Dallas has assembled a team chuck full of players who have never tasted championship glory; Kidd, Stojakovic, Marion, Terry, and Dirk. While it would be a touching story for them to win, this year's Finals is all about Dirk. What kind of legacy will he leave behind if he doesn't win a championship? Where does he rank all time before and after a championship ring? Dirk has heard both sides of the spectrum over his career; "he's too soft" and now "he's the greatest seven foot shooter ever."
To be considered one of the "Greats" (Top 15 of all time) you have to taste championship glory at least once. If you only win once then I'll need to see multiple record breaking performances to qualify you for this list. At this point in his career Dirk can't crack the top 20 list, sorry just hasn't impressed in the postseason enough. I'm going to list ten guys and you tell me if he should supplant them: Karl Malone, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Kevin Garnett, Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, John Havlicek, and Bob Cousy. Does Dirk beat out any of these guys?
The only one I can argue for is Barkley. Barkley ran into the buzz saw that was the Chicago Bulls in1993 Finals and never came close again to winning a title. Their numbers are almost identical at this point; both have won a league MVP, both have been to 10+ All-Star games, both have been selected to 4+ All-NBA First Teams, and both had been to the NBA Finals only once prior to this season. Here's why Charles Barkley still trumps Dirk unless he takes the title home this year. Barkley was one of only four players to compile 20K+ points, 10K+ rebounds, and 4K+ assists (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley) while standing at roughly 6'5''. He bodied up against some of the all-time great bigs (Ewing, Robinson, Abdul-Jabbar, Olajuwon, and Malone) and held his own even though they had five inches on him. Barkley is a once in a lifetime kind of player given his size but that one glaring hole makes him vulnerable to be surpassed.
Winning a championship is the bar that everyone is measured upon. Winning a championship can completely change one's legacy (Garnett is no longer the loser in Minnesota). While there is little argument that Dirk isn't the greatest seven foot shooter ever, his all time legacy is ultimately still up in the air.
The only one I can argue for is Barkley. Barkley ran into the buzz saw that was the Chicago Bulls in1993 Finals and never came close again to winning a title. Their numbers are almost identical at this point; both have won a league MVP, both have been to 10+ All-Star games, both have been selected to 4+ All-NBA First Teams, and both had been to the NBA Finals only once prior to this season. Here's why Charles Barkley still trumps Dirk unless he takes the title home this year. Barkley was one of only four players to compile 20K+ points, 10K+ rebounds, and 4K+ assists (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley) while standing at roughly 6'5''. He bodied up against some of the all-time great bigs (Ewing, Robinson, Abdul-Jabbar, Olajuwon, and Malone) and held his own even though they had five inches on him. Barkley is a once in a lifetime kind of player given his size but that one glaring hole makes him vulnerable to be surpassed.
Winning a championship is the bar that everyone is measured upon. Winning a championship can completely change one's legacy (Garnett is no longer the loser in Minnesota). While there is little argument that Dirk isn't the greatest seven foot shooter ever, his all time legacy is ultimately still up in the air.
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