Each organization's best player

[BigAlTheFuture]

They are doing this little segment on Baseball Tonight and they are counting off the best player on every baseball franchise. So I decided to make one up for basketball.

Atlanta Hawks - Dominique Wilikins
Boston Celtics - Bill Russell/ Larry Bird
Charlotte Bobcats - uhh.. Emeka Okafor?
Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan
Cleveland Cavaliers - Lebron James
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki
Denver Nuggets - David Thompson
Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas
Golden State Warriors - Wilt Chamberlain
Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon
Indiana Pacers - Reggie Miller
Los Angeles Clippers - I don't even know..
Los Angeles Lakers - Magic Johnson
Memphis Grizzlies - this is a tough one.. Pau Gasol, I guess.
Miami Heat - Dwayne Wade
Milwaukee Bucks - Kareem Abdul Jabaar
Minnesota Timberwolves - Kevin Garnett
New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd
New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul
New York Knicks - Willis Reed
Orlando Magic - Shaquille O'neal
Philadelphia 76ers - Moses Malone
Phoenix Suns - Charles Barkley
Portland Trailblazers - Bill Walton
Sacramento Kings - Chris Webber
San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan
Seattle Supersonics - Gary Payton
Toronto Raptors - Vince Carter
Utah Jazz - John Stockton
Washington Wizards - Wes Unseld


This is just my opinion. Feel free to make up your own list.

[indeedproceed]

Wouldn't the supersonics be DJ? They won a title on his back, yes?

[RebusRankin]

Oscar Robertson for the Kings
Dr. J for the Nets
Wilt/Dr. J for the 76's
Bob McAdoo for the Clippers
Clyde Drexler for the Blazers

[jay_jay54]

Wouldn't the supersonics be DJ? They won a title on his back, yes?

From a guy watching this era of NBA,i would have to say Jack Sikma/DJ would be my picks.Sikma (imo)got overshadowed by Kareem in the NBA but he was probably the second best C/PF in the Western Conference,during that time.

[JSD]

Griz - Shareef Abdul Raheem

[Finkelskyhook]

Griz - Shareef Abdul Raheem

If you consider the worst defensive PF in NBA history any franchise's best player.

Gasol
Bibby
Reeves

Blazers - Clyde Drexler
Cavaliers - McAdoo
Nets - Erving

[Redz]

Hard to say Stockton without Mailman in Utah.

Alex English may be worthy of mention in Denver

[BigThreePeat]

Wouldn't the supersonics be DJ? They won a title on his back, yes?

From a guy watching this era of NBA,i would have to say Jack Sikma/DJ would be my picks.Sikma (imo)got overshadowed by Kareem in the NBA but he was probably the second best C/PF in the Western Conference,during that time.

GP was definitely their best.  Guy holds like every record for that organization.  Unquestionable GP

[KCattheStripe]

I think if you do Utah you have to split it : Stockton/Malone

[BigThreePeat]

Oklahoma Thunder - Kevin Durant

Clippers are probably Brand

Kings are technically Oscar Robertson...

Nets... wouldn't Dr. J technically be above JKidd?

[zerophase]

Wouldn't the supersonics be DJ? They won a title on his back, yes?

From a guy watching this era of NBA,i would have to say Jack Sikma/DJ would be my picks.Sikma (imo)got overshadowed by Kareem in the NBA but he was probably the second best C/PF in the Western Conference,during that time.

GP was definitely their best.  Guy holds like every record for that organization.  Unquestionable GP

agreed. gary payton in his prime.

[Kwhit10]

Oklahoma Thunder - Kevin Durant

Clippers are probably Brand

Kings are technically Oscar Robertson...

Nets... wouldn't Dr. J technically be above JKidd?

Clipper would be McAdoo, and you can't say Thunder that would still be Payton since it is the same organization.

[TripleOT]

Here's the OP's list, with my choices  --- after his. 

Atlanta Hawks - Dominique Wilkins   --- Wilkins
Boston Celtics - Bill Russell/ Larry Bird  -- Russell
Charlotte Bobcats - uhh.. Emeka Okafor?  -- Gerald Wallace
Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan  -- Jordan
Cleveland Cavaliers - Lebron James  -- LeBron
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki  --- Dirk
Denver Nuggets - David Thompson  --- Alex English
Detroit Pistons - Isiah   --- Isiah
Golden State Warriors - Wilt Chamberlain  -- Wilt
Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon   --- Akeem
Indiana Pacers - Reggie Miller  --- Reggie
Los Angeles Clippers - I don't even know..  ---- McAdoo who played for this team for 4 1/4 seasons when in Buffalo. An actual Clipper would be Brand
Los Angeles Lakers - Magic Johnson  -- Magix, with props to Jerry West
Memphis Grizzlies - this is a tough one.. Pau Gasol, I guess.  -- Gasol
Miami Heat - Dwayne Wade  --  Mourning, but Wade will pass him if he stays there
Milwaukee Bucks - Kareem Abdul Jabaar   -- Kareem
Minnesota Timberwolves - Kevin Garnett  -- KG
New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd  --- Dr. J. 
New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul  ---  CP
New York Knicks - Willis Reed -- Patrick Ewing
Orlando Magic - Shaquille O'neal  -- Shaq
Philadelphia 76ers - Moses Malone  -- Dr J.
Phoenix Suns - Charles Barkley  -- Charles, or Paul Westphal
Portland Trailblazers - Bill Walton  -- Walton or Drexler
Sacramento Kings - Chris Webber  -- Oscar Robertson, in Sacto, either Webber or Mitch Richmond
San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan  --- TD or David Robinson with a nod to George Gervin
Seattle Supersonics - Gary Payton  -- GP
Toronto Raptors - Vince Carter -- Sadly VC
Utah Jazz - John Stockton  -- Stockton to Malone
Washington Wizards - Wes Unseld -- Unseld or Elvin Hayes

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Here's the OP's list, with my choices  --- after his. 

Atlanta Hawks - Dominique Wilkins   --- Wilkins
Boston Celtics - Bill Russell/ Larry Bird  -- Russell
Charlotte Bobcats - uhh.. Emeka Okafor?  -- Gerald Wallace
Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan  -- Jordan
Cleveland Cavaliers - Lebron James  -- LeBron
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki  --- Dirk
Denver Nuggets - David Thompson  --- Alex English
Detroit Pistons - Isiah   --- Isiah
Golden State Warriors - Wilt Chamberlain  -- Wilt
Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon   --- Akeem
Indiana Pacers - Reggie Miller  --- Reggie
Los Angeles Clippers - I don't even know..  ---- McAdoo who played for this team for 4 1/4 seasons when in Buffalo. An actual Clipper would be Brand
Los Angeles Lakers - Magic Johnson  -- Magix, with props to Jerry West
Memphis Grizzlies - this is a tough one.. Pau Gasol, I guess.  -- Gasol
Miami Heat - Dwayne Wade  --  Mourning, but Wade will pass him if he stays there
Milwaukee Bucks - Kareem Abdul Jabaar   -- Kareem
Minnesota Timberwolves - Kevin Garnett  -- KG
New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd  --- Dr. J. 
New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul  ---  CP
New York Knicks - Willis Reed -- Patrick Ewing
Orlando Magic - Shaquille O'neal  -- Shaq
Philadelphia 76ers - Moses Malone  -- Dr J.
Phoenix Suns - Charles Barkley  -- Charles, or Paul Westphal
Portland Trailblazers - Bill Walton  -- Walton or Drexler
Sacramento Kings - Chris Webber  -- Oscar Robertson, in Sacto, either Webber or Mitch Richmond
San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan  --- TD or David Robinson with a nod to George Gervin
Seattle Supersonics - Gary Payton  -- GP
Toronto Raptors - Vince Carter -- Sadly VC
Utah Jazz - John Stockton  -- Stockton to Malone
Washington Wizards - Wes Unseld -- Unseld or Elvin Hayes

Ewing over Reed?

Ewing might have the better numbers, but Reed was much more valuable to the team. He was instrumental in 2 title runs. It's like the whole Chamberlain vs Russell argument. Ewing was the more talented player, but Reed has the intelligence, desire, and rings to back it up.

[TripleOT]

Here's the OP's list, with my choices  --- after his. 

Atlanta Hawks - Dominique Wilkins   --- Wilkins
Boston Celtics - Bill Russell/ Larry Bird  -- Russell
Charlotte Bobcats - uhh.. Emeka Okafor?  -- Gerald Wallace
Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan  -- Jordan
Cleveland Cavaliers - Lebron James  -- LeBron
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki  --- Dirk
Denver Nuggets - David Thompson  --- Alex English
Detroit Pistons - Isiah   --- Isiah
Golden State Warriors - Wilt Chamberlain  -- Wilt
Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon   --- Akeem
Indiana Pacers - Reggie Miller  --- Reggie
Los Angeles Clippers - I don't even know..  ---- McAdoo who played for this team for 4 1/4 seasons when in Buffalo. An actual Clipper would be Brand
Los Angeles Lakers - Magic Johnson  -- Magix, with props to Jerry West
Memphis Grizzlies - this is a tough one.. Pau Gasol, I guess.  -- Gasol
Miami Heat - Dwayne Wade  --  Mourning, but Wade will pass him if he stays there
Milwaukee Bucks - Kareem Abdul Jabaar   -- Kareem
Minnesota Timberwolves - Kevin Garnett  -- KG
New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd  --- Dr. J. 
New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul  ---  CP
New York Knicks - Willis Reed -- Patrick Ewing
Orlando Magic - Shaquille O'neal  -- Shaq
Philadelphia 76ers - Moses Malone  -- Dr J.
Phoenix Suns - Charles Barkley  -- Charles, or Paul Westphal
Portland Trailblazers - Bill Walton  -- Walton or Drexler
Sacramento Kings - Chris Webber  -- Oscar Robertson, in Sacto, either Webber or Mitch Richmond
San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan  --- TD or David Robinson with a nod to George Gervin
Seattle Supersonics - Gary Payton  -- GP
Toronto Raptors - Vince Carter -- Sadly VC
Utah Jazz - John Stockton  -- Stockton to Malone
Washington Wizards - Wes Unseld -- Unseld or Elvin Hayes

Ewing over Reed?

Ewing might have the better numbers, but Reed was much more valuable to the team. He was instrumental in 2 title runs. It's like the whole Chamberlain vs Russell argument. Ewing was the more talented player, but Reed has the intelligence, desire, and rings to back it up.

Surround Ewing in his prime with five Hall of Famers and then come talk to me.  The Wilt vs Russell argument isn't valid.  Wilt played with some great players throughout his career, although Russell played with more great players. 

Reed had HOFers Frasier, Bradley, and DeBusschere (70 and 73), and Earl Monroe  and Jerry Lucas (73) on his championship teams. There's really no comparison in terms of the quality of teammates of Reed and Ewing.