The TRUTH About the GREATS

[@jonnyarnett]

**TIMESTAMPS BELOW** A Massive Compilation of my “How Good Were They Really?” Videos, including BRAND NEW content. Who is a great player you’d like to see me cover? Charles Barkley 0:17 Elgin Baylor 8:03 Vince Carter 14:28 Clyde Drexler 23:16 Patrick Ewing 29:08 Julius Erving 33:35 Dwight Howard 41:18 Allen Iverson 51:10 Tracy McGrady 1:01:09 Kevin McHale 1:07:39 Steve Nash 1:14:38 Dirk Nowitzki 1:22:56 Shaquille O’Neal 1:31:15 Bob Pettit - BRAND NEW 1:42:52 Hakeem Olajuwon 1:46:48 Gary Payton 1:55:06 Scottie Pippen 2:00:42 David Robinson 2:13:38 Dennis Rodman 2:19:21 John Stockton 2:25:44 Isiah Thomas 2:32:37 Dwyane Wade 2:39:21 Ben Wallace 2:49:08 Jerry West 2:58:59

[@alex4833]

Awesome compilation! I was wondering if you plan to make a video about Drazen Petrovic (for your "How Great Were They Really" series)? :)

[@isaoblack987]

Gail Goodrich. Walt Frazier. Bernard King. Moses Malone.

[@shaft9000]

B R A V O, Jonny! This is a supreme tribute to A.I., Logo, Hakeem, McHale, Petit, Chuck and so very many more - all consistently executed with a true scholar's touch!

[@ey_bean]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is missing

[@trentsides6058]

Do one about agent zero

[@bobbyfraser7942]

As a younger nba fan, I enjoy learning about the past generations that I didn't get to experience. I love how objective your points are. Keep it up!

[@woplesnar9722]

I need the truth on why jonnyarnet is the most underrated KZbinr

[@Cannon4545]

because most fans are casuals, so they're not that interested in in-depth dives and analysis.. or even history, for that matter.

[@Ben-zr4ho]

I don't know. There are other guys who do similar deep dives but just then obviously way worse and some have more subs. He should have at least 300k. Hell get there eventually.

[@brolee500]

Because he is a LeBron fan boy.. loses all credibility...

[@Cannon4545]

@@brolee500 Erm... he's on record as having Jordan as his #1 in a dozen videos.

[@jdm2339]

You’re really the best Jonny! This nba historian / geek appreciates you so damn much. Forever your fan!

[@wizard1687]

Thank you for the awesome Bob Pettit material. A favorite of mine from an 80s text based basketball simulator on a commodore 64 in my youth

[@Ben-zr4ho]

A text based basketball simulator? Lol. Sounds fun... I could even see, I guess, a text based football or baseball simulator but not basketball.

[@DSPHistoricalSociety]

Oh shit- I used to play Bird vs Dr J on the Commodore 64 with my dad in the 80s- he'd always get so angry 😂🤣

[@Youngkel95]

You know it’s a great weekend when Johnny drop a 3hr vid 💪🏾🔥

[@justicejohnson2799]

Love your work Johnny keep up the good work basketball teaches us everything hard work team work dedication and have a quick God bless piece of positivity

[@cedricl.vercher8423]

One of the GREATEST No-Ring having players EVER!

[@justinmathis8078]

He got one with L.A

[@Lemmebefamous]

Now i need the truth on why she left me😢

[@jonnyarnett]

I'll get to work on the video

[@Chillinonyt-p7k]

@@jonnyarnett😂😂😂

[@DaNxYsmells007]

Hold on I'll ask her bro

[@calebvanberkom5571]

@@DaNxYsmells007That’s foul

[@ppassal]

You were probably too nice! No matter how long or what they say you can never be vulnerable or try to do things that they say they want

[@celtics17banners84]

Love the marathon videos. Thanks for doing a segment on Kevin McHale. An underrated player 💪

[@Bathwater1855]

So glad you brought up Kevin Mchale 🎉 pure baller ⛹️

[@earvinwiblums4447]

I knew you would have a great perspective on Stockon. Been having to argue those points with him for the past few years now and it doesnt make sense.

[@jmckie45]

I appreciate Bob Petit for what he did with the Hawks. I still listen to the Game 6 radio broadcast at least once a year.

[@alex4833]

This is very cool :) I haven't finished watching it yet but I saw your pinned comment and you have a great list of players :) It was especially cool to see Bob Pettit here. I remember reading about him as a kid and was intrigued. I enjoyed learning more about him through your video 😊. I also think it was great to see Charles Barkley. Similar to you, he was one of my favorite players when I was growing up. The 93 Finals is one of my earliest basketball memories and I enjoyed watching him and KJ. It was cool to rewatch your video about him. I also really enjoyed the video about Payton - especially with the mention of the key role he played in the 06 Finals. They had a lot of aging/past their prime veterans, but each of them play a key role. Shaq was well known. But Gary, as you said, also played a key role. I also remember Jason Williams and Alonzo Mourning playing an important role too. Back to Payton, I am really glad he got a ring and I remember admiring his defensive skills for many years. Olajuwon is very cool too. As I mentioned in comments in other videos, I have long been amazed by his skills. True, it may not be a popular opinion, but I too put him above Shaq due to his (Hakeem's) skillset and IMO better defense (though I totally respect those who rank Shaq above Hakeem). I will continue watching and definitely am enjoying this 😊 Have a nice weekend Jonny!

[@damianporter7114]

You really kill it in these videos

[@MusaCeesay-f7c]

Hey Jonny, I respect how you look at the game of basketball as a whole as it’s very objective vs subjective. Just a random video idea lol I’m curious to hear your personal top 10 nba finals

[@Kevin-l1j3u]

Doc brought the flavor to the NBA in the 70"s

[@markjackson6431]

Bob Lanier is the most underrated player ever. the truth is…..he was a damn good player. Bobby Jones is the most underrated defender player ever. and people don’t talk about how good this dude was!

[@RyanLee-or4cj]

Another fact about Elgins 38 14 5 season was that he was doing MILITARY SERVICE during that year, he only played 40 odd games but that was because he was too busy flying from wherever the Lakers were playing and Washington in coach. Most underrated year of all time

[@SymeloMusic0]

that snatch block by big ben on tmac is one of the craziest ever

[@dervish816]

Fair takes as usual. About Hakeem, I personally put him above Shaq as he is definitely a more complete player than Shaq aside from the points that was mentioned. Shaq may have better numbers offensively but Hakeem's defense more than makes up for the difference.

[@SMackEntertainment]

Elgin Baylor's field goal percentage is why he's overlooked. Not just a lack of rings.

[@Bob-w1k8l]

Iverson was one of the best I've ever seen, Tmac was nasty, Mchale and playing on broken foot was before my time...and Nash was incredible..always one of my favorites.

[@Bob-w1k8l]

Just like Stockton doesn't get enough attention either.

[@JayDay32]

I believe Charles himself has said he is 6’4” which is what made his accomplishments even more crazy. He was an incredible rebounder.

[@justinlaw9336]

Hey man, I just kinda luckily came across ur channel a few weeks ago, as I'm a die hard basketball and sports fan in general. But alot of sports channels like urs are made by younger generations that think the 80's and 90's were trash, Lebron is the GOAT, and walks on water, blah blah blah bullshit . But u keep it real, pay respects to old school players, and tell it like it is. It's refreshing to see and I respect u for that. I am 40 years old, so I luckily got to see alot of the greats from the 80's and 90's, all the way up to the current NBA and NFL. Anyway, I'm gonna shut the hell up, and just end with telling u to keep up the good work. The truth is important, and needs to be put out there for the masses to see and hear, and we gotta call people out that spread lies and bullshit propaganda, like alot of these LeBron fans seem to be great at throwing out online, as if it's the absolute truth. I have been diagnosed I got PTSD after serving 8 yrs in the USMC, and sometimes when my mind seems to start going back to some dark places, it's actually just me listening or watching well produced, sports or music videos that just tell it like it is, and call out any bullshit, that gets me mentally engaged and interested enough to let my mind relax some, and calm down enough to distract and keep them demons from tryna get back out ya know? Don't know why it works? But it does for me, so I just roll with it...Simple but effective. So I just wanna say thanks for all ur hard work, and let u know that there are some people out in the world like me, that are damn thankful for the work ur doing. As long as u continue to keep at it, I'll keep watchin'! Thanks, and Semper Fidelis my friend. 🫡🏀

[@lejournaldepercival]

This begin with charles thank you.

[@NumunuBeats]

Word on the street is Sir Charles was actually only about 6’4 1/2”.

[@handsomeX]

Yup. I'm a legit 6'3" and he was only about an inch taller than me when I met him a few years ago.

[@timmyg831]

Anthony Edwards should watch this video and get a good education on basketball history.

[@silencehypocrites]

Agreed he needs to stop being a piss 🐜

[@08BrianTran]

Love the videos man! Do a video on top 5 players every 5 years? or don't , up to you. ill still watch your videos either way!

[@harbour08]

That AI segment almost made me shed a tear

[@shaft9000]

This is the best assortment of tributes to A.I., Logo, Hakeem, Chuck and many many more - consistently executed with a scholarly touch. My sole nitpick is @2:13:00 with the Pippen-Kawhi comparison. Kawhi is the much more efficient and productive scorer, while on the other end he has the 2xDPOTYs. Sure, Pippen has a bit tougher time winning it by playing in the 90s, but it is what it is. If either had gotten just one DPOTY _and/or_ a single FMVP, then we'd be having a much different convo - but *there is a rather significant gap at 2-0 DPOTY & 2-0 FMVP in favor of Klaw.* Jonny overlooked that much too readily, is all. The irony is that Kawhi compares better to Jordan's play style during the 2nd three-peat than he does to Pippen at any phase of his career. P E A C E 😄

[@williamhoward1268]

I forget the year but the one year magic won the MVP Barkley should of won it that year.

[@ITSFOOTYNOTSOCCER]

Love your content man!

[@Sizdothyx]

For me, there's three eras: Pre-3 point line, Post-Merger, Post-Malice at the Palace. That's it.

[@cozyboykel]

You one of the greats JA🐐🐐

[@cuuldurach1609]

Barkleys true height is actually more around 6'4in

[@RegDolla_]

A suggestion for a video which era for each position was the most stacked/deepest. For example PF position Early 2000s with Duncan, Dirk, Garnett, Webber and even Malone.

[@gold-man9]

Bob Pettit is my man, super underrated

[@harbour08]

The rockets rejecting that 1984 trade offer is inexcusable even in retrospect

[@Ben-zr4ho]

Agreed. It's one thing to choose Hakeem over Jordan but they didn't have to choose at all. They could of had them BOTH. AND Drexler.

[@harbour08]

@@Ben-zr4ho even if one of the 3 didn't work it, it would've worked out overall

[@SymeloMusic0]

the james harden > dwyane wade debate by this new generation who didnt even watch d wade might be the worst take of this generation

[@Bkzshowtimedagr8]

Wade over Harden period

[@bryonbillington1557]

offensively take ya pick kinda cancels out but defense is definitely what makes wade better

[@SymeloMusic0]

@@bryonbillington1557 and even offensively who’s more reliable and trustworthy come playoff time? D Wade

[@ZuluZuluEcho]

@@SymeloMusic0 saying harden doesn’t show up during playoffs is kinda ridiculous idk where people got that but d wade definitely got the clutch get it done factor.

[@elvisp116]

Anyone that wins when it counts will always be better than those who fold under pressure

[@jackjackson376]

Barkley may not have had the height of a PF, but he sure had the weight

[@Ben-zr4ho]

Had the ass that's for sure.

[@LegendGamer-dj8om]

i love you man

[@kaksmirknight5318]

True NBA greats don't jump teams and form Super teams with 2 top 10 conference players with him and just loose 5 NBA finals in a soft era of NBA. True NBA greats don't pocket the media to tell everyone he's the GOAT of part of it. True NBA greats just shut up and let their game and NBa titles do the talking.

[@him37404]

But Hakeem and Clyde and Barkley did it too

[@murrayclarke2171]

You should do an episode on the caliber of all stars over the years. Were All Stars from the 80s and 90s as good as the current ones in terms of wins, points, advanced stats etc.

[@Waltercayach]

Hakeem had teamate you mentioned Clyde the glide Drekler In the 1995 title.

[@GodSon91]

Allen Fucking Iverson 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@NumunuBeats]

I’ll FOREVER debate Sam Bowie’s status as a “Bust.” He might not have lived up to expectations of his high draft status but he did manage to have a long, productive, journeyman career as a backup center.

[@HarryFromTheNorthSide]

Vince carter put my home town toronto on the map ❤❤❤ and brought basketball love back to canada

[@JustAWriter12]

Good day, Jonny! I was just wondering if the younger generation of basketball fans watch your channel

[@Nichee-wo2nz]

What made Kevin Mechale so dominant inside was his reach. I think his reach was close to 8 ft. He was 6'10 with an 8 ft wingspan that is insane. It's the same as wembys. Almost as long as manute bol

[@gotwobag7876]

Have a great weekend !😵‍💫👍

[@mastersahly4274]

Loved the point about Barkley , I dont apreciate at all Shaq's ego roasting Barkley for not getting one chip. Shaq acts like a child sometimes, and he could've had 6 chips with Kobe, but they both chose to fight over who's team it was and not accepting a pay cut as a sacrifice to win more chips, now he regrets, too late dough.

[@Turtle_D_Money]

You had me until pay cut I don’t always agree with that but it’s going to be interesting to see if the Knick’s can pull something off with a star player taking a pay cut

[@mastersahly4274]

@@Turtle_D_Money fair enough. I get your point. I think at the end of a career, it hurts more not having lots of money and zero chips, than hanving less money one or two chips, but enough for your grand, grand kids generation and being talked about for generations for being a winner, not a billionaire.

[@jayjilla3510]

Thomas was prime cp3

[@mikemoney8344]

Antman: "tHeSe GuYs HaVe No SkIlLs" 😐

[@Domeo_Divine]

Kevin Johnson used to give Johnson Stockton that work stop it

[@joejeffery5454]

Damn… Elgin Baylor is really the lebron of the 80’s

[@cycleoflife565]

That’s backwards. You honor the one that came first, although it’s an insult to Baylor either way as he was a dignified professional who respected the game and had integrity. Bron would be the modern day Elgin if he possessed any of the qualities I mentioned.

[@sambeaumont395]

Crazy how we talk about all of these guys, and under appreciate them, but also recognize them. Charles Barkley - arguably a top 3 power forward ever and at one point the best ever. Elgin Baylor - the original athletic/above the rim wing, the best small forward and even now still top 3. Vince Carter - the games greatest dunker. Clyde Drexler - the best Blazer ever. …

[@HitmanHimmy]

Anyone notice the Eurostep @ 12:04?

[@card-pull-king]

He was 6'4" tall. Not 6'6"

[@lioninthesun]

A lot of people underestimate the fact that kobe shot so many jumpers because he was being the spacing his big men needed. If you watched the 2001 wcf against the spurs you know kobe was dominant going to the basket and if you can do that against great defense you can do that against anyone but he was the spacing for his big men. If he had to he could drive or post up and he was doing that in 2010 but he had bynum and pau so he gave that up for the good of the team. My point is the greatest players adjust to their team, they don’t make their team adjust to them. Mj got to post more because he didn’t have those great bigs offensively so he got to use that space. Kobe was leading the league in points in the paint in 2010 and then he started playing more in the perimeter for the bigs. Kobe was the best post player in the league at one point in my eyes he had the best footwork and post moves

[@trollinthedungeon5255]

He couldn’t do anything without great bigs and Phil as a coach. Without those he either missed, or barely made the playoffs. Without shaq in any of his early years, the result would have been much the same.

[@lioninthesun]

@@trollinthedungeon5255 he beat all the best teams in the regular season by himself kid. If he had great guards or wings he would have won championships the same way

[@jacoblee5796]

@@trollinthedungeon5255These Kobe fans are half delusional. Without great bigs Kobe either wasn’t making the playoffs or getting bounced in the first round. Kobe needed great bigs to clean up all his bricks.

[@Ben-zr4ho]

And Jordan couldn't do anything without Phil Jackson, a top 50 all time player and some of the best role players in the history of the game... Right? Sounds dumb doesn't it? Yeah you guys don't know what you are talking about. Kobe didn't "need a great big." He needed good players around him like anyone else. Jordan didn't win anything by himself either. In his prime Kobe was playing with Smush and Kwame. He had THE worst team in the league and he still pushed the best teams in the league. Smush didn't belong in the league period and Kwame was at best a 8 or 9th man off the bench. Kobe NEVER had a point guard. As much as I love Fisher he wouldn't have started in any other team in the league. Slow, a liability on defense, couldn't drive the lane or dribble or even pass. He could shoot okay and shoot for clutch great. Kobes best player those years was a unmotivated, literally stoned most of the time Lamar Odom for about 14 points a game. Kobe had to do EVERYTHING.

[@ejkboxing]

They put in stupid ass rules like no backing opponents down for more than 5 seconds because our coaches suck. Why can't coaches figure that out instead of the league implementing a rule. Our coaches are terrible coaches.

[@MarquisdeSuave]

I always wondered how his game would have translated into the NBA had he not had a heart issue. He would have been an off-the-charts athlete had he played today, but in 1988, he played like he wasnt from this planet. He was a quick and fast 4 who could sprint the entirity of a 40 minute game without losing anything. He could also jump out of the gym at a level unseen until maybe Antonio McDyess. He did have some huge gaps in his game though. As he was always the best athlete on any gym he played in, he lacked a lot of fundamental skills. His post game was basically just jumping over wwhomever was guarding him, which wouldnt fly in the NBA (see Wayman Tisdale) as everyone is a great athlete in the NBA. He also lacked handles and a jumper outside of 7-8 feet. Defensively, he had a lot of raw talent, but his job at LMU was to grab boards, not block shots. That said, he had good instincts, especially on intercepting long passes. I could see Gathers having a career in the NBA, but I highly doubt he wohld have become anytbing more than an effective role player, at best. This was the 90's, and they just didnt run PnR's back then like they do today, and that would have limited him in half court sets. I think where he could have been a help to his team would have had to be on the boards. Gathers was a system's player to be sure, but he was an excellent rebounder on both sides of the court. He had that Buck Williams like ability to have a nose for where a ball might bounce off the rim. Add to that, his excellent athletic ability and I could see a world where Gathers would have had seasons averaging more than 10 boards a game if he were getting 30+ minutes a game.

[@porovaara]

clyde the glide was so unappreciated by casual fans, but those who knew know.

[@NumunuBeats]

Sam Bowie was NOT a bust. Injuries kept him from realizing his full potential but he had a long and successful career as a quality backup center.

[@snomelc920J]

Magic Curry Jordan Duncan Olajuwon - I need to know your greatest startest 5 of all time Jonny !!!

[@mypeople1stwilliam]

I got Jerry West over Wade in the SG conversation.

[@uhoh4961]

Yesssss

[@EC_IS_Here]

DWade or Harden?......... Easily D Wade :)) Yeah that's a guy you want on your squad.A guy who can make others better and be a threat himself

[@jerrywilson1727]

The truth is the Greats had Great coaching never a Color Seen just run gun on the wing

[@andytaylor6781]

My favorite 34 CB.

[@procrastininjar5349]

Think how much better Barkley's efficiency would have been if he didn't attempt so many 3 pointers!

[@TheMeefive]

I thought you were telling the truth about the greats. You failed to mention that as the anchor of the Sixers Dr. J beat Bird 2 times to 1 in the playoffs (something Jordan couldn't do even once.) In the 1980 ECF Dr. J vastly outplayed Bird, and yet you say he's behind Bird and LeBron. LelBron shouldn't be on the same tier as Dr.J and Bird.

[@MB-nb7yq]

Dennis Rodman is the reason I play the game the way I do.

[@bsjeffrey]

meadowlark lemon is the goat

[@alejanoelallen1952]

🏀

[@l9ikjam]

Kd fg% with the nets was higher than when he was with the warriors

[@JoeIsTooTuff]

Idk why they say “we done with the 90s” or “Jordan played with plumbers”who was the plumbers?!?!?

[@josephjensen5595]

Curious to hear if you would still have Isiah Thomas over Steph….assuming he has gone up on your list since originally creating that video

[@BurnzThatDude]

Hey most of your underrated players are like top 5, your tripping a little. Still love tho

[@Bob-w1k8l]

7:47 Stockton was a beast

[@kingjhove3710]

Elgin was that good fr people look at me like I’m crazy but the truth is he was a problem

[@lifebybill1326]

Imagine if T-Mac, Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, Derrick Rose, Larry Bird, Bill Walton, Maurice Stokes, Yao Ming, Andrew Bynum, Greg Oden, Pistol Pete Maravich etc had never had their careers derailed with chronic injuries. What would the history of the NBA look like if they all had long and injury free careers? What would the NBA look like now? How legacies differ from reality??

[@l9ikjam]

Made all of those excuses for barkley. That suns team was stacked and then he went and played with pippin and hakeem

[@greengirl4486]

🍄

[@starkcycles310]

Dream Team 1992 is the best team ever assembled in the history of sports. Patrick Ewing is a member of The earths mightiest heroes.

[@AnjlMdvL]

As good as Ivo was, he would've won a chip if his team practice & training habits were better & sustained together. Got to the finals on talent that year.. & heart. Discipline would've won it the next year though.

[@lorrancelewis7120]

Jerry west at least 6'4" looks 6'5

[@georgew3569]

Aye bro I’m not bout to let you talk about shaq like that Kobe never averaged near 30 in the finals with Shaq Kobe avg 15, 24, 26, and let’s not act like shaq wasn’t getting triple teamed and that allowed Kobe to be able to score the way he did

[@Ben-zr4ho]

It's the other way around. The offensive focus on Shaq, the offense running through him, all this touches, and the fact that he clogged the lane so badly... Kobe would have scored far more without him. Wouldn't have won those first three championships either or course but it hurt his scoring.

[@georgew3569]

@@Ben-zr4ho yea you obviously don’t know basketball you just said it yourself all the focus was on shaq I get it you are a Kobe fan but Kobe don’t get all those one on ones he was getting if the dang near the whole team is guarding Shaq

[@RK.Anthony]

And dude, it's "fresh as a daisy". The spelling bee was awesome BTW

[@yarclewinson]

Imagine if Dirk Joined the Lakers with Kobe 2004/05 after shaq left…Dirk would have probably won 3-4 championships by 2016 when Kobe retired

[@paulbunyan9436]

Am I seeing this right? A 3 hour video?🧐

[@18banners]

6:43 , thats incorrect Jonny as Kevin Johnson nearly won them a Finals game against Jordan's Bulls by completely taking over the game. If im not mistaken he almost had 50 points

[@RadfordFulton]

Barkley is 6"4"1/2 to 6'5' not 6'6' as well is Michael Jordan 6" 4" 1/2 to 6' 5' not 6 ' 6 '

[@ATroubledGreensLibrary]

🎉❤

[@gothamcityarcade]

Listed at 6'6" and 250 lbs, but in truth closer to 6'4", Barkley is the shortest player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding, averaging 14.6 rebounds per game during the 1986-87 season. SO PLEASE STOP TELLING the viewership that he 6'6!

[@yarclewinson]

Dirk is the luckiest 1 ring winner in NBA history. I believe Mark Cuban paid LeBron to through that serious allegedly.

[@JeTseTJaMiZon]

Bug Mouf BarkLey PLayed Big #MVP92DreamTeam

[@bigsmoove201]

The ABA does exist. Been re established since 2000 . Its jus a semi pro league now

[@johnnelson1251]

Still waiting for that unbiased lebron mj vid where we include the value of hof coach hof rebounder and hof 2 way point forward ur whole career with the best system ever and how lbj never had that his whole careerconsistently thanks man

[@nbagoats4819]

Truth is, if anyone deserved to win a ring it was Barkley. There has never been a player with that kind of production to not win a ring. Baylor was amazing however he was a ball hog. He averaged 31 shots on only 41% shooting one year. And over 25 shots following years. He shot lower than his team's FG%. He was a blackhole for scoring. A volume shooter. Its hard to win consistently with volume scorers. Guys who shoot lower than their team's percentage.