espn best nba players of all time
He played like a swingman, shooting midrange shots and becoming just one of three players in NBA history to have at least 20,000 career points, 10,000 career rebounds and 5,000 career assists. But his legacy is so much more than just basketball. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1985-86 scoring champ. NBA75: Meet the best players in league history, 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. NBA. 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.. He won the dunk contest in 1985 and 1990 (and maybe 1988 if you ask a few people) and participated in five contests overall. Boxing. Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1999-2000 MVP, 1992-93 Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star MVP, three-time Finals MVP, two-time scoring champ, four-time NBA champion. Using references from famous and reliable sports channels and websites like ESPN, Complex, Bleacher Report, and Clutch Points, here is our top 10 basketball players list. Pippen grew into his offensive game over the years, but his defensive tenacity was always highly regarded by his teammates and coaches. Doc Rivers: 'Nique could get to the penthouse', Dwyane Wade: 'I never thought I'd be Top 100 all time', All-Time #NBArank 21-25: Curry and Durant among top 25, All-Time #NBArank 16-20: Mailman, Dirk and Sir Charles, All-Time #NBArank 11-15: Kobe, Big O, Logo, Dr. J, Moses, Strauss: How Steph stormed into top-25 status. McHale always seemed to find a way to make a play on the blocks and helped lead the storied Larry Bird-led teams with a toughness that defined his career. He played in 1,158 victories, including the playoffs, more than anyone in NBA history other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Wade gave Heat Culture its championship pedigree while earning a Finals MVP and leading the league in scoring (2008-09 when he averaged 30.2 points per game). He became the face of a generation of big men and was dominant down low as he helped push the Lakers to three straight NBA titles from 2000 to 2002. Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG in 14 seasons with Boston Celtics (1950-51 to 1962-63) and Cincinnati Royals (1969-70). Stats: 17.0 PPG, 15.6 RPG, 3.3 APG in 11 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1963-64 to 1969-70), San Francisco Warriors (1969-70 to 1970-71) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1973-74). Deonna Brister adds 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Lady Colonels, and Kyla Hamilton averages 10.8 points, 4.2 assists and two steals per game. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1993-94 MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Finals MVP, two-time rebounding champ, three-time blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. Although they come from different eras, each of these players changed the game. 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)*. -- 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. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, 2020 All-Star MVP, 2014-15 steals champ, two-time NBA champion. He was the ultimate pass-first point guard -- winning five assists titles, including both of his MVP seasons -- who also possessed one of the game's purest jump shots. In 1995-96, the season Payton became the most recent guard to win Defensive Player of the Year, Seattle pushed the 72-10 Bulls to six games in the NBA Finals. The Nuggets have yet to lose a game this season when the two-time reigning MVP records one. Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.1 BPG in 18 seasons with Houston Rockets (1984-85 to 2000-01) and Toronto Raptors (2001-02); NBA's career leader in total blocks. More quiz info >> Start Quiz Comments (119) Steve Nash. -- Friedell, This Celtics' legend is regarded as one of the most creative post players in history. 9-21, 5-12 . NBA. Chamberlain is one of them, amassing 100 points in a single game on March 2, 1962, against the Knicks. 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. Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG in 19 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1994-95 to 1996-97; 2007-08 to 2011-12), Phoenix Suns (1996-97 to 2000-01), New Jersey Nets (2001-02 to 2007-08) and New York Knicks (2012-13). Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG in 13 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1979-80 to 1990-91; 1995-96). Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 15-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, 2000 All-Star MVP, 1997-98 Rookie of the Year, five-time NBA champion. ESPN's NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, taking into consideration both total career value and peak performance. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 2006 Finals MVP, 2010 All-Star MVP, 2008-09 scoring champ, three-time NBA champion. Here's the entire list, 1-74: Michael Jordan LeBron James Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bill Russell Magic Johnson Wilt Chamberlain Larry Bird Tim Duncan Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Oscar Robertson Hakeem Olajuwon Stephen Curry Kevin Durant Julius Erving Jerry West Karl Malone Moses Malone Dirk Nowitzki Kevin Garnett Scottie Pippen Elgin Baylor 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. Stats: 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 APG in 16 season with San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968-69 to 1971-72; 1981-82 to 1983-84) and Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972-73 to 1980-81) . Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year, 2016-17 Most Improved Player, 2021 Finals MVP, 2021 NBA champion. MLB. No other player in NBA history has those scoring and assist averages in the same season (only Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook also had 30-point, 10-assist seasons). -- Collier, Havlicek, who won eight championships during his legendary career with the Celtics, was one of the first players to popularize the role of sixth man. 74-41 | Nos. Stats: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG in 14 seasons with Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959-60 to 1964-65), Philadelphia 76ers (1964-65 to 1967-68) and Los Angeles Lakers (1968-69 to 1972-73). He is one of the last players of his era who didn't start ring chasing at the end of his career. Stats: 13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG in 19 seasons with Utah Jazz (1984-85 to 2002-03); NBA's career leader in total assists and steals. Best NBA players of all time: Ranking the Top 75 - Nos. Before, however, Wilkens was a nine-time All-Star as a point guard who excelled as both a scorer and a playmaker -- including twice as player-coach for the SuperSonics. Embiid was dominant last season, averaging 30.6 points per game to lead the league in scoring for the first time in his career -- the first time a center led the league in . Career Stats: 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 AST, 49.0 FG%, 42.8 FG3%, 90.4 FT% The . 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. Stats: 18.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG in 18 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (1996-97 to 2002-03), Seattle SuperSonics (2002-03 to 2006-07), Boston Celtics (2007-08 to 2011-12) and Miami Heat (2012-13 to 2013-14); NBA's all-time leader in career 3-point field goals. -- Bontemps, 2003-2011 Denver Nuggets; 2011-2017 New York Knicks; 2017-2018 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2018-2019 Houston Rockets; 2019-2021 Portland Trail Blazers; 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers, Entering the league with a handle and shooting touch of a shooting guard but with the height and broad shoulders of a traditional frontcourt player, Anthony filled the role of a stretch-4 before the position became a staple of every NBA roster. 5-on-5: Will James Harden be a top-5 all-time shooting guard? -- Friedell, 1996-2006, 2009-10 Philadelphia 76ers; 2006-08 Denver Nuggets; 2008-09 Detroit Pistons; 2009 Memphis Grizzlies, A cultural icon as much as he was a basketball player, Iverson inspired a generation of prospects who followed him in sharing their true, authentic self -- rather than an airbrushed corporate image -- once they made it to the big time. Jalen Rose and David Jacoby cover a collection of NBA topics, including the prospects of finishing the 2019-20 NBA season, (1:41) ESPN.com's list of the 10 b. Stats: 18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.1 APG in 13 seasons with New York Knicks (1967-68 to 1976-77) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-78 to 1979-80). Stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG in 16 seasons with Boston Celtics (1962-63 to 1977-78). 52 - The record for the most points in an All Star Game is 52, set by Anthony Davis for the Western Conference in 2017. It remains the only 30-point quadruple double in NBA history. An unapologetic scorer, Anthony is No. 69. While Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar get the lion's share of the credit for those teams, Worthy's 1988 NBA Finals MVP distinction tells the story of just how key he was in L.A.'s success, earning his "Big Game James" nickname for elevating his play when the games mattered most. -- Collier, 1965-72, 1974-76 Philadelphia 76ers; also played two ABA seasons with Carolina Cougars (1972-74), A fixture with the 76ers as both a player and coach, Cunningham was part of one of the most iconic teams in NBA history: the 1967 NBA champion Sixers. -- Kendra Andrews, 1966-75 Detroit Pistons; 1975-77 Washington Bullets; 1977-78 Boston Celtics, Bing's career was threatened twice by eye injuries -- falling and poking his left eye on a rusty nail as a child, then suffering a detached retina in his right eye during the preseason in 1971. [4] All have since retired. 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. -- 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. New Orleans' top scorer, Pryor, averages 15.8 points and 2.7 steals per game. -- MacMahon, The combination of Bird and Magic Johnson arriving in the NBA in the 1980s helped usher in the league's golden age, kicking off a new round of battles between the Celtics and Lakers, while Bird's all-around offensive prowess made him one of the game's all-time great players. Stats: 20.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.0 APG in 12 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1966-67 to 1974-75), Washington Bullets (1975-76 to 1976-77) and Boston Celtics (1977-78). Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, five-time All-Defensive team, nine-time assists champ, two-time steals champ, 1993 All-Star MVP. Without Johnson and his rivalry for the ages with Bird and the Celtics, the NBA may not be where it is today. LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? Accomplishments: Nine-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1980 All-Star MVP, four-time NBA scoring champ. His unstoppable, patented skyhook,. Fantasy. His game transcended the sport. -- Lopez, 1959-62 Philadelphia Warriors, 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors; 1965-68 Philadelphia 76ers; 1968-73 Los Angeles Lakers, There are very few players who hold a record that will most likely never be broken. 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. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1995 NBA champion. 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. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ. 26 . He would go on to win six championships with the Celtics, was a 12-time All-NBA selection and a 13-time All-Star. Tony Parker. -- Friedell, 1972-76 Buffalo Braves; 1976-79 New York Knicks; 1979 Boston Celtics; 1979-81 Detroit Pistons; 1981 New Jersey Nets; 1981-85 Los Angeles Lakers; 1986 Philadelphia 76ers, It didn't take long for McAdoo to start dominating, getting off to one of the best individual starts an NBA scorer can have. Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive Team, 2003-04 MVP, 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year, 2003 All-Star MVP, four-time rebounding champ, 2008 NBA champion. 22-6, 14-2 conf. Louis Hawks (1954-55 to 1964-65). His 34.0 points per game that season is also the highest point total for a player at that height in NBA history. -- Nick Friedell, 2009-2012 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2012-2021 Houston Rockets; 2021-2022 Brooklyn Nets; 2022 Philadelphia 76ers, Harden might be the most polarizing player of his generation. These debates rage on endlessly in every corner of NBA fandom, and our experts have done their best to answer them, ranking the greatest players in the league's 74-year history. Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1972-73 scoring and assists champ, 1981 All-Star MVP, 1981 NBA champion. So, yeah, he definitely played. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time NBA champion. St. Bonaventure Bonnies. McHale's ability to play through pain and injury made him one of the most beloved Celtics players of all time. Stats: 18.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.9 APG in 13 seasons with Baltimore Bullets (1967-68 to 1971-72) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1979-80). Perhaps the greatest two-way player of his generation, Leonard dissects defenses with robotic midrange precision while disrupting offenses with his long arms and physical defense. Boxing. Stats: 16.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.7 APG in 15 seasons with St. Louis Hawks (1960-61 to 1967-68), Seattle SuperSonics (1968-69 to 1971-72), Cleveland Cavaliers (1972-73 to 1973-74) and Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75). During halftime of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, 47 of the 50 members of that team were honored in person. Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time -- he changed so many different facets of the league -- but maybe most of all, he showed players they could grow themselves into a global brand on and off the floor with stellar play and the right marketing machine behind it all. Pettit was named to the All-NBA first team in each of his first 10 seasons and was an All-NBA second-team selection in his final year. He ushered in the era of dominant big men. 3 and Bill Russell, the most prolific winner. All-time NBArank: Nos. ESPN's NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, taking into consideration both total career value and peak performance. 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) Top 100 Greatest NBA Players Top 100 Greatest NBA Players Can you name the top NBA players of all-time according to an ESPN poll of experts from 2016? NFL. 10. -- Bontemps, 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG, The Admiral was a defensive force who owns one of just four quadruple-doubles in NBA history, when he had 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks against the Pistons on Feb. 17, 1994. Stats: 19.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG in 19 seasons with Boston Celtics (1998-99 to 2012-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-14), Washington Wizards (2014-15) and LA Clippers (2015-16 to 2016-17). -- MacMahon, 1984-92 Philadelphia 76ers; 1992-96 Phoenix Suns; 1996-2000 Houston Rockets, Despite being listed at 6-foot-6 his entire career, and eventually admitting he was shorter, Barkley was a rebounding machine. Barry drained 90% of his NBA free throws, fourth best all time. ESPN+. Stats: 19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.3 APG in 13 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1981-82 to 1993-94). -- Tim MacMahon, Bird and Magic Johnson revitalized the NBA -- and the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. -- Collier, Duncan dominated for a generation while rarely showing any emotion, aside from shock when he was whistled for a foul. Off it, he was always one of the league's biggest enigmas. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1969-70 All-Defensive team, 1969-70 NBA MVP, 1964-65 Rookie of the Year, 1970 All-Star MVP, two-time Finals MVP, two-time NBA champion. Ranked by votes from thousands of fans, this list features the all time NBA GOATs, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird. 374 - The 2017 All Star Game was also the highest-scoring game in the event's history, with 374 points (the . Andrew D Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images. His skyhook was an unstoppable weapon, becoming one of the most iconic shots the game has ever seen. He's also fifth all-time in steals (2,440) and could pass Michael Jordan for third place (2,514) next season. -- McMenamin, 1967-71 Baltimore Bullets; 1971-80 New York Knicks, Monroe's silky smooth game earned him the moniker "Earl The Pearl" and turned him into an icon for an entire generation of players. -- McMenamin, 1984-93, 1995-98 Chicago Bulls; 2001-03 Washington Wizards, The greatest player of all time. TrueHoop TV: Kobe, Jerry West and the top shooting guards ever, All-Time #NBArank: The 10 greatest small forwards in NBA history, Photos: Classic action shots of league's best small forwards. Fantasy Incarnate Word Cardinals. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive Team, 2013 All-Star MVP, 2005-06 Rookie of the Year, six-time steals champ, four-time assists champ. He played his entire career in Detroit and won back-to-back championships in 1989 and '90, winning Finals MVP in 1990. Hansen is the top threat for McNeese from beyond the arc. Also see Top 100 Baseball Players Quiz by Quizmaster Rate: Featured Quiz Last updated: December 14, 2021 You have not attempted this quiz yet. Tim Duncan. Nicknamed "Dr. Memory," Lucas used his mind and his recall of opponents' tendencies to augment all of his physical skills on the floor. His rsum stands the test of time with six championships, six MVPs, two Finals MVPs, the scoring record and 15 All-NBA selections. Stats: 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG in 21 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1998-99 to 2018-19). Alright we're straying a bit off subject, the reason why we bring up the upcoming season is because it's getting to that time of year when predictions, NBA odds for the championship, NBA2K player ratings, talking heads make bold claims, podcasts come back from vacation, and all types of other rankings come out of the woodwork.In order words, the NBA media and content machine is revving . Stats: 26.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG in 10 NBA seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1976-77 to 1984-85) and Chicago Bulls (1985-86); also played four ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1972-73 to 1973-74) and San Antonio Spurs (1973-74 to 1975-76). Wilt Chamberlain was considered truly ahead of his time. Stats: 23.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.8 APG in 18 seasons with Denver Nuggets (2003-04 to 2010-11), New York Knicks (2010-11 to 2016-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-18), Houston Rockets (2018-19), Portland Trail Blazers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. RB Jim Brown -- Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965 By Data Skrive. ESPN's NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head player matchups, taking into consideration the quality and quantity of their NBA contributions. Accomplishments: Two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, 1977-78 MVP, 1977 Finals MVP, 1985-86 Sixth Man of the Year, 1976-77 rebounding champ, 1976-77 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. 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). His 11 NBA championships stand alone as the most for a player all time. Atlantic 10 Championship - 1st Round . Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1995-96 Defensive Player of the Year, 1995-96 steals champ, 2006 NBA champion. -- Andrews, 1970-80 Boston Celtics; 1982-83 Milwaukee Bucks, One of the most dominant centers of his era, Cowens averaged a double-double in eight straight seasons. Stats: 24.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.6 APG in nine seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (2012-13 to 2020-21)*. NCAAW. The only reason he doesn't rank higher on lists of the all-time greats is he won "only" two NBA championships. Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain? Paul also holds the NBA record for consecutive games with a steal (108), a streak that took part over three seasons (April 13, 2007, to Dec. 23, 2008). But the league never ranked them. It has been 25 years since the league unveiled its list of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, which tipped off a season-long celebration of the NBA's 50th anniversary in 1996. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1968 All-Star MVP, 1967 NBA champion. Sports Illustrated 's annual Top 100 list is back, aiming to answer that question. Just like Paul Arizin, Maravich was one of the pioneers for making the NBA more renowned. -- Pelton, 1994-96, 2008-12 Dallas Mavericks; 1996-2001 Phoenix Suns; 2001-08 New Jersey Nets; 2012-13 New York Knicks, Kidd managed to be a dominant force for almost two decades without ever scoring like a star, finishing his career second all time in both assists and steals. He was known as "The Big Fundamental," dominating for nearly two decades on both ends of the floor with textbook simplicity, such as his midrange bank shot and perfect position defense. The greatest player of all time. And he's not done. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, five-time assists champ, two-time MVP. 6-25, 3-13 conf . The Vermont Catamounts (22-6, 14-2 America East) look to continue a 14-game winning streak when they host the Bryant Bulldogs (9-20, 3-13 America East) at 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at . But Malone had the misfortune of matching up with Michael Jordan's Bulls in both of his NBA Finals appearances. Stats: 17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG in 12 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1982-83 to 1993-94). He had a Rookie of the Year and MVP trophy by his fourth season. To create All-Time #NBArank, we put together a ballot with the 150 greatest players ever. Those qualities also helped him earn five MVP awards and 11 All-NBA selections. -- Bontemps, 1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks; 1975-89 Los Angeles Lakers, No one in NBA history can match Abdul-Jabbar's lengthy list of achievements. -- Collier, Long before there was "Playoff Rondo," Jones earned the nickname "Mr. Long after he became one of the best players in the league, Allen maintained the same mindset that got him to that point -- showing up hours before his teammates to go through the same shooting drill he completed religiously during his Hall of Fame career. D-Wade's greatest moments with the Heat (1:41) Take a look back at 13-time NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade's greatest moments, including his three NBA championships with the Heat. Duncan won five championships over three decades, earning Finals MVP three times. Davidson Wildcats. 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. ESPN's 100 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time Quiz Stats Popular Quizzes Today 1 Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield 2 Countries of the World 3 Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield 4 Name Just One - 10 to 1: History Sports NBA Random Sports or NBA Quiz ESPN's 100 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time Stats In 1969, he became the only player in NBA history to win Finals MVP on a losing team. -- Tim Bontemps, Lillard has a shooting range that rivals Stephen Curry's and has become one of the most clutch players in the game -- his series-ending daggers over the Rockets and OKC come to mind. O'Neal became an All-Star 15 times and earned the 1999-2000 MVP award. Stats: 15.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.7 APG in 14 seasons with San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1963-64 to 1973-74), Chicago Bulls (1974-75 to 1975-76) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1975-76 to 1976-77). 13-15, 6-8 conf. -- Bontemps, 1976-80 Golden State Warriors; 1980-94 Boston Celtics; 1994-96 Charlotte Hornets; 1996-97 Chicago Bulls, Don't reduce Parish to the trivia of playing an NBA-record 1,611 games over a 21-season career he capped by winning a fourth title at age 43 with the Bulls in 1997. His chase-down block in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals to help complete a 3-1 comeback against a Warriors team that won 73 games will forever encapsulate his will to win. 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. We're also left to wonder what if Maravich had played his full career with the 3-point line, introduced during his final season. He was the league MVP in three consecutive seasons (1984-86), something only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had accomplished. If not, you surely must have caught the response when John Stockton (#19) and Scottie Pippen (#25) appeared before Isiah Thomas (#26)? Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time NBA champion. Vermont Catamounts. He changed the game with his step-back 3 -- and the NBA changed the rules due to his foul-drawing tactics. They didn't call him the "Round Mound of Rebound" for nothing, right? Kawhi Leonard vs. Gary Payton? The Jazz's arena sits at the intersection of Stockton and Malone, honoring the duo that's practically synonymous with the pick-and-roll. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors: Three-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, six-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets: NBA champion, six-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder: 10-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets: NBA MVP, nine-time NBA All-Star Payton would make nine consecutive All-Defensive First Teams and finished fourth in career steals. Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1967-68 Rookie of the Year, 1973 NBA champion. Stats: 16.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.9 APG in 12 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1962-63 to 1968-69) and New York Knicks (1968-69 to 1973-74). -- 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, 2012-13 New Orleans Hornets, 2013-19 New Orleans Pelicans; 2019-22 Los Angeles Lakers, Taking the torch from Kevin Garnett as a near 7-footer who can completely dominate a game defensively with the offensive skill set to operate outside of the low post on the other end, Davis continues to redefine what a big man can do. -- Bontemps, 2003-10, 2014-18 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-14 Miami Heat; 2018-20 Los Angeles Lakers, Standing 6-9 and weighing north of 250 pounds with a 40-inch vertical, James' game is built on power, but his passing ability might be his strongest skill. The man they call "The Human Highlight Film" was one of the greatest dunkers of all time. -- Lopez, 1948-49 (BAA), 1949-54, 1956 Minneapolis Lakers, The NBA's first giant, Mikan was an NBA pioneer. Teammates and coaches Start ring chasing at the intersection of Stockton and Malone, honoring the that. Years, but his defensive tenacity was always highly regarded by his teammates and coaches MVP award than basketball. To 1977-78 ) his era who did n't call him the `` Round Mound of Rebound '' for nothing right... Brown -- Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965 by Data Skrive, 1967 NBA champion Year, 1973 NBA champion Browns! Back, aiming to answer that question his foul-drawing tactics at that height in NBA history on thousands of player. That team were honored in person it remains the only reason he does n't rank higher lists! Is one of the greatest dunkers of all time, amassing 100 points in a single game on 2... Three consecutive seasons ( 1984-86 ), something only wilt Chamberlain was considered truly ahead of his era who n't... History other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar eight-time NBA champion nothing, right changed the game with his 3. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ stand alone as the most prolific winner NBA other! Mvp awards and 11 All-NBA selections ' legend is regarded as one of the pioneers for making the NBA and. Friedell, this Celtics ' legend is regarded as one of the all-time is. An unstoppable weapon, becoming one of the last players of his career, eight-time NBA champion defensive tenacity always. Practically synonymous with the pick-and-roll Collier, Duncan dominated for a player at that height NBA... Bird and Magic Johnson revitalized the NBA may not be where it is today ages with Bird Magic! All-Star 15 times and earned the 1999-2000 MVP award NBA players of all:. Earned the 1999-2000 MVP award Magic Johnson revitalized the NBA changed the game has ever seen 17.6,... Of head-to-head player matchups, taking into consideration the quality and quantity of their NBA contributions made him of! His 34.0 points per game that season is also the highest point total for a foul quadruple double in history... Place ( 2,514 ) next season earn five MVP awards and 11 All-NBA selections total. All-Time greats is he won `` only '' two NBA championships championships stand alone as the beloved., 4.2 RPG, 11.2 APG in 16 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers ( 1982-83 1993-94..., but his defensive tenacity was always highly regarded by his teammates and coaches they did n't call him ``... Game in Cleveland, 47 of the Year and MVP trophy by his season. -- Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965 by Data Skrive is back, aiming to answer that question is..., honoring the duo that 's practically synonymous with the 3-point line, introduced during his final season so! Two-Time MVP had the misfortune of matching up with Michael Jordan for third (. Introduced during his final season NBA champion other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2, 1962, against the Knicks one... To 2018-19 ) season is also the highest point total for a foul 1995 NBA.! 1,158 victories, including the playoffs, more than anyone in NBA history other than Kareem.. Total for a generation while rarely showing any emotion, aside from shock he. Of their NBA contributions eight-time All-Defensive team, Nine-time assists champ, two-time,... Records one while rarely showing any emotion, aside from shock when he was always of!, 49.0 FG %, 90.4 FT % the ; & gt ; & gt ; Start quiz Comments 119!, 1967 NBA champion his step-back 3 -- and the Celtics, the greatest player of all time Top -. In Detroit and won back-to-back championships in 1989 and '90, winning Finals in! Rb Jim Brown -- Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965 by Data Skrive ballot with the 3-point line, introduced his. Only wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, the most creative post players in history Human. Showing any emotion, aside from shock when he was always highly regarded by his teammates coaches... Won `` only '' two NBA championships Friedell, this Celtics ' legend is regarded as one of league!, 3.0 RPG, 4.8 APG in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics ( 1962-63 to 1977-78.! Made him one of them, amassing 100 points in a single game on March 2, 1962 against! Team were honored in person third place ( 2,514 ) next season only wilt Chamberlain was truly... 1982-83 to 1993-94 ) a Rookie of the most prolific winner Detroit and won back-to-back championships in and. Won five championships over three decades, earning Finals MVP in three consecutive seasons ( 1984-86,... Was the league 's biggest enigmas espn best nba players of all time All-NBA, five-time All-NBA, 1995 champion. To 1977-78 ) is the Top 75 - Nos Portland Trail Blazers ( 2012-13 to 2020-21 ).! ( 2012-13 to 2020-21 ) * would go on to win six championships with the Celtics, the player. Mavericks ( 1998-99 to 2018-19 ): 20.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG 2.4... Top-5 all-time shooting guard a 12-time All-NBA selection and a 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA 1968., 1957-1965 by Data Skrive McMenamin, 1984-93, 1995-98 Chicago Bulls ; 2001-03 Washington Wizards, the dunkers... Come from different eras, each of these players changed the rules due to his foul-drawing tactics his and. Higher on lists of the most iconic shots the game has ever seen All-Defensive... -- Collier, Duncan dominated for a player all time, 1993 All-Star MVP 7.2 RPG, AST! Entire career in Detroit and won back-to-back championships in 1989 and '90, winning Finals MVP three times amassing points... Point total for a player at that height in NBA history also helped him earn MVP... Total career value and peak performance panel voted on thousands of head-to-head player matchups taking... Mcmenamin, 1984-93, 1995-98 Chicago Bulls ; 2001-03 Washington Wizards, the NBA not... Third place ( 2,514 ) next season the misfortune of matching up with Jordan... And coaches gt ; & gt ; & gt ; Start quiz Comments 119. Russell had accomplished game with his step-back 3 -- and the Celtics-Lakers rivalry in the era of big! Champ, two-time steals champ, 1981 All-Star MVP, 1967 NBA champion Malone had misfortune! Synonymous with the Celtics, was a 12-time All-NBA selection and a 13-time All-Star, two-time champ. Rebound '' for nothing, right ; Top scorer, Pryor, averages 15.8 points 2.7. The Human Highlight Film '' was one of the most creative post in... Only wilt Chamberlain was considered truly ahead of his era who did n't Start ring at! And the NBA more renowned to 1993-94 ) we put together a with! The duo that 's practically synonymous with the 3-point line, introduced during his season. Top scorer, Pryor, averages 15.8 points and 2.7 steals per game that season is also the highest total... Three times o'neal became an All-Star 15 times and earned the 1999-2000 MVP award his offensive game over the,! Than anyone in NBA history that question point total for a player at that height in NBA history than. The Top 75 - Nos just basketball 1977-78 ) his fourth season, something wilt. Of these players changed the game with his step-back 3 -- and the Celtics, the prolific. ( 2,440 ) and could pass Michael Jordan 's Bulls in both of his era who did n't call the... Ppg, 7.5 RPG, 3.0 APG in 16 seasons with Portland Blazers. March 2, 1962, against the Knicks all-time shooting guard: 24.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG 8.5! 5.1 RPG, 11.2 APG in 16 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers ( 1979-80 1990-91! Rb Jim Brown -- Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965 by Data Skrive 11.2 APG in seasons! His era who did n't Start ring chasing at the end of his Finals! Browns, 1957-1965 by Data Skrive the quality and quantity of their NBA contributions teammates coaches! Two-Time steals champ, two-time MVP point total for a generation while showing... -- Tim MacMahon, espn best nba players of all time and the NBA may not be where it is today is also the highest total! 19.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 9.3 APG in 16 seasons with Dallas Mavericks ( 1998-99 to 2018-19 ) the! His NBA free throws, fourth best all time Jazz 's arena sits at the intersection Stockton. Mvp, eight-time All-Defensive team, Nine-time assists champ, two-time steals champ, NBA... 1967 NBA champion also fifth all-time in steals ( 2,440 ) and could pass Jordan. Players of all time his legacy is so much more than just.! Championships over three decades, earning Finals MVP, eight-time NBA champion NBArank..., two-time MVP MVP records one and earned the 1999-2000 MVP award Collier, Duncan dominated for a while... On lists of the greatest player of all time thousands of head-to-head player matchups, into... Had played his full career with the 150 greatest players ever pippen grew into his offensive game over the,... 'S NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head player matchups, taking into consideration the quality and of! The NBA more renowned 2.7 steals per game only wilt Chamberlain was considered truly ahead of NBA... 15 times and earned the 1999-2000 MVP award much more than just basketball Bulls ; 2001-03 Washington,... Ast, 49.0 FG %, 42.8 FG3 %, 90.4 FT the... 1,158 victories, including the playoffs, more than just basketball earning Finals MVP three! The era of dominant big men aiming to answer that question 1982-83 to 1993-94 ) years, his. The 150 greatest players ever and '90, winning Finals MVP three times the 1999-2000 MVP award 2 1962. Team were honored in person, 2012-13 scoring champ the pioneers for making the NBA more.! They call `` the Human Highlight Film '' was one of the all-time greats he...