Post by Galo on Nov 24, 2023 0:35:45 GMT -8
BBS20 Top 40 Retro Players (Part 2)
We’re now 20 years into the retro era from fake players with the first retro draft being in 2029. This list attempts to capture the best of the best we’ve seen in the last 40 seasons. We’ll start from the honorable mentions then from #40-21 then from #20 to #1. Let’s finish with part 2…
Ranking Tier
#1 1 SF Oscar Robertson - Retired
Analysis – The Big O remarkably won 7 MVP awards by my count and tied the great Wilt the Silt in the category. Robertson was a walking triple double and like many other SFs was an absolute cheat code at point guard. The greatest player in BBS history by my estimation. Probably the biggest FA to ever leave a team too. *FBB HOF
#2 1 PG Bob Cousy - Retired
Analysis – I don’t think Cousy ever won a title which is a shame with all the great teams he was on including those infamous CC Nuggets teams. He definitely played in a couple finals but never hoisted the trophy. He did win MVPs in 2037, 2038 and 2040 seasons along with a number of high scoring seasons under his belt.
#3 1 C Wilt Chamberlain - Retired
Analysis – Probably the wildest stips of any player in BBS aside from Kareem. He ended up with 7 MVPs and was absolute monster on defense as well. *FBB HOF
Stips...
- Cannot be upgraded.
- Must always be #1 offensive option.
- Must always start at C.
- Must always be in an inside offense.
- Potential can be reset to 100 through age 25.
- Potential can be reset to 75 from age 26 until age 35.
- Potential can be reset to 50 from 36 until retirement.
#4 1 C Bill Russell - Retired
Analysis- One of the best defensive players hands down ever created was the great Bill Russell. I think his early success got overshadowed by Wilt early on but definitely one of the coveted players of all time which Lums and GAME fell into. Spencer did a great job creating Russell. *FBB HOF
#5 1 PG KC Jones - Retired
Analysis – Always remember KC Jones being one of those great that you didn’t expect to be as elite as he was. KC came out in a draft class that most regarded as weak and he was the prize. KC ended up winning 3 MVP awards and being one of great point guards behind Robertson and Cousy in doing so.
#6 1 PF Moses Malone - Active
Analysis – There’s only 3 retro players that have been retired by FBB. Could Moses be the next one? He has had a fantastic career with a couple championships in ATL and still leading the Miami Heat currently in their CY. Moses is one of the complete power forward since Tim Duncan in the BBS20 inception days in the way he can just carry teams.
#7 1 C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Retired
Analysis – KAP was another big with the must always be the #1 option stip during his playing days. Although KAJ helped the Celtics win a couple titles, Ahsan believes that stip is the reason he got CYed and axed. Kareem had stellar numbers all the way until he was about 35 and he started to taper off and believe he played almost until he was 39.
#8 1 SG John Havlicek – Retired
Analysis – At just 25 years old, Hav was already putting up close to 35 points a game, 8.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.6 block and 2.3 blocks per game as Kobe remembers in his 20 most valuable under 30 in Oct. 2022. He ranked him No. 1 on that list over others including the Big O and Willis Reed.
#9 1 SF Magic Johnson - Active
Analysis – Somehow Magic’s Magic only have one title since being drafted by the franchise in 2060. Will go down as one of the best ever as well but probably is higher on this list than others that may be more deserving. Let’s see if Magic can add another MVP and Finals MVP to his trophy room before he hangs them up as he’s only 28.
#10 1 SF Larry Bird – Active
Analysis – Following the blockbuster that swapped Bird for Kiki, Larry hasn’t exactly blown up but did become a very elite type player where he can still be in the top 10 of this list. Larry did get his first MVP in 2068 but still has not won a championship and has had some good chances in his current tenure with the Warriors.
#11 1 SF Fat Lever – Active
Analysis – I still struggle with the fact Isiah was taken over Fat in the draft. I guess the notes were bad for Fat but never felt that he couldn’t overcome them. I guess he’s still worse than other previous versions but still good enough where he’s won a title for Mavs in 2067. He also has a Finals MVP and regular MVP to his name and just 27 years old.
#12 2 SF Michael Ray Richardson – Active
Analysis – MRR as he’s commonly referred to doesn’t always get his flowers. He exploded on the scene for the Suns in 2062 and many people forget he helped guide Phoenix to 3 straight finals appearances in 2064, 2065 and 2066. Richardson won his first and only title so far in 2065 but now is tasked to help a young MJ get his first title in Indianapolis.
#13 2 SF Julius Irving- Retired
Analysis – Julius was a meaningful superstar all the way up to retirement where he helped JR’s Sonics surpass CY. Irving was a top wing in so many ways given his scoring and astute defensive abilities. A major key in Chicago for a long time – Dr. J will long be remembered in BBS20 circles.
#14 2 SF Elgin Baylor – Retired
Analysis – The reason we have the ‘SG Rule’ is due to Mr. Inside getting too dominant once Pig moved him from SF to SG. His volume was unmatched by several in the league who complained he was too good to play SG with SF ratings. Hence, we have the SG rule now. Despite it all, Baylor was elite and helped the Hornets with a couple titles.
#15 2 SF Jack Twyman – Retired
Analysis – Most folks remember the infamous Twyman deal with chipper like it was yesterday. Unfortunately for chip, Twyman went on to have a hell of a career after showing promise in Detroit. An absolute scoring menace, Twyman was elite for a number of years and very hard to slow down.
#16 2 PG Hal Greer – Retired
Analysis – A dynamic scorer that really started the explosion of scoring point guards in the retro era. Greer shined next to Rodgers in Chicago and although it was shorter lived, they both moved on to have great careers.
#17 2 PG Dennis Johnson – Active
Analysis – One of the best stock point guards there ever was DJ. Johnson’s only flaw in his game was not a very strong 3PT shot but otherwise was as good as they came. Perennial All-1st Team defense every year and with great shooting splits too.
#18 2 PG Jerry West – Retired
Analysis – Honestly, I thought with all the free ACs that the Logo would get that he would be at the top spot and not the Big O. West was elite for a number of years but only ended up with 1 MVP award. Despite all those camps being pumped into him, he was still a great player.
#19 1 SF Kiki Vandeweghe – Active
Analysis – HF definitely loves him some Kiki. He helped the Grizz get their 2nd title in franchise history last season as Kiki is still nearly averaging 40 points a game 50/90/40 splits. After being drafted 4th by the Raptors in 2061, he’s really come into his own as the premier scorer in the league for the last 3-4 seasons.
#20 2 SG Michael Jordan - Active
Analysis – The real life GOAT. Not quite yet in BBS but he’s getting there with Indy.
We’re now 20 years into the retro era from fake players with the first retro draft being in 2029. This list attempts to capture the best of the best we’ve seen in the last 40 seasons. We’ll start from the honorable mentions then from #40-21 then from #20 to #1. Let’s finish with part 2…
Ranking Tier
#1 1 SF Oscar Robertson - Retired
Analysis – The Big O remarkably won 7 MVP awards by my count and tied the great Wilt the Silt in the category. Robertson was a walking triple double and like many other SFs was an absolute cheat code at point guard. The greatest player in BBS history by my estimation. Probably the biggest FA to ever leave a team too. *FBB HOF
#2 1 PG Bob Cousy - Retired
Analysis – I don’t think Cousy ever won a title which is a shame with all the great teams he was on including those infamous CC Nuggets teams. He definitely played in a couple finals but never hoisted the trophy. He did win MVPs in 2037, 2038 and 2040 seasons along with a number of high scoring seasons under his belt.
#3 1 C Wilt Chamberlain - Retired
Analysis – Probably the wildest stips of any player in BBS aside from Kareem. He ended up with 7 MVPs and was absolute monster on defense as well. *FBB HOF
Stips...
- Cannot be upgraded.
- Must always be #1 offensive option.
- Must always start at C.
- Must always be in an inside offense.
- Potential can be reset to 100 through age 25.
- Potential can be reset to 75 from age 26 until age 35.
- Potential can be reset to 50 from 36 until retirement.
#4 1 C Bill Russell - Retired
Analysis- One of the best defensive players hands down ever created was the great Bill Russell. I think his early success got overshadowed by Wilt early on but definitely one of the coveted players of all time which Lums and GAME fell into. Spencer did a great job creating Russell. *FBB HOF
#5 1 PG KC Jones - Retired
Analysis – Always remember KC Jones being one of those great that you didn’t expect to be as elite as he was. KC came out in a draft class that most regarded as weak and he was the prize. KC ended up winning 3 MVP awards and being one of great point guards behind Robertson and Cousy in doing so.
#6 1 PF Moses Malone - Active
Analysis – There’s only 3 retro players that have been retired by FBB. Could Moses be the next one? He has had a fantastic career with a couple championships in ATL and still leading the Miami Heat currently in their CY. Moses is one of the complete power forward since Tim Duncan in the BBS20 inception days in the way he can just carry teams.
#7 1 C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Retired
Analysis – KAP was another big with the must always be the #1 option stip during his playing days. Although KAJ helped the Celtics win a couple titles, Ahsan believes that stip is the reason he got CYed and axed. Kareem had stellar numbers all the way until he was about 35 and he started to taper off and believe he played almost until he was 39.
#8 1 SG John Havlicek – Retired
Analysis – At just 25 years old, Hav was already putting up close to 35 points a game, 8.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.6 block and 2.3 blocks per game as Kobe remembers in his 20 most valuable under 30 in Oct. 2022. He ranked him No. 1 on that list over others including the Big O and Willis Reed.
#9 1 SF Magic Johnson - Active
Analysis – Somehow Magic’s Magic only have one title since being drafted by the franchise in 2060. Will go down as one of the best ever as well but probably is higher on this list than others that may be more deserving. Let’s see if Magic can add another MVP and Finals MVP to his trophy room before he hangs them up as he’s only 28.
#10 1 SF Larry Bird – Active
Analysis – Following the blockbuster that swapped Bird for Kiki, Larry hasn’t exactly blown up but did become a very elite type player where he can still be in the top 10 of this list. Larry did get his first MVP in 2068 but still has not won a championship and has had some good chances in his current tenure with the Warriors.
#11 1 SF Fat Lever – Active
Analysis – I still struggle with the fact Isiah was taken over Fat in the draft. I guess the notes were bad for Fat but never felt that he couldn’t overcome them. I guess he’s still worse than other previous versions but still good enough where he’s won a title for Mavs in 2067. He also has a Finals MVP and regular MVP to his name and just 27 years old.
#12 2 SF Michael Ray Richardson – Active
Analysis – MRR as he’s commonly referred to doesn’t always get his flowers. He exploded on the scene for the Suns in 2062 and many people forget he helped guide Phoenix to 3 straight finals appearances in 2064, 2065 and 2066. Richardson won his first and only title so far in 2065 but now is tasked to help a young MJ get his first title in Indianapolis.
#13 2 SF Julius Irving- Retired
Analysis – Julius was a meaningful superstar all the way up to retirement where he helped JR’s Sonics surpass CY. Irving was a top wing in so many ways given his scoring and astute defensive abilities. A major key in Chicago for a long time – Dr. J will long be remembered in BBS20 circles.
#14 2 SF Elgin Baylor – Retired
Analysis – The reason we have the ‘SG Rule’ is due to Mr. Inside getting too dominant once Pig moved him from SF to SG. His volume was unmatched by several in the league who complained he was too good to play SG with SF ratings. Hence, we have the SG rule now. Despite it all, Baylor was elite and helped the Hornets with a couple titles.
#15 2 SF Jack Twyman – Retired
Analysis – Most folks remember the infamous Twyman deal with chipper like it was yesterday. Unfortunately for chip, Twyman went on to have a hell of a career after showing promise in Detroit. An absolute scoring menace, Twyman was elite for a number of years and very hard to slow down.
#16 2 PG Hal Greer – Retired
Analysis – A dynamic scorer that really started the explosion of scoring point guards in the retro era. Greer shined next to Rodgers in Chicago and although it was shorter lived, they both moved on to have great careers.
#17 2 PG Dennis Johnson – Active
Analysis – One of the best stock point guards there ever was DJ. Johnson’s only flaw in his game was not a very strong 3PT shot but otherwise was as good as they came. Perennial All-1st Team defense every year and with great shooting splits too.
#18 2 PG Jerry West – Retired
Analysis – Honestly, I thought with all the free ACs that the Logo would get that he would be at the top spot and not the Big O. West was elite for a number of years but only ended up with 1 MVP award. Despite all those camps being pumped into him, he was still a great player.
#19 1 SF Kiki Vandeweghe – Active
Analysis – HF definitely loves him some Kiki. He helped the Grizz get their 2nd title in franchise history last season as Kiki is still nearly averaging 40 points a game 50/90/40 splits. After being drafted 4th by the Raptors in 2061, he’s really come into his own as the premier scorer in the league for the last 3-4 seasons.
#20 2 SG Michael Jordan - Active
Analysis – The real life GOAT. Not quite yet in BBS but he’s getting there with Indy.
