Number 1
Michael Jordan
Career Stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG
Accolades: 5x regular season MVP, 10x NBA Scoring Champion, 6x NBA Champion, 6x NBA Finals MVP
THE GOAT. Michael Jordan is the best player to ever play the game of basketball. When you think of basketball he is the guy you think about. There was nothing that he couldn't do. He was a freak of an athlete and was impossible to stop. He is 6 for 6 in the finals, the biggest stage in basketball, where everything counted the most. He is one of the most clutch players to every play. The thing that sets MJ away from all the other players are his ability to always top what he has done. He would always be better the next game, the next series, and the next season. He has become what people use to measure success in sports.
Accolades: 5x regular season MVP, 10x NBA Scoring Champion, 6x NBA Champion, 6x NBA Finals MVP
THE GOAT. Michael Jordan is the best player to ever play the game of basketball. When you think of basketball he is the guy you think about. There was nothing that he couldn't do. He was a freak of an athlete and was impossible to stop. He is 6 for 6 in the finals, the biggest stage in basketball, where everything counted the most. He is one of the most clutch players to every play. The thing that sets MJ away from all the other players are his ability to always top what he has done. He would always be better the next game, the next series, and the next season. He has become what people use to measure success in sports.
Number 2
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG
Accolades: 6x regular season MVP, 19x NBA All Star, 6x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is exactly what you would want for a big man in basketball. He was just an unstoppable force. He was 7 feet 3 inches with touch which is very rare for a center. His signature move the skyhook was just unguardable. It couldn't be blocked by anyone and it was going in almost everytime. He was an amazing rebounder and a great defender. He is one of the most consistent players to every play being able to average 20 points through 18 seasons. He is also number 1 on the all time scoring list with 38,387 points. Many people argue that without Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson he wouldn't have be able to win all those NBA championships but without him they wouldn't have won.
Accolades: 6x regular season MVP, 19x NBA All Star, 6x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is exactly what you would want for a big man in basketball. He was just an unstoppable force. He was 7 feet 3 inches with touch which is very rare for a center. His signature move the skyhook was just unguardable. It couldn't be blocked by anyone and it was going in almost everytime. He was an amazing rebounder and a great defender. He is one of the most consistent players to every play being able to average 20 points through 18 seasons. He is also number 1 on the all time scoring list with 38,387 points. Many people argue that without Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson he wouldn't have be able to win all those NBA championships but without him they wouldn't have won.
Number 3
Wilt Chamberlin
Career Stats: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4APG
Accolades: 4x regular season MVP, 13x NBA All Star, 2x NBA Champion, 7x NBA scoring champ
Wilt Chamberlain, The Big Dipper, was the most dominant player to ever play. He had 118 50-point games, that is 87 more than any other player has ever had. He has also scored 60-points 32 times while everyone else in the NBA have combined to do that 28 times. He has the longest streak for games with at least 15 rebounds which is 186 games. Also he has the NBA record for most points score by a player in a NBA game. 100 points in one game. That is just crazy. There are some games where teams don't even get 100 points. In Wilt's 1961-1962 season he averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds through 80 games! That is just crazy. What he did in that season you can't even do in video games. He would be higher on the list if he did better in the playoffs. But he is the only person to ever average 50 points a game throughout the season.
Accolades: 4x regular season MVP, 13x NBA All Star, 2x NBA Champion, 7x NBA scoring champ
Wilt Chamberlain, The Big Dipper, was the most dominant player to ever play. He had 118 50-point games, that is 87 more than any other player has ever had. He has also scored 60-points 32 times while everyone else in the NBA have combined to do that 28 times. He has the longest streak for games with at least 15 rebounds which is 186 games. Also he has the NBA record for most points score by a player in a NBA game. 100 points in one game. That is just crazy. There are some games where teams don't even get 100 points. In Wilt's 1961-1962 season he averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds through 80 games! That is just crazy. What he did in that season you can't even do in video games. He would be higher on the list if he did better in the playoffs. But he is the only person to ever average 50 points a game throughout the season.
Number 4
Magic Johnson
Career Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG
Accolades: 3x regular season MVP, 12x NBA All Star, 5x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP
Earvin "Magic" Johnson is easily the best point guard to ever play in the NBA. He wasn't the size of your normal point guard though. He was 6 '9" in a time period where point guards were usually 6'0"-6'5" which was crazy. He was virtually impossible to guard. He was 4 inches taller than his defenders most of the time and he would just use his size to score on them. He was able to see everything happening on the court and always find the open teammate. His career was cut short due to HIV. He could have been the best player to ever play if his career wasn't cut short.
Accolades: 3x regular season MVP, 12x NBA All Star, 5x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP
Earvin "Magic" Johnson is easily the best point guard to ever play in the NBA. He wasn't the size of your normal point guard though. He was 6 '9" in a time period where point guards were usually 6'0"-6'5" which was crazy. He was virtually impossible to guard. He was 4 inches taller than his defenders most of the time and he would just use his size to score on them. He was able to see everything happening on the court and always find the open teammate. His career was cut short due to HIV. He could have been the best player to ever play if his career wasn't cut short.
Number 5
LeBron James
Career Stats: 27.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.1 APG
Accolades: 4x regular season MVP, 13x NBA All Star, 3x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP
LeBron James is the best player in the world who plays right now. He is the most versatile player to ever play. He can fill the stat sheet any night. He is just a freak of nature he is 6'8" 250 lbs and moves up and down the court like he is 200 pounds. LeBron is also one of the best two way player, he is able to guard all the positions 1 through 5 and play all of them. He is currently 8th on the all time scoring list with 29,927 points and has a chance to become number one on the list if his career keep up how it has. Any team that LeBron is on is automatically a team that will compete for a championship because he is just that good.
Accolades: 4x regular season MVP, 13x NBA All Star, 3x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP
LeBron James is the best player in the world who plays right now. He is the most versatile player to ever play. He can fill the stat sheet any night. He is just a freak of nature he is 6'8" 250 lbs and moves up and down the court like he is 200 pounds. LeBron is also one of the best two way player, he is able to guard all the positions 1 through 5 and play all of them. He is currently 8th on the all time scoring list with 29,927 points and has a chance to become number one on the list if his career keep up how it has. Any team that LeBron is on is automatically a team that will compete for a championship because he is just that good.
Number 6
Larry Bird
Career Stats: 24.3 PPG, 10 RPG, 6.3 APG
Accolades: 3x regular season MVP, 12x NBA All Star, 3x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
Larry bird is one of the best players to every play basketball. He could do everything. Shoot the ball, rack up steals and was a great passer. Except he wasn't very athletic and able to dunk all over people but made up for it with his basketball IQ and his drive he had to play basketball. Larry Bird might be one of the most clutch players of all time. When ever the game was on the line you knew that he was going to get the ball because it was going in everytime. He would also make big plays on the defensive side of the ball when the game was on the line like steal the ball and blocking shots when the game is close. He is one of the three players to win three MVP's back to back.
Accolades: 3x regular season MVP, 12x NBA All Star, 3x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
Larry bird is one of the best players to every play basketball. He could do everything. Shoot the ball, rack up steals and was a great passer. Except he wasn't very athletic and able to dunk all over people but made up for it with his basketball IQ and his drive he had to play basketball. Larry Bird might be one of the most clutch players of all time. When ever the game was on the line you knew that he was going to get the ball because it was going in everytime. He would also make big plays on the defensive side of the ball when the game was on the line like steal the ball and blocking shots when the game is close. He is one of the three players to win three MVP's back to back.
Number 7
Kobe Bryant
Career Stats: 25.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG
Accolades: 1x regular season MVP, 18x NBA All Star, 5x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
Kobe Bryant, The Black Mamba, is one of the best scorers to every play basketball. He was just a walking bucket. If you need to score all you had to do was give him the ball and get out of his way. He was just unguardable, he could just blow by you and score, or he would back you down and hit you with a fade away. Kobe is one of the two NBA players to spend 20 season with one team their whole career. Kobe set the tone for the mentality you had to have to play basketball, Mamba Mentality. Kobe may have only one MVP but he has 5 NBA Championships which mean a lot more.
Accolades: 1x regular season MVP, 18x NBA All Star, 5x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
Kobe Bryant, The Black Mamba, is one of the best scorers to every play basketball. He was just a walking bucket. If you need to score all you had to do was give him the ball and get out of his way. He was just unguardable, he could just blow by you and score, or he would back you down and hit you with a fade away. Kobe is one of the two NBA players to spend 20 season with one team their whole career. Kobe set the tone for the mentality you had to have to play basketball, Mamba Mentality. Kobe may have only one MVP but he has 5 NBA Championships which mean a lot more.
Number 8
Shaquille O'Neal
Career Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG
Accolades: 1x regular season MVP, 15x NBA All Star, 4x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP
Shaq is one of the most dominant players to ever play. He was 7'1" 325 lbs and a pure unstoppable force in the paint. He was able to jump like a 6'5" person with his 35 inch vertical. Shaq is one the few players to win finals MVP three seasons in a row. Shaq was one of the strongest player to ever play to. He is one of the best centers to ever play in the league. He was able to dominate the glass and be a tremendous force in the paint. He would just bully his way in the post and score every time.
Accolades: 1x regular season MVP, 15x NBA All Star, 4x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP
Shaq is one of the most dominant players to ever play. He was 7'1" 325 lbs and a pure unstoppable force in the paint. He was able to jump like a 6'5" person with his 35 inch vertical. Shaq is one the few players to win finals MVP three seasons in a row. Shaq was one of the strongest player to ever play to. He is one of the best centers to ever play in the league. He was able to dominate the glass and be a tremendous force in the paint. He would just bully his way in the post and score every time.
Number 9
Tim Duncan
Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG
Accolades: 2x regular season MVP, 15x NBA All Star, 5x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP, 15x All-Defensive Team
Tim Duncan is the best Power Forward to ever play. Mr. Fundamental, he didn't need to do anything special to win just the good old fundamentals. He has the most defensive team selections ever with 15. He is tied as one of the oldest players to be named to an All-NBA team at the age of 38. He is one of the most consistent players to play. He was successful ever since he stepped into the league. He is one of the best defensive players to ever play. He was the reason why the spurs were such a great defensive team for so long.
Accolades: 2x regular season MVP, 15x NBA All Star, 5x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP, 15x All-Defensive Team
Tim Duncan is the best Power Forward to ever play. Mr. Fundamental, he didn't need to do anything special to win just the good old fundamentals. He has the most defensive team selections ever with 15. He is tied as one of the oldest players to be named to an All-NBA team at the age of 38. He is one of the most consistent players to play. He was successful ever since he stepped into the league. He is one of the best defensive players to ever play. He was the reason why the spurs were such a great defensive team for so long.
Number 10
Hakeem Olajuwon
Career Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG
Accolades: 1x regular season MVP, 12x NBA All Star, 2x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
Hakeem Olajuwon is know as one of the most skilled big man to ever play. His signature move the dream shake was unguardable. You could never tell which way he was going to go because he had so many post moves that he had mastered. He is also known for being one of the best defensive centers to play averaging 3.4 blocks a game through his whole career. He is so skilled that many players today want them to workout with them so they can learn his post moves. He is the only player to win MVP, Defensive MVP, and Finals MVP in the same year.
Accolades: 1x regular season MVP, 12x NBA All Star, 2x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
Hakeem Olajuwon is know as one of the most skilled big man to ever play. His signature move the dream shake was unguardable. You could never tell which way he was going to go because he had so many post moves that he had mastered. He is also known for being one of the best defensive centers to play averaging 3.4 blocks a game through his whole career. He is so skilled that many players today want them to workout with them so they can learn his post moves. He is the only player to win MVP, Defensive MVP, and Finals MVP in the same year.
Citations
Altenor, Emmanuel. “10 Greatest NBA Players of All Time.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 12 Apr. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/1795233-10-greatest-nba-players-of-all-time.
Goss, Nicholas. “Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and the 10 Best Closers in NBA History.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 11 Apr. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/514471-kobe-bryant-larry-bird-michael-jordan-and-the-10-best-closers-in-nba-history.
Lynch, Andrew. “Ranking the 25 greatest players in NBA history.” FOX Sports, 25 Dec. 2017, www.foxsports.com/nba/gallery/ranking-the-25-greatest-players-in-nba-history-100716.
“All-Time #NBArank: Counting down the greatest players ever.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 3 Mar. 2016, www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankalltime/greatest-players-ever.
“NBA all-Time points scoring leaders 1946-2018 | Statistic.” Statista, www.statista.com/statistics/271305/all-time-nba-scoring-leaders/.
“NBA & ABA Player Directory.” Basketball-Reference.com, www.basketball-reference.com/players/.
Goss, Nicholas. “Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and the 10 Best Closers in NBA History.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 11 Apr. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/514471-kobe-bryant-larry-bird-michael-jordan-and-the-10-best-closers-in-nba-history.
Lynch, Andrew. “Ranking the 25 greatest players in NBA history.” FOX Sports, 25 Dec. 2017, www.foxsports.com/nba/gallery/ranking-the-25-greatest-players-in-nba-history-100716.
“All-Time #NBArank: Counting down the greatest players ever.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 3 Mar. 2016, www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankalltime/greatest-players-ever.
“NBA all-Time points scoring leaders 1946-2018 | Statistic.” Statista, www.statista.com/statistics/271305/all-time-nba-scoring-leaders/.
“NBA & ABA Player Directory.” Basketball-Reference.com, www.basketball-reference.com/players/.