#1 Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan was simply incredible. When he set his mind on doing something he simply did it. Whether you’re looking at scoring, defense, or anything in between Michael Jordan excelled. He won 6 NBA finals, 5 MVPs, 6 finals MVPs, he was a 10 time scoring leader, 1 time DPOY, a rookie of the year, 14 time all star, was awarded 9 all-defensive selections, was a 2 time olympic gold medalist, was selected 10 times for the all-NBA first team, and 1 time for the all-NBA second team. He even won the dunk contest 2 times. He did all of that in only 15 seasons. Just those stats alone could make him the GOAT. But he was also iconic. So iconic that his shoes are the best selling worldwide to this day. He still makes about $100 million per year off of his shoes. All around the basketball world people know the name Michael Jordan. Overall, he is clearly the #1 NBA player of all time.
#2 LeBron James
LeBron James is considered by many to be an alien. He is 1 of only 3 players on this list to still be an active NBA player. He is currently playing his 22nd season in the NBA. Yes, his 22nd season. LeBron James is 40 years old and still playing basketball at the highest level. So far, he has won 4 NBA finals, 4 MVPs, and 4 finals MVPs. He’s also a 20 time all star, 5 time all-NBA first defensive team member, 1 all-NBA defensive second team member, 1 time rookie of the year, a 1 time scoring leader. He also has 3 olympic gold medals and 1 olympic bronze medal. That is a very large trophy case. Oh, and don’t forget he has scored the most points in NBA history. Another thing that makes LeBron so special is how long he’s been so good. 20 all star selections is insane. Still, at age 40, LeBron is currently (as of 1/12/25) averaging 25.7 ppg. That is ridiculous and alone would put him at number 2 all time. But, he, like Michael Jordan, is also very iconic. He’s probably more well known around the world than Michael Jordan. Though many may attribute this to the fact that he’s a current player, in no way does that take away from the freak of nature that is LeBron James.
#3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is what I would call a “sleeper pick.” When you think of NBA greats your mind most likely thinks of someone flashy like Michael Jordan or an athletic phenom like LeBron James. Kareem was simply put revolutionary. He had one thing that made him who he was and separated him from everyone else. The sky hook. Kareem took that shot and made it his. Nobody else in NBA history has gotten anywhere near as good at the sky hook as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did. He used that shot to score 38,387 points in his career. He also won 6 NBA finals, earned 6 MVPs, earned 2 finals MVPs, was a 19 time all star, was a 15 time all-NBA first team selection, and was a 11 time defensive first team selection. Sure the name of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar might not be as well known as Michael Jordan or LeBron James but he certainly earned his spot this high on this list.
#4 Wilt Chamberlain
100 points in a game. Many would hear that number and think, “100 points, there’s no way anyone could ever do that!” Well, then you would be mistaken. Wilt Chamberlain did it way back on March 2nd, 1962, 63 years ago. Wilt may be most well known for scoring 100 points in a game and holding up a piece of paper with “100” written on it, but he also did many other things. In fact, he has so many records I could write 10 articles about them. But here are the basics. Wilt Chamberlain won 2 NBA finals and 4 MVPs. He also has 7 all-NBA first team selections, 3 all-NBA second team selections, and 2 defensive first team selections. On its own, that’s already a very impressive trophy case, but it’s the records that really make him special. Wilt Chamberlain has the 1st 3 spots for highest amount of points averaged in a season with 50.4, 44.8, and 37.6, he has the 1st 2 spots for most points in a season with 4029 and 3586, he has the record for most points scored in a half with 59 (during the second half of the game when he scored 100 points), he has the record for both most 40 and 50 point games in a season with 63 forty point games and 45 fifty point games, he has the record for the most consecutive 60 point games with 4 in a row. You might look at this ridiculous list of accomplishments and think, “How is Wilt not the GOAT?” Well, many consider the time period that Wilt played in (60s-70s) to be a “weak” era of basketball. There wasn’t anybody near his size and height. Despite this, Wilt Chamberlain definitely deserves his spot near the top of this list.
#5 Stephen Curry
When you think of the old NBA versus the current NBA there is one major thing that stands out. The 3pt shots. In the old NBA, centers dominated with their large size. Point guards were more focused on running the offense than putting the ball in the hoop. This all changed in 2009 when the Golden State Warriors drafted Stephen Curry with the 7th pick in the NBA draft. Stephen Curry defines the term “game changer.” Stephen Curry won 4 NBA finals, earned 1 finals MVP, 2 regular season MVPs, is a 10 (and most likely about to be 11) time all star, a 4 team NBA first team selection, a 4 time all-NBA second team selection, and a 2 time all-NBA third team selection. He also has the records for most threes of all time, with 3758 and counting, and the record for most threes in a season with 402. That’s a whole lot of threes. He was also one of the main players on arguably the best team in NBA history, the 2015-2016 Warriors that had a record of 73-9. All of this combined earns the “chef” his spot near the very top of this list.
#6 Earvin ” Magic ” Johnson Jr
The Showtime Lakers. Arguably the most fun and exciting team to watch in NBA history. The Showtime Lakers were a team that played from roughly 1979-1991. There what brought basketball to the popular sport we know and love today. The Showtime Lakers had 1 conductor. His nickname was “Magic.” Magic was ridiculous. He fully represents the old idea of a “point guard.” Before Stephen Curry, the main role of a point guard was to bring the ball up the court and initiate the offence. The point guard was also often the “leader” of the team. Magic was a pure genius at all of those things. His passing and overall basketball IQ was off the charts. He could pass the ball anywhere anytime in any way imaginable. He was a 3 time MVP, 4 time NBA assists leader, 2 time NBA steals leader, 9 time all-NBA first team selection, 1 time all-NBA second team selection, a 12 time all-star, a 5 time NBA champion, and a 3 time finals MVP. Winning 3 finals MVP on one of the best teams in NBA history is insane. He even played with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the person with the #3 spot on this list. He rightly earned himself the title of second best point-guard in NBA history.
#7 Shaquille O’Neal
Dominant. Unstoppable. Huge. These are all words to describe the most ridiculous player in NBA history. Shaq was another member of the Lakers. Although he came after the Showtime Lakers, he created a new era for them. A time period where the league was led by an unstoppable duo. At the forefront of this duo was 7 foot 1 inch tall Shaq. The other member of this duo, Kobe Bryant, also comes up later on this list. But more about that later. Shaq was a pretty simple player. He would catch the ball, do one of his signature “drop steps” and dunk it. It didn’t matter who was in the way. It could be Dikembe Mutumbo under that rim and the ball would still end up in the hoop. Even after his retirement, Shaq is still relevant in the basketball world. He now is one of the reporters for “Inside the NBA.” Shaq’s NBA accomplishments consist of, 4 NBA championships, 3 of them being in a row, 3 finals MVPs in those 3 finals, 1 MVP, 8 all-NBA first team selections, 2 all-NBA second team selections, and 4 all-NBA third team selections, 15 all star selections. Shaq has also become a worldwide icon, starring in countless TV ads and playing in several movies. He also had limited success as a rapper after his NBA career.
#8 Kobe Bryant
The black Mamba. The Mamba mentality. Kobe. Kobe was a psychopath in all the right ways. He was addicted to improving. He was always the first one to the gym. He won the respect of every single person in the NBA. Every single person. Kobe Bryant was also an icon, similar to many of the others on this list. You can still hear people calling, “Kobe!” when they shoot. He still is considered to have the best basketball shoe out there. 15 years after their release Kobe Grinches are as popular as ever. Kobe’s Major NBA accomplishments are 5 NBA championships, 2 finals MVPs, 1 MVP, 18 all star selections, 11 all-NBA first team selections, 2 all-NBA second team selections, 2 all-NBA third team selections, 12 all-defensive selections, and 1 dunk contest win. That’s a ridiculous resume. Kobe was also iconic for taking everything personal, very similar to his idol Michael Jordan. Before his last game in the NBA, Shaq, who was one of Kobe’s best friends, asked Kobe for 50 points. Kobe replied with, “we’ll see.” Kobe proceeded to score 60 points and define “going out with a bang.” Unfortunately, while riding in a helicopter with his daughter and several of his daughter’s basketball teammates, the helicopter crashed, killing everyone present. His loss was felt by the entire basketball world, may he rest in peace.
#9 Larry Bird
Larry legend. Larry Bird is widely considered to be either the second or third best shooter of all time. Whether he or Ray Allen get the #2 spot is a whole debate on its own. Larry Bird was simply different from the rest. He had a different feel to him then any other NBA player. It was almost as if he used his willpower to put the ball into the hoop. He is also very well known for having one of the greatest rivalries of all time with Magic Johnson, who came up earlier on this list. Larry legend won 3 rings, 2 finals MVPs, 3 MVPs, was a 12 time all star, and was selected for the all-NBA first team 10 times. He was also a 1 time olympic gold medalist. Although that list may seem a little short compared to some of the others on this list, Larry had to go up against some of the highest level competition there ever was, including the Showtime Lakers.
#10 Bill Russel
11 NBA championships. Even making it to that many championships is impressive. Bill russel didn’t make it to the many, he WON that many. More rings than fingers is rediculous. Unfortunately, Bill Russel’s trophy case is slightly smaller than most of the other people on this list. This isn’t because Bill wasn’t good enough to win a bunch of awards, it’s because he played before many of the awards existed. Overall, he won 11 rings, 5 MVPs, and was a 12 time all star. 5 MVPs and 11 rings is absolutely absurd. Those 2 stats alone land Bill Russel his spot on this list.
#11 Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan wasn’t flashy. Tim Duncan wasn’t known for a shot like Kareem’s skyhook or Curry’s deep 3. Tim Duncan was easily the simplest player on this list. Tim Duncan quite simply put the ball in the hoop. Whether it was his short midrange or his basic post moves Tim Duncan just scored. Tim Duncan won 5 NBA finals, 3 finals MVPs, 2 MVPs, was a 15 time all star, was a 10 time all-NBA first team selection, 3 time all-NBA second team selection, 2 time all-NBA third team selection, and a 15 time all-defense team member. He is considered to be one of the top 3 defenders in NBA history. It’s very impressive to be at the top of both sides of the game.
#12 Kevin Durant
The Sim Reaper. Kevin Durant is considered to be the best offensive player of all time. Whether it’s his midrange, which is the one of the deadliest shots known to man, or his ability to get to the rim, KD is just impossible to stop. Although KD is clearly known for his offence, he wasn’t bad at defense either. KD is 100% capable of locking up either a big or a guard. KD won 2 rings, 2 finals MVPs, 1 MVP, 4 scoring titles, and is a 14 (and most likely soon to be 15) time all star. You might look at that trophy case and think that KD might not deserve his spot on this list. But, you have to keep in mind that Kevin Durant won 2 finals MVPs over prime Steph Curry and beat prime LeBron multiple times in the finals. Steph and LeBron at their prime were different beasts. KD was able to dominate and shine while 2 of the all time best players were on the court.
#1 3 Hakeem Olajuwon
The Dream. That’s quite a special nickname. Dreams are usually considered to be “too good to be true.” Hakeem fits this name perfectly. Hakeem dominated everyone. He was simply bigger, stronger, and faster than anyone in his position. Hakeem, like several others on this list, was known for 1 main move. That move was called the Dream Shake. Similar to Shaq’s drop step, Hakeem would have his defender completely lost and looking for him. He would then dunk the ball over their head before they even realized what was happening. Hakeem won 2 NBA finals, 2 finals MVPs, 1 MVP, was selected for the all star team 12 times, and was back to back DPOYs. He also has the most career blocks in NBA history. That’s an impressive showcase for a player who didn’t play on an amazing team like MJ or Bron’.
#1 4 Dr J. (Julius Erving)
When I think of Dr. J I think of high flying dunks. Dr. J practically invented the high flying impressive dunks we know today. He would probably be higher up on this list if he had played his whole career in the NBA, but he played half of his career in the ABA before the 2 merged into what we know and love today. In those few seasons, Julius Erving won 1 NBA finals, 2 ABA finals, 4 MVPs, and was a 16 time all star (between the ABA and NBA). That’s a really impressive career. Dr. J also influenced the style of the game. He revolutionized how the small forward position was played, turning into a more athletic and fast paced position.
#1 5 Dikembe Mutombo
The finger shake. A common celebration when blocking a shot in basketball. Many think that that celebration didn’t have an origin. That is entirely wrong. It all started with the best defensive player on this list. Dikembe Mutombo is to this day the #2 all-time blocks leader in NBA history. He made opposing teams change their entire game plan just so they wouldn’t have to go up against him in the paint. Dikembe was an 8 time all star, and a 4 time DPOY. Sure Dikembe didn’t win any rings, but this is because he was never on a very good team and there were other amazing teams out there when he was in the NBA. Dikembe Mutombo is the only player on this list to earn their spot with defense alone.
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