From the other thread, what I value:
I'm not going to rank Kobe/LeBron today, because both are contentious (and I've been reevaluating them for different reasons). I will give unranked profiles for them at the end, though (you can slot them where you will).
Basically, my list is the order in which I'd draft players if I was going to start a team today:
1. Michael Jordan [High Confidence]
Notes: GOAT motor. GOAT midrange scorer. GOAT first step. Monster athlete. Came up playing team ball. Can play on- or off-ball, can run the pick-and-roll, or ISO, or post up. One of few players who clearly improves in the playoffs/clutch.
Concerns: Obsessed with scoring. The retirement thing affects your window. I would like to scout his 80s seasons more to get data on how good his midrange jumper was early on.
2. Bill Russell [Medium Confidence]
Notes: Best defender ever. GOAT BBIQ. Olympic level athlete in 100m dash, 100m hurdles, high jump. Amazing lateral quickness and second jump. Very good passer and ball-handler (had a better left hand than contemporary Jerry West). One of few players who clearly improves in the playoffs/clutch.
Concerns: Era thing, though less of an issue with big men than other players. Not a great free throw shooter.
3. Hakeem Olajuwon [High Confidence]
Notes: GOAT post game. Great athlete, very mobile. Natural talent and feel for the game (started playing at 17, was a handball prodigy earlier). One of the best defenders ever. One of few players who clearly improves in the playoffs/clutch.
Concerns: Not a strong passer right away. Post-prime isn't anything to write home about. Also, hard to tell what to take from the Sonics matchup.
4. Tim Duncan [High Confidence]
Notes: Succeeded in a variety of situations. Fits into a team concept. Not selfish, can scorer when needed, or find the open man. Aged amazingly well.
Concerns: I think he's overrated defensively early in his career, Robinson helped a lot with some assignments. The matchup vs STAT was a bit weird too. Also, not an elite passer.
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [Low Confidence]
Notes: Probably the first fluid and athletic seven-footer. People talk about the skyhook, but his game wasn't one-dimensional. Could post drive from both sides, and developed a turnaround jumper from the baseline as a counter. Elite paint protector.
Concerns: I think a lot of his great play is due to Robertson and Johnson. Very good defensively, but in an era when the paint was packed (and wasn't mobile like Russell). I prefer Shaq's and Hakeem's offensive approaches. Have a lot of tape on him from the 70s I need to watch more closely.
6. Kevin Garnett [High Confidence]
Notes: Can anchor GOAT defenses. Versatile on both ends, and can fit into any role. Great midrange jumper. Top 3 passer ever for a forward (with Bird and James).
Concerns: I would have liked to see what happened in 04 had Cassell not gotten hurt. Also, even though he's one of the GOAT +/- players, everything fell apart in 05, questions there.
7. Shaquille O'Neal [Medium Confidence]
Notes: Automatic scorer one-on-one. Gets the other side in trouble. People are terrified of driving on him. Great footwork, smart passer. One of few players who clearly improves in the playoffs/clutch.
Concerns: Terrible pick-and-roll defense. Doesn't like defending jump-shooting bigs and can't switch. Feuds with teammates. The free throw thing. Late career is crap.
8. Magic Johnson [High Confidence]
Notes: Could play in a variety of styles, on or off ball. Could control the pace like anyone. Can play big or small ball. With two more quality seasons, he jumps up to 4th or 3rd I'd say.
Concerns: He posted up a lot far from the basket, so I wonder how much the Mark Jackson rule (5 seconds back to the basket) would bother him. Other than that, only issue is longevity. Can't defend his position.
9. David Robinson [High Confidence]
Notes: Underrated longevity, he was a top 5 player from when he came into the league through the Spurs first title. Three more years as an elite defender. GOAT level defender, very mobile and athletic.
Concerns: Came into the league late. 92 and 97 are also seasons that he didn't finish. Also has an offensive resiliency issue in the playoffs.
10. Larry Bird [Medium Confidence]
Notes: Probably GOAT BBIQ. Amazing shooter. Amazing post game. Very good defender early on. Maybe the best playmaker we've ever seen - his touch passes are fantastic.
Concerns: His career is too damn short. He had 9 years before the injury, but the bone spurs affected him in the 88 playoffs, so it's really 8. Not sure what his defensive position would be. Further, the back stuff is something that wouldn't get better today.
11. Karl Malone [Medium Confidence]
Notes: Great scorer. Very solid passer. Nice touch on his jump shot. Defensively made life very tough on his opposition, and had great hands. Very healthy, and strong longevity.
Concerns: Playoff resiliency issues, until he developed that baseline jumper later on. I also don't know what position he'd defend. If I had confidence he could play the 5 today, would move up.
12. Stephen Curry [High Confidence]
Notes: Best shooter ever. Top 5 ball-handling ever for a star. Has people sticking to him like glue off the ball, and draws doubles at half court. Capable passer. Very clutch.
Concerns: His ankles. Also, while he has been damn good so far, he could fall off course. Has a propensity to make bad passes.
13. Dirk Nowitzki [High Confidence]
Notes: Early on was a great pick-and-roll man, both as the handler and the roll screener. Best shooting seven-footer ever. Underrated rebounder. Became a GOAT post player in the second half of his career.
Concerns: Even as he improved, has poor defensive instincts. Not as good a passer as you'd want from your offensive anchor. Wasn't until 08 he became a beast post player, before then he could be shut down in the playoffs.
14. Chris Paul [High Confidence]
Notes: One of the best ball-handlers ever. Great shooter. Amazing defender, impossibly good at his size. Very good playmaker. Has also shown he can succeed off-ball this season.
Concerns: Has consistent health issues. He manages to break down late in the playoffs, and I wonder if it's a size/durability thing. Dominates the ball a bit much.
15. Steve Nash [High Confidence]
Notes: Best drive-and-kick player ever. Elite shooter. Great at getting any man open, tremendous teammate. Can run you off the floor.
Concerns: Didn't take the game seriously early on. If he doesn't run into the right coach, I don't know what he becomes (though in today's game, he'd probably be given the reins early on).
16. Wilt Chamberlain [Low Confidence]
Notes: One of the best paint protectors ever. If you get him in the right role (67, 68 to some degree, 72, 73), he can be an amazing player. I think at this point, I would take the risk. Everyone past here is deeply flawed.
Concerns: Low BBIQ. Turnover prone. Poor post game. Obsessed with box score stats. Needs great coaches. His athleticism is amazing, but not basketball-functional (slow second jump, bad at changing direction/recovery, poor lateral quickness).
17. John Stockton [Medium Confidence]
Notes: Very good passer, including situations where he doesn't get credit (hockey assists, post entry passes). Very tough matchup, an elite defender. Amazing hands. Good shooter.
Concerns: Unproven as a high volume shooter. Low playoff resiliency (perhaps because he wasn't used to shooting). Would've liked to have seen him in different situations. Didn't play high minutes.
18. Kevin Durant [Medium Confidence]
Notes: Can get open against anybody, anywhere. Very good length, can function as a rim protector or a shutdown defender on the perimeter when he wants. One of the best shooters ever. Elite ISO player.
Concerns: How much is he a product of Westbrook and Curry. He has pretty bad handles, though a lot of that is his size. Has a bit of a playoff problem in his career (couldn't post up Chris Paul or Tony Allen). Not a pure ceiling- or floor-raiser.
Unranked. Kobe Bryant [??? Confidence]
Notes: Can create for himself or others from anywhere in the half-court. Very good athlete in his prime. Best bad-shot maker ever, and top 5 shooter while guarded. Underrated passer. Led elite offenses freelancing, and in the triangle (playing both inside-out and outside-in). Not ball-dominant. Because of his offensive versatility, had great offensive resiliency in the playoffs.
Concerns: Not a consistent defender after his first few years. Has a habit of letting guys beat him off the dribble or missing rotations. Fell in love with the fadeaway three too much at the end of his career.
Unranked. LeBron James [??? Confidence]
Notes: Amazing physical force. Has a size and speed matchup against pretty much any player. Very good passer (great at the skip pass). Never gets hurt. Very solid motor. Has become an elite post player ever since 2012 when he started using his size. During his physical prime, was capable of playing incredible defense. Maybe the best player in transition ever.
Concerns: Too ball-dominant. Has not been consistent defensively since 2013 (though the 2016 Finals were amazing). Thinks of the game in terms of the box score at times, and uses triple doubles as a shield for criticism. Never had a consistent midrange jumper.