30 best NBA players of all-time: The greatest hoopers ranked

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Teams source new talent each season from the NBA Draft, Developmental leagues, and international scouting. These players remain influenced by revered champions and legends. The best NBA players of all time receive such high praise because of their achievements, skills, and impact on the sport.

LeBron James (L), Michael Jordan (C) and Shaquille O'Neal (R) pose standing in basketball kits.

We strive to provide factual and accurate information. As a result, we have used data from NBA career profiles, all-time stats records, official team websites, and other credible sources to rank each player by their achievements. While this list does not conclusively cover all the best NBA players, it includes some of the most notable players.

Best NBA players of all time

Who is the greatest NBA player ever? Good sportsmanship, top-notch performance, and a commitment to community and social change are the basic requirements for a player to receive such ranks. The hoopers in this list have set and broken standards of excellence in the sport.

Player	Achievements
Bill Russel	11 NBA Championships, 12 All-Stars, 4 NBA MVPs, 4 Sporting News MVPs
Michael Jordan	6 NBA Championships, 11 All-NBAs, 5 NBA MVPs, 6 Finals MVPs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	6 NBA Championships, 15 All-NBAs, 2 Finals MVPs, 2 Scoring-Champion
Scottie Pippen	6 NBA Championships, 7 All-NBAs, 10 All-Defensives, 7 All-Stars
Magic Johnson	5 NBA Championships, 3 NBA MVPs, 3 Finals MVPs
Kobe Bryant	5 NBA Championships, 4 AS MVPs, 15 ALL-NBAs, 2 Scoring-Champion
Tim Duncan	5 NBA Championships, 3 Finals MVP, 15 All-Stars
LeBron James	4 NBA Championships, 20 All-NBAs, 4 NBA MVPs, 4 Finals MVPs
Shaquille O'Neal	4 NBA Championships, 2 Scoring-Champion, 14 All-NBAs, 3 AS MVPs, 3 Finals MVPs
Stephen Curry	4 NBA Championships, 10 All-NBAs, 2 NBA MVPs, 2 Scoring-Champion
Larry Bird	3 NBA Championships, 3 NBA MVPs, 12 All-Stars, 3 3-point Champion
Dwyane Wade	3 NBA Championships, 1 Finals MVP, 13 All-Stars, 8 All-NBAs
Hakeem Olajuwon	2 NBA Championships, 3 BLK Champions, 2 TRB Champions, 12 All-NBAs, 2 Finals MVPs
Wilt Chamberlain	2 NBA Championships, 4 NBA MVPs, 1 Finals MVP, 12 All-Stars
David Robinson	2 NBA Championships, 1 NBA MVP, 10 All-Stars
Kevin Durant	2 NBA Championships, 4 Scoring-Champion, 14 All-Stars, 11 All-NBAs, 2 AS MVPs
Isiah Thomas	2 NBA Championships, 1 AST Champion, 12 All-Stars, 5 All-NBAs
Kahwi Leonard	2 NBA Championships, 2 Finals MVPs, 1 AS MVP, 6 All-NBAs, 6 All-NBAs
Bob Pettit	1 NBA Championship, 2 NBA MVPs, 4 AS MVPs, 2 Scoring-Champion
Dirk Nowitzki	1 NBA Championship, 1 NBA MVP, 1 Finals MVP
Kevin Garnett	1 NBA Championship, 1 AS MVP, 4 TRB Champions, 1 NBA MVP
Moses Malone	1 NBA Championship, 3 NBA MVPs, 1 Finals MVP, 6 TRB Champions
Jerry West	1 NBA Championship, 14 All-Stars, 12 All-NBAs, 5 All-Defensives
Julius Erving	1 NBA Championship, 2 ABA Championships, 2 AS MVPs, 4 NBA MVPs, 16 All-Stars
Oscar Robertson	1 NBA Championship, 1 NBA MVP, 3 AS MVPs, 11 All-NBAs, 12 All-Stars

1. Bill Russel

Bill Russell holds a basketball in a University of San Francisco kit.

Full name: William Felton Russell
Date of birth: 12 February 1934
Place of birth: West Monroe, Louisiana, USA
Date of death: 31 July 2022

The Celtics' centre led his team to eight consecutive NBA Championships between 1959 and 1966, out of eleven Championships. He is a 12-time All-Star, 5-time MVP, and 2-time NCAA Champion who won the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.

2. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls dribbles a basketball.

Full name: Michael Jeffrey Jordan
Date of birth: 17 February 1963
Place of birth: Fort Greene, Brooklyn, USA
Age: 60 years (as of 2024)

Who is the GOAT of basketball? Jordan began his reign with the 1982 NCAA title, which propelled Air Jordan towards NBA domination between 1984 and 2003. His achievements earned him entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers runs up the court.

Full name: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.)
Date of birth: 16 April 1947
Place of birth: Harlem, New York, USA
Age: 77 years (as of 2024)

In April 1984, Kareem set an all-time scoring record that remained unbroken until Lebron James broke it in February 2023. He had accumulated 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, and 3.6 APG at his retirement in 1,560 matches. As of 2024, he holds the highest record for field goals made (15,837) and the highest field goal percentage (55.9%).

4. Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls walks on the court.

Full name: Scotty Maurice Pippen Sr.
Date of birth: 25 September 1965
Place of birth: Hamburg, Arkansas, USA
Age: 59 years (as of 2024)

Pippen finished his 17-year career with an average of 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. His performance efforts, which led the Bulls to six NBA Championships, were recognised in 1996 when he was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history.

5. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson poses standing, in the USA Senior Men's basketball team kit.

Full name: Earvin Johnson Jr.
Date of birth: 14 August 1959
Place of birth: Lansing, Michigan, USA
Age: 65 years (as of 2024)

The former basketballer turned business mogul retired from the sport, still holding the record in assists. As a rookie, the point guard played in all five basketball positions during Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, scoring 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists, earning his team a 123-107 victory.

6. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during a photoshoot.

Full name: Kobe Bean Bryant
Date of birth: 23 August 1978
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Date of death: 26 January 2020

Before his untimely death in 2020, Bryant had established himself as a formidable force on and off the court. Recognised as the 2016 Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40, Kobe retired in the same year, winning five NBA Championships, two Finals MVPs, 18 All-Stars, and four All-Star Game MVP titles.

7. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan poses during the 1997 NBA Draft.

Full name: Timothy Theodore Duncan
Date of birth: 25 April 1976
Place of birth: Saint Croix, USVI, USA
Age: 48 years (as of 2024)

Tim Duncan, the Big Fundamental, is recognised as one of the best NBA defenders of all time. Although retired, he still holds the third-highest defensive rebounds (11,232) and the fifth-highest blocks (3,020) records. He also won two MVP, three Finals MVP and five Championship titles.

8. LeBron James

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers runs on the court.

Full name: LeBron Raymone James Sr
Date of birth: 30 December 1984
Place of birth: Akron, Ohio, USA
Age: 39 years (as of 2024)

Is LeBron the best player ever? As one of the greatest basketball players ever, LeBron James has bagged all the top accolades from the league.

At the time of writing, the 2007/08 Scoring Champion averages 23.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game. His 17.3 PIE guarantees his team's success on the court.

9. Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal pictured standing on a basketball court.

Full name: Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal
Date of birth: 6 March 1972
Place of birth: Newark, New Jersey, USA
Age: 52 years (as of 2024)

Standing over seven feet, Shaquille O'Neal, or The Big Aristotle and Shaq, was a defence force to reckon with. The fun-loving centre outperformed himself, earning a Rookie of the Year award in 1992 with the Lakers. Later, he teamed up with Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson to win three consecutive Finals MVP titles between 2000 and 2002.

10. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry walks on to the court during a match.

Full name: Wardell Stephen Curry II
Date of birth: 14 March 1988
Place of birth: Akron, Ohio, USA
Age: 36 years (as of 2024)

Curry is one of the best current NBA players. The four-time NBA and two-time scoring champions average 23.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 6.6 APG. He holds the record for the highest three-pointers in the sports league (3,779).

11. Larry Bird

Larry Bird poses standing in the United States National Men's Basketball Team kit.

Full name: Larry Joe Bird
Date of birth: 7 December 1956
Place of birth: West Baden Springs, Indiana, USA
Age: 67 years (as of 2024)

Bird is widely regarded as the best white NBA player of all time. After retiring from active play, he joined coaching and executive teams, where he won MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year in NBA history.

12. Stephen Curry

Full name: Wardell Stephen Curry II
Date of birth: 14 March 1988
Place of birth: Akron, Ohio, USA
Age: 36 years (as of 2024)

13. Dwyane Wade

Full name: Dwyane Wade
Date of birth: 17 January 1982
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Age: 42 years (as of 2024)

Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. is a former basketball player who won three NBA Championships. He has also won 13 All-Stars, one Finals MVP, and an Olympic gold medal.

14. Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait.

Full name: Hakeem (Akeem) Abdul Olajuwon
Date of birth: 21 January 1963
Place of birth: Lagos, Nigeria
Age: 61 years (as of 2024)

Lago-born centre Hakeem Olajuwon began his NBA career in 1984 after leading the University of Houston Cougars to three successive Final Four appearances. In the NBA, he led the Houston Rockets' consecutive wins during the 1994 and 1995 Championship titles. He is a 12-time All-Star, 2-time rebound leader and 3-time blocks leader.

15. Wilt Chamberlain

Philadelphia Warriors player Wilt Chamberlain poses while holding a basketball.

Full name: Wilton Norman Chamberlain
Date of birth: 21 August 1936
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Date of death: 12 October 1999

Chamberlain is a 13-time NBA All-Star who began his career as the highest-scoring rookie, averaging 37.6 points per game. When he retired in 1972, he was an all-time stats leader with 31,419 points and 23,924 rebounds. Other records include the most points set in a single game and the most consecutive field goals, with an average of 50.4 PPG.

16. David Robinson

David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs poses during an IBM award ceremony.

Full name: David Maurice Robinson
Date of birth: 6 August 1965
Place of birth: Key West, Florida, USA
Age: 59 years (as of 2024)

In 2002, Robinson hung his boots with an average of 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3 blocks per game. The Admiral is a 2-time NBA Champion, 3-time Olympic gold medallist, and 10-time NBA All-Star.

17. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait.

Full name: Kevin Wayne Durant
Date of birth: 29 September 1988
Place of birth: Harlem, New York, USA
Age: 36 years (as of 2024)

Durant is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the USA men's basketball team's only leading point scorer ever. The Phoenix Suns forward averages 27.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 3.4 APG.

18. Isiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas of the Charlotte Hornets looks on during a game.

Full name: Isiah Lord Thomas III
Date of birth: 30 April 1961
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Age: 63 years (as of 2024)

Like Charles Barkley, Isiah Lord Thomas III completed a 13-year career in the league as a basketball player before pursuing related jobs in coaching and punditry. The Hall of Famer, who serves as an analyst for NBA TV, is a 12-time All-Star and a 2-time Champion.

19. Kawhi Leonard

Kahwi Leonard poses in the USA Basketball Men's team kit.

Full name: Kawhi Anthony Leonard
Date of birth: 29 June 1991
Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
Age: 33 years (as of 2024)

Leonard is one of the best NBA defenders right now. He made a name for himself with the Raptors when he won back-to-back two straight defensive Player of the Year awards.

20. Bob Pettit

St. Louis Hawks' Bob Pettit pictured holding a ball.

Full name: Robert Lee Pettit Jr.
Date of birth: 12 December 1932
Place of birth: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Age: 91 years (as of 2024)

Robert Lee Pettit Jr played 11 seasons in the league with the St. Louis Hawks from 1954 to 1965. His fame skyrocketed in 1956 and 1959 when he became the first recipient of the league's MVP award.

21. Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks stands during a match.

Full name: Dirk Werner Nowitzki
Date of birth: 19 June 1978
Place of birth: Würzburg, Germany
Age: 46 years (as of 2024)

Dirk is arguably the best European player to grace the league. He led the team to an NBA championship in 2011 and was named Finals MVP in the same year. At the time of this writing, the 2007 NBA MVP still has standing records among the top ten NBA stat leaders.

22. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett poses in the Western Conference All-Stars kit before the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.

Full name: Kevin Maurice Garnett
Date of birth: 19 May 1976
Place of birth: Greenville, South Carolina, USA
Age: 48 years (as of 2024)

Garnett is a former professional basketball player who played for 21 seasons before retiring. He is one of five players to have won both an MVP and a DPOY award in the same season.

23. Moses Malone

Moses Malone poses, sitting in a Spirits of St. Louis kit.

Full name: Moses Eugene Malone Sr.
Date of birth: 23 March 1955
Place of birth: Petersburg, Virginia, USA
Date of death: 13 September 2015

Malone is among the few who dominated the ABA and NBA straight out of high school. He retired with a stockpile of hardware, including the 1983 Championship and 3 MVP titles.

24. Jerry West

Jerry West poses in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform, holding a basketball.

Full name: Jerry Alan West
Date of birth: 28 May 1938
Place of birth: Chelyan, West Virginia, USA
Date of death: 12 June 2024

Jerry West, a 3-time Hall of Famer, remains enshrined as the silhouette of the NBA logo. West's records include the third-highest points scored (25,192), second-highest free throws (7,160), and fifth-highest assists (6,238).

25. Julius Erving

Julius Erving of the Brooklyn Nets pictured poised to dunk.

Full name: Julius Winfield Erving II
Date of birth: 22 February 1950
Place of birth: East Meadow, New York, USA
Age: 74 years (as of 2024)

Before dominating the league, the small forward made a name for himself in the ABA, winning two MVPs and two Championships. After joining the NBA, he led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 Championship and won 11 All-Star titles.

26. Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson poses during the 16th Annual NBA Legends Brunch during the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend.

Full name: Oscar Palmer Robertson
Date of birth: 24 November 1938
Place of birth: Charlotte, Tennessee, USA
Age: 85 years (as of 2024)

In his 14-year career, the Big O averaged 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 9.5 APG while playing for the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. His best statistical season came in 1961/62 when he averaged a triple-double for the entire season, a feat that remained unmatched until 2016/17.

27. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks pictured dribbling the ball.

Full name: Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo
Date of birth: 6 December 1994
Place of birth: Athens, Greece
Age: 29 years (as of 2024)

At the time of writing, Giannis has amassed an average of 30.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. With a 20-point PIE, it is no surprise that the power forward led his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, to the 2021 NBA Championship.

28. Karl Malone

Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait.

Full name: Karl Anthony Malone
Date of birth: 24 July 1963
Place of birth: Summerfield, Louisiana, USA
Age: 61 years (as of 2024)

Even years after his retirement, the two-time NBA MVP still features heavily among the NBA's stats leaders. He has the seventh-highest games played (1,476), third-highest points (36,928), second-highest defensive rebounds (11,406), third-highest field goals made (13,528), and highest free throws attempted (9,787).

29. Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor of Seattle University's basketball team pictured dribbling a basketball.

Full name: Elgin Gay Baylor
Date of birth: 16 September 1934
Place of birth: Washington, D.C., USA
Date of death: 22 March 2021

Fondly referred to as Rabbit, Baylor ended his career in 1972 with an average of 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Despite leading the Lakers to eight NBA Finals, he retired without winning any championship rings.

30. Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during an NBA game.

Full name: Charles Wade Barkley
Date of birth: 20 February 1963
Place of birth: Harlem, New York, USA
Age: 61 years (as of 2024)

Although he does not possess a Championship ring, Barkley has accomplished everything else the sport offers, from active play to TV coverage and analysis. The power forward won an All-Star MVP, an NBA MVP, and two Sporting News MVPs and is listed among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Who is statistically the best NBA player?

LeBron James is the NBA's all-time scoring leader. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Who are the best NBA players who never won a championship?

James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul are among the many stars who are still waiting for an NBA championship win. Other retired players in this category include Eglin Baylor, Charles Barkley and John Stockton.

Where does Kobe Bryant rank all-time?

In a 2024 poll by the New York Times of 103 NBA players, Kobe Bryant was ranked third as the greatest basketball player of all time, behind Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Other high-ranking players are Steph Curry and Magic Johnson.

The debate on the best NBA players of all time has sparked endless controversies among basketball fans. However, fans, analysts, and up-and-coming players must consider each player's role and contribution to a team's success.

Legit.ng recently published an article on the richest NBA players in the world. The National Basketball Association is one of the most popular and financially successful sporting organisations worldwide.

The wealthiest NBA players in the world have retired with millions earned from the sport. Learn more in this post.

Source: Legit.ng

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