I want to see what you guys think who is the best player of all time and also write your best players on each position.
I'm going to answer it based on who I've seen play.
Best player ever: Michael Jordan
Best at each position:
PG: Magic Johnson - The only guy that ever played ALL 5 traditional positions on the court. The best "big" ball handler and passer ever, never mind point guard. The 1980's Showtime Lakers were amazing and fun to watch, along with their rivalry with Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics.
SG: Michael Jordan - His killer instinct on the court was unrivaled, and you couldn't defend him either. What sets him apart though was his defense. He was as good defensively as he was offensively, so perhaps the best all-around player ever.
SF: Lebron James - A physical freak of nature. Was NBA ready when he finished High School and has certainly lived up to the hype and has been to the last 6 straight NBA finals (hard enough just to make it to 1). He led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Championship, though he did have a good supporting cast with him. Not a great free throw shooter though, but is competent enough. He'd probably be a really good Tight End in the NFL.
PF: Tim Duncan - Nothing flashy or fancy about his game, but he was productive for a long long time and was able to enjoy longevity due to his being able to adapt to the game that changed over time. He was a main cog, and a complementary piece in the latter part of his career. An atypical professional athlete in the era of "look at me, I'm on SportsCenter".
C: Shaquille O'Neal - You could not guard him 1 on 1. He simply overpowered you as a defender. Was a dominant force, though the free throw line was definitely his kryptonite. Was a big reason the Orlando Magic made the NBA Finals, and helped the Lakers and Heat win NBA titles as well. He was entertaining on and off the court. Imagine if there was social media in the 1990's, he'd probably be the most followed athlete on the planet. He was also one of the better passing big men of his, or any era.
Honorable mention: Dennis Rodman. Forget all the drama that came with him, the tattoos and earrings notwithstanding, in my opinion, he's probably the smartest player that ever played. He was the best rebounder not because of his phyiscal prowess, as he didn't have the traditional "power forward's body" (he's listed at 6 foot 7, 210 pounds), but because he was so fundamentally sound and could anticipate where the ball was going to go once it was shot. Then, his desire to just simply beat you to that ball was what set him apart. He was a REALLY big part of the championships he won with Detroit and then later with the Jordan Bulls (5 in total). Another underrated part of his game was his passing. He had great court vision. He's one of those rare players who didn't care about scoring, and because of his great ability to do the dirty work, enjoyed a lot of success.
