An NBA legend’s greatness is not just measured by his offensive or defensive stats. It is not even measured by the number of championships they have won. It is measured by ‘how’ they’ve won the championship, considering the era they were playing in, and how they’ve individually impacted the game of basketball.

The NBA fans go wild as a 43-year-old NBA champion snubs Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James in his “Top 5” list in a recent “X” tweet.

43 YO NBA champion’s “Top 5” list

43-year-old NBA champion Metta Sandiford-Artest said this on his “X” page, “Top 5 nba players ever: (1) Bill Russel, (2) Wilt Chamberlain, (3) Kobe, (4) MJ, (5)……..”. Metta Sandiford-Artest further adds in his “X” tweet, “I’m having a hard time with mamba and Kobe. Greatest career ever – KJ”.

Many NBA fans were confused as to why he didn’t mention his fifth pick and why does Kevin Johnson have the greatest NBA career. Many NBA fans retweeted the 43 YO NBA champion’s asking him why he did not include Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James in his Top 5 list.

In one tweet, an NBA fan criticises Metta Sandiford-Artest’s list because he added Wilt instead of NBA greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. In another retweet, an NBA fan criticises Metta Sandiford-Artest’s list saying that you cannot compare players from different eras.

One thing is for sure, much like his playing style during his active NBA days, Metta Sandiford-Artest’s opinions are unpredictable and do not come from a place of objectivity.

Who are the Top 5 greatest players of All-Time?

NBA fans are some of the most passionate sports fans in the world. Their love for their favorite NBA players knows no bounds yet many many NBA fans are quick to put their favorite players in the Top 5 list without understanding that the NBA has had over 70 seasons. In 70 years, so many things have changed in the NBA.

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The NBA eras are mainly divided into three: the Classic Era of the NBA (1980–1994), the Transitional Era of the NBA (1995–2013), and the Modern Era of the NBA (since 2013). The game of basketball in these eras was played very differently from each other. And therefore, the skill set of the top NBA players of their respective eras also differs.

A true NBA fan should be able to understand this simple logic. Sure, there are players whose individual achievements are extremely impressive, but to compare that player to a player from another era who helped his team win more championships just seems unnecessary and unfair.

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What are your thoughts on Metta Sandiford-Artest ‘Top 5’ list? What is your ‘Top 10’ list of all-time? Let us know in the comments below!