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Everyone has an opinion on who should be included in the Mount Rushmore of basketball. For some, it should be players who won many accolades throughout their NBA careers. For some, it should be the players who left a lasting impression on the game. For most people, it should be a combination of both.
Assembling a Mount Rushmore of the top-4 NBA players of all time isn't the same as assembling a super team. And since we're talking about the top-4 players of all time, the work becomes more difficult since we already have a long list of players deserving of a spot in that prestigious mountain of greatness.
Below is my Basketball Mount Rushmore.
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Bill Russell
Let's start with the player with the most championships won: Bill Russell.
While it's debatable that Russell and his Boston Celtics dominated the NBA against lesser competitions back then, it doesn't take away the fact he dominated.
Aside from his 11 NBA championships, his lengthy Hall of Fame resume also includes five MVP Awards, 12 All-Star selections, and four rebounding titles. Russell stands in second all time in total rebounds and rebounds per game.
His jersey, No. 6, has been retired league-wide since he died in 2022. If those achievements won't put Russell in any Mount Rushmore, what will?
One year ago today, the basketball world lost the Lord of The Rings.
Rest in peace, Bill Russell 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/wXi6Xos2HO
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 31, 2023
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Why The Tower from Power? A six-time NBA MVP and six-time NBA champion?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's accolades certainly put him atop anyone's Mount Rushmore alongside Bill Russell. He was a 19-time All-Star and a 10-time member of the All-NBA First Team. He was also a five-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team on top of being a two-time scoring champion. He also led the NBA in blocks four times.
To some, Abdul-Jabbar should be the greatest player of all time. And more importantly, he should be an automatic inclusion to anyone's basketball Mount Rushmore.
Happy 77th Birthday, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
2X NBA Finals MVP
6X NBA MVP (1st All-Time)
6X NBA Champ
15X All-NBA
19X All-Star
38,387 Points (2nd All-Time)
17,440 Rebounds (3rd All-Time)
5,660 Assists (49th All-Time)
3,189 Blocks (3rd All-Time)We always start with MJ, LeBron,… pic.twitter.com/T5eLtBJ6B6
— Jim Miloch (@podoffame) April 16, 2024
Michael Jordan
Most people would be angry if someone posted a Mount Rushmore without Michael Jordan in it, and rightfully so. While it's also arguable other great players should take His Airness' spot, his accolades and impact on the game are self-explanatory.
His Airness won a pair of three-peats with the Chicago Bulls while taking the MVP Award five times. He was a 14-time All-Star, a 10-time member of the All-NBA First Team, and a nine-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He won the Defensive Player of the Year plum in 1988.
He was so unstoppable the Detroit Pistons had to devise the infamous Jordan Rules to slow down No. 23. He was that great.
No wonder why most people consider MJ a mainstay in any Mount Rushmore.
Michael Jordan’s Resume:
-THE MOST PPG OF ALL TIME (30.1)
-10x Scoring champion
-6 Rings
-5 MVPs
-1 Dpoy
-9 All defensive teamsDon’t let this LeBron scoring record distract you from the true GREATEST EVER.
— Ⓓ⃝ⓤ⃝ⓚ⃝ⓔ⃝ (@DeeboDuke) February 8, 2023
LeBron James
Now, this might be a controversial inclusion for different reasons.
For one, LeBron James is only 4-6 in the NBA Finals -- something many people are throwing on him. He was even swept twice in the championship round. For another, there are other successful players whom people think should be included in a Mount Rushmore of basketball. And frankly, James is one of the most hated players in NBA history.
So, why people should include him? Longevity is why.
He is about to enter his 22nd season and not looking to slow down anytime soon. During the 2023-2024 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, he averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds. Have we seen someone nearing his 40s average these numbers? Nope.
The league's all-time leading scorer is a four-time NBA champion, four-time Finals MVP, four-time NBA MVP, 20-time NBA All-Star, 13-time member of the All-NBA First Team, and other accolades. The long list of achievements should be enough for anyone to include the King in their Mount Rushmore.
Also, who could ever forget that he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to arguably the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history?
Down 3-1
No injury excuses
No fatigue excuses
No inefficient games
No defensive liabilitiesJust walk down the only 73-9 team ever that’s why LeBron James is the greatest of all time. pic.twitter.com/0RfquBmSOT
— † (@HoodiHachimura) June 18, 2024
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