Circumstance can certainly play a role

In his Sports Illustrated article "History, Not Hagiography," Joe Sheehan salutes the achievements of baseball great Derek Jeter who will likely retire. Sheehan concludes with a tremendous point:

...If this is the end for Jeter, celebrate him without reserve. He's one of the greatest players in history, the anchor of a dynasty, an essential part of the game's story. Remember, though, that what separates the immortals from the perennial All-Stars isn't necessarily character or desire or any of the ineffable qualities we rush to grant successful athletes. Sometimes it's about who drafted you, when you came up, who didn't trade you and whether you worked for people who put you in position to succeed. Derek Jeter was great, and Derek Jeter was lucky. Acknowledging both doesn't diminish him one bit.

This is something we far too often fail to consider.

The late Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell are obviously deserving NBA Hall of Fame residents, literally and figuratively giants of the game. But would the Celtics have won less, the same or more championships had Chamberlain been in the middle for them? How about the 76ers and Lakers with Russell at center? Or the St. Louis Hawks for that matter?