1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Kareem was arguably the best player at all three levels, high school, college and pro. He put up enormous numbers everywhere he played. Kareem performed in an era where offense was run through the post. The rules allowed opposing players to be way more physical with him. Also, he had to play defense because most everybody took the ball to the basket, not shoot 3's like they do today. That didn't stop him from being the all time scoring leader, barring whatever LeBron does. In college, beating his Bruins anytime of the season was like winning a national title. Unfortunately, he was only allowed to play three years at UCLA. He probably would have set every post record with a forth year. I think he has always been overlooked for flashier players but his championships and dominance can never be denied.
Kareem is my favorite basketball player of all time!
2 Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell was an American retired professional basketball player. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969.
3 Bill Walton
4 Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson, nicknamed "The Big O", is an American retired National Basketball Association player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks.
5 Pete Maravich
Peter Press Maravich, known by his nickname Pistol Pete, was an American professional basketball player.
6 David Thompson
I agree with the top 4, with Mr. Skywalker in 5th. He was way better than Jordan at this level.
7 Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Jordan gets way too much college credit for what he accomplished in the NBA. Other than hitting the game winning shot in the 1982 title game with Worthy on his team, he underachieved the next two tournaments. I don't think he was top 15 in ACC history.
8 Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Come on man Jerry West played small forward. He was a great rebounder in college. Just as he succeeded in the NBA he should be in top 10 or top 5. But it don't mean a thing if you ain't get that ring. At least He got 1 ring in the NBA that 1 ring came in 1972. He played with Wilt Chamberlain, who is considered to be the most mythological, intimidating, strongest, but I'm talking about Jerry West
9 Len Bias
Leonard Kevin "Len" Bias was a first-team All-American college basketball forward at the University of Maryland. Great player at Maryland, was an unstoppable force. Better than Jordan at the college level. He would have battled Jordan for NBA supremacy the next 15 years but made a huge mistake that took his life.
So much potential, what a tragedy!
10 Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Bird is a 3x champ, 1x ROTY, 1x Finals MVP, 3x 3PT Contest winner, all with the Boston Celtics. (1979-1992) Carried a mid major, Indiana State to the national title game. The school hasn't done anything since. Bird, also scored over 3,000 points in college career.
The Contenders
11 Elvin Hayes
Elvin Ernest Hayes is an American retired professional basketball player and radio analyst for his alma-mater Houston Cougars.
12 Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons.
13 David Robinson
David Maurice Robinson is an American former professional basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association for his entire career. Navy hasn't been relevant since he played 30 years ago.
14 Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He was born on August 21, 1936 in Philadelphia and died on October 12, 1999 in Los Angeles due to heart failure. ...read more.
15 Kemba Walker
Kemba Hudley Walker is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He had previously played for the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets from 2011 to 2019, and the Boston Celtics from 2019-2021. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder after ...read more.
16 Christian Laettner
21-2 NCAA tournament record. Should be in the top 10. He couldn't help that his NBA career started in lousy Minnesota. His pro numbers would have been much better anywhere else.
Say what you want about him, but the dude balled out like no one else and hit the most clutch shot in tournament history
17 Ralph Sampson
Three time national player of the year, in one of the most competitive era's. Sampson led Virginia to three straight ACC regular season titles.
18 Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5, 1962) is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current head coach of the Georgetown University men's basketball team. One of the most intimidating forces that college basketball has seen. Led a Georgetown to three championship games, winning it all in 1984.
19 Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American retired professional basketball player who played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association.
20 Tyler Hansbrough
21 Zion Williamson
Zion Lateef Williamson is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association.
22 Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is an American retired professional basketball player and current analyst on the television program Inside the NBA.
23 Doug McDermott
24 Jerry Lucas
25 Anthony Davis
Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Davis only played one season, with a load of talent around him. Anybody on this list should have 3 or 4 seasons under their belt. How do you know if they ever got injured or had a sophomore slump?