Greatest Basketball Players Of All Time

created by rhamilt

The most dominating and revolutionary players ever. Don't agree with the list? Place your vote or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on.

Vote for Michael Jordan 1) Michael Jordan

Argue with me, I dare you...

No duh mj at #1 why would kobe be #2, we made our list, and it’s way less bs than this one.

BABBLEBALL

==============================
Michael Jordan Career Averages
------------------------------
Regular Season
Points: 30.12
Field Goal: 49.7
Rebounds: 6.2
Assists: 5.3
Steals: 2.4
Blocks: 0.8

Playoffs:
Points: 33.4
Field Goal: 48.7
Rebounds: 6.4
Assists: 5.7
Steals: 2.1
Blocks: 0.9

---------------------------
Kobe Bryant Career Averages
---------------------------
Regular Season
Points: 25.1
Field Goal: 45.5
Rebounds: 5.3
Assists: 4.6
Steals: 1.5
Blocks: 0.5

Playoffs:
Points: 25.0
Field Goal: 44.7
Rebounds: 5.1
Assists: 4.7
Steals: 1.4
Blocks: 0.7

Sorry Kobe.

TheTruth


Vote for Kobe Bryant 2) Kobe Bryant

best player ever he is so much better
than mj

yoz

KOBE HAS TO BE NO. 1! U CANT EVEN COMPARE MJ TO KOBE! MJ IS A LIL OVERRATED AND HES NOT AS GOOD AS KOBE AND MJ IS A HOG!

mariolakers

Kobe is a legend still playing B BALL he has won the 2009 championship and will win again next year

LMB


Vote for LeBron James 3) LeBron James

1. lebron
2. jordan
3. bryant
4. magic
5. bird

456jackson

youngest player ever to win mvp award

456jackson

The rest of you are tellin lies, LeBron James is The Truth

Pretty_Boy


Vote for Larry Bird 4) Larry Bird

When magic johnson says he’s scared of a man
then that man is the best ever

Grizleybear

Gotta love Larry Bird

Iron_Rose

Nobody can compete with bird with the game on the line.


Vote for Allen Iverson 5) Allen Iverson

he is only 6’1" and 130 lb but is the 3rd best scorer of all time that means he just knows how to get it done

joro808

a lot things to say for this basketball player... but only one thing is important that he is and he will be the best of all time...

gramospylla

iverson is one of the best players of all time and he deservs top be the second player before jordan

gramospylla


Vote for Wilt Chamberlain 6) Wilt Chamberlain

Simply the most dominating player of his era. Rules were changed because of his dominance. Whether he could dominate in todays game is in question, he simply may not be fast enough. Then again Mike Jordan wouldn’t dominate if he played 25 yrs ago simply because back then they actually "called" traveling, palming, and offensive fouls. Not that is his fault but, he played so fast that refs simply couldn’t see him take that 3 and sometimes fourth step, the hop/step, the "up and down" plays he so frequently committed. Then again, thats todays game in general. Back when Wilt played, the competion level was so much higher because of the fact that there weren’t so many teams thus so many players. One last thing. I don’t think LeBron should be on this list just yet (he may be one of the most talented players but that does not equate into "best" of all time) He needs to play for several more years and continue putting up numbers. Then he can be considered on of the best.

schugeorge

THe Big Dipper is 4 me the greatest and biggest and of course most dominant force in NBA history. He would be nr 1 but most people of this time don´t know him because he played in the 60´s. Chamberlain 100 points in one game, and he said he even get more than 100 but he wanted that lucky number 100 too stay. Best Player check out the season 1961-62, What stats you find. RIP Wilt The Stilt

copkiller

He was simply amazing. When you look at guys like Michael Jordan and nowadays guys like Bryant and James they are breaking records and trying to set standards for themselves. It all started back with Chamberlain he was the man to make all this status and records that are held to be broken, his pro career was mid-length not as long as some basketball players but he made it is no doubt.

Undertaker15-0


Vote for Magic Johnson 7) Magic Johnson

No body came close to this dude when came to court vision except for maybe Stockton. Could have taken any team to the finals by himself, best passing/scoring guard in history.

in one game, he played all 5 positions... I seen him throw the ball from one end of the court to the other on a buzzer beater and make it.. I love to watch him play

jwileson

Magic Johnson is the consummate team player and a leader on a team full of all-stars. Without Magic they are like the Mavericks... great team no real victories! Magic is the best point guard to touch a basketball and winning the championship that year without Jabbar should tell you Magic never needed the help that Jordan required... clutch shot take Jordan clutch game take Magic!


Vote for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 8) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

#8?!?!?!?!? Holy crap! This guy scored the most points and is the coolest and most unique player ever. He invented the 1 arm hookshot!

moose4life19

Kareem vs jordan kareem creams jordan and jordan goes crying to his mama

olhrocks

No player represents the 70’s and 80’s as well as Jabbar. An amazing player. Will always remember is one arm hook shot, known as the Sky Hook, it made history.

Undertaker15-0


Vote for "Pistol" Pete Maravich 9) "Pistol" Pete Maravich

Amazing to watch! Should be:
1. Michael Jordan
2. Pistol Pete Maravich
3. Bill Russel
4. Larry Bird
5. Dr. J

3anegroes

he’s the best person I’ve ever know that played basketball

The Original Showtime!

He was Showtime before there was Showtime!


Vote for Bill Russell 10) Bill Russell

Micheal Jordan was to scoring like Bill Russell was to defense. You won’t see this guy on any all-time scoring lists, but on every top ten list in NBA history. (Not to mention 5 MVPs and 11 rings, yikes!)

I would simply like to say that with all due respect to the names listed here, you must remember that this is a TEAM game. If you wanted to talk about who is the best 1 on 1 player based on his individual talents and all around skills, then that is a different subject all together. The overall skill level of the game has certainly changed over the last couple of decades, but, some good, and some maybe not so good. The game was first played with much more physical play, and in most cases the player had more rules that restricted much of the modern day displays of athleticism, no doubt. But back to the main quest for who was the most dominant individual player of the game. There are only two names that stand out above all others, Statistically that should go to Wilt Chamberlain, but when you look at the ultimate goal for playing the game, it was to win a championship, and no one, not even M. J. , nor Kobe, came even close to the overall domination of the entire sport itself. Also remember that No rules were ever changed for M. J. , or Kobe, that would slow them down in there pursuit of excellence. Both Wilt & Russell did just that, they were so dominant, that the entire game was revamped in order to take away there athletic abilities, and that did not even change what Bill accomplished as a winner of the ultimate prize.

M. J. & KOBE, and all other modern day greats have had the rules enhanced in order to show case and favor there great athletic abilities, and never did they have rules which would take away there already physical advantages. So there you have it, if you are playing Golf, then stick with the man who won the most trophies, and Tennis the person who won the most titles, but when talking about a 5 man team, who else contributed more and accomplished more at every level of the game, College, 2 championships, Olympic Gold, 11 NBA championship out of 13 years playing, and the 2 years he did not win, he was injured. THIS IS A TEAM GAME, and the comparisons are right there in full view, the stats don’t lie, you tell me how was it possible for someone to dominate to that level, and then there is the additional social and society issues that these black players had to endure, that were not as prevalent in the more modern era. Different times, different circumstances. A lot of hype in those modern showcases, I would never count this man out as the most dominant player who made the biggest impact at every level of this game we call basketball, Collegiate player, Professional Player, Coach, and so on, life experiences, and the continued respect of the people who surrounded him.

In RUSSELL’S AUTO-biography, he writes: It was at a Thanksgiving family setting when my Grandson had asked me a question? , Grandpa? "were ever as good as Michael Jordon? , Grandpa Russell looked down at his grandson, and said, "son, you’ve got that question backwards, you should be asking, "if whether or not M. J. was ever as good as your GRANDFATHER? "

And the footnote in a joking gesture bill said he was thinking of writing his grandson out of his will, lol.

CRUISERJ

As long as the Celtics had Russell, they kept winning. I remember Red Auerbach saying that the year after Russell left (1970) and the team went dowhill. Russell blocked shots and kept the ball in play. His defense won games. He played against WIlt Chamberlain and except for 1967, when WIlt’s team won, the Celtics won every year and beat out WIlt. Russell has a record nobody will ever achieve again- 11 championships in 13 years. Today, the game has changed. There are more big men and we now have essentially two centers. One is the traditional center and the other is the power forward. Kevin Garnett is a Russell-type shot blocker, but he plays power forward. It is much harder today for a center to dominate a game because there are two "centers" or big men per team. Russell made the Celtics world champions 11 of 13 seasons he played. I don’t believe Russell could be this dominant in today’s game. He was an intellectual player and basketball is an intellectual game. He was a student of the game. In 1970 in college I asked Bill how he could continually beat Chamberlain’s teams as Wilt was about 4 or 5 inches taller. My recollection is he said, "Young man, I can jump flat footed and grab the top of the backboard. " He was an incredible athlete, a fact not that many people recognize today because Bill didn’t lay the glamor position of a big time scorer. Guys like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade are great players. They just could not have the impact of a big man like BIll Russell. Look at Wade. He needed Shaq to win. Look at Kobe. He needed Shaq and later Gasol. Jordan needed Cartwright and Pippen. These days one man on the team cannot make the impact Russell did in the 1950s and 1960s.

basketballer


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Choices Not In The Top Ten

Vote for Dwayne Wade 11) Dwayne Wade

He wouldn’t be one of my first choices but he damn well should be on the list, he is an amazing basketball player.

Undertaker15-0

wade is the best player no lie bout that

The way he gets to the rim and draws the foul is amazing

Vote for Julius Erving 12) Julius Erving

Earned an NBA championship ring, won an NBA MVP award, went to 11 NBA all star games and took home the all star MVP twice ... and that doesn’t even count the two ABA titles, two ABA MVP awards and 6 ABA all star games. Dr. J was the dominant player of his era and completely changed the way the game is played today.

Dr J was Dr Dunk. His move over Kareem was monumental... remember the under the basket hang time it was forever... or his famous dunk from the free through line... now there is history!

dr.J made tha 76ers what they are today.... deserve better placement in da list...

Vote for Steve Nash 13) Steve Nash

Greatest point gaurd I know, he is simply amazing, he gets it out there to guys who can really score. For example Nash on the Suns would send it up to guys like Marion to take the dunk, and if the team is in trouble, Nash has his good hand for 3’s. He is a great player.

Undertaker15-0

I love him so much is is an impact on me

Nash is a beast what can he not do this year he is doing everything when he first got drafted by the suns they made a huge mistake now look at if he would have played so many years there would be number 1 named Steve Nash

Vote for Kevin Garnett 14) Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett is the greatest basketball player of them all he just didnt have the right team. Now that he’s with the celtics he’s going to be number one

Kevin Garnett changed the way big mens play in the nba and he isnt even on this list? Only player in NBA history to average 20+ points 10+ rebounds 5+ asst in six straight seasons.

Vote for Shaquille O’Neal 15) Shaquille O’Neal

He gave the NBA a lot more image and he has a lot of NBA Championships he is an important part of the Greatest NBA players of all time

noahhurrle

he is a bear man

xdogg

Nobody can do a better charge then this man. He currently I think the most experience pro-basketball player on the NBA Roster being on currently 15 years. I mean he is simply amazing. Him along with the amazing Dwayne Wade to Miami Heats to places it hasn’t gone before.

Undertaker15-0

Vote for Tracy McGrady 16) Tracy McGrady

T-mac is the best. T-mac does not try as hard as Kobe and LEBROn if he did he would be on the top 10 also he has got injured a lot

TMAC; 13 points in 35 seconds; IMO, one of the top 3 most talented outside scorers/slashers to ever step onto the hardwood. He needs a ring though... he is Hall of Fame bound.

even though he aint got no rings he still the best nba player. he shoul be before kobe and steve cause kobe a ball hog and steve can just play offense t-mac is good at every thing if he was healthy he can play every position if he wanted to.

Vote for Tim Duncan 17) Tim Duncan

Duncan at number 20??

You have to be kidding me!!! LOL

The nest power forward ever!!!should be ranked #1

3 titles, 3 Finals MVP’s in eight years and plenty more to come

Vote for Oscar Robertson 18) Oscar Robertson

The Big O was exactly that.

Apparently this is not a basketball site, with Robertson and Jabbar not on the top 10. Enough said.

only reason he isnt talked about is because he wasn’t flashy, he just got it done.

Vote for Karl Malone 19) Karl Malone

the least you could do is put this guy in top ten!!!

Vote for Dirk Nowitzki 20) Dirk Nowitzki

Greatest player ever. He’s actually talented not like Wilt, Russel, or shaq that just dunk. Most talented ever. Don’t like this comment stick it

Wow! this man has 3’s and plays inside almost better than Shaq.

dirk should be higher up on the list! this is unacceptable! he won the mvp for crying out loud!

Vote for John Stockton 21) John Stockton

Any one who says John would have been nothin with out Karl (or the other way around) should be shot. Best point guard of all time. Most assists ever, most steals ever, best shorts ever.

John Stockton is the best point guard to play the game

whew good thing not going to get shot..(laughs) stockton should get more credit than he does

Vote for Ray Allen 22) Ray Allen

the best

Best Shooter Ever

Vote for Hakeem Olajuwon 23) Hakeem Olajuwon

He never had stars to help him and even when he did (drexler and barkley) they were on the downside of there career. If he had played with teams as talented as the bulls he would have won more than jordan.

ChrisHenry

The greatest ever.

peru12345

watch The Dream’s dream shake vs. David Robinson. That is all you gotta see to realize that he was the most phenomenal player of any generation. All time blocks leader. two rings. thats 2 more than nash, tmac, stockton, malone, james, and ai. did it single handedly. only had drexler half the season in 95. The Dream did it all. double-double, triple-double, quadruple-double, you name it.

Vote for Luke Walton 24) Luke Walton

the best

Vote for J.J. Redick 25) J.J. Redick

Vote for Vince Carter 26) Vince Carter

He is my favourite. Is the best dunker ever and is the best after MJ.

i-love-rock-n-roll

hell naw! Vince Carter number two after michael jordan...

no one exept mabee mj or lebron is better than this guy

Vote for Carmelo Anthony 27) Carmelo Anthony

he is not better than michael jordan but his is very very good

he is the greatest player ever MJ sucks compared to him

He could play forward and guard at the same time

Vote for Dwight Howard 28) Dwight Howard

if you watch dwight at the 2008 slam dunk comp ud vote him for top 10

GunsNJovi

why the hell is he here won the slam dunk contest 2008 has been in all nba first team been in the all star team three times been in the defensive team and he is going to win an mvp soon

james001

The Most Dominant in the league

Vote for Manu Ginobili 29) Manu Ginobili

Manu’s the best in the world, and he’s Argentinian!!!

AGUANTE MANU, EL MEJOR DEL BASKET!

juani23

Manu is a dog. He can possibly be the most unstoppable player ever. Maybe the best player

He is simply incredibe. He And Duncan Were like ’’Who can stop us’’ Also Player Of The Olympics 2004 When He Absolutely Demolished Your USA Crapheads Why not on the list i tell you why because you don’t have a brain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vote for Jerry West 30) Jerry West

How come Jerry West is not in the top 10?! I’m guessing nobody knows him. Well in case y’all didn’t know he is the NBA logo and trust me there’s a reason for that.

Any list without Jerry West in the top 10 is stupid. This list must have been made by 15 year olds because most of the all time greats are not here. Vince Carter as number 19. No Baylor...no West. You’re kidding...right!

Vote for George Mikan 31) George Mikan

Shaq? Hakeem? Kareem? Wouldn’t exist without George Mikan. This guy wrote the book on NBA big men and was the most dominating player of his time.

...and he had great glasses

Vote for Pau Gasol 32) Pau Gasol

very agile for a 7 footer

gouchesweat

Vote for Jason Kidd 33) Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd may not be a big scorer or dunker, but he is consistent and a person his teamates could rely on

tntrocksbb

took two below average teams to the Finals, should have 2 MVPs, best all around PG ever behind Magic. He deserves some reconition, also 40-0 in international basketball games for team USA

should be higher! triple double specialist! MAybe one the top ten ever he is so good all around!

Vote for Charles Barkley 34) Charles Barkley

The Best power Foward Ever

Vote for Gilbert Arenas 35) Gilbert Arenas

he one of the best now

Agent zero deserves to be a little higher rated than this!

The best little man in the NBA, soon to overcome A.I. and if he grew 5 inches would dominate Lebron. Calls his own shots!

Vote for Peja Stojakovic 36) Peja Stojakovic

3!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best 3 point shooter ever.

DJ_critikaL

Vote for Reggie Miller 37) Reggie Miller

Heartbreak shooter

Vote for Yao Ming 38) Yao Ming

at lest in the top ten

Vote for Joakim Noah 39) Joakim Noah

Vote for Earl "The Goat" Manigault 40) Earl "The Goat" Manigault

Said by many NBA legends to be the greatest ever, including Kareem. Search for him online and you’ll see.

Vote for Rajon Rondo 41) Rajon Rondo

Vote for Derrick Rose 42) Derrick Rose

Vote for Richard Hamilton 43) Richard Hamilton

He is the best player ever
Da Beast

Vote for David Thompson 44) David Thompson

If you never saw this guy dunk a ball then you’ve seen nothing. He is simply awesome. One of the highlight players of the 70’s. The people who can lack to his level are a short list. Jabbar, Chamberlain, Barry, and West.

Undertaker15-0

He was absolutely unstoppable in his first five to six years in the league. Very underrated as a defensive player and was very unselfish. David Thompson was as good as any of the top players in the history of basketball

Vote for Chris Bosh 45) Chris Bosh

Vote for Moses Malone 46) Moses Malone

Moses was better than shaq ever will be! Moses didnt need to be over weight to get his rebounds the man used talent. He’s the reason the sixers won it in 83!

He was the greatest

Vote for Esteban Batista 47) Esteban Batista

Vote for Amare Stodumire 48) Amare Stodumire

He is a beast what can’t he do

Vote for Clyde "the Glide"  Drexler 49) Clyde "the Glide" Drexler

He was an awesome SG in the MJ era I say about number 20

Vote for Earl Boykins 50) Earl Boykins

Nobody got more heart than this guy. Simply the GOAT. He’s faster than AI, shoots better than Kobe, and has more heart than Duncan. He’s a beast.

-InsideHoops

Vote for James Worthy 51) James Worthy

He played with 2 of the most talented ever and still made his presence known on the court.

Vote for Baron Davis 52) Baron Davis

mr. clutch

pizzapuncher

Vote for Patrick Ewing 53) Patrick Ewing

Whoever said that Adonal Foyle was the most talented center of all time must be smokin somethin.And whoever said Jerome James is the greatest center of all time is even dumber.Ewing is top 50 or so and dont even vote for Foyle or James there average players.

Chris-1

one of the best big men of the 90s

Vote for Bob Cousy 54) Bob Cousy

Sd be way further up the list why is earl boykins ahead of him is it because hes short (sympathy)

revolutionized passing, led league in assists for 8 straight years

Vote for Len Bias 55) Len Bias

Never made it to the nba but died of... i believe a cocaine overdose, was projected to be better than mj, R.I.P

Vote for Ivory Latta 56) Ivory Latta

The best girl basketball player form college. Got drafted to Detroit!

Vote for John Havlicek 57) John Havlicek

Vote for Larry Johnson 58) Larry Johnson

Vote for Eric Snow 59) Eric Snow

The Best Ever

Vote for Elgin Baylor 60) Elgin Baylor

How does Elgin Baylor not get on this list. Highest season scoring average in history, highest point total in an NBA finals game, one of the true greats to ever play the game.

Vote for RIck Barry 61) RIck Barry

His shot known as the "granny" during free throws was a new touch to basketball history. One of the best no doubt.

Undertaker15-0

No doubt the best 3-point shooter ever.

Vote for Robert Horry 62) Robert Horry

7 rings now

"Big Shot Bob" is not only known for his clutch shots but also his aggressive playing... not to mention he has 6 rings

Vote for Patrick Ewing 63) Patrick Ewing

One of the best players to not win a championship

One of the best centers in league history.

Vote for Adonal Foyle 64) Adonal Foyle

The most talented center ever.

Vote for Boris Diaw 65) Boris Diaw

Vote for Alonzo Mourning 66) Alonzo Mourning

one of the BEST shot blockers EVER and he had a surgery and is still one of the best Centers in the Game

Vote for Danny Granger 67) Danny Granger

SOON TO BE ONE OF THE BEST ALL AROUND PLAYERS IN THE NBA

Vote for Shawn Marion 68) Shawn Marion

He is so fast and athletic a weired shot but makes it

Vote for David Robinson 69) David Robinson

at least top 20

Vote for Shawn Kemp 70) Shawn Kemp

Vote for Gary Payton 71) Gary Payton

Vote for Donald Earl "Slick" Watts 72) Donald Earl "Slick" Watts

the first nba player to choose the bald look. revolutionized the headband

Vote for Jerome James 73) Jerome James

Jerome James makes Shaq and Wilt bow down to him. Best ever, step aside MJ.

the king of basketball... why do you think they paid him so much? worthy of every penny he earns!

Vote for Bernard King 74) Bernard King

Greatest basketball player of all time. The guy couldn’t be stopped. Magic Johnson was scared of him. His magical dunks wowed crowds all over the world.

Vote for Manny Pacquiao 75) Manny Pacquiao

the p4p king in boxing, best basketball player ever, he use to play in a flooded basketball court when he was a kid, the only basketball player who became a champion in boxing and the only boxer who had seven titles in seven weight divisions, pacman the greatest basketball boxer ever