You seem to think that the old-timers are overwhelmingly better than the guards from the last 20 years.
Lenny Wilkens? Possibly the most over-rated player in the history of the NBA. Ironically, he's possibly the most over-rated coach too. He doesn't belong in the top 100 guards of all-time; let alone at the six spot. And it was a joke that they made him among the top 50 NBA greatest players. That was politics.
Guys like Monroe, Frazier, Murphy, Goodrich, Greer. Yea they belong on the list of top 100 guards. But top ten? I just don't see it that way. They're the Dwyane Wades of their day. Very painted up, but not that great, really. Putting those guys on a top ten list would be like putting Dennis Johnson or Danny Ainge on the top ten list.
And you're just saying guards (not pgs). So - I'm curious. You put those guys ahead of Jordan and Bryant, etc.
You seem to think athleticism automatically makes you a better guard. Or better player? The best player on the planet was a complete joke in the game last night. He wasn't worth Bill Laimbeer's jock strap last night.
I remember those guys, because I watched them play a lot. I watch the players of today a lot to. I've been a gym rat all my life. The league is far more deluted now, than it was back then. There are a lot of guys playing in the NBA today, that would never make the first cut back then.
You mock Frazier? He would shut Jordan down, much like Cooper did. Frazier was the all NBA first team on offense and defense every year he was in the league. He's in the top 5 defensive guards of all time. Along with West, Michael Cooper, Jerry Sloan, Dennis Johnson and Bryant. All Jordan did defensively, was cheat on the passing lanes. He couldn't shut down a top shooting guard like Coop or DJ could. He never guarded Magic. Well, not for long. If he did, Magic would eat his lunch.
There is no one in the NBA today that could stop Earl the Pearl. Lew Alcindor couldn't stop Earl the Pearl in his 2nd year in the league. He stopped everyone else on the Bullets team, but not him! Monroe had too much of that "now you see it, now you don't" stuff, that made Dr. J great. "The ball's right here, oh no, now it's over hear!" Guys would look like they're having a seizure trying to block their shots. Swinging their arms at nothing but air.
I included Wilkins out of respect for setting the record Stockton and Magic broke. Anyone getting that many assists on consistantly suck-ass teams he had, is not over-rated.
Dwayne Wade is a has-been. The Spurs are not even guarding him.