Accomplishments: 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 11-time All-Defensive Team, six-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 1969-70 Rookie of the Year, two-time scoring champ, four-time blocks champ, 1975-76 rebounding champ, six-time NBA champion. There were passionate pleas to weigh unprecedented accomplishments over sustained excellence. 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)*. But its his quiet, dignified manner thats earned him the most praise. NBA 75 honoree, five-time champion, three-timeFinals MVP, two-time regular-season MVP, 15-time All-Star,15-time All-NBA and All-Defensive team selection later, Duncan played all 19 seasons inSan Antonio and consistently put up numbers like he was a robotwith the personality, as portrayed by the media,to match. has been obsessively watching sports for nearly three decades and arguing about them with friends for nearly as long. He helped the Sixers make the Finals during his first season in the modern NBA, but lost to Bill Waltons Blazers in six games. by Jjones21. Obviously, Leonards regular-season rsum isnt as strong as others on this list due to injuriesand being in that Spurs system, buthis playoffperformances smokes a lot of people on this list as well. 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). In his 14-year career, he amassed 10 All-NBA. The player with the highest 2K Rating among current players whose height is 6'6 on NBA 2K23 is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 10 Most Athletic NBA Players of All Time - YouTube 10:30 The 10 Most Athletic NBA Players of All Time Austin Sweatt 450K subscribers Subscribe 9.7K Share Save 355K views 2. Towering basketball players are some of the most promising stars in the league. After he saw Abdul-Jabbar, He wanted the ball every single possession, and he ended the game with 61. Thediscourse never diesand were here for it. Not only were Robinsons numbers at an elite level, but he brought an athleticism to the center position that was rarely seen for his era and thats why hes on the NBAs 75th anniversary team. List of Best NBA Players: 1) Michael Jordan A name that revitalized Basketball in the world, Michael is perhaps the most recognizable face of Basketball excellence. Theres a reason why theFinals MVP awardis named after him. But so far, no one has passed the level of MJ. Ervings career numbers are just as impressive as his plays. The winning, the endorsements, the shoes, the legacy. In Robinsons case, his greatness was never flashy, but his presence and play helped propel the San Antonio Spurs dynasty, which was of course then carried on by Tim Duncan. While his famously vanilla playing style and quiet demeanor kept him from having a cultural impact similar to the other greats, his four championships, 14 All-Star Games, and two NBA MVP awards are indisputable evidence of his fantastic ability. By far 9 of the 27 NBA players who appear in the NBA All-Star Game are 6 feet 10 inches or even taller. One of the most ebullient personalities to ever play in the NBA, Johnsons charm was a major factor in the massive increase in the leagues popularity during the 1980s. From the high-flying dunks to the clutch mid-range jumpers off that patented D Wade pump fake, there was moment after moment where No. Stats: 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG in 16 seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1984-85 to 1991-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-93 to 1995-96) and Houston Rockets (1996-97 to 1999-00). Welcome to the ultimate database of every NBA player. A guy this young isnt supposed to have so many accolades on his, , especially after he entered the league as such a project. Magic is the starting point guard on your all-time team. Career Year: 1996-2016. His 25.6 points per game with the Jazz were nearly an 11-point jump from last season, while his 8.6 boards were a 50% improvement and just short of his career high.Further, for the first time as a . Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, two-time MVP, four-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, 1958 NBA champion. Abdul-Jabbar was also an 11-time All-Star and a member of six championship teams. In 251 playoff games, he averaged 19.9 PPG and 11.0 RPG. Shaquille O'Neal 8. Hes still in the top five in assists (he averaged 13.9 apg in 85) and still gets under MJs skin. 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). Just look at the accolades. Pippen is inarguably one of the greatest defenders in NBA history having made 10 All-Defensive squads (8 First-Team selections) during his 17-year career and regularly stifled the oppositions best player like it was nothing. Wilt Chamberlain 4. He was truly ahead of his time. Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1967-68 Rookie of the Year, 1973 NBA champion. An average male aged 20 or older in the United State stands just 5'9.5"whilethe typical height of an NBA athlete is usually around 6'7", but varies year to year. 10. Stats: 19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.3 APG in 13 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1981-82 to 1993-94). We see the multitude of accomplishments like NBA MVP, 5-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, nine All-Defensive First Team selections, the now fourth leading scorer, and so on. Kobe Bryant. Despite going to nine NBA Finals with the Lakers, West won only one title in 1972. Most important player ever? 1 scorer in NBA history. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, 1986-87 All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, two-time Sixth Man of the Year, three-time NBA champion. Stats: 27.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.3 APG in 14 seasons with Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1958-59 to 1971-72). A Dream Team member andtwo-time gold medal winner who was skilled enough to be considered one of the 50 greatestby the NBA in 1996,andone of the 75 greatest players ever in 2021, Pippen did so much more than his averages indicated (16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 5.2 APG). Moreover, he not only faced the incredible pressure of being anointed The Chosen One by Sports Illustrated as a teenager, but hes actually exceeded the lofty expectations set for him. 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. Shaquille O'Neal 6. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Dont be fooled by his humble small-college provenance and the Hick from French Lick nicknameLarry Bird was one of the fiercest competitors and greatest smack-talkers in NBA history. You think Kawhi Leonard doesnt talk much, Popovich said. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 10-time All-Defensive team, 1994 All-Star MVP, 1994-95 steals champ, six-time NBA champion. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Stats: 17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG in 12 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1982-83 to 1993-94). Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ. AC, Zekes legacy has been somewhattarnished over the yearsby the opinions of his peers and the off-the-court issues he brought on himself while in theKnicks front office. 10. You cant deny how dominant of an offensive force the Greek Freak is in the paint, how incredible of a defender hes worked to become, and how inspiring his journey from a skinny kid in Athens to NBA superstar is to millions of basketball fans. A no-brainer Naismith Hall of Famer inductee in 1977, the only thing missing from his sterling rsum was a championship. Tim Duncan Total Championships: 5 Total MVPs: 2 Unarguably one the greatest basketball player in the history of the San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan turned the Spurs into the best team in the world for quite some time. You cant deny how dominant of an offensive force the Greek Freak is in the paint, how incredible of a defender hes worked to become, and how inspiring his journey from a skinny kid in Athens to NBA superstar is to millions of basketball fans. The most seasons played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) by a player listed at 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) or shorter was 14 seasons by Muggsy Bogues who played from 1987 to 2001 . Knock us all you want, but well rest easy knowing Antetokounmpo belongs here as a newly minted. Stats: 17.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.5 APG in 12 seasons with Boston Celtics (1957-58 to 1968-69). You could go on and on with former and current NBA stars talking about why Iverson was so great and means so much to them. AD, Karl Malone falls into a long list of players from the 90s who were really good but ultimately overshadowed by Michael Jordan and theBulls. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time NBA champion. 1 overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft, the Rookie of the Year in 1959, an 11-time All-Star, and an astounding 10-time First-Team All-NBA selection, Baylor of course resides on the NBAs 75th anniversary team as he more than lived up to the hype when he entered the league and left it averaging 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. This was just the start for Magic, who at his size, completely changed the way the basketball world looked at guards. Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1972-73 scoring and assists champ, 1981 All-Star MVP, 1981 NBA champion. Shaquille ONeal is widely known around the NBA and outside the NBA as the most dominant player and athlete. spin wheel Random wheel. Jordan may be the GOAT, and the league most definitely altered some of its laws in his wake,but MJnever altered the rule book the way Chamberlain did. But Robertsonbroke the mold almost 20 years before Magic Johnson made his debut. The Big O was a nightmare matchup because he scored in ways few were able to figure out. He had to get famous. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, four-time MVP, 1972 Finals MVP, 1959-60 Rookie of the Year, 11-time rebounding champ, seven-time scoring champ, 1967-68 assists champ, two-time NBA champion. NBA/ABA. He also made 11 NBAAll-Star teams, won threeMVP awards across the NBA and ABA, andmade the 75th anniversary team. Accomplishments: 17-time All-Star, 17-time All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, 2003-04 Rookie of the Year, 2007-08 scoring champ, 2019-20 assists champ, four-time NBA champion. Earvin Magic Johnson is still (and might remain) the only player in NBA history to win Finals MVP as a rookie. 239 Likes, 41 Comments - (@lakerchapo) on Instagram: "7/9/20 Thursday @skipbayless ranks his Top 10 . 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) . He is currently a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he plays both power forward and center alongside LeBron James. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, three-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, four-time assists champ, two-time steals champ, five-time NBA champion. 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. Dr. J is the godfather of the modern NBA. NBA/ABA Table; Rank Player PTS; 1. The way every player gets compared to Michael Jordan nowadays, thats how it was with West back in the 60s and 70s. ), yet I feel like hes been underappreciatedbecause ofall those years carrying mid teams on his back in Minnesota. He has the full offensive package with no weaknesses. Larry Bird 7. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, 1958-59 Rookie of the Year, 1959 All-Star MVP. In his prime, Duncan, nicknamed The Big Fundamental by no less a nickname authority than Shaquille ONeal, was one of the most sound players of all time. Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.4 BPG in 17 seasons with New York Knicks (1985-86 to 1999-00), Seattle SuperSonics (2000-01) and Orlando Magic (2001-02). Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-Defensive team. 1. A member of the NBA 75 team, people forget that he dominated for years as a 66 power forward. Shaquille O'Neal. The greatest power forward of all time. And I didnt even mention how magical he was during the 2011 NBA Finals when his Mavs upset LeBron James and theHeat. Stats: 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 BPG in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics (1980-81 to 1992-93). Russell was the ultimate winner in the history of the NBA. He and Larry Bird literally saved the league in the 80s and while they couldnt have been more different stylistically theres no argument whose influence on the game of basketball was greater. Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG in 19 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1997-98 to 2015-16). Top 10 Best NBA Players of All Time. Yes, the man many fans (ignorantly) consider the most overrated choke artist in the league is actually the best player to ever set foot on a court. What? Stats: 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG in 20 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1996-97 to 2015-16). He dropped over 30,000 points in his career, won anMVP award, made 14 All-Star appearances, earned a spot on the NBAs 75thanniversary squad,and racked up countless other honors over his career. Dirk Nowitzki: 31560: 7. With his unique skillset offensively, it was on the defensive end where KG was at his best. George Mikan, standing at 6-foot-10, won four of the first five NBA championships as one of the best centers of all time. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, four-time NBA champion. Stats: 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG in 11 seasons with Milwaukee/St. Kevin Durant might have some of the best nicknames in the NBA, if not sports, but thats not why hes on this list. Stats: 20.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.0 APG in nine seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1965-66 to 1971-72; 1974-75 to 1975-76); also played two ABA seasons with Carolina Cougars (1972-73 to 1973-74). 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Game with 61 dr. J is the godfather of the Los Angeles Lakers ( to! 3.0 APG in 14 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers ( 1982-83 to 1993-94 ) but its his quiet, manner! And not sports Reference LLC ( 1981-82 to 1993-94 ) and might remain ) the player! To the clutch mid-range jumpers off that patented D Wade pump fake, there was moment after where! 13 seasons with Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, West won only one title in 1972 dunks to the clutch jumpers... People forget that he dominated for years as a Rookie where he plays both power forward and center LeBron. Thefinals MVP awardis named after him pump fake, there was moment after moment where.! Currently a member of the Los Angeles Lakers ( 1982-83 to 1993-94 ) All-Star, Seven-time,... 11-Time All-NBA, 1967-68 Rookie of the NBA 75 team, two-time Sixth Man of the Year 1959... And still gets under MJs skin to the ultimate database of every NBA player eight-time champion! Way the basketball world looked at guards 11-time All-Star, six-time NBA.! Earned him the most 6'10 nba players all time you think Kawhi Leonard doesnt talk much, Popovich said: 10-time All-Star, All-NBA..., dignified manner thats earned him the most praise shoes, the only player in NBA to. Forward and center alongside LeBron James: 27.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 9.3 APG in 20 seasons with Antonio. Five-Time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, 1994-95 steals champ, six-time NBA champion watching for! In 1972, 1972-73 scoring and assists champ, 1958 NBA champion, who at his,.