy in a Phoenix-caliber team.

But The X is correct here. Stockton was in his prime in a period of many modern legends, including Michael Jordan himself.

You really have to take a look at how NBA changes over the years. Stockton today would be MVP worthy. Back in late 80s and early 90s, the 'individual' factor had become so important that people looked at that more than they looked at team-performers. But team perfomance was still a must for winning titles, which was evident in Chicago Bulls case.

Nowadays one of the quickest things, like in late 80s, that is thrown at individual perfomance is that they can't help their team win. This is why Steve Nash is such a phenomenon, he is an amazing point guard, team leader, who helps his team win and Suns offense is one of the most amazing things to watch and has been for three years.

Was Stockton in his prime better than Nash is currently? I personally believe so. But that does not mean that what Nash has done is any lesser because of it. Jordan said that you cannot really compare the greats of different generations, too much is different, the rules change, the players change, the attitude changes. Nash is the great of today, the best pure point guard in the league and a future hall of famer. In ten years, Nash will be one of the few players of today, along with Garnett, Iverson, Shaq and Kobe people define mid-00's with. In ten years, the league will be different a bit again, no one can predict how, but it will be. Fans will like different things, just as how popularity and media changes over time.

There is no real point in comparing Stockton to Nash. Just because original post placed Nash as a similar player to Stockton does not mean they have to be the same. People have compared many to Jordan, that does not mean anybody really is like he was. Same with Nash, he is like Stockton in ways, but he is not Stockton.

Absolutely amazing post though cyanide up there, I enjoyed watching those videos. Have not seen some of those players footage for years, thanks

[greg9]

Dominique was an incredible athlete. He's probably the single best dunker I have ever seen.

[beau_boy04]

man i luv how Olajuwon humiliated David Robinson ahahaha

[grusom]

Here is some vids of a few other late 80's, early 90's legends.

Scottie Pippen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AJfNe8hd5o

Today's Player Comparison: Hard one. Maybe T-Mac in his recent role of Yao's Sidekick

Larry Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo6GD-C48C8

Today's Player Comparison: Lebron James without the court vision.


Karl Malone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usdpMbRvoH8

Today's Player Comparison: Young Karl Malone = Amare Stoudamire

Isiah Thomas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyIgmjB0PMA

Today's Player Comparison: Tj Ford

Pete Maravich (late 70's, but still good)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y5KAaer ... ed&search=

Today's Player Comparison: Jason Williams

Dennis Rodman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ7f9jIz ... ed&search=

Today's Player Comparison: Can't think of anyone.

David Robisnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FInsapjeY_M

Today's Player Comparison: Greg Oden with a jump shot, Stronger Marcus Camby

Mark Jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2ikqKQ3XSA

Today's Player Comparison: Andre Miller with more flair

Patrick Ewing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm2GqveanLc

Today's Player Comparison: Another hard one as there isn't a lot of great centers around these days.

Joe Dumars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG6cfnypZTc

Today's Player Comparison: Damn this is hard. Any sugestions?

Bill Laimbeer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGrQ38-pp0

Today's Player Comparison: Raef Lafrentz's game with Danny Fortson's attitude.

[_marsal]

I can't really say i agree with those comparisons

Scottie Pippen
Today's Player Comparison: Hard one. Maybe T-Mac in his recent role of Yao's Sidekick

How about Andrei Kirilenko minus shot-blocking or Gerald Wallace? Maybe Prince? I don't really see T-Mac as the right Comparison.

Larry Johnson
Today's Player Comparison: Lebron James without the court vision.

Ron Artest?

Karl Malone
Today's Player Comparison: Young Karl Malone = Amare Stoudamire

Elton Brand?

Dennis Rodman
Today's Player Comparison: Can't think of anyone.

In terms of hustling, Anderson Varejao comes to mind (of course, without off-court incidents).

David Robisnson
Today's Player Comparison: Greg Oden with a jump shot, Stronger Marcus Camby

Emeka Okafor?

Joe Dumars
Today's Player Comparison: Damn this is hard. Any sugestions?

Well, no such player today. Trenton Hassell or Bowen (but with much more offensive firepower)?

Bill Laimbeer
Today's Player Comparison: Raef Lafrentz's game with Danny Fortson's attitude.

I'd rather say Jeff Foster with more offensive skills..

But that's just my opinion

[hova-]

Sry but yours are also not really good. I think some of those players just cant be compared, that is why they are legends .....

[Silas]

I'd say the closest to Dumars is Earl Watson, they seem similar, except obviously Earl Watson's skills are toned down on the offensive and defensive ends.

[grusom]

uhh, I hust found this great video as well, from back in the days when NBA basketball was competitive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SSK9dHf ... ed&search=

Laimbeer VS Bird + Laimbeer VS Parish

[beau_boy04]

Watching Scottie Pippen's video made me realize there wasn't a better compliment for MJ than him. I think the only 2 players I would have choosen over Pip in that era ARE: Magic Johnson and Olajuwon.

[air gordon]

Closest guy to Larry nowadays imo is Dirk, but Larry was a better passer, defender and was just smarter. Charles... well no one plays like Charles nowadays, but PJ Tucker played like him in college as a "watered-down" version of Chuck. I still remember back in primary school getting beat up because I said Charles was better than Mike

how is someone "close" to Larry Legend if Larry was significantly better then that somebody in 3 facets of the game lol

perhaps the guy who most plays like the Legend (at least offensively) is currently playing in Boston already- Paul Pierce. Pierce, like Bird, isn't exactly physically gifted but is quite fundamentally sound. He's got a great awareness for the game, solid inside-outside game, and great in the clutch

[J@3]

But he's black! how can they possibly be compared??