There was no 3 point line at that in the NBA and the major scoring was done in the paint. Right, Born: Twitter: The forward is only getting better as he is chasing another title with the Brooklyn Nets. The All-Time Playoffs Leading Scorers For Every NBA Team: Michael Jordan Scored The Most Points For One Franchise 20 Players With The Most MVP Points In NBA History: LeBron James Is No. Wilt Chamberlain was undoubtedly one of the best NBA players ever as several records of his will never be matched by another player. One of the most iconic players of the 1990s, Robinson led the league in scoring, rebounds, and blocks at different points in the decade. Data Provided By The 14-time NBA All-Star is one of the best statistical players in the leagues history and formed a powerful duo with guard John Stockton. No player I the NBA has come as close as to 1000 to even his career point of 38,387. Lower Merion in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, Draft: Bill Russell is one of the reasons why Lakers vs. Celtics is the best rivalry in NBA history. This is just one of these examples. Curry also had a slower start to his career and didnt make an All-Star team until his 5th year in the league, something he has now done 7 times. Point Guard He holds the record of the highest score in the playoffs by any player (63) against the Larry Birds Celtics that went on to win the title that year. (Age:72-247d) Though West reached nine finals with the LA Lakers, he has just one championship to his name, but in all, West averaged a career point of 27 each game. The 15-time NBA All-Star is one of three players to win the MVP award, the NBA All-Star MVP award, and the NBA Finals MVP award in the same season. The answer is Jordan and he wont be touched for years to come by the other active best NBA players. We rate Magic as the greatest point guard in NBA history. United States Naval Academy, High School: Top 20 NBA Players of all time 2021 Update List Of NBA Players of all time: 20- 00:01 Kevin Garnett 19- 00:04 John Havlicek 18- 00:08 Elgin Baylor 17- 00:12 David Robinson 16- 00:16 Charles Barkley 15- 00:20 Karl Malone 14- 00:24 Moses Malone 13- 00:28 Jerry West 12- 00:32 Hakeem Olajuwon 11- 00:36 Oscar Robertson 10- 00:40 Kobe Bryant He led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Abdul-Jabbar was also a winner, winning 6 NBA championships in his career with the 1st and last interestingly coming 17 years apart. Please do buy them through the site, it doesnt cost you anything and you buy everything at Amazon anyway. (Age:46-185d) Bill Russell is the most successful player of the NBA, winning 11 championships with the Boston Celtics in the 60s. The Big O, as Oscar was fondly called during the summit of his career, was a force to reckon with on the court. Please share it with us in the comment section below. The greatest player of all time. EARLY YOU GET TO WATCH HIM ON TV PLAY, THOUGH. Olajuwon won two championships, one MVP award, and two NBA Finals MVP awards. Milwaukee Bucks, 1st round (12th pick, 12th overall), 1972 NBA Draft, NBA Debut: October 22, 1976ABA Debut: October 15, 1971, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1993 (Full List). Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (2007-08), Oklahoma City Thunder (2008-16), Golden State Warriors (2016-present), Honours: MVP (2013-14), ten-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selection, Rookie of the Year (2007-08), four-time scoring champion, two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA-Finals MVP, Career stats: 27.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, .493 FG%. Kobe congratulates Lebron after passing him on the all-time points leader list. He is somewhat forgotten about when talking about the all-time greats but he has 3 NBA MVPs, tied with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson for 6th most of all time. Wake Forest, High School: Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 49.5% from the field. Every time when he stepped on that floor, he was motivated to destroy the opponent. Larry Bird. His Legacy in the NBA is equally impressive. Garnett averaged 17.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks during his 22-year career. He received the NBA MVP twice and the All-Star MVP on two occasions. May 19, Anthony Bennett Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports The 2013 NBA. February 12, Win Shares are a cumulative stat that rewards playing a lot of games for teams that win. Honours: 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, five-time All-D selection, Hall of Fame, Career stats: 13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, .384 3P%. The one man who could eventually pass Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA All-Time scoring leader is current Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Shooting Guard and Small Forward Tim Duncan is one of the best NBA players that never expected to reach this level of basketball. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6. It is, thus, not surprising that NBA players are highest paid athletes in the world (in terms of average annual salary per player). With over 80 different search tools for baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, youve got infinite answers at your finger tips. The Dream played 18 seasons in the NBA and was one of the most dominant centers of all time. Top 5 NBA players of the 2021-2022 Season, the second highest scoring game in NBA history, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles. 5. Twitter: Olajuwon was nicknamed The Dream due to his dunking abilities in college. Also, he is the only player to have scored more than 30 points in every game of multiple NBA Finals (2000,2002). Other accolades include the 2007 College Player of the Year, 2008 NBA Rookie of the Year, 2014 NBA MVP, 11-time All-Star, and 6-time All NBA 1st team selection. (Age:73-036d) LeBron Raymone James 1 individual on the list of best NBA players in history. McClymonds in Oakland, California, Draft: He led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Do you have a blog? It is a tie between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. September 21, Julius Erving was a star that people used to look up to for his innovation and wizardry with the ball. With how dominant he was, it is surprising he is only a 2 time NBA champion which is why he is in the 4th spot. de, High School: Also, he has never missed any post-season game. View the Top 100 All-Time Players on NBA 2K23 #2KRatings: View Top 100 Players' NBA 2K23 Ratings! In an era in which steals and blocks . 1955 us, High School: BallerVisions2. 97: 99: 36: 21. Clutch, as Jerry West is nicknamed, is the only NBA player to be named MVP in an NBA final, despite not being on the winning team. Member of WNBA All-Decade Team WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time (2011) WNBA Top 20@20 (2016) Russian League Player of the Year (2005) 2x Summer Olympics Gold: 2000, 2004: 2021: Throughout his career, the greatest player of all time averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 steals while shooting 49.7% from the field across 15 seasons. This year, the league will complete 73 years glorious years. Lebron takes 19.5 shots per game for his career while Jordan took 23 and Lebron has higher percentages on field goals and threes. inLeeds,Alabama Manute Bol (2,31 m) Sudanese-American professional basketball player Manute Bol. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. vi, College: His accomplishments are legendary, having been selected as a 13-time All-Star, 7-time 1st team All NBA, and a 7-time scoring and 11-time rebounding champion. (Age:60-215d) Posted by Jonah Gardner on October 27, 2022. Curry holds even more accolades such as four championships, two Most Valuable Player awards, and one NBA Finals MVP which was finally achieved in 2022. Well also include ABA years and stats for this. Top 20 nba players of all-time. Both comments and pings are currently closed. BY Mike DePrisco - Jul 12, 2022 USA Today Sports Images 01 Giannis Antetokounmpo 1 / 20 Antetokounmpo reached the NBA mountaintop in 2021 by winning a championship and Finals MVP award. Crispus Attucks in Indianapolis, Indiana, Draft: Carver in Dothan, Alabama, Draft: This entry was posted on Thursday, October 27th, 2022 at 10:27 pm and is filed under Top 10 Lists. This is why he was named, Receive exciting Indian sports stories on your WhatsApp now. LeBron James. Durant has won two championships, one MVP award, and two NBA Finals MVP awards. Overbrook in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Draft: SHAQ, (Shaq, Diesel, The Big Aristotle, Superman, Shaq Fu, Shaq Daddy, Warrior), Born: Hence his place as one of the greatest passers in NBA history. Robertson, known as the Big O, averaged 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists during his 14 years in the NBA. (Age:57-082d) And the one time he did not was his rookie season when he ended up 6th. In his 1st 15 years in the league, Shaq never averaged under 20 points per game and shot 55% or higher each year from the field. He remains one of the most notable players from the 1980s with his battles against Bird. Julius Erving is best known as one of the players who helped legitimize the NBA when the merger with the ABA occurred after the 1976 season. ONeal averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 blocks during his 20-year career. Abdul-Jabbar is the current record-holder of most points in a career, most field goals made in a career, and career wins. Naturally, the players that compete in the league are arguably the best lot you can ever find on the Earth. Larry Bird was named to the All NBA 1st team 9 times in his career and was a 12-time All-Star in 13 seasons. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Follow. Right, Born: LeBron James is one of the best NBA players that has ever graced the floor and there is no doubt about that fact. Michael Jordan SG / SF | 6'6" | CHI. when shaq entered the nba he was unstoppable avg 23 points and 13 rebounds as a rookie. LeBron is the undisputed greatest player of the past 20 Drafts and firmly entrenched in the conversation with Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the greatest to ever do it. 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG. However, Robertson is still the only player to be in the top 10 in points per game and assists per game for his career. (Sir Charles, The Round Mound of Rebound, The Chuckster, The Chuck Wagon, The Prince of Pizza, The Incredible Bulk, The Leaning Tower of Pizza, Bread Truck, Boy Gorge, Love Boat, Food World, The Crisco Kid, Wide Load from Leeds, Ton of Fun, Goodtime Blimp,), Position: The Admiral was one of the top NBA players of all time, winning two titles with the San Antonio Spurs. Perhaps the greatest shooting big man of all time, Dirk Nowitzki is without a doubt one of the top NBA players of all time. . Malone will forever leave his mark in NBA history due to his talent alone. So, its a tough call to make and will be debated until the end of time, but these are our Top 20 NBA players of all time. Jerry West. He scored 181 triple-doubles in his 14 seasons long NBA career. The 18-time NBA All-Star would become the name on the NBA All-Star MVP award after winning it four times following his tragic death in January 2020. Shooting Guard Kevin Durant has won 4 scoring title before turning 26. Stephen Curry recently led the Warriors to sweep Trail Blazers 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals without their best player in Kevin Durant. Karl Malone PF / C . us, College: Perhaps the greatest Laker in history, Kobe Bryant is synonymous with the city of Los Angeles and with the post-Jordan style of basketball that dominated the league in the 2000s. Throughout his 11 year career, he averaged 26.4 career point. The NBA retired the No. Teams: Cincinnati Royals (1960-70), Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974), Honours: MVP (1963-64), 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, Rookie of the Year (1960-61), Hall of Fame, Career stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, .485 FG%. Definitely one of the best awards resumes out of any player ever. Subscribe Now Receive exciting Indian sports stories on your WhatsApp now. Along with Dr. J, he was a key player in the Sixers 1983 title run. He won a record of 6 regular-season MVPs and made 19 NBA All-Star appearances as well as 10 All-NBA 1st team and 5 All-Defensive 1st team selections. Erving would likely be higher on the list of all-time greats if he didnt spend the first half of his career in the ABA before merging with the NBA. He also shares the record for most All-NBA appearances (15) with LeBron James, Tim Duncan and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. In fact, he has never scored less than 15 points ever in a postseason game. us, High Schools: Bird won three championships, three MVP awards, and two NBA Finals MVP awards. August 24, Dr. J is considered one of the NBAs greatest. Bird and Magic were the faces of the NBA in the 1980s as they brought rivalries and excitement back to the league. Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Washington, Draft: Cleveland Cavaliers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 2003 NBA Draft. Roosevelt in Roosevelt, New York, Draft: During those years, Larry won the NBA championship three times and was an NBA MVP on three occasions. The Admiral as he was nicknamed was a good centerman and defender that he blocked enough shots to average 2.99 career blocks each game. 50 Best NBA players of 2022: New Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell ascends the rankings Worst NBA players: The top 10 10. Russell won the NBA Championship on 11 occasions. One of the NBA's all-time best players is guarded, Derrick Rose. Despite his small stature, he is an incredible athlete and was even able to dunk the ball during a game. The 18 times NBA All-star averaged 25.0 during his 20-year stint in the NBA. Leeds in Leeds, Alabama, Draft: Power Forward and Small Forward Even if you exclude him, they would still have been a top team with a top 25 player of all time Scottie Pippen, who some people have in their top 20. From The King to The Spider, here are the top 20 players in the NBA right now. Russell won 11 NBA titles, a record that stands to this day, and his five MVP awards arent too shabby either. While 6'4'' and only 180 pounds, Gary 'the glove" Payton never backed down from a fight. There is no other center that put up as much success as him. During those 20 years, Kobe Byrant won the NBA on five occasions. Table of Contents [ show] 1. Or write about sports? 1959-62 Philadelphia Warriors, 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors; 1965-68 Philadelphia 76ers; 1968-73 Los Angeles Lakers. His silhouette is incorporated in the official NBA logo, a testament to the impact of his glamorous career. Russell and the Celtics dominated the 1960's winning 11 titles across 13 years. No disrespect to players who didn't make it into the top 10. He has scored most 50 point games, most 40 point games, and also the most 30 point games in the post-season. Don't click on the links if they infuriate you. February 17, Also, he was a very important figure in the 1992 Olympics Dream Team. Larry did not have the. Honours: Two-time MVP (2001-02, 2002-03), three-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection, 15-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (1997-98), Championships: 5 (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), Career stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3 BPG, .506 FG%. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='MMERGE1';ftypes[1]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Office No. Ever. The thing that sets Bryant apart from other big-time scorers was his ability to win. He is the only in the NBA History to tally 200 steals (213) and 200 blocks (282) in a single season (1988-89). Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch), Born: Related: NBA playoff predictions Bracket picks & 2023 Finals champion. Twitter: Naturally, the players that compete in the league are arguably the best lot you can ever find on the Earth. Kevin Garnett is one of the greatest power forwards the league has ever seen and it was on full display with his electric play and defensive abilities. Russells number 6 is being retired league-wide to commemorate his impact on the game. Bill Russell isnt just one of the greatest NBA players of all time, hes probably its most famous winner. The Hall of Famer point guard led the league in assists per game for 9 consecutive seasons from 1987-96. The center is most notably known for his role on the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996-2004. It may hurt some people to see Michael Jordan in the number 2 spot. Among active player, the top 5 in win shares are LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Dwight Howard. Emsley A. 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Playing next. Also, he is the only player outside of Michael Jordan to score 40 points per game in the entire post-season. Twitter: Stt alakok - a labdarg vb-k hres kpei. Copyright 2000-2022 Sports Reference LLC. The "rose" quickly demonstrated a natural quality as a ball defender at the collegiate and high school levels (PG). While Lebron is already number 1 on this all-time list, another championship would further solidify this pick- and with the way Lebron recruits talent, another one could be coming soon. The electric forward is known as one of the best dunkers of all time but his impact on the NBA when the merger happened might be one of the greatest honors in his career. Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois, Draft: Although his numbers look quite modest for his position in this list, Bird carried rare swagger when it came to moments that mattered the most. Chicago Bulls, 7th round (15th pick, 117th overall), 1971 NBA Draft, NBA Debut: October 22, 1976ABA Debut: October 16, 1971, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2011 (Full List). Pitchin' Paul. He is currently the highest paid NBA player. His longevity was nearly unsurpassed, as only four people played in more NBA games than him. Gardner-Webb University, Twitter: He used to torch his opponents in the paint with his strong fundamentals and footwork. He is also the only player to win MVPs in both the NBA and ABA. Top 50 NBA Players of All-Time Top 50 NBA Players of All-Time By Jason Guilbault | Aug 28, 2021, 12:34pm 1. It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. ONeal is truly one of the greatest centers in the leagues history. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) We are an Amazon Affiliate partner and as such receive commission payments if you buy items through the site. The ex-basketball star who has won 4 NBA Championship and claimed 3 NBA MVP awards averaged 23.7 points per game throughout his 19-year career. Teams: Houston Rockets (1984-2001), Toronto Raptors (2001-02), Honours: NBA MVP (1993-94), two-time Defensive Player of the Year, 12-time All-Star, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 12-time All-NBA selection, nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, Hall of Fame, Career stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.1 BPG, 1.7 SPG. No one knows how many blocks Bill would have recorded throughout his career as there were no such stats recorded back in his day. Per Woj, Timelord is getting closer to a return. Kareem played in the NBA for 20 seasons, picking up six rings and six MVP awards. Oscar was one of the top NBA players of all time, winning the 1964 MVP award and the 1971 NBA title. The former Los Angeles Lakers played led his side to 8 NBA Finals appearance. Right, Born: The argument that hurts him is he was playing on the best NBA team every year for his entire career against not-as-good competition from other teams in that era. Shaq was dominant everywhere he went, winning Associated Press Player of the year in college and then NBA Rookie of the Year and was an NBA League MVP. He outscored Shaquille ONeal for the scoring title of the season. Dirk Nowitzki was undoubtedly the best shooting big men of all time. ONeal won 3 championships in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant where Shaq was the Finals MVP in each and then won 1 more in Miami with the Heat and Dwayne Wade. Bryant won five championships, one MVP award, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and much more throughout his career. His accurate shots have created a reputation for him as one of the NBAs top scorers. One of the most effective NBA players of all time averaged a double-double for his career at 17.8 points and 10 rebounds per game. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The ace basketball footballer, who led the San Antonio Spurs to 5 NBA Championship. San Francisco, High School: It would have really interesting to see how he performs in todays guard dominant league. us, Died: Curry's starting five, which includes two former Lakers greats, is hard . Bryant was one of the NBAs fiercest competitors ever. Who do you regard as one of the best NBA players of all-time that isnt on this list? Shoots: Undoubtedly, one of the best basketball players in the world, Michael Jordans NBA career is one of the most successful in history. The current highest-paid NBA player Stephen Curry earns an annual salary of almost $50 million from the Golden State Warriors, which will increase in the upcoming season. An efficient offensive machine with unstoppable 3 point shooting and a wingspan of 75, KD has the potential to end up really high in this list. Oscar Robertson is the NBAs all-time leader in triple-doubles. Small Forward Malone may be top 10 all-time if he had brought a championship home and the Utah Jazz hadnt faced Michael Jordan and the Bulls in both of his finals appearances. (Age:50-235d) Right, Born: 1984 He ranks in the top 10 all-time in a host of other categories, including . 1. On top of that, hes by far one of the best ABA players ever. Throughout his career, he reached 181 Career Triple Doubles. The Big Fundamental as Duncan is nicknamed ruled the basketball courts in the early years of the 21st century. Currently playing for the Brooklyn Nets, Durant has averaged 26 points each game throughout his career, so far. The power forward also happens to be a 14-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA First Team member. Nationalities of Football's Greatest Modern 10s. The 8-time All-NBA First team player averaged over 20 points and 12 rebounds per game and led the NBA 6 times in rebounds per game for that season. 2. Lebrons award accomplishments include: He has also won 4 NBA championships on 3 different teams, one including taking a Cleveland team from out of the playoffs before he got there, to winning the championship. NBA All-Time Points Leaders - National Basketball Association - ESPN NBA History - Points Leaders Leaders: Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks Leaders Awards *Active players are. The Mailman as Malone is nicknamed holds the record for the most-freest throws made in the NBA. While the NBA never officially confirmed his presence in the logo, everyone knows that it is Jerry Wests figure. Oscar Robertson The "Big O," as Oscar was fondly called during the summit of his career, was a force to reckon with on the court. Lebron is also a more efficient scorer than Jordan was. Dirk Nowitzki is on the list of the 20 best NBA players of all time and it is not surprising. Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the best centers in the history of the game with his career lining up with many other notable players from the 1984 NBA Draft. 301, Lalwani Icon, Sakore Nagar, Viman Nagar, Off New Airport road, Pune, Maharashtra 411014. As his career continues, James continues to move up the rankings while dominating the game. He was also a 14-time All-Star which was impressively achieved in every year of his NBA career. The Showtime Lakers were possible only because of the greatest showman of all time. Garnett was known as the Big Ticket and drove fear toward offensive players. He averaged 22.1 points per game throughout his career. This is the rise and rise of Air Jordan., We are interested in all sports, no matter how obscure. Reginald Wayne Miller 1965 The 1980 Rookie of the Year had an impressive career averaging 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. In his 20th NBA season, James is still as good as ever while chasing the crown for most career points over Abdul-Jabbar. Also, he is the only player to be named in the first-team all-NBA for 11 consecutive seasons. He won the NBA 5 times and was named the NBA MVP, on three occasions. Stephen Curry PG | 6'3" | GSW. He averaged 30.1 points in his 14 year NBA career. This team knocked off the Miami Heat in their first year as the Big 3 when Lebron, Wade, and Bosh were in their prime. Manute Bol is 103kg and 2,31 m tall. He also won 3 NCAA championships while at UCLA. (Aged60-174d), High School: Honours: Finals MVP (1969), 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA selection, five-time All-D selection, Hall of Fame, Career stats: 27.0 PPG, 6.7 APG, 2.6 SPG, .474 FG%. Artis Gilmore Comparing the Indian sports economy to American Sports' was something that motivated him to work for the development of Indian Sports. Malone won two MVPs and made the All-Star Game 14 times in his career. Codi Dominik. The shooting guard averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field during his 14-year career. Like Bill Russell, the NBA didnt track blocks per game but he was calculated to average 8 blocks per game as well. Orlando Magic, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1992 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2016 (Full List). Subscribe to ESPN+ http://espnplus.com/. The center averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.1 blocks during his 18-year career. There will be nobody like him. Cavaliers came back from a 1-3 deficit in the NBA Finals against the 73 win Golden State Warriors. Chamberlain won two championships, four MVP awards, and one NBA Finals MVP award. Karl Malone stands second in the all-time scoring leaders of the NBA with 36,928 points. Teams: Golden State Warriors (2009-present), Honours: Two-Time MVP (2014-15, 2015-16), five-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA selection, Career stats: 23.5 PPG, 6.6 APG, 4.5 RPG, .436 3FG%, Nickname: Baby-Faced Assassin, Chef Curry. Summerfield in Summerfield, Louisiana, Draft: Bill Russell was one the greatest defender in the paint. Shoots: Top 20 NBA Players of All Time. 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. The two time NBA MVP has won the NBA Championship twice and reached an average of 21.8 points per game. Twitter: Jordan won six NBA titles without ever losing in the Finals. Also, he has scored 32 60-point games which more than every other 60 point game in the league history combined. There is no other player in NBA history that has dominated the game as consistently as he does every single year. While Jordan was a better scorer, Lebron was more of a play-maker, averaging 2 more assists per game. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1995-1996), Honours: Three-time MVP (1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90), three-time Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, Hall of Fame, Championships: Five (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), Career stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, .520 FG%. Maybe. He is also a die-hard NBA fan and has been following the league and American Sports Media for long. As the established basketball players progress each year in the National Basketball Association (NBA), setting and smashing records, there is still a tough competition to emerge amongst the best NBA players of all-time rankings. Dirk Nowitzki 1985 In 1962, Chamberlain averaged an absurd 50.4 points per game and 100 points in one game, both the highest ever by far. Duncan himself won two MVPs and made 15 All-NBA teams. The Dream as he is nicknamed has a reputation for dunking with ease. If you would like to see a game featured or are involved in a sport we haven't covered yet, please get in touch at hello@thesporting.blog or post to our Facebook page. Right, Born: A Detailed, Sports Nutrition market size and growth analysis | The rise of, Indian Tribal Sports | Why Tribals from Jharkhand are dominating Indian, Top 9 Best Tracksuits For Men | Start Your Fitness JourneyToday, New Zealand vs India Dream11 Prediction for todays India tour of, Pakistan vs England Dream11 Prediction for ICC T20 WC Final Match, Complete guide on how to play Basketball for beginners, Top 11 players with most wickets in the world cup since 1975 edition, Watch out for these 10 best debutants in World Cup 2019, 15 Best Fan Reaction as ICC Denies MSD Permission to Wear Gloves, UEFA Champions League winners list since the 1955-56 season. Shoots: He believed that the key to winning games resided in defence and worshipped his belief faithfully. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Kobe also holds the record of scoring second highest score in a single game (81). inAkron,Ohio inChipley,Florida John Stockton and Karl Malone were one of the most dominant duos of all-time. No NBA player past or present on this list (yes, that includes Michael Jordan) have claimed as much NBA Championship as Russell. Jordan was also a 5-time regular season MVP. He is a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a 12-time NBA All-Star. The National Basketball Association has produced some big names in the sport, with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson probably being the two most recognized names of all-time. 1976 In more than 125 years of basketball history, hundreds of legendary players have stepped on the floor. Explained in Simple Steps- Kho Kho Did you know the game has roots as Top 10 Greatest Footballer of All Time Meet the Best Football TATA IPL 2022 Team Owners? LeBron has four rings, four MVPs, four Finals MVPs, 18 All-NBA appearances, and nearly two decades of hegemonic rule over the NBA. Magic Johnson. You can tell this by merely looking at his numbers. This proved that his talents were way ahead of his time. Kobe Bryant is the third highest all-time scorer in NBA history. NBA 2K23. Nowitzki led the Mavericks with no other current All-Stars or players to average over 16 points per game that season. us, College: LeBron has made 8 consecutive Nba Finals appearance. Karl Anthony Malone James has a career stat line of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while shooting 50.4% from the field across 20 years of action. Russell, as stated above, claimed 11 championships, and five MVP awards. He led his team to 12 NBA Finals appearance in the 13 seasons that he played. He used to perform feats like mid-air whirls and spins followed by slam dunks which were never seen before. Jack is a sports writer who currently writes out Denver, Colorado. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the proud owner of multiple NBA records and his impact is still being felt throughout the league today. They led the Utah Jazz to 2 NBA finals appearance and if it werent for Michael Jordan, they would have one at least one of them. NBA 2K23 Play Now. Find out more. KreedOn Techmeep Sports Pvt. Born: January26,2020 In fact, a lot of Stocktons assists can be credited to Karl Malones lethal scoring skills. Kareem is inarguably one of the greatest NBA players of all time, ranking first in career Win Shares due to his nearly unprecedented longevity. April 25, inWurzburg,Germany Right, Born: inKey West,Florida He nearly ended his career as a career 25, 5, and 5 player, just missing with just 4.7 assists per game. Instagram: Bill Russell sadly passed away on the 31st July 2022. 1976 Every time when he stepped on that floor, he was motivated to destroy the opponent. It can be said that at least one of Lebrons championships was harder than Jordans as he faced a Warriors team with 4 current All-Stars and 2 top 14 players of all time in their prime. The NBAs career leader in assists, John Stockton is one of the top NBA players of all time. This is why he was named His Airness. The 1998 Rookie of the Year went on to have a great career and finished with career averages of 19 points per game, 2.2 blocks per game, and 10.8 rebounds per game. The 14-time All-Star, 4-time 1st team All NBA, and 2007 NBA MVP averaged 20.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over his career as he revolutionised the game, turning 7-footers into 3-point shooters and play-makers. Twitter: Weve picked our 20 best players, maybe yours look a little different. Wilt Chamberlain. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 20.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in his 22-year career with 19 seasons coming in the NBA. This proves his impact in the NBA back in that era. 1947 KevinGarnett5KG, Position: The 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time 50 Paul Arizin Paul Vathis/AP Stalwart jump shooter from the Philadelphia Warriors. 4. The Big Fundamental was also the only player in 25 years to be named in First-Team All-NBA in his Rookie Year. 1963 us, High School: Talking about NBA stars, lets have a look at some of the most iconic NBA stars of all time. 8:45. Shoots: It is, thus, not surprising that, Rookie of the Year (1989-90), MVP (1994-95), Defensive Player of the Year (1991-92), 10-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, 8-time All-Defensive Team, Hall of Fame, David Robinson was the only player outside of Hakeem Olajuwon to average 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks per game throughout his 14 season-long career. Curry led the franchise to its first title since 1975 in 2015. Shoots: The Lakers went to 9 total finals under Magic and he had 3 finals MVPs. He is the most competitive human being to have ever stepped on the basketball court. 2. Shaquille O'Neal 8. He also has the record of playing a 21 years long career in a single franchise (Dallas Mavericks). (Timmy, The Big Fundamental, Groundhog Day, Old Man Riverwalk, The Stone Buddha), Position: Lebron King James has already been in the NBA 18 years, 3 more than the retired Jordan, and still may have 5 years left in him. Stay connected with Basketball Reference on social media! The power forward is one of the best to ever play his position. 20 Best NBA Players Of All Time - #20-16 By Reid Miller - December 24, 2020 0 NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 16: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks is guarded by Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 16, 2014 in New York City. Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 11.2 assists, and 1.9 steals across 13 years of action. June 19, Moses Malone was one of the NBAs most underrated superstars of all time despite being teamed up alongside Erving on the Philadelphia 76ers. Pete Chilcutt source Pete Chilcutt's career lasted from 1991 to 2000. Julius Winfield Erving II Duncan was finals MVP for 3 of those championships and also league MVP twice. us, High School: Erving won two ABA championships and three ABA MVPs before the league folded. Chamberlain has the record for most points per game in a season in the 4 top spots with Michael Jordan in the 5th and not even close at 37 points per game. Louisiana Tech, High School: San Antonio Spurs, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1997 NBA Draft. (Aged63-052d), High School: When the top talent of the league puts together their list of who they'd want to play with on an all-time list, fans listen. Chamberlains statistical performances are simply incredible. 1 And It's . the official stats partner of the NBA. Orlando Magic (1992-96), Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2004), Miami Heat (2004-08), Phoenix Suns (2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10), Boston Celtics (2010-11), MVP (1999-2000), three-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA selection, three-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (1992-93), Shaq, Diesel, The Big Aristotle, Most Dominant Ever, Superman, MVP (2007-08), two-time Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection, two-time NBA scoring champion, Five-time MVP (1957-58, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1964-65), 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, All-D selection (1968-69), Hall of Fame, 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969), Three-time MVP (1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86), two-time Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, three-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (1979-80), Hall of Fame, Larry Legend, Mr Clutch, The Hick from French Lick, Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1995-1996), Three-time MVP (1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90), three-time Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, Hall of Fame, Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959-1965), Philadelphia 76ers (1965-1968), Los Angeles Lakers (1968-1973), Four-time MVP (1959-60, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1967-68), Finals MVP (1972), 13-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, two-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (1959-60), Hall of Fame, Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-2010, 2014-2018), Miami Heat (2010-2014), Los Angeles Lakers (2018-present), Four-time MVP (2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13), three-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection, six-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (2003-04), NBA scoring champion (2007-08), Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1975), Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1989), Six-time MVP (1970-71, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1979-80), two-time Finals MVP, 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection, 10-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (1969-70), Hall of Fame, Michael Jordan THE GOAT AMONG TOP NBA PLAYERS, Chicago Bulls (1984-93, 1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03), Five-time MVP (1987-88, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98), six-time Finals MVP, 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, nine-time All-D selection, 10-time NBA scoring champion, defensive player of the year (1987-88), rookie of the year (1984-85), Hall of Fame, There has been nobody like Michael Jordan. Once the NBA started recording blocks in the 1974 season, he won the blocking title 4 times. Raghav is a sports enthusiast and a content writer at Kreedon. Power Forward and Center Osbourn Park in Manassas, Virginia, Draft: He was called the mail-man as he always delivered as a mail-man does. ONeal won four championships, one MVP award, and three NBA Finals MVP awards throughout his career. He played 18 seasons for the Utah Jazz forming a formidable duo with John Stockton. us, High School: (Age:59-249d) Nowitzki won a championship during the 2011 season, along with an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account. inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania inRoosevelt,New York Some are known for their championship success while others had pure talent take them to new levels. us, Died: Most Valuable NBA Teams 2020: Lakers, Warriors In $4B Club. November 24, He averaged at least 22 points per game in a season in each of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s with one season topping 31 points per game. Michael Jordan. Magic Johnson 5. us, High School: Magic Johnson is the best point guard of all time and it is not a surprise to see him sit in the top five of best NBA players in history. 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