10. Oscar Robertson
Starting off my list is the Big O. Oscar Robertson was putting up the numbers you see Lebron putting up now a long time ago only better. Oscar Robertson to this day is still the only player in NBA history to average a triple double over the course of a regular season. And he had four other season where he was mere decimal points from having a triple double. So really he had like five seasons where he was avg. triple double numbers. Thats just unheard of. Oscar is easily the 2nd greatest point guard ever. He only won one championship which is why I have him 10th but off talent alone and individual accomplishments you could make a argument for him to be top 5. He won one MVP, 11 time all NBA, 1 scoring title, and led the league in assist 6 times. Next to Wilt he's possibly the greatest statistical player ever. He finished his career with averages of 25.7 ppg, 9.5 assist, and 7.5 rebounds. His career point total was 26,710 which is 10th all time. He was selected to 12 All Star games.
9. Kobe Bryant
Kobe's legacy has been greatly exaggerated by a lot of people my age. A lot of them say Kobe's 2nd or top 5. Others even have the audacity to say he's greater than Jordan. Kobe has had a great career but if he retired today number 9 is as high as I could but him. Forget being greater than Jordan Kobe spent the majority of the 2000's as the 2nd best player on his team and in the shadow of Shaq and Tim Duncan. He has won 5 championships but was only the best player on his team on two of those titles. Jordan was the best player on his team for all 6, Shaq was the best for 3 of his 4, and Duncan was the best player all of his. The thing is Kobe is still only 32 this list is for the current moment. Kobe will probably play another 5 years at least by that time he might be higher but right now no. He's still spent the majority of his career being Shaq's robin so how can people put him ahead of Shaq. With all that being said i'ma actually discuss Kobe's career for a minute. Even tho people overrate him he's still had a legendary career. He's one of the greatest closers to ever play, his defense in his prime on the perimeter was as fierce as it gets, and his fade away jump shots are the stuff of legends. But Kobe's career is still far from finished he still has more work to do. He has 1 MVP, 2 time finals MVP, 12 time All NBA, 11 time All Defensive team, and 2 time scoring champion. Kobe career avg. are 25.3 ppg, 4.7 assist, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. His career point total is 27,868 which is 6th all time. He has been selected to 12 All Star games.
8. Tim Duncan
At number 8 is the greatest power forward ever Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan has dominated all his career for the most part. Averaging 21, 12, and 2.5 his rookie year and making the all star team. Their was no developmental period for Duncan he just came straight into the league dominating and hasn't let up as he's been an All star every single year he's been in the league except 99 because it was a short season and there was no all star game. Duncan post repertoire is probably one of the top 5 ever. His post moves in his prime were completely unstoppable. But what made Tim so great was his attention to detail as he is the greatest fundamental player ever because he does all the little things that go unnoticed right. He's considered by many to be to boring and I think thats why some people don't realize how great he was but he has intangibles on the floor that can't be taught nor can they be valued or recorded by a stat sheet. Also his defense was almost flawless. He was almost never late in his rotation as he's one of the best weak side defenders to ever play. He has 2 MVP's, 3 finals MVP's, 12 Time All NBA, 12 time All Defensive. His career averages are 20.6 ppg, 11.4 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 3.1 assist. His career point total is 21,663 which is 28th all time. He has been selected to 12 All Star games.
7. Bill Russell
At number 7 is the greatest winner in the history of Professional sports Bill Russell. Whenever Russell's name is mentioned on an all time greats list it follows with controversy and usually I hear this same line, "he couldn't have done it in todays NBA." Well to that I say who knows and more importantly who cares. Russell couldn't control when he was born he dominated the era he played in and did it like no other. Bill Russell is the greatest defensive player to ever play in the NBA period its not even debatable. His shot blocking ability is legendary and unlike anything any other player has ever seen. they didn't record blocks in his time so nobody knows the exact amount he had but people that watched him play say if the were recorded he'd be the all time leader. Russell might also be the greatest rebounder ever. He was also very sound fundamentally similar to Duncan. Russell was a 5 time MVP, 11 time All NBA, and 5 time rebounding leader. His career averages are 15.1 ppg, 22.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assist. He finished with 14,522 points. He was selected to 12 All Star games. Oh and he also won 11 championships thats all.
6. Shaquille O'Neal
At number 6 is one of the most dominant forces to ever play in the NBA Shaq. I grew up watching Shaq and to this day hes still the greatest player i've ever personally watched with my own eyes. (only saw the Wizards Jordan play) The Diesel was completely unstoppable. At the end of games the Lakers weren't looking for Kobe to hit those tough jumpers like they do now they dumped it down to shaq and it was either 2 or a foul almost EVERYTIME. He was so dominate teams resorted to "Hack a Shaq" to make him shoot free throws instead of actually defending him he was that dominate. Shaq scored effortless he just caught the ball and over powered his defender for the two hand slam. Shaq won 4 titles, 1 MVP, 3 finals MVP, 14 time All NBA, 3 time All Defensvie, and 2 time scoring champion. His career averages are 23.7 ppg, 10.9 rebounds, 3.5 assist, and 2.3 blocks. His point total is 28,596 5th All Time. He was selected to 15 All Star games.
5. Larry Bird
Starting off the top 5 is Larry Legend. The baddest white boy to ever pick up basketball, Bird was one of the best to ever do it. He was do it all point forward type of player and without question the best small forward to ever play. Bird's entire game was flawless he was great defender, one of the best shooters to ever play, fluent passer, and a good rebounder. His effort on the floor was unmatched by anybody nobody played harder than bird and he had a will to win that rivals even the legendary MJ. Bird led the 80's Celtics to 3 championships despite being the 2nd best team in the era and having to deal with the loaded Lakers. He was a 3 time MVP, 3 time finals MVP, 10 time All NBA, 3 Time All defense. His career averages are 24.3 ppg, 10 rebounds, 6.3 assist, and 1.7 steals. He was selected to 12 all star games. He finished with 21,791 points 27th all time.
4. Wilt Chamberlin
At number 4 is Wilt Chamberlin. Wilt is the most dominant player to ever play the game and from a statistical standpoint nobody put up better numbers. I don't care about the era he played in or that nobody else was his size that wasn't his fault. Nobody says that when it comes to Lebron being the only player in the history of the NBA that big and that tall that can handle the ball and shoot the ball the way he does. Wilt was the same way he was one of kind in his era like Lebron is in today's game. I didn't get to watch Wilt play but I've seen highlights, and old footage and this notion that he didn't have any moves and just dunked and overpowered people is completely false. Wilt had a gifted post game with some skillful moves. You don't average 50 points a game and score 100 points in a game by just dunking and over powering people that takes some serious skill. Wilt was also a good defender. People say he blocked shots just like Bill Russell did and that he'd be right behind Russell as the all time blocks leader if the stat was recorded. Wilt could also pass it well for a big man he even led the NBA in assist one year as a Center. Wilt averaged 30.1 ppg, 22.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assist. He won 2 championships, 4 MVP's, 10 time All NBA. Wilt was selected to 13 All Star games. He finished with 31,419 points 4th all time.
3. Magic Johnson
3rd on my list is the greatest point guard of all time Magic Johnson. Magic's game was and still is unlike anything ever seen in the NBA. A 6 foot 9 inch point guard that handled and passed the ball as good as anybody. As a matter of fact Magic might be the best passer and ball handler of all time. Magic dazzled the crowd with his flashy passes and magical fast breaks. Magic also was a tenacious defender as he could just take the ball from ball handlers at times. Magic is also one of the most clutch players ever. He won 5 championships, 3 MVP's, 3 finals MVP's, 10 time All NBA, and led the league in assist 3 times. His career averages are 19.2 ppg, 11 assist, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals. He scored 17,707 points 66th all time. He was selected to 12 All Star games.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2nd on my list is Kareem. A case could be made for Kareem at number 1 but I'ma put him 2nd. Kareem had the most unstoppable shot of all time with his sky hook. He could use that shot from almost anywhere. He was even using that hook shot over 15 feet away from the rim like a mid range jumper. He was an elite player on both ends of the floor. He was unstoppable scorer in the post not only could he use the hook but he had many other great moves at his disposal. Also on defense he was a fierce shot blocker. Kareem helped Magic build the Lakers dynasty of the 80's that won 5 championships. He's a 2 time finals MVP, 6 time regular season MVP, 15 All NBA, 11 time all defensive team, 2 time scoring leader, 4 time blocks leader, and 1 time rebounding leader. His career averages were 24.6 ppg, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 3.6 assist, 0.9 steals. He scored a total of 38,387 points the most all time. He was selected to 19 All Star games.
1. Michael Jordan
At number 1 is Michael Jordan. For years I've said that Jordan wasn't the best player ever but when I went back and thought it about it I think that just has to do with my dislike for MJ. However I've decided to put my personal vendetta against MJ to the side and give him his due. MJ is without a doubt the greatest scorer of all time. He averaged 30.1 ppg (most all time) and couldn't even shoot 3's that well, which just goes to show how good the rest of his offensive game was. He had one of the best post games ever and he was a shooting guard. Jordan's post up game in his later years after he lost some of his athleticism was spectacular he looked like a legit post player with some of his moves. Also his legendary fade away shot was just unstoppable. Without question he is the best perimeter defender to play the game. He could drop 30 or 40 on you and then shut down your best perimeter scorer all in the same game. MJ was the best player on both ends of the floor every night. But for me the most impressive thing Jordan did was win 6 championships and build a dynasty with no all star caliber big man. The Bulls dynasty of the 90's is the only dynasty in the history of the NBA where the team didn't have an all star center or power forward. Which goes to show you how great a player he was. Jordan's career averages were 30.1 ppg, 5.3 assist, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. He finished with 32,292 points which is 3rd all time. He was a 5 time MVP, 6 time finals MVP, 11 time All NBA, 9 time All defensive team, 1 time defensive player of the year. He was selected to 14 All star games.
