The history of basketball dates back to 1891 and its evolution led to the establishment of the BAA in 1946. What began as the Basketball Association of America was later merged with National Basketball League, and was called NBA. It breathed life into the world of basketball.
NBA has showered the world with some of the best players of all time like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and many more. These players have proved to be the best NBA players. Their career points, RPGs, and APG have also been the talk of the town.
Here’s a list of the 10 NBA players of all time who have reigned their era with the most attention-worthy playoffs and dunks.
| RANK | NBA PLAYER | CAREER POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jordan | 27.91 |
| 2 | LeBron James | 27.34 |
| 3 | Bill Russell | 18.90 |
| 4 | Tim Duncan | 24.22 |
| 5 | Magic Johnson | 24.11 |
| 6 | Kareem Abdul Jabbar | 24.58 |
| 7 | Shaquille O’Neal | 26.43 |
| 8 | Kobe Bryant | 22.90 |
| 9 | Charles Barkley | 24.63 |
| 10 | Larry Bird | 23.50 |
Who Are The 10 Best NBA Players of All Time?
1. Michael Jordan
The podium cannot stand completely without Michael Jordan. His accomplishments narrate his incredible talent and unique technique. As a pro basketball player, Michael Jordan is a known name for his defensive tricks. He even holds the stature of being the No.1 Defensive Player of the Year Award. His charisma and tactical approach swept him into the limelight of the basketball world.
Being an outstanding player his achievement elements surpassed every average:
- Won 5 NBA MVPs
- NBA All-Defensive First Team selections 9 times
- Won NBA Finals MVP 6 times
- 6 NBA Championships
- 10 scoring titles
- 1 award for the Defensive Player of the Year
Jordan’s career chart shows that he was a legit dominant scorer and has saved himself a name among one of the best NBA players.
2. LeBron James
He entered NBA when he was 18 years old to reign the world of basketball. LeBron James, more widely known as ‘King James’, undoubtedly comes in as the famous NBA player. He joined the NBA in 2003. His career graph has seen a consistent rise since D-1. Being the player of his time, he left a legacy of surreal achievements.
LeBron James’s accomplishments know no bounds. His impressive career trend includes the:
- NBA MVP – 4 times
- Has won 4 NBA championships
- His APG has been 7.4 per game
- His RPG stand sat at 7.7
- Shots per game – 19.5
- James has played maximum playoffs
- An all-star 17 times
3. Bill Russell
Heard the word revolution? Bill Russell brought it into the game with his 6-10 center. He changed the way games were played. His retirement was a shock for all his fans but he had more career rebounds compared to his points. Bill Russell rose to fame in the days when Wilt Chamberlain was in an uproar.
Russell’s major achievements that make him among the most famous NBA players:
- NBA MVP 5 times
- 11-time champion
- 1-time All NBA Defensive Team
- 12-time NBA All-Star
- 1-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
Bill Russell rose to fame by becoming the first black player in NBA. His achievements made him the single-standing player to find a place in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
4. Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan is often seen as level-headed and practical in the court. This simplicity has bagged him several rewards. Since 1997 he has played in 18 NBA Leagues. Duncan has made a mark in the basketball world with his outstanding performance. He led Antonio Spurs into 5 NBA Championships.
Duncan’s basketball history is remarkable and his resume reads as below:
- 5 times NBA Championships
- Won 2 NBA MVP Awards
- Won 3 NBA Final MVP Awards
- 15 times All-NBA Team Selections
Tim Duncan started with Wake Forest and moved ahead with Antonio Spurs. He has been playing continuously to add more to his resume. NBA was his biggest accomplishment.
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5. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson’s ballhandling skills sparked the spirit of a basketballer in him and he didn’t stop thereon. Magic did his magic and led Los Angeles Lakers into 5 NBA Championships. His towering height of 6’9” turned him into a vicious animal on the court. He was known for his famous bounce passes and no-look. These were innovative tactics for any basketball player.
His resume, has thus, been bombarded with excellent stances in the basketball world:
- 3-time NBA MVP
- Winner of 5 NBA titles
- Won NCAA Title
- Olympic Gold winner
- Was included in All-NBA teams 9 times
Earvin Johnson Jr. resigned in 2018-19 from his basketball career. He became an ambassador for the sport and also an HIV/AIDS activist after he was diagnosed with the same.
6. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
You must’ve heard of the phrase-passion drives you a long way. Kareem Abdul Jabbar proved this true by giving two decades of his life to basketball-his passion. Kareem has outdone all the achievements and landmarks himself. He has the most outstanding rating in the basketball league in both individual and team performances.
Kareem’s career record sets him apart from others. He had won NBA Championships 6 times-1 times with the Bucks and 5 times with the Lakers. To add more to the resume of this best NBA player, we have:
- His overall APG was 5,660
- 15 times All-NBA selection
- 10 times All-defensive team selection
- 20 years of NBA career
- 6 time NBA champion
Kareem Abdul Jabbar is not only famous for his special ‘skyhook’ skills but also has a great intellectual personality.
7. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is a retired pro-basketball player. This famous player of the NBA has won the scoring title twice and has also led his teams with good goal percentages. After Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal is known for his well-built physique and strong force on the field. He ranks 8th on the all-time scoring list with 28,596 points and 9th on 2,732 blocks.
Shaquille O’Neal’s position among the NBA player is so high and it has proven by the following accomplishments:
- 4 times NBA champion
- Won the Adolph Rupp Trophy for men’s basketball player of the year for the NCAA
- 3 times NBA Finals MVP
- 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 2 time SEC player of the year
He proved his reputation as the center of the league. He stepped into the NBA world in 1992 with his team Orlando Magic and bid goodbye to his career in 2011 with Boston Celtics.
8. Kobe Bryant
NBA players list cannot be complete without the mention of Kobe Bryant. His accomplishments in a 19-year-old career are commendable. He rose to the podium of being the youngest player to score 30,000 points. He successfully lived the role of shooting guard.
His popularity among his fans is well-known. As a result, his resume befits his accomplishments
- ,4 times All-Star MVP Award
- 2 Times NBA finals MVP
- All NBA team member 14 times
- All-defensive team member 13 times
- Joint record holder of All-Star MVP Awards along with Bob Petit
- Chosen as the top NBA Player of the 2000s (decade) in 2009 by Sporting News and TNT
- Gold medal winner in the Summer Olympics of 2008 and 2012
The demise of Kobe Bryant was a difficult time for his fans as well as the world. We lost a gem of a player. He was given a respectable place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 after his death.
9. Charles Barkley
Former basketball player and a famous personality as an ‘Inside the NBA’ TV show host, Charles Barkley is a renowned face. He had a professional career of 16 years and has played with 3 different teams. He began his basketball career through his college and eventually entered the NBA draft in 1984.
His resume has several achievements that talk of his splendid basketball career.
- All-NBA First Team 5 times
- All-NBA Second Team 5 times
- All-NBA Third team 1 time
- NBA’s MVP in 1993
- Has won 2 gold medals at the Summer Olympics of 1992 and 1996
- Has also won a gold medal in 1992 at FIBA America Championship
With his retirement in 2000, Charles Barkley gave 16 years of his life to basketball to rise as some of the greatest NBA players. After retirement, Charles is active as an NBA Analyst.
10. Larry Bird
Last but not least on the list of best NBA players of all time is Larry Bird. He is undoubtedly the greatest shooter of all time. He began his career in the NBA team Boston Celtic in 1979. His shooting power led him to the NBA Hall of Fame.
His basketball resume talks about the legacy that he has built over the years with his talent and capabilities.
- Has won 3 NBA Championships
- Awarded to be NBA’s MVP 3 times
- The first member of the 50/90/40 club
- All-NBA Team for 10 seasons
- All-NBA Defensive Team on 3 occasions
- 6.5 APG over 164 career playoffs
He was one of the most accomplished NBA players of all time of his era. He was one of the best shooters of his time and also held a record for most clutches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question 1. Who is the best NBA player of all time?
Answer 1. Michael Jordan is the best NBA player of all time. With his tactical defensive tricks and loads of achievements, For more information on Michael Jordan scrolls up.
Question 2. Who are some of the top NBA players?
Answer 2. NBA’s list of the top NBA players keeps on growing year after year making it difficult to point out a few names. But some of the players who have broken charts now and then are Michael Jordon, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, John Havlicek, Rick Barry, and many more.
Question 3. Which NBA player is an all-time leading scorer?
Answer 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabber leads the scoreboard with 38,387 points. Karl Malone stands second with a 36,928 score. In the third position, we’ve Kobe Bryant with 32,482 points.
