Top 10 Best NBA Basketball Players of All Time
When you think of all the superstars who have graced the NBA courts, choosing the top ten players of all time is tricky, but we’ll still give it a go!
Sure, players such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are nailed on. But there could be arguments as to why dozens of other exceptionally talented megastars of the game could also make the list.
So, as with any list, this one will be highly opinionated and could lead to great debate. Some player inclusions will be considered controversial by some, while certain omissions will be sacrilege.
Stephen Curry – the greatest three-shooter the sport has seen – didn’t make it. Other greats like Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic have been left out, too.
But we’ve gone with the following 10, looking at what they bring to the table and why we feel you can consider them the 10 greatest to have ever played in the league.
10. Hakeem Olajuwon – The Dream
Olajuwon can be considered a name that many may not immediately fit into their Top 10, but his quality makes him a deserved candidate for a spot. A former Houston Rocket and Toronto Raptor, he was selected with the #1 pick in the 1984 draft. He is widely thought of as one of the greatest centers, which is why he places highly for us as one of the greats.
Throughout his career, he managed to have 21.8 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, and 3.1 blocks per game. He was named the 1994 MVP, winning the Finals MVP that year and in the following season as he helped guide the Rockets to consecutive Finals appearances (winning both). In the 1994 season, he had managed to average 27.3 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 3.7 BPG.
Nicknamed “The Dream”, some believe his defining moment as a player was in the 1994 Finals, when the Rockets managed to defeat the New York Knicks 4-3 and win their first championship (Olajuwon’s second appearance after losing in 1986 to the Boston Celtics). Olajuwon managed to outduel Patrick Ewing (first Finals), averaging 26.9 PPG on 50% shooting compared to the latter’s 18.9 PPG on 36.3% shooting.
Olajuwon’s versatility made him a complete player and one that was too hard to ignore in this list of the best 10 players to play in the league.
9. Shaquille O’Neal – The Diesel
For a generation of basketball fans, O’Neal was one of the greatest they’d ever seen. He’s a legend for many, being well-known off the court just as much as he was when he was playing in his prime.
Shaq played for six different teams during his professional career, beginning at the Orlando Magic, where he entered the league as the #1 pick in 1992. He would move to the LA Lakers in 1996 and remain there for eight years (winning three consecutive championships), before going to the Miami Heat for four years (where he’d win his fourth championship in 2006). Moves to the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics followed before he retired in 2011.
However, it can be easy to forget just how good he was as one of the league’s giants. Standing at 7’1” and 325 pounds, he was unstoppable. He averaged 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 2.3 BPG in his career, with the 2000 Finals arguably one of his defining moments. In Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, he scored 43 points and had 19 rebounds. It was the start of an incredibly successful time in Los Angeles, as he would win a three-peat, in which he was the Finals MVP in each series.
8. Tim Duncan – The Big Fundamental
Duncan was one of the greatest players ever – no doubt. He spent his entire 19-season career in the league with the San Antonio Spurs and is cited as the greatest power forward ever. During his time with the franchise, “The Big Fundamental” won five titles, being named MVP twice (2002 and 2003). He is also a three-time Finals MVP (1999, 2003 and 2005).
The 2003 Finals saw him dominate against the Brooklyn Nets, especially in Game 6. He almost had a quadruple-double, scoring 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks. Indeed, many have lauded his defensive skills, with his leadership and clutch qualities also being described positively.
7. Kobe Bryant – The Black Mamba
Potentially possible to list much higher, Bryant is seventh here. Of course, everyone worldwide knows about “Black Mamba”, with his death in 2020 shocking the world as they lost one of the game’s all-time greats. A legend – the word arguably doesn’t do Bryant justice.
He was the 2008 MVP, a two-time Finals MVP, as well as a 4-time All-Star MVP. He won the title five times, playing his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers after being selected #13 in the 1996 draft.
6. Wilt Chamberlain – The Stilt
One of the early greats of the league, Chamberlain, cannot be left out of a list of the best 10 players in the history of the NBA. It’d be a devastating omission and one that would be considered disrespectful, as he transformed the sport when he played.
He was a 7’1” giant who dominated, proving big men could be athletic and control games they played. He received four MVP awards in his career, making him one of the most successful at an individual level, while he won two championships with the Philadelphia 76ers.
However, he is perhaps best known for scoring 100 points in a single game. It’s a record that will likely never be broken. He managed to set this feat in 1962 when he played against the New York Knicks in a game for the Philadelphia Warriors. They would win 169-147. In that game, he also set five other records, including scoring the most free throws in a game when he was considered to be a poor free throw shooter.
5. Magic Johnson – The Showtime Maestro
Johnson transformed the way the position of point guard would be played for future generations. Modern greats like Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, and Russell Westbrook have been known to be inspired by the way Johnson played.
During his career, in which he spent with the Los Angeles Lakers over two spells after being the #1 pick in 1979, he was a 5x NBA champion, and won three MVP awards (as well as three in the Finals). It’s why many had felt he would be the natural successor to Larry Bird in terms of being the face of the league, but Jordan had other ideas with the infamous Dream Team debacle at the 1992 Olympics.
Still, Magic managed to achieve the following averages over his career: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG. It was the 1980 Finals Game 6, though, that many remember him for. In his rookie year, he managed to play as a center, forward, and guard as he clinched the title against the 76ers, scoring 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.
4. Larry Bird – The Hick from French Lick
Bird cracks the top four, and was arguably one of the best shooters of the game. He spent his entire career with the Boston Celtics and became a three-time champion. He was named MVP in three successive years (1984-86), while being a two-time Finals MVP. One of those was in ’86, when he averaged 24.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.5 APG against the Rockets.
If those credentials weren’t enough to justify his inclusion, then perhaps the following does. He is the only person in the league’s history to be named ROTY, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – The Skyhook Master
No. 3 has to be Abdul-Jabbar. He is one of the all-time greats, having set multiple records during his playing career. Everyone knows he had held the league’s career scoring record for several years at 38,387, but that has since been passed.
Indeed, his skyhook shot was unstoppable. It was a “cheat code” for the Milwaukee Bucks and LA Lakers. He won a record six MVPs in his career, arguably making him the best player to have ever played the game. He also had six championships, with his dominance and longevity (played until he was 42) making him one of the best.
2. LeBron James – The King
The GOAT debate often surrounds the No.2 and No.1 players on this list, although it could have included our No.3, too. We’ve placed LeBron at No.2, but that’s because one of the top two had to go there.
James surpassed many of the records that Abdul-Jabbar had set, such as points scored, and will likely break the games played total in the 2025 season. He has done so at a younger age (40) and has been playing with one of his sons (Bronny) this year, emphasizing his longevity.
Still, James is considered one of the greatest. At this moment in time, he’s a four-time champion, four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP, and 21x All-Star. There aren’t many that can say they’ve had a better career than him and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he went on longer.
1. Michael Jordan – His Airness
Jordan is the other GOAT of the sport. He is a legend and one that everyone is aware of, even if they’ve never watched basketball. That helps to strengthen his place as the No.1 player in basketball history in anybody’s book.
He was almost perfect throughout his career, averaging 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 5.3 APG. He would win six championships, be named MVP in each of those, and be named MVP five times for the regular season. He also had an MVP success in 1988, which was combined with the DPOY award, becoming the first to win both in a season.
Many use him as the yardstick when it comes to comparing greatness, making it almost impossible not to have him ranked as the best player to play in the NBA throughout history.
Last updated: 10.04.25
