TOP FIVE NBA PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME (POSITION)

NBA ALL-TIME TOP FIVE AT EVERY POSITION 

POINT GUARD

1. Earvin "Magic" Johnson
2. Oscar Robertson
3. Bob Cousy
4. John Stockton
5. Jason Kidd

SHOOTING GUARD

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Jerry West
4. Clyde Drexler
5. Reggie Miller

SMALL FORWARD

1. LeBron James
2. Larry Bird
3. Kevin Durant
4. Julius Erving
5. Scottie Pippen

POWER FORWARD

1. Tim Duncan
2. Karl Malone
3. Charles Barkley
4. Dirk Nowitzki
5. Kevin Garnett

CENTER

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2. Bill Russell
3. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Shaquille O'Neal
5. Hakeem Olajuwon

This obviously is one man's list. Created to satisfy and disturb, placate then upset. The Ancient Greek philosopher Democritus is quoted as stating: "Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion." Consider this to be the latter. 

It was difficult to leave Isiah Thomas off this list. Oscar Robertson is the toughest player to categorize. Quite simply he could easily be in the top five at both backcourt positions. Quite simply he could very well be listed as a top five small-forward as well. The man was that good.

The center position was another position were one could spend all day and night deliberating as to who goes where. I'd like to see you argue with what Bill Russell did on the collegiate, international, and professional level. 

Only the Michael Jordans and Magic Johnsons of the basketball world and lineage have achieved similar accolades during their distinctive careers.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar rarely looks up to anyone, literally or figuratively. He may however have to look down, in a show of respect and reverence that is, to Russell, as he was never able to garner an Olympic gold medal in basketball similar to Jordan and Johnson. Abdul-Jabbar chose to boycott the 1968 Olympics which saw the United States win their seventh gold medal in a row in the sport. It is a forgone conclusion to come to the realization that Jabbar would have won the one thing which is now absent from his trophy case. 

These things matter and then they do not. 

I have always contended that Magic Johnson may be the greatest basketball player of all-time, based upon what the game of basketball is. The very nature of it being at its core a team sport. How then could one player who when at his zenith could become all five players on the court at anytime due to his passing as facilitated by stature, awareness, and I.Q. not be considered to be the greatest? 

If Jordan was the index finger marauding as the trigger finger on the firearm of any offensive attack, then Johnson was the hand which held the firearm and pointed it in the proper direction to do the most damage. Johnson also may have had the more difficult task of running an entire team. 

In contrast, Jordan was a cold-blooded assassin with a singular approach who could do it all when necessary. He did what he knew how to do better than anyone else. Especially when it mattered: the playoffs. 

Ultimately it is difficult to choose between the two, at least for me it is, considering how I view the game now after watching it for most of my life. It also is hard for me to choose between the four when you invite Russell and Abdul-Jabbar into the the discussion. In my estimation these four just may be the most accomplished of all-time in NBA and basketball history.