Who's Better, Who's Best in Basketball?: MR STATS Sets the Record Straight on the Top 50 NBA Players of All Time

by Elliott Kalb

ABC's and ESPN's "Mr. Stats" ranks the NBA's greatest players of all time in this provocative and comprehensive book

"Elliot Kalb's work is beyond excellent. He thinks in story lines and uses numbers and history to make compelling and often original points." --Bob Costas

"...a book that any hardcore basketball fan can savor." -- San Francisco Chronicle

When the NBA released its supposedly authoritative list...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071417885
• ISBN13: 9780071417884
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

My evergreen fantasy on the best players in NBA history now is done

I read the book very eager to know from Mr Stats statements who are the best players in the NBA history, based on digits numbers and keen reasons. I am very excited he rescued Doo Doo, only MVP excluded from the official NBA 1996 list. I agree removal of some players from the list and I did not approve some positions, high or low. A couple of mistakes gave salt and pepper to the book: talking about Russell, 1956 Olympics took place at Melbourne facilities (Rome 1960) and Drexler out of the list of best since 80s, on the final pages. I strongly recommend this book to the hoop lovers and to who spent a lot of time to write down best ever 5 10 25 50 100 et cetera. For the book update it would be great if Mr Stats can suggest where to put Nash (2005 and 2006 Mvp and 2007 Nowitzki. so how much Duncan goes up after 2 more rings. O'Neal remains n.1 with 1 more ring, but I will be convinced of his choice only if he wins another title.

Comment on Lee's review

"Maybe we can revisit what Jordan did to Shaq. Does Kalb remember Jordan scoring 64 on Shaq when he first visited the Bulls? Does Kalb remember the Bulls sweeping a full-strength Shaq and Penny Magic team the first full year of his comeback?" LOL. Jordan scored 64 "on Shaq"?? Did the rest of the 8 players on the court just clear the lane while Jordan posted up Shaq 32 times? WTF!? So Nick Anderson had nothing to do with it? He'll be damn happy to know that! Also yes the Bulls swept the Magic that year, but really, look at who the Magic had. Besides Shaq they had Penny who was pretty good at the time. But who else? Nick Anderson? Dennis Scott? Nick Anderson was decent, but a choke artist, and by no means an all-star. Dennis Scott was totally immobile and one dimensional. Plus they had a GAPING hole at power forward. Freaking Tom Tolbert filled in as their PF for God's sake! Jordan had Pippen, Kukoc, Rodman, Kerr and Ron Harper when he was still pretty good. "Kalb puts Kobe Bryant at #17 which is odd. Kobe's case is tough because obviously he's superior in skill to Shaq but his success is due to Shaq as well." Kobe is obviously superior in skill? WHAT skill? Occasionally making an acrobatic play? After shooting 40 shots at 40% and not getting anyone else involved in the offense? Mix that with a bad attitude and you have a great player? The biggest difference in Kobe and Jordan was that Jordan had better shot selection and played within his team's system. The team featured him, but he still played in their gameplan. On the Bulls Jordan was "the man". On the Lakers there was another star, yet Kobe expected to be treated like Jordan was. And WHO's team is sitting at home watching the playoffs on tv now? Kobe's or Shaq's? LOL! "That is why the best answer will always be MJ. He's Oscar with the impossible moves, nerves of steel, stats, titles, defense, athletic superiority, skill superiority, durability, and everything else. Who are we to argue against Phil Jackson, Tex Winter, Bobby Knight, Doug Collins and every player who actually played with, coached or watched the man?" Do we really want to ask Phil Jackson, Tex Winter, and Doug Collins for an unbiased opinion on anything involving Jordan? Steve

I liked it a lot

Very nicely written, and I agree with your assessment of Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt. I would have flopped Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but it's a minor quibble. I really enjoyed the last chapter, when the author discussed who had to leave out, and why. He made excellent points.

Loving the controversy

I have read this book and love reading the reviews of it almost as much as the book itself! Many basketball fans consider themselves an authority on the subject, but Mr. Kalb clearly is a true one! Nobody will agree with his choices as is very obvious from the reviews. However, anyone with the guts to name the top players so vehemently and with so much ammunition is a must read for even the most moderate basketball fan. I have seen Elliott Kalb on a few of his televison appearances and all I can say is THIS MAN KNOWS BASKETBALL!! I am sure you will not agree with his rankings 100% and might even get pretty mad at him...... but read the book and see for yourself!

Gonna be a SlamDunk

I found this book to be informative, entertaining and thought-provoking. Elliott Kalb not only gives the stats and the ratings, but gives much insight about how these great superstars faced the challenges of playing with other great players and opposite other talented players.I highly recommned this book to basketball fans as well as to novices of the game, and to everyone who wants a good read written in a warm and personal account.