My dad is 68, still works a 9 to 5 drawing 100k pa pre-tax (tax bracket is 12%). Started drawing SSA benefits last year ($2.2k for self and $900 spousal benefits for wife who immigrated in 2017-18 who’s 70) based on Mike Piper’s open social security calculator that recommended starting retroactively from Dec 2022, instead of waiting until 70.
Monthly expenses are under $3k all inclusive of apartment rent, groceries, Medicare insurance premiums, etc. so that’s mostly all covered by SS. Currently maxing out his 401k and tIRA contributions.
We were never investment savvy but I started investing his funds for him in 2020, after reading up a lil, in a two-fund couch potato Boglehead portfolio mainly consisting of VT/BNDW. Since then, I’ve added some ibonds, CDs and SPRXX to it. His current assets are as follows:
VT (brokerage/tIRA) - $190k 401k (all equity) - $98k Total equity ($288k) 52%
BNDW (brokerage/tIRA) - $55k Govt ibonds - $43k SPRXX - $61k CDs - $100k Total fixed income ($260k) 48%
Their current $43k ibonds comprise of $10k each in Aug 2022 & Jan 2023. Should I:
1) swap the $40k out into new 1.3% fixed rate ibonds ($10k each for 2024 and $10k into a gift box to be delivered to each other in 2025)?
2) get rid of them and invest the $43k into another fixed income instrument like SPRXX, HYSA, CD, TIPs, Tbills, etc?
I know it depends on what their long term goals and expectations about inflations, etc. are but we really don’t have any specific objective in mind and would like to just stay invested in something that yields well.
Some people suggest that even a 1.3% fixed rate isn’t enough to keep them invested in ibonds anymore:
If you buy I bonds today, you could find yourself shackled to an investment with diminishing returns, says Aaron Brachman, a financial advisor in Washington: “I’ve never thought I bonds were a good place to park cash,” he says.

~Radial forging machines market~ size was valued at $160 million in 2022, and is projected to reach $262 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period (2023-2030). Radial Forging Machine Market research report reveals important insights into market scenario to enable key players in taking calculated decision making. Basically, one of the major purposes of market research reports is to maximize the business growth opportunities. It also helps key players to turn business into a successful business by increasing the profit level. The overall business goal can be accomplished through this Radial Forging Machine Market study report as it consists of all the current happenings and major innovations of the marketplace. Depending on the overall business objective, it is important to reduce business risks to generate larger revenues in the business. Several regions are captured in this Market report which includes North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific.
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The global radial forging machine market is further segmented based on geography including North America (the US, and Canada), Europe (Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Others), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Others), and the Rest of the World (the Middle East &Africa, and Latin America). The market can be analyzed for a particular region or country level as per the requirement. Among these, the Asia-Pacific regional market is expected to cater to prominent growth over the forecast period, however, the Europe region is projected to experience considerable growth in the radial forging machine market.
full report of Radial Forging Machine Market available @ https://www.omrglobal.com/industry-reports/radial-forging-machines-market
· Market Coverage
· Market number available for – 2024-2031
· Base year- 2024
· Forecast period- 2024-2031
· Segment Covered- By Source, By Product Type, By Applications
· Competitive Landscape- Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., Kerry Group Plc, Cargill
· Inc., and others
Market Segmentation
Global Radial Forging Machine Market by Type
o Hot Forging
o Cold Forging
Global Radial Forging Machine Market by Application
o Automotive Industry
o Hardware Tools
o Engineering Machinery
o Others
Regional Analysis
o North America
o United States
o Canada
o Europe
o UK
o Germany
o Italy
o Spain
o France
o Rest of Europe
o Asia-Pacific
o China
o India
o Japan
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia-Pacific
o Rest of the World
Company Profiles
o Ajax
o American GFM Corp.
o Fagor Arrasate S.Coop.
o J&H CHEM
o Kanematsu KGK
o Komatsu Ltd.
o Kurimoto, Ltd.
o Lasco Medicare
o Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
o Qingdao Haoyuan Yiyou Forging Machinery Co., Ltd.
o Schuler AG
o SMS Siemag
o Stamtec Industries
o Sumitomo Corp.
o TMP
The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2022 and forecast to 2030.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global machine market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
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Just received a letter from PA Dept of Revenue, asking for :
1.) Evidence of W-2s showing wages taxed by PA.
2.) Signed statement from employer for evidence of non taxable income
3.)A letter from employer showing reason for difference between Medicare wages and state wages
None of this makes sense to me, as I have no non taxable income, my Medicare wages and state wages are identical on my W-2 and my W-2 info on my taxes all reflects this.
I plan to call the provided number tomorrow, but looking for some additional insight. Another weird item, when filing my taxes online, the “auto-calculator” factored in an additional $100,000 of income. I manually adjusted this, but not sure if this is relevant.

I desperately need help, no idea how to begin to tackle this. I’ll skip the reasons why and how all this happened (mainly mental health) because it doesn’t matter, it just needs to be handled now. I’d be incredibly grateful for some guidance. Assume I know nothing, please.
Started when I screwed up my withholdings on my paychecks starting about 6 years ago, (unsure) never fixed it. Worked a lot, did not file taxes for these years. Pretty sure I needed to for all if not most of those years.
Got injured at work 3-4 years ago, big work comp thing, filed for disability, had a very happy lawyer but I chose to stop pursuing disability. Did receive short term disability, insurance benefits, and unemployment for a little while after the injury. I’m messed up but I found a job I am able to work now. Been here about a year, has been part time but now moving to full time. Want to get this sorted out before I end up with wages garnished or something.
I did have a tax business (supposedly reputable, came recommended) that filed my taxes for the last 5 years or so, this occurred about 2 years ago when I tried to handle all tjis the first time. They were calculated out but I am unsure if anything was sent in or actually filed.
I think I owe a lot of money to the IRS. I’m terrified and I don’t know how to figure out what to do. I never made very much, but probably enough to owe some taxes. Anywhere from 25k to 60k my best year. Currently making about 28k.
I think i may have filed something for a year or two after I got hurt, when I wasn’t making enough to pay any taxes on it, but (shocker) I’m not sure. I don’t remember a lot of what happened during that time.
I am female, unmarried, no kids, no family, working part time (moving to full time), very limited mobility due to my prior work injury. I am on Medicare (Medicaid? The low income one) currently, unsure if I can keep this if my hours increase at work. I am barely covering my bills week to week, and have no excess income at all. I do not qualify for foodstamps or any other aid. Everything I make goes to bills.
What are the steps I need to take here? I have gone to a few government offices and tax businesses in the past but I can’t stand for long periods of time so usually had to leave without speaking to anyone.
Any help or guidance would be an absolute blessing. I would rather not have comments on how idiotic I am for letting this happen, I’m fully aware. Just trying to figure it how to fix it now that I can. Didn’t think I’d be here to have to deal with this, but I’m trying now.

Please help!
https://preview.redd.it/tihgshaj1m4d1.jpg?width=850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34173314a73b9f5826b0f6d2c4b4f0c8a42a2dc5
https://preview.redd.it/iycpyfxj1m4d1.jpg?width=850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e347ce0eabf4db39d4e65fb4de48f31c6668ec3

Original Article: https://www.mortgagesensei.co/blog/how-to-get-a-mortgage-as-a-first-time-home-buyer

This is a common question that I answer all the time. It’s easy to explain but may be difficult to execute. No worries! I’m going to lay it all out in the simplest and easiest way possible. At the end of this blog, you will know what financial areas you should focus your attention on as a first time home buyer
Understanding the 5 Pillars of a home loan will help you identify the financial factors that a lender evaluates to determine if you’re eligible for a home loan. In this article, we’re going to focus solely on what it takes for you to become a well-qualified borrower. If you simply focus on that and develop good financial habits, you will soon find yourself in a position to not just be able to qualify for a home loan, but to be considered a well-qualified borrower in the eyes of lenders, realtors, sellers, or anyone else involved in the home buying process. Take your time to read through this, and feel free to reach out to me here for any assistance that you may have.

What credit score do you need to buy a house for the first time?

Depending on your selected home loan program, you could qualify for a home loan with as low as a 500 FICO credit score. However, let’s not worry about “how low of a credit score can I have and still qualify for a home loan?” and focus instead on “what do I need to financially focus on daily?” With that being said, I recommend focusing on the FICO factors that impact your credit the most. Using myFICO Education as a guide:
Payment History (35%): This is simple to understand—don’t miss any minimum monthly payments for ANY of your credit accounts. A lot of people, when they read this, will say, “No duh, Sensei!”. Well, if it’s that obvious, why are so many people missing the mark here? There are many reasons, but I’ll list two:

1. Over-extending your credit/spending capacity, and
2. Limited amount of emergency/reserve funds.

Did you know that you only need a TOTAL of 3-4 credit accounts aged for 2+ years and properly managed to get a 700+ FICO score! Keeping your total credit accounts under 5 will help you in managing your credit accounts to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Here’s my recommended financial habits to help you in raising your credit score:

1. Frugal spending habits: “How much you keep is slightly more important than how much you bring in”. One of my favorite books is “The Richest Man in Babylon”. The concept is pretty simple: “Priority saving and investing over any other spending choices”.
2. Fanatical saving: One of the main reasons people credit suffers is through some kind of financial hardship whether that’s unexpected medical expenses, job loss, or something that tends to be outside of your control. Having enough savings to weather the storm for months or even years, will give you a large enough financial safety net to make it through recessions, rapid inflation, unexpected expenses, etc.

Amounts Owed/Credit Utilization (30%): Our areas of focus are:

1. Revolving: “how much of your credit limit is drawn and owed.”
2. Installments: “how much of the credit debt is still owed compared to your starting amount.”

Developing frugal spending habits will greatly help you in keeping your credit utilization low. I understand that emergencies come up and you have to use your credit cards, but the truth of the matter is that FICO doesn't care about your emergencies, or why your credit cards are maxed out. They only care that your credit card is maxed out. If you cannot quickly pay down your credit card balance under 10%-30% of the credit limit within 30 days of charging it, then you probably should not charge the product/service to your credit card.
Negative Status: Collections, charge-offs, repossessions, bankruptcies, foreclosures, Late payments within 2-years, etc. You can do everything right, and getting one of these can set you back overnight. All of these derogatory events result from some negative financial event that occurred, whether unintentional or intentional, the results will be the same. For those who have been victims of identity theft, you know from experience that creditors don’t care that your identity was stolen and a criminal damaged your credit. All they’re going to tell you is “take responsibility in fixing your credit.” Working towards preventing these negative financial events from reporting on your credit or removing them from your credit is your third focus. If you need help, reach out to Kredit Kleanse for expert credit repair assistance, or schedule time to start your home loan qualification process by clicking here.

How much income do I need to buy a home?

After the 2008 housing crash, our government implemented S.A.F.E. requirements for lenders to do their due diligence to ensure that the borrower is protected from predatory lending. One of the main focuses was on DTI (Debt-to-Income ratio). For the sake of this blog, I’m only going to focus on two aspects of DTI that are more relevant to this article:
Total Income: In this case, the borrower simply doesn’t make enough to afford the home regardless of how little debt they may have. For instance, the borrower earns $100,000 per year for income and wants to purchase a $1,000,000 home. Those numbers, in most cases, won’t work. Here’s my personal calculation: whatever your “total annual income” multiplied by 3x-4x should put you in the range of a home you can afford AND still enjoy life/save/invest/etc. This is not stating what you will qualify for, but simply a measuring equation to see if you are in the ballpark. Please note that (1) your area could be more or less expensive, (2) current interest rates, and (3) the lender you choose WILL affect your final qualification. The best course of action here is to either:

1. Increase your qualifying income: This is VERY tough conversation to have, and honestly the part of the job that never sits quite right with me. But truth is truth regardless of how I feel about it. Ways to increase your income are:
   1. Ask for a raise
   2. Go for that promotion
   3. Create passive income
   4. Start a business/side hustle (you’ll need a 2-year history of having that business)
   5. Get a 2nd job (you’ll need a 2-year history of working both jobs)
   6. Add a co-borrowesigner
   7. Obtain a higher paying job
2. Reduce your housing price if possible: I’ve helped people that simply weren’t able to increase their income, maybe because they are retired on fixed income, can’t change jobs due to their needed benefits or family, etc. To those people I would suggest reducing they’re home buying price by adjusting their home search parameters. The more flexible you are on the type, location, etc. of your new home, the more options you will start to have. Maybe a smaller starter-type home is what you need.

Usable Income: In this case, the borrower makes enough “gross income”; however, the challenge is the borrower has too many debt obligations that are eating away at the potential income we could use for a housing payment for the home they want. This is normally when the lender will tell you “your DTI is too high to qualify”. The best course of action here is to reduce/eliminate your monthly credit debt obligation. You can use a method called “debt-snowball”. The debt snowball method is a debt payoff strategy that involves paying off debts from smallest to largest balance. Once a debt is paid off, the money that was previously allocated to that debt is then used to pay off the next smallest debt. This strategy can help build momentum and keep you motivated as you pay off your debts. As each debt is paid off, payments increase in size, similar to a snowball rolling down a hill. We are also able to help our clients quickly identify exactly which credit accounts to pay off to move the DTI ratio meter the most. Schedule time to start your home loan qualification process by clicking here.

How much cash should you have before buying a house?

Lastly, we have to address the “Where’s the money coming from?” aspect. This is the red pill of our housing market/economy. Meaning that it’s ALWAYS better to bring money to the table over not bring anything. You have to be able to invest in the purchase of your home. The ideal scenario is a borrower that can fully fund all expenses needed to purchase a home without needing any assistance. Now don’t get me wrong, we will help anyone get into a home. However, if we look at the true data, people that need financial assistance to buy a home tend to have a more difficult time becoming homeowners: (1) loan programs are too restrictive, (2) sellers don’t want to sell to someone using a loan assistance program, (3) they’re not able to qualify for as much house as a traditional loan program, etc. These are the four areas you should consider:
Down Payment: This normally ranges from a minimum of 3%-5% for primary residence loan programs. If you don’t have the funds, there may be a home down payment assistance program available for you.
Closing Costs: Title costs, government recording fees, appraisal fee, credit report fee, setting up your prepaid/escrow account for property taxes and homeowners insurance, etc. This normally ranges from 3%-6% of the purchase price, depending on the area.
Moving Expenses: Will you need to rent a moving truck, hire movers, take time off from work, pay for deposits for utility hookups, build new furniture, throw a housewarming party, etc.? Many lenders will tap you out at closing, and you may be blinded by the excitement of buying your first home and you simply forget about these costs that are unrelated to buying a home. This is an unknown number because everyone is different. All I’m doing here is making sure you’re aware of this and plan for it the best way you can.
Once you add up everything the starting line is anywhere between 6-11% of the purchase price. If you don’t have it or simply don’t want to spend that amount, then you’ll need to work with the right people that have a strong understanding of creativity financing. schedule time to start your home loan qualification process by clicking here.

Give it to me straight and don’t sugarcoat it Sensei!

Over the course of my career, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the grittiest people I’ve ever had the pleasure meeting. Some of those people “had no hope” of buying a home as a first time home buyer. What allowed them to become homeowners was knowing how the game works. It’s like golf—if you don’t know how to (1) pick the right club, (2) examine the landscape, and (3) swing with the right technique using the right amount of force and accuracy, you’ll easily get tired of “trying” to play golf. There are a lot of people today who are trying to buy a home, instead of actually being able to buy a home.
One of the biggest misconceptions, in my opinion, is that people are trying to get a lender to qualify or approve them for a home loan, instead of just being a well-qualified buyer for a home loan before they even reach out to the lender to “verify their financial status”. Credit, repayment ability, funds needed for closing—these are your core pillars that truly make up the borrower aspect of a home loan.
I’ve been in this business since 2011, and I can tell you without a doubt that traditional loans walk, look, and act similar. Yeah, there are guideline differences, but the truth of the matter is that even with these differences, the essence of the home loan is still the same. Working with someone that has these core home loan assessment experience will put you on the right track FAST. Schedule time to start your home loan qualification process by clicking here.

What would you do Sensei?

The 5 Pillars of a home loan are made up of: Credit, Repayment Ability, Funds Needed for Closing, Subject Property, and Loan Program. For this subject of “How to get a mortgage as a first-time buyer,” you have to find out what you qualify for. My recommended sequence of focus is: (1) Credit, (2) Repayment Ability, (3) Funds Needed for Closing, (4) Loan Program, and (5) Subject Property.
Here’s the honest truth:

1. Before you go under contract to purchase a home (i.e., subject property), you should know what you qualify for (i.e., loan terms/program),
2. Before you know what you qualify for (i.e., loan terms/program), you will have to go through the lender’s evaluation process (pre-qualification/pre-approval),
3. When you go through the lender’s evaluation process (pre-qualification/pre-approval), we will be verifying and evaluating your credit, repayment ability, and available funds for closing.

When you want to buy a home your credit, repayment ability, and available funds are the areas that YOU control. A lender does not control these aspects of your financial life. Your financial habits do. These three (credit, repayment ability, and funds needed for closing) are the pillars that you build up to be in a position to purchase a home. The last two (loan program and subject property) are the aspects of the home loan process that are more of an effect of the first three pillars.
We live in an instant gratification society and want everything now, fast, and easy. The truth of the matter is, that’s not how buying a home works. Now let’s be clear, your home-buying process can and should be simple and easy. If it’s not, you’re probably working with the wrong loan officelender. But you should not expect it to be “instant.” It takes time to buy a home, even more so to buy a home “right.”
When you first enter the housing market to purchase a home, you may have some challenges ahead. However, if you stay focused and dedicated, you will find the right home for you and your family. By following these steps and being prepared, you can increase your chances of securing a home loan and becoming a homeowner. It’s important to be patient and diligent throughout the process, as it can take time and effort to achieve your goal of homeownership. We are here to help you every step of the way. Schedule time to start your home loan qualification process by clicking here.
Happy house hunting! - Mortgage Sensei "Financing Futures, Building Dreams"
Author Bio:
Nelson C. Thompson, Jr., President of The Mortgage Sensei Company. With years of experience in the mortgage industry, Nelson specializes in helping first time home buyers navigate the complexities of obtaining a mortgage. His mission is “Financing Futures and Building Dreams”
References

• List any sources or references used in the blog post.:
• Mortgage Sensei - 5 Pillars of a home loan - https://www.mortgagesensei.co/blog/5-pillars-of-a-home-loan
• myFICO.com - Education - https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/whats-in-your-credit-score
• FICO - https://www.fico.com/
• Kredit Kleanse - https://kreditkleanse.com/
• NMLS Resoruce Center - https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/safe/SitePages/default.aspx
• CFPB - https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-debt-to-income-ratio-en-1791/
• Mortgage Sensei - Home Page - https://www.mortgagesensei.co/
• Special Thanks to Gustan Cho Associates’s GCA FORUM: https://forum.gustanchoassociates.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.gustanchoassociates.com
• Special Thanks to NEXA Mortgage: https://nexamortgage.com/
• Special Thanks to Candice Thompson: https://candinichelle.co/
• Special Thanks to Whitni Bell: https://whitnibell.exprealty.com/

As we wait for the 2024 Super Bowl run to get under way in Philly I thought it would be a good time to publish the list of TOP 10 EAGLES by POSITION. Each player is ranked in terms of the Approximate Value (AV) as determined by pro-football-reference.com which I find to be a sound metric for determining a list such as this. I will publish each list by position and follow that up by publishing the ALL-TIME EAGLES LIST. An explanation of PFF’s AV calculation method can be found here: https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/approximate-value/. There are definitely some rankings that those of us will question but all in all there isn’t a lot I would disagree with here. Current players are italicized.

EAGLES TOP 10: OFFENSIVE TACKLES

RANKING	PLAYER	SEASONS WITH EAGLES	LY RANK (MOVEMENT)	AV DIFFERENCE FROM No. 1
10	J.D. Smith	1959 - 1963 (5)	10 (-)	-67
9	Ron Heller	1988 - 1992 (5)	9 (-)	-65
8	Antone Davis	1991 - 1995 (6)	8 (-)	-65
7	Bob Brown	1964 - 1968 (5)	7 (-)	-45
6	Stan Walters	1975 - 1983 (9)	6 (-)	-33
5	Jon Runyan	2000 - 2008 (9)	5 (-)	-22
4	Jerry Sisemore	1973 - 1984 (12)	4 (-)	-21
3	Tra Thomas	1998 - 2008 (11)	2 (-1)	-10
2	Lane Johnson	2013 - Present (11)	3 (+1)	-3
1	Jason Peters	2009 - 2020 (12)	1 (-)	-

STAT COMPARISON (with the Eagles):

PLAYER	GAMES / STARTED	ACCOLADES
J.D. Smith	66 / 63 (95.5%)	NFL Championship Team: 1960 Pro Bowl: 1960
Ron Heller	80 / 76 (95.0%)	N/A
Antone Davis	82 / 78 (95.1%)	PFWA All-Rookie Team: 1991
Bob Brown	65 / 65 (100.0%)	Pro Football HOF: 2004 All-Pro: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 Pro Bowl: 1965, 1966, 1968 NFL All-Decades Team (1960s: 2013 Eagles HOF: 2004)
Stan Walters	134 / 132 (98.5%)	All-Pro: 1979 Pro Bowl: 1978, 1979 Eagles HOF: 1991
Jon Runyan	161 / 161 (100.0%)	Pro Bowl: 2002 Eagles HOF: 2021 Eagles 75th Anniversary Team: 2008
Jerry Sisemore	173 / 172 (99.4%)	Pro Bowl: 1979, 1981 Eagles HOF: 1991
Tra Thomas	183 / 182 (99.5%)	All-Pro: 2002 Pro Bowl: 2001, 2002, 2004 Eagles HOF: 2021 Eagles 75th Anniversary Team: 2008
Lane Johnson	154 / 154 (100.0%)	Super Bowl LII Team: 2017 All-Pro: 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 Pro Bowl: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
Jason Peters	154 / 154 (100.0%)	Super Bowl LII Team: 2017 All-Pro: 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 Pro Bowl: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 NFL All-Decades Team (2010s: 2020)

Pretty clear here that the metric to determine AV for offensive lineman is a combination of games played and accolades. I think it's pretty cool to see some of our best tackle tandems on the list, Walters / Sisemore in the 70s and 80s, Runyan / Thomas in 00s and most recently, Johnson / Peters, the tandem that helped get us that first Lombardi. This is pretty impressive list of big men to wear the Kelly/Midnight Green. I have no issue with Peters number one here, and the fact that he was a TE in college is just crazy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfZkFUHWu4&ab_channel=NFL . Lane is one of my all time favorites and I predict he will end his career as the greatest tackle in team history. Tra and Runyon were fun to watch creating lanes for Westbrook and protecting McNabb for all those seasons. Big Bob Brown is the only current HOF tackle in team history. I hate that he remembered more as a Raider despite the fact that he spent the majority of his career in Philly.
NEXT POSITION UP: GUARDS

Previous posts
Introduction/Methodology
236-250
221-235
206-220
191-205
176-190
164-175
155-163
140-154
131-139
121-130
111-120
110-101
100-91
90-81
80-71
70-61
60-51
50-41
40-31
Master List
All stats and info through the 2023 season.
If the formatting on this gets all janky, I apologize and I'll try to fix it later. I'm finishing up this section on a Mac and apparently it hates reddit's RTF editor. No idea why, I'm not very tech savvy. I research basketball from the 1950s, so that probably shouldn't be a surprise.
Anyway, here's the last bunch where there may be surprises in terms of who is in the group of ten. I'm guessing after this you can deduce who is in the top ten, and therefore 11-20.

• 30. John Havlicek - 402.4
  
  • Career - 383.1
    • 1963-1978
    • BOS
    • 131.7 Win Shares
    • 0.432 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (2 top five finishes: 1972 - 4th, 1973 - 5th)
    • 4x All-NBA First Team Selection (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974)
    • 7x All-NBA Second Team Selection (1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1976)
    • 13x All-Star Selection (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)
    • 5x All-Defensive First Team Selection (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)
    • 13.3 Championship Win Shares (8 titles - 1963 BOS, 1964 BOS, 1965 BOS, 1966 BOS, 1968 BOS, 1969 BOS, 1974 BOS, 1976 BOS)
    • 5.6 Conference Finals Win Shares (4 Conf. Finals losses - 1967 BOS, 1972 BOS, 1973 BOS, 1975 BOS)
    • 1x Finals MVP (1974)
  • Peak - 421.8
    • 1970-1974
  • Other achievements
    • NCAA champion (1960)
    • 3x All-Defensive Second Team Selection (1969, 1970, 1971)
    • 20,000 Point Club (26,395; 18th all-time)
    • 5,000 Assist Club (6,114; 37th all-time)
    • 17 retired by the Boston Celtics
    • College Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2006)
  • Havlicek had an interesting career which I don't think has yet been quite replicated. He was drafted onto a super successful team (the Russell-era Celtics) and was the sixth man there for most of the rest of Russell's run, resulting in six titles. Then after all of the old guard retired, he became the focal point and made several conference finals as well is winning one title, in really his last really good season. Then he was kind of the old guard/veteran presence for a few more years with another conference finals and another Finals win. The closest I can think would be someone like Tim Duncan who took more of a backseat in his twilight years, but Duncan came out of the gate as a superstar, so that part of the equation doesn't really work (even if you want to say David Robinson was already there.)
  • It's just a bit weird because it's kind of how you would expect a successful career arc to look, but it rarely ever does.
• 29. Elgin Baylor - 407.7
  
  • Career - 356.9
    • 1959-1972
    • MNL/LAL
    • 104.2 Win Shares
    • 2.442 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (7 top five finishes: 1959 - 3rd, 1960 - 5th, 1961 - 3rd, 1962 - 4th, 1963 - 2nd, 1968 - 3rd, 1969 - 5th)
    • 10x All-NBA First Team Selection (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969)
    • 11x All-Star Selection (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970)
    • 10.6 Finals Win Shares (7 Finals losses - 1959 MNL, 1962 LAL, 1963 LAL, 1966 LAL, 1968 LAL, 1969 LAL, 1970 LAL)
    • 5.0 Conference Finals Win Shares (3 Conf. Finals losses - 1960 MNL, 1961 LAL, 1965 LAL)
  • Peak - 458.4
    • 1959-1963
  • Other achievements
    • NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1958)
    • Rookie of the Year (1959)
    • 1x All-Star Game MVP (1959)
    • 20,000 Point Club (23,149; 33rd all-time)
    • 10,000 Rebound Club (11,463; 27th all-time)
    • 22 retired by the Los Angeles Lakers
    • 1x Executive of the Year (2006)
    • College Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2006)
  • For my money, Elgin Baylor is the best player to never win a title, with all due respect to Charles Barkley (which is a lot) and Karl Malone (which is none).
  • I would also say Baylor is the second-best player to never win MVP, after Jerry West. (I'm not counting George Mikan because the MVP only existed for his final season. And I know Scottie Pippen, who also never won an MVP, is the next guy on the list, but he's only slightly higher points-wise, and I'd rather build a team around Baylor - which is no slight to Pippen.)
  • Baylor's 1962 season is the stuff of legends. He was on active duty in the military, stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington State. He only got to play with the Lakers on weekends, where he would just have to fly coach to wherever they were playing (including home games). He managed to play in 48 games, where he averaged 38.3/18.6/4.6 for the season, and finished fourth in MVP voting and made the All-NBA First Team. (This is the official story I've gotten from multiple sources, however if you go through Baylor's game log, it looks like he was able to play most of November and December, while having to do the weekend thing for January-March, so it's possible his "active duty" status didn't kick in until January 1962. I'm still trying to dig further into that, but either way, quite an impressive year.)
  • Side note: 1962 was an absolutely wild year with the MVP voting - Bill Russell won averaging 18.9/23.6/4.5 for a 60-win Celtics team. Wilt Chamberlain finished second with 50.6/25.7/2.4 while playing 48.5 minutes per game (none of those are typos). Oscar Robertson recorded the first ever triple-double for a season with 30.8/12.5/11.4 and finished third. Baylor was fourth while serving active duty in the military. Jerry West was fifth with 30.8/7.9/5.4. Every guy was between 23 and 27 years old. Oh, and 29-year-old Bob Pettit finished sixth with 31.1/18.7/3.1 for an abysmal Hawks team. (This is why I use MVP Award Shares rather than MVP wins in this formula. Every one of those seasons deserves some sort of extra credit.)
• 28. Scottie Pippen - 413.1
  
  • Career - 338.0
    • 1988-2004
    • CHI, HOU, POR, CHI
    • 125.1 Win Shares
    • 0.715 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (2 top five finishes: 1994 - 3rd, 1996 - 5th)
    • 3x All-NBA First Team Selection (1994, 1995, 1996)
    • 2x All-NBA Second Team Selection (1992, 1997)
    • 2x All-NBA Third Team Selection (1993, 1998)
    • 7x All-Star Selection (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
    • 8x All-Defensive First Team Selection (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
    • 15.6 Championship Win Shares (6 titles - 1991 CHI, 1992 CHI, 1993 CHI, 1996 CHI, 1997 CHI, 1998 CHI)
    • 5.0 Conference Finals Win Shares (3 Conf. Finals losses - 1989 CHI, 1990 CHI, 2000 POR)
  • Peak - 488.2
    • 1994-1998
  • Other achievements
    • 2x All-Defensive Second Team Selection (1991, 2000)
    • 1x All-Star Game MVP (1994)
    • 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (1992, 1996)
    • 5,000 Assist Club (6,135; 35th all-time)
    • 33 retired by the Chicago Bulls
  • Pippen, just by virtue of his most famous teammate, is never going to get the full credit he deserves for just how good he was: a legtimate MVP candidate, All-NBA First Team-caliber player who routinely finished top five in Defensive Player of the Year voting. (He was top five five times and finished second twice in 1995 and 1996 - behind Dikembe Mutombo and Gary Payton, respectively.)
  • Let me put it this way, and this is solely to praise Pippen and not to put any weight in the "GOAT debate," but Jordan doesn't win all six of those titles without him. Does he win like three or four of them with an average player in place of Pippen? Yeah. Maybe even five. But I think the 1993 Suns would've been almost impossible to beat without him.
  • Another way to put it (and I guess you can put this in the GOAT argument if you want), but I don't think LeBron ever consistently played with anyone who was as good as Pippen at his peak. It's a little tougher to quantify because Pippen's best statistical seasons are 1994-1995 when Jordan wasn't playing (obviously). In 1994 he averaged 22.0/8.7/5.6 with 2.9 steals and 0.8 blocks while leading the Bulls to 55 wins and finishing third in MVP voting and fourth in DPOY voting. But let's just use his 1996 numbers as an example then: 19.4/6.4/5.9 with 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks, finishing fifth for MVP and second for DPOY. Dwyane Wade's 2011 Heat is probably the closest - 25.5/6.4/5.6 with 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks, finishing seventh in MVP voting. That's pretty close, but Jordan got roughly five seasons of that type of Pippen play, while LeBron had maybe two or three from Wade. Anthony Davis in 2020 was also a monster (26.1/9.3/3.2/1.5/2.3, 6th in MVP, 2nd in DPOY), but he also didn't really sustain that for multiple years.
  • Pippen's post-Bulls years though, are the most fascinating to me. He was on the 1999 Rockets with Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon, and I always wonder if that might have worked out differently with a full season for them. (But maybe not, as they were all getting fairly old by then.) Buth the 2000 Trail Blazers was an absolutely stacked team who I think would've won the title if not for an epic Game 7 implosion in the Conference Finals where the lost a 15 point lead to the Shaq-Kobe Lakers in the fourth quarter. That team's starting lineup was Damon Stoudamire-Steve Smith-Pippen-Rasheed Wallace-Arvydas Sabonis, and they were bringing Detlef Schrempf, Jermaine O'Neal, Brian Grant, and Greg Anthony off the bench. That is an absolutely loaded team. I think we'd all feel quite a bit differently about Pippen if he'd managed to snag a title that year, even if it was more of a 2004 Pistons type title.
• 27. Charles Barkley - 420.7
  
  • Career - 372.3
    • 1985-2000
    • PHI, PHO, HOU
    • 177.2 Win Shares
    • 2.437 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (4 top five finishes, 1 win: 1988 - 4th, 1990 - 2nd, 1991 - 4th, 1993 - 1st)
    • 5x All-NBA First Team Selection (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993)
    • 5x All-NBA Second Team Selection (1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995)
    • 1x All-NBA Third Team Selection (1996)
    • 11x All-Star Selection (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
    • 4.6 Finals Win Shares (1 Finals loss - 1993 PHO)
    • 3.5 Conference Finals Win Shares (2 Conf. Finals losses - 1985 PHI, 1997 HOU)
  • Peak - 469.0
    • 1989-1993
  • Other achievements
    • SEC Player of the Year (1984)
    • 1x All-Star Game MVP (1991)
    • 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (1992, 1996)
    • 20,000 Point Club (23,757; 29th all-time)
    • 10,000 Rebound Club (12,546; 19th all-time)
    • 34 retired by the Philadelphia 76ers
    • 34 retired by the Phoenix Suns
    • College Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2006)
  • One quick note before I go on a super long ramble: Barkley is officially listed at 6'6", but I've seen several sources say he's closer to 6'4". Regardless, he's the shortest player in the top 20 in rebounds in NBA history. Wes Unseld is listed at 6'7", Buck Williams and Jerry Lucas are listed at 6'8", everyone else is 6'9" or taller.
  • I know I've mentioned this in bits and pieces before, but here's my full Unified Theory of Understanding Modern Basketball through the Lens of Charles Barkley.
  • Alright, so Barkley gets drafted in 1984, has an incredibly successful career, and retires at the end of the 2000 season. At that point in time, he's really undeniable one of the top 20 players of all time. Shaq, Kobe, and Duncan all had just one title each. Garnett and Nowitzki had no titles. The next generation of stars who would pass him (LeBron, Curry, Durant) were in high school or middle school. Jokic was five years old. You could probably make an argument Barkley was top 15 at that point. (One of my long term goals for this project is to do a progressive/year-by-year ranking, but we'll see how long that takes if it actually ends up a reality.)
  • Barkley then immediately begins his broadcasting career, where he is hired by Turner Sports/TNT. "Inside the NBA" was an already existing show with Ernie Johnson as the host and Kenny Smith as an analyst, but adding Barkley instantly caught lightning in a bottle and it immediately became the "go-to" show for anyone who wanted to watch basketball, see highlights, and hear insightful and hilarious discussion. Literally anyone who had any interest in basketball watched this show from 2000-onwards.
  • Now, due to the nature of the show, and Barkley's congeniality, a lot of good-natured ribbing took place, especially between Kenny and Charles (or any guests and Charles). Kenny, who I would say has something of an ego (not like a crazy amount, but he's a prideful guy) didn't always take it well when he'd talk about his accomplishments and Chuck would follow up with "Like what? Getting Hakeem water on the bench?" And the only comeback to that (like, literally, the only thing you can criticize Barkley for in his entire career) was "well you ain't got no rings!"
  • Barkley, on the other hand, seems very secure in his career - he seems to embody that Captain Picard quote: "It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." Barkley did his best against Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, came up short, and still held his head high because there really isn't a lot of shame in losing to those guys.
  • However, what did everyone see? One of the all time greats, getting roasted by Kenny Smith, of all people, a sixth man on a couple title teams who never made an All-Star Game. This goes on for ten years (Shaq joined the broadcast crew in 2011, which only exacerbated the problem because he had no insight to provide and backed up everything he said with "ringz Erneh").
  • Remember, LeBron, Curry, Durant, Bosh, Anthony... I mean, every star of that generation was watching that show at an impressionable age and thinking "the worst thing that could ever happen to me is not winning a title. I'll be damned if I'm going to get insulted by the likes of my generation's Kenny Smith after I retire."
  • Suddenly, it's not just about winning a ring being the most important goal. It is the only goal worth pursuing, every other accolade or "legacy" consideration be damned. And that's how we ended up with the Heatles and Durant on the Warriors. (There's a bit more to psychoanalyze with the Durant move(s), but I'll leave that for his entry.)
  • And there you have it, the last 25 years of basketball history, summed up because Charles Barkley became a TV broadcaster.
• 26. Nikola Jokic - 431.2
  
  • Career - 285.1
    • 2016-2023
    • DEN
    • 94.5 Win Shares
    • 2.738 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (4 top five finishes, 2 wins: 2019 - 4th, 2021 - 1st, 2022 - 1st, 2023 - 2nd)
    • 3x All-NBA First Team Selection (2019, 2021, 2022)
    • 2x All-NBA Second Team Selection (2020, 2023)
    • 5x All-Star Selection (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
    • 5.0 Championship Win Shares (1 title - 2023 DEN)
    • 2.5 Conference Finals Win Shares (1 Conf. Finals loss - 2020 DEN)
    • 1x Finals MVP (2023)
  • Peak - 577.2
    • 2019-2023
  • Other achievements
    • 1x Adriatic League MVP (2015)
    • 1x Olympic Silver Medalist (2016)
    • 1x Western Conference Finals MVP (2023)
  • I haven't crunched all the numbers yet for this season - I have the career scores currently figured, but the peak scores are too complicated to keep track of until the actual offseason. But with another MVP and All-NBA First Team and just all-around stellar season, I can tell you Jokic has moved into at least 22nd place, and I'm guessing he'll probably be closer to 20th once I calculate everything.
  • I think there are three basic qualities that a player needs to have to be successful at the highest levels of basketball: height, athleticism, and intelligence. And I'm talking like, top 1% of the top 1% of the human population in those things. You can get by for a little bit with just one, but you'll probably max out in college. A good NBA player has at least two of the three. The greatest NBA players have all three. Jokic is obviously insanely smart and very tall, but he's also deceptively athletic. I don't think he can jump at all, but I once saw him play a four-overtime game. The guy has crazy endurance. Anyway, all that is to say, of all the currently active non-LeBron players, I think he's got the best chance of cracking the top ten. Though I don't think he'll ever be in the GOAT conversation, just because we'll never see him do like a windmill dunk, and it's hard to imagine the best basketball player ever not having superhuman athleticism.
• 25. George Mikan - 435.5
  
  • Career - 302.9
    • 1949-1954, 1956
    • MNL
    • 108.7 Win Shares
    • 6x All-BAA/NBA First Team Selection (1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954)
    • 4x All-Star Selection (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954)
    • 15.8 Championship Win Shares (5 titles - 1949 MNL, 1950 MNL, 1952 MNL, 1953 MNL, 1954 MNL)
    • 1.1 Conference Finals Win Shares (1 Conf. Finals loss - 1951 MNL)
  • Peak - 568.1
    • 1949-1953
  • Other achievements
    • 1x College Player of the Year (1944)
    • 1x Consensus College Player of the Year (1945)
    • 2x NBL champion (1947, 1948)
    • 2x All-NBL First Team Selection (1947, 1948)
    • 1x NBL MVP (1948)
    • 1x All-Star Game MVP (1953)
    • 99 retired by the Los Angeles Lakers
    • College Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2006)
  • Keep in mind, Mikan is this high and he doesn't garner any points from MVP votes because the MVP didn't exist until his final season. He definitely would have had at least two wins, and almost certainly six top-five finishes if it had existed for his entire career. He also did all of this in a seven-season career.
  • Mikan also doesn't get any credit for his NBL feats, which included an MVP and two titles in his three seasons there. (Mikan was originally on the Chicago American Gears, but after a complicated story which I'm just not going to get into here, the team folded and the players were dispersed to the other NBL teams, and the Lakers got Mikan. They would win the NBL title in 1947 and 1948, jump to the BAA in 1949 and win the title, and then get folded into the newly formed NBA and won titles in 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954.)
  • Essentially, Mikan four-peated, lost in the Conference Finals, and then three-peated. If it were up to me, I'd put this guy no lower than 12 on any list, but since I'm doing a math-based list and want to be fair, he can't get credit for things I don't have stats for.
• 24. Dirk Nowitzki - 440.3
  
  • Career - 403.5
    • 1999-2019
    • DAL
    • 206.3 Win Shares
    • 1.809 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (3 top five finishes, 1 win: 2005 - 3rd, 2006 - 3rd, 2007 - 1st)
    • 4x All-NBA First Team Selection (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009)
    • 5x All-NBA Second Team Selection (2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011)
    • 3x All-NBA Third Team Selection (2001, 2004, 2012)
    • 14x All-Star Selection (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019)
    • 3.6 Championship Win Shares (1 title - 2011 DAL)
    • 5.4 Finals Win Shares (1 Finals loss - 2006 DAL)
    • 2.6 Conference Finals Win Shares (1 Conf. Finals loss - 2003 DAL)
    • 1x Finals MVP (2011)
  • Peak - 477.1
    • 2005-2009
  • Other achievements
    • German Bundesliga MVP (1999)
    • 1x Teammate of the Year (2017)
    • 1x World Cup Bronze Medalist (2002)
    • 1x World Cup MVP (2002)
    • 1x EuroBasket Silver Medalist (2005)
    • 1x EuroBasket MVP (2005)
    • 20,000 Point Club (31,560; 6th all-time)
    • 10,000 Rebound Club (11,489; 26th all-time)
    • 41 retired by the Dallas Mavericks
  • Dirk rightfully gets a ton of credit for hauling a "no-business-being-there" team to the title in 2011 against an absolutely stacked Heat team. He was helped by an all-time choke job from LeBron James that year, but still, his best teammates were Tyson Chandler, Jason Terry, and a 37-year-old Jason Kidd.
  • And good god, did that man need that title to bump up his legacy. Before 2011, all Dirk had was blowing a 2-0 Finals lead in 2006 (which he was absolutely masterful in for that playoff run, by the way: his 5.4 win shares that postseason are the third-most of any single postseason, behind Tim Duncan in 2003 and LeBron James in 2012), followed by a 67-win MVP season the next year, where he promptly got "We Believe'd" by the Warriors in the first round in the first round in six games. Then a first round loss, a second round loss, and a first round loss the next three years. However, since he got his one ring, all of that is forgiven and forgotten and he gets to be a champion forever.
  • One thing that never gets mentioned with Dirk, though, is how he's in the 30,000 point club and sixth all-time on that leaderboard. LeBron, Kareem, Karl Malone, Kobe, Jordan, Dirk, Wilt. That's the 30,000 club. Durant will likely join next season as he only needs 1,076 more, but it's going to be a while before we see anyone else hit that mark. Harden and Westbrook are 4000+ away and not getting any younger. Curry and DeRozan are 6000+ away. Chris Paul and Lillard are 8000+ away. And that's every active 20,000+ point scorer. The next closest is Giannis at 18,502 points. Could he score 11,500 more in his career? Sure, but it's hardly a guarantee at this point.
• 23. Kevin Garnett - 462.1
  
  • Career - 415.3
    • 1996-2016
    • MIN, BOS, BRK, MIN
    • 2.752 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (5 top five finishes, 1 win: 2000 - 2nd, 2001 - 5th, 2003 - 2nd, 2004 - 1st, 2008 - 3rd)
    • 4x All-NBA First Team Selection (2000, 2003, 2004, 2008)
    • 3x All-NBA Second Team Selection (2001, 2002, 2005)
    • 2x All-NBA Third Team Selection (1999, 2007)
    • 15x All-Star Selection (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)
    • 1x Defensive Player of the Year (2008)
    • 9x All-Defensive First Team Selection (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011)
    • 4.1 Championship Win Shares (1 title - 2008 BOS)
    • 2.4 Finals Win Shares (1 Finals loss - 2010 BOS)
    • 5.0 Conference Finals Win Shares (2 Conf. Finals losses - 2004 MIN, 2012 BOS)
  • Peak - 508.9
    • 2004-2008
  • Other achievements
    • 2x All-Defensive Second Team Selection (2006, 2007, 2012)
    • 1x All-Star Game MVP (2003)
    • 1x Citizenship Award (2006)
    • 1x Olympic Gold Medalist (2000)
    • 20,000 Point Club (26,071; 19th all-time)
    • 10,000 Rebound Club (14,662; 9th all-time)
    • 5,000 Assist Club (5,445; 55th all-time)
    • 5 retired by the Boston Celtics
  • Garnett is somewhat similar to Nowitzki in that they're all time greats who only won it all once, but that one win is all they needed because now they're champions and that's all we care about when we think of them.
  • Garnett, however, unlike Nowitzki, had absolutely abysmal teams in Minnesota. Nowitzki had a few pretty good squads/teammates in Dallas, but Garnett's Minnesota years were rough.
  • Here's the list of Hall of Famers Garnett played with during 14 seasons in Minnesota. Ready? Ok, here we go... it was newly-inducted Chauncey Billups. For two seasons. That's it.
  • Want to know the All-Stars Garnett played with during his time there? And I'm talking where they were a current All-Star (not future or former) in a season with Garnett as a teammate: Tom Gugliotta in 1997, Wally Szczerbiak in 2002, and Sam Cassell in 2004.
  • The instant he was put on a team with other Hall of Fame level players, he immediately won a title.
• 22. James Harden - 467.3
  
  • Career - 372.2
    • 2010-2023
    • OKC, HOU, BRK, PHI
    • 158.0 Win Shares
    • 3.655 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (6 top five finishes, 1 win: 2014 - 5th, 2015 - 2nd, 2017 - 2nd, 2018 - 1st, 2019 - 2nd, 2020 - 3rd)
    • 6x All-NBA First Team Selection (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
    • 1x All-NBA Third Team Selection (2013)
    • 10x All-Star Selection (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
    • 2.4 Finals Win Shares (1 Finals loss - 2012 OKC)
    • 7.0 Conference Finals Win Shares (3 Conf. Finals losses - 2011 OKC, 2015 HOU, 2018 HOU)
  • Peak - 562.3
    • 2015-2019
  • Other achievements
    • 1x Sixth Man of the Year (2012)
    • 1x Olympic Gold Medalist (2012)
    • 1x World Cup Gold Medalist (2014)
    • 20,000 Point Club (24,693; 25th all-time)
    • 5,000 Assist Club (7,015; 20th all-time)
  • Look, this seems oddly high to me too, and I'm not exactly happy about it, but it's the direct result of half a decade of sportswriters saying, "look, this seems oddly high to me, and I'm not exactly happy about it, but this guy is a top 3 MVP candidate."
  • Harden was on an absolute bender of snagging MVP votes from 2014-2020. In those seven seasons, he finished top five six times, and of those six times, five of them were third place or better.
  • I get not wanting to put him this high because of how he generally leaves teams (although that is usually hilarious), but it's hard to ignore his impact on the game for half a decade and beyond.
• 21. David Robinson - 470.7
  
  • Career - 396.0
    • 1990-2003
    • SAS
    • 178.7 Win Shares
    • 3.123 Adjusted MVP Award Shares (5 top five finishes, 1 win: 1991 - 3rd, 1992 - 3rd, 1994 - 2nd, 1995 - 1st, 1996 - 2nd)
    • 4x All-NBA First Team Selection (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996)
    • 2x All-NBA Second Team Selection (1994, 1998)
    • 4x All-NBA Third Team Selection (1990, 1993, 2000, 2001)
    • 10x All-Star Selection (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001)
    • 1x Defensive Player of the Year (1992)
    • 4x All-Defensive First Team Selection (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996)
    • 5.3 Championship Win Shares (2 titles - 1999 SAS, 2003 SAS)
    • 4.1 Conference Finals Win Shares (2 Conf. Finals losses - 1995 SAS, 2001 SAS)
  • Peak - 545.4
    • 1992-1996
  • Other achievements
    • 3x CAA Player of the Year (1985, 1986, 1987)
    • 1x Consensus College Player of the Year (1987)
    • Rookie of the Year (1990)
    • 4x All-Defensive Second Team Selection (1990, 1993, 1994, 1998)
    • 1x Sportsmanship Award (2001)
    • 1x Citizenship Award (2003)
    • 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (1992, 1996)
    • 1x Olympic Bronze Medalist (1988)
    • 1x World Cup Gold Medalist (1986)
    • 20,000 Point Club (20,790; 44th all-time)
    • 10,000 Rebound Club (10,497; 33rd all-time)
    • 50 retired by the San Antonio Spurs
    • FIBA Hall of Fame Inductee (2013)
  • Okay, so, for those who weren't around from about 1990-1995, David Robinson was the exemplar for what we thought basketball was going to become in the coming decade plus. I cannot stress that enough. He was huge. He was ripped. He was likeable. He was doing things like putting up a quadruple-double. (A 34-10-10-10 with 2 steals to be exact.)
  • Robinson won Rookie of the Year in 1990, Defensive Player of the Year in 1992, finishes second in MVP voting to Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994, and then wins MVP in 1995. And there was a lot of talk in 1994 that Robinson deserved it over Hakeem - it was a very close call. This is to go along with a World Cup Gold Medal and an Olympic Gold Medal by 1992 (first player to ever get both).
  • And then, tragedy for the Admiral: he leads the Spurs to Western Conference Finals in 1995 as the #1 seed, and comes up against the 6th seeded Houston Rockets, where Hakeem proceeds to absolutely destroy him. Remember, they're guarding each other, so this is reflective of both their offense and defense, but in that series, Hakeem averages 35.3/12.5/5.0 with 1.3 steals and 4.5 blocks on 56% shooting. Robinson averages 23.8/11.3/2.7 with 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks. Rockets win in six, and basically definitively shut down the conversation on who was better once and for all.
  • 1996 was another typically stellar season by Robinson's standards (he finished second in MVP voting), but goes out early in the playoffs again. Then he gets hurt six games into the 1997 campaign, and the second worst thing that could've happened to his legacy does: the Spurs absolutely tank, and then draft an even better player than him with the #1 pick in Tim Duncan.
  • Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure Robinson is thrilled he has two rings. But he was a role player for the second ring, and he was very much option B for the first one. With the lockout, 1999 was a weird year to draw any conclusions from, but ultimately, we remember that as the ascendance of Duncan, not Robinson finally getting one.
  • I guess what I'm saying is, it's a little strange that he's clearly a top 25 player of all time, and yet we rarely think of him, because he was beaten by a better opponent, and because he was outshone by a better teammate.

I have been very unlucky with love. Can someone please breakdown my chart for me in terms of love and relationship?

Much like the Emo genre itself, finishing this series off is cathartic and bittersweet. I’ve put months and months of my spare time and effort into this project and I’m very proud of how it turned out. If even one person discovered something new that they now love through these articles, my goal has been reached. Before we continue, I want to thank everyone for all the kind words that have been said about this series. I love this genre and I really want everyone to know that all the waves deserve to be loved, including the criminally misunderstood Third Wave.
I’ll be keeping this key from the last post: 💎 next to a name means it's a hidden gem. 🎩 next to a name means it's one of the top releases of the entire wave.
The first section that we’ll cover today is Emo Proto-Revival. Now, just what in the Hell is that? To be honest, I don’t actually know. It’s a term thrown around to describe pre-Emo Revival bands that have a similar sound, a great influence on the Revival itself, feature Revival band members in older projects or otherwise just sound like they could be Emo Revival albums yet predate them. There’s naturally going to be some crossover with the Carrying the Second Wave section, given their goals of emulating the OG Midwest Emo sound. However, Proto-Revival usually has something more “modern” to set it apart, whether in production or in genre integrations. Math Rock in particular was a popular ingredient in the concoction for many of these bands, leading to the popularity of Math Rock influence in Fourth Wave Emo.

Parsing Through Proto-Revival to Bridge the Gap

Colossal - Brave The Elements (2003)

Admittedly, I could have put Colossal’s LP in this section as well and perhaps should have. However, I wanted to highlight just how unique their 2004 album was, even among other Proto-Revival releases. Their debut EP, on the other hand, is a bit more in line with what you’d imagine a Proto-Revival release would sound like: gorgeous guitar twinkles, fluctuating volume dynamics, strong trumpet presence and overall less Jazzy than their later work. However you characterize this band’s sound, you owe it to yourself as a fan of Emo to give them a listen, even if I’d be lying by saying there was any “Proto-Revival” when the genre’s dirt was still fresh.

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start - And Nothing is #1 (2003)

How can I possibly categorize this release? Though the band was technically formed at the tail-end of the Second Wave, they did release a few songs pre-2003. Perhaps this means I should have put them in Part 1 of this series, either as a Second Wave Band or one strongly influenced by that sound. Regardless, Up Up Down Down is commonly (as common as this obscure band can be) referred to as a Proto-Revival sound and a small but profound influence on upcoming Emo Revivalists. Primitive twinkles can be found in the guitar playing while all of the good ol’ Midwest Emo elements are here. Uncommon time signatures and switches can also be heard by the discerning ear.
In addition to the pre-Third Wave releases, this band also came out with several EPs during this time period. Perhaps the best one would be released four years later…

Tamiroff - Bittersweet and Strange (2004)

Surprised to see them here? Faithful followers of this series will note that Tamiroff came out with their Demo in 2004, a Midwest Screamo affair. However, this band’s extremely limited discography is a microcosm of the influence of that particular subgenre as they found themselves coming out with an early Proto-Revival EP! Admittedly, I don’t know which record actually released first, but I’m willing to believe it was their demo.
There's the odd 2000s Post-Hardcore section here and there between the crashes and waves of Math Rock-laden Midwest Emo. This release accentuates the positives of traditional Midwest Emo, previews the future of the genre with twinkly Math Rock influences and showcases the Post-Hardcore tendencies that would lead into Polar Bear Club.

Special Noise - Special Noise (2005)

A noisy and dissonant take on Proto-Revival Emo, Special Noise enters with a guitarist who has actually experimented with his guitar's lower three strings, utilizing cool Mathy riffs without relying on the genre’s ever-present twinkles. The basement aesthetics are strong with this release, but that says nothing of each song’s individual quality. The band would come out with another EP in 2008 before calling it quits.

Everybell and Whistle - Everybody Wrestle (2005)

Recorded at an ill Nate Kinsella's commune warehouse space in Chicago with a makeshift drum kit and a guitar passed through two different amps to act as a bass, this record exemplifies the DIY spirit of Midwest Emo, especially during the early Revival and Proto-Revival period. The production values reflect the DIY recording approach to a tee, but that says nothing of the excellent musical quality found within the record.
Feeding off 90s Midwest Emo as much as Kinsella projects like Joan of Arc, the jangly riffs, volume dynamics and Hardcore kid-clean vocals define this 20+ minute aural jaunt.

Decmebers Architects - ,Apiary Ennui and Curiosas. The Brew Shakes (2005)

Forget ambition, what Nate Kinsella and Co were attempting with this album is nothing short of visionary, even if the towering heights they aimed for weren’t quite reached. Although this album was released in 2005, the LP was the final recording of this late 90s Midwest Emo project from 2001. Naturally, the guitar tones are quite gritty, matching the aesthetic of late Second Wave Emo. However, the experimentation here goes beyond what most Emo bands would call “experimentation,” including instruments like the turntable!
The Math Rock twinkles are there as expected, juxtaposed by harsh guitars, weird noises and interesting song structures. Even though this may not technically be Proto-Revival, it will be appreciated by anyone into that sound.

Saleontomorrow - Demo (2005)

Only three tracks in length, this release further cements the 00s British Emo scene as one of the most underrated. Saleontomorrow’s demo is slightly rough around the edges, but the cool Mathy song structures, impressive lead guitar riffs and careless vocals make for a breezy listen. Make sure you check out their compilation of unfinished songs as well.

Cowboys Aren't Indians - Cowboys Aren't Indians (2005)

Diamonds in the rough from Utah, the horribly named Cowboys Aren't Indians played chill yet active music in the Math Rock vein with Midwest Emo as a guide. The music tends to move by at a brisk pace thanks to the masterful and quirky guitar playing, the muted explosiveness of the drummer and the frankness of the vocalist.
With lofi production values and an emphasis on vocal-less sections of music, there almost seems to be a Post-Rock influence tucked away in there somewhere. After some years of inactivity, the band would release another EP in 2010. It seems the band was just at the wrong place at the wrong time to gain much notoriety.

Polara - Tempestade bipolar (2005)

Tonally, the band is reminiscent of Colossal, which seems to make sense as they were active at the same time, but they were separated by over 5,000 miles (almost 8,500 km) on different hemispheres! This could not have been possible without drawing from the same well of influence in old school Emo.
Polara executes quite differently from Colossal, keeping the riffs simpler and injecting a dose of lighthearted Indie into the concoction. The occasional hint of 90s Post-Hardcore pops up to give the music some weight. These Brazilians definitely did Emo proud with this release.

oh my god elephant - oh my god elephant (2006)

Had oh my god elephant released this EP in 2010 with slightly better production values, you’d be bombarded with this release on every hidden gem of the Emo Revival list out there. Instead, we received this masterful yet subdued Midwest Emo EP in 2006 with almost zero attention given. Although Emo was about as popular as it ever would be in 2006, basement-style Midwest Emo like this was completely out of vogue.
The band impressively fuses the Indie-leaning Emo sound of the late 90s with soft, mathy guitar riffs that keep the otherwise relatively slow music fairly lively. Whiny vocals and somewhat absurdist lyrics may turn off some listeners, but Emo Revival fans will greatly enjoy this effort.

The One Up Downstairs - The One Up Downstairs (2006)

Ok, calling this Proto-Revival would be disingenuous, even though it seemingly fits the bill with a 2006 release date. However, this is a Mike Kinsella project that predates even American Football! Proto-Proto Revival? I don't know, but this is the best place to put this for now.
These three tracks were recorded in 1997 but didn't see the light of day until almost a decade later. Though reminiscent of AF, the songs are slightly more upbeat in comparison, especially Rememories. If you like jazzier Emo or just want to check this intriguing release for its novelty, it's worth at least one spin.

Street Smart Cyclist - Demo 2006! (2006) 💎

SSC's legacy upon Emo history will never be appreciated enough. With only eight songs to their name spread across less than two years of activity, band members would go on to create Snowing and Boy Problems, two extremely influential Revival bands in their own right.
On this first three-song EP, the band shows off their immense musical talents with Hardcore-leaning Midwest Emo mixed with scathing Math Rock sensibilities. Production values are intentionally harsh, adding to the noisiness and musical chaos. The guitar and rhythm instruments are played with equal parts passion and complexity.

Pirouette - Sometimes Sad Isn’t Funny (2006)

Unexpectedly catchy, free-flowing and noodly, Pirouette’s debut EP displays the Proto-Revival sound exactly like you’d expect it. The guitarist, of course, is one of the great highlights of this release, utilizing a proficient mix of fun chord progressions and jangly guitar riffs. Although the vocal performance isn’t the cleanest, the vocal melodies in these songs are excellent and will worm their way into your ears and your heart.
The band was only around between 2006-2008, just in time to miss their signature sound exploding in the scene. They would come out with two more EPs, both excellent in their own right, and an almost-acoustic LP.

Ryerose - Ryerose (2006)

A release filled to the brim with such passion that it could rival Penfold, Ryerose is the brainchild of Craig Woods and, who else, Peter Helmis. Unlike the youthful explosiveness found in much of Helmis’ other work, Woods really seems to ground him with this melancholic, layered guitar approach. Vocals are also handled primarily by Woods, who sings similarly to other bands like Benton Falls or Mineral.
You can hear every ounce of blood, sweat and tears that was put into this project, featuring brilliant twinkles and disparate volume dynamics. This release might just be the best of a surprisingly robust discography from Helmis in 2006.

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start - Worst Band Name Ever (2007)

The band's final album reflects their playful attitude toward Emo while simultaneously taking Emo music seriously. Utilizing more acoustic guitars than their first LP, the Math Rock influence is a bit more subtle but nonetheless quite present. Keen ears will hear all of the sly musical techniques the band makes use of on this very short 20 minute album.
This band exemplifies the Proto-Revival to a tee: a band with all the talent in the world and forward-thinking (ironically by looking back), only to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. This exact album could have made them them Emo legends in 2010.

Marquette - Waxing / Waning (2007)

After releasing a so-so EP in 2006, true Midwest Emo band Marquette would release this EP a year later and it is as serene as it is rough around the edges. Utilizing decent but definitely DIY production techniques, Waxing / Waning is filled to the brim with some of the coolest guitar playing in this entire wave. Although the vocal performance is more than serviceable, the sheer focus on extended instrumental passages, led by near-virtuosic dual guitar lines, showcases the true star of the show.
The band would fold after this release, but from the ashes, a couple of the ex-bandmates would start the underrated Emo Revival band Penpal. Though similar in style, the Slowcore and American Football influence was far more pronounced.

Avast! - Faultlines (2007)

Avast! was a Scottish Emo band that only existed for a short time in the mid aughts. However, we can hear the infamous British Indie influence on this, no matter how hard they tried to hide it; unlike Dartz!, TTNG and the like, Avast!’s Faultlines harken back to more classic Midwest Emo, even if it’s with a slightly more modern approach. This is the band’s sole release, but I’d recommend it to anyone who is interested in the description.

Look Mexico - This Is Animal Music (2007)

I don't know what kind of Animals they have in Florida, but it sounds remarkably close to some Chicagoland Emos from the mid to late 90s. Look Mexico’s debut album has Kinsella fingerprints all over it, from the twinkly riffs to that very specific late 90s Indie Rock x Midwest Emo timbre. The vocals are of course of a whiny nature, though all is produced and mastered quite well.
Unlike many other Proto-Revival artists on this list, Look Mexico continued releasing music until 2016, the end of the Revival. Unfortunately, they pivoted to a more Indie-leaning sound while eschewing the Emo influence. Had their music remained American Football-inspired, this band could be legendary in the scene.

Meet Me in St. Louis - Variations on Swing (2007)

If I’m being honest, this isn’t actually Emo Proto-Revival. In reality, this is a calculated mix of Post-Hardcore, Math Rock and Midwest Emo with ample Kinsella influences. Look, Proto-Revival wasn’t really a scene, it was just a bunch of disconnected bands taking influence from the same people at the same time, hoping to make awesome music. It just so happened that this led to the Emo Revival, but I think Meet Me in St. Louis exhibits enough Emo sensibilities on this record to make it on this list - much like fellow UK Post-Hardcore band Million Dead.
Ambitious guitar riffs, song structures, tempo shifts and time signature changes are sprawled across the varied musical landscapes found on this LP. The Midwest Emo elements help weave together the more elaborate and lofty techniques and influences here. Even if it doesn’t fit in with this section exactly, it’s more than worth a listen.

Street Smart Cyclist - Lint Traps (2007)

SSC employs a similar songwriting style to their first EP, though these three tracks are all acoustic and feature significantly less percussion. Galm's singing is still as off-kilter as ever, though reduced in aggression. It's unclear if these songs were always intended to be acoustic or if they were previewing a more traditional song to be released later, such as We Lack Science. An offbeat experimental release for sure, it should be heard at least once.

oh my god elephant - Fancy Cookies (2008) 💎

Prior to this album’s release, the band temporarily changed their name to Rainow Tornado, and boy does this album feel like one. From production to songwriting to instrumental virtuosity, this album trumps their 2006 EP in just about every way (save for personal taste) while somehow being significantly more obscure, quite the feat considering how unpopular their s/t EP is. Lengthy instrumental passages litter this record, putting you into a near-meditative state. This peacefulness is juxtaposed with the silliest, most irrational lyrical moments in Emo.
This album could very well be the logical extreme to the American Football sound, given the unremarkable but confessional vocals, spirited Math Rock riffs and overall lackadaisical pace. The band does well to step out from merely being a Kinsella clone, though, and this album is their magnum opus.

Pennines - Demo Feb 08 (2008)

From the UK Emo scene that brought bands like TTNG and saleontomorrow, Pennines is a Mathy Midwest Emo band that isn’t afraid to get playful with their songs. This demo is only two songs but shows the tremendous promise that the band possessed with the Indie guitar riffs, mathy twinkles and signature British Indie singing voice. If you like the Math Pop-influenced Midwest Emo scene of mid-late 00s UK, check these guys out! They have some later-released demos and a split with TTNG.

Good Luck - Into Lake Griffy (2008)

Into Lake Griffy is the expert result of merging hyper-energetic Pop-Punk with Math-infused Indie-leaning Midwest Emo. The first thing you'll notice is the neverending guitar riffage and blistering chord progressions, followed up by some of the catchiest vocals this side of the Third Wave. The drummer and bassist both manage to stand out distinctly in their own right, essentially acting as the backbone for the Midwest Emo volume elements.
At 13 songs and almost 40 minutes of length, this album will breeze by and no two songs will sound too similar. The band would release one more album in 2011, though it was more restrained than this record.

Little Lungs - Hoist Me Up! (2008)

Cute, catchy and mixed with obvious Pop-Punk influence, this fun and breezy EP features infectious female vocals, driving yet straightforward melodies and riffs, and the odd Math Rock element hanging around here and there. What else is there to say? At 12 minutes, this one deserves at least one listen.

Gentlemen - Demo (2008)

Featuring a few members of The Summer We Went West, Gentlemen’s sole release is a demo from 2008. This is Midwest Emo in the classic vein with a few Proto-Revival trappings. With nine songs and a total runtime of less than 20 minutes, this demo is worth a listen. Gentlemen had the potential to be a really cool Emo Revival band, but they stopped just short of the goal line.

It’s an Icicle - L’Chaim (2008)

Emos out of Fresno, whose music scene was on fire during the late 2000s, It’s an Icicle emerged from the burgeoning Mathy Midwest Emo movement, citing Algernon Cadwallader, other Kinsella projects and Math Rock bands like Giraffes? Giraffes! as their primary inspiration. With dingey production, constant riffing and complete formlessness, the band’s debut LP is a sign of the changing times where DIY Emo artists were forming the core sounds of the Emo Revival.
Before becoming a three-piece, the band released a couple of EPs as a duo. Though not quite as good as this album, they’re both super solid Emo releases in their own right.

Street Smart Cyclist - Final Mixes (2008) 💎

The final two songs of the band’s discography are an evolution of the tracks from their demo; the boys supercharge their Midwest Emo / Math Rock hybrid, sounding like hardcore kids playing freestyle Jazz. The riffs are twinklier and more intricate, the song structures are looser. Had the band stuck around, who knows how good their output could have been.
Proto-Revival to the core, they, directly and indirectly, shaped the upcoming Revival while having a unique sound all their own. The best way to hear the band's stuff is to listen to their Discography, released in a neat package in 2014.

Bad Times Ending - Bad Times Ending (2008)

Extraordinarily obscure Proto-Revival, I can only find one record of their existence and it’s the YouTube video from 4010 where you can hear it. Not much to say at only 17 minutes, but you’ll immediately notice the twinkling of the guitar, the sincerity of the vocals and the pretty good grasp on volume dynamics.

Instruments (Make Music) - Instruments (Make Music) (2008)

A band name so unsearchable that I am only 70% sure it even came out in 2008, the burgeoning UK Midwest Emo scene produces more Mathy goodness with this EP. It's a little quirky and littered with instrumental-only sections, but it fits in well with other similar releases from this time and place. If you like cool Math Rock riffs, look no further.
We have now reached our final section of this part and this series. We opened up the very first part by discussing Second Wave Emo artists who were still releasing Second Wave-inspired Emo in the Third Wave. Naturally, I will bookend this entire project by talking about Fourth Wave Emo artists who got their start sometime before 2009. Many of Fourth Wave Emo’s earliest classic albums actually came out in 2008 in particular, a landmark year for the genre. After reviewing everything else in this whole series, these releases are sort of the denouement of Third Wave Emo, showing how the underground / basement / DIY scenes all over the world kept its spirit alive. We’ve finally arrived at the finish line:

The Flames of Fourth Wave Emo Begin With a Spark

Algernon Cadwallader - Demo (2006)

Following up on projects like Halfway to Holland and Ryerose, Peter Helmis and Joe Reinhart reunite for a more traditional take on Midwest Emo. Their first four-song demo was released in 2006, featuring what can only be described as Kinsella worship. It’s been said to death, but Algernon exhibits copious amounts of Cap’n Jazz influence in their music, from the reckless abandon of the vocals and lyrics to the jangly, twinkly riffs. Although the band’s best and most memorable work was yet to come, this EP left the door ajar for the Emo Revival to later bust down.

TTNG - Hippy Jam Fest (2006)

TTNG actually released their first piece of music in 2003, a demo that showcased their mathy preclivities, though harsher than their future releases. Even this, their first proper EP, is a bit more rugged than their more Math-Pop-laden work later on, although the evolution into the band they’d become was well underway. Generous use of volume dynamics, irregular time signature usage, cool riffs and saidboi vibes are all here. The band would go on to be one of the most important UK Emo / Math Rock bands of all time, and we’ll see why later on in this list.

Empire! Empire! (I Was a Loney Estate) - When the Sea Became a Giant (2007)

The first outing for Emo Revival Juggernauts Empire! Empire!, the band’s legacy for crafting biting, poignant Midwest Emo begins with the opening salvo on the first track of this record. The bittersweet magnificence that defines the band’s sound is created with a heartrending guitar tone, emotionally raw vocals, abreactive lyrics and awe-inspiring song builds. While building off the legends of the genre such as Mineral, Empire! injects their own energy into their music, and it’s readily apparent even with their first EP.
The band would become legends in the genre with a cavalcade of releases, many of which being splits with fellow legends and hidden gems of the genre. Does this EP touch What It Takes to Move Forward? I mean, can anything? That said, the building blocks were there from the start.

By Surprise - Four on Seven in Eight (2007)

Despite leaving their indelible mark on the Emo Revival with a 2009 LP split with Hightide Hotel, the band is still a nightmare to Google. As such, this Indie-laden Midwest Emo release has very little information. There seems to be conflicting reports on this release date, but I personally believe the 2007 date.
With raw production, reckless yet catchy vocals, refreshing chord progressions and at less than 10 minutes, this is an easy listen to future underrated Revivalists.

Weatherbox - American Art (2007) 💎

After releasing two proof-of-concept EPs, Weatherbox's debut LP was released in 2007. Whether you consider this band Proto-Revival, Emo Revival or something else, it doesn't really matter. Warren's tortured voice, his world-weary lyrics and the deceptive complexity of the music provide for one Hell of a release from these San Diego natives.
At 50 minutes, this album is actually quite an easy listen. The variety of songs on offer, as well as the general flow of the record, transports the listener into the world of American Art seamlessly. Weatherbox would continue releasing music until 2014, right at the height of the Revival. Fortunately, they just released a new single this year!

Annabel - Now That We’re Alive (2007)

Humble beginnings for under-the-radar Emo Revival outfit Annabel, their demo EP Now That We’re Alive showed all the promise that this band possessed, even in their early days. A nice little variety of sounds punctuate this ultimately laid back and inoffensive release. I’d recommend giving their discography a shot if you enjoy this demo.

A Great Big Pile of Leaves - The Fiery Works (2007)

Slidey, bendy, mathy and just plain fun, A Great Big Pile of Leaves’ debut EP showcases all of the band’s strengths in a neat sub-20-minute package. AGBPOL managed to craft a slice of Emo all their own with their defining guitar techniques, catchy vocal melodies and syncopated rhythms. While somewhat poppy at times, they seem to be capitalizing more on Math-Pop than Emo-Pop.
The band would go on to release another EP before the Third Wave was up - and are still around to this day!

Everyone Everywhere - Pants (2007)

The debut EP from Philly-natives in Everyone Everywhere, the band’s signature approach to writing music is on full display with an airy combination Emo, Indie Rock, Post-Rock and Math Rock. The band would go on to release two criminally-underrated Emo Revival albums in the early 2010s, expanding off of this already-impressive debut.

Brave Little Abacus - Demo? (2008)

Monumental doesn’t even begin to cover what Brave Little Abacus’ contribution to the Emo scene truly means. Solidly an Emo Revival band, Brave Little Abacus’ ultra-experimental guide to creating Emo music is still influencing artists today, being the basis for much of the Fifth Wave. Chiptunes, strange samples, weird noises, all of this is mixed in with unfiltered vocal hysteria. Literally, I cannot describe to you what this sounds like, you have to hear it for yourself.
This debut EP is somehow more unhinged and more straightforward than their future work, both at the same time. Don’t know what I mean? Give this legendary band a spin to see for yourself.

Transit - This Will Not Define Us (2008)

Stalwarts of the Soft Grunge movement during Emo’s Fourth Wave, Transit began their career with a strong Emo / Pop-Punk hybrid. Although some variation of those genres would be a part of their primary playstyle for the duration of their run, nothing would quite sound like this record. Quick lead melodies and straightforward rhythms drive the record forward.

TTNG - This Town Needs Guns (2008) 🎩

TTNG, then known as This Town Needs Guns, released a self-titled compilation album in early 2008 with songs from their full-length split with Cats and Cats and Cats and other unreleased tracks. With just eight songs and without a designed sense of flow, this somehow manages to be the best TTNG record ever. This album includes a wonderful variety, from acoustic tracks to Math Pop jaunts to heavier Emo sections.
If you are a fan of Math Rock’s association with Midwest Emo, this album might just be the pinnacle of that sound. The twinkly riffs are impossibly clean and the subtly mathy song structures add sophistication and technicality to the project. This stands as possibly the best and most important British Emo releases of all time.

A Great Big Pile of Leaves - The Fiery Works II (2008)

While not utilizing quite as many guitar tricks as the band's debut EP, there is an admirable variety of songs on this short record. In particular, they embrace their inner Math-Pop band a ton. It's personal preference whether you prefer part 1 or part 2, but they both tickle that same spot in your brain that says, “Neat!”
Despite these respectable Emo releases, the band's best work was yet to come. Their sound was an injection of carelessness and vitality to the Emo Revival.

Algernon Cadwallader - Some Kind of Cadwallader (2008) 🎩

Some will say that the Emo Revival officially began with the release of this album, and I have no basis on which to argue. However, for the purposes of this series, I’m including everything from the year 2008, so here it comes at the tail end of Third Wave Emo! What more can I say about this record that hasn’t been recounted tirelessly by other Emo fans? Many will point to popular songs like Casual Discussion in a Dome or the title track being clones of the Cap’n Jazz sound, but if you listen to the entire album, you actually get an exceptionally solid and wonderfully varied work of art.
Algernon’s whimsical take on Emo consists of playful vocals, neverending guitar jangles, daring song structures and the perfect album flow. Surprising elements of Post-Rock can be found on this record, especially with a near-14 minute closing track. The music speaks directly to the yearning one feels deep inside for life to be simpler again.

La Dispute - Here, Hear (2008)

Following up on a forgotten debut EP that was entirely entrenched in a raw Post-Hardcore sound, La Dispute would pivot directions by the time their debut LP was released. Before that, the first of their Here, Hear EPs dropped, stripping away the frantic aggression and going into near-acoustic mode.
The vocals are exclusively even-keeled poetic spoken word while the rest of the band seemed content to create subdued mood music to accompany the artistic stories.

Balance and Composure - I Just Want to Be Pure (2008)

Before becoming a Soft Grunge powerhouse during Emo’s Fourth Wave, Balance & Composure (with an ampersand) released a demo EP, fusing the predominant sounds of the Second Wave ala Braid or Mineral and the Third Wave ala Taking Back Sunday and Brand New. The results are quite a fresh mix that shows how influential all Emo music has been over the years, even the dreaded 2000s era. This EP predates the band’s use of Post-Hardcore and occasional hint of Shoegaze, so it is somewhat simpler and more straightforward.

Hightide Hotel - Porch Luck (2008)

Like several other prominent Emo Revival bands, Hightide Hotel put out a small proof of concept EP, including one song that would later be used for their debut LP. What the band lacked in tightness they made up for in pure desire to create Basement Emo and all that it entails. Although not the band’s best release, it’s a solid roadmap to their early, unpolished sound while providing a true classic in the s/t track.

Tigers Jaw - Tigers Jaw (2008) 🎩

Progenitors to the Soft-Grunge movement that includes bands like Joyce Manor, Basement and Modern Baseball, Tigers Jaw's s/t is a masterful exploration of the intersection between Emo, Pop-Punk and Indie Rock. Their first album actually released in 2006, but was more of a subdued Indie and Slacker Rock record. Nonetheless, the band rerecorded a few of the tracks on that album to fit more closely with their new sound.
The vocals are often double-tracked or have tons of harmony, giving the otherwise chill and unassuming vocal melodies some richness and depth. And trust me, these words will get stuck in your head. There’s just a sincerity to the music, lying somewhere within the rhythm-oriented chord progressions and simple lead guitar melodies. This remains the band’s finest accomplishment.

TTNG - Animals (2008)

Extracting everything they could from both Midwest Emo and Math Rock, Animals is an ambitious concept album that pushes these genre classifications to the limit. Each song represents a different animal, so each song has a different flow and timbre. They capture the playfulness of a rabbit, the majesty of an Elk and the quiet nature of a Zebra, among others.
If this album had any sense of flow, it would be one of the top releases in this project. Regardless, this is a milestone Math Rock record and an integral part of the early Emo Revival.

Arrows - Modern Art & Politics (2008)

Criminally underrated Emos from Australia, Arrows debut album is perhaps their best work, seamlessly blending Midwest Emo with hints of Post-Rock, though done with a more modern Emo framework in mind. This album sounds like a slightly restrained Empire! Empire! release, perhaps only stopping short in terms of grandiosity. However, at 55 minutes and with calculated switches in volume dynamics, Arrows does a more than admirable job in that department.
The band would continue releasing albums until 2012, whereupon they’d appropriately been signed to Count Your Lucky Stars. However, after a promising split with Empire!, the band would cease to exist.

La Dispute - Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair (2008) 🎩

La Dispute's status as an Emo band is hotly disputed, but it doesn’t really matter to me either way. This band utilizes dynamic volume changes, has passionate vocals with cathartic lyrics and is tied to the Hardcore scene. And even though this album is equally indebted to Post-Hardcore, this album came out at the right time to help push Emo back to the glory days.
Spoken words and shouting are the methods Dreyer uses to punch the listener with raw emotion, heavily reinforced by the technical and varied instrumental accompaniment. Forget Emo - this is a must-hear album for anyone into heavier music.

La Dispute - Here, Hear II (2008)

Releasing the very same day as their acclaimed debut LP, the second volume in this EP series ups the ante from the first. The stories on offer are strong and are told in dramatic prose fashion and the tracks are quite memorable, thanks to the more varied instrumental approach. From Jazz to Post-Rock, this band's influences seem infinite.
A year later, they’d release the final Here, Hear in the miniseries. Fifteen years after that, they finally released another Here, Hear EP. They’re all excellent. Please check them out.

Glocca Morra - Museum Mouth (2008)

Legendary Twinkledaddies Glocca Morra formed in 2008 and managed to come out with a demo EP of sorts before the year had ended! Fortunately for us, this means more awesome Emo music to cover! Now, what’s a Twinkledaddy? Simple, really! Bands like Algernon and TTNG definitely fit, along with Revival bands like Snowing and The World Is a Beautiful Place, the latter of which coined the term jokingly.
With contemporaries like that, how could this not be awesome? Well it is, even if it’s only three proper songs and an acoustic song. Nonetheless, the band’s seemingly endless potential is showcased as soon as the first track. Despite the twinkling, this EP is a bit rough around the edges, giving it a tad of Punk cred (along with the singer’s gnarly voice).

Shapes Like Dinosaurs - Jurassic Geometry (2008)

Somewhat obscure Emo Revivalists Shapes Like Dinosaurs gave the burgeoning Emo Revival movement an early Christmas present with their debut LP, effortlessly encapsulating that Midwest Emo / Math Rock fusion that was about to blow up in the underground music scene. Despite hyperactive guitar and basslines, the tempo is quite passive, aided by the low-volume drum recording and simple vocal delivery. If you like some of the Proto-Revival releases on this list, you’ll probably really enjoy this one.

CSTVT - I Know What a Lion Is (2008)

Before releasing their landmark 2009 LP Summer Fences, three of the four first tracks on the album were previewed in this promotional demo. Castavet, later known as CSTVT, utilized Post-Rock extensively, shaping soundscapes and pulling great emotion from the listener. Midwest Emo is the meat and Post-Rock is the potato, the two genres complement each other perfectly. Although these tracks are amazing, they are only a sample of what was to come.
And there you have it folks! That’s all I’m ever going to write about this damn series again!

SIKE! IT'S BONUS TIME!

Okay, I lied. I wanted to include a list of bonus Emo releases that I either missed or forgot to include for one reason or the other. However, I ran out of space! Please wait for a very special bonus edition later this week!

I have been going through https://passiveinvestingaustralia.com/ and other guides about index investing to decide on an optimal portfolio. I am still confused about hedging and would love some help. I have used the Currency impact calculator from Vanguard to understand the effects of hedging https://insights.vanguard.com.au/static/currency-impact/index.html .
From what I understood hedging is useful to avoid the currency risk in case the AUD appreciates against the dollar. The returns of the underlying index fund may be significantly reduced by the FX loss if not hedged. If AUD depreciates against the dollar, hedging is not required as in this scenario the Australian investor will get additional FX returns on top of the actual index fund returns. If you hedge in that scenario, you lose out on the FX returns but still get the underlying fund return.
I tried playing with different scenarios on the Currency impact calculator if I have a portfolio of 50:50 of VGS/VGAD. If the underlying fund gives a return of 6%, in a AUD depreciating scenario both VGS and VGAD gives 6% and above and I get good returns. But if AUD appreciates, VGAD will give near 6% ( before tax)and VGS will give less than 6%. The decrease in returns of VGS will depend on the degree of rise of the AUD against USD. For example if USD/AUD goes from 0.7 to 0.9( 28.75% appreciation) as it has happened many times historically, FX returns will be -22% leading to a wipeout of the money put in. Even if the VGAD component gives a decent return of 6%, the degree of loss of VGS will lead to an overall negative return.
We have been lucky for the past 15 years with AUD falling roughly continuously from 2011 to 2024 leading to great returns for VGS. But given that FX is a zero sum game and we are trying to reduce overall risk, is it really prudent to invest in VGS at all if our goal is to reduce chances of long term capital loss? If AUD starts going up will we get a similar 10 to 15 year period of markedly reduced return from VGS? Especially as governments are getting more trigger happy on trade wars.
So I was thinking of just using VGAD alone even if that means I get reduced returns compared to VGS for now. At least I will get the underlying MSCI world ex Australia fund returns all the time. But then I saw the tax inefficiency problem raised about VGAD by passiveinvestingaustralia. The after tax returns given at the Vanguard website( https://www.vanguard.com.au/adviseinvest/etf?portId=8213&tab=performance ) shows that tax on distributions itself is nearly 1.5% for the top tax bracket. How much of this is because of the lack of use of TOFA? I am also considering going only with HGBL to avoid this issue. But since it is a new fund, I am a bit unsure of putting in significant amounts of money. I saw that HGBL has an AUM over 600 million at present with average trading volumes above 10000. Is that big enough to avoid any chances of closure?
Any advice is welcome.

I’m 50. My net worth is £1.9 million. How did I do it?
Here is, financially, the story of my life, with key decisions tagged as wrong or right.
Note on figures
It’s hard to compare money in different places and times. What I’ve done below is first convert each figure to a 2024 one, using each country’s inflation calculator. Then I convert to sterling at current rates.
Autobiographical skeleton

• 1996 – left university in Canada, earned £35K
• By 2000 had risen to £65K, in those four years earned bonuses totalling about £8K
• Oct 2000 – moved to Silicon Valley in the US, took a base of £172K at an internet firm, with 15K options.
• Apr 2003 - made redundant, enrolled in the MSc program at Stanford
• June 2004 – graduated, moved to Chicago to join a hedge fund, base of £170K. Cash bonuses then were from £26-33K.
• Feb 2007 – joined Google, still in Chicago, at base of £155K. Got 125 shares and 250 options priced at (unadjusted) $475. Got another grant of 120 shares/options in 2009 and another 85 each in 2010. Cash bonuses could be quite generous though, as their individual multipliers could go up to 150% and company to 200%. One year I got £51K.
• Sept 2010 – moved to London for family reasons. Base was cut to £114K, but then they folded cash bonuses into salary, making it £137K. UK employees don’t get options, but I got 75 shares in 2011 and 50 in 2013.
• July 2013 – signed on at Facebook (now Meta). Base cut to £115K, but with 5,000 shares. Received a variety of raises and was earning £142K by the time of termination in 2017.
• It was at this point that I realised I no longer needed to work full time. Since then, there have been gaps of months or even years when I worked only part-time or not at all.
• March 2018, signed on at a startup earning an hourly wage of £100. Annualised (40-hour workweek, 47 weeks a year) this would be £202K annually. But in actuality I worked only 1-2 days a week.
• Sept 2019, signed at a nonprofit at a salary of just £39K – yep, the lowest base ever. But by then I had a fortune and a house paid for, see below.
• May 2021, returned to the startup. My hourly pay was the same, but inflation had reduced its value to £95, or £191K annually. But that job only lasted six months.
• I spent a year not working, then started full-time at another startup for a base of £137K.
• Was terminated not long after, took another position in the sinking job market for a base of £131K, now inflated down to £130K.

Wrong – not paying attention to savings
During the Canadian years (five-digit salaries) I didn’t save much. I never even managed to clear my credit card balance. For the first three years, I didn’t contribute much to my RRSP. Only in 1999 did I start contributing the maximum, 18% of pre-tax pay.
Even after my move to the US, it was a year before I opened a 401k or IRA, uncertain of what would happen to them if I moved back to Canada.
Right - going to grad school
Few companies took me seriously with a degree from a little-known Canadian university. Taking a year off to study at Stanford made possible a lucrative career in top industry names.
Right – minimizing taxes
I found that, since I’d had a job on campus that overlapped with my coursework, I could deduct my tuition as a work-related expense. The US government thus paid for a third of my grad school tuition.
I always put as much savings as possible into tax-deferred or tax-free accounts.
Right – avoiding debt as much as possible
After 2002, I wised up and never again carried credit card debt.
We only buy furniture on credit if it’s a zero-interest deal.
I’ve owned four cars in my life; only the first had a loan, and I paid it off in a single year. All four were used.
My first property, bought in 2005, was on a 10-year mortgage. We bought a 2-bedroom condo at just 1.5X my salary at the time (this was in Chicago, naturally) to the astonishment of mortgage brokers. I put every cash bonus largely into it and had it paid off in 5 years.
We bought our current 3-bed house in 2013 – it was at 3.5X my salary, but we put almost 75% down. I sold all my Google stock and every asset I had that wasn’t in an age-locked account, so I could take out a 7-year mortgage. As soon as the prepayment penalty period ended in 2 years, I sold Facebook stock to pay it off. We’ve lived rent- and mortgage-free ever since.
We've done renovations on occasion, but these have never been financed by loans, only from savings.
Wrong – buying and selling a property at the wrong time
We bought a condo in Chicago in 2005 for (unadjusted) $210K. We sold it in 2013 for $101K. Yes, you read that right. Zillow says it still hasn't returned to its 2005 value.
Wrong - selling stock/options too soon
My options in the 2000 startup were priced at $15. The stock plummeted to 75 cents in 2002, but reached $17 when I sold them in 2003. They kept on rising, hitting $40 before the company got acquired in 2005. I made $20K out of them, but it could have been $200K. Oh well.
Likewise, most of my Google stock was sold at $750. Today, counting the splits, they’d be worth about $6,000.
My stock in Facebook (now Meta) was granted when it was priced at just $25 a share. It peaked last year at $537. Had I sold all my shares at that price, it would have been worth over £1m all by itself.
Right – buying a property, eventually
Did I mention I no longer worry about rent or mortgage? When the kids are grown, we will have the option of either renting out the rooms or selling it and moving to a less expensive location.
Right – saving as much as possible
Starting in 2002, I maxed out American 401Ks every year, and most years did the same for IRAs for both myself and my wife.
Starting in 2005, while my wife was still pregnant with our first child, we opened American 529s (like a pension, but intended for uni for a child) for two children. Each got 7% of my net pay at the time.
I also took a “rent figure” – 35% of take-home pay. If my actual rent or mortgage was less than that, I put the money first into a down payment savings fund, later into mortgage prepayments.
After the move to the UK, I put 10% of pre-tax pay into a pension and on top of that maxed out my ISA. Later, I opened an ISA for my wife too, and we are now maxing both out.
We also have Junior ISAs for the children, which I’d fund out of cash bonuses, but have since stopped contributing to. Between their 529 and Junior ISA, each child already has a net worth over £80K. Quite enough of a silver spoon.
Wrong, but turned out right – not diversifying investments
Most of my Facebook stock was not sold for a long while, and occupied a dangerously large slice of my portfolio. Yet the rapid rise in company stock is a key reason my net worth rose as much as it did.
Had I sold more stock, I could have put more money in the pension, which has a much higher contribution limit than in the US. That would have saved me a lot of taxes, but I’d have missed out on the massive capital gains I got from FB.
Right – living payslip to payslip
How did we control our spending? We never made a budget, or planned our expenses. We just made all the savings automatic, so whatever was left in the current account we were free to spend.
There were plenty of times we ran out of cash and had to put off purchases to the next pay period. If we did use a credit card, it had to be paid off in full the next month – not a single exception since 2003.
If there was a big, irregular expense, like a car purchase or citizenship fees, we’d dip into the savings.
Windfalls, like stock sales or bonuses, went straight into savings.
Right – rejecting raises
Whenever I got a raise, I just raised my savings by the same amount. When my wife started to work part-time in 2014, her entire salary (admittedly a small one) went into savings.
Right – taking a pay cut
In 2004, the hedge fund offered me less money, after inflation, than I'd been earning at the Silicon Valley startup. But Illinois’ lower taxes and cost of living made up for it.
In 2007, Google’s base salary+cash bonuses was lower than the hedge fund’s. But their stock eventually made up for it.
In 2010, moving to the UK meant a big comp cut, higher taxes, and higher living costs. But I could not have joined Facebook later if I’d stayed in Chicago or gone to Canada.
In 2013, Facebook’s offer was 10% lower than what I was making at Google, if you assumed neither company’s stock would ever rise. But of course FB’s stock rose faster, plus I got a promotion that I might not have gotten at Google. My base salary, in fact, was higher in 2001 than it is today, adjusted for inflation. Stocks - both grants and investments - turn out to be much more important.
Wrong - being an active investor
At first, I tried investing myself. I’d read various Canadian mutual fund guides, and carefully picked the “right” ones. My returns were terrible. In 1999, the best year in the history of the market, I lost 8 percent.
Later I tried picking individual stocks myself. About half my picks outperformed the market, half didn’t – then they all got wiped in the crash of 2002.
Right – delegate out asset allocation and rebalancing
I finally wised up and began putting everything in index funds. I used to worry about modern portfolio theory and rebalancing, but now I don’t care.
I’m largely moving into Vanguard’s Target Retirement funds. Assets inside pension funds will use target dates around the time we turn 65; the kids’ funds for when they turn 18, and everything else laddered so that a fixed percentage of it is targeted to each 5-year interval.
Breakdown of my assets
These figures are after deducting estimated taxes.

• Canadian RRSP £42K
• US IRAs £380K
• Kids US 529s £120K
• UK pensions £350K
• UK ISAs £380K
• UK Junior ISAs £48K
• House (Zoopla value) £570K
• Meta stock £40K
• Cash in savings accounts £7K
• Total £1.9m.