I wrote “in the running.”
Memory Lane
- Thread starter SLYFOXX1968
- Start date
Those Bill Walton led Bruin teams were pretty dominant as well. Undefeated his first two seasons.
Yeah, BUT Kareem….
When one team is so superior, there is no such thing as in the running. To me, in the running means it could be a tossup, and this definitely ain't close.
I don’t think a team from the 1960’s could compete with teams now and I can’t be convinced otherwise. I’m sure you are in the other camp and can’t be convinced yourself.
Don’t want to hijack the thread, plus I’ve got 7-8 hours of my uncle arguing your side waiting for me this summer.
Understandable, I admit I am biased because Kareem and I both graduated from high school in 1965. Also we became friends and hung out in the summer during our college years.
Was UCLA using a ball movement offense while Kareem was there? I never like the ball going in to a big man and everyone just standing around while he did his thing. Russell, Walton, Olajuwon are the style that puts a smile on my face.
The 1967-68 UCLA team had six players who averaged double figures in points, five of whom went on to play in the NBA. While Kareem may have been the centerpiece, there was a lot of ball movement. They all contributed.
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There was an article in SI, I believe, they were covering all the hype about that incoming class. There was a scrimmage between the varsity and the frosh. During the game one of the varsity players said that he had Alcindor. There was a ripple of laughter. The varsity was beaten handily.
Senior PG Mike Warren (3rd in scoring) was the only one of the six that did not play in the NBA. Warren stayed in Layla land as an actor (Bobby Hill on Hill Street Blues his most known role).
That team had 11 players on the roster and while freshman were not eligible to play on the varsity at that time, it is still notable that all 11 were upperclassman (five seniors, six juniors and no sophomores). Next year’s team had 15 players almost half of which were sophomores (6 seniors, 2 juniors and 7 sophomores). The sophomores included starters Curtis Rowe and Sidney Wicks and Kareem’s back up Steve Patterson, all of whom were part of the six on that team that played in the NBA. Only two holdovers from the year before is included on that NBA list with the other one being one of the two Juniors.
While I still believe Jordan is the GOAT (my nephews think I am crazy and say LeBron), I would still pick Kareem to start my team if I had to.
There has been no player like Kareem before or since. He was as unstoppable as a player could be. I would also say that Coach Wooden was as good as any coach ever. The rest of those Kareen UCLA teams were terrific and after he graduated there was a culture there and talent level, that allowed them to win Championships with many different incarnations of UCLA teams, for more than a decade. Although it was a different era, we will never see the like of it again.
You spelled "Wilt" wrong
Panther needs to write a book about his life. Chapter 69 titled " my friendship with Monte ". Chapter 70 ' From IS8 to the Mean Streets of Glen Cove my friendship with White chocolate "
You’d be happy to hear my 12 year old son is obsessed with Kareem. That’s his favorite player of all time. He learned about him on YouTube. When he asks me who the best center of all-time is and I say Shaq, he shakes me off like a pitcher that wants to throw a fastball.
More proof we are old bastards strolling down memory lane
NCJ, as you no doubt have noticed, you and I agree on a lot -- and in this case I was very pleased to see two names in particular: Sonny Dove and John Warren. (Didn't see them mentioned elsewhere.) In addition, I would include the McIntyre brothers -- Kenny and Bobby -- teammates on that terrific 1964-65 NIT-winning team.
Oh God there's not only a Marillac2 there's a Marillac 2.0