#8: Kobe Bryant is currently third on the all-time scoring list, and 15th in steals. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, four-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, three-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 1979-80 Rookie of the Year, 1982 All-Star MVP, three-time NBA champion. 4 pick in the draft and won an MVP award two years later. -- Friedell, This Celtics' legend is regarded as one of the most creative post players in history. 2, just ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at No. Kevin Durant vs. Kobe Bryant? Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA. 5-on-5: Is Blake Griffin one of the 10 best power forwards ever? -- Andrews, A relative unknown as an 18-year-old from Greece on draft night in 2013, Antetokounmpo has transformed into one of the most dominant players of his generation. Something has to give when a pair of streaking teams hit the court. She leads the squad in made threes per game, connecting on 1.9 treys per contest with a 38 percent shooting percentage from deep. His unstoppable skyhook allowed him to score more points than anyone in league history, and while he wasn't flashy, there has arguably never been anyone better. Cricket. Preview; Bellarmine Knights vs Liberty Lady Flames Stats, Game Time, and more. He also was one of the game's great early shooters, setting a record for free throw percentage (93.2) during the 1958-59 season that lasted nearly two decades. The greatest player of all time. By the time he hangs up his jersey, he will have obliterated the record. Top 75 NBA Players of All Time (NBA 75) Quiz - By NBAA Popular Quizzes Today 1 Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield 2 Ballon d'Or Winners by Age 3 Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield 4 Countries of the World Sports NBA QUIZ LAB SUBMISSION Random Sports or NBA Quiz Top 75 NBA Players of All Time (NBA 75) -- Tim MacMahon, Bird and Magic Johnson revitalized the NBA -- and the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. Players such as Allen Iverson, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, and others have left their mark on the franchise and the NBA as a whole. In the 1980 Finals, his reverse baseline scoop layup against the Lakers became a staple of highlight reels. -- Andrews, 1976 Buffalo Braves; 1976-82 Houston Rockets; 1982-86, 1993-94 Philadelphia 76ers; 1986-88 Washington Bullets; 1988-91 Atlanta Hawks; 1991-93 Milwaukee Bucks; 1994-95 San Antonio Spurs; also played two ABA seasons with Utah Stars (1974-75) and Spirits of St. Louis (1975-76), Malone's stellar career included a feat that he, and he alone, has accomplished: winning back-to-back MVPs with two different teams. -- Youngmisuk, 2003-10, 2014-18 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-14 Miami Heat; 2018-22 Los Angeles Lakers, Long before player empowerment entered the vernacular, James blazed a path to have his endorsements become partnerships, his status as a player become that of a stakeholder, his public persona to include an element of social activism. SLAM 500 Greatest NBA Players of All Time Bill Simmons Hall of Fame Pyramid ABA All-Time Team NBA & ABA All-Star Game All-Star Game Selections by Player All-NBA and All-NBA Team Selections by Player All-Defensive Team Selections by Player NBA Referee Awards Greg Willard Spirit Award NCAA Season Awards AP Player of the Year Award -- Pelton, 1967-77 New York Knicks; 1977-79 Cleveland Cavaliers, Known as much for his inimitable style off the court as his play on it, Frazier became the face of the Knicks' iconic championship teams in the 1970s, thanks to his long post-playing career with the franchise. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, two-time All-Star MVP. Rodman won Defensive Player of the Year twice and was a five-time NBA champion as a centerpiece for dynasties in Detroit and Chicago. At the time Walton went down with a broken foot in February, the defending champs were 50-10 behind their center's rim protection and legendary playmaking. -- Collier, Personifying the concept of being a star in your role, Worthy's ability to defend, run the floor and finish enabled the Showtime Lakers to be so effective playing the style they employed. By Data Skrive. He's also fifth all-time in steals (2,440) and could pass Michael Jordan for third place (2,514) next season. Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant? Without Johnson and his rivalry for the ages with Bird and the Celtics, the NBA may not be where it is today. The 30 Best NBA Players of All Time, Ranked By Adam Caparell, Zion Olojede, Angel Diaz, Zach Frydenlund Jun 17, 2022 Image via Complex Original The toughest debates may not be the obvious ones.. The list of 10 through 1 crowns the exceptional performers who have their own cases to be the greatest ever. While James' individual accomplishments will put his career near the very top of all to have ever played the sport, the blueprint he created will give others a chance to maximize their experience as a professional athlete. His famous finger rolls, a phenomenal blend of flair and function, were so memorable that Nike made them into a marketing line long after Gervin hung up his high-tops. Note: Players' accomplishments in the NBL, the ABA, college or international basketball were not considered during the voting process. 13-15, 6-8 conf. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . -- Andrews, 1986-93 Detroit Pistons; 1993-95 San Antonio Spurs; 1995-98 Chicago Bulls; 1999 Los Angeles Lakers; 2000 Dallas Mavericks, The unofficial titleholder for the most dominant rebounder in NBA history, Rodman led the league in the category for seven consecutive seasons. NCAAW. (1:37). -- Friedell, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 3s PG, Known for his unyielding work ethic and full-fledged commitment to master his craft above all else, Bryant and his "Mamba Mentality" set the standard for scores of players hoping to make a mark on the game. Stephen A. Smith ranks his top-5 NBA players all-time and shares his reasoning why Steph Curry didn't make his list. When he averaged 14.6 rebounds in 1986-87, he became the shortest rebounding champion in NBA history in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55). All-time NBArank: Nos. Although they come from different eras, each of these players changed the game. Tim Duncan, probably the most incredible power forward of all time, takes the number 10 spot on our list.. Duncan, known as the "The Big Fundamental," ruled both ends . All-Time #NBArank: The greatest players ever, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Sources: Warriors eye Curry return next week, Lakers' Davis out vs. OKC with right foot injury, V. Bryant settles crash photos suit for $28.85M, Sources: Lakers to reassess LeBron in 2 weeks, Benner, longtime Pacers PR director, dies at 67, Irving: Need to scale back self-imposed pressure, Jokic sixth player in 100 career triple-double club, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, Meet the man scouring Nigeria for the next generation of NBA and NFL talent, Roundtable: Early takeaways from Kyrie Irving joining Luka Doncic in Dallas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Consider the hardware he has collected since entering the league: MVP (twice), Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and Finals MVP. Some say Durant is the best scorer of all time as a 7-foot player who plays like a guard and can get his shot off anytime he wants. Bird led Boston to five NBA Finals and three championships with a blend of shot-making, passing and his feel for the game. -- Collier, Nowitzki revolutionized the game as a 7-foot shooter and shattered the "soft Euro" stereotype. -- Bontemps, 1985-2000 New York Knicks; 2000-01 Seattle SuperSonics; 2001-02 Orlando Magic, This Knicks big man endeared himself to generations of New Yorkers because of his ability to perform and produce under the brightest of spotlights. -- Youngmisuk, 1974-79 Portland Trail Blazers; 1979-84 San Diego Clippers, 1984-85 LA Clippers; 1985-87 Boston Celtics, Every time we talk about the role of health in winning MVP, we're forced to caveat Walton's 1977-78 season, when he won the award playing just 58 games. Known for his steady turnaround jumper, Hayes is Washington's all-time leading scorer and second in rebounding to Unseld. Then our ESPN expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, with voting based on both peak . Nash was the featured player on one of the most exciting Offensive teams to watch in NBA History. -- Bontemps, 1960-68 St. Louis Hawks; 1968-72 Seattle SuperSonics; 1972-74 Cleveland Cavaliers; 1974-75 Portland Trail Blazers, "Coach, you played?" Accomplishments: Two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, seven-time rebounding champ, five-time NBA champion. In fact, "Wilt the Stilt" has six of the highest 11 single-game point totals in NBA history and seven scoring titles, including a mythical 50.4 PPG in 1961-62. Nicholls Players to Watch. NFL. 5x. -- Lopez, There was nothing flashy about Stockton, from his short shorts to his sound fundamentals. They didn't call him the "Round Mound of Rebound" for nothing, right? His 34.0 points per game that season is also the highest point total for a player at that height in NBA history. Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG in 20 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (1969-70 to 1974-75) and Los Angeles Lakers (1975-76 to 1988-89); NBA's career leader in total points. A man of few words, Leonard's legacy speaks volumes already for helping deliver the first NBA championship to Canada. Still only 28, there's plenty more in store for him as long as he stays healthy. With his hook shot, Mikan led the league in scoring in his first three seasons. Sadly, Walton was never the same dominant force, though he returned to contribute to the 1985-86 Celtics title, winning the Sixth Man award. It's clear why he is part of this list at age 27. Players received 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for second and so on down to one point for a 10th-place vote. He was arguably even more dominant as a defender, twice winning Defensive Player of the Year and setting a record for blocks in a career that might never be challenged. Steve Nash. He would go on to win six championships with the Celtics, was a 12-time All-NBA selection and a 13-time All-Star. -- Bontemps, 1970-74 Atlanta Hawks; 1974-79 New Orleans Jazz; 1979-80 Utah Jazz; 1980 Boston Celtics, Famed for his record-setting scoring playing for his father at LSU, Maravich never quite reached those same heights during an NBA career cut short by injury. -- Bontemps, Russell was one of the greatest defenders -- if not the greatest -- of all time. Robertson averaged a triple-double for an entire season in 1961-62 and finished with what was then a record number of career triple-doubles, performances that would not be matched until Westbrook's recent peak. Stats: 22.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.3 APG in 10 NBA seasons with Philadelphia Warriors (1950-51 to 1961-62). For better and worse, we published out the full list of ESPN's top 74 greatest NBA players of all-time a few days ago. -- Friedell, Paul J. Maguire/The Boston Globe/Getty Images, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Sources: Warriors eye Curry return next week, Lakers' Davis out vs. OKC with right foot injury, V. Bryant settles crash photos suit for $28.85M, Sources: Lakers to reassess LeBron in 2 weeks, Benner, longtime Pacers PR director, dies at 67, Irving: Need to scale back self-imposed pressure, Jokic sixth player in 100 career triple-double club, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, Meet the man scouring Nigeria for the next generation of NBA and NFL talent, Roundtable: Early takeaways from Kyrie Irving joining Luka Doncic in Dallas, the NBA unveiled its 75th Anniversary Team. -- Lopez, 1948-49 (BAA), 1949-54, 1956 Minneapolis Lakers, The NBA's first giant, Mikan was an NBA pioneer. The NBA's 75th anniversary team was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media, current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives. He was a legendary winner, a transcendent passer, an instant highlight and a triple-double waiting to happen. But so long as he's included, it doesn't make much sense to drop anyone who soared as high as Leonard recently did out of the top 10. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, five-time MVP, six-time Finals MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, 1987-88 Defensive Player of the Year, 1984-85 Rookie . While the Knicks never won a title during his career, they won a lot of games because Ewing delivered game after game and season after season for a rabid fan base that appreciated how the Georgetown great brought the storied franchise back to life in the 1980s and 90s. -- MacMahon, 1982-94 Atlanta Hawks; 1994 LA Clippers; 1994-95 Boston Celtics; 1996-97 San Antonio Spurs; 1999 Orlando Magic, It doesn't get more elite than Wilkins' dunking skills. Boxing. He ushered in the era of dominant big men. Chris Bosh Championships: 2 Career Stats: 19.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG She paces the . -- Dave McMenamin, 1948-64 Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers, One of the best players in the NBA's early years, Schayes was one of the last players to use a two-handed set shot and was a high-impact center during his 16 seasons with the Nationals and 76ers. After an Achilles injury ended his third Finals run with Golden State, Durant has come back as good as ever in Brooklyn. He led the league in assists for a record eight consecutive seasons; his flair and playmaking helped usher in a new era of the sport after the shot clock was instituted in the mid-1950s. Stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG in 14 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1960-61 to 1969-70) and Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71 to 1973-74). Nash, a career 42.8% 3-point shooter, admits he wonders what could have been if he had the shot-hunting mentality of some of today's elite point guards. 34 of the Miami Heat, during Game Five of the 2014 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center on June 15, 2014, in San Antonio. That being said, ESPN recently released their top 74 NBA players of all-time, which has caused many heated debates on social media. Clutch" for his penchant for delivering in the biggest moments. But his legacy is so much more than just basketball. Stats: 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG in 14 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1986-87 to 1992-93), San Antonio Spurs (1993-94 to 1994-95), Chicago Bulls (1995-96 to 1997-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1998-99) and Dallas Mavericks (1999-2000). McAdoo would finally win two championships as a role player with the Lakers. Until LeBron James came along, Bird was hailed as the best small forward ever. Stats: 22.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.9 APG in 11 NBA seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1976-77 to 1986-87); also played five ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1971-72 to 1972-73) and New York Nets (1973-74 to 1975-76). Using his strength, Unseld averaged 13.8 points and 18.2 rebounds as a rookie for the Bullets, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players to ever win Rookie of the Year and MVP in one season. He's so clutch that his performance in the final stretches of games has garnered its own nickname: Dame Time. Fantasy Incarnate Word Cardinals. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1985-86 scoring champ. On March 12, 1985, Larry Bird put on a shooting clinic for the ages, scoring a Celtics-record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. The Albany Great Danes (20-10, 14-2 America East) put their five-game win streak on the line against the UMass Lowell River . Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, eight-time assists champ, 1956-57 MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, six-time NBA champion. In 1970, Reed became the first player in NBA history to win MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Finals MVP in the same year. Stats: 27.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.2 APG in 14 seasons with Seattle SuperSonics (2007-08), Oklahoma City Thunder (2008-09 to 2015-16), Golden State Warriors (2016-17 to 2018-19) and Brooklyn Nets (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. ESPN has been counting down the 100 best NBA players of all-time. Barry drained 90% of his NBA free throws, fourth best all time. Tony Parker, No. -- Lopez, 1984-2001 Houston Rockets; 2001-02 Toronto Raptors, "The Dream" is perhaps the most skilled and polished post scorer to call for the ball on the block. To Unseld few words, Leonard 's legacy speaks volumes already for helping deliver the first championship. An MVP award two years later big men list at age 27 caused many heated debates on social media own. 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