Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · Tim Duncan · Shaquille O'Neal · Larry Bird · Bill Russell · Oscar Robertson · Wilt Chamberlain · Magic Johnson. Read Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Britannica essay on the New York Rens. The charm of Johnson, one of the brightest personalities to ever play in the NBA, was a major factor in the huge rise in the league's popularity during the 1980s. But it was much more than a dazzling smile. Johnson's supernatural death set the stage for the “Showtime L” Lakers teams, who captured five championships during their 13 years in the franchise.
Johnson, 6'9 feet (making him the tallest point guard in the NBA), not only had the best record of assists per game in league history (11), but he also played a tremendous game in every aspect. He is famous for playing center in place of the injured Abdul-Jabbar in the sixth game of the 1980 NBA finals, when he was 20 years old. Oh, and while this has nothing to do with his position on this list, it's still incredibly impressive and noteworthy that he has successfully fought against HIV for more than two decades, helped to destigmatize AIDS through his outstanding advocacy, and has begun a second career as an entrepreneur who opens businesses predominantly in areas plagued by poverty in an effort to promote urban revitalization. Ranking of the best NBA players in history. From Michael Jordan to LeBron James to Steph Curry, these are the 30 greatest basketball players of all time.
Instead, the politicking and petty attacks against the other basketball player's intelligence became very heated, over multiple Zoom calls and text threads, as we tried to correctly rank Shaq and Kobe and a group of rangers at the bottom of our list of the 30 best players in the NBA of all time. It will surely make the most die-hard basketball fans feel and, in our humble opinion, it will do much better than some of those other classifications that circulate on the Internet and that will remain unnamed. And who would you give the go-ahead to between three legendary guards, Chris Paul, Steve Nash and Allen Iverson, when there's only room for one? As each of the participants in this incredibly difficult and necessary effort pushed to get the player they considered worthy of due billing, we quickly realized that it would be tremendous to reach a consensus. There were fervent pleas to weigh unprecedented achievements over sustained excellence.
Others argued that quantity should be the priority and that prizes don't always end up going to the most deserving person. It bothers me that people are surprised that Allen Iverson is included in this list. AI is, without a doubt, one of the 30 best NBA players in history. Member of the NBA's 75th anniversary team.
The list is endless, but Iverson's cultural impact on the current, and even future, generation of NBA players is more significant than their numbers on the court. LeBron James has called it the best pound for pound in history. Dwyane Wade has said that AI is part of the reason he used the No. You could go on and on with former and current NBA stars talking about why Iverson was so great and means so much to them.
As for me, I will never forget the first game of the 2001 NBA Finals. To this day, that remains one of the most incredible individual performances on a basketball court that I have seen in my life. For a boy of his size to lose 48 points on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers favorites is absolutely incredible. The ZF Nikola Jokic has silenced critics and skeptics.
All the detractors who ridiculed him for winning consecutive MVP awards and discredited his resume due to the results of his teams in the playoffs have been silenced. The greatness of Nikola Jokic is no longer in question. There's only one man on this list with a 30-20-10 game in the NBA Finals. Jokic had already established himself as one of the best players of all time, but now he enters the conversation as one of the best players in history, regardless of his position.
He will become the best international player of all time and, when all is said and done, he could become the best international player in history. Two MVPs in the league, one MVP in the finals and taking a franchise to the top of the sport for the first time in history. Not bad for a second-round election. ZO Hakeem: “The inclusion of The Dream Olajuwon on this part of the list needs no explanation.
He's one of the best great men in history. You could argue that Olajuwon only won his two NBA titles while Michael Jordan was retired, but if you do, you don't understand how difficult it is to win a championship. Olajuwon was not only the MVP of those two NBA finals, but he also took home a league MVP in 1994, participated in 12 All-Star games, is the NBA's all-time leader in blocks with 3,830 and is a member of the NBA's 75th anniversary team. It's still baffling to see the best moments of the past and to see how smoothly Olajuwon, a true dominant force on both sides of the ball, was able to move in the paint for a player of his size.
Even more impressive for the context of Olajuwon's career is that he did all of this when great men were running the NBA (aside from Michael Jordan). The Dream Shake will forever be one of the most iconic plays in NBA history and, for that, we will always be grateful to Hakeem Olajuwon. ZF For me, Kevin Durant is the most skilled offensive player in history. There is practically no formula to stop it.
He has the full offensive package with no weaknesses. He can shoot from anywhere on the court, he can reach the hoop as he pleases and, if you end up challenging his shot, it probably doesn't matter, because he can shoot above you with ease. KD has only averaged less than 25 points per game once in his 12 seasons and that was the case in his rookie season. He played for a Warriors team 73-9, a two-time MVP and the undisputed best shooter of all time, Steph Curry, and made him his Robin. You can call him a snake, a cupcake, or whatever, but you can't deny that the numbers he's consistently drawn have earned him a spot on the NBA's 75 team.
If he wins another title in Brooklyn, he could be in the top 10 at the end of his career. Explore the careers and legacy of NBA legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Learn about their accomplishments, their influence and how they shaped basketball. Michael Jordan, often considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time, played 15 seasons in the NBA, predominantly with Chicago Bulls.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remains the NBA's all-time leading goal scorer, a testament to his long and productive 20-season career. Bill Russell, a leading figure in NBA history, led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships over his 13-year career. Russell was a five-time MVP and a 12-time All-Star, recognized for his ability to change games with his defensive prowess. Magic Johnson redefined what it meant to be a point guard with his exceptional height and skill to play.
Johnson played a key role in popularizing the NBA during the 1980s thanks to his dynamic game and fierce rivalry with Larry Bird. Larry Bird, known for his leading and leading performances, was one of the most formidable forwards in NBA history. Bird played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. From 1984 to 1986, he led his team to three NBA championships and secured three consecutive MVP awards.
The Spurs retired their number 21 jersey as a tribute to their impact on the team and the sport. The players who are among the 10 best NBA players of all time have dominated basketball and have left an indelible mark on the sport. Every player has given the NBA a unique shape, from Michael Jordan's iconic impact to Stephen Curry's revolutionary three-point shot. Our expert roundup of the 10 best players in the NBA of all time.
Duncan embodies both peak and longevity in truly remarkable ways. In 19 seasons, all with the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan was consistent and elite at all times: from the Rookie of the Year award in 1998 to five championships, two MVPs and 15 All-Star appearances. He is considered one of the true statesmen of basketball, with a calm and dedicated attitude that made him a legend in San Antonio. Larry Legend, one of basketball's greatest shooters before ranged shooting became popular, was also one of the NBA's fiercest competitors.
Most players would be happy to average 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game for just one season; Bird put those numbers up for his career, which also included three rings, three MVPs and 12 All-Star games. He is one of the best multifaceted basketball players and, in addition, one of those who always triumphs in the most important moments. Six MVPs, the most in NBA history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most impregnable and consistent resume of all players in history, and a legitimate argument to be at the top of this list.
From his distinctive hook to his defensive prowess (he formed 11 defensive teams), Kareem absolutely defined the NBA in the 70s and 80s. His legacy as one of the great ambassadors of basketball has only increased since his retirement. If you are a homeowner who is 55 or older, you may be able to recover your home's accumulated value in tax-free cash to supplement your finances in the future. Winner of the NBA 75 award, five-time champion, three-time Finals MVP, two-time regular season MVP, 15-time All-Star, 15-time selected by NBA teams and later All-Defensive, Duncan played all 19 seasons in San Antonio and constantly put numbers up as if he were a robot with a personality, as described by the media, up to the task. He has both Defensive Player of the Year awards, the two MVP Finals, has set a franchise on its path to the NBA title, was part of the NBA's 75th anniversary team and has practically won his entire career.
Those who hate him will respond by saying that Wilt played against a lot of players in the 1960s and 1970s, when the idea that a 7'1 center could be the most athletic player on the court was reserved for comics. In fact, it was Magic that shaped his game when he was young, making KG one of the most versatile great players in the NBA. He lost more than 30,000 points throughout his career, won the MVP award, played 14 games in the All-Star Game, earned a place on the NBA's 75th anniversary team and accumulated many others honors throughout his career. The rare legend who toured the NBA during his days in the league knows that Malone, playing for seven different franchises of the Association, should not distract attention from the fact that he is easily one of the best centers of all time.
The fact that Zeke is not on the Dream Team is the biggest slap in history, it's not an exaggeration, but he rightly earned a spot on the NBA 75 team. He was truly one of a kind and, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining players on and off the court the NBA has ever seen. Only eight players in NBA history have won three or more MVP awards, and Malone is nowhere near the love that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the other two players who have won, feel. three MVPs.
While his famous classic playing style and calm demeanor prevented him from having a cultural impact similar to that of other great players, his four championships, 14 All-Star Games and two NBA MVP awards are undisputed proof of his fantastic ability. Older players may be embarrassed to put a 26-year-old player, after just eight seasons, above several worthy legends, but Giannis Antetokounempo is a two-time regular season MVP, defensive player of the year, and has just won his first Finals MVP title after writing the best closing performance we've ever seen.
