Top 10 Greatest NBA Players In The World
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has a long history of producing some of the best basketball players in the world. There have been many great players throughout the years, but it's difficult to determine who is the best. However, based on their achievements, statistics, and impact on the game, the best NBA player of all time is widely considered to be Michael Jordan.
10. Hakeem Olajuwon
Career playoff stats: 25.9 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.3 BPG
Accolades: 2 NBA titles, 2 Finals MVPs, 1 reg. season MVP
Hakeem Olajuwon's interior dominance was a thing of beauty, and he was generally regarded as the most skilled big man in the game's history. His signature Dream Shake maneuver was used to abuse numerous defenders. Because Olajuwon's game is so well-known, superstars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard have tried to learn from him how to play better.
Olajuwon was one of the best defenders in the game, as evidenced by his 3.3 blocks per game average.
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The Dream won two MVP awards in the NBA Finals and one MVP award in the regular season as he led the Houston Rockets, a team with little talent, to consecutive NBA Championships. He is the only player in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year, MVP of the Finals, and MVP of the Regular Season simultaneously (1994).
9. Shaquille O'Neal
Career playoff stats: 24.3 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 2.1 BPG
Accolades: 4 NBA titles, 3 Finals MVPs, 1 reg. season MVP
Shaquille O'Neal, who won the award for season MVP, was possibly the most dominant player of his generation. He brutalized defenders with brute force, which was almost unfair.
In the early 2000s, Shaq led the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships and three MVP awards. Throughout his career, the MVP of the 2000 regular season was also named to 14 All-NBA Teams.
8. Tim Duncan
Career playoff stats: 21.9 PPG, 12RPG, 2.4 BPG
Accolades: 4 NBA titles, 3 Finals MVPs, 2 reg. season MVPs
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Tim Duncan, the season MVP, exemplifies consistency. If you examine his statistics over the course of time, you won't find too much variation.
The San Antonio Spurs were led by The Big Fundamental to four NBA Championships and three Finals MVP awards. His perfect Finals record was marred by a seven-game series defeat to the Miami Heat last season, but four wins out of five isn't bad. Duncan has been named to each of the NBA's 14 All-Defensive Teams, and he still appears to have some gas left in the tank.
7. Wilt Chamberlain
Career playoff stats: 22.5 PPG, 24.5 RPG, 4.2 APG
Accolades: 2 NBA titles, 1 Finals MVP, 4 reg. season MVPs
Wilt Chamberlain, the season MVP, is the reason I said Shaq was possibly the most dominant player ever. Everyone knows that Chamberlain is in charge, and as time goes on, he becomes more and more like a mythical figure. He averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game during the 1961–62 regular season. Simply absurd.
He would have been closer to No. 1 if Wilt had done more in the post season. It may seem absurd to expect more from a player with an average of 22 and 25, but that's how things work when you're at your best.
6. LeBron James
Career playoff stats: 28.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 6.7 APG
Accolades: 2 NBA titles, 2 Finals MVPs, 4 reg. season MVPs
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The superstar of the Miami Heat has won the championship twice, and now he wants to make history. He has already established himself as one of the game's greatest players after just ten NBA seasons. The MVP counts and statistics speak for themselves. King James has become a great two-way player, making nine NBA All-Defensive Teams and five.
LeBron may gradually move up the list by the end of this season, so the next player on the list shouldn't get too comfortable.
5. Larry Bird
Career playoff stats: 23.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 6.5 APG
Accolades: 3 NBA titles, 2 Finals MVPs, 3 reg. season MVPs
In a recent interview with Rappler Sports, season MVP Derrick Rose evaluated Larry Bird in a manner that was quite appropriate. Bird was always the dominant player, even though he was never the most athletic player on the court. He made up for his lack of athleticism with great basketball skills, including that deadly jump shot, and fierce competitiveness.
Bird led the Boston Celtics to three NBA Championships, winning three MVP awards during the regular season and two in the Finals. Throughout his 13-year career, Larry Legend was named to 10 All-NBA teams and 3 All-Defense teams.
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Career playoff stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.4 BPG
Accolades: 6 NBA titles, 2 Finals MVPs, 6 reg. season MVPs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the most consistent player before Duncan. His ability to maintain such averages throughout 20 seasons of competition is simply evidence of his greatness.
Here are some of Kareem's greatest accomplishments: most regular season MVP awards (six), 15 All-NBA selections, 11 All-Defense selections, and 19 All-Star appearances in NBA history.
3. Magic Johnson
Career playoff stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 12.3 APG
Accolades: 5 NBA titles, 3 Finals MVPs, 3 reg. season MVPs
Magic Johnson rose to greatness early on in his career and never looked back. When he famously started center in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals in place of the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, he won MVP of the Finals as a rookie. Magic and the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers made nine trips to the Finals during his illustrious career, making the tournament feel like a second home to them.
The 6'9 point guard smashed defenses precisely with his large frame. Magic leads all playoff players with 12.3 assists. He was named to 10 All-NBA teams over the course of his 14-year career.
2. Bill Russell
Career playoff stats: 16.2 PPG, 24.9 RPG, 4.7 APG
Accolades: 11 NBA titles, 5 reg. season MVPs
Bill Russell is an interesting case because, while his offensive stats don't stand out, his impact was much bigger than numbers. Russell has the potential to completely dominate the defense. Still, his career averages aren't bad, and if blocks and Finals MVPs had been counted or given out throughout his career, he would have won a lot of those awards.
Russell is the greatest sports winner of all time. His record of 11 championships may be the most secure in NBA history.
1. Michael Jordan
Career playoff stats: 33.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.7 APG
Accolades: 6 NBA titles, 6 Finals MVPs, 5 reg. season MVPs
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the best player in the game with good reason.
MJ racked up the stats and awards as he did everything possible in the game. Jordan shot a perfect 6-for-6 at the NBA Finals, the game's biggest stage, and he also won MVP of the Finals in all of his appearances.
The legend of the Chicago Bulls was a force on both ends of the court, earning 11 All-NBA honors, 9 All-Defensive First Team honors, and 10 scoring titles.
There is a lot of evidence to support Michael Jordan's status as the world's best player, but it's possible that his greatest achievement came before he ever won an NBA championship. He was named MVP, defensive player of the year, and scoring champion in the NBA during the 1988 season. This is how his insane 1988 season went: 35 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks on 53% shooting.
