NBA: Top-50 players of all-time
Honorable Mentions:
- Adrian Dantley
- Bill Walton
- Bob Petit
- Derrick Rose
- George Gervin
- Kevin McHale
- Manu Ginobili
- Pau Gasol
- Tony Parker
- Wes Unseld
Fourth Tier:
50. Dominique Wilkins (4)
49. Carmelo Anthony (7)
48. Gary Payton (13)
47. Klay Thompson (15)
46. Walt Frazier (25)
45. Dwight Howard (34)
44. Chris Paul (37)
43. Bob Cousy (37)
42. Russell Westbrook (38)
41. Giannis Antetokounmpo (39)
40. Rick Barry (41)
39. Reggie Miller (50)
38. Elgin Baylor (50)
37. Jason Kidd (52)
36. Ray Allen (70)
Third Tier:
35. Paul Pierce (71)
34. Kawhi Leonard (80)
33. James Harden (83)
32. John Havlicek (86)
31. Clyde Drexler (89)
30. Patrick Ewing (111)
29. John Stockton (113)
28. Steve Nash (120)
27. James Worthy (128)
26. Julius Erving (130)
25. Allen Iverson (131)
24. Isiah Thomas (133)
23. Karl Malone (137)
22. David Robinson (141)
21. Moses Malone (141)
Second Tier:
20. Charles Barkley (151)
19. Jerry West (152)
18. Scottie Pippen (152)
17. Dirk Nowitzki (160)
16. Dwyane Wade (163)
15. Kevin Garnett (181)
14. Oscar Robertson (184)
13. Kevin Durant (189)
12. Stephen Curry (192)
11. Hakeem Olajuwon (195)
First Tier:
10. Bill Russell (199 Votes): Russell and Chamberlain were rivals at the top of the league in the 1960s but their careers differed in many ways. Russell played all 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning 11 championships, and compiling five MVP awards (1958, 1961-1963, 1965), while Chamberlain played for three franchises. The reason Russell comes in a spot lower, though, is because his stats aren’t nearly as impressive at 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds.
9. Wilt Chamberlain (200 Votes): It’s difficult for a lot of people to rank Wilt Chamberlain because he played in the 1960s and most current NBA fans never had a chance to see him play live. And even though the competition wasn’t as good as it is now, it’s impossible to ignore Chamberlain’s otherworldly statistics. He put up 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. The 7’1 center finished his career with four MVP awards (1960, 1966-1968) and two rings.
8. Larry Bird (214 Votes): Magic may have had the better career but I firmly believe Larry Bird was the better player. An all-around player, who could talk trash better than most but also backed it up like no other. Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists, and led one of the greatest teams of all-time, the Boston Celtics to three titles. Along with Magic, their storied rivalry truly helped save the league and make it into the game we have today.
7. Shaquille O’Neal (216 Votes): Shaq might be a more well known player than Duncan, but it’s hard to consider him better when he has less championships (5-4), less MVP awards (2-1), and less All-NBA Defensive Team selections (15-3). With that said, Shaq was the most physically dominant player of the 2000s, and put up an outstanding 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks during his 19-year career. Shaq also has three Finals MVPs to his name.
6. Tim Duncan (219 Votes): Tim Duncan, who also has five rings, comes in just one vote behind Bryant. The 6’11 power forward had stability throughout his career, playing for Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs ever since he was drafted #1 overall in 1997. Duncan helped the Spurs win a title in just his second season, and he went onto compile three Finals MVP awards and two regular season MVP awards while averaging 19.0 points and 10.8 rebounds.
5. Kobe Bryant (220 Votes): The late great Kobe Bryant is arguably the greatest pure scorer we’ve ever seen, and he finished his career averaging 25.0 points and third on the all-time scoring list with 33,643 points (LeBron has since passed him). Bryant won five rings with the Los Angeles Lakers but he took home just one league MVP, which is tied for the lowest among top-10 players. He was also named to the All-NBA Defensive Team 12 times.
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (230 Votes): A six-time NBA champion, Abdul-Jabbar is probably the most underrated best player ever, if that makes sense. His patented skyhook allowed him to climb the all-time scoring list, amassing 38,387 points over a storied 20-year career. Kareem also holds the record with six regular season MVP awards. If you also add his high school and college careers, then a case could be made for the best basketball player to ever live.
3. Magic Johnson (231 Votes): Standing at 6'9, the infectious Magic Johnson revolutionized the point guard position and helped save the NBA. Without Magic and Larry Bird, the NBA may not have existed beyond the mid-80s. Johnson won his first of three Finals MVPs by standing in at center, logging 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Magic went on to win five titles, three regular season MVP awards, and is widely considered the greatest point guard ever.
2. LeBron James (247 Votes): The only player who has the ability to knock Jordan off his throne is LeBron. The four-time MVP is a basketball savant, who is the epitome of efficiency and in his 17th season, is still (!) the best player in the game (and isn't slowing down). With career averages of 27.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, James is the only player to reach 30K points, 9K assists, and 9K rebounds. If he wins another title, it'll be hard to keep James from #1.
1. Michael Jordan (250 Votes): There's Michael Jordan and then there's everyone else. In 11 full seasons with the Chicago Bulls, he amassed a resume like no other. MJ won 10 straight scoring titles, six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular season MVPs (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), and the highest scoring average of 30.1 points. Jordan also won a Defensive Player of the Year. Until LeBron adds another ring to his legacy, MJ remains the GOAT.
1. Michael Jordan
2. Magic Johnson
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Bill Russell
5. LeBron James
1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Magic Johnson
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5. Bill Russell
1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Magic Johnson
5. Bill Russell
Photo Credit: Essentially Sports.
