Top 10 Greatest Players in NBA History

Factors considered who I think the greatest players are:

Longevity, consistency, and how they rank next to their contemporaries, i.e where they ever considered the best in the game at any point in their career?

10. Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs 1998-present)

Not flashy, not fancy, the only thing the Big Fundamental knows how to do is win. With his great post-up offensive abilities and his dominating defense, Duncan has led the Spurs to four NBA championships.

9. Bill Russell (Boston Celtics 1957-69)

The biggest winner in NBA history, Russell led the Celtics to eleven NBA titles in his thirteen year career. While not a scorer (he didn't need to be with the talent surrounding him), Russell is arguably the greatest defender and rebounder in NBA history.

8. Larry Bird (Boston Celtics 1979-92)

Known for his uncanny ability to know what was happening on the court at all times, the all-purpose forward from Indiana State was a sharpshooter and a guy who played big in the big games. Red Auerbach, former Celtics coach, calls Larry Bird the greatest NBA player ever.

7. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers 1996-present)

Only one of two players in NBA history to score more than eighty points in a game and only Michael Jordan has had more thirty-point games in playoff history. Frankly, I may not have him high enough on this list: according to Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant is the best Laker ever.

6. Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers 1979-91, 1996)

He played point guard. And he's 6'9". Magic, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, led the Lakers to five NBA championships in eight seasons. Magic has the highest career assist average-per-game ever and, because of his size, tended to dominate smaller guards. Versatile, Magic could play all five positions as well.

5. Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals 1960-70; Milwaukee Bucks 1970-74)

A guard who could do just about everything, Oscar averaged a triple-double one season. That's at least ten points, ten rebounds, and ten assists average per game. Impressive.

4. Shaquille O'Neal (Orlando Magic 1992-96; Los Angeles Lakers 1996-2004; Miami Heat 2004-08; Phoenix Suns 2008-09; Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-present)

Few players have ever dominated the game the way Shaquille O'Neal did during his eight seasons with the Lakers (especially during their championship years of 2000, 2001, and 2002). Shaq was unstoppable (his only weakness was poor free-throw shooting). Over his career he has led three franchises to a total of six appearances in the NBA finals. And he's only one of five players in NBA history to score more than 28,000 career points. Think he's too high on the list? Please. You forget how dominant he was.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks 1969-75; Los Angeles lakers 1975-89)

Kareem played twenty seasons in the NBA and for most of those seasons he was dominant. In only his second year in the league he helped guide the Milwaukee Bucks to their first (and only) NBA title in 1971. After joining the Lakers in '75, Kareem won five more NBA titles. No player in NBA history has won more regular season MVPs (six) and no player scored more points: Kareem is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points.

2. Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors 1959-65; Philadelphia 76ers 1965-68; Los Angeles Lakers 1968-73)

I'm not trying to be trite or flippant but the seven-one hall-of-fame center averaged fifty points a game one season. Do I really need to add more?

1. Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls 1984-93, 1995-98; Washington Wizards 2001-03)

While most of the other greats on this top 10 list are big men, Michael Jordan is a guard. He is the only non-big man in NBA history to dominate like a big man in his prime whether he was scoring at will or shutting down another team's two-guard. Only Wilt Chamberlain--who was over seven feet tall compared to Jordan's six feet six inches--had a higher career scoring average. And only Bill Russell led his team to more NBA championships (eleven compared to Jordan's six).

6 More Awesome Metal Songs That You've Never Heard Before.

1. "Never Enough" by Epica

Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal outfit that uses both female vocals and death metal vocals as part of their repertoire. I know death metal vocals are a turn off for most folks but the song "Never Enough" employs them hardly at all.

2. "Ice Queen" by Within Temptation

More female-fronted symphonic metal from another Dutch band. My eight-year old son loves this song and if that's not a grand endorsement, what is?

3. "Wishmaster" by Nightwish

Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Finland. Tarja Turunen, the lead singer played here, has since departed the band. Nightwish replaced her with a more traditional female singer.

4. "A Day in Verse" by Eternity X

Eternity X is a progressive metal band from New Jersey. Their use of piano/keyboards beauty juxtaposed over/under heavy guitar is just one reason I became instantly attracted to this band. "A Day in Verse" showcases their amazing songwriting. If you don't like this song, well, I really don't know what to say.

5. "Out of the Shadows" by Stratovarius.

This Finnish power metal outfit has been around since the '80s. They have a knack for writing catchy vocal melodies.

6. "Sign" by Ayreon.

I had to include another song by Ayreon. In my previous post, 9 Awesome Metal Songs That You've Never Heard Before, I showed the heavier bombastic side of Ayreon. This song shows the softer side of the progressive metal/rock project of one Arjen Lucassen.

9 Awesome Metal Songs You've Never Heard Before

I'm a metalhead at, um, heart (metalhead at heart?). But I'm not into most mainstream metal bands preferring instead lesser known bands in the power metal, symphonic metal, and progressive metal sub-genres. So I'm gonna give you a taste of my tastes. Whether you like it or not.

1. "Kingdom for a Heart" by Sonata Arctica
One of my favorite rock bands, Sonata Arctica is a power metal band hailing from Finland. "Kingdom for a Heart" is from the first album, Ecliptica (1999). The band plays a style marked by speedy guitars, soaring vocals, and ubiquitous keyboards.

2. "I Died for You" by Iced Earth

Iced Earth was founded in Tampa, Florida in 1984. Like Sonata Arctica, they are often classified as power metal. However, Iced Earth's brand of power metal (American power metal) is more influenced by thrash metal and therefore less "melodic" than their European counterparts. Interestingly, "I Died for You" is from an album (1996's The Dark Saga) based on the comic book character Spawn.

3. "April Rain" by Delain

A symphonic metal band fronted by a female vocalist, the Dutch band Delain balances heavy guitars, beautiful vocal melodies (almost pop-like), and symphonic flourishes via the band's keyboardist. Delain has a highly engaging style that is addictive. "April Rain" is from the 2009 album of the same name. And they actually have a music video for the song!

4. "Chance" by Savatage

Founded way back in 1978, Savatage started off as a fairly conventional heavy metal act. But as the years went by they began incorporating progressive, symphonic, and operatic influences into their music. "Chance", one of their most popular songs, is from their 1994 album "Handful of Rain". Oh, Savatage's better known alter ego is Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

5. "Forever" by Kamelot

Though three-fifths of the band members are American, Kamelot's brand of power metal is definitely more European in style (though perhaps it is most accurate to call them a symphonic metal band). Another act originally from Tampa, Florida, Kamelot really didn't "make it" until Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined the band for their third studio album. Khan, just about the best singer around, took Kamelot to the next level and they haven't looked behind since.

6. "On the Wane" by Sirenia

At the risk of alienating the five remaining readers of the Big Blog of Lists, I've included a song that employs death metal vocals. The song doesn't only employ death metal vocals as they also include pretty female vocals, choir vocals, and normal male vocals in the mix, too. But I want to warn you. Sirenia is a symphonic/goth metal band. I think they're awesome. Your mileage may vary.

7. "Dawn of a Million Souls" by Ayreon

Ayreon is a tricky band to describe. Not really a band, Ayreon is the musical project of Dutch musician Arjen Lucassen. Every Ayreon album features guest singers and musicians in multitude (some albums have featured over a dozen lead vocalists and twice that many guest musicians). Another aspect of Ayreon's music is the variety. You'll get one song that sounds like something a bard from the Middle Ages would play while the next song sounds like the Beatles and still the next one is a power metal rocker. Good stuff all the way around.

8. "Soldiers of the Wasteland" by DragonForce

British act DragonForce does straight-up European power metal better than anyone. Yeah, it's over-the-top and it sounds like these guys play a lot of Dungeons & Dragons while watching Krull, drinking mead, and sharpening their battle-axes. But so what? Their music is fun and they make no pretensions about who they are or what they play: it's fantasy-tinged power metal. Nothing more, nothing less.

9. "Used" by Pain of Salvation

Sweden's progressive metal outfit Pain of Salvation plays a highly complex yet engaging style that incorporates many forms of music. Dark, depressing, and envelope-pushing, POS is one of the most unique bands I've ever heard. Not for the feint-hearted.

That's it for now. If you like this list, maybe I'll write it's sequel soon.

Top 10 Rejected Top 10 Lists

Coming up with top 10 lists is hard and not just because I'm lazy. As I sit around bouncing top 10 ideas off my buddies, the seeds of good top 10 lists are found. But more often bad ideas are uncovered and dismissed. Here are the top 10 rejected ideas for top 10 lists:



10. Top 10 Pizza Toppings and What They Say About You.


Quickly rejected after it was proposed, this is just a terrible idea on many levels: First, it's way too metaphysical. Second, does anyone believe that pizza toppings say that much about you? Sure, if you like anchovies on your pizza you may be an adventurous soul but it may mean you're retarded as well.


9. Top 10 Sacred Cows.

You know what a sacred cow is, right? It's a subject/hobby/interest that is very important to someone and any negative criticism about it will provoke bad feelings from that person (heaven forbid). This was specifically aimed at co-workers' sacred cows but, as my staff and I analyzed this idea, we decided not to do it since co-workers do read this blog (believe it or not) and we may hurt their feelings. Good grief.

8. Top 10 Hottest Sci-Fi Gals of TV & Movies.

This was rejected because some of you out there don't think women should be admired for their beauty. A stupid notion but, hey, I aim to please.

7. Top 10 Ways to Alienate Your Readers.

Why beat a dead horse?

6. Top 10 Boring Movies.

Honestly, why on Earth would I write such a stupid list? One, it'd bore me to think and write about really boring movies and two, it'd bore you.

5. Top 10 Computer Viruses.

Don't know much 'bout computer viruses. My staff would have been fine with this list but I'm the boss.

4. Top 10 Best Examples of Modern Art.

There are no best examples of modern art. Bite me, Picasso!

3. Top 10 Symphonies.

This is one I'd love to do but, frankly, I don't think any of you would read it. Most of you are not as sophisticated as I am.

2. Top 10 Sports Cars.

Snooze. Seriously, it's difficult for me to imagine a more boring subject. I'm just not a car guy.

1. Top 10 Rejected Top 10 Lists.

I know what you are thinking, "Wait a sec, what the hell am I reading?" Ah, but what you folks don't know is that this list was rejected several times before finally being posted.