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Staff Writer
First Rounder
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,573
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Greatest Shooting Guards of All-time
Story from ESPN, good read:
#1 MJ
#2 Kobe
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailyd...me-GreatestSGs
Quote:
Teams: Chicago Bulls (1984-93, 1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03)
Titles: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Honors: 14-time All-Star, 5-time MVP (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), 6-time Finals MVP, Rookie of the Year (1985), Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
The player: The standard by which all other players are measured.
Air Jordan was the most skilled, most athletic, toughest, meanest, most inspirational and most competitive of all the shooting guards who have ever played the game. He dominated both ends of the floor. He also was the biggest winner and perhaps the greatest clutch player in history.
The credentials -- and pictures -- speak for themselves: six championship rings, five MVP awards, six Finals MVP awards, one defensive POY award. And his career numbers were otherworldly, most notably 32,292 points (third all time) and a 30.1 points per game scoring average (first). Oh, and he averaged 20 points and six rebounds as a 40-year-old! Only his last two seasons in Washington kept him from shooting more than 50 percent for his career.
Jordan had no real weaknesses; he mastered every facet of the game. He dominated a big man's game and was the leader of the only dynasty in NBA history that did not feature a dominant center.
On top of all that, he helped make the NBA a global game. From his trademark tongue wag to his game-winning shot in the 1998 NBA Finals, MJ was the most electrifying player ever to step on a court.
The greatest player of all time.
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Quote:
Team: Los Angeles Lakers ('96-present)
Titles: 3 (2000, 2001, 2002)
Honors: 10-time All-Star
The player: As close as it gets to MJ. He's still just 29, so his legacy has yet to be written. But his credentials already are legit, starting with the three rings he won while teamed with Shaq.
He was the fastest player to 20,000 points -- scoring 81 in a single game -- and is one of the best two-way players at any position.
Like Jordan, Bryant does everything well. He can carry a team offensively for long stretches, defend the other team's best player, hit outside shots, create for others, slash to the rim, excel in transition and win playoff games.
He is the prototypical shooting guard, with a killer instinct and nearly unlimited range on his shot. And he's getting better.
Considered by many to be the best all-around player in the NBA today, Bryant has at least a glimmer of hope of challenging Jordan for the top spot before it's all said and done.
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