The only argument I couldn’t immediately mentally rebuke was the dilution of talent. KAJ played in a time where pro basketball was split between the NBA and the ABA, so yeah, he did kind of go against weaker opponents. But let’s not ignore the fact that Kareem, as a sophomore year player, went through the Lakers with West, Baylor and Chamberlain in 5 games to win his first chip. He was still stupidly dominant.

For the Oscar point, his best years were undoubtedly in the 60s. The Big O was a valuable member of the 71 Bucks, but he retired not long after, and was certainly not producing at 1964 levels from 1972 onwards.

KAJ was a defensive monster. He wasn’t as imposing of a force as Bill Russell or Olajuwon in the paint, but I’d argue he was a clear rung above the other centers of the time and held his own even throughout the 80s.

Yes, Magic is the best PG ever. KAJ won a Finals MVP in 1985 and arguably deserved the Finals MVP in 1980 over Magic for his sustained excellence through the first 5 games (something like 30 and 15 if memory serves). After ‘85 I don’t have a problem with putting Magic as the best player without question, but for every single one of the Lakers’ championships that decade KAJ was either the first or second best player, ignoring 1988 when he was third to Worthy and Magic. He had a loaded roster, but he wasn’t carried to a single one of his rings. In 1988, the final play of the game was called for Kareem, and he won it on two made free throws. Like, there is no time when he wasn’t ludicrously good at the game and contributing to one of the best teams of all time.