Wanting to know the best NBA players of all time? In this post, we have written a well-updated list of the greatest NBA players of all time. Here we will be talking about the best NBA players and their individual achievements.
Who is the best NBA player of all time? You must have been looking for an authentic answer for this question, this is the reason why RichUpdates came up with this topic to provide an answer to your question.
What makes a basketball player a true sports icon? Your records, awards, titles with your teams? A combination of everything is what led these athletes to finish as the best in the history of the most important league in the world.
There will always be different opinions on this kind of ranking, especially when it comes to competition as important and rich as the National Basketball Association (NBA). That’s why we didn’t want to stop mentioning Jerry West, David Robinson, Kevin Garnett and Karl Malone even though they are not on the list of the top NBA players of all time.
Three of those we will name below are still active, so they can still enrich their history in the league. We present to you the 15 best NBA players of all time.
THE 15 BEST NBA PLAYERS OF ALL TIME
We present you the best NBA players of all-time listing their achievements, team, and full details about each player, Check out the greatest NBA players of all time;
15. Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant is one of the best NBA players of all time; Durant is an excellent middle distance shooter with a privileged physique that allows him to play in different positions on the court. Kevin Durant is without a doubt one of the best NBA players today, and he is also on the list of the most outstanding of all time.
Kevin Durant Born in September 29, 1988, he is an American professional basketball player, he was the league’s leading scorer consecutively between 2009 and 2012, and again in 2014, the year in which he finished with the MVP of the season award. He joined the NBA’s Best 5, six times and participated in the All-Star in 10.
As a team achievement, he conquered the league championship with the Golden State Warriors twice (2017 and 2018), being the Most Valuable Player of both Finals. We will have to wait to find out if he will get more awards and titles in the future, for him making it to our list of best NBA players of all time, it means he still got much to offer.
14. Moses Malone
Moses Eugene Malone was an American basketball player born in March 23, 1955. He was one of the first to go straight from high school to a professional league, joining the ABA Utah Stars in 1974.
With the league acquitted, Malone transferred to the Buffalo Braves and then the Rockets. With Houston, he managed to win two awards to the MVP of the season, in 1979 and 1982.
After being traded to the Sixers, in his first season with his new team, he finished again as the League’s Most Valuable Player. In addition, he led Philadelphia to the NBA championship, with Malone being the MVP of the Finals.
13. Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon was born on January 21, 1963; He is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player.
He played 17 of his 18 NBA seasons with the Rockets, where he became the team’s top scorer. He was champion twice with Houston, being chosen MVP in both Finals. In addition, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the season in 1994.
Among his other achievements, it is worth mentioning that he has been a member of the NBA’s Best 5 six times and 12 times included in All-Star games. He is the only player to have won the MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player awards in the Year in the same season (1994).
12. Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson was born in November 24, 1938, with a nickname “the Big O,” he is an American retired professional basketball. Oscar Robertson played for Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He made his mark in the league in his second season in the NBA.
He was the first in history to triple-double in a season, averaging 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game. He did it in 1962, in his second year as an NBA player, and he almost did it again in 1964 and 1965.
He won the MVP of the season award in 1964 and was the league champion in 1971, the latter wearing the Milwaukee Bucks jersey. In addition, he joined the Best 5 in the NBA nine times and was selected for 12 All-Star games.
11. Stephen Curry
Wardell Stephen “Steph” Curry II is an American basketball professional player born March 14, 1988, He played for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
One of the few on the list that we can still enjoy today. The Warriors player has already achieved glory by conquering three NBA championships, but unlike most of this ranking, he was not chosen as MVP of any of those Finals. For many, an unfair decision.
He was a member of the league’s Best 5 three times and was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the season twice. In addition, he is one of the greatest triple throwers in history. He has the record for the most touchdowns of three in a season with 402. At 31, surely, there are several more years left for Curry in the NBA.
10. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player, born in August 23, 1978. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers, along with Shaquille O’Neal, to three consecutive NBA championships between 2000 and 2002. Years later, he earned two more rings (2009 and 2010) with the Los Angeles team, where he played all of his career. He was chosen MVP of these last two Finals.
Despite his abilities, he was only chosen once as the Most Valuable Player of the season, but he was selected for 18 All-Star games and served 11 times in the Best NBA. In 2006 he reached 81 points in a game against the Raptors, a figure second only to Wilt Chamberlain.
9. Shaquille O’Neal
The great Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal conquered the championship with the Lakers and Miami. Born in March 6, 1972, he is presently a retired professional American basketball player and proceeded as a Sport Analyst on Basketball related programs.
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant players in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was a four-time NBA champion, three with the Lakers and one with the Heat. In addition, he won the MVP award of the three Finals with the Los Angeles team.
On an individual level, Shaq was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the season in 2000 and was the best in the league eight times. Currently, he continues to remain the eighth-highest scorer in the NBA.
8. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman Chamberlain, one of the best NBA players of all time, was an American Basketball player, born in August 21, 1936. He was always recognized more for his individual than group statistics.
And how not to do it? Despite retiring from basketball in 1973, Chamberlain still holds more than 70 NBA records, including scoring more than 100 points in a single game. He also managed to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in one season. Nade was able to do it in the history of the competition, and Chamberlain did it seven times consecutively.
He was an NBA champion twice (once with the Sixers and once with the Lakers) and was named MVP in one of the Finals. He also won the season’s Most Valuable Player award four times and made it to the league’s Best 5 seven times.
7. Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore Duncan, popularly known as Tim Duncan is one of the best NBA players of all time, born on April 25, 1976. Tim Duncan is a former American professional basketball player and coach who also served as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Possibly one of the most complete players of all time, both when it comes to defending and attacking. A true example as an athlete and, of course, a symbol for the San Antonio Spurs. He visited the Texas outfit jersey from 1997 to 2016, winning five NBA championships along the way.
He finished twice as MVP of the season and three as MVP of the Finals. In addition, he has the extraordinary mark of having integrated the NBA’s Best 5, 10 times and having participated in the All-Star 15 times.
6. Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird, popularly known as Larry Bird during his career made some remarkable achievements, Larry Bird made it on the list of the best NBA players of all time for his achievements so far. Born in December 7, 1956, he is an American former professional basketball player and also a former coach.
He spent his 13-year career playing for the Celtics and became one of the team’s legends. During the 1980s, he was always included among the season’s MVP candidates, winning three of those awards consecutively between 1984 and 1986.
With Boston, he conquered three NBA championships and was twice chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the Finals. In addition, he joined the Best Fifth in the league nine times and had to finish his career prematurely (1992) due to chronic problems in his back. He is considered by many to be the best forward in league history.
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5. Magic Johnson
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. is one of the best NBA players of all time, born in August 14, 1959.
His nickname says it all. Earvin Johnson was one of the players who made the NBA a real show. His passing and assists to teammates never ceased to amaze, and he grabbed everyone’s attention by wearing the Los Angeles Lakers jersey during the 1980s.
He was five times champion of the league, being chosen MVP in three of those finals. In addition, he finished his career with three awards for the Most Valuable Player of the season and he was named the NBA’s Best nine times.
4. Bill Russell
William Felton Russell, popularly known as Bill Russell, is the fourth on our list of the best NBA players of all time. He was born in February 12, 1934.
We go back to 1956 when Russell came to the Celtics to change the history of the team and the league forever. It was the cornerstone for Boston to win 11 NBA titles – eight of them consecutively – over a period of 13 years. No one has as many championships as him. One more fact? He was a coach-player during the last two campaigns in which he devoted himself.
Moving to the individual level, he was chosen five times as MVP of the season and was part of the Best 5 in the NBA three times.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul–Jabbar was born on April 16, 1947, he competed 20 years in the NBA (Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers) and retired at 42 as the leading scorer, blocker, defensive rebounder and the player with the most games in the league, exceeding 65,000 minutes of play. A true basketball legend, especially for his record of having been chosen MVP of the season on six occasions.
Abdul-Jabbar, known as Lew Alcindor before changing his name, won six league championships, being Most Valuable Player in two Finals. He also was a member of the NBA’s Best 5, 10 times and was selected 19 times for the All-Star, although he played 18. In his last season, he was recognized with a tribute on all courts.
2. LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Sr. born December 30, 1984, has already won titles with Cleveland and Miami. Will he make it with the Lakers?
To this day, the comparisons between LeBron and the number one on this list continue to exist, when you could put all that aside and just enjoy James’ extraordinary talent while continuing to play in the NBA.
At 35 years old and wearing the Los Angeles Lakers jersey, he has undoubtedly done enough to be considered one of the best NBA players of all time. In his career, he conquered three league championships (two with the Miami Heat and one with the Cleveland Cavaliers) and was chosen MVP of those Finals.
In addition, he has four recognitions as the Most Valuable Player. He also boasts the impressive mark of having played nine Finals consecutively between 2010 and 2018. And he can still continue to reap titles and awards!
1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the best NBA player of all time, Michael Jordan is the greatest NBA player of all time, he was born in February 17, 1963, also known by his initials MJ.
Was there any doubt? Michael Jordan is not only the best basketball player of all time, but he is also part of the group of the greatest athletes in history. Even for some, the Bulls would have won eight titles consecutively if they hadn’t left the league for two years between 1994 and 1996.
Six NBA championships and MVP awards in each of those Finals, and five Season Most Valuable Player awards are just a few of Jordan’s great accomplishments throughout his career. As if that were not enough, he was part of the Best fifth in the NBA 10 times, from 1987 to 1993 and from 1996 to 1998, and nine times the Best Defensive.
TAGS: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Kevin Durant.