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Well they're are different typs of great player. For instance, Robert Horry and Steve Kerr were great role players. Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan were great franchise players. I'll assume your talking about franchise players.

I think it takes a lot of different attributes to make a player great franchise type player. To start they have to put up good stats. Everyone loves stats and it gives you an idea on paper just how good the player is. Wow, he scored 50 points or he averaged or he averages 14 rebounds or 2.78 steals per game. He has to put up impressive numbers.

The player also has to play for a winning team in which he is the foundation of success. You have to win championships! If you have a guy who scores 30 points per game, and they lose to the Phoenix Suns in the first round every year then what do you have there? :-) You have to win to be considered an all time great.

The player has to be exciting, or know how to deliver the dramatic moment. Nothing is more exciting than a game winning jumper at the buzzer or watching your teams guy deliver a facial or cross the opposing player out of his shoes.

He must have a flair for the dramatic.

Well, with that said, I can't say I can come up with a player who embodies all of those qualities, at least not in today's league. But, two out of three ain't bad. Duncan has 2, Kobe Bryant has 2, Lebron James has, well...1 of those qualities really, and Vince Carter has 1. The only players I know that had all three are retired.

Those are Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Julius Erving.

You have to have great all round stats for your position. That includes defensive stats.

There are two other factors that determine greatness:

1. Size of market

2. Championship wins

Do you think anyone would remember who Willis Reed was if he hadn't played on a Knicks Championship team?

Michael Jordan was not only the top offensive player of his time, he was also the top defensive player. He played for one of the largest market teams and he not only has rings, he earned them at the end of key games.

No one considers Kobe the top defensive player. Horry was a role player lucky enough to be on the right team.

By the way, I would take Jordan or Pippen over Kidd or Stockton any day.

One last note. If Jordan had not taken two years off to play baseball, is there any doubt that the Bulls would have won 8 straight? There should be an asterisk next to the two Houston championships.

1.) In a team game, the ability to elevates one's team IMO is what defines a great player. Anyone can lead the league in one statistical category if all they focus on is one single aspect of the game. There's a reason football has always been the #1 sport in america since it began. It's the best team sport there is. It requires teamwork and unselfishness to be successful at it. One person can't determine the outcome of a game without the help of his teammates, unlike basketball, or even baseball. That's why most basketball purists and the american population is turned off by the NBA in general. That's why certain players will never be considered great in public perception (considering people determine the HoF and stuff like that)

I think all of those things come into consideration, I would have to go with the 13+ assists, how much better he made the team, temmates, and franchise better, and maybe even the sport overall. As you said, Robert had 7 while Jordan had 6, the difference is Jordan played a bigger role. I would choose Oscar Robertson as the greatest player to play NBA basketball. He averaged a triple-double, and although he had only 1 championship, he didn't have any other star to help him. Wilt Chamberlain comes a close second, and Michael Jordan is third.

You are entirely correct. There are many ways to achieve greatness. You can be great through a variety of ways, whether through statistics, hard work, titles, popularity, etc. Almost no one will refute the fact that Allen Iverson or Kevin Garnett are great players, even though they have both never won a title. Robert Horry is a great player not because of his popularity or his stats, but because he is a winner.

To me, greatness measures the difference you make, whether on the defensive end, on the scoreboard, or on tv. Thus, many players can be considered great players.

To be the greatest of all time, a player needs to demonstrate greatness in all fields. And this player is Michael Jordan. Horry has more rings than Jordan, but Michael Jordan trumps him as a player and icon. Jordan has it all. From the great defense, to his overall statistics, to winning titles. From his own shoe company, to last minute heroics, to worldwide popularity. Michael Jordan is in all ways, the greatest player of all time, because he does everything a great player does.

Greatness is achieved through hard work and dedication. The person who most defines greatness in the NBA is Magic Johnson. He revitalized a sport that was dead. He made his team better with hard work ethics and leadership. He did whatever was necessary to win, whether that meant scoring points, dishing out assists, rebounding, or playing a different position. Magic's selflessness epitomizes what a great player and a great individual is capable of. Basketball became a viable sport again when he stepped into the league and has been better for it.

very good question......

this question will probably result in similar answers, for various reasons. as you stated, greatness will be perceived in many ways per the indvidual. i mean you can look at stats, rings, endorsements, etc. but in my opinion you have to look at them all as a whole, and their legacy that they left on the game.

in my opinion, magic johnson was the best thing to ever step on a nba court. i say this for so many reasons. to start, he was the true definition of a team player(basketball is a team sport). he made everyone around him a better player. he was very unselfish and could take the game over when needed(take note kobe). here is a guy that could and did play any position on the court and be effective at them all offensively and defensively(what other player can this be said of). he was the most exciting passer the game as ever seen(i'm talking passes that were the topics on many lunch breaks). his off court actions were very respectful and considerate of the league. after his announcement to retire after testing hiv positive, he made a comeback to show that hiv does not mean the end of your life(i'm sure that inspired many to continue to live). his competitive nature was remarkable(especailly with bird and zeek). he was extremely marketable, and his business ethics are now unprecidented(i'm talking business franchises people, not just a single nightclub or restaraunt).

when you add all of this together, greatness is the only word you can use to describe this man.

It is by making your team better- period. Forget about who could win one-on-one and all that crap. My best indicator is how many more games did your team win after you got there? It doesn't have to be titles because you need others for that. Stats can be mis-leading too. If you are one great player on an otherwise lousy team, you are going to have big #'s because you will be shooting all the time.

For me, the greatest is Kobe.

Not Jordan.

If jordan brought popularity to the nba, then it's not a reason to be great, it's just like charisma and fame.

Kobe is the greatest because he is just a living example of how one man can bring a mediocre team in the playoffs.

Not even Jordan did it.

You are considered GREAT when you make SOMETHING out of NOTHING.

Jordan was the greatest in defensive skills as a guard.

Kobe was the greatest in offensive skills as a guard.

Enough said,