Impossible to make a top 5, both of the ones up above are good, no argument from me. Id maybe cover my bases though and go with (in this order): Russell, Wilt, Kareem Duncan, Baylor, Malone Bird, Barkley, Dr J, Hondo Magic, MJ, West, Big O, Isiah, Stockton, Tiny Yup, Im going with Magic over MJ, just the way I see it.
Posted by Karllost

Wilt was great..... out of this world stats....but there is a reason Russ led his teams to back to back NCAA titles.....the US to a Gold Medal.....and took the Celtics to the NBA Finals 12 times in 13 years....it isn't a coincidenc that he won 14 overall championships over his 15 years of organized basketball.....Wilt won.....twice?   .....if you want a winning team the decision isn't even close.....
Posted by Duke4

Duke How many rings do you think Russ would have if he had played his entire NBA career with the N Y Knicks? I realize that its a question that can't really be answered but raises the question as to how much of a factor his Hall Of Fame teamates were in achieving the 11 rings. SeemsToMe
Posted by SeemsToMe

OK, I do get your point....in order to explain why I think that Russ brought something special, please allow me to outline some thoughts first, Russ led USF to back to back, undefeated seasons....I believe the only teammate who went on to play in the NBA was KC Jones...before he arrived and after he left the program was not a powehouse... then he joined the Celtics.....they were always good enough to make the playoffs but never good enough to make the finals....along came Russ and Heinson and the Celtics went to the Finals 12 times in the next 13 years...the only time they lost was when Russ was injured against the Hawks... over the years, so many of the greats left.....in no particular order were Sharman, Ramsey, Cousy, Heinson, KC....the Celtics were able to replace them with other players but Russell remained the constant.... The team got older and finally couldn't keep up with the powerfull Sixers, led by Wilt....they lost in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Sixers were anointed as the new powerhouse after they dismantled the Warriors.....I will never forget listening to the radio and hearing the Philly crowd chanting over and over...as the final game became a mismatch........."hey Red.....your old men are dead".....I had to hear it from all of my buddies who hated the Celtics and I had to read about it all offseason then a funny thing happened.....the "old men" came back and beat Philly the next year and went on to defeat the Lakers once again....a lot of people called it a fluke.....Wilt was so frustrated he got himself traded to the Lakers of Baylor and West.... the following year the old Celts were a tired bunch.....they played .500 ball but made it to the playoffs....on their way, they beat the younger and favored Knicks, a series that included the first ever prime time telecast of an NBA playoff game....they ended up once again meeting the Lakers in the Finals....they were huge underdogs.....and they won game 7 in Jack Kent Cooke's "Fabulous Forum"..... Russ and Sam retired after the series.....the Celtic core remained and they added a great young guard named Jo Jo White.....the team had it's first losing season in close to 20 years... throughout all of this the Celtic motto was......."the spokes change but the wheel just keeps on turning".....Russell was the strongest of those strokes....to quote Reggie Jackson.....he was truly the straw that stirred the drink.... That is why I think Russ could've changed a team like the Knicks....he was not only a great and talented athlete....he was the smartest man who ever played....he simply knew how to win and made everyone around him better.... at least that is my opinion...
Posted by Duke4

OK, I do get your point....in order to explain why I think that Russ brought something special, please allow me to outline some thoughts first, Russ led USF to back to back, undefeated seasons....I believe the only teammate who went on to play in the NBA was KC Jones...before he arrived and after he left the program was not a powehouse... then he joined the Celtics.....they were always good enough to make the playoffs but never good enough to make the finals....along came Russ and Heinson and the Celtics went to the Finals 12 times in the next 13 years...the only time they lost was when Russ was injured against the Hawks... over the years, so many of the greats left.....in no particular order were Sharman, Ramsey, Cousy, Heinson, KC....the Celtics were able to replace them with other players but Russell remained the constant.... The team got older and finally couldn't keep up with the powerfull Sixers, led by Wilt....they lost in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Sixers were anointed as the new powerhouse after they dismantled the Warriors.....I will never forget listening to the radio and hearing the Philly crowd chanting over and over...as the final game became a mismatch........."hey Red.....your old men are dead".....I had to hear it from all of my buddies who hated the Celtics and I had to read about it all offseason then a funny thing happened.....the "old men" came back and beat Philly the next year and went on to defeat the Lakers once again....a lot of people called it a fluke.....Wilt was so frustrated he got himself traded to the Lakers of Baylor and West.... the following year the old Celts were a tired bunch.....they played .500 ball but made it to the playoffs....on their way, they beat the younger and favored Knicks, a series that included the first ever prime time telecast of an NBA playoff game....they ended up once again meeting the Lakers in the Finals....they were huge underdogs.....and they won game 7 in Jack Kent Cooke's "Fabulous Forum"..... Russ and Sam retired after the series.....the Celtic core remained and they added a great young guard named Jo Jo White.....the team had it's first losing season in close to 20 years... throughout all of this the Celtic motto was......."the spokes change but the wheel just keeps on turning".....Russell was the strongest of those strokes....to quote Reggie Jackson.....he was truly the straw that stirred the drink.... That is why I think Russ could've changed a team like the Knicks....he was not only a great and talented athlete....he was the smartest man who ever played....he simply knew how to win and made everyone around him better.... at least that is my opinion...
Posted by Duke4

In Response to Re: Who were the top 5 players by position in the NBA's history? : You do realize your going to play without a SG. But for me: C- Wilt/Russell PF-Duncan/Malone SF-LBJ/Bird SG-MJ/Kobe PG-Magic/Stockton I put LeBron and Kobe in there because at the end of their career they will both be in top 10. 
Posted by maine12

Wilt - C Malone - PF Elgin Baylor - SF MJ - SG Oscar Robinson - PG other first team:  Magic - Kobe - Bird - Duncan - Russel Best NBA Talent at their peak (careers cut short) Walton - C Marvin Barnes - PF Bernard King - SF  Pete Maravich -SG Penny Hardaway - PG 6th man - Grant Hill (led league in all star votes as rookie and more votes than MJ in his 2nd year!)
Posted by Eldunker

1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Center 2. Tim Duncan, Power Forward 3. Larry Bird, Small Forward  4. Michael Jordan, Shooting Guard 5. Magic Johnson, Point Guard
Posted by rsalas67m