If you qualify the question to be the greatest college player I saw live, I will agree on Magic Johnson. But, I never hear anyone mention that for most of MSU's championship season, Greg Kelser was usually the best player on MSU's team. Kelser was a really undersized PF/Center (maybe 6-7/6-8, thin, but strong), who was tough as nails on both ends of the court, could run like a deer, and could jump higher than anyone he played against.
Who is the greatest CBB player you have ever seen play...
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If you are talking live it was Oscar Robertson. Otherwise it is Michael Jordan.
I saw Michael Jordon play his rookie season with the Bulls. He didn't have a great team around him at that point but his drives to the hoop and leaping ability were mind blowing.
Glen Rice is my favorite non Iowa college basketball player of all time. I’m going to add Len Bias as an answer. That kid was just scratching the surface of his abilities.
A lot of great answers so far. A few that I don't think have been mentioned yet are Carmelo Anthony, Steve Alford, Jimmer Fredette, Shaq. Of course, I saw none of them in person.
As for in person, as memory serves, probably Big Dog Robinson. Although Jim Jackson, Hersey Hawkins, Chris Webber, Steve Smith, Calbert Chaney, Michael Finely, Glenn Rice were all darn impressive.
Surprised no love for Garza yet
As for in person, as memory serves, probably Big Dog Robinson. Although Jim Jackson, Hersey Hawkins, Chris Webber, Steve Smith, Calbert Chaney, Michael Finely, Glenn Rice were all darn impressive.
Surprised no love for Garza yet
Bill Walton
Larry Bird
Mike
Bird had no one on his national runner up. Mike and Bill had all star rosters. Walton played the most complete and mistake free games while also dominating like the other guys, plus two national titles and an 88 game winning streak (I guess it started under Wick/Rowe/Patterson).
Larry Bird
Mike
Bird had no one on his national runner up. Mike and Bill had all star rosters. Walton played the most complete and mistake free games while also dominating like the other guys, plus two national titles and an 88 game winning streak (I guess it started under Wick/Rowe/Patterson).
Me too tator--I recal Bird at vets, before the game he was warming up and shooting long balls, did not have 3 pt line then. He was making them all. We were standing there counting them and all of a sudden he makes one and you hear a few people say out loud--8---the next one was 9--and had more people saying it, this was in a row making them.
Second best shooting display i have seen was Pierce-Leslie--and Alford playing horse--Alford just shot 3 pointers--made them--and all the other 2 did was chase down their misses--which I saw as funny because usually they probably had ball boys doing that.
After 3 games of getting their hats handed to them and chasing down their misses they had enough...pretty funny.
That same day I saw the worst shooting ever as the wrestlers came out after practice and played 4 on 4, took 25 minutes for the first 4 to make a free throw to decide the teams, some pretty ugly muscle bound shots there....
in person? Magic
best Iowa player in person? Ronnie Lester
best Iowa player in person? Ronnie Lester
Assume you are limiting this to seeing someone play in person. The first that comes to mind is Jo Jo White.
Wes Unseld, Darrell Griffith, and Ron Bonham the night he started 9 for 10 vs. Drake (a game Cincy lost in OT.).
I just meant seen play...in person or on TV. I dont remember Magic or Bird, or Kareem for example.
Chris Jackson LSU averaged over 35 pts a game as a freshman point guard. He was Steph before Steph.
BirdistheWord
HB Legend
Every time I see the name Darrell Griffith, I'm reminded of Bobby Hansen's quote after playing Louisville in the Final Four.
"I've guarded other guys who could jump, but they all came down."
In person:
Iowa player: Ronnie Lester
Others in Iowa City: Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Mychal Thompson, Kent Benson, Mike Woodson, David Robinson
Others elsewhere: Duke (Laettner, etc.) in 1990, Jameer Nelson
Iowa player: Ronnie Lester
Others in Iowa City: Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Mychal Thompson, Kent Benson, Mike Woodson, David Robinson
Others elsewhere: Duke (Laettner, etc.) in 1990, Jameer Nelson
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This is my answer for people that I have seen in person. His length and skill are way beyond anyone I have ever watched live.
Saw Jason Kidd beat Duke in NCAAs. Have a good Lamond Murray story. Grant Hill was on that Duke team. Saw Bird as a five year-old, but don’t remember it. Kidd seemed to control the entire floor. Saw Iverson, Carmelo, others by virtue of going to a bunch of Big East tourneys back in the day. Watched a ton of Hersey Hawkins and played a lot of pickup ball with him, too. He was a great college player. Saw X McDaniel and Antoine Carr and Cliff Livingston on those Wichita State teams. Paul Pressey at Tulsa was damn good.
The PG on Bird’s team played in the NBA.
Best college players only...not pro career:
In person: Lester, Isaiah Thomas, Luka Garza
TV: Ralph Sampson....7'4" athletic freak.....just in awe that there was a player like that...a human being with those physical traits.
In person: Lester, Isaiah Thomas, Luka Garza
TV: Ralph Sampson....7'4" athletic freak.....just in awe that there was a player like that...a human being with those physical traits.
The Pistons and maybe even the early Bulls never would have won championships if Bias had made it to the Celtics.
Carl Nicks had a less than memorable NBA career. Bird was the closest thing to a one man team winning the championship.
88 Kansas-Danny Manning is another example. Iowa smoked that team 100-81 that year. Won the tourney as a 6th seed.
In person
Greg McDermott. Kirk Heinrich and Nick Collison
College player. Anthony Davis was dominant on that Kentucky team.
Greg McDermott. Kirk Heinrich and Nick Collison
College player. Anthony Davis was dominant on that Kentucky team.
That was really the difference in the title game against Indiana State’s Larry Bird lead team. 2 against 1 IMO
Glenn Robinson and Luka Garza both controlled every game they played in for 2 years. Got to see Glenn twice and Luka 12-14 times during their reigns.
| Pete Maravich* | G | LSU | 1967 | 1970 | 83 | 1,387 | — | 893 | 3,667 | 44.2 |
Pistol Pete
Larry Bird
Magic
Don Nelson 😉
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Best college player is MJ - Bird close second. Best HS player I saw play was Vince Carter at an international tournament in Germany (and he had just finished his Jr. year in HS).
Agree
As an 8 year old, saw Rick Mount pour in 53 versus Iowa in the Fieldhouse.
Best opposing college players I saw in person— Rick Mount and Magic Johnson
Best Iowa player I saw in person— John Johnson (saw his 49 point game later that 1970 season versus Northwestern)
Correct answer, although Maravich and Alcindor.........
Forgot that I saw that exhibition game at Carver between Team USA versus NBA players.
Jordan had already been drafted 3rd by the Bulls, but was playing on Team USA in Summer of 1984 prior to the LA Olympics.
Michael Jordan dominated that game, though some of the NBA players may have viewed it as a pick-up game. Jordan definitely went all out. It was easy to tell MJ would be an amazing pro.
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