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

[@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!

[@jdm2339]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@Youngkel95]

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

[@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.

[@Bathwater1855]

So glad you brought up Kevin Mchale 🎉 pure baller ⛹️

[@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 😂🤣

[@cedricl.vercher8423]

One of the GREATEST No-Ring having players EVER!

[@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

[@Kevin-l1j3u]

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

[@lejournaldepercival]

This begin with charles thank you.

[@celtics17banners84]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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. 🫡🏀

[@timmyg831]

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

[@silencehypocrites]

Agreed he needs to stop being a piss 🐜

[@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.

[@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!

[@williamhoward1268]

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

[@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 😄

[@symelolol]

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

[@Sizdothyx]

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

[@harbour08]

That AI segment almost made me shed a tear

[@cozyboykel]

You one of the greats JA🐐🐐

[@gold-man9]

Bob Pettit is my man, super underrated

[@Waltercayach]

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

[@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

[@gotwobag7876]

Have a great weekend !😵‍💫👍

[@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.

[@cuuldurach1609]

Barkleys true height is actually more around 6'4in

[@card-pull-king]

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

[@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.

[@Domeo_Divine]

Kevin Johnson used to give Johnson Stockton that work stop it

[@GodSon91]

Allen Fucking Iverson 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@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.

[@mikemoney8344]

Antman: "tHeSe GuYs HaVe No SkIlLs" 😐

[@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.

[@symelolol]

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

[@symelolol]

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

[@ZuluZuluEcho]

@@symelolol 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.

[@jayjilla3510]

Thomas was prime cp3

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@HitmanHimmy]

Anyone notice the Eurostep @ 12:04?

[@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.

[@snomelc920J]

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

[@JustAWriter12]

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

[@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.

[@SMackEntertainment]

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

[@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

[@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. …

[@Bob-w1k8l]

7:47 Stockton was a beast

[@mypeople1stwilliam]

I got Jerry West over Wade in the SG conversation.

[@jerrywilson1727]

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

[@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.

[@alejanoelallen1952]

🏀

[@bsjeffrey]

meadowlark lemon is the goat

[@porovaara]

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

[@greengirl4486]

🍄

[@l9ikjam]

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

[@kingjhove3710]

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

[@ATroubledGreensLibrary]

🎉❤

[@BurnzThatDude]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@JeTseTJaMiZon]

Bug Mouf BarkLey PLayed Big #MVP92DreamTeam

[@l9ikjam]

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

[@MB-nb7yq]

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

[@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

[@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

[@paulbunyan9436]

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

[@JoeIsTooTuff]

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

[@davyjoealvarez402]

Hindi padin ako makapaniwala na hindi nanalo si SGA last season.

[@RK.Anthony]

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

[@IBelieveinJoehendryTNA]

mj believe in joe Hendry

[@Nichee-wo2nz]

Dirk and hakeems rings were the most important to any one player. Id say dirks was more tho because had mj been around hakeem wasnt winning shit. And dont give me the same stance that kenny does where he says the bulls didnt have the size for hakeem. Rodman would have slowed him enough. Just like he was when he played for the spurs. Rodman was shutting hakeem down while mj was retired and the dream had to face rodman and the spurs. Well roman locked em up each time he played but the spurs coach didnt like how rodman would miss practices and do his shenanigans. So he got benched witch was stupid of the spurs coach.

[@jerrywilson1727]

My best player Is to good to be on this chump list i insist

[@nakanashun5009]

The reason Shaq got some rings is coz MJ wasn’t around, coz while MJ was Shaq wasn’t gettin no rings..well the same thing happened to Sor Charles. Of MJ wasn’t around Barkley would’ve got him some rings in the 90s and would’ve beat Shaq doin it

[@deadchannel3462]

False narrative on Melo!! He was blackballed!! D'Antoni bad-mouthed him after he got rid of him from the Rockets!

[@brolee500]

Because he is a LeBron fan boy

[@otislamar8613]

Truth is every great nba player has big nostrils and hairy knuckles.

[@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

[@BigAl559]

get rid of ronnie bell. All he does is drop passes. Kyle should of called a QB snack on that 3 and inches on the red zone instead he ran the ball for a lost. Bad play call. Embrassing defense couldn't stop the run or pass. SMH

[@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

[@GH0ST____.]

​@ejkboxing How would she know when she wasn't even one of the greats

[@clevisbernier8973]

BAYLOR is better than Lebron.

[@Bbcrick445]

You forgot that most beside some like Kobe Floyd Muhammad Are not sellout’s unlike Michael Lebron Oj Simpson who did sellout by sacrificing love one’s integrity and racial identity for materialistic things and the title of being known as the greatest.

[@Saltslanger]

Charles > Shaq

[@philip5454]

How😂? Shaq has better stats, was a better defender and won more.

[@Ben-zr4ho]

​@@philip5454 Far more efficient as well...

[@ssv7033]

I’m sorry bro, ‘Elgin Baylor the greatest player to never win a championship’?? Romanticizing old school players much? Revise that take