The NBA has been around since 1946. In that time, we have witnessed some of the greatest athletes of all time, Here’s the top NBA list.
Top NBA Players of all-time,Here’s the list and details
There have been different styles of play that crossed over several different eras.
Today, shooters dominate the sport, but it was only a few decades ago that the center position ran the game.
We’ve seen defensive dominance, sharpshooting snipers from behind the three-point line, crafty slashers, and all-around godlike athletes.
With all of these varying skills, differences in play style, and levels of athleticism, skill, and coaching, it’s hard to determine who the best player of all time is.
Arguments can be made for players like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell. All of them could be considered great for different reasons. Here’s the list:
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LeBron James
LeBron James is the greatest player of all time. He has dominated the NBA since he came into the league at the young age of 18, fresh out of high school.
| Career history | |
|---|---|
| 2003–2010 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2010–2014 | Miami Heat |
| 2014–2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2018–present | Los Angeles Lakers |
When James came into the league, he was looked at as “The Chosen One” who would take the mantle of greatest from Jordan, and he did.
LeBron has done things that no other player before him has been able to do. He carried a decrepit 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers team to the Finals all on his own.
He’s defeated not one but two of the league’s greatest dynasties for championships in the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. He also brought a championship to Cleveland after a 52-year championship drought.
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Michael Jordan
I know what you’re thinking, Michael Jordan at #2 is blasphemy. His “Airness” brought the game of basketball back to life when its ratings were at their lowest point.
| Points | FG% | Assists | Rebounds | Steals | Blocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Career |
30.1 |
49.7% |
5.3 |
6.2 |
2.3 |
.8 |
|
Playoffs |
33.4 |
48.7% |
5.7 |
6.4 |
2.1 |
.9 |
|
Finals |
33.5 |
48.1% |
6.1 |
6 |
1.8 |
.6 |
He was marketed better than anyone, putting the Jordan brand on a pedestal that has yet to be reached. Jordan is synonymous with basketball.
When people think of the sport, they typically think of Jordan. However, he still sits at second place for me.
Jordan is the greatest scorer in the history of the game. He wasn’t born with the power of Shaq or the size of Kareem, and yet he could not be stopped by any player on the court.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
At the age of 24, the NBA icon that was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. converted to Islam and took the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, meaning “noble one, servant of the Almighty.”
- 1969-1970 Rookie of the Year
- 1969-1970 All-Rookie selection
- 19x All-Star selection
- 15x All-NBA selection
- 11x All-Defensive selection
- 1975-1976 Total Rebound league leader
- 2x Scoring league leader
- 4x Blocked Shot league leader
- 6x NBA Champion
Kareem was a dominant basketball player from the time he stepped on a court. In high school, Kareem won 71 consecutive games.
After joining UCLA, he went on to win three consecutive NCAA championships, earning the Tournament MVP all three years, a record that still holds today. He was drafted first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969.
He played in Milwaukee for six seasons before finishing his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal is the most dominant player in the history of the NBA. He played center for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| High school |
|
| College | LSU (1989–1992) |
| NBA draft | 1992 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
| Selected by the Orlando Magic | |
| Playing career | 1992–2011 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 32, 34, 33, 36 |
Shaq was also known as “Diesel” due to the fact that he was a hulk of a man.
He stood 7’1″ and weighed in around 325 pounds. Despite Shaq’s enormous size and power, he was much more than an unstoppable force due to his size.
Shaq was incredibly athletic, handling the ball well and being able to find his way in and out of lanes to score and grab rebounds.
He famously played Michael Jordan one-on-one and crossed Jordan on his way to the basket.
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Larry Bird
Bird was drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1978 NBA Draft. He started at small forward and power forward for the Celtics for his entire 13-year career.
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Playing career | 1979–1992 |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward / Power forward |
| Number | 33 |
| Coaching career | 1997–2000 |
Bird excelled in all aspects of the game, particularly in shooting, but he was also strong defensively and in his passing game.
Also bird was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% on field goals, 40% on three-point shots, and 90% on free throws in a season.
He did this twice in his career, also won three consecutive three-point shooting contests. He would even practice shooting three-pointers with his eyes closed.