I just mentioned H20 because that was implied in the post but of course he isn't in that class. I don't think anyone thinks that he is.

I don't think any championship rings would be tainted. If you play a role on the team than you deserve the ring. No, those players wouldn't be able to claim that they "led" the team to the title but a ring is a ring. If you play on the team and you contribute than you deserve the ring. I still don't understand why fans care so much. If a vet came back, or was about to end his career, why would he go to a bad team. Who would do that?

I think Mourning's ring is tainted. You can't put yourself on Shaq's level for most of your career and then run to back him up and be expected to be considered a great player.

Mourning never led his team to greatness. I won't forget that just because he won a title with Miami and I don't think anyone else is making that mistake either. Noone is elevating him into the pantheon of NBA greats because of this ring. I'm not sure I understand what the problem is.

But the ring he has on his finger he deserves as much as any role player on the Miami team. He played a part and helped his TEAM win a title. In my view this makes the ring just as valuable as any other ring, it just doesn't elevate him to greatness like some seem to fear that it has.

Posted by RemBee76:

You put in the effort to become a successful player in this league you earn the right to close your career on a contender instead of playing out your remaining days in obscurity.

It’s just that simple.

I certainly agree with this, and pundits are generally smart enough to differentiate between a player that led a team to a title, verses an aging veteran who latched on a team in order to get a run at the chip --- if one is concerned about historical placement.

I think this thread has more to do with Houston potentially snaking the Knicks more than anything else.

Papabear Says

If Houston comes back and don't go out of his way to be a Knick again and joins a Boston, Mavs, Cleveland, I would be very dissapointed. Now if the Knicks say they don't want him, that's a different story. No wonder why Detroit hatted Houston so when he left them and didn't give them a real chance to get him back.

Papabear