What do you think of the newly released SLAM top 500 NBA players book?

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First off, hats off to SLAM for ranking 500 NBA players.. that’s not easy and I think past the 150 mark it’s pretty much all guessing anyways like who’s going to say no that guy should be ranked #345 not #420 or something.

So.. I read the entire book. I like that they dedicated a section to ABA players (often forgotten). I don’t have *too* much issue with the players over the top 120… it’s the top 120 players that are ranked in a very weird way.

Now, they did get the top 3 correct.. MJ, Bron, Kareem. That’s a fine order and I think it’s a very common top 3 for everyone that’s an objective basketball fan (ie. non Kobe fan).

Now for the rest of the top 120 out of their 500… What were they thinking??? Here are few head scratchers I’ll point out…

In what world is AD ranked #98 all time?? What did AD do to SLAM to get that ranking? Jesus. Chris Mullin and Ben Wallace being ranked ahead of AD just makes no sense at all.

Bernard King ranking ahead of Bill Walton similarly makes no sense.. both had short primes, but Walton’s prime was far more successful and his 1977 year is better than King’s 1984 year I mean objectively it just is.

Why’s David Thompson ahead of Joel Embiid?? If you’re talking about longevity well Thompson’s longevity isn’t any better except Embiid actually won 2 scoring titles and an MVP and is a great defender too.

VC isn’t better than Drexler… Drexler led his team to 2 Finals and won a ring ok??

Melo is not 18 spots above Pierce. Melo isn’t better than Pierce in the first place, let alone being 18 spots ahead of him.

Guys, stop putting Pippen ahead of John Havlicek.. it’s quite disrespectful. Hondo is basically Pippen with better offense and more rings ok?

Who here thinks Stockton should be ahead of Malone and KG??? Nobody?? ok. I mean.. Malone won the MVPs and was on the same damn team. Cmon now.

Who here thinks Kyrie is better than Kawhi??? Nobody is taking Kyrie over healthy Kawhi ok??

Yeah Miller isn’t 13 spots above Dwight guys…

There’s also no way Earl Monroe (who never won a ring as the main guy) is 32 spots above SGA who just had a historic season winning MVP, scoring title and FMVP…

I recommend you guys look up Bob McAdoos career but I would say it’s pretty much on par with Tmacs… both were multiple time scoring leaders, both had short primes, both put up great scoring numbers… except McAdoo actually had an MVP and 2 rings.. and somehow is ranked 52 spots below Tmac!!

Well you guys tell me if Iverson is better than Dwade and Jokic… but I really really don’t think so

Baylor is 43 spots ahead of Pettit. Ok here’s the thing.. Pettits career overlaps Baylor’s and Pettit nearly matches Baylor’s PPG and also overtakes him in RPG and on top of that has 2 MVPs and a ring.. yet he’s 43 spots lower??