1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: This episode is brought to you by all State. Some 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: by checking all State first. Like you know to check 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: the date of the Big Game first before you accidentally 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: buy tickets on your twentieth wedding anniversary and have to 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: spend the next twenty years of your marriage making up 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: for it. Yeah, checking first is smart, So check all 8 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: State first for a quote that could save you hundreds. 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: You're in good hands with All States Savings. Very terms 10 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: apply All State Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. 11 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 2: Welcome. 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 3: In another special episode of the What's Right with Nick 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 3: Wright Podcasts and YouTube shows, we continue our countdown of 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 3: the fifty best players of the last fifty years in 15 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 3: the NBA. We've gone through the rules, We've gone through 16 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 3: the honorable mentions. We are now into the top twenty 17 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 3: five guys. I highly encourage you if you're just now 18 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 3: joining us, check out the previous episodes of this We 19 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 3: give some love to some overlooked guys in NBA history, 20 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 3: guys like Bob McAdoo or Sidney Moncree for Bernard King, 21 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 3: but we also deep dive on guys you actually might 22 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 3: have an opinion on like Alan Iverson or Russell Westbrook 23 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 3: or Dwight Howard, all of. 24 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 2: That in the previous episodes. 25 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 3: But now we are too the twenty five best players 26 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 3: of the last twenty five years. You're gonna see a 27 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 3: handful of active players still remaining. And this is where 28 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 3: the rankings become incredibly difficult. And some of our you 29 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 3: know player was more difficult to rank than number twenty five. 30 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 4: Number twenty five James Harden. 31 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 3: So Harden's regular season resume is of one of the 32 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 3: twelve best players the last fifty years. Six times he's 33 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 3: been All NBA First Team. Throw a third team in 34 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 3: there as well. He not only he has one league MVP, 35 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 3: but what's more impressive than that, three times he has 36 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 3: finished second, and six times in his career, all of 37 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 3: his first team All NBA seasons he was first. 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: He had a top five MVP finish. 39 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 3: He's a three times scoring champ, including one season scoring 40 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 3: thirty four points per game, one season scoring thirty six 41 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 3: points per game. He also has an assist title. So 42 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 3: who's won a scoring title and assist title? Well, Wilt 43 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 3: did it, Tiny, Archibald did it, Lebron did it, Russ 44 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 3: did it, James Harden did it. From twenty fifteen to 45 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 3: twenty twenty his peak in Houston. That is a five year, 46 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 3: six year run. He was thirty one, six and eight 47 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 3: over five years, thirty one points, six rebounds, eight assists 48 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 3: per night. 49 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: His career averages are. 50 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 3: Twenty five, six and seven and that includes the beginning 51 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 3: of his career when he was a role player and 52 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 3: then a sixth man where he won six million of 53 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 3: a year. 54 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: By the way for Oklahoma City. 55 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 3: He has twenty three career point games twenty three times 56 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 3: he's gone for fifty fourth most all time. Wilt, Michael, 57 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,679 Speaker 3: and Kobe are the only ones with more. He has 58 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 3: four career sixty point games, third most all time, tied 59 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 3: with Michael, behind only Wilt and Kobe. So that's the 60 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 3: regular season stuff. That is an all time, transcendently great 61 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,959 Speaker 3: regular season player. So why is he only the twenty 62 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 3: fifth best player of the last fifty years Because the 63 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 3: postseason stuff is let's call it a mixed back started 64 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 3: off pretty well. He had a thirty point five rebounds, 65 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 3: seven assist four steel game off the bench as a 66 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 3: bench player in twenty twelve in the Western Conference Finals, 67 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 3: a series they would end up winning to go to 68 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 3: the finals, but then in the finals he struggled mightily, 69 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 3: and some would say, I think it's because the ownership 70 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 3: in Oklahoma City was cheap, but whatever, some would say 71 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 3: that's one of the reasons. 72 00:03:58,120 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 2: They then traded him to Houston. 73 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 3: He lost in the first round in Houston in twenty thirteen, 74 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 3: and he lost in the first round in Houston in 75 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 3: twenty fourteen. Twenty fourteen was the Dame Lillard Game, the 76 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 3: game where Dame Lillard hit the first of his two 77 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 3: career series winning buzzer beaters. But in that Dame Lillard game, 78 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 3: the final game of that series, Game six, a game 79 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 3: they lost by one on the last second shot, he 80 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 3: had thirty four points, four rebound, six assists, four steals, 81 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 3: and shot sixty percent from the field. So at that 82 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 3: point it's like, oh aside from those finals, James Harden 83 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 3: building a good regular season resume, solid postseason performer twenty 84 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 3: fifteen playoffs. The next year, finally gets his first playoff 85 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 3: series win with the Rockets and starts off pretty well. 86 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 3: He had a forty two five to nine in round 87 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 3: one to go up three to zero in round two. 88 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 3: He's part of a three to one comeback against the Clippers. 89 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 3: That sounds great, but it wasn't really Game six, the 90 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 3: big comeback game. He was glued to the bench and 91 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,719 Speaker 3: he wasn't a part of the comeback. Then in the 92 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 3: West Conference Finals against Golden State, you look at the 93 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 3: box scores and it seems okay, It's like, ah, the 94 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 3: Rockets were overmatched. He had twenty eight, eleven, nine and 95 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 3: four in Game one, a game they only lost by one. 96 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 3: He had thirty eight, ten, nine and three in Game two, 97 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 3: a game they only lost by one. 98 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: Game one they actually lost by four. Pardon me. 99 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 3: He had forty five, seven, nine and five in Game 100 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 3: four and they're like wow, and they won that game, 101 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 3: but they were down three to zero. How serious was 102 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 3: Golden State in that game? And then in Game five 103 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 3: he was two for eleven and had twelve turnovers and amazingly, 104 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 3: that would be one of three different two for eleven 105 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 3: playoff games Harden hats in twenty sixteen, they lose to 106 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 3: Golden State in round one. In twenty seventeen, he's good, 107 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 3: very good. In Round one, they're playing the overmatch Thunder 108 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 3: for the series. He's thirty three, six and seven, but 109 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 3: forty percent from the field, six turnovers, and then that 110 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 3: year he had one of the most bizarre games I've 111 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 3: ever seen Game six, second round against the Spurs with 112 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 3: no Kawhi Leonard. He has another two for eleven and 113 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 3: they lose by thirty nine points. 114 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:08,119 Speaker 2: It's like wait. 115 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 3: The next year, though, they get Chris Paul, they win 116 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 3: sixty five games. 117 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 2: He's excellent in the regular season. He wins League MVP. 118 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 3: He opens the playoffs with a forty four and eight, 119 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 3: opens the Western Western Armends Finals with a forty one 120 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 3: four and seven, but they lose. He has thirty in 121 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 3: Game four. They even the series. They win game five 122 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 3: despite the fact that he's not very good, but Game 123 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 3: six and seven he has thirty two in each game, 124 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 3: but Chris Paul's gotten injured. 125 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: The Rockets are up fifteen in both games. 126 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 3: They lose both games by they're not even close at 127 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 3: the end, despite being up fifteen home for Game seven, 128 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 3: and he's six for twenty five from three in that 129 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 3: in the final two games of that series. Twenty nineteen 130 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 3: Western Armonds semi Finals. You look at the raw numbers 131 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 3: thirty five, seven and five, You're like, Wow, it's pretty 132 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: damn good. But if you watch that series, what happened 133 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 3: in that series, it's two to two. Game five, KD 134 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 3: goes down and they can't win another game. Game six, 135 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 3: in Houston, Steph has zero points at the half. 136 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 2: The Rockets are gonna win that game. Then Steph explodes 137 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: for thirty. 138 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 3: Harden doesn't do much and they lose, and so that's 139 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 3: and that's the end of it. Then he goes to Brooklyn, 140 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 3: doesn't do anything in the postseason, goes to Philly, and 141 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 3: right now as we're recording this struggled throughout the postseason 142 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 3: and so all this regular season stuff, but real struggles 143 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 3: in the postseason. Even though the overall numbers his career 144 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 3: in the postseason in Houston he averages twenty six, twenty eight, 145 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 3: six and seven in eighty five career playoff games, and 146 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 3: he has two Conference finals appearances. But if you watch him, 147 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 3: you know the biggest moments have not been kind to him. 148 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 3: So that's the full James Harden resume. It's why is 149 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 3: the twenty fifth best player? 150 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 2: No higher, no lower. 151 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 3: Over the last fifty years, we have a couple different 152 00:07:58,400 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 3: James Harden callers. 153 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 2: Let's let them chine in. 154 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 5: Hey, Nick, you're on from Fox Sports. First time, long time. 155 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 5: So here is my question about James Harden. How can 156 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 5: a player who has a career playoff shooting percentage under 157 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 5: forty three percent I believe it's forty two point six 158 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 5: and who has never made the finals since leaving OKAC 159 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 5: when he was a sixth man be even in the 160 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 5: top twenty five. Thanks, I'll hang up and listen. 161 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: Do we have another James Harden caller? 162 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 4: Hey? 163 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 6: Nick is Brian from Philly, and I got a couple 164 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 6: questions for you. 165 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 4: Now. 166 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 6: I absolutely love James Harden because he's leading my seventy 167 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 6: six ers in the playoffs. But does he have some 168 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 6: rings that I just don't know about? Because you gotta 169 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 6: ranked above guys like Scottie Pippen who have six rings. 170 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 6: You also gotta ranked above guys like Kawhi Leonard who 171 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 6: has two rings in two finals MVPs. 172 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,599 Speaker 4: Does James Harden play defense because. 173 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 6: That same guy, Kawhi Leonard, who has two finals MVPs 174 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 6: in two rings. Oh yeah, he was a defensive Player 175 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 6: of the Year two times. Last question, Nick, how do 176 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 6: you have a guy a your top twenty five who 177 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 6: has never made in the finals appearance as a starter 178 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 6: how does that happen? 179 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 4: Answer those questions. 180 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 3: For me, Nick, So those are fair points, and but 181 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 3: here's the answer to those questions. 182 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 2: The answer those questions is simple. 183 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 3: His regular season resume is that of one of the 184 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 3: greatest players of all time. And so you say, how 185 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 3: does he above Scotty Pippen? Like I understand, Scotty Pippen 186 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 3: has six rings and Harden has zero. But Harden has 187 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 3: six times been top five MVP, four times been first 188 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 3: or second. So, like Kawhi Leonard, I understand having Harden 189 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 3: ahead of Kawhi seems controversial. Kwi is obviously a better 190 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:47,199 Speaker 3: playoff performer, but Harden's regular season resume so far out 191 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 3: strips Kawhi. 192 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 2: I think it's a fair ranking. 193 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 3: Like I said, he's one of the hardest guys to 194 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 3: rank twy We've spent so much time on him. 195 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 2: There. 196 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 3: We will now turn the page move on to number 197 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 3: twenty four. 198 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 4: Number twenty four, John's stocked. 199 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 3: So John Stockton is also very difficult to rank because 200 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 3: he's a longevity guy, all time leader in assists in steals, 201 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 3: and it's not close. He has fifteen thousand, eight hundred assists. 202 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 3: That's thirty seven hundred more than second place. He has 203 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,719 Speaker 3: over thirty two hundred steals. That's six hundred more than 204 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 3: second place. Two time first Team All NBA, six times 205 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 3: second Team All NBA, three time third Team All NBA. 206 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 3: But he never had a single top five MVP finish. 207 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 3: We just told Ja Harden, who I have him ahead 208 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 3: of six times his top five MVP. Stockton finished seventh once, 209 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 3: but he won nine assist titles. He won two steals titles. 210 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 3: He's five time All Defense and he played nineteen seasons. 211 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 2: Seventeen times. He played every single game. 212 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 3: The guy was the longevity will never be matched, and 213 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 3: he's the all time leader, and no one will ever 214 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 3: catch him in assists. I don't think you will ever 215 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 3: cutcherman steels. Over a decade of his prime, he averaged 216 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 3: sixteen points thirteen assists per game. He has a little 217 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 3: context here in the regular season double digit assist games 218 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 3: eight hundred and sixty three, eight hundred and sixty three 219 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 3: times John Stockton had ten plus assists in a game. 220 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 3: Thirty four times he had twenty plus assists in a game. 221 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 3: What about the postseason? So again, similar to Harden is 222 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 3: where he gets tough. He was the second best player 223 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 3: on two finalists, he averaged ten assists per game for 224 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 3: one hundred and eighty two career playoff games. He has 225 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 3: one one hundred career double digit assist games and four 226 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 3: career twenty. 227 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 2: Assists playoff games. 228 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 3: Does he have any great playoff games though, just a 229 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:53,199 Speaker 3: handful lot of really solid ones. But in the Western 230 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 3: Conference Semifinals in nineteen eighty eight, he put up a 231 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 3: twenty three point twenty four assist five steeal. 232 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: That's pretty damn good. 233 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 3: And then a twenty nine point twenty assist game against 234 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 3: the Lakers in the eighty eight Western Grummers semis in 235 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 3: the twenty eight and twenty nine point twenty. 236 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 2: Assist game was a game seven. 237 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 3: He averaged nineteen and sixteen for that series, but they 238 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 3: lost that series. 239 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 2: The Lakers did go on to win. 240 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 3: The title, and so that to me is it's relevant, 241 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 3: but I know it probably doesn't move you. And then 242 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 3: his best individual moment, he hit the game winner to 243 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 3: send the Jazz to the finals and score the final 244 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 3: nine points of that game against Houston, breaking Charles Barkley's 245 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 3: heart and scored twenty five points with thirteen assists in 246 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:44,719 Speaker 3: that game. And that's about it. Like he had amazing 247 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 3: consistency and amazing longevity. But if you go through his 248 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 3: full career playoff game log I just gave you the 249 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 3: three games that jump out, So what do you do 250 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 3: with a guy like that? Most assists of all time, 251 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 3: most steals of all time, unbelievable long devity was the 252 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 3: second best player on two finalist, but never had the 253 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 3: individually great moments that are not consistently and not more 254 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 3: than a handful. I think twenty fourth is fair. I 255 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 3: think it's hard to say Harden's had a better career 256 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: than John Stockton had neither won a ring. Stockton at 257 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 3: least got closer, Stockton at least play you know, did 258 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 3: it for such a long period of time. It is 259 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 3: a bit of a compiling award, I understand. But when 260 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 3: you compile your way to the most ever, I think 261 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 3: the top twenty five, twenty fourth last fifty years makes sense. 262 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 2: We have a John Stockton caller for us now. Nick. 263 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 7: As much as I'd like to argue with you about 264 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 7: putting John Stockton twenty fifth on your list, it's kind 265 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 7: of hard, simply because I don't know who is in 266 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 7: your top twenty four except that Karl Malone must be 267 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 7: among them, and that, my friend, is a mistake, because 268 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 7: if there was a driving force of that Utah Jazz team, 269 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 7: it was John Stockton. If there was a true killer 270 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 7: and clutch player, it was John Stockton. And if there 271 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 7: was anybody responsible for Carl Malone being as high on 272 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 7: the scoring list all time scoring list as he ended 273 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 7: up being, it was John Stockton. 274 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 2: All right. 275 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 3: So that's my friend, Rick Buker, and I understand he's 276 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 3: inextricably tied to Carl Malone. Spoiler alert, I have Malone 277 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 3: ahead of him. You gotta have one ahead of the other. 278 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 3: Malone was better. Malone was the guy who you are. 279 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 3: You are at least I am more convinced would have 280 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 3: worked without Stockton. How many of Stockton's assists would have 281 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 3: come without Malone? A lot, But he wouldn't have the 282 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 3: numbers he does quite to the same level. But the 283 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 3: guy who was that good of a defender for that 284 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 3: long the all time assists leader. I'm not gonna lie 285 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 3: to you. I don't have a super passionate John Stockton. 286 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 3: Take but when you're the all time leader in two 287 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 3: major categories, I feel like you deserve to be the 288 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 3: top twenty five the last twenty of the last fifty years, 289 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 3: so that's where John Stockton is. We will come back 290 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 3: with one of my favorite players ever and one of 291 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 3: the most underrated players ever as we round out players 292 00:14:58,440 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: twenty three and twenty two. 293 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 8: This episode is brought to you by Unstoppable. 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Watch Unstoppable now exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. 301 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 3: All right, welcome back in What's Right with Nick Ray 302 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 3: Podcast Special Edition, fifty best Players the last fifty years 303 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 3: in NBA history. We just gave you players twenty five 304 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 3: and twenty four, James Tarden and John Stockton. We now 305 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 3: moved player twenty three, who I think, historically speaking, is 306 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 3: a tad underrated When you really dive into what he 307 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 3: did and what he accomplished. He is an iconic player 308 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 3: because honestly, of how God Dog good he looked in 309 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 3: a uniform, the most chiseled arms you'll ever see in 310 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 3: NBA history, and because you know he was in the 311 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 3: Navy and missed the first two years of his career, 312 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 3: came to the NBA and was immediately excellent. 313 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 4: Numbered twenty three David Robinson. 314 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 3: Four time first Team All NBA, two time second Team 315 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 3: All NBA, four time third Team All NBA. So for 316 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 3: ten years he was one of the three best centers 317 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 3: in basketball at a time where there were some unbelievable sinners. 318 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 3: Ninety four, ninety five, ninety six second place MVP, won 319 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 3: the MVP, second place MVP, so a three year stretch 320 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 3: where either won the MVP or came in second each 321 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 3: three years. One time Defensive Player of the Year, eight 322 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 3: time All Defense. He won a scoring title, a rebounding title, 323 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 3: and a blocks title. His first seven years in the league, 324 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 3: he was twenty six and twelve. Now he came into 325 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 3: the league older than most because he had to do 326 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 3: those two. 327 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 2: Years in the Navy. 328 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 3: But for seven years in the league, twenty six and twelve, 329 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 3: then he got hurt. It was one of the most 330 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 3: fortuitous injuries in NBA history because because he was hurt, 331 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 3: the Spurs totally tanked and they ended up getting Tim 332 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 3: Duncan and then they immediately won a title. Now people 333 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 3: act like that when they won the title, David Robinson 334 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 3: was not a huge part of that. He was not 335 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 3: a huge part of the second title they won with 336 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 3: Duncan when he was still there. Duncan obviously won five, 337 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 3: he won two with Robinson the one in three. Robinson 338 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 3: was a role player at best. In ninety nine. However, 339 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 3: Robinson was excellent. We'll get to that. 340 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: So what are his big postseason moments? 341 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 3: Similarly to Stockton, David Robinson doesn't have a bunch of 342 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 3: oh my god, eye popping postseason moments, only one career 343 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 3: forty point playoff game, but amazing postseason consistency and did 344 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 3: have some great postseason moments. Nineteen ninety three down in 345 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 3: the series to Charles Barkley and the Suns Western Armond Semifinals, 346 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 3: throws up at thirty six and sixteen in nineteen ninety 347 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 3: five to get to the Western Armends Finals. For the series, 348 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 3: averaged thirty and sixteen. Now, unfortunately his reward for getting 349 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 3: to the Western Conference Finals was to play a keem 350 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 3: Olajuwan who was furious that David Robinson won the MVP, 351 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 3: and a Keeam just annihilated him the entire series. But 352 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,360 Speaker 3: a team is going to show up very, very high 353 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 3: on this list. Losing to a team, there's no shame 354 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 3: in that. In ninety six is one of his first 355 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 3: games after a team had annihilated him the previous year. 356 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 3: He has his one career forty point playoff game forty 357 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 3: and twenty one, and averaged thirty to twelve for that 358 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 3: series and sent Charles Barkley home again, So that I 359 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 3: shouldn't say again ninety three Charles beat him, but he 360 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 3: got even with Charles in ninety six. And then in 361 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 3: the ninety nine Spurs. This's the point I was making earlier. 362 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 3: Those ninety nine Spurs went fifteen to two in the playoffs. 363 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 3: He was clearly the second best player on that team, 364 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 3: and in the finals he averaged sixteen points in twelve rebounds. 365 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 3: So the idea that he didn't have a big role 366 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 3: in that is a historic. Now what is interesting is 367 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 3: and one other David Robinson know is David Robinson. 368 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:07,880 Speaker 2: They're used to be this thing called the. 369 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 3: IBM Award, where they would they created some algorithm pre 370 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 3: algorithms becoming popular in NBA parlance, put in people's numbers, 371 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 3: said who's the best player in the league, and almost 372 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 3: every single year David Robinson won it. Jordan was playing, 373 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 3: Robinson won it a keen with his peak, Robinson won it. 374 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 3: Now that overstated Robinson's dominance, But I do think people 375 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,359 Speaker 3: these days forget about how good he was during his 376 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 3: peak in the late from the very late eighties until 377 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 3: his injury in ninety six. However, that is a bit 378 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 3: of a testament to one of the flaws even back 379 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 3: in the early nineties with some of the basketball algorithms, 380 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 3: they're gonna reward high efficiency, high rebounding big men and 381 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 3: make them seem a touch better than they are. If 382 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 3: that reminds you what's happened with Nikola Jokic, where the 383 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 3: numbers say he's the best player in the league when 384 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 3: he's clearly one of the ten best players in the league, 385 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 3: but nobody watches the game actually thinks he's the best 386 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 3: player in the league. That is what's happening to Nicole Jokicic. 387 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 3: So there is the twenty third best player of the 388 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 3: last fifty years one David Robinson. Now, oh my god, 389 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 3: I almost skipped our caller. I thought that David Robinson 390 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 3: commentary was so good I didn't need any addition. Let's 391 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 3: go to the caller that I assume the callers is 392 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 3: gonna say, Nick, that was brilliant, even though this was 393 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 3: recorded before I actually said that. 394 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 2: What is the caller I have to say about David Robinson? 395 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 9: So let me see if I get this right. You 396 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 9: have David Robinson the admiral at twenty three. 397 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 398 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 9: See, this is just disrespect and it continues to happen 399 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 9: against the San Antonio Spurs. You've got Barkley, Malone, Cage 400 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 9: and Dirk All ahead of him, which makes no sense. 401 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,120 Speaker 9: Rookie of the Year, MVP Defensive Player of the Year, 402 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 9: he led the league in blocks, points, rebounds. Those were 403 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 9: in different years, by the way, two rings. He was 404 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 9: the best player on one championship team, the second best 405 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 9: player on another one? And ps how is Charles Barkley 406 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 9: no offense? I love Chuck, but how is he ahead 407 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 9: of the Robinson Robinson titles, finals, appearances, points, rebounds, is 408 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:07,959 Speaker 9: this flat out disrespect. 409 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 2: I won't have it all right. 410 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 3: First of all, much respect to Michelle Beatle and what 411 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 3: appears to be about forty thousand dollars worth of shoes 412 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 3: behind her and Lenice a little stunt by Michelle Beatle. 413 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 3: And I appreciate her joining us, and I know she's 414 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 3: a Spurs fan. However, I cannot of bide there are 415 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 3: some factors there. David Robinson was the best player on 416 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 3: zero title teams. Tim Duncan was the best player on 417 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 3: that team by a mile. One finals MVP unanimously, no 418 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 3: one thought he was the best player on that team, 419 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 3: and he was not the second She said he was 420 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,120 Speaker 3: the best player on one finalist and the second best 421 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 3: player on another. 422 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 2: It's not true. 423 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 3: He was the second best player on the ninety nine 424 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 3: finalist and like the sixth best player on the three 425 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 3: finalist and champion. As far as why do I have 426 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 3: him behind other big men or you know, post players 427 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 3: like Barkley and Dirk. And that's not spoiling anything about 428 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 3: the list. I haven't mentioned those guys. They're obviously going 429 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 3: to be mentioned. I think you're going to see those 430 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 3: guys have similar regular season resumes and greater postseason accomplishments. 431 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 3: What they What they didn't have was the ability to 432 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 3: play with Tim Duncan. Color me crazy. I think of Berkley, 433 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 3: you know, at the tail end of his prime, would 434 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 3: have gotten Tim Duncan. He probably would have won some 435 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:26,199 Speaker 3: titles too. So I'm confident with where I have with 436 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 3: respect to Michelle Beatle, where I have David Robinson twenty 437 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:31,479 Speaker 3: third best player of the last fifty years. Now we 438 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 3: get to number twenty two. I was excited to get 439 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 3: to one of my favorite players. 440 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 4: Ever, number twenty two. Kevin Garnett. 441 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 3: Four time first Team All NBA, three times second Team 442 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 3: All NBA, two time third Team All NBA. He won 443 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 3: an MVP and O four. He finished second two other times, 444 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 3: five times he was top five. He won a Defensive 445 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 3: Player of the Year and twelve times All Defense. One 446 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:58,920 Speaker 3: of the greatest defensive players of his era. I think 447 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 3: you could argue the best defensive players who also impacted 448 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 3: you on offense. So I'm not talking about Ben Wallace 449 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 3: or Dennis Rodman. I'm talking about guys who could drop 450 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 3: thirty on you and were great defenders. One would argue, 451 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 3: of the last thirty some years, it's a team Duncan 452 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 3: and then Kevin Garnett. He won the rebounding title four 453 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 3: times from his age twenty one season through the year 454 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 3: he won. 455 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 2: The championship in Boston. 456 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 3: So that's eleven years because his career numbers are hurt 457 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 3: by the fact that he came into the league at 458 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 3: eighteen and he played super long. But if we take 459 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 3: his eleven year prime age twenty one season until the 460 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 3: title year in Boston, he averaged twenty two points, twelve rebounds, 461 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 3: five assists, and three. 462 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 2: Steals and blocks combined. 463 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 3: He is one of only two guys his height or 464 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 3: taller with five thousand assists or more. It's him and 465 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 3: Kareem six eleven guys with at least five thousand assists, 466 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 3: and so his passing is underrated. Now the postseason stuff 467 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 3: with kg's difficult because he does have two finals appearances, 468 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:07,639 Speaker 3: and I would argue he was the best player on 469 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 3: the eight Celtics. I think it's inarguable he's It's certainly 470 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 3: inarguable he was the best player that regular season. Paul 471 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 3: Piers won finals MVP, I think it should have gone 472 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 3: to KG. The next year he got hurt and then 473 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 3: he's on the team obviously in twenty ten at that point, 474 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:23,880 Speaker 3: is he's still the best player. I'm not sure. They 475 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 3: lose that brutal seventh game to the Lakers in Kobe. However, 476 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 3: prior going to Boston to Boston, he went to the 477 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 3: playoffs seemingly every year in Minnesota and got out of 478 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 3: the first round once. 479 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 2: So let's talk about this. 480 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 3: In three, when he had had five straight first round defeats, 481 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 3: he has thirty five, twenty and seven and thirty three fourteen, 482 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 3: four and four to go up two to one on 483 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 3: the defending champion Lakers in three in round one. Averages 484 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 3: for the series twenty seven points, sixteen rebounds, five assists. 485 00:24:57,359 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 3: But they lose the next three and they go home 486 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 3: in round one again. How much is that on him? 487 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 2: Not much. 488 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 3: Second best player on that team was Troy Hudson, but 489 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 3: it was once again a first round exit. The next year, 490 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 3: he finally got some help Latrell Spree well Sam cassell 491 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 3: So and they got to the Western Govermends Finals. The 492 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 3: run there, first game of the playoffs, he throws up 493 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 3: a thirty and twenty. He averaged twenty six, fifteen and 494 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 3: seven that series against Denver for his first career series 495 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 3: victory in the Western Conference semifinals, faces a Game seven 496 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,200 Speaker 3: against Chris Webern Sacramento. Keep in mind when I tell 497 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,639 Speaker 3: you these numbers for this game seven. The final score 498 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 3: was eighty three to eighty, so eighty three points his 499 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 3: team scored. 500 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 2: In that game. He had thirty two points, twenty one 501 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,880 Speaker 2: rebounds to assists for steels, five blocks in a game 502 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 2: that was eighty three to eighty. 503 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 3: He carries them to the Western Govermends Finals. Average for 504 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 3: that series twenty four, fifteen and four overall to get 505 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 3: to the conference finals. In the Western Armends Finals, they're 506 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:57,679 Speaker 3: in rough shape. They're playing the Lakers. That's gonna be 507 00:25:57,760 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 3: a tough matchup for them. 508 00:25:58,920 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 2: Now. 509 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 3: Shack only average like twenty points in that series. KG 510 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 3: defended him well. KG however, he had thirty and nineteen 511 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 3: down three to one to force the game six. But 512 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 3: they were never winning that series, and then he misses 513 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:15,360 Speaker 3: the playoffs for three straight years until he goes to Boston. 514 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 2: On that run to the title. 515 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 3: In Boston, however, he had twenty six and sixteen in 516 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 3: Game five against Lebron and Cleveland in round two, he 517 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 3: had twenty and eleven average for that series against Lebron 518 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 3: and Cleveland in the conference finals. In Game five, he 519 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 3: had a thirty three and seven to go up three 520 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:35,440 Speaker 3: to two on Detroit, and in the title clinching game, 521 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 3: the Anything as Possible Game, had twenty six and fourteen. 522 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:42,679 Speaker 3: For the finals, averaged eighteen points, thirteen rebounds, three assists, 523 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 3: and I think should have been finals MVP had the 524 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 3: all time Greade anything as Possible moment. One of the 525 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 3: greatest defenders ever, one of the greatest prep to pro 526 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 3: players ever. We're talking about high schoolers to go pro, 527 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 3: it's got to be Lebron, Kobe, Moses, KG. Those are 528 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:03,920 Speaker 3: your top four by a minle. He also, his relentlessness 529 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 3: probably worked against him. 530 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 2: He was so intense. I think it probably hurt him 531 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:08,400 Speaker 2: a bit. 532 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 3: I give him a slight bonus point for an underrated 533 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 3: acting performance. In Uncut, Jim's twenty second greatest player of 534 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 3: last fifty years one Kevin Garnett. 535 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:18,919 Speaker 2: We have a caller on Garnett before we move on. 536 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 10: Hey, Nick at your old friend, mister Kilbourne. I'm a 537 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 10: big fan of yours. However, your East Coast snobbery is showing. 538 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:32,919 Speaker 10: You're treating Minnesota like a flyover state. KG is a Timberwolf, 539 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 10: not a Celtic. Obviously, he had the team championship in Boston, 540 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 10: but individually he was the league MVP in Minnesota and 541 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 10: he had his best years as a Timberwolf. Just a 542 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:47,439 Speaker 10: quick heads up. Also, if Larry Legend is not in 543 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 10: your top five, this list is not legit. It's what 544 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 10: we call it debacle. Thanks for listening, Nick, proud of you. 545 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 3: Well, look at Craig Kilbourne there. First of all, I 546 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 3: didn't know he's my friend. We've never spoken, but I 547 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 3: now say we are friends. That was exhilarating. That was exciting. Second, old, 548 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 3: there's no East Coast snobbery. I'm from Kansa, Missouri. I 549 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 3: am Midwestern born and KG I wanted to have him higher. 550 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 3: And I'm not going to reveal the other people on 551 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 3: the order of the people on the list. What was 552 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 3: KG better than Barkley? Was he better than Dirk Dirk? 553 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 3: Some will argue Dirk is the sixth most points ever 554 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 3: Dirk's championship. He didn't have Paul Pierson Ray Allen with him. 555 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 3: I love KG twenty two. I'm very comfortable with his 556 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 3: spot there. Quick break come back with some of our 557 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 3: toughest decisions yet as we get into the top twenty one. 558 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 2: All right, So there it is. 559 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 3: We have now gone through players fifty through twenty two 560 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 3: of the fifty best players of the last fifty years 561 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 3: in NBA history. Top twenty one is incredibly difficult, and 562 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 3: I will admit it is still fluid because uz you 563 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 3: have six guys in the top twenty one that are 564 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 3: active players now right now in your head you're probably thinking, 565 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 3: you're like, I know he's gonna have Lebron in there. 566 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 3: We haven't heard Katie, we haven't heard Stah. 567 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 2: We haven't heard Wait. 568 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 3: I know you can think of five of the six, 569 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 3: but have you been paying close enough attention to the 570 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 3: list to figure out who the sixth of those six 571 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 3: active players are? No spoilers, but did two of them 572 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 3: play each other in a playoff series this year? Maybe 573 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 3: we'll discuss that and we will get into what is 574 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 3: the impossibility of ranking the top twenty players in order 575 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 3: of the last fifty years. That's next week on What's 576 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 3: Right with Nick Ray