Smartest NBA Players of All Time
Kevin Maurice Garnett is a former professional basketball player who played for 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association, for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets. Gets into your head. He's the best trash talker ever! And that's how he's smart. He knows how to get into people's heads.
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. If this is about "Basketball IQ," it's impossible to pick anyone but Bill Russell. His personal scoring was average at best, although he is the #2 rebounder and #2 shotblocker of all time. He always found a way to win. He has almost twice as many NBA titles as Jordan.
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. Magic Johnson is by far the smartest basketball player that ever lived. As the greatest point guard of all time, intelligence is crucial to being an effective floor general, and Magic exemplified this role to perfection. His team was so outstanding that they earned the nickname Showtime.
Magic is a three-time MVP and three-time Finals MVP. He ranks fifth on the all-time assists list. Despite a career shortened by his contracting HIV, his achievements are monumental. He participated in 9 NBA Finals during his 13-year career, winning 5 of them. The full extent of his potential achievements can only be speculated upon.
Magic was the best. I have yet to see any player play like Magic. When I'm watching a tight game, I think, "Why don't they just throw the ball at someone's calf and let it bounce out of bounds like Magic would?" Magic would calculate how many points were needed with 2 minutes left in the game, and he would make it happen like a magician! No one, no other player does this. He could literally will the basketball into the basket.
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers. Absolute genius. LeBron James is undoubtedly the most intelligent leader the league has ever encountered. He is not only a player but also a role model, coach, caring teammate, and community contributor. His memory is extraordinary. He recalls specific plays from games years ago and uses those recollections to develop new techniques, continually adding to his skillset. It will likely be 20 years after his retirement before we see an intellect like LeBron's in the NBA again.
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player who has played his entire career for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. Just because he's quiet doesn't mean he's the 4th most intelligent player to play the game. Duncan is made to look smarter than he is by his overachieving coach, who happens to be the best of his era and one of the best ever.
Christopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association.
Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player.
John Houston Stockton is an American retired professional basketball player. He spent his entire professional playing career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association, from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA... read more Greatest point guard to ever play the game!
Wardell Stephen Curry II is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, if not the greatest. He is one of the most beloved stars in the NBA today, as... read more
Isiah Lord Thomas III is an American former basketball player who played professionally for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association. There is no doubt that Isiah Thomas is one of the toughest minds ever to play in the NBA. However, when you consider his roles as President of the NBA Players Association, President of Basketball Operations for Toronto and New York, and his leadership of the Bad Boy Pistons, it is clear how influential he has been. His orchestration of defeats against three of the greatest teams in NBA history (Jordan's Bulls, Bird's Celtics, and Magic's Lakers) showcases his strategic expertise.
Furthermore, as a broadcaster and NBA analyst, his insights are profound. Listening to him break down plays is amazing. Thomas has also served as an NBA and college head coach and drafted future Hall of Fame players. He was the most difficult player for Michael Jordan to learn to win against. All these factors contribute to not only his toughness but also his intelligence in the history of the NBA.
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) Smartest ever when it comes to basketball, not even close! Kareem, Magic, Dr. J, and even MJ all said that he was the smartest player they ever played against. These are all players that could be considered for GOAT. When they all say you're the smartest of all, I don't know how you can debate it.
On defense, he could map out how an offense's play was going to unfold long before it finished.
It's unbelievable that he's at #12 when he should be top 4.
Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.
Jeremy Shu-How Lin is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association. I'm biased because he is my favorite player ever (as a person). However, he does play incredibly smart basketball.
Not sure if you mean "Basketball Smart" or just generally intelligent. If you mean generally intelligent, Jeremy Lin is the smartest person to ever play in the NBA, followed closely by Bill Bradley [who was almost president of the USA].
Kobe Bryant (1978 - 2020) was an American retired professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Kobe Bryant has won 5 NBA championships with the Lakers and was the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history... read more During his career, he meticulously picked apart every little detail in the game, from things like knowing when the referee isn't going to see if he made a dirty play. After his career, he was a successful businessman with Granity Studios, books, etc.
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, formerly known as Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American retired professional basketball player.
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.
Draymond Jamal Green Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association.
Rajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.
Russell Westbrook Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.
John Joseph "Hondo" Havlicek is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA championships, four of them coming in his first four seasons.
Oscar Palmer Robertson, nicknamed "The Big O", is an American retired National Basketball Association player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks.
Jerry Alan West was an American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.
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.
Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball executive and retired professional basketball player who played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association and the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.
Dennis Keith Rodman is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association.