Reveal the NBA rings the individual value?
In every debate about the importance of a player in the NBA history, if he was better or not than other players, always it will appear “the rings” argument.
If it’s only by numbers, then starting with Bill Russell (who won 11 NBA titles) and continuing with the other Celtics who dominated the league (1957-1969), they are the best players ever. And after them we have Robert Horry, who won 7 titles by moving in the right moment to different lucky teams (Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs).
But if we go like this, with the same argument, we will arrive, by instance, at the conclusion that James Jones, the friend of LeBron James, who has the same number of rings as the King, it’s at the same basketball level.
And what’s then with excellent players who never won a ring despite their magic presence on the court: Charles Barkley is the classical example, but why not Tracy McGrady, who was an amazing player and had to finish his PRO-career earlier due to the injuries? Or let’s take an even better case: John Stockton’s, the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and 10-time NBA All-Star and his teammate, Karl Malone, the 2nd all-time on NBA scoring list.
And if you need more good examples: Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, Reggie Miller and so on. Or let’s take a look at Elgin Baylor, the legendary player of Lakers, who has a statue in front of the Staples Center arena. Baylor appeared in eight NBA Finals but he won none because the Celtics were stronger that decade. During the 1971-1972 season, he decided to retire due to an injury and exactly at the end of that season the Lakers won the NBA title.
The rings argument and, even more, the numbers of the rings that you have achieved is not a fair argument. Because basketball is a team sport and only the individual value of some players is not enough in order to win championships.
Gratian Cormos, info@brainbasketball.net
