The 60s, The Titans of the Hardwood

Ah the 60s, the age of giants. Obviously I’m gonna tweak the positions slightly and honestly I’ve decided I’m making a second and third team for this because this is where the NBA starts getting great.

As usual we start with our Honorable Mentions

Zelmo Beaty, a 2 time all star and a fantastic center but really did more in the ABA (4 all stars) in the 70s. He won’t make my 70s list either but he’s a hall of fame center.

Bailey Howell, a monster 6 time all star for the Pistons, Bullets and Celtics, he also won 2 rings with the Celtics. He was a great forward.

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First team

G- Jerry West, one of the purest shooters of all time, an amazing defender (made the all defensive first or second team every year they had it in his career), 14 time all star, and even led the league in assists once. And even though he lost 8 finals he became a champion.

G- Oscar Robinson, 12 time all star, 11 all NBA, MVP, NBA Champion. A statistical freak. He was a point guard that was taller than some forwards of this era.

F- Elgin Baylor, 11 time all star, 10 time all NBA, he was the first wing who used his dribble and intense athleticism to overwhelm people, without Baylor there is no Dr J., David Thompson, MJ, Kobe, or LeBron. While he lost in the finals 8 times he was still one of the greatest players to play in this league.

F- Bill Russell, 12 time all star, 11 time all NBA, 5 time MVP, 11 rings, his 1 time all defense came in his final year (the first year of the award) I know he was a center but I couldn’t put him or wilt on the second team so I fudged the positions.

C- Wilt Chamberlain, 11x all star, 10 all NBA, 4 MVPs, 2 rings, made the all defensive team 2 of his 4 eligible years (one year he played 12 games). Just look at the record books and he owns them. He was the greatest individual of the decade even if Russell was the greatest winner.

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Second Team

G- Hal Greer, 10 all stars, 7 all NBAs and a ring. He was apparently the second best shooter of the decade behind west.

G- Sam Jones, 5 time All Star, 3 all NBA, 10 rings, he played with Russell in college and the pros and their games fit perfectly he was both a defender and a shooter.

F- Jerry Lucas, an actual genius who almost didn’t play basketball because he was so smart, 7 all stars, 5 all NBA selections, and a ring in the 70s. He was a stretch 4/5 who was a great passer.

F- Gus Johnson, nicknamed Honeycomb because of how he “honeycombed” or shattered backwards. 5 all stars, 4 all NBA, 2 all defense in the end of his career. And a championship in ‘73. He’s one of the overlooked athletes in NBA history.

C- Walt Bellamy, arguably the best rookie ever. A 4 time all star. His career suddenly drops off after ‘68 (a season where he played 88 games due to trades). Apparently his trade to the Pistons for Dave DeBusschere killed his value with bad coaching till he was traded to the hawks and used better but was older by that point.

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Third Team

G- Gail Goodrich, the back court of Goodrich and West was the best shooting backcourt. Here is the problem 4 of his 5 all stars, his ring and his all NBA selection all came in the 70s. It docks him but I’m still putting him on the team.

G- Jerry Sloan, 2 time all star, 6 all defense, he was a bull dog. The greatest defensive guard of the time. He also later became one of the best coaches in NBA history.

F- Dave DeBusschere, 8 all stars, one all NBA, 6 all defense, 2 rings, he was a smooth passing and shooting forward, Ive heard him compared to Scottie Pippin.

F- Nate Thurmond, 7 time all star, 5 all defensive. He started as the forward beside wilt then became the Center when he was traded. A fantastic defender and rebounder.

C- Willis Reed, 7 time all star, 5 all NBA, MVP, 1 all defensive team, 2 rings with the finals MVP. I tried to put him in the 70s as the second team center but his 60s record is just too impressive, Reed was not just amazing in the regular season he dominated when it mattered most always leading his teams in the finals.