NBA's Mt. Rushmore

The other night Lebron James was asked who he believes are the four faces he believes represent the Mt. Rushmore of NBA Legends. His first three answers, who he called the easy three, were MJ, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, with the oft forgotten Oscar Robertson rounding out the top four.

He then went on to say that he emphatically believes he will be one of the four greatest players in history by the time his career is over. This has sparked much debate, including being the opening topic on ESPN's First Take, so naturally I must make my own list.

But first, a look at Stephen A. Smith's list from First Take had me raising my eyebrows in confusing. He claims this is the mountain of the greatest players based on talent and accomplishment yet he denounced the accomplishments of everyone to fit Lebron into his list. By his own standards talent, scoring, defense and winning are what makes Lebron a lock for greatest of all time. Yet he leaves off 6 time MVP and 6 time champion who also has the most points in NBA history off his list in Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

One of the most dominating figures in the history of the sport, who revolutionized the game with the most unstoppable shot ever. And he did it in a time where you actually had opponents playing defense against you, not this breath on a star and its a foul style of play in today's NBA. Stephen A. also reduced the winningest athlete of all time, 11 time champion Bill Russell to merely a side note, claiming his winning and revolution of the game of basketball as one of the greatest defensive centers in history is merely circumstance of the era. Completely ignoring the fact that their careers, unlike Lebron who entered the league at the age of 18 right out of high school, didnt begin until 22 because it was required that they played in college multiple years since freshman weren't even allowed to play back then.

But what left me scratching my head the most was his stance that although Kobe Bryant is just as deadly an offensive threat, if not more so, and just as stifling a defender, his three championships won with Shaq and two championship losses makes him less then Lebron. 

Last I checked, Lebron also has two losses in the NBA Finals, and his two rings were won only once he joined two other superstars in Miami. So by Smith's own convoluted logic what works in favor of King James when done by others doesn't count. This is obviously more media posturing to sidle up next to the current face of the league. 

So now I begin my list. Based solely on dominance and evolution of the sport my Mt. Rushmore of the NBA is...

1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar

2. Michael Jordan

3. Bill Russell

4. Magic Johnson

Will Lebron supplant one of these icons and take claim of a spot on the list of greatest to ever play the game? Perhaps, but to me, he has a long climb ahead of him.