AD, To me, Kevin Durant is the most skilled offensive player ever to play the game. Like Magic Johnson before him, Garnett raised the bar as to what a man of his sizecould do on the court. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 20.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in his 22-year career with 19 seasons coming in the NBA. Just think about how incredible it is that in his first season in the league, Magic started Game 6of the NBA Finals at center and dropped 42 points. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1969-70 All-Defensive team, 1969-70 NBA MVP, 1964-65 Rookie of the Year, 1970 All-Star MVP, two-time Finals MVP, two-time NBA champion. He has the two Defensive Player of the Years, the two Finals MVPs, hes put a franchise on his back en route to an NBA title, he made the NBAs 75thanniversary team, and hes pretty much won his entire career. We could go through all the stats and the awards to prove why James should be where he is on this list, but theres really no need. The NBA's 75th anniversary team was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media, current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives. Magic Johnson 4. This article will cover my top 10 players who I believe are the greatest to ever play. by Darthgachadonutyt. In his illustrious NBA career, David "The Admiral" Robinson made 10 NBA All-star appearances, won the 1995 NBA MVP, and became a two-time NBA champion. Few guys in the league have everaffected the game in all facets like Antetokounmpo does, even if that 3-point shot forever remains a work in progress. Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Sure, his game has holes, and Bucks haters will say their run to the title wasnt the hardest. Height and Wingspan for every player in the NBA. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 2006-07 MVP, 2011 Finals MVP, 2011 NBA champion. Jerry West was that lethal shooting the ballan absurd 47.4 percent for his careerand retired after the 1974 season ranked in the top 5 in points scored, points per game, free throws made, and assists. So for better or worse, here are the best30 players in NBA history, assiduously ranked. His college career is practically unmatched, but since were talking professional basketball here know that he was the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell to win an MVP between 1960 and 68. Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG in 19 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1994-95 to 1996-97; 2007-08 to 2011-12), Phoenix Suns (1996-97 to 2000-01), New Jersey Nets (2001-02 to 2007-08) and New York Knicks (2012-13). The 69 Johnson (making him the NBAs tallest point guard) not only posted the best assists-per-game mark in league history (11.2) but had a tremendous all-around game, as well. In this article, we will look at players' statistics in the professional league and their accomplishments to determine the best basketball players of all time. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 2006 Finals MVP, 2010 All-Star MVP, 2008-09 scoring champ, three-time 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. They couldnt guard him. He also made 11 NBAAll-Star teams, won threeMVP awards across the NBA and ABA, andmade the 75th anniversary team. Follow him onTwitter. In fact, it was Magic that he moldedhis game after as a youngster, which led to KG being one of the most versatile big men the NBAhas ever seen. In 2019, twenty-six players were listed at 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) or taller. Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG in 13 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1979-80 to 1990-91; 1995-96). Werealreadyseeing Stephs impact on basketballas kids start launching from deep earlier than ever in their young careers and on the league with NBA teams putting the mid-range jumper out to pasture and fully embracingthe 3-pointer. Bill Russell might have more titles, Wilt Chamberlain might have all those untouchable records, but Abdul-Jabbar was offensively skilled in ways Russell never was and retired as the league leader in nine statistical categories thanks to an impressive staying power Chamberlain couldnt match. Moses Malone 15. The four highest all-time NBA single-season scoring averages all belong to Chamberlainin his first four professional seasons. You could easily argue for him being the best center of all time over Shaq and Abdul-Jabbar. The NBA is celebrating its 75th anniversary throughout the 2021-22 season, and part of that celebration includes the unveiling of the list of the greatest players in NBA history. The player with the highest 2K Rating among current players whose height is 6'10" on NBA 2K23 is Kevin Durant. Tim Duncan 10. While most offenses nowadays are built around guards and fast players, being tall also has its advantages. Tim Duncan Tim Duncan, probably the most incredible power forward of all time, takes the number 10 spot on our list. I see Durant climbing these rankings as his career continues. The three-time MVP and 1983 Finals MVP was a 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA selection, member of the NBAs 75th anniversary team, and a rebounding machine practically unrivaled during the 70s and 80s. Career Stats: Points: 25.0 PPG Rebounds: 5.2 RPG Assists: 4.7 APG . Having to argue how Stockton, a 2009 inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, is inarguably one of the greatest point guardsgets laborious. Malone is third in the NBA all-time point leaders behind LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. When youre ranking the best shooting guards of all time, just make sure you have Wade after MJ and Kobe. But one of the greatest guards ever made the All-Star team each of his 14 seasons in Los Angeles, made 12 All-NBA squads,was a five-time All-Defense selection, and a no-brainer to make the NBAs 75th anniversary team. Bill Russell 3. Crafted NBA. Birds been supplanted by someone else on that mythical list, but the Hick from French Lick is forever aLegend. Even despite losing in the second round to the Boston Celtics this season, Giannis became the first NBA player in historywith 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a single series. Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG in 19 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1997-98 to 2015-16). Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1985-86 scoring champ. Jordan retired for the first time at the . Shaquille O'Neal was one of the most dominating players of his generation, perhaps even of all time. 1 Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. West legitimately did it all, including leading the league in scoring during the 1969-70 season and assists during his lone championship season. His hybrid play, like Magic Johnsons, was way ahead of its time. Despite going to nine NBA Finals with the Lakers, West won only one title in 1972. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Even with all those accomplishments people try to tear him down with advanced statistics like usage rate and efficiency. Stats: 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG in 18 seasons with Indiana Pacers (1987-88 to 2004-05). People who viewed the 6'10" NBA Players List also viewed: Do you have a sports website? Stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG in 16 seasons with Boston Celtics (1962-63 to 1977-78). 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. Kobe Bryant* 33643: 5. When Timmy first got here, it was like mental telepathy. The moments he delivered in South Beach will live in basketball infamy. A member of the NBA 75 team, people forget that he dominated for years as a 66 power forward. His career will undoubtedly always be tied to the failures to win a ring, but the production was always there for Malone. He was a swimmer and didnt start playing basketball until later as a teen. 239 Likes, 41 Comments - (@lakerchapo) on Instagram: "7/9/20 Thursday @skipbayless ranks his Top 10 . After he saw Abdul-Jabbar, He wanted the ball every single possession, and he ended the game with 61. BODY. ZO, Call it an overreaction if you foolishly insist, but with all the accolades and the company he now keeps after that epic run through the 2021 NBA Finals, Greek Freak absolutely belongs on thislist. 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 . 21 on our list. Stats: 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG in 17 season with Chicago Bulls (1987-88 to 1997-98; 2003-04), Houston Rockets (1998-99) and Portland Trail Blazers (1999-00 to 2002-03). Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1968 All-Star MVP, 1967 NBA champion. 10. But its his quiet, dignified manner thats earned him the most praise. Oh, and the 12-time All-Star also helped initiate true free agency into the NBA through a landmark antitrust suit, an accomplishment just as impressive as his jaw-dropping on-court exploits. The list goes on, but Iversons cultural impact on the current, and even future,generationof NBA players are more meaningful thanhis numbers on the court. 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). 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. Accomplishments: 27.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 12-time All-Star, 2007-08 Rookie of the Year, 2013-14 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, two-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. Barkley started J-ing people up and shooting threes, forcing opponents to guard from all over the court and not just on the block. Accomplishments: Nine-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1980 All-Star MVP, four-time NBA scoring champ. The league's investigation took less than a week. Career Year: 1996-2016. As a result of a tie in the voting, the 75th anniversary team includes 76 players. There was a point in ONeals career where no one could stop him. If he brings home another title in Brooklyn, he could be pushing top 10 by the end of his career. Career Average: 24.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.2 APG. A member of the leagues 75th anniversary team, Curry is easily one of the most influential players to lace em up. Dr. J floated through the air as his lanky limbs cut to the rim and his hair blew in the wind. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA. Not only does he routinely pull off feats that Ive never before seen, he has consistently evolved his game to fix the relative weak spots he was previously criticized for. Stats: 20.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.0 APG in 12 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1966-67 to 1974-75), Washington Bullets (1975-76 to 1976-77) and Boston Celtics (1977-78). 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). While the Diesel collapsed defenses, Steph expands them, taking the 3-point philosophy of Mike DAntoni and turning it up a couple notches. 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. But so far, no one has passed the level of MJ. LeBrons book isnt finished yet and he could add a few more titles along the way, but lets not also ignore everything hes done over his career off the court. Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG in 14 seasons with Boston Celtics (1950-51 to 1962-63) and Cincinnati Royals (1969-70). 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. What a waste of a name if he didnt make it. Malone made that name synonymous with rebounding, winning, and ultimately, immortality. You can call him a snake, a cupcake, or whatever, but you cant deny the numbers hes consistently producedit earned him a spot on the NBA 75 team. Who cares? The winning, the endorsements, the shoes, the legacy. Cody Frederick. Blocks and steals werent tallied back then, but there are researchers that claim Russell averaged anywhere between 8-12 blocks per game. Michael Jordan 2. Moreover, his rivalry with Magic Johnsonwho, spoiler alert, youll see a bit later in this listduring the 1980s launched basketball into an unprecedented level of national popularity that the sport has never fallen from. The GOAT, no question. Stats: 18.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 9.4 APG in 16 seasons with New Orleans Hornets (2005-06 to 2010-11), LA Clippers (2011-12 to 2016-17), Houston Rockets (2017-18 to 2018-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20) and Phoenix Suns (2020-21)*. NBA wheel of PLAYERS (All Time) Random wheel. The toughest debates may not be the obvious ones. Accomplishments: 11-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1980-81 MVP, two-time NBA All-Star MVP, 1983 NBA champion. Top 50 NBA Players of All-Time By Jason Guilbault | Aug 28, 2021, 12:34pm 1. 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