Who's Better, Who's Best in Basketball? Mr Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top 50 NBA Players of All Time

by Kalb, Elliott

• ISBN13: 9780071417884
• ISBN10: 0071417885
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-19
• Publisher: McGraw Hill

Summary

ABC's and ESPN's "Mr. Stats" ranks the NBA's greatest players of all time in this provocative and comprehensive book"Elliot Kalb's work is beyond excellent. He thinks in story lines and uses numbers and history to make compelling and often original points."--Bob Costas"...a book that any hardcore basketball fan can savor."-- San Francisco ChronicleWhen the NBA released its supposedly authoritative list of the top 50 players, basketball fans everywhere begged to differ. InWho's Better, Who's Best?Elliot Kalb, known to TV viewers as ABC's "Mr. Stats," enters the fray.The ultimate NBA historian and authority in armchair athletes' disputes, Kalb interweaves numbers, facts, and anecdotes to flesh out the central question in every basketball fan's mind: Who's the best? His choices are provocative (Michael Jordan isn't #1; he's not even #2), framed by discussions with unorthodox sources and respected NBA experts, players, and coaches.A tremendously satisfying book for anyone hungry for statistics and debate, this is the ultimate behind-the-numbers story of the best of the NBA.

Author Biography

Elliot Kalb is "Mr. Stats" at ABC and ESPN. He was previously at NBC for 15 years. The three-time Emmy winner has worked alongside Bob Costas, Marv Albert, Dick Enberg, Brent Musburger, and others.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Bob Costas	v
Foreword by Bill Walton	vii
Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
1 Shaquille O'Neal
The Case for Number One	1	(16)
2 Wilt Chamberlain
The Babe	17	(16)
3 Michael Jordan
MJ Isn't the Automatic Choice Anymore	33	(14)
4 Bill Russell
The Lion in Winner	47	(10)
5 Kareem Abdul Jabbar
K-Tel Presents "The Best of the 1970's!"	57	(10)
6 Larry Bird
The Best Forward Ever	67	(8)
7 Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Showtime!	75	(8)
8 Oscar Robertson
The Original Triple Double	83	(8)
9 Tim Duncan
The Big Fundamental	91	(12)
10 Bob Cousy
Houdini of the Hardwood	103	(10)
11 Bob Pettit
First to Score 20,000 Points	113	(8)
12 Jerry West
"Zeke" from Cabin Creek	121	(10)
13 Elgin Baylor
Everything But the Ring	131	(10)
14 Moses Malone
The Offensive Rebounding Master	141	(10)
15 Julius Erving
The Incredible Dr. J	151	(8)
16 Hakeem Olajuwon
The NBA's Best in the Mid-1990's	159	(8)
17 Karl Malone
The Compiler	167	(8)
18 Kobe Bryant
The Air Apparent	175	(6)
19 George Mikan
The First Great Big Man	181	(6)
20 David Robinson
The Admiral	187	(8)
21 Charles Barkley
Sir Charles	195	(10)
22 Rick Barry
Larry Bird Before Bird	205	(10)
23 Dolph Schayes
The NBA's Best in the Mid-1950's	215	(8)
24 John Havlicek
The Best Mid-Sized Player of His Era	223	(6)
25 Isiah Thomas
Leader of the "Bad Boys"	229	(8)
26 George Gervin
Remember the "Iceman"	237	(8)
27 John Stockton
The Tortoise	245	(6)
28 Jason Kidd
The Closest Thing to Magic	251	(8)
29 Scottie Pippen
The Second Banana	259	(8)
30 Dennis Rodman
The Greatest Defensive Forward Ever	267	(8)
31 Walt Frazier
The Coolest Guy in the Room	275	(6)
32 Dave Cowens
The Fifth-Greatest Celtic	281	(8)
33 Allen Iverson
The Fifth-Greatest Sixer	289	(6)
34 Kevin McHale
The Unstoppable Low-Post Moves	295	(6)
35 Elvin Hayes
The Big E	301	(6)
36 Gary Payton
"The Glove"	307	(6)
37 Bill Walton
The Textbook Center	313	(6)
38 Patrick Ewing
The Best Jump-Shooting Center	319	(10)
39 Willis Reed
Heavyweight Champ	329	(8)
40 Kevin Garnett
Through the Looking Glass	337	(8)
41 Tracy McGrady
The Sky's the Limit	345	(8)
42 Sam Jones
The Bank Is Open	353	(4)
43 Nate Archibald
The Best Player Nicknamed "Tiny"	357	(4)
44 Bob McAdoo
Much Adoo About Something	361	(6)
45 Billy Cunningham
"The Kangaroo Kid"	367	(6)
46 Earl Monroe
"The Pearl"	373	(8)
47 Pete Maravich
The Floppy-Socked Magician	381	(6)
48 Reggie Miller
Master of the Game-Winning Three	387	(6)
49 Dominique Wilkins
"The Human Highlight Film"	393	(6)
50 Clyde Drexler
Jordan-Lite	399	(4)
51 The Other Guys	403	(4)
Appendix The Lists	407