It’s an interesting conversation. You think of Luka and Kyrie, you and Joe Dumars, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. We released a list to further the debate, but is there anyone else who isn’t getting enough consideration? Isiah Thomas: “I think it’s really hard. This is an audience that’s pretty young. Gail Goodrich and Jerry West was pretty damn good. I think they both were averaging 25 or 26 [points] with Wilt Chamberlain. Those guys were pretty good. [Earl] Monroe and [Walt] Frazier were good. It’s really difficult. Luka and Kyrie, they’re pretty special on the offensive side of the ball. Those two would be tough to guard in any era. They’ll give it to you. As a fan watching them, I love watching them play because they give you the entertainment. They give you the excitement. They give you the oohs and aahs. Offensively, they give you everything that you want.
Earl Monroe Rumors
Jorge Sierra: Nikola Jokic passed Steve Nash, Jaylen Brown and Moses Malone (who also has three MVPs, one Finals MVP and one NBA title) in playoff scoring last night. Jamal Murray moved past Sidney Moncrief, Donovan Mitchell, Earl Monroe, Joel Embiid and Vlade Divac.
Donovan Mitchell moved up from No. 134 to No. 128 in the scoring all-time list after passing Earl Monroe, Joel Embiid, Vlade Divac, Jamal Murray, Jack Sikma, Amar’e Stoudemire
Kristian Winfield: The NBA today announced New York Knicks forward Julius Randle as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of January. Randle pledges $500 for each 3 he makes this season to the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School in New York City.
Jorge Sierra: Paul George passed Earl Monroe in the scoring list last night. He’s now No. 91 all-time and only 69 points away from Jason Kidd.
Jorge Sierra: ALL-TIME SCORING LIST UPDATES Giannis passed Earl Monroe for No. 90 in NBA history yesterday. Kyrie Irving now ahead of Stephon Marbury at No. 111. Nikola Vucevic at No. 163 after moving past Spencer Haywood. Jeff Green at No. 189 after passing Carlos Boozer.
On why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar doesn’t get those types of dialogues when people talk about the GOATS… Earl Monroe: I don’t know, you know? He has always been on top of things, he’s always been that guy as a go-to-guy… I really don’t understand it. He’s one of the BEST players ever to play this game. As a matter of fact I just sent him a text because he had broken his hip or something and I just texted him wishing good healing and whatnot. With Kareem, no matter what players know who’s who, you know? Sportswriters write certain things and when you think about Kareem, you think about his legacy, you know? Early on people didn’t like Kareem. Sportswriters felt that he was arrogant and the longer you play, the more people start to embrace you and that was happening with Kareem and even talking with my good friend Bobby Dandridge who played with Kareem [on the Milwaukee Bucks], they still talking about the same thing that he was doing back in those days! It was PHENOMENAL! We played against Milwaukee in my third or fourth year in the league in the championship and they beat us 4-0 [laughing]… and it was interesting because everybody was over my house before the last game in Baltimore and we’re sitting there talking and Kareem says, “When we win tomorrow, I’m going to go back to New York and celebrate!” and I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. I know y’all are up 3-0 at this time but we’re in Baltimore. Y’all not going to win!…’ [laughing] but that was his mindset and obviously they went and won the game. Interestingly enough, that was when he went back and changed his name — when he left there, he went back to New York and changed his name from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
On why Patrick Ewing is unappreciated among the greatest big men of all time… Earl Monroe: I think people really appreciated him especially here in New York, obviously I’m thinking about the people here and seeing what he had done throughout his career. I can remember when they were pulling the ping-pong balls out of the machine to get the number #1 pick and then they ‘claimed’ that Dave DeBusschere had a card or something stuck so he could get the number #1 pick [laughing]… But Patrick was a real WARRIOR and he was a warrior throughout his career and he standards here, you know? Those teams that he was on defensively were great teams with the Pat Riley led teams and things of that nature and they almost did it. Twice. And unfortunately, they didn’t go all the way but they were in the mix every year.
