Do you think the best player in the world title is open?

[Gotright]

It's wild to say it ain't even close when Embiid was playing like the best player in the world until he got injured this year and Giannis was his same dominating self. At this point I don't think there is an undisputed best as all four of those are flat out beasts and dominate in different ways.

Them nikkas hurt and how has they playoff performances been over the last few years

 

[Gotright]

It's wild to say it ain't even close when Embiid was playing like the best player in the world until he got injured this year and Giannis was his same dominating self. At this point I don't think there is an undisputed best as all four of those are flat out beasts and dominate in different ways.

Out of the last 24 years what years beside a few Kobe and lebron years as there been no debate about the best player tho.

 

[NoMorePie]

For now.

 

[cartierhoe]

To me it’s still between Jokic/Giannis/Embiid, take your pick

 

[Boonapalist]

Not at all. Stop it. shaq Duncan and Kobe you can agrue them all in the early 2000s then Kobe/Lebron after that then lebron/curry/kd after that. freak had 2 years where he was the clear cut best but u can argue a few other player then joker had his 2 years and now u can agure Luka who is 5 straight years 1st all team nba. Them 2 is clearly the best and nobody’s even close. Im starting to see a trend with the Luka hate from some posters but imma wait it out till I point it out.

Yeah he’s revising history. During the 3peat Shaq had 00 and maybe 01 but 02 you had people arguing Duncan. Duncan’s was disputed by Shaq, KG, Kobe, TMac. Kobe’s was disputed with Duncan, LeBron, and Wade. And LeBron maybe had 2012 and 13 where he was universal but than you had people arguing for KD and Curry

 

[Primetime]

It's wild to say it ain't even close when Embiid was playing like the best player in the world until he got injured this year and Giannis was his same dominating self. At this point I don't think there is an undisputed best as all four of those are flat out beasts and dominate in different ways.

Not to mention, SGA outplayed Luka last series and was a top 3 player all year. Only Jokic and Giannis (and Embiid*) were more optimal at basketball. i.e. Luka compiled better surface level stats (pts/rebs/assists per game), but SGA was more efficient on less shots, less minutes, and a lower usage rate.

So generally, i agree: hard to cement an "undisputed" when (1) the foreign 5 can all get buckets/crazy numbers, and (2) how much do we factor that (for example) Ant can put Murray in jail but is bbq chicken vs Kyrie?

 

[valet]

No, best player in the world is between Zion, Wemby and Ant

No one else is close

Don’t let TEAM SUCCESS confuse yall with the production of the current GOATS

Why is Zion in this debate in your opinion?

 

[RedBull]

That title changes game by game in this hot take world. Like Nasir Olu dara Jones said, “ain’t no best.” There’s so much parity amongst the players that there’s no clear cut best, and it’s going to be like that for a while. Plus the criteria for that title changes like the wind, and whatever team is on top, which is ridiculous IMO.

 

[King Poetic]

What if luka win this year and next year jokic comes back and win it or giannis wins it or say the Celtics win back to back and tatum shows out..

at this point there’s no clear best

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Just a year ago Luka was missing the playoffs entirely going out sad. No one was calling him best then. What has he improved in 12 months? His defensive shortcomings are still an issue when you compare him to someone like Giannis.

Y'all let team success interview with your view of individual ability FAR too much.

Nah. Jordan, Shaq, Duncan, Kobe and LeBron all had runs where they were CLEARLY the best... the last time it was disputed was Bird/Magic

WTF are you talking about? Kobe was never "clearly the best" in any season in his career. And how could Shaq and Duncan both have had runs when they were "clearly the best" when their peak was at the exact same time?

Shaq's best MVP finishes were 1998-2005 (MVP 2000) and his best team success was 2000-2006 (titles 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006)
Duncan's best MVP finishes were 1998-2005 (MVP 2002, 2003) and his best team success was 1999-2007 (titles 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007)

They were being debated every single year.

 

[MJ Truth]

them 2 is the only options so it’s not really open.

If Giannis or Embiid were to win a title next year everyone would just say they’re the best player. This is the most open it’s been in forever.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

Yeah he’s revising history. During the 3peat Shaq had 00 and maybe 01 but 02 you had people arguing Duncan. Duncan’s was disputed by Shaq, KG, Kobe, TMac. Kobe’s was disputed with Duncan, LeBron, and Wade. And LeBron maybe had 2012 and 13 where he was universal but than you had people arguing for KD and Curry

No..... Not at all. Shaq was the guy in the threepeat. Duncan didn't become the guy until 2003. Then it went to Kobe and then it went to LeBron.

Nobody ever seriously thought T-Mac or Wade were the best players in the league. That never happened. Maybe a couple stans but that's about it.

And at no point was KD better than LeBron.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

Just a year ago Luka was missing the playoffs entirely going out sad. No one was calling him best then. What has he improved in 12 months? His defensive shortcomings are

WTF are you talking about? Kobe was never "clearly the best" in any season in his career. And how could Shaq and Duncan both have had runs when they were "clearly the best" when their peak was at the exact same time?

Shaq's best MVP finishes were 1998-2005 (MVP 2000) and his best team success was 2000-2006 (titles 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006)
Duncan's best MVP finishes were 1998-2005 (MVP 2002, 2003) and his best team success was 1999-2007 (titles 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007)

They were being debated every single year.

This is all complete bullshyt. Kobe was the guy until LeBron surpassed him. Kobe was robbed of the MVP a couple seasons. Nobody cares that these cacs were giving people like Steve Nash the fukking MVP..... Nash was never "the best"

Writers lost sight of what the MVP award is about. They also started giving it out as a participation trophy. That's why Karl Malone has one. He was never better than Jordan.

 

[Gotright]

If Giannis or Embiid were to win a title next year everyone would just say they’re the best player. This is the most open it’s been in forever.

Since when? Nobody can say when. 2016? then Before the lebron years when was it not open? the Jordan years?

 

[Primetime]

Yeah he’s revising history. During the 3peat Shaq had 00 and maybe 01 but 02 you had people arguing Duncan. Duncan’s was disputed by Shaq, KG, Kobe, TMac. Kobe’s was disputed with Duncan, LeBron, and Wade. And LeBron maybe had 2012 and 13 where he was universal but than you had people arguing for KD and Curry

I'd say that early 2000s was definitely Shaq vs Duncan on some 55/45 leaning (maybe 65-35 admist the 3-peat years). The others like Kobe, TMac, KG (and at times Jason Kidd) rounded out the top 5-6 but it felt like there was somewhat of a gap. Fair or not, media machinations or not.

i.e. If you go by the NBA GM survey, which started in 03... the question of if you had to start a franchise with any player? In 2003, GMs chose Shaq over everyone (coming off the 3peat). In '04, '05, and '06... GMs chose Duncan by margin. It was basically Shaq/Duncan or Duncan/Shaq every year for that and for forecasted MVP winner. After '06 was when LeBron took over as top guy by GMs.