Rank MU NBAers

[real chili 83]

Chris Crawford gets an honorable mention for 9 years and over 1500 points in the league.

[bamamarquettefan]

Agree on Kojis. I just posted a Cracked Sidewalks breakdown on all 37, and while Wade and Lucas are clearly 1 and 2, you can argue for any one of four players as No. 3. Rivers, Chones, Butler assuming his career has a natural progression from where he is as a 25-year-old, and Kojis.

[keefe]

Love Jim Mac but plenty of sites have his signing to the sonics as the beginning of the end of that team.

The beginning of the end for the Sonics was when that idiot Howard Schultz bought them.

Schultz is absolutely one of the biggest pricks in Seattle.

http://deadspin.com/5907371/howard-schultz-gave-out-350-starbucks-gift-cards-an-insiders-notes-on-the-shabby-death-of-the-seattle-supersonics

[bamamarquettefan]

I can't blame that on Mac. He was a great backup center in the league that filed a very specific role of defensive stopper and shot blocker very well. The problem was that Seattle looked at his numbers from Washington off the bench and paid him based on protecting those numbers over starter minutes. Mac would have been foolish to pass on it, but Seattle was foolish to offer it with those expectations.

Mac is one of the best cautionary tales as to why fans and GMs shouldn't expect guys that excel in limited minutes to do the same when those minutes expand.

Likewise I agree - the fact that Mac was paid like he was one of the top players in the league doesn't mean he wasn't solid. The average salary at the time was 40% of what it was last year even before the new giant salaries ($2m ave vs $5m I believe). So guaranteeing him $33 million then would have been like guaranteeing a young player today $83 million total. Yeah, he wasn't that good - but he was a solid player who was able to contribute for a lot of year in the NBA which is pretty rare.

I could only find the team salaries from a couple of years after, but for perspective they guaranteed him more over the course of the contract than 19 of 29 teams were paying their whole roster each year.

 1. Los Angeles Clippers .... $24,493,625
 2. Toronto Raptors ......... $24,748,405
 3. Detroit Pistons ......... $24,876,625
 4. Vancouver Grizzlies ..... $25,637,110
 5. Milwaukee Bucks ......... $25,919,828
 6. Denver Nuggets .......... $26,518,960
 7. Cleveland Cavaliers ..... $26,677,290
 8. Boston Celtics .......... $26,800,500
 9. Charlotte Hornets ....... $27,006,013
10. Dallas Mavericks......... $27,268,948
11. Portland Trailblazers ... $27,786,719
12. Minnesota Timberwolves .. $27,787,780
13. Houston Rockets ......... $28,086,350
14. New Jersey Nets ......... $28,504,567
15. Utah Jazz ............... $28,505,442
16. Sacramento Kings ........ $30,046,350
17. Atlanta Hawks ........... $30,133,827
18. Philadelphia 76ers ...... $31,420,520
19. Golden State Warriors ... $32,856,469
20. Miami Heat .............. $34,641,186
21. Los Angeles Lakers ...... $36,304,083   
22. Phoenix Suns ............ $36,937,876
23. Seattle Sonics .......... $37,592,175
24. San Antonio Spurs ....... $38,846,163
25. Indiana Pacers .......... $39,162,273
26. Washington Wizards ...... $40,718,075
27. Orlando Magic ........... $43,954,299
28. New York Knicks ......... $53,974,881
29. Chicago Bulls ........... $61,330,670

[GGGG]

Jimmy is easily #2 in my book(Soon to be #1). I'd place Jae above Novak at the very least at this point. Doc also seems a bit high on the list for a player.

Not only do I agree that Jimmy is very, very unlikely to be #1, but I think he has a lot of work to do to get past Lucas.  Lucas as a damn good NBA player.

[brewcity77]

Not only do I agree that Jimmy is very, very unlikely to be #1, but I think he has a lot of work to do to get past Lucas.  Lucas as a damn good NBA player.

I give Jimmy a ton of credit for getting where he is. From the last pick of the first round to sparsely used role-player to solid bench player to starter to all-star over the course of his 4 year career is incredible.

In order to pass Wade, however, he would have to keep on this upward trajectory. Wade spent most of his career as one of the top-10 players in the game.

In order to be on Wade's level, things he would have to do include regular all-star appearances, getting significant votes for regular season and playoff MVP awards, all-NBA and all-NBA defensive nods, and winning titles. He doesn't have to do everything on that list, but as mentioned before, Wade is an all-time great.

Maybe I'm still underselling Jimmy's ability to improve, but at some point he's going to reach his peak. Can he be the best player on a championship winning team? I don't believe so. To win titles, I think he'll have to be the Scottie Pippen (or admittedly Dwyane Wade or Maurice Lucas) to someone else's Michael Jordan/Lebron James/Bill Walton. If he does that stuff above, maybe he can equal Wade. To surpass him, he'll have to do all that while being the best player on his team. That's a tough ask. Maybe not impossible, this is Jimmy F'ing Butler we're talking about, but I have to imagine even JFB has his limits.

[withoutbias]

I give Jimmy a ton of credit for getting where he is. From the last pick of the first round to sparsely used role-player to solid bench player to starter to all-star over the course of his 4 year career is incredible.

In order to pass Wade, however, he would have to keep on this upward trajectory. Wade spent most of his career as one of the top-10 players in the game.

In order to be on Wade's level, things he would have to do include regular all-star appearances, getting significant votes for regular season and playoff MVP awards, all-NBA and all-NBA defensive nods, and winning titles. He doesn't have to do everything on that list, but as mentioned before, Wade is an all-time great.

Maybe I'm still underselling Jimmy's ability to improve, but at some point he's going to reach his peak. Can he be the best player on a championship winning team? I don't believe so. To win titles, I think he'll have to be the Scottie Pippen (or admittedly Dwyane Wade or Maurice Lucas) to someone else's Michael Jordan/Lebron James/Bill Walton. If he does that stuff above, maybe he can equal Wade. To surpass him, he'll have to do all that while being the best player on his team. That's a tough ask. Maybe not impossible, this is Jimmy F'ing Butler we're talking about, but I have to imagine even JFB has his limits.

uhh, who was miami's mj in 2005-2006 if wade was pippen? wade averaged 27 ppg, 6 rpg, 7 apg, 2 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 50% from the field in his third year in the NBA (jimmy is going into his 5th). shaq averaged 20 and 9 but was clearly not the dominant shaq of his lakers days that year. otherwise jayson williams and antoine walker averaged 12 a game. wade completely carried that team on his back, and he clearly had the ability to be the best player on a championship team.

in the finals wade averaged 37 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 47% from the field. the next most productive player for the heat was shaq at 14 and 10.

after falling behind 2-0 in the series wade averaged 40 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 51% from the floor in their 4 straight wins to win the title. it was one of the all time great performances and better than any even mj himself had. he was certainly no pippen.

[Herman Cain]

Not only do I agree that Jimmy is very, very unlikely to be #1, but I think he has a lot of work to do to get past Lucas.  Lucas as a damn good NBA player.

I agree with this. Lucas was a dominating force at Power Forward, at a time when the league had some of the greatest power forwards in its history. He brought all aspects to the game. Scoring, rebounding, defense with incredible leadership and toughness. It took a player the quality of D Wade to surpass him in my view.

[brandx]

uhh, who was miami's mj in 2005-2006 if wade was pippen? wade averaged 27 ppg, 6 rpg, 7 apg, 2 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 50% from the field in his third year in the NBA (jimmy is going into his 5th). shaq averaged 20 and 9 but was clearly not the dominant shaq of his lakers days that year. otherwise jayson williams and antoine walker averaged 12 a game. wade completely carried that team on his back, and he clearly had the ability to be the best player on a championship team.

in the finals wade averaged 37 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 47% from the field. the next most productive player for the heat was shaq at 14 and 10.

after falling behind 2-0 in the series wade averaged 40 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 51% from the floor in their 4 straight wins to win the title. it was one of the all time great performances and better than any even mj himself had. he was certainly no pippen.

Agreed.

Wade was the best player on a championship team and put yup one of the all-time great playoff performances - possibly the greatest ever.

[brewcity77]

uhh, who was miami's mj in 2005-2006 if wade was pippen? wade averaged 27 ppg, 6 rpg, 7 apg, 2 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 50% from the field in his third year in the NBA (jimmy is going into his 5th). shaq averaged 20 and 9 but was clearly not the dominant shaq of his lakers days that year. otherwise jayson williams and antoine walker averaged 12 a game. wade completely carried that team on his back, and he clearly had the ability to be the best player on a championship team.

in the finals wade averaged 37 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 47% from the field. the next most productive player for the heat was shaq at 14 and 10.

after falling behind 2-0 in the series wade averaged 40 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg, and 1 bpg while shooting 51% from the floor in their 4 straight wins to win the title. it was one of the all time great performances and better than any even mj himself had. he was certainly no pippen.

In the Heat's last two wins, DW was the supporting player. There's nothing wrong with that, but my point was that for Jimmy to win titles, I feel that's the role he'll have to take. I don't think Jimmy is capable of being the best player on a championship team. That's not a knock on Wade, but a compliment to him, as Wade did do that.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Chris Crawford gets an honorable mention for 9 years and over 1500 points in the league.

+1

Was my favorite player growing up until the D Wade era

[keefe]

I agree with this. Lucas was a dominating force at Power Forward, at a time when the league had some of the greatest power forwards in its history. He brought all aspects to the game. Scoring, rebounding, defense with incredible leadership and toughness. It took a player the quality of D Wade to surpass him in my view.

Luke played a pivotal role in defining the Power Forward position. The Enforcer was All F#cking Beef. There were very few as tough.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Jimmy is easily #2 in my book(Soon to be #1). I'd place Jae above Novak at the very least at this point. Doc also seems a bit high on the list for a player.

hasn't played long enough.  Just a question, were you old enough to watch Maurice play?  Second question, are you a Bulls fan?

[Avenue Commons]

Favorite Player and Best Player can be totally separate.

If they weren't, then Chris Crawford would be at the top of this list.

[Lennys Tap]

Chris Crawford gets an honorable mention for 9 years and over 1500 points in the league.

He was a surprisingly good pro who drove me crazy while he was at MU. He had so damn many made 3s waived off because he shuffled his feet after catching a pass - I used to pull my hair out watching the guy.

[PGsHeroes32]

Jimmy is easily #2 in my book(Soon to be #1). I'd place Jae above Novak at the very least at this point. Doc also seems a bit high on the list for a player.

You realize that Jimmys best season of 20 PPG so far is one that current people would use to say Wade is washed up? Correct?

I mean people say it after Wade just had the second best PER for SGs in the league....Jimmy position btw.

[withoutbias]

He was a surprisingly good pro who drove me crazy while he was at MU. He had so damn many made 3s waived off because he shuffled his feet after catching a pass - I used to pull my hair out watching the guy.

maybe it wasn't such a surprise he was a good pro then?

[NYWarrior]

You realize that Jimmys best season of 20 PPG so far is one that current people would use to say Wade is washed up? Correct?

I mean people say it after Wade just had the second best PER for SGs in the league....Jimmy position btw.

Amen.

On any top 10 list of MU's NBA talent, the gap between #1 and #2 is greater than the gap between #2 and #10.

[augoman]

William Earl Tatum (the black Jerry West) ?

[brandx]

William Earl Tatum (the black Jerry West) ?

My all-time favorite Warrior - but a fairly short NBA career.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

My dad would always tell me stories about Lucas on the Blazers when I sent my acceptance letter to Marquette. The first words out of his mouth was "He was a bad dude." At the same time though off the court I heard he was a big teddy bear. Did Bill Walton really name his son after his personal enforcer?

[willie warrior]

William Earl Tatum (the black Jerry West) ?

Tatum was the man back in the day.

[real chili 83]

He was a surprisingly good pro who drove me crazy while he was at MU. He had so damn many made 3s waived off because he shuffled his feet after catching a pass - I used to pull my hair out watching the guy.

Looks like he made around $15mil as a pro.

[martyconlonontherun]

Love Jim Mac but plenty of sites have his signing to the sonics as the beginning of the end of that team. Not sure he should get those praise

http://uproxx.com/dimemag/2008/07/draft-busts-bad-trades-bad-checks-what-was-your-teams-worst-move/

Pay shouldn't reflect his ranking as a NBA player. Was he an adequate NBA center for multiple years? Yes. Not his fault the Sonics were dumb enough to pay him that much.

[4everwarriors]

Luke Walton is named for #20. Some people call me Maurice, the gangsta of love, ai na?