Who ranks higher on your GOAT list between Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

[PhutureDynasty]

I usually see these two close on some people's GOAT lists and I am wondering who you all have higher.

Do you have Bill Russell higher?



Or do you have Kareem Abdul-Jabbar higher?



In my eyes, they're in the same tier and both have an argument for GOAT but I rank Bill above Kareem. Mostly because he dominated defensively in a way nobody has been able to replicate since. I understand the game has changed in ways to make it harder to do what Bill did today, but still he has 11 rings as the greatest defender the NBA has ever seen.

So, what say you?

[LNS]

Kareem

[Robceltsfan]

3a/3b

[_Vcsgrizzfan_]

Everyone here knows I pick Russell. But there's nothing wrong with choosing KAJ. Russell just didn't lose, in high school (state championship), college (2 NCAA titles in 3 years at a no name college) and 11 rings in 13 NBA seasons which could have been 12 but for an injury in 58 finals. That's just goofy.

[Bush4Ever.]

To me, in terms of cumulative career value it has to be Kareem.

I see Kareem's run in the 70s basically equaling Russell's run in the 60s, but Kareem adding meaningfully more value in the 80s compared to Russell in the 50s. Probably not on a per-game basis averaged out, but certainly so when you take differences in tenure into account.

In terms of peak/prime value, I don't think there was any meaningful difference.

In terms of skills/abilities, I think Kareem could probably do a better Russell in the 60s than Russell could do a Kareem in the 70s and early 80s, but that's just a guess.

[zombiesonics]

Kareem

[lettherebehouse]

Does Russell even crack the top 10 is the better question

[LNS]

Does Russell even crack the top 10 is the better question

I have him barely cracking 5th behind Lebron, MJ, Kareem and Magic

[zombiesonics]

Does Russell even crack the top 10 is the better question

11 rings is 11 rings, albeit against literal plumbers and insurance salesmen.

[lettherebehouse]

Does Russell even crack the top 10 is the better question

I have him barely cracking 5th behind Lebron, MJ, Kareem and Magic

I have him behind the Kobe, Bird, Shaq, Duncan, Curry, Durant tier which I believe puts him at best 12th or 13th.

Not bad for a glorfied Larry Sanders, IMHO.

[Robceltsfan]

5 League MVPs
11 Titles
Would have had 6-9 Bill Russell Finals MVP awards....had they existed

He should be in everyone's top 4, period.

[lettherebehouse]

Does Russell even crack the top 10 is the better question

11 rings is 11 rings, albeit against literal plumbers and insurance salesmen.

I believe there were only 4.5 teams in the league when Russell entered, with most of the potentially great players fighting and dying in wars.

[LNS]

5 League MVPs
11 Titles
Would have had 6-9 Bill Russell Finals MVP awards....had they existed

He should be in everyone's top 4, period.

He’d be Rudy Gobert in today’s league no troll

[Robceltsfan]

5 League MVPs
11 Titles
Would have had 6-9 Bill Russell Finals MVP awards....had they existed

He should be in everyone's top 4, period.

He’d be Rudy Gobert in today’s league no troll

Right....cuz Gobert runs fast breaks, and consistently gets assists. And Gobert definitely has the offense run THROUGH HIM like Russell did, right?

Russell would be closer to Jokic, offensively, with Gobert's defensive talents.

[LNS]

5 League MVPs
11 Titles
Would have had 6-9 Bill Russell Finals MVP awards....had they existed

He should be in everyone's top 4, period.

He’d be Rudy Gobert in today’s league no troll

Right....cuz Gobert runs fast breaks, and consistently gets assists. And Gobert definitely has the offense run THROUGH HIM like Russell did, right?

Russell would be closer to Jokic, offensively, with Gobert's defensive talents.

Yea… let’s magically inflate a 15pt 4ast guy to Jokic’s near triple double numbers

And you people have the nerve to call tdk “glory days”

[LNS]

Hey while we’re at it we should also pretend Billy boy would have a lights 3pt shot too… even though his career high FG% was only .467

[Bush4Ever.]

I like Russell and everything, but literally nothing about his offensive game approaches Joker.

Era-adjusted or otherwise.

[Robceltsfan]

He’d be Rudy Gobert in today’s league no troll

Right....cuz Gobert runs fast breaks, and consistently gets assists. And Gobert definitely has the offense run THROUGH HIM like Russell did, right?

Russell would be closer to Jokic, offensively, with Gobert's defensive talents.

Yea… let’s magically inflate a 15pt 4ast guy to Jokic’s near triple double numbers

And you people have the nerve to call tdk “glory days”

He wouldn't have his scoring ability....but he WOULD be operating the offense from the top of the key, just like Jokic.

[LNS]

[Robceltsfan]

He'd be a 18/13/10 kinda guy....with DPOY's.