Michael Jordan and LeBron James are typically at the forefront of the GOAT arguments, but Seattle SuperSonics hero Shawn Kemp believes Celtics icon Bill Russell is the best basketball player of all time. During an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast alongside Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. Kemp emphasised Russell’s impact as an all-around big guy.
“People get upset with me when I say this, dude, but Bill, Bill Russell. The best player in the game will not be the leading scorer. Kemp emphasised that the ideal way to play the game is to be in the middle and perform a variety of things.
Bill Russell’s low scoring average of 15.1 points per game across his 13-year NBA career, with a peak season average of 18.9 points per game, has led many to view his remarkable rim protection and rebounding abilities as the keys to his brilliance. His astounding 22.5 rebounds per game helped lead the Boston Celtics to 11 championships.
Kemp elaborated on why he holds Russell in such high respect, highlighting Russell’s numerous accomplishments and effect during his career.
Kemp admires Bill Russell’s all-around game.
“Because he needs to be able to help people and keep the ball in play. Bill Russell was the first to block shots, keeping the ball in play. We were blocking shots thrown from 17 rows up in the stands. He was genuinely blocking shots. “They were getting layups off it, man,” says the former SuperSonics player.
Despite being 6-foot-10, Kemp recognises the opposing approaches of himself and Russell, with Kemp excelling as an attacking highlight reel and Russell known for his outstanding fundamentals.
“So yeah, man, as I look back over the years of basketball, I believe Wilt Chamberlain was a beast, but s—t, Bill Russell was wearing his a- out. So let’s keep things honest. If you’re talking about the all-around best player in the game, you look at how many championships they won and how long they did it, he’s got to be up there,” Shawn Kemp said.
Understanding his role with the Celtics.
Unlike modern big men, who average 18 to 20 field-goal attempts per game, Russell took just over 13 shots per game, emphasising his role on the Celtics in the late 1950s and 1960s, which was to create scoring opportunities for teammates such as Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, and John Havlicek rather than score himself.
This is especially evident when compared to Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged 22.5 field-goal attempts each game and revolutionised scoring.
The league did not officially track blocks during Russell’s tenure, but if it had, he would have been among the all-time leaders. Unofficial estimates indicate that Russell averaged nearly eight blocks per game.
Russell’s offensive abilities were evident during his tenure at the University of San Francisco, where he averaged 20.7 points per game, shot 51.6 percent, and attempted 15.3 field goals per game.
However, when he joined the Celtics, who already had high scorers in Cousy and Sharman, he took on a new role to help the club win titles. As a result, Russell developed a selective shooting style.
Despite this, he was frequently listed among the NBA’s top five in field-goal percentage early in his career, including a 47.5 percent mark in 1958-59, the league’s second-best.
Kemp talks about other potential GOAT candidates.
Shaquille O’Neal (32) of the Orlando Magic takes on Seattle Supersonics centre Shawn Kemp (40) at the Orlando Arena.
Shawn Kemp went on to examine probable possibilities for the GOAT argument, dismissing LeBron James as a contender for the greatest player ever.
“I believe LeBron is right up there…” I believe that LeBron should be compared to Magic Johnson rather than Michael Jordan. Whoever began that shit got it completely wrong. LeBron is not Michael Jordan. “Kobe is more like Michael Jordan, and LeBron is like Magic Johnson,” he remarked.
Kemp’s comparison of LeBron James to Magic Johnson emphasises LeBron’s scoring ability as a continuation of Magic’s playstyle, particularly given LeBron’s ability to function as a point guard despite his forward-like build.
Kemp, on the other hand, sees Kobe Bryant as a natural successor to Michael Jordan’s skills, as seen by his championship wins under Phil Jackson’s coaching style.
