Who are your most selfish/unselfish NBA stars?

[passenger]

Mine would be,

Most selfish

Allen Iverson,Paul Pierce,Vince Carter,Kobe Bryant (he's better now but still in my list),S.Marbury

Unselfish

Steve Nash,Kevin Garnett

 

[Darth Llama]

Unselfish:

Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Chris Paul
Lebron James
Tony Parker

I chose to list guys that could take shots themselves, but instead look to give up to a team mate for an easier shot. There are guys in the league like Jason Kidd that look to dish on every play, but I didn't list Kidd because most of the time he can't make the spectacular shot. When you watch a guy like Nash or Bryant drive inside and dish out to the open shooter, you know that guy probably could have gone all the way to the rim, but opted instead to dish. The players mentioned above can score at will, but still look for others.

 

[HERD]

Just compare them to the Beatles
Then you will know, Hello!

 

[HERD]

Steve Nash Paul or John
Kobe Bryant
Chris Paul
Lebron James
Tony Parker Ringo Starr

 

[Louis]

Unselfish - Kobe, Nash, Duncan, KG, Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Kidd

Selfish - Marion, Shaq, D-Wade

 

[TucsonDevil]

Unselfish:

Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, most of the Jazz team, Grant Hill, Shaq (now), Tim Duncan, most of the Pistons team, Brandon Roy, Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, Lebron James, and many others.

Selfish (I don't think there are as many as people believe):

AI, Vince Carter, Robert Horry, Carlos Arroyo, Mike Bibby, Kobe Bryant, and Gilbert Arenas.

 

[Darth Llama]

My list of most selfish:

Vince Carter
Dwayne Wayde
Tracy McGrady
Michael Redd
Amare Stoudemire

No, I didn't put Amare just to tick people off. Amare is truly great, but he has a tendency to force the issue when he should pass.

 

[ActingWild]

My list of most selfish:

Vince Carter
Dwayne Wayde
Tracy McGrady
Michael Redd
Amare Stoudemire

No, I didn't put Amare just to tick people off. Amare is truly great, but he has a tendency to force the issue when he should pass.

Let me get this straight, Kobe is one of the most unselfish players and Amare is one of the most selfish...and you're a Lakers fan? Never would have been able to figure that one out without the avatar.

I don't recall Amare ever putting up 46 shots in a game, or having the press all over him because of his selfishness or doing a complete 180 to sabotage his team and lose a playoff series, just to prove that he's not selfish.

This is like a black hole calling the kettle black.

 

[Darth Llama]

Let me get this straight, Kobe is one of the most unselfish players and Amare is one of the most selfish...and you're a Lakers fan? Never would have been able to figure that one out without the avatar.

I don't recall Amare ever putting up 46 shots in a game, or having the press all over him because of his selfishness or doing a complete 180 to sabotage his team and lose a playoff series, just to prove that he's not selfish.

This is like a black hole calling the kettle black.

Whatever, like I care what you think. It's a post for opinions, that's mine. Kobe averages five and a half assists a game, how is that selfish? If Amare knew how to pass instead of trying to take stupid shots when he's being smothered, the Suns could have won last night. Amare has never been on a team where he can put up 40 shots, Kobe put up those shots when there was no other option. He hasn't shot nearly that much now that he has talent around him. You would know that if you ever actually watched a Laker game. You're going to argue the the Suns way cause you're a Suns fan, so don't get all self righteous like you're not doing the exact same thing. The only black hole here is between your ears.

 

[ActingWild]

Wow, for someone who advocates a board being a place for opinions, you sure quickly went to personal attacks. I happen to have a much different opinion of Kobe and Amare than you, I posted on this here opinion board that I disagreed with you and yet you're the one going to personal attacks.

Typical.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

If you ignore Kobe's FGA then you can label him unselfish.

 

[Darth Llama]

Wow, for someone who advocates a board being a place for opinions, you sure quickly went to personal attacks. I happen to have a much different opinion of Kobe and Amare than you, I posted on this here opinion board that I disagreed with you and yet you're the one going to personal attacks.

Typical.

I simply fought fire with fire. It was a counter attack, you were the first to the insults, so don't pretend to be all innocent now. You can't hang for the fight, don't start it.

 

[Bufalay]

If Kobe knew how to pass instead of trying to take stupid shots when he's being smothered, the Lakers could have won a playoff series in the last 3 years.

Good point. The Lakers have had a pretty good roster, but had a superstar who couldn't maximize the output of his teammates.

Go ahead and watch the second half of game 7 against the Suns 2 years ago and tell me that Kobe's quitting wasn't selfish.

Most of what you say is fair, but claiming that Amare is selfish and Kobe is not, is definitely a lousy analysis.

 

[Darth Llama]

Good point. The Lakers have had a pretty good roster, but had a superstar who couldn't maximize the output of his teammates.

Go ahead and watch the second half of game 7 against the Suns 2 years ago and tell me that Kobe's quitting wasn't selfish.

Most of what you say is fair, but claiming that Amare is selfish and Kobe is not, is definitely a lousy analysis.

I expect people to disagree. Maybe selfish is too strong a word, that's just the name of the thread. I do however, think Amare could benifit from being more willing to give up the rock. The Suns are, as a whole, an unselfish team, but Amare, in my opinion, seems hell bent on getting his points. Maybe I'm wrong, I won't claim to be the expert on the Suns that some people here are, it was a personal observation. It's not meant as an attack on Amare, I fully acknowledge him as one of the best players in the league. I foolishly thought that a civil discussion might ensure, but I forgot the rule that anything about Amare that doesn't praise him is attacked. I'll just retract the comment, since I don't think most people here can handle the topic.

Amare is god, he does nothing wrong.. ever.

 

[Bufalay]

I expect people to disagree. Maybe selfish is too strong a word, that's just the name of the thread. I do however, think Amare could benifit from being more willing to give up the rock. The Suns are, as a whole, an unselfish team, but Amare, in my opinion, seems hell bent on getting his points. Maybe I'm wrong, I won't claim to be the expert on the Suns that some people here are, it was a personal observation. It's not meant as an attack on Amare, I fully acknowledge him as one of the best players in the league. I foolishly thought that a civil discussion might ensure, but I forgot the rule that anything about Amare that doesn't praise him is attacked. I'll just retract the comment, since I don't think most people here can handle the topic.

Amare is god, he does nothing wrong.. ever.

I'm not disagreeing that Amare is selfish. He is selfish. I am disagreeing that Kobe is unselfish. He too is selfish.

 

[Bufalay]

Amare had 38 points against the Rockets and seemed hell bent on getting those last 2 points even when the game was basically over.

 

[Darth Llama]

I'm not disagreeing that Amare is selfish. He is selfish. I am disagreeing that Kobe is unselfish. He too is selfish.

I have to say then, that you either haven't watched Kobe play this year, or you are a little biased against him. Kobe has been the catylist for the success of his team mates, and has done a great job of getting the ball to the open guy this year. In years past, I think Kobe got labeled as Selfish because he had no one to pass to. Watch the Toronto Game where he scored 80+ points. He had like 16 at the half, watch the game, he's passing the entire time, and everyone on the team is throwing up bricks. Finally, he took over and won the game. After the game, he gets branded a ball hog. Really not fair. When he does start passing to his team mates and they keep missing, he gets branded as tanking on purpose.. how's he supposed to win here? If he gets 10 assists a game, he's not aggressive enough, if he gets less, he's a ball hog. Many great players have been called ball hogs, cause it's something they do when they have to. Great players take over games when they have to, and Kobe is no different. Perhaps Amare is simply doing the same.

I stand by my opinion though that Kobe is an unselfish player. Thank you for at least being able to discuss things civilly, there are others here that could learn a thing for two from you.

 

[Bufalay]

I have to say then, that you either haven't watched Kobe play this year, or you are a little biased against him. Kobe has been the catylist for the success of his team mates, and has done a great job of getting the ball to the open guy this year. In years past, I think Kobe got labeled as Selfish because he had no one to pass to. Watch the Toronto Game where he scored 80+ points. He had like 16 at the half, watch the game, he's passing the entire time, and everyone on the team is throwing up bricks. Finally, he took over and won the game. After the game, he gets branded a ball hog. Really not fair. When he does start passing to his team mates and they keep missing, he gets branded as tanking on purpose.. how's he supposed to win here? If he gets 10 assists a game, he's not aggressive enough, if he gets less, he's a ball hog. Many great players have been called ball hogs, cause it's something they do when they have to. Great players take over games when they have to, and Kobe is no different. Perhaps Amare is simply doing the same.

I stand by my opinion though that Kobe is an unselfish player. Thank you for at least being able to discuss things civilly, there are others here that could learn a thing for two from you.

He is improving. I tend to disagree with Laker fans on the quality of his teammates. I always hear you guys complaining about the lack of talent around Kobe (not this year, but the past 3). I would argue that those past Laker teams weren't much worse than the team the Suns had in '05-'06 when Amare was out. The Suns and Lakers were supposed to be fighting for the 8th seed in the playoffs.

Nash decided that in order to win he needed all the help he could get and put his teammates in a position to succeed. Kobe, on the other hand, decided that he teammates sucked and decided to chuck crazy shots for the whole 4th quarter. He never allowed his teammates to get into a rhythm.

 

[KloD]

Whatever, like I care what you think. It's a post for opinions, that's mine. Kobe averages five and a half assists a game, how is that selfish? If Amare knew how to pass instead of trying to take stupid shots when he's being smothered, the Suns could have won last night. Amare has never been on a team where he can put up 40 shots, Kobe put up those shots when there was no other option. He hasn't shot nearly that much now that he has talent around him. You would know that if you ever actually watched a Laker game. You're going to argue the the Suns way cause you're a Suns fan, so don't get all self righteous like you're not doing the exact same thing. The only black hole here is between your ears.

Kobe is averaging 5.5 more shots a game than Stat. I do agree Stat is selfish, but how do you call the guy who is 2nd in the league in shot attempts unselfish? Dwayne Wade is averaging 6.7 assists to Kobe's 5.4, so using assists to prove one players unselfishness while at the same time calling another selfish who has more assists per game doesn't pass the test. In fact another of your most selfish, Vince Carter is averaging about the same amount of assists as Kobe, but all of your named selfish players are below Kobe in shot attemps.

 

[D-Dogg]

I tend to disagree with Laker fans on the quality of his teammates. I always hear you guys complaining about the lack of talent around Kobe (not this year, but the past 3). I would argue that those past Laker teams weren't much worse than the team the Suns had in '05-'06 when Amare was out.

Kwame Brown. Smush Parker. Luke Walton.

Those were three STARTERS on those teams. STARTERS. Kobe carried those guys to the playoffs and almost beat a better Suns team.

Please.

Luke Walton is the 10th man on this Lakers team when everyone is healthy.

 

[abomb]

Kwame Brown. Smush Parker. Luke Walton.

Those were three STARTERS on those teams. STARTERS. Kobe carried those guys to the playoffs and almost beat a better Suns team.

Twice.

edit: check that. Farmar started over Smush in last year's series.

 

[D-Dogg]

Twice.

edit: check that. Farmar started over Smush in last year's series.

Yes, he started the last two games of the season and the playoff series. As a rookie. Smush'd!

 

[ActingWild]

I simply fought fire with fire. It was a counter attack, you were the first to the insults, so don't pretend to be all innocent now. You can't hang for the fight, don't start it.

Um, just to be clear, I never insulted or said one disparaging thing about you...unless you're actually Kobe, in which case I implied that you're selfish. Or if you think my saying you're a Lakers fan is an insult then you'd be right (I know I'd be insulted if someone called me that, but I wouldn't think an actual Lakers fan would be ). So, don't try to revise the argument to be that you're fighting fire with fire or 'counter' attacking...you're the one that took my opinion that Kobe is more selfish than Amare personally (and my saying "Black hole calling the kettle black" at least implies I think that Amare can be selfish at times...just not compared to Kobe).

If you want to call that an attack, feel free.

No matter how you slice it or want to twist it, Kobe historically (despite not being AS selfish this year) has been a ME first player. He didn't like Phil Jackson's triangle because it didn't showcase his skills. He wanted to be the big star on a championship team and ran Shaq out of town. And when the Lakers needed him most, he quit on his team to prove a point in the playoffs.


Case closed. He has always been a selfish player and person, and despite putting up more assists this year, he's still putting up more shots than anyone in the league besides Lebron (who also manages to dish out over 7 assists and pull down 8 boards a game).

All that being said, if there were a "most dominant offensive player in the league award", he'd get my vote, because he is THAT talented. However, the question wasn't who's the most talented player, it's most selfish and unselfish and I happen to think Kobe IS selfish...you disagree and apparently think that's a personal attack on you.

 

[ActingWild]

Thank you for at least being able to discuss things civilly, there are others here that could learn a thing for two from you.

I'm baffled here. Who's been uncivil? I've pointed out that you're opinion seems skewed because you're a Lakers fan and that saying Kobe is unselfish while Amare is selfish is like a black hole calling the kettle black.

Seriously, I usually enjoy your posts but if you can't take criticism about Kobe maybe you shouldn't be posting on a Suns board (not that I want that, you contribute some good posts...I just really disagree with your assessment of Kobe compared to Amare).

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Lammy is hell bent on trashing Amare evey chance he gets, he is a troll. If Amare was a Laker Llamy certainly wouldn't put him in the unselfish category.

As for Kobe, I do recall him shutting it down in Game 7 against the Suns 3 years ago. HOW UNSELFISH.
I also recall Kobe asking for a trade at the begining of the season. HOW UNSELFISH.
If that is the definiton of unselfish then well Llammy has rewritten the book of logic.

Maybe Amare has a one track mind on offense, how do we know that isn't by design? Because Lammy, a Laker fan wants Amare to pass? Oh ok.

Certainly IMO Kobe has proven to be far more selfish than Amare as a teammate and that's not including the fact he is selfish as a human being too.

Amare just likes to pad stats, Kobe has a track record of being selfish, yeah he is a good player who can pass every once in a while but to label him as unselfish, give me a break.