Kevin Durant

In my book “The G.O.A.T.: The Quest to Find the Best” I spent the first chapter, twenty-four pages, laying out and defining my 10 criteria for picking the top 75 greatest basketball players of all time. As a former high school and college coach for 22 years I developed objective and thoughtful criteria for what, I think, defines greatness on the basketball court. It is difficult to be totally objective and not let prejudices toward favorite players creep into your thought process. I think that is particularly true with older fans who may have grown up idolizing a team or sports personality.

One of my 10 criteria is called “the yardstick test”.  I began watching college and the NBA in the early 1950’s. Just like most fans I am always comparing one player with another. I often will make an analogy like “he is a great shooter BUT not as good as XYZ”. I have also had the privilege of coaching and playing against several players that have played in the NBA. There are, however, a few generational players that set the standards for everyone else. In golf, that player is Tiger Woods (some would say Jack Nicklaus), in hockey that player is Wayne Gretzky, in baseball Babe Ruth, and in basketball it has been Michael Jordan for the last 30 years. It may still be Jordan to many basketball fans, but to others it may be someone else. These “most elite” athletes are “the yardstick” by which everyone else gets measured.

I thought it would be fun, and I hope it is interesting, to look at the 5 categories of basketball; scorer, shooter, rebounder, defender, passer/ballhandler, and pick the “yardstick” for each category. I will pick ONE player that based on statistics, research, and the “eye test”, over these last seven decades, is the best player in each category. The picks are not limited or influenced by era, officiating, game rules, competition, winning, etc. It is always difficult to try and project how the older players would perform in today’s game, but I believe the generational players would be great in any era. For example, Oscar Robertson was a great scorer without a 3-point shot so how would he do in today’s NBA? The “Big O” would adapt his game and probably shoot more 3s even if his game back in the 60s and 70s was a back down mid-range jumper.

Who is the best scorer of all time? Who is the “yardstick” for this category? Obviously, there have been several players that a good case could be made for. Players like Chamberlain, Jabbar, O’Neal, Jordan, Bryant, West, Robertson, Iverson, Gervin, Barry, Baylor, Maravich, Erving, Bird, Harden, James, and Curry. (Jokic and Doncic are lurking in the background.)

But before I get to my pick for my #1 scorer in the history of the game, I am going to give you the reasons why I didn’t pick the players listed above. I didn’t pick Wilt, Kareem, and Shaq because they needed someone to get them the ball. They are easier to double-team because of their position, and they all scored inside. They were not efficient free-throw shooters.

I did not pick Kobe, MJ, LeBron, Oscar, Elgin, Dr. J, and Barry because they are not as efficient perimeter shooters as my pick. Remember, my pick is based on the NBA today. Kobe, MJ, Dr. J, and LeBron got most of their points off mid-range shots and getting to the hoop. The 3-point basket is 20-35% of the offensive scheme of teams today in the NBA.

Curry and Harden rely on the 3-pointer and are limited by their size to get to the basket and score. Iverson did not shoot a lot of 3s, his FG% was .448 and .780% from the free throw line.

West and Maravich played when there was no 3-point arc so it is difficult to project what they would have done. Gervin and Bird played when the 3-point shot was not utilized.  There is no question that West, Bird, and Maravich would have scored more points in the NBA today than when they played.

Gervin, Bird, and MJ were the three players who were the most difficult to eliminate as #1. All were outstanding free throw shooters, outstanding mid-range shooters, and could get to the rim and finish. Bird had great range.

So, my pick for the greatest SCORER of all time is Kevin Durant. He has no weakness as a scorer. He can handle the ball, create his own shot, finish at the basket or shoot the 3, and with his size, he is a match-up nightmare for the defense. He has a 27.3 points per game career average, .501 FG%, .387 3P%, .884 FT%. Durant, a seven-footer, who can play anywhere on the court and score from anywhere on the court is my YARDSTICK. Next: Shooter