In Reply to: That's a pretty weak prompt. If you don't put any effort... posted by Born2BBruin on June 26, 2025 at 22:42:13
If I put that much effort into phrasing the question, I could just answer it myself.
But in the past, I have gotten some very accurate responses from simply worded questions.
No need for your detailed question. Here is the response to this one: Who are the greatest ucla basketball players at each position? (Only one obvious factual error.)
PG — Gail Goodrich
Years: 1962–1965
Why: Led UCLA to its first two NCAA titles (1964, 1965). A crafty, relentless scorer and playmaker, Goodrich was the floor general for Wooden’s first dynasty teams. He’s a Hall of Famer and a UCLA legend.
SG — Reggie Miller
Years: 1983–1987
Why: One of the greatest shooters ever. At UCLA, he averaged over 22 points per game as a senior and is still among the top scorers in school history. His clutch shooting and swagger carried over to an iconic NBA career.
Honorable mention: John Wooden himself played guard for UCLA, and more modern names like Jrue Holiday or Darren Collison deserve respect too — but Reggie’s legacy stands tallest here.
SF — Jamaal Wilkes
Years: 1971–1974
Why: The smooth, graceful forward was a key piece for Wooden’s Bruins during their historic 88-game win streak and multiple NCAA titles. Wilkes won two NCAA championships and was a consensus All-American. His calm, versatile game translated perfectly to an All-Star NBA career too.
PF — Sidney Wicks
Years: 1968–1971
Why: A dominant force in the paint during the heart of UCLA’s dynasty, Wicks won three national championships and was a two-time consensus All-American. His blend of scoring, rebounding, and defense was unmatched at the 4.
Honorable mention: Marques Johnson is often considered here too — he played more as a forward/wing but could slot at PF or SF.
C — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor)
Years: 1966–1969
Why: This one’s not even debatable. Arguably the greatest college player ever — three-time national champion, three-time Final Four MOP, three-time national player of the year. His skyhook and dominance revolutionized the game (and literally got the dunk banned for a while).
Honorable mention: Bill Walton — who’d be the greatest center at almost any other program — was a two-time national champ, two-time national player of the year, and legendary in his own right.