by Christian Fann

Created on: January 13, 2008

Who is the greatest basketball players of all-time? It is all a matter of how you decide to judge "greatness". Is sensationalism and mass market appeal apart of the assessment? How about late game heroics? Defensive acumen, steals, assists, will and mental stability, to define the finest basketball players we will, without question, be overlooking many very-talented superstars that had an immediately and residual impact on their eras, and influenced their successors as well.

I do not really believe a "greatest" list is appropriate simply because how do you compartmentalize all of these tangibles, and just how do you rank the intangibles the little minute details that don't always appear on the statisticians stat sheet? You can't. Frankly, I am more comfortable with giving you my opinion backed up with compiled facts. Luckily, I didn't have to go it alone, that is the analysts' job (smiles). This list is also not the easiest to come up with, simply because I was born in the early 80's, I never got to see Dr. J, George Mikan, Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, or "Piston" Pete H. play. I am just reaffirming with my list, undoubtedly will other talented plays be voted off the island. They won't get a mention if for no other reason, because I was not alive during their golden years.

But, I'll tell you this, here's a stab at it anyway.

Point Guard (Magic Johnson)

Nobody had the sheer showmanship in the late 70's early 80's as Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Also, the man was an anomaly, he was 6'9 at a position usually reserved for men half a foot shorter. With his size he could hit the open man much easier, by seeing the whole floor so much better. He was agile, he introduced an almost care-free, and jubilee style of play that was not the norm of the day. True, Magic was not a "pure" point-guard in that he didn't always look to set up the open man, he baby-sky hooked, million-dollar smiled, ran the break and split three defenders with a pass to James Worthy or Kareem Abdul-Jabar (Lou Alcindor) better than any point-guard I have ever witnessed. Plus, he fad a fierce rivalry with Boston legend Larry Bird, which, in most views, was the first and most famous rivalry in professional basketball history. I am not mincing words here, but the rivalry between Bird and Magic was so legendary, it was almost like scalpers could only sell tickets in Boston or L.A. during the mid 80's, came finals time. They met three times in the finals, with Magic and the Lakers winning twice.

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