With the National Basketball Association season starting in less than one month, a popular discussion also starts with basketball fans across the world. This of course is the “greatest of all time” conversation.
Many fans of the NBA have mixed opinions on who the greatest player of all time is, so I think it’s appropriate for me to share my top 10 greatest of all time. Starting with number 10, I believe the tenth greatest basketball player of all time is Stephen Curry.
Steph is a four time NBA champion, two time most valuable player, one time NBA Finals MVP, and an 11 time all star. Long hailed as the greatest shooter ever, Curry has proven he’s far more than that. His unmatched off-ball movement and gravitational pull reshape defenses and elevate every team he’s on.
While the Warriors have had great rosters, none of their success happens without him. His game fits with anyone — a truly unique, one-of-a-kind talent.
Coming in at number nine I have Wilt Chamberlin. Wilt is a two time champion, four time MVP, one time NBA Finals MVP, 13 time all star, and the 1960 NBA Rookie of the Year. Wilt dominated the NBA from the start, averaging 37.6 points and 27 rebounds as a rookie and later putting up an unreal 50.4 points while playing nearly every minute.
He once scored 100 points in a game and led the league in assists just to prove he could. His stats remain unmatched, a testament to his overwhelming size, strength, and athleticism that the early NBA had no answer for.
At number eight I have Larry Bird. Bird is a three time NBA Champion, three time MVP, two time NBA Finals MVP, 12 time all star, and the 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year. Bird’s 13-year career with the NBA has been nothing but influential. Being one of the greatest playmakers of all time, he really made it known that limits in the NBA are meant to be broken.
Number seven on my list is Tim Duncan. Duncan is a five time champion, two time MVP, three time NBA finals MVP, and a 15 time all star. Being the best defensive player on the San Antonio Spurs since David Robinson, Duncan anchored a historic run for the Spurs that lasted nearly two decades.
Coming in at number six I have Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq was a four time champion, one time MVP, three time NBA finals MVP, 15 time allstar, and the 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year. There’s no question that Shaq was the most dominant center during his time in the NBA. There was nobody in the league that could stop him when he drove to the basket. This is what happens when the unstoppable force is the immovable object.
Moving into the top five, I have Kobe Bryant. Kobe is a five time champion, one time MVP, two time NBA Finals MVP, and an 18 time all star. Kobe is the most influential player to ever step on an NBA court. From his playmaking to his shooting, Kobe could do it all during his time in the NBA.
At number four, I have Magic Johnson. Magic was a five time champion, three time MVP, three time NBA Finals MVP and a 12 time all star. There’s no doubt that Magic is the greatest point guard of all time. Leading the Los Angeles Lakers on the run that they had in the 1980s, Magic was a true playmaker.
At number three, I have Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem is a six time champion, six time MVP, two time NBA Finals MVP, 19 time all star, and the 1970 NBA Rookie of the Year. The duo of Kareem and Magic in the 80s was unstoppable, and it was largely due to Kareem. He is one of the greatest scorers of all time and was unstoppable whenever he touched the ball.
At number two I have Michael Jordan. Jordan is a six time champion, five time MVP, six time finals MVP, 14 time all star, and the 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year. Jordan changed the game of basketball when he stepped on the court for the very first time. He was unstoppable in the 90s with his unmatched athleticism and had an iconic career in the NBA.
The greatest basketball player of all time is LeBron James. LeBron is a four time champion, four time MVP, four time NBA Finals MVP, 21 time all star, 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year, and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Ever since LeBron came to the league out of high school, he’s been the greatest.
Longevity is a big part of what you look for in an NBA player. There’s no question that LeBron is simply the GOAT.