Greatest NBA Players Ever

The Top Ten

Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, he made six NBA Finals appearances. Jordan won the NBA championship each time.

Lebron at #2? Are you joking? The man was always on stacked teams in the East, where there was a free road to the finals every years. All of the top teams/players were in the west. Then he goes to the west, joins the Lakers and fails - doesn't even make playoffs. lol. Meanwhile kawhi leonard goes to the East and immediately takes Toronto to their first championship.. Michael Jordan was 6-0 in finals. Never went to a game 7. and the only other scorer on the team was Pippen, that's it. where Lebron had a free path to the finals in the weak East, Jordan had to defeat the 2 time defending champion Bad boy Pistons, just to get to the finals, where he then had to beat Magic Johnson's Lakers. He'd have to beat Bird's Celtics in the playoffs as well. The East was always stacked in the 80's and 90's
LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over his career, LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers. He has won four NBA championships.

King James can not be stopped his greatness will last forever he his one of the greatest his talents are amazing he should be at number 2 he should not be underestimated. Bryson

8 straight finals appearances, missed the playoffs only twice, 3 time champion, the most athletic player to have ever played the game of basketball. I don't think anyone can match his all around game and skill and appearance. Did I even talk about his passing/rebounding ability? There'll be only 1 KING!

LeBron James rules like come on he's number 2 behind MJ he's still got it in him LeBron for 2015 2016 league MVP he's the best in the BUISSNISS!
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. He was 63 years old at the time of his death.... read more

Wilt is awesome scoring 100 in a game but others have shone that they can score to like King James with his 62 and Kobe Bryant with his 81 and others who have scored a lot but 100 ya kidding me! But I'm pretty sure he's dead now but it is amazing how good he was a great shooter and rebounder

Wilt chamberlain Wilt Chamberlain had an extremely short career of just fourteen years and I personally think that if he had a career for as long as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar he would have the most points scored in an NBA career listen he is obviously the best and I will tell you why
. 100 points
. Averaged 50 points a game in one season
. 4x Most Valuable Player
. 2x champion
. 11x scoring champion
. 7x rebounding champion
. Most rebounds in an NBA career
. 4th in most career points
. And highest career averaging in points
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. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.

Magic is a freak of nature and simply the most beautiful player to watch. Everything is exciting. His moves, his love of the game, his team mates first attitude is classic and one for the ages. Magic causes so much match up problems, the king of triple of double, career field goal percentage over 52% at guard! Visited the finals, what was it? 9 times?! Nine times!

Magic went to 8 NBA Finals in 12 years...Jordan was in 6 finals in 16 years.
Magic was the best I have ever seen, Jordan a close 2nd.

Magic and Oscar Robertson are the two best ever... I would put Jordan 3rd, but no higher. He didn't do anything until he was surrounded by all-stars and hall-of-famers.
Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) was an American professional basketball player who played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He won five NBA championships with the Lakers and retired in 2016 as the franchise's all-time leading scorer.... read more
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 the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, a record he held from 1989 until it was surpassed in 2023... read more

Julius Earving said that according to stats Kareem is the best of all times.
Numbers don't play, but K. A. Jabbar is easily in the first 4-5 with Jordan, James, Chamberlain.
Bill Russell

William Felton "Bill" Russell was an American professional basketball player. He played center for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969. Russell was an 11-time NBA champion and a five-time MVP, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the... read more

I think jabbar is the best but I'm voting for bill cause I'm a Celtics fan.

Bill Russell was one of the leagues all time great rebounders he had five MVP's and eleven rings yes eleven rings in thirteen years he was second in the leagues all time rebounders with 21,620 rebounds he averaged 22.5 rebounds a game just compare that to Michael Jordan that's nearly a twenty digit rebound difference HE CAN ALSO BLOCK SHOTS LIKE NO OTHER
Larry Bird

Larry Joe Bird is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics in the NBA from 1979 to 1992. He won three NBA championships, was named Rookie of the Year, and earned a Finals MVP award. Bird also won the Three-Point Contest three times and is widely regarded as... read more

He is actually number 1. Think about it. Jordan's career was always challenged by Larry. In fact in the 80's, Jordan wasn't even 2nd best NBA player. EXACTLY the year Larry retired, Jordan's career took off. Coincidence? I think not! I THINK NOT!

Larry bird is like steph curry but Larry is better. He is very talented he should be ranked 4 or 5
Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, known widely as Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player. He currently works as a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Renowned for his dominant presence on the court and his charismatic, approachable personality, O'Neal remains one of the... read more
Stephen Curry

Wardell Stephen Curry II is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA. He is widely considered one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and has set numerous records for three-point shooting. Curry is a two-time MVP and has helped lead the Warriors to multiple... read more

Prolific scorer. Also enables his team to score. Changed the game.

The Newcomers

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Draymond Green

Draymond Jamal Green Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Warriors in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Green is a four-time NBA champion and a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
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JaVale McGee

JaVale Lindy McGee is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Born on January 19, 1988, he has played for multiple teams during his NBA career. McGee won NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

The Contenders

Hakeem Olujawon
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. He was the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season, a feat he accomplished in the 1961-62 season... read more

How can you rank someone that had a triple double in the second year of his career so low. He had a high scoring average of 31 pts. 10.5 rebounds and 12.5 assists. then averaged it for over 5 seasons with high scoring average of 28 pts. 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He also played in an era when assists weren't so generous. If he played under today's rules, he would have averaged probably 18 assists per game. Oscar and his peers also didn't have the advantage of palming the ball and the 2 and 3 step rule they have today. they also played with only 12 teams and stronger competition.

This guy is amazing he should be number 6 he is too good
To br Number 9!
Drazen Petrovic
John Stockton

John Houston Stockton is an American retired professional basketball player. He played his entire NBA career from 1984 to 2003 as a point guard for the Utah Jazz. Stockton is widely considered one of the best point guards in basketball history.... read more

Number 1 in steals, number 1 in assists, could have scored 25 a night if he wanted but chose to get everyone else involved. Greatly underrated.
Jerry West

Jerry Alan West was an American basketball player known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent his entire professional career playing for the Lakers in the National Basketball Association. West is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Allen Iverson

Allen Ezail Iverson (born June 7, 1975) is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 14 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and is considered one of the greatest point guards in... read more
Tim Duncan

Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is a retired American professional basketball player. He played his entire 19-season career with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. Duncan won five NBA championships, earned two MVP awards, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards... read more

Many if not most experts would put TD no lower that top-15, and with his latest championship you will start to hear more arguments for including him in the top-10. He has arguably been every bit as reliable as any player listed in anyone's so-called top-5, which invariably includes some combination of Magic, Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt, Shaq, Kobe, Bird, and Oscar.
A few people might even put Duncan at #4-7, arguing that he battles quite squarely with Wilt, Shaq, Kobe, Lebron, Oscar, Bird, and Bill Russell (the latter of whom I don't even include in my top-10). My top-3 is easy: Magic, Jordan, Kareem.
That isn't going to change unless TD does something extraordinary, or Lebron leads the Cavs to a three-peat!
Julius Erving

Julius Winfield Erving II, commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American retired basketball player who helped popularize a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and playing above the rim. He was a key figure in the American Basketball Association (ABA) before the merger with the NBA, and... read more
Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 16 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Miami Heat. After retiring in 2019, Wade became involved in sports media and ownership, including part-ownership of the Utah Jazz and Chicago Sky, and was inducted into the... read more

In his prime, he could turn in on in 4th quarters like no one else.
He also tore through every team in the 2006 playoffs, capping off the year with the best NBA finals series one man has ever played.

D wade is like 35 and he only has scored 20,000 points LeBron him and Chris bosh were awesome together and lbj has like player 4 less years then d wade and scored like 7,000 more points he's not this good. Bryson
Karl Malone

Karl Anthony Malone is an American retired professional basketball player. Nicknamed "The Mailman," Malone played the power forward position and spent his first 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Utah Jazz. He formed a formidable duo with teammate John Stockton, and together they... read more

Second all time scorer of NBA, best power forward ever, he deserves to be in the top ten.
P. S. I'm European but Petrovic 13th? Although a selfish person, he wouldn't estimate himself so high (R.I.P.).
Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a German former professional basketball player who played for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nowitzki spent his entire 21-season NBA career with the Mavericks, making him one of the longest-tenured players with a single franchise in league history... read more

Just look at the numbers and what he has done. Easily top 7 players ever... No doubt.

Dirk great player but not this good he's not very close to this rank he's like 30 ranked
Scottie Pippen

Scottie Maurice Pippen is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association, most notably with the Chicago Bulls. Pippen was a six-time NBA champion and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Scottie Pippen revolutionized the "point - forward" position..
Charles Barkley

Charles Wade Barkley is an American retired professional basketball player and current television analyst. He played 16 seasons in the NBA and is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time. Barkley currently appears as a commentator on Inside the NBA.
Elgin Baylor

Elgin Gay Baylor (September 16, 1934 to March 22, 2021) was an American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the NBA, beginning with the Minneapolis Lakers and continuing with the Los Angeles Lakers. Baylor earned 11 All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA... read more
Moses Malone

Moses Eugene Malone was an American basketball player who competed in the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association from 1974 to 1995. A dominant center, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player three times, selected as a 12-time NBA All-Star, and earned eight All-NBA honors... read more