Greatest Small Forwards of All Time

The 2020 season is about to kick off again, and the stakes are high for some of the best players in the game. Last year, Kawhi Leonard showed how high a playoff run can elevate a player’s all-time status, as he led Toronto to an unlikely championship. How high has he climbed on the rankings of the greatest small forwards of all time? And if he wins a third ring with a third franchise this season, where will that place him among the greats? Here is an in-depth listing of the top 10 small forwards ever, with a (ranked) 22-person honorable mention list.

10 (tie) – Paul Arizin – 108.8 WS, 19.7 PER, .183 WS/48, 4X All-NBA, 1 championship

Those familiar with Arizin’s career will not find it surprising that he cracked our top 10. He was a two-time scoring champion and pioneering jump shooter who was efficient on the offensive end of the court, with a career true shooting percentage that was 11% better than the league average. After his first scoring crown (in his second season), he went to serve in the Korean War, and missed two seasons of his prime. He didn’t miss a beat upon his return, and in 1955-56, he was the best player in the league in the playoffs, leading the Warriors to the championship. While Paul Pierce was productive for a longer period of time, Arizin’s dominance despite missing a chunk of his prime earns him equal status on this list.

10 (tie) – Paul Pierce – 150.0 WS, 19.7 PER, .157 WS.48, 4X All-NBA, 1X Finals MVP, 1 championship

Pierce was a professional bucket-getter, who had 17 productive seasons in the league before his final two seasons as a Clipper. He put up some eye-popping scoring numbers during a time when offense was down in the NBA (24.8 PPG from 2000-01 to 2006-07). He was the top regular season scorer on an NBA champion, and won Finals MVP that season. While he was never an MVP-caliber player, and only earned four all-NBA honors in his 19 seasons, his crafty game and clutch scoring ability helped him carry on the rich Celtic tradition.

9 – John Havlicek – 131.7 WS, 17.5 PER, .136 WS/48, 11X All-NBA, 8X All-Defense, 1X Finals MVP, 8 championships

Hondo was an 8-time champion who, by career accolades, should be even higher on this list. His first season was 1962-63 with the four-time defending champion Celtics. They won it again in each of his first four seasons, and in six of his first seven years. Along the way he became a key cog, leading the team in scoring on two of those runs. The team struggled for two seasons after Bill Russell retired, despite Havlicek putting up eye-popping numbers (26.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 7.1 APG over those two seasons). They vaulted back into contention afterwards, led by Havlicek, Dave Cowens, and Jo Jo White. They earned the best record in the league in ’72-’73 (when a shoulder injury to Havlicek may have cost them another championship), and won it all the next season with Havlicek as their best player. Two years later, they won it all again, though by this time, Cowens had taken over as their best player, and Hondo was actually their fourth leading scorer in the regular season (they had four players averaging between 17.0 and 19.0 PPG). In the playoffs that year, Havlicek dealt with a foot injury and only averaged 13.2 PPG in their run to the championship. So Hondo was the best player for one of his eight championships, and was a vital cog on the seven other ones. It should be noted that his advanced stats are surprisingly pedestrian for a player of his caliber. While these facts give more context to his career, let’s be clear – Havlicek was a great player who was clutch, could do everything on the basketball court, and could play in any era.

8 – Scottie Pippen – 125.1 WS, 18.6 PER, .146 WS/48, 7X All-NBA, 10X All-Defense, 6 championships

Pippen’s brilliance is highlighted by his standing as one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. He was a point forward who would be even more valuable in today’s game, in which versatile wings are the gold standard. There are two events that would have further enhanced his legacy and moved him into the highest tier. In 1993-94, when Pippen was arguably the best perimeter player in basketball, he led the Jordan-less Bulls to 55 wins and an Eastern Conference Semifinals appearance. Had Hue Hollins not called a questionable foul on Scottie in the closing seconds of the pivotal Game 5 in New York (the subsequent foul shots erased Chicago’s one-point lead and gave the Knicks the victory), then the Bulls would have had a chance to close out the series in Chicago. There are no guarantees, but the Bulls would have been favored to make the NBA Finals, as an inferior Indiana Pacers team awaited them in the Conference Finals. The second event was the 2000 Western Conference Finals, in Pippen’s first year in Portland. In Game 7, the Blazers blew a 15-point lead with 10:28 remaining in the game, an almost impossible task in an era when three-point shooting was a much smaller part of the game. Pippen’s Blazers (who were more an ensemble rather than a Pippen-led outfit) would have been favored to win the title against the Indiana Pacers in the Finals. Had Pippen succeeded in either of these instances, he would have escaped the long shadow cast by Michael Jordan. As it turns out, there’s nothing wrong with being the greatest sidekick ever, even if he couldn’t win one on his own.

7 – Kawhi Leonard – 73.4 WS, 23.0 PER, .220 WS/48, 3X All-NBA, 5X All-Defense, 2X DPOY, 2X Finals MVP, 2 championships

Similar to last season, Kawhi has a chance to enhance his legacy more than any other player over the next few months. He has already shown he can be the lead player on a championship team, and he also gets credit for being an essential part of the 2013-14 NBA champion Spurs, one of the great teams of the current generation. His peak is up there with the greats on this list, but he has a long way to go to earn the career accolades of everyone else in the top 10. With his leg issues and load management, he may never get there, but his brilliant all-around game and championship pedigree still earn him this lofty status. If he’s able to lead the Clippers to the championship, I will bump him up to fifth all-time.

6 – Rick Barry – 128.9 WS, 21.0 PER, .162 WS/48, 10X All-NBA/ABA, 1X Finals MVP, 1 championship (NBA)

Like our fourth-rated small forward, a chunk of Barry’s prime was played in the ABA, and he missed his third professional season due to an unfortunate contract matter. He transferred right after leading the NBA in scoring and taking a mediocre San Francisco Warriors team to the NBA Finals in his second season. His greatest accomplishment was leading the ’74-75 Warriors to the NBA championship; after Barry (who averaged 30.6 PPG and a league leading 2.9 SPG that season), their second leading scorer was rookie Jamaal Wilkes, at 14.2 PPG. Arguably the third best player of the 1970s, Barry’s all-around offensive game would have been effective in any era.

5 – Elgin Baylor – 104.2 WS, 22.7 PER, .148 WS/48, 10X All-NBA

As great as he was, there are two unfortunate circumstances that stand out from Baylor’s career. First is the injury bug; his knee problems began in the 1963-64 season, and he was never the same player once those occurred. That can best be seen in his efficiency stats: in his first five years, he had a cumulative 26.1 PER and .195 WS/48; for the rest of his career, those sunk to 20.2 PER and .112 WS/48. The second issue was his failure to win a championship: he was 0-8 in the NBA Finals, and in ’71-72, he retired after nine games then watched the Lakers win 33 in a row on their way to an elusive ring. However, it’s hard to fault someone who fought so valiantly for so many years. His rookie year, Baylor led a 33-39 Lakers team to the Finals, where they got swept by the Celtics. Over the next four years, he was an absolute tour de force, leading the league in playoff PPG each year and cumulatively averaging 35.8 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 4.1 APG on 45.3% shooting with a 26.7 PER and .205 WS/48 in 47 playoff games. He was a trailblazer who could have reached even greater heights if he had access to modern medicine and/or did not play in the era of Russell’s Celtics.

4 – Julius Erving – 181.1 WS, 23.6 PER, .192 WS/48, 12X All-NBA/ABA, 1X All-Defense, 4X MVP (1 NBA, 3 ABA), 3 championships (1 NBA, 2 ABA)

Dr. J was the best player in the 1A league of the 70s, the ABA. For historical purposes, it’s a shame we don’t have an apples-to-apples comparison of his prime years to other NBA legends. His NBA body of work was certainly impressive, including the fact that his teams were usually in title contention; in his first seven years after the merger, Philadelphia went to the conference finals every year, made four finals appearances, and won one championship, after acquiring Moses Malone in year seven. His legacy would be bolstered if he had been able to win it all as the lead player in the NBA, but two championships as the lead guy in the ABA is certainly noteworthy, especially his run in ’76, when he averaged 34.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 2.0 BPG on 53.3% shooting from the field, with a 32.0 PER and .321 WS/48 in 13 playoff games. His longevity, three championships, and playoff dominance put him in the upper tier of basketball legends.

3 – Kevin Durant – 141.7 WS, 25.2 PER, .217 WS/48, 9X All-NBA, 1X MVP, 2X Finals MVP, 2 championships

Durant has more scoring titles (four) than anyone on this list, and he has become one of the most unstoppable forces in league history with his flawless repertoire. What’s striking about Durant is his consistency: he averaged 25.8 PPG in his lone year at Texas, has averaged 27.0 PPG in his 12 pro seasons, 25.0 PPG in his 10 all-star games, and 29.1 PPG in nine playoff appearances. Just 32 years old by the time the ‘20-21 season starts, he has a good chance at earning the number two slot on this list and knocking on the top 10 all-time player list if he can overcome the devastating Achilles injury he suffered in the 2019 Finals. Even if Durant never played another game, his career accomplishments are already staggering.

2 – Larry Bird – 145.8 WS, 23.5 PER, .203 WS/48, 10X All-NBA, 3X All-Defense, 3X MVP, 2X Finals MVP, 3 championships

Greatest Small Forwards of All Time
Larry Bird and Julius Erving ca. 1986
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

For now, Bird holds a slight lead over Durant due to his dominant run as the best player in basketball in the mid-80’s, and his three NBA titles as the lead player. Bird was a timeless offensive player; the thought of him shooting 10+ threes a game in the modern era is tantalizing, even if he would have had struggles on the other end of the court. His passing was as special as his shooting, and he was a tough rebounder who could challenge anyone on this list in that category. My favorite Bird stat? Outside of the year he played 6 games due to injuries, the Celtics averaged 59.1 wins per game in his career, and 61.1 wins in his prime (prior to the ‘88-89 season).

1 – LeBron James – 236.1 WS, 27.5 PER, .235 WS/48, 15X All-NBA, 6X All-Defense, 4X MVP, 3X Finals MVP, 3 championships

LeBron’s career is now leaps and bounds ahead of the pack due to his combination of peak value and sustained excellence. Consider that as of this writing, his 236.1 career win shares equal the career totals of Elgin Baylor, Kawhi Leonard (to date), and George Yardley combined. Arguably the most versatile player in league history, he has a good chance of having the greatest statistical career ever if he continues his unprecedented run over the next few seasons. A fourth championship as the lead player on his third different team will bolster his GOAT credentials, and may ultimately be his most impressive feat, considering where the Cleveland and Los Angeles franchises were prior to his arrival.

Honorable Mention

Greatest Small Forwards of All Time - Honorable Mention

33 – Jim Pollard won 5 championships in his seven professional seasons, and as a great athlete and good shooter, his game had a good chance to translate well to other eras…32 – Jamaal Wilkes enjoyed great success in his career, playing a key role on Warriors and Lakers championship teams. He was always overshadowed by bigger stars; in the closeout game of the 1980 NBA Finals, Wilkes scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to support Magic Johnson’s legendary effort…31 – Jack Twyman was the first player (along with Wilt Chamberlain) to crack the 30 PPG mark but played on a series of miserable Cincinnati Royals teams before Oscar Robertson saved the franchise…30 – If you squint, Andre Iguodala‘s game may remind you of Scottie Pippen’s: unselfish, great passing, all-world defense. He was a key component of the great Warriors teams of the past few years, and cemented his name in history with a Finals MVP award in 2015…29 – Bernard King was the best scorer in the world for a one-year stretch, when he led the league in playoff scoring in 1984 then won a scoring championship the following year, before injuries curtailed his prime…28 – George Yardley was the first player in league history to crack 2000 points in a season, and was the leading scorer on the 1954-55 and 1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons teams that lost in the Finals…27 – Chris Mullin was a brilliant offensive player who averaged 25+PPG five years in a row with the run-and-gun Warriors teams of the 1980s/90s…26 – Paul George is an all-around force who should shoot up this list with more healthy, productive seasons…25 – Roger Brown was a three-time ABA champion who led Indiana in playoff scoring in two of those three seasons…24.- Bob Dandridge was a key cog on two NBA champions (the ’71 Bucks and ’78 Bullets), and was a force on both sides of the court. He’s still, unfortunately, waiting for his Hall-of-Fame call…23 – James Worthy was the perfect complement to Magic and Kareem’s Lakers upon his arrival in 1982-83. The three-time champion also had the fourth-greatest game 7 performance ever on his way to the 1988 Finals MVP…22 – Marques Johnson was a force with the great Bucks teams of the late 70s to early 80s, and had better career efficiency stats than most players on this honorable mention list…20 (tied) Carmelo Anthony and Alex English were both one-time scoring champions who are in the 25,000+ point club. Both have virtually equal career offensive and defensive ratings however, indicating their impact on the court was less than their scoring suggested. It also remains unclear how they would best serve a championship-level team, though with the right mix of talent around them, I believe they could have achieved greater team success…19 – Chet Walker never made an all-NBA team, which seems shocking considering his career accomplishments. He was the best player on the early to mid-70s Bulls teams, and was a key cog on the ’67 Sixers, one of the greatest teams ever…18 – Connie Hawkins was unfairly blackballed from the NBA for five seasons. In the last two of those years, he played in the ABA, where he won a scoring title, MVP, and playoffs MVP award in his first season. When he finally made the NBA, he made all-NBA first-team in his debut season and had a productive run thereafter, although his prime was robbed from him…17 – Cliff Hagan was the league’s best player in the 1958 playoffs, when he and Bob Pettit led St. Louis to the championship. He led the league in playoff scoring, field goal percentage, PER, true shooting percentage, win shares, and WS/48 that season, then led again in playoff scoring, PER, and true shooting percentage the following year…16 – Shawn Marion was one of the most underappreciated players of his era; consider that he never made an all-NBA defensive team, and only made two all-NBA teams in his career. However, he was a spectacular player on both ends of the court, and was a key piece on the 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. He also has the second most career win shares of anyone on this honorable mention list…15 – In his prime, Grant Hill was one of the league’s top players, and before his injury woes crept up, he dialed up his scoring to average a career-high 25.8 PPG is his last year in Detroit. Injuries robbed him of many prime seasons, but he wound up playing 18 seasons in the league, including a five-year stretch in Phoenix when he became a valuable role player…14 – Billy Cunningham dominated in the NBA in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with three straight all-NBA first team appearances followed by a second team birth, before jumping to the ABA and winning the MVP award in his first season there. He also was a sixth man extraordinaire on the aforementioned ’67 Sixers title team…13 – Dominique Wilkins never found the team success that would have vaulted him into a higher stratosphere, and he missed out on some key accolades as a result (namely, the Dream Team and NBA’s 50 Greatest Players List). He was, however, an unstoppable force offensively who won a scoring title and finished as the runner-up in the 85-86 MVP race…12 – Adrian Dantley is one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA history, ranking ninth all-time in career true shooting percentage. He also was the leading scorer in the regular season for a team that came within seconds of winning the NBA Finals (the 1988 Pistons). His game may not have translated as easily as others to the modern era, and he only earned two all-NBA honors, but his career is still vastly underrated.

Best Game 7 Performances in NBA History

In part two of this series, I’m highlighting the best game 7 performances in NBA history. As a reminder, I’m only looking at the highest stakes games – the NBA Finals or the Conference Finals. On to the list…

Honorable Mention: Tom Meschery, 1962 conference finals, game 7 (32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 19 from the field) – Meschery, the Warriors’ rookie forward, almost led them to a shocking upset over the favored Celtics, ultimately losing by two points…Oscar Robertson, 1963 conference finals, game 7 (43 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 11 for 24 from the field, 21 for 22 from the line) – Oscar led a mediocre Royals team to the brink of the Finals, but the deeper, better Celtics stopped them in Game 7 (more on this game shortly)…George Gervin and Bob Dandridge, 1979 conference finals, game 7 (Iceman – 42 points, 16 for 31 from the field; Dandridge – 37 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 16 for 31 from the field) – this may have been Gervin’s best chance for a ring, but he was stopped by the defending champion Bullets and their clutch swingman, Bob Dandridge…Jack Sikma, 1979 conference finals game 7 (33 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 18 from the field, 13 for 15 from the line) – Sikma helped lead Seattle to victory over a game Suns team to advance to their second straight NBA Finals…Eddie Johnson, 1993 conference finals, game 7 (34 points, 12 for 17 from the field, 9 for 9 from the line in 26 minutes off the bench) – considering the context, this was one of the more remarkable bench performances we’ve ever seen, but Johnson’s effort falls under the radar due to the result of the game…Patrick Ewing, 1994 conference finals game 7 (24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 10 for 23 from the field) – A virtuoso all-around performance that included a key put-back dunk to put the Knicks up by one point with 27 seconds left. The Knicks earned their first Finals birth in 21 years due to this effort…Stephen Curry, 2016 conference finals game 7 (36 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 13 for 24 from the field, 7 for 12 from 3) – Curry helped Golden State overcome a 3-1 deficit to a hungry Oklahoma City team. In a low-scoring game (96-88), he was a game-high +18…LeBron James, 2018 conference finals game 7 (35 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 12 for 24 from the field) – James played all 48 minutes in this game, carrying an undermanned Cavs team to their fourth straight Finals appearance.

10. Tom Heinsohn, 1957 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 23 rebounds, 17 for 33 from the field, 3 for 10 from the line): Before he fouled out, Heinsohn and fellow rookie Bill Russell held the team together while their starting backcourt fell apart. Heinsohn’s effort was particularly impressive considering the rest of the team shot a combined 31.6% from the field. While his free-throw shooting left something to be desired, the 1957 Rookie of the Year (over Russell!) had the greatest moment of his career leading the team to their first championship.

9. Draymond Green, 2016 NBA Finals game 7 (32 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 11 for 15 from the field, 4 for 4 from the line, 6 for 8 from 3): This is one of the great under-the-radar performances of all time. Golden State only scored 89 points in their disappointing Game 7 effort, with Curry and Klay Thompson combining to go 12 for 36 from the field, and the team as a whole shooting 31% outside of Green. Draymond filled the box score while playing his typical stout defense. The one drawback is that Green could not stem the ugliness of the team’s offensive meltdown down the stretch, as they scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, and failed to score in the final 4:40 of this game. While that prevents this game from being placed higher on this list, his performance deserves recognition.

8. Allen Iverson, 2001 Eastern Conference Finals game 7 (44 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 17 for 33 from the field, 6 for 7 from the line, 4 for 6 from three): The indefatigable Iverson never had a problem getting his shot off. This skill proved extremely valuable in the 2000-01 season, with a scrappy roster of defenders and supporting players around him who all had limited offensive skillsets. Iverson dominated in the biggest game of his career to date, and carried the Sixers to their first championship series in 18 years with his performance.

Iverson led the Sixers to the Finals in his MVP season
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

7. Sam Jones, 1963 Eastern Division Finals, game 7 (47 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 18 for 27 from the field, 11 for 12 from the line): This series seemed like a mismatch, with the 58-win, four-time defending champions taking on a team that was barely over .500 during the season (the 42-38 Royals). Cincinnati proved resilient, however, behind Oscar Robertson’s brilliance, and forced an unexpected Game 7. As usual, Boston rose to the occasion, this time behind their clutch shooting guard. Boston as a team shredded the Royals defense, scoring 142 points and shooting .520 from the field in the win.

6. Charles Barkley, 1993 Western Conference Finals, game 7 (44 points, 24 rebounds, 12 for 20 from the field, 19 for 22 from the line): In the biggest game of his career (up to that point), Barkley played up to his MVP credentials, dominating the Sonics and sending the Suns to their second Finals appearance. His rebounding prowess was staggering: Barkley collected 24 rebounds while the Sonics as a team collected 31, with their starting frontcourt grabbing only 14. He repeatedly went to the free throw line and carried the Suns when they needed him most. Unfortunately, he ran into the ultimate MVP in the Finals, but his performance here should be lauded.

5. Bill Russell, 1962 NBA Finals, game 7 (30 points, 40 rebounds, 4 assists, 8 for 18 from the field, 14 for 17 from the line): Russell never lost a Game 7 in his career, and this ’62 Finals game may have been his signature performance. He played the entire 53 minutes (the game went into overtime), and helped hold the Lakers to 35% shooting from the field. Nobody shot particularly well in this game, as the Celtics were even worse from the field (32.7%). They withstood their poor shooting effort by defending and dominating the glass, with Russell hauling in 40 of the team’s 82 rebounds, and giving them a +17 rebound advantage for the game.

4. James Worthy, 1988 NBA Finals, game 7 (36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 15 for 22 from the field, 6 for 10 from the line): How is it possible for a player to get the only triple double of his career in game 7 of the NBA Finals? Worthy’s signature performance helped lead a weary Lakers team to their second title in a row. This effort was crucial because Detroit looked like the better team for much of the series, and Laker captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was running on fumes (he had 4 points on 2 for 7 from the field and 3 rebounds in 29 minutes). Worthy’s effort pushed L.A. to their final title of this era, though they made two more Finals appearances in the next three seasons.

3. Jerry West, 1969 NBA Finals game 7 (42 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 14 for 29 from the field, 14 for 18 from the line): The first ever Finals MVP remains the only one who won the award in a losing cause. From a team perspective, this was one of the worst losses in league history, with the Lakers, led by the triumvirate of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and West, losing on their homecourt to what was supposed to be a broken-down Celtics team (they were 48-34 during the season). West was valiant in defeat, playing the full 48 and having one of the great all-around games of his career. As usual it wasn’t enough, as Russell, Sam Jones and company won their final ring. The Celtics duo retired after this game, with West having lost to them 6 times, and Baylor having lost to them an impossible 7 times in the Finals.

2. LeBron James, 2013 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 12 for 23 from the field, 8 for 8 from the line, 5 for 10 from three): When thinking of the greatest game 7 performers in history, two players rise to the top of the list: Bill Russell, who went 10-0 in game sevens in his career, and LeBron James, the career postseason leader in game 7 scoring average (currently 34.9). James struggled with his shot earlier in this series, with San Antonio using a similar defensive tactic that flummoxed him in the 2007 Finals. However, the 2013 version of James was unstoppable, and with the Heat backed against the wall, he devastated the Spurs from long-range, after previously struggling from 3 in the series (29% prior to game 7). He also hit a crucial jump shot with 28 seconds left to put them up by 4. In a low scoring game (95-88), against the premier perimeter defender of his generation (Kawhi Leonard), James cemented his legacy and earned his second straight championship.  

1. Walt Frazier, 1970 NBA Finals game 7 (36 points, 7 rebounds, 19 assists, 12 for 17 from the field, 12 for 12 from the line): The Lakers misery continued in the first year after Bill Russell retired. L.A. had bad luck that season, only getting 12 regular season games from Wilt Chamberlain and 54 from Elgin Baylor. Even though they came together in the playoffs, they ran into another great team in the Finals. While Willis Reed often gets the shine due to his courageous effort, he only scored four points, all in the first moments of the game. With the league MVP compromised, “Clyde” was the one who carried the Knicks. He played a brilliant all-around game, and never gave L.A. any signs of hope (the halftime score was 69-42 in favor of NY). By leading a shorthanded team, outplaying the legendary West, and dominating on both ends of the court, Frazier deserves recognition for the greatest game 7 performance ever.

#AllTimeNBADraft

Recently, I had the privilege of participating in the #AllTimeNBADraft with 19 other basketball historians, the details of which can be found here. To recap, every player in NBA and ABA history was eligible to be drafted, and once selected, that individual was ineligible to be selected by any other team. We were also assessing peak value, so we had to select one season of that player’s career, with a maximum of four seasons per decade. Here are my selections:

#AllTimeNBADraft

My starting point guard was the team’s first selection (pick 15), ‘The Big O’ Oscar Robertson. While many identify him with the ’61-62 season, when he averaged a triple-double, I selected his sole MVP season, ’63-64, when he led the league in assists per game, free throw percentage, and offensive win shares, and carried the Royals to 55 wins. Oscar was able to punish the smaller guards of the 60s with his physicality (standing at 6’5” and weighing 205 pounds), but his skillset would translate to any era, and he’s as good as any lead guard in this draft. He’s joined in the starting backcourt by the 1982-83 Defensive Player of the Year, Sidney Moncrief. As heralded as Moncrief was on defense, he actually led the league in Offensive Box Plus/Minus that year, and is one of six players on the team with a 60 percent true shooting percentage in their selected year. Both starters can handle the ball, post up, and Moncrief’s athleticism will allow him to guard the opposing team’s best perimeter player. Chauncey Billups, the team’s first selection off the bench, is another do-it-all guard who can play with either of the starters. In 2007-08, Billups shot 40.1 percent from three on 4.4 attempts per game, and his great shooting, low usage, and high efficiency make him an essential part of the lineup. Michael Redd, who shot 39.5 percent from three on 5.2 attempts per game in ’05-06, will be tasked with standing in the corner and creating space for all of this team’s great mid-range and low-post options. While he’s the team’s most natural shooting guard, he’ll play sparingly due to the versatility of the other guards. Derek Harper, the team’s fifth guard, is another all-around gem can play both guard positions and shoot from long-range, while also serving as an ace defender (selected to the All-NBA Defensive 2nd team in ’89-90 when he averaged 2.3 steals per game).

The starting forwards are two unstoppable forces who should provide great balance to the guard rotation. James Worthy, who can play either forward position, will start off at small forward. His athleticism made him one of the game’s greatest finishers, and in his selected season, ’85-86, it translated to a 57.9 percent shooting percentage and a 61.3 percent true shooting percentage, all while maintaining a low usage percentage for a player of his caliber (22.6 percent). Dirk Nowitzki, the starting power forward, achieved the shooter’s Holy Grail (50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three point range, 90 percent from the foul line) in his ’06-07 campaign, when he won the league’s MVP award and led the Mavericks to 67 wins. Unfortunately, that season is best known for his team’s first-round flameout against the Golden State Warriors, but his remarkable efficiency and shooting prowess will perfectly complement Worthy and the other starters. While Worthy received the starting nod, this team will also have the option of starting all-around stud Bob Dandridge when facing high-scoring wings. Dandridge was a premier defender, who helped lead the Bullets to the NBA Finals in his selected season, when he made the All-NBA Defensive 1st team, while averaging 20.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 4.7 APG. Bernard King is the bench’s best scorer, with remarkable efficiency (57.2 percent shooting percentage and 61.9 percent true shooting percentage) and a proven ability to score under pressure (a league-leading 34.8 PPG and 27.6 PER in the ’84 playoffs). Dan Roundfield, the backup power forward, was another first-team All-NBA defender who also averaged a double-double and made the All-NBA 2nd team in his selected season (’79-80). The deep forward roster allows this team to play small (with Worthy at power forward), play for offense (with King and Nowitzki), play for defense (with Dandridge and Roundfield) or mix and match depending on the opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.

The great Willis Reed will man the middle as the team’s starting center. In his standout ’69-70 season, he won every MVP award (regular season, finals, and all-star game), while earning All-NBA Defensive 1st team honors and leading the league in defensive win shares. He also provided one of the greatest highlights in sports history that year, and gives this team toughness, physicality, and leadership. The backup big men provide a mix of rim protection (Jermaine O’Neal) and offensive efficiency (Brad Daugherty), depending on the matchup. Daugherty, a remarkably efficient offensive force, led the league with a .635 true shooting percentage in the ’92-93 season, and did not dominate the ball to achieve this mark (21.1 usage percentage). O’Neal is the team’s best rim protector, who can complement Nowitzki or partner with Roundfield to provide maximum defensive resistance to opponents.

A team with this much talent needs a coach who can alter the rotation based on matchups, keep players engaged, and command respect in the locker room. Rick Carlisle is a remarkably adaptable coach who always finds a way to put his teams in the best position to succeed. He’s aided by the fact that this team is full of high-character individuals who weren’t known for creating problems. On a team where the talent discrepancy between many starters and bench players is negligible, he’s an ideal coach who will help them compete against any opponent.

All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Milwaukee Bucks

Our first Sweet Sixteen match features perhaps the greatest franchise in NBA history facing off against a former powerhouse who has struggled to stay relevant in recent seasons. Is this a mismatch? Or can Kareem Abdul-Jabbar carry his team to another upset victory? Here is the battle between the All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Milwaukee Bucks.

Celtics vs. Bucks 2

Key Matchups

Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, and Robert Parish vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Vin Baker: Milwaukee’s biggest strength, the play of their legendary big man, will be tested by Boston’s trio of Hall-of-Famers. Russell never had a chance to play against Jabbar, but Cowens and Parish had extensive experience going against him. Cowens played against the Milwaukee version of Jabbar in the 1974 NBA Finals, and unsurprisingly struggled to slow him down (Jabbar averaged 32.6 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 5.4 APG, and shot .524 from the field, while Cowens averaged 22.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, and shot .439). Jabbar doesn’t have a true backup center, however, so he’ll have to play big minutes in this series. The fastbreak ability of Russell and Parish, along with the bruising relentlessness of Cowens, may wind up wearing him down.

Boston’s bench vs. Milwaukee’s bench: The Celtics feature a bench without any weaknesses. Milwaukee has a solid bench, led by their dynamic point guard duo (Oscar Robertson and the underrated Sam Cassell), but they’ll be hard pressed to stay with the Celtics’ Hall-of-Famers.

Biggest Mismatch

Boston’s big man depth vs. Milwaukee’s big man depth: In addition to their three centers, the Celtics have Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, and Tommy Heinsohn, all of whom can play power forward. Milwaukee only has Vin Baker and Terry Cummings besides Jabbar, so they’ll have to play some small-ball lineups featuring Marques Johnson or Bob Dandridge at the four.

Expect the Celtics to swarm Abdul-Jabbar Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Expect the Celtics to swarm Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

X-Factor

The first season for Milwaukee was 1968-69, which was the final year of Bill Russell’s Celtics dynasty. Six players on the All-Time Celtics team had already established themselves in Boston before the Bucks even existed. Boston had a 22 year head start on Milwaukee, and won 10 titles in that time (and an 11th in the Bucks’ first year of existence).

Results

The Celtics use their great depth to outlast a game Bucks team. The old guard celebrates another playoff victory.

Red_and_Me_Part_Two_Bill_Russell_and_Red_Auerbach

Celtics win, four games to one.

Next Round

Boston faces the winner of the All-Time Magic vs. All-Time Heat.

All-Time Washington Wizards vs. All-Time Portland Trail Blazers

Our next match up features two teams who won the 1977 (Portland) and 1978 (Washington) NBA Finals. They haven’t been able to win it all before or since, but they’re linked by their success in an overlooked era in NBA history. Who would win the battle between the All-Time Washington Wizards vs. All-Time Portland Trail Blazers? There are many factors at play.

Similarities

Passing Big Men: Both teams are anchored by starting centers who were known for their passing skills. Wes Unseld is widely regarded as the best outlet passer in history, while Bill Walton may have been the best passing center to ever play the game. Both teams often ran their offense through these players, and their career assist numbers reflect this. In addition, Washington’s Chris Webber and Portland’s Arvydas Sabonis were excellent passing big men who can play similar roles when Unseld and Walton are not on the floor.

Big Rosters: Big men make up half of each team’s roster. They each should be able to keep everyone rested, avoid foul trouble, and throw multiple looks at one another.

Washington’s Advantages

Battle of the Boards: Washington’s big men should have a slight advantage in controlling the glass. The starting trio of Gus Johnson, Elvin Hayes, and Wes Unseld is one of the tournament’s best in terms of rebounding, and Walt Bellamy, Jeff Ruland and Webber should help them maintain this advantage off the bench.

Versatility: Washington should be able to play many different styles. They have score-first ball handlers (Gilbert Arenas and Earl Monroe), and a pass-first option (John Wall). They have a physical small forward (Johnson), an outside threat (Bob Dandridge), and a tweener (Antawn Jamison) that they can play at the three. They have a pass-first big man (Unseld) and a dominant low post scorer (Bellamy). They also have good defensive players (Hayes, Johnson, Dandridge, Wall) who can play when they need to get stops. Coach Dick Motta has many options at his disposal.

Portland’s Advantages

Offensive Efficiency: Overall, Portland’s team shooting is very high, and they don’t feature a player on the roster who shot below 46 percent for his Blazers career. In addition, the advanced statistics (PER and WS/48) of the Portland players are higher than those of the Washington players. Will this translate to the games? Portland’s pieces do seem to fit well with each other, and they have several excellent passers who should help them mesh as a unit.

X-Factor

Health: Much like real basketball, fantasy tournaments of this nature can often be decided by injuries. The methodology here is that once a player makes the cutoff for years and games played for a franchise (4 seasons, 200 games played), then they’re eligible to compete in all games of their series. This clearly benefits a player like Walton, and discounts the ironman achievements of someone like Elvin Hayes. While imperfect, this method allows us to imagine each team’s best roster, and filters out those who had extremely short stints with a franchise.

Results

Once again, we have a very hotly contested series. In the end, the brilliance of Walton and Drexler and the clutchness of Porter win out. The good people of Portland go a bit overboard in their celebration.

1977_NBA_Finals_Game_6_Blazers_vs_Sixers

Portland wins, four games to three.

Next Round

Portland faces the All-Time Lakers.

All-Time Washington Wizards Team

All-Time Washington Wizards Team Infographic

The Washington Wizards have almost operated as two separate franchises in their team history. In their first 27 years, they were very successful, making the playoffs 20 times, going to four NBA Finals, and winning it all once. The last 27 seasons haven’t been as kind. They’ve made the playoffs only seven times, have never won 50 or more games, and never advanced past the second round of the playoffs. The All-Time Washington Wizards Team reflects this dichotomy, as they’re filled with more players from their rich past than their putrid recent history.

One of the newer players who made the team is starting guard Gilbert Arenas, who disgraced himself toward the end of his Wizards tenure, but was one of the highest scoring players in team history beforehand. At his peak in the 2005-06 season, Arenas averaged 29.3 PPG in the regular season (fourth in the league), and a league-leading 34.0 PPG in six playoff games. He’s joined in the starting backcourt by Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, who started his Hall-of-Fame career in Washington (Baltimore at the time), and was at his improvisational best there. They’re backed up by John Wall, the team’s best passer, and a solid defender who can play alongside either starter. Phil Chenier, an excellent defender who’s the best shooter on the team, will also see time at off guard.

The starting frontcourt consists of three tenacious rebounders who have all been elected into the Hall of Fame. Gus “Honeycomb” Johnson, an incomparable athlete who was an excellent all-around player, can play either forward position. He’s joined by Elvin Hayes, who’s one of the toughest players to analyze in our tournament. As previously discussed, he ranks in the top-10 in NBA history in both points and rebounds. However, it’s hard to find one positive thing written about him from his playing days. His former coach, Alex Hannum, called him, “the most despicable person I’ve ever met in sports.” He was known for choking in big moments. His teammates seemed to hate him. Despite these red flags, he was an eight-time all-star, six-time All-NBA, and two-time All-NBA defensive player with the Bullets, and was their leading scorer and rebounder during their lone championship season. Wes Unseld, who admitted that his listed height of 6’7” was a stretch, is the starting center. Despite his lack of height, he was one of the great rebounders of his era, and was the team’s pillar during their glory years.

Off the bench, Bobby Dandridge, a clutch player who won two championships in his career, will play plenty of minutes at the three. Antawn Jamison, a versatile scorer, can play at either forward position. Chris Webber, who was sadly traded for an over-the-hill Mitch Richmond before his peak years in Sacramento, will see some minutes at the four. Jeff Ruland, an excellent big man who made two all-star appearances before injury issues robbed him of his prime, will split time at center and power forward. Hall-of-Famer Walt Bellamy had his peak years with the franchise, and was the most statistically dominant player in team history. He’ll be the first big man off the bench, and will combine with Unseld, Hayes, Johnson, and Ruland to give them one of the better rebounding units in our tournament.

Coach: Dick Motta

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .449

All-Time Milwaukee Bucks Team

All-Time Milwaukee Bucks Team Infographic

Fear the deer! The all-time Milwaukee Bucks team has a unique blend of perimeter firepower and low post dominance. With one championship, they are the 17th seeded team in our tournament, and have a first round matchup with the Seattle Sonics/Oklahoma City Thunder.

The starting backcourt consists of all-around dynamo Sidney Moncrief, and the all-time leader in three pointers made, Ray Allen. Moncrief was one of the great, underappreciated players of the 1980s, and won the first two Defensive Player of the Year awards ever. If they need more ball handling, they can bring in the past-his-prime but still effective Oscar Robertson, or Sam Cassell, who averaged 19.0 PPG and 7.2 APG during his five years with the Bucks. In addition, they have two-time Sixth Man of the Year Ricky Pierce, and three point gunner Michael Redd to spread the floor. Similar to the Sonics, they’ll play a lot of three guard sets, and space the floor very effectively around their big men.

Marques Johnson and Terry Cummings are the starting forwards. Johnson was another special player who rarely gets his due; watch how he dominates a do-or-die playoff game against the 76ers to get a feel for his incredible offensive game. Cummings was very athletic, had a great face-up game, and should be a perfect fit in the starting lineup. Bobby Dandridge is the first forward off the bench, a prototypical three who used his quickness and mid-range game to frustrate opponents. They also have Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson, who could score prolifically, even if he didn’t have a great all-around game. Vin Baker is the backup big man, and he’ll have to play both the power forward and center spots. This is another team without great big man depth, so health and foul trouble will both play an important role in their fortunes.

Every single player in this tournament is good, and many are all-time greats. Only a handful are transcendent legends who can single-handedly carry their teams to victory. Milwaukee’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of those legends. In his six seasons with the Bucks, the team averaged 57 wins per season, and went to the only two NBA Finals in franchise history. Jabbar won three MVP awards during his Bucks tenure, and easily ranks as the greatest player in franchise history. His presence makes them a dangerous sleeper in this tournament.

In many ways, this team is similar to their first round opponent, with a deep backcourt featuring Ray Allen alongside one of the great defensive players ever, and an athletic, multi-talented frontcourt that lacks big man depth. Jabbar should expect to play a ton of minutes, which he’s accustomed to, since he averaged over 40 minutes per game every year he was with the team.

Coach: Larry Costello

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .512