“Doc paved the way for Bird, who paved the way for Pippen” – Chris Mullin ranks Larry Bird, Julius Erving and Scottie Pippen
For Mully, ranking Dr. J, Bird, and Pippen wasn’t about who did it first but who did it the best.
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Magic Johnson once raved about how perfectly balanced Chris Mullin’s game was. For the better part of his legendary NBA career, “Mully” functioned as a small forward, but he could do almost everything. Despite the acknowledgment from his peers, Mullin doesn’t see himself joining the ranks of Julius Erving, Larry Bird, and Scottie Pippen in the small forward GOAT list.
Interestingly, Mullin was once asked to start, bench, and cut one between the three greatest small forwards in NBA history. According to “Mully,” Bird holds the top spot in his book. Pippen follows closely behind, and last on the list is Dr. J.
“Bird, Pippen, Doc,” Mullin said on The Knuckleheads podcast in 2021. “I’m gonna be decisive. I might not be right, but I’m going to be decisive. But, by the way, Doc paved the way for Bird, who paved the way for Pippen. You want to pull up some Dr. J in the ABA? Check that out!”
MJ picks Larry
If there’s another player who has the credibility to answer the same question besides Mullin, it would be Michael Jordan. As most of us know, MJ idolized Dr. J, rivaled Bird, and played alongside Pippen.
As it turned out, Jordan also once shared his take on the small-forward GOAT debate. For MJ, there’s no doubt Erving, Pippen, and even LeBron James are in the conversation, but nobody played the three better than Bird.
“People ask me all the time who my all-time five top players are,” Jordan once said. “And when I start saying Larry, they interrupt me. They say, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. He can’t play with LeBron James!’ I tell them, ‘You guys don’t get it. Larry is far better than any small forward who played the game, and to be honest, I’m still not sure if he is a small forward or a power forward.'”
Trio tops the small-forward GOAT rankings
Indeed, in no particular order, Erving, Bird, and Pippen are arguably the Top 3 greatest small forwards ever to grace NBA hardwood. They varied in playing style and impact on the game, but all three of them undeniably raised the bar when playing in the small forward position.
Dr. J revolutionized the game with his acrobatic moves and graceful finishes. His ability to soar through the air and pull off electrifying dunks captivated fans and made the game popular worldwide.
By contrast, “Larry Legend” did not have Erving’s athleticism. However, his cold-blooded playing style, basketball IQ, and competitive spirit made him easily one of the greatest players ever.
On top of that, Bird’s knack for dominating matchups with savagery sets him apart from his peers Pippen, meanwhile, is widely regarded as the ultimate wingman to Jordan. He was often overshadowed by “His Airness,” but his repertoire should never be underestimated.
Pip’s defensive prowess, court vision, and unselfish mentality made him an integral part of arguably the greatest NBA dynasty of all time in the Chicago Bulls. His controlled yet efficient scoring ability made Pippen one of the best two-way players in NBA history.
If you want to establish a championship-winning team, any of the three players is an excellent choice because they have all shown to be champions with individual and team accolades to their names.