NBA icon Julius Erving has set the internet abuzz following his recent conversation with Joy De’Angela. In the interview, the Hall-of-Fame forward divulged his personal roster of the top-10 basketball players of all time. What’s caught everyone off guard is the notable absence of household names like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Steph Curry.

Erving’s rationale for his selections has triggered raised eyebrows and avid discussions. He contended that players such as LeBron and Curry, who are still actively playing, weren’t included due to their ongoing careers. This argument, however, falls short when it comes to legends like Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, who have certainly left an indelible mark on the sport. Enhance your NBA viewing experience with attractive betting odds from Nextbet. 

Former Memphis Grizzlies forward Gilbert Arenas shared his unfiltered opinion on Erving’s list during a recent episode of Gil’s Arena. Arenas minced no words, implying that Erving might not have been closely following NBA events since the mid-’90s. He pointedly suggested that Erving’s list seemed to neglect players from the last few decades.

Erving’s own top-10 lineup, shared without a specified ranking, boasts luminaries such as Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, and Tiny Archibald. Nevertheless, the glaring omission of more recent stars has ignited questions about the criteria he used for curation.

The omission of Bryant and Duncan, both synonymous with basketball excellence, remains a head-scratcher in the context of Erving’s compilation. While Erving’s emphasis on completed careers may seem like a logical benchmark, it doesn’t entirely account for the exclusion of these two legendary figures.

Arenas’ candid commentary shines a spotlight on the possible divergence between Erving’s viewpoint and the ever-evolving NBA landscape. His critique infers that Erving’s selections might mirror a disconnect from contemporary players who have made substantial impacts in recent times.

At its core, Erving’s list underscores the perennial challenge of comparing athletes across different eras and reconciling their unique achievements. The spirited discourse sparked by Erving’s choices underscores the enduring complexity of quantifying greatness across generations. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the allure of crafting a pantheon of basketball legends is matched only by the intricate web of opinions it weaves. Get the latest updates from the NBA only on Nextbet Sports.