Bobster's Trivia Corner

[Split T]

As for the list, Stephon Marbury seems awfully high. I wouldn't put him ahead of Davis, Stoudemire, Marion, Westphal or KJ.

Their list isn't terrible but I have some minor quibbles - Kobe at #5 is too high, Wilt at #8 and Bird at #11 are too low.

I would go 1 - Jordan, 2 - Abdul-Jabbar, 3 - James, 4 - Chamberlain, 5 - Magic, 6 - Bird, 7 - Russell, 8 - O'Neal, 9 - Duncan, 10 - Bryant or Curry [Jokic and Giannis are closing fast on the top 10]

Kareem over LeBron?

My top 10(I don’t rank Wilt or Russell as I have zero clue how to rank them):

1. Jordan
2. LeBron
3. Magic
4. Kareem
5. Curry
6. Bird
7. Shaq
8. Jokic
9. Duncan
10. Kobe

Honorary members: Wilt and Russell

Giannis and KD are 11/12 for me, with probably Hakeem next.

[The Bobster]

Kareem won the MVP 6 times in his first 11 years. He was a statistical monster in Milwaukee, and he's still the career leader in Win Shares.

He was sure a sourpuss though.

[Split T]

Kareem won the MVP 6 times in his first 11 years. He was a statistical monster in Milwaukee, and he's still the career leader in Win Shares.

He was sure a sourpuss though.

How much do you factor that half(probably not half as the nba was I’m sure better) the talent was in a different league for the beginning of Kareem’s career? Would he have 6 MVPs if Dr J didn’t spend the first 5 years of his career in the ABA?

[The Bobster]

Well, the ABA probably wasn't anywhere close to the NBA in level of play until they started adding players like Erving, Gilmore, Issel, Scott, McGinnis and Gervin in the early 70's. Still when they folded in 1976 there were only 25 teams (7 ABA &18 NBA). I don't think there was a bump up in the talent pool until the European player stated coming over in large number, but there's also 30 teams compared to 22 teams the year after the merger (three surving ABA teams were shuttered in the merger). So that's around 100 additional roster spots that have been added over the years.

Bottom line - I think the quality of play got a bump up from the merger because the number of teams was reduced by three. I tend to think the addition of 8 teams since then hasn't affected the level of play even with the additional players because foreign-born players have given them a bigger talent pool.

[Superbone]

My guess is they're behind the Lakers, Celtics, Spurs and Sonics/Thunder.

* edited to add * For years Portland and Utah were up there too, but they've slipped some recently.

You pretty much nailed it:

Rank Team GP Won Lost Pct. First NBA season Division
1 Boston Celtics 6,196 3,695 2,501 .596 1946–47 Atlantic
2 San Antonio Spurs 3,949 2,339 1,610 .592 1976–77 Southwest
3 Los Angeles Lakers 6,086 3,600 2,486 .592 1948–49 Pacific
4 Oklahoma City Thunder 4,688 2,538 2,150 .541 1967–68 Northwest
5 Phoenix Suns 4,607 2,465 2,142 .535 1968–69 Pacific
6 Utah Jazz 4,114 2,194 1,920 .533 1974–75 Northwest
7 Milwaukee Bucks 4,607 2,437 2,170 .529 1968–69 Central
8 Miami Heat 2,967 1,558 1,409 .525 1988–89 Southeast
9 Portland Trail Blazers 4,444 2,328 2,116 .524 1970–71
10 Philadelphia 76ers 6,023 3,125 2,898 .519 1949–50 Atlantic

[The Bobster]

I know Syracuse/Philadelphia was up there for a long time until they had a couple of rough stretches in the 90's and 2010's.

[SunsRIt]

Crazy that numbers 5 and 6 have never won a title

[LazarusLong]

Here's a trivia item.

Phoenix Suns once drafted an Olympic gold medal winner in track and field.
Individual established a world record in his event.

He is ...?

[LazarusLong]

Another item...

This Suns player beat David Thompson in a head-to-head slam dunk contest that was part of a special series on national TV.

He is ...?

[Charlie Smithy!]

Another item...

This Suns player beat David Thompson in a head-to-head slam dunk contest that was part of a special series on national TV.

He is ...?

Bedford, William

[LazarusLong]

uh, no ...

[Mori Chu]

As a Seattle resident I must say that I do not consider the OKC Thunder to have the 4th most wins in NBA history. They are borrowing thousands of wins from the Seattle SuperSonics who will one day return to the NBA. The Sonics are to remain in possession of the team's history, titles, and records; if OKC wants to try to claim them, they can fuck right off.

[BKinSJC]

Here's a trivia item.

Phoenix Suns once drafted an Olympic gold medal winner in track and field.
Individual established a world record in his event.

He is ...?

Bob Beamon (drafted by the Suns in the 15th round, so not a serious basketball prospect). Shattered the world record in the long jump in Mexico City in 1968. Incredibly, more than 50 years later, that's still the Olympic record jump, although there's now been one longer jump to set a new world record.

[BKinSJC]

Another item...

This Suns player beat David Thompson in a head-to-head slam dunk contest that was part of a special series on national TV.

He is ...?

Larry Nance?

[LazarusLong]

Here's a trivia item.

Phoenix Suns once drafted an Olympic gold medal winner in track and field.
Individual established a world record in his event.

He is ...?

Bob Beamon (drafted by the Suns in the 15th round, so not a serious basketball prospect). Shattered the world record in the long jump in Mexico City in 1968. Incredibly, more than 50 years later, that's still the Olympic record jump, although there's now been one longer jump to set a new world record.

DING-DING-DING

We have a winner!

[LazarusLong]

Another item...

This Suns player beat David Thompson in a head-to-head slam dunk contest that was part of a special series on national TV.

He is ...?

Larry Nance?

Good guess, but no cigar.

[rhylek]

-

[BKinSJC]

Another item...

This Suns player beat David Thompson in a head-to-head slam dunk contest that was part of a special series on national TV.

He is ...?

Larry Nance?

Good guess, but no cigar.

Okay, I'm gonna guess that this was tied to the season-long dunk contest that they'd show at halftime of games in 1977. That seems to jibe with Thompson being part of it. Looking at the Suns roster for that year, I think the best bet is probably Ronnie Lee (who was hyper-athletic and would've been young enough to find it fun, probably). Second choice, Ricky Sobers. Outside chance that it was Paul Westphal, although Westy wasn't really known as a super athlete.

[LazarusLong]

Another item...

This Suns player beat David Thompson in a head-to-head slam dunk contest that was part of a special series on national TV.

He is ...?

Larry Nance?

Good guess, but no cigar.

Okay, I'm gonna guess that this was tied to the season-long dunk contest that they'd show at halftime of games in 1977. That seems to jibe with Thompson being part of it. Looking at the Suns roster for that year, I think the best bet is probably Ronnie Lee (who was hyper-athletic and would've been young enough to find it fun, probably). Second choice, Ricky Sobers. Outside chance that it was Paul Westphal, although Westy wasn't really known as a super athlete.

Correct on best bet. Ronnie Lee won when Skywalker missed a 360.
The dunk contest clips were featured at halftime of NBA feature games on CBS.
Lee's best dunk had him slamming the ball to the floor at the top of the key, and as the ball bounced near the rim, he caught it and dunked it.
The TV footage was cool -- the ball floated into view, then a second later, Lee flies in drops it through.
Lee was a joy to watch.

[Split T]

As a Seattle resident I must say that I do not consider the OKC Thunder to have the 4th most wins in NBA history. They are borrowing thousands of wins from the Seattle SuperSonics who will one day return to the NBA. The Sonics are to remain in possession of the team's history, titles, and records; if OKC wants to try to claim them, they can fuck right off.

It’s actually win percentage they are 4th in and that percentage goes up if you don’t count the Sonics years…which I agree shouldn’t count. Just like Los Angeles shouldn’t get to count the Minneapolis Lakers titles.