Toll Free: 1-888-759-2665Backup: 1-888-740-1958 

10 Greatest Players of All Time

There are many good basketball players, but there are those that have enjoyed particularly special careers and those are the ones that belong on our list of the 10 NBA Greatest Players of All Time…

Top 10 NBA Greatest Players of All Time

When it comes to the Greatest Players of All Time at the NBA, here’s our list of the top 10:

1 - Michael Jordan

Let’s start this recount with the number one player of all times: Michael Jordan!

Known as “Air Jordan” or “His Airness,” he’s probably the most recognizable face in the history of sports…

He’s a six-time NBA champ, and he earned the Finals MVP honors on each one of those championship series, going 6 for 6.

Doubtlessly, he’s the GOAT, the greatest of all time!

Highlights and Awards:

  • 6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
  • 14× NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003)

2 - Bill Russell

The main reason why he’s almost at the top of our list: he finished his NBA career with 11 championship titles!

He’s known as the best defender the league has ever seen, and also the greatest winner in all of the professional sports.

Highlights and Awards:

  • 11× NBA champion (1957, 1959–1966, 1968, 1969)
  • 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961–1963, 1965)
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1958–1969)

3 - Magic Johnson

He earned a title with the Lakers on his first year in the league, also getting the Rookie of the Year award, and the NBA Finals MVP honors, all during the same season!

He was a large point guard who was able to shred defensive players with accuracy and precision.

Highlights and Awards:

  • 5× NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
  • 3× NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987)
  • 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1987, 1989, 1990)
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1980, 1982–1992)

4 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Before the world met Tim Duncan, there was Abdul-Jabbar, who was the most consistent player of his era.

He’s the all-time leading scorer in the history of the league, and he was able to keep consistent positive figures for a total of 20 seasons, and that’s just an outstanding accomplishment!

Highlights and Awards:

  • 6× NBA champion (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (1971, 1985)
  • 6× NBA Most Valuable Player (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980)
  • 19× NBA All-Star (1970–1977, 1979–1989)

5 - Larry Bird

Bird played his entire career with the Boston Celtics, finishing his career with 3 NBA championships, 2 Finals MVP’s, and also 3 regular-season MVP awards!

This player was never the most athletic on the court, but he always displayed dominance.

And, even though le lacked athleticism, his basketball IQ made up for it.

Highlights and Awards:

  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
  • 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)

6 - LeBron James

He’s led two NBA teams to get championship titles, and now everybody’s just waiting for him to get a fourth title with the Lakers to escalate even more positions on this list.

Indeed, he’s the difference-maker everywhere he goes, and that’s why he’s King James!

Highlights and Awards:

  • 3× NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016)
  • 3× NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016)
  • 4× NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)
  • 15× NBA All-Star (2005–2019)

7 - Wilt Chamberlain

He was a very dominant player, maybe just as much as Shaq, but the only reason O’Neal is considered the most dominant player of all time it’s because Chamberlain wasn’t able to accomplish much during the postseason.

With that said, his figures were just unreal, averaging 50 points and 25 rebounds per match.

Highlights and Awards:

  • 2× NBA champion (1967, 1972)
  • NBA Finals MVP (1972)
  • 4× NBA Most Valuable Player (1960, 1966–1968)
  • 13× NBA All-Star (1960–1969, 1971–1973)

8 - Tim Duncan

If there was a consistent player in the league, that was Duncan! Just look at his stats, and you’ll know this is a completely true factor as you won’t find much variation.

Known as “The Big Fundamental,” he was able to lead the Spurs to acquire 4 NBA titles, earning himself 3 NBA Finals MVP awards in the process.

Highlights and Awards:

  • 5× NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
  • 3× NBA Finals MVP (1999, 2003, 2005)
  • 2× NBA Most Valuable Player (2002, 2003)
  • 15× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2011, 2013, 2015)

9 – Shaquille O’Neal

Shaq was the most dominant star of his whole generation.

It was just sad to witness how easy it was for him to brutalize the defensive players of other teams with his strength.

He managed to lead the Lakers to 3 straight NBA titles during the early 2000s and acquired an extra ring while playing for the Heat, earning himself the MVP Finals honors 3 times.

Highlights and Awards:

  • 4× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2006)
  • 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000–2002)
  • NBA Most Valuable Player (2000)
  • 15× NBA All-Star (1993–1998, 2000–2007, 2009)

10 – Hakeem Olajuwon

He was regarded as a big man with the biggest skills, always showing dominance on the inside of the court.

These skills included his signature “Dream Shake,” a move that puts the defender in a box, allowing the offensive player to read him well.

Olajuwon’s moves were so good and so popular that more recent superstars such as Kobe Bryant have asked for his tutelage to improve their particular games.

And, apart from his offensive power, this player is also recognized as one of the NBA’s greatest defenders, averaging 3.3 blocks per match.

Highlights and Awards:

  • 2× NBA champion (1994, 1995)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (1994, 1995)
  • NBA Most Valuable Player (1994)
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1985–1990, 1992–1997)

NBA Live Lines

Live Lines Menu
No Live Lines available to print in this moment.