Top 10 NBA Players of All Time

The NBA has a rich history, dating back over 50 years, full of decorated organizations and players. Throughout the years, we have seen transcending talents on our television screens – and newspapers for those days when games were not televised – so who stands out amongst the rest?

A few notables that I believe are right outside the top 10, in no order; Scottie Pippen, Wilt Chamberlin, Isaiah Thomas, Osacar Robertson, Kevin Garnett, and Dr. J.

Let’s take a look at the 10 greatest players of all time…

10. Bill Russell

Career Stats: 15.1 PPG 22.5 RPG 4.3 AST 44% FG%

Accolades: 11 NBA Titles, 5 MVP’s

The ultimate winner. Russell, one of the first legends this game witnessed. Russell’s combination of passing, speed, shot blocking, and rebounding ability put him atop most lists. Russell was one hell of a defensive player and only if, only if we could see him matched up with some of the greats of the modern era, we could be able to fairly evaluate Russell. However, regardless of era, Russell was one of the best leaders this game has come across, evidenced by his 11 titles in 13 seasons and 2 titles as a coach. Russell’s biggest rival during his playing days was Wilt Chamberlain. Russell out-dueled Chamberlain on a consistent basis, while Chamberlain was able to achieve the “better statistics,” Russell would come away with the only stat that mattered, a “W”. Russell also may be the greatest rebounder in NBA history – having a knack for grabbing a rebound and taking off down court leading the fast break – averaging over 20 rebounds a game in 10/13 seasons. 20 rebounds on average, that’s a stat that you cant argue with, that is domination at its finest. Bill also holds the record for most rebounds in a half at 32, in a game vs. Philadelphia in 1957. Along with Russell’s defensive prowess, his playmaking ability was second to none. Boston use to run a lot of action with Russell at the high post, with guards cutting and Bill finding them. Russell was one of the first to start the outlet passes half way up the court to streaking guards leading the fast break.

9. Magic Johnson

Career Stats: 19.5 PPG 7.2 RPG 11.2 APG

Accolades: 5 NBA Titles, 3 Finals MVP’s, 3 MVP’s

Magic and the Showtime Lakers were a treat to watch. Coming in the league his first season, Magic helped lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals, where he had to fill in at center in place of Kareem. Coming out with the win and a 40-point effort, Magic had everyone’s attention. Magic, a true wizard with the ball in his hands should probably be credited to advancing every single Laker player on his teams. Magic was very versatile and transcended the sport, being 6’9 with the ability to handle the ball. The lone skill that took a long time for Magic to get a hold of was the outside shot, and the fact that Magic was not an elite level defender has him lower on my list as opposed to many others. If Magic’s outside shot were more consistent throughout the years, he would be a no brainer top 3 player of all time.

8. Larry Bird

Career Stats: 24.3 PPG 10.0 RPG 6.3 AST 49% FG%

Accolades: 3 NBA Titles, 2 Finals MVP’s, 3 MVP’s

Larry Bird is my kind of player, skilled, shooter, tough, and highly intelligent. The leader of perhaps the best team ever assembled, the 1986 Boston Celtics – which drafted Len Bias after the season, just imagine how good they would have been for years to come. Bird played in perhaps the toughest era of competition in NBA History, and won 3 NBA titles, along with 3 straight MVP’s. A testament to Bird’s leadership and importance, his rookie season the Celtics had a 32 game improvement, with virtually the same roster they had the year prior – Parrish & McHale didn’t come until the following year. Coming in to the NBA with Magic had its positives and negatives. Was Bird going to live in the shadow of Magic forever, after losing to Michigan St. and Magic in the NCAA Championship? In my opinion, Bird was a better all around player than Magic. I am a sucker for skill and shooting, and will take that all day. I use to not be a big believer in Bird until recently, I watched Bird footage on YouTube and recorded a few NBAtv episodes, and Bird grew on me. One of the greatest passers this game has ever seen, on par with a Magic, Nash, Kidd, and LeBron. This was a guy who was as resilient as they come, willing to run through a brick wall to win. The argument against Bird is that he played with a bunch of Hall of Famers, which is true, but everyone has to get help from others to win a championship. Every single NBA championship team has at least two All Star caliber players, maybe even two Hall of Fame players. You can’t knock him for who he played with. Bird was a legend in his own right and is one of the most clutch players to play this game, as well.

7. LeBron James

Career Stats: 27.3 PPG 7.1 RPG 7.0 AST 49% FG%

Accolades: 2 NBA Titles, 2 Finals MVP’s, 4 MVP’s

LeBron James is the epitome of an all around player. Here is a guy 6’8 260 lbs. that can score when needed, create for teammates, run the floor like a gazelle, finish at the rim with authority, supreme athletic ability, and can defend 4 positions on the court. James is Magic Johnson, and Scottie Pippen molded into one. James has been to 5 straight NBA Finals, and counting. I am willing to bet the house LeBron is involved in the next 2-3 NBA Finals. Unfortunately, LeBron has been on the wrong side of a few of the Finals trips. 2007 and 2015, LeBron had some of the worst supporting cast in Finals history. This past season LeBron was on pace to do something truly historic, had Cleveland up 2-1 against Golden State, but unfortunately there was not enough gas in the tank to complete the run. LeBron is one of the great leaders in the game, and has molded teams that have been constructed weeks prior to his arrival, into championship caliber teams. The book is still out on LeBron, and we are all hoping he grabs another title or two because then the conversation would get interesting. Just don’t turn into Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, LeBron. You need to be in the top 2 conversation.

6. Kobe Bryant

Career Stats: 25.4 PPG 5.3 RPG 4.8 AST 45% FG%

Accolades: 5 NBA Titles, 2 Finals MVP’s, 1 MVP

Kobe Bryant is this generations Michael Jordan. Bryant has openly admitted to stealing Jordan’s moves – who wouldn’t steal the greatest player’s move, especially when you have the same body build – all the while being successful with them. Bryant has the will and determination to go out and kill whoever is on the other team. The passion and drive that not many players can attest too. Bryant’s knowledge of the game is something of a wizard, this guy can breakdown anything and everything, knowing exactly how, and where the defense will attack. Bryant is an assassin, and has come through in many, many big moments of his career. While Kobe fanatics hate to admit it, Kobe was playing alongside Shaq in their Laker hay-days, Kobe was a big contributor and reason they won championships. Egos got in the way and Kobe was left out to fend for himself, per request. Bryant struggled early on, and turned into a scoring machine going on tears of multiple 50-point games, even an 81-point effort. But the losing kept mounting on, and the Lakers made a deal to receive Pau Gasol. With the addition of Gasol, Bryant was able to lead to the Lakers to two titles, solidifying himself as one of the greats to ever play this game.

5. Tim Duncan

Career Stats: 19.5 PPG 11.0 RPG 2.2 BPG 50% FG%

Accolades: 5 NBA Titles, 3 Finals MVP’s, 2 MVP’s

Duncan is the reason behind the Spurs on going dynasty. The greatest power forward of all time – if you like to rank by position, I’m not a big “position” person myself, I like to classify players by guards/wings/bigs – and it’s not much of a discussion. For 17 years, Duncan has been a model of consistency – winning 50+ games 16/17 seasons (the one year was the ‘98-’99 lockout year when they won 37 which is equivalent to 61, and captured the NBA title that year) and making the postseason every single season – with his patented bank shot, and fundamentally “boring” playing style. An NBA record 14 All-NBA Defensive selections, Duncan is one hell of a rim protector. Over the past few years, Duncan has been able to sacrifice for the betterment of the team to achieve the ultimate goal, a title. Duncan is making $5M this season; a guy who is worth $15M+ even at this stage of his career is making the ultimate sacrifice. If that isn’t the epitome of a great teammate, I don’t know what is. Duncan, the greatest player of the post Michael Jordan era, for now.

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Career Stats: 24.6 PPG 11.2 RPG 2.6 BPG 55% FG%

Accolades: 6 NBA Titles, 2 Finals MVP’s, 6 MVP’s

NBA all-time scoring leader with 38,387 points. The patent sky hook, nobody could block. Kareem was one of the great winners to play the game of basketball, dating back to his high school days, posting a 79-2 record, capturing 3 NCAA titles en route to UCLA’s 88-win dynasty, and then following up that success by capturing 6 more championships with the Milwaukee Bucks & Los Angles Lakers. When you force an organization to adjust the rules so you cannot dominate as much, you know you are doing something right, just look up “Alcindor rules.”

3. Shaquille O’Neal

Career Stats: 23.7 PPG 10.9 RPG 2.3 BPG 58% FG%

Accolades: 4 NBA Titles, 3 Finals MVP’s, 1 MVP

Most dominant big man to ever grace an NBA arena. In Shaq’s prime, there was nothing, outside of being 7’4, you could do to contain him. O’Neal could run the floor with the best of them, finishing with supreme athleticism. An unreal combination of size and explosiveness, Shaq would destroy defenders with his deep post positioning, quick drop steps, and earth-shattering dunks. While on the Lakers, Shaq had the opportunity to go on a Chicago Bulls dynasty-like run with Kobe and Phil. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out that way, egos got in the way and Shaq teamed up with Dwayne Wade to capture his 4thtitle.

2. Hakeem Olajawon

Career Stats: 21.8 PPG 11.1 RPG 3.1 BPG 51.2% FG%

Accolades: 2 NBA Titles, 2 Finals MVP’s, 2 DPOY, 1 MVP

My favorite big man of all time. Hakeem had the soundest footwork of a big man I have ever seen. Offensively, Olajawon could do anything, against anyone. Don’t believe me? Ask Ewing, Shaq and David Robinson. Hakeem murdered Ewing in the ’94 Finals, as well as a young athletic Shaq in the ’95 Finals, and when David Robinson won MVP in ’95. Olajawon is the all time leader in blocked shots, pretty impressive stat not many people know of. My belief after watching a ton of Hakeem tape, he is the greatest defensive big man of all time, and the greatest offensive big man of all time. Olajawon won the 2 lone championships in the middle of the Bulls dynasty, when Jordan retired the first time.

1. Michael Jordan

Career Stats: 30.2 PPG 6.2 RPG 5.3 AST 49.7% FG%

Accolades: 6 NBA Titles, 6 Finals MVP’s, 1 DPOY, 5 MVP’s

Do I even have to get into this? The greatest ever is pretty self-explanatory for even the casual basketball fan. Most fundamentally sound player to this date, along with the superior athleticism Jordan had in his arsenal, basically an unstoppable force. Don’t forget about his defensive prowess, Jordan won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in the 87-88 season. Jordan and Pippen were the two most dominating defensive players on one team. Jordan could cut your water off in a heartbeat. Just for arguments sake, let’s just end the debate if Jordan would average 40 in today’s NBA, Back in the late 80’s when Jordan was averaging 35, and 37, he most definitely would average something close to 40.