Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

[The15thunter]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitski is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

Most would consider Karl Malone a top 10 player of all time and he has no ring.

i'm not kidding or being facetious when i say this, but i have never seen karl malone in any credible basketball person's top ten list.

[Vince]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

Isn't Duncan considered American now? (To the poster who said Dirk is behind Dream and Duncan as best Intl. Players ever)

[mvspree8]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

Isn't Duncan considered American now? (To the poster who said Dirk is behind Dream and Duncan as best Intl. Players ever)

To me, Duncan is an American center. Not the greatest (international) power forward of all-time.

[cubsball899]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

To me, Duncan is an American center. Not the greatest (international) power forward of all-time.

definitely a power forward.

[mvspree8]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

definitely a power forward.

Always guards the opposing center, is the main low post option for the Spurs, guards the rim more than anyone else on the roster. Definitely a power forward in name only but every single thing about him screams center with a good faceup game.

[Dice]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitski is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

i'm not kidding or being facetious when i say this, but i have never seen karl malone in any credible basketball person's top ten list.

And which CREDIBLE list are you looking at?

[ZB9]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

Isn't Duncan considered American now? (To the poster who said Dirk is behind Dream and Duncan as best Intl. Players ever)

yes, Tim Duncan is from the US Virgin Islands and therefore was born an American citizen

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitski is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

I don't consider Duncan and Steve Nash "international"

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitski is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

And which CREDIBLE list are you looking at?

In his defense, I've never heard Malone mentioned either.

[Dice]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitski is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

In his defense, I've never heard Malone mentioned either.

Karl Malone has always been argued as the best power forward of all time along side with Tim Duncan and Kevin McHale. And I'm pretty sure if someone out there thinks he's the best power forward of all time then he has a spot in someone's top 10 players of all time.

Only one guy(Kareem) has scored more points in his NBA career than Malone. He's grabbed the second most defensive rebounds in NBA history. He's 7th overall in total rebounds. Has hit the most free throws in NBA history and is a 2-time MVP.

Sorry to get off topic BUT Malone is a top 10 player despite not having a ring.

[Jasong7777]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

Top 10 - NO

Best Euro - YES

[jeebs9]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

I could see why Carlisle would say something like that. I will say Dirk's jumper is top 5 all time. But not top ten all time. That's pushing it.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

I think sometimes people don't realize that only 10 players can be in a top 10. He's the best international player ever and probably top 25-30.

[Court_vision]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

Karl Malone was a great, great player.

Game 6...NBA Finals...a few seconds to go...if he held the ball and scored, forced a game 7 and won it..............The Mailman would have been a top 10 player.

But......he lost the ball, MJ buried the jumper........

There's a very fine line with these things.

Same with Dirk...most people forget that in game 5 v Miami Dirk made a clutch, clutch shot with only a few seconds to go to give Dallas the lead and a 3-2 series lead. With two games to come in Dallas = Dirk wins the title.

Instead, D-Wade came down the other end...missed his shot........and was given the worst "bail out" in call in NBA history for someone barely breathing on his jersey...

Fine line.

As unfair as it is, Dirk needs to win it all to really go to the 'super elite' status...just like Karl needed to.

[wwharton]

Re: Carlisle: Nowitzki is "Top 10 Player in NBA History"

They had some real good teams in the late 80s but throughout the 90s the Mavs were probably the worst franchise in North American pro sports. They would be lucky to win 25 games in those seasons. Im in my 30s and went to high school in the 90s. I had season tickets in those days and remember it well. (Mark Cuban was in the crowd somewhere in those days too). Then Dirk comes along and Cuban buys the team and it's 11 straight 50 win seasons and actual expectations to contend.

They had a nice little run with Kidd, Mash and Jackson before Tyra Banks screwed that all up. Didn't last for too long though.

Most would consider Karl Malone a top 10 player of all time and he has no ring.

I wouldn't. Ten is a very, very small number... and all time is a very, very long time, lol. In a sport like basketball I think a ring holds a bit of weight, especially when you're talking about the top 10 of all time. I give guys of that era a [i]little[/] pass for playing the same time as Jordan but I wouldn't put Malone in the top 10 all time of all positions. In fact, off the top of my head in no particular order...

MJ
Magic
Bird
Wilt
Big O
Shaq
Kareem
Duncan
Hakeem
Kobe

There are more but just stopping at 10 off the top of my head. And now that I see it, I don't think Dirk makes that list either... I put him on about the same level as Malone, Barkley, etc.