Stats: 16.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.9 APG in 12 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1962-63 to 1968-69) and New York Knicks (1968-69 to 1973-74). McAdoo would finally win two championships as a role player with the Lakers. -- Bontemps, 2003-2011 Denver Nuggets; 2011-2017 New York Knicks; 2017-2018 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2018-2019 Houston Rockets; 2019-2021 Portland Trail Blazers; 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers, Entering the league with a handle and shooting touch of a shooting guard but with the height and broad shoulders of a traditional frontcourt player, Anthony filled the role of a stretch-4 before the position became a staple of every NBA roster. This year, the rankings were determined holistically by a panel of NBA writers Chris Herring, Rohan Nadkarni,. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, five-time All-Defensive team, nine-time assists champ, two-time steals champ, 1993 All-Star MVP. Stats: 24.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 6.5 APG in 11 seasons with Golden State Warriors (2009-10 to 2020-21)*. Stats: 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG in 21 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1998-99 to 2018-19). During halftime of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, 47 of the 50 members of that team were honored in person. The 6-foot-10 Mikan was so imposing inside, the league had to widen the lane from 6 to 12 feet, aka the "Mikan rule." The 30 Best NBA Players of All Time, Ranked By Adam Caparell, Zion Olojede, Angel Diaz, Zach Frydenlund Jun 17, 2022 Image via Complex Original The toughest debates may not be the obvious ones.. -- Bontemps, 2003-10, 2014-18 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-14 Miami Heat; 2018-20 Los Angeles Lakers, Standing 6-9 and weighing north of 250 pounds with a 40-inch vertical, James' game is built on power, but his passing ability might be his strongest skill. Visit ESPN for the game preview of the Liberty Flames vs. Bellarmine Knights NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 . -- Friedell, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 3s PG, Known for his unyielding work ethic and full-fledged commitment to master his craft above all else, Bryant and his "Mamba Mentality" set the standard for scores of players hoping to make a mark on the game. He delivered the 2011 title to Dallas as the lone All-Star for the Mavs, who defeated the Heat's superteam in the Finals, avenging a loss in 2006. Boxing. He changed the game with his step-back 3 -- and the NBA changed the rules due to his foul-drawing tactics. In the 1980 Finals, his reverse baseline scoop layup against the Lakers became a staple of highlight reels. Anthony . Vermont Catamounts. In fact, "Wilt the Stilt" has six of the highest 11 single-game point totals in NBA history and seven scoring titles, including a mythical 50.4 PPG in 1961-62. Stats: 27.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG in 18 seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04 to 2009-10; 2014-15 to 2017-18), Miami Heat (2010-11 to 2013-14) and Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19 to 2020-21)*. "Mamba mentality" became more than a kitschy catchphrase after Bryant died; it is now a blueprint for how to chase your dreams. Stats: 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.0 BPG in 14 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1989-90 to 2002-03). He would go on to win six championships with the Celtics, was a 12-time All-NBA selection and a 13-time All-Star. The four-time MVP and three-time champion has reinvented how an athlete's prime should be viewed; he had the Lakers in the thick of a title hunt as a 35-year-old playing in his 17th season. Fantasy. LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? -- Friedell, Paul J. Maguire/The Boston Globe/Getty Images, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Sources: Warriors eye Curry return next week, Lakers' Davis out vs. OKC with right foot injury, V. Bryant settles crash photos suit for $28.85M, Sources: Lakers to reassess LeBron in 2 weeks, Benner, longtime Pacers PR director, dies at 67, Irving: Need to scale back self-imposed pressure, Jokic sixth player in 100 career triple-double club, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, Meet the man scouring Nigeria for the next generation of NBA and NFL talent, Roundtable: Early takeaways from Kyrie Irving joining Luka Doncic in Dallas, the NBA unveiled its 75th Anniversary Team. Westbrook owns the record for career triple-doubles -- 193 -- beating out Oscar Robertson's previous mark. America East Playoffs - Quarterfinal. -- Pelton, 1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks; 1975-89 Los Angeles Lakers, Before MJ and LeBron, Kareem ruled basketball. NBA. Atlantic 10 Championship - 1st Round . Kareem Abdul-Jabbar *, Ray Allen *, LaMarcus Aldridge , Paul Arizin *, Carmelo Anthony , Giannis Antetokounmpo , B Charles Barkley *, Kobe Bryant *, Larry Bird *, Walt Bellamy *, Rick Barry *, Chauncey Billups , C Wilt Chamberlain *, Stephen Curry , Vince Carter , Maurice Cheeks *, Tyson Chandler , Terry Cummings , D NFL. 5-on-5: Is Blake Griffin one of the 10 best power forwards ever? -- Bontemps, 1960-68 St. Louis Hawks; 1968-72 Seattle SuperSonics; 1972-74 Cleveland Cavaliers; 1974-75 Portland Trail Blazers, "Coach, you played?" In the NBA Finals with the Knicks, Reed tore a thigh muscle that forced him to miss Game 6 of the series, but he wanted to be on the floor for Game 7. While AI first made a splash with his crossover dribble, his game came to be defined for the grit and tenacity he showed as a 6-foot, 165-pound guard putting his body on the line among giants. Johnson helped the team to a championship as a rookie, filling in for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the clinching win. After averaging 20.4 points as a rookie, he didn't average fewer than 22.5 points in any season. -- Youngmisuk, One of the NBA's greatest point guards and one of the leaders of the "Bad Boy" Pistons, Thomas was one of the best players of the 1980s. Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG in 19 seasons with Orlando Magic (1992-93 to 1995-96), Los Angeles Lakers (1996-97 to 2003-04), Miami Heat (2004-05 to 2007-08), Phoenix Suns (2007-08 to 2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10) and Boston Celtics (2010-11). Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 2006-07 MVP, 2011 Finals MVP, 2011 NBA champion. He played in 1,158 victories, including the playoffs, more than anyone in NBA history other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 4x NBA Season MVP, 1972 NBA Finals MVP, 13x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA Champion, 1960 Rookie of the Year. ESPN has been counting down the 100 best NBA players of all-time. Consider the hardware he has collected since entering the league: MVP (twice), Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and Finals MVP. Without Johnson and his rivalry for the ages with Bird and the Celtics, the NBA may not be where it is today. Using his strength, Unseld averaged 13.8 points and 18.2 rebounds as a rookie for the Bullets, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players to ever win Rookie of the Year and MVP in one season. Stats: 18.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.1 APG in 15 seasons with Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1949-50 to 1963-64). Accomplishments: Two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, 1977-78 MVP, 1977 Finals MVP, 1985-86 Sixth Man of the Year, 1976-77 rebounding champ, 1976-77 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. All-Time #NBArank: The 10 greatest centers in NBA history, Photos: Classic action shots of league's best centers, 5-on-5: Debating the NBA's top centers of all time, TrueHoop TV: The "power forwardization" of the center position, All-Time #NBArank 91-100: Harden, Love make the Top 100 cut, All-Time #NBArank 81-90: Yao, Billups, Bosh, Mullin make list, All-Time #NBArank 71-80: Blake's place among the greats, All-Time #NBArank 61-70: T-Mac, C-Webb, Vinsanity, Dwight, All-Time #NBArank 51-60: Melo, Reggie, Pau, TP miss Top 50, All-Time #NBArank 46-50: Iverson, Westbrook land in Top 50, All-Time #NBArank 41-45: Payton, Pierce and Nique, All-Time #NBArank 36-40: Clyde The Glide, Frazier and Cousy, All-Time #NBArank 31-35: Kidd, Ewing, McHale among greats, All-Time #NBArank 26-30: Isiah, Wade, Hondo, CP3, Nash. Wade spent the majority of his 16-year career playing for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and won three NBA championships, was a 13-time NBA All-Star, an 8-time member of the All-NBA Team, and a 3-time member of the All-Defensive Team. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 2000-01 MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, 1996-97 Rookie of the Year, four-time scoring champ, three-time steals champ. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA. 1959-62 Philadelphia Warriors, 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors; 1965-68 Philadelphia 76ers; 1968-73 Los Angeles Lakers, Chamberlain was truly ahead of his time. Bird led Boston to five NBA Finals and three championships with a blend of shot-making, passing and his feel for the game. Stephen Curry vs. Larry Bird? But Malone had the misfortune of matching up with Michael Jordan's Bulls in both of his NBA Finals appearances. Stats: 18.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.9 APG in 13 seasons with Baltimore Bullets (1967-68 to 1971-72) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1979-80). Then our ESPN expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, with voting based on both peak . He missed a total of 22 games in 19 seasons, all with the Jazz, and set career assists and steals records that seem to be unbreakable. 10. Wade always played bigger than his 6-foot-4 height, blocking more shots than any guard in history, playoffs included. Stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG in 10 seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75 to 1977-78), San Diego/LA Clippers (1979-80 to 1984-85) and Boston Celtics (1985-86 to 1986-87). Jordan's brilliance on both ends of the court defined a generation of basketball and set a new standard for players following in his footsteps. Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.1 BPG in 18 seasons with Houston Rockets (1984-85 to 2000-01) and Toronto Raptors (2001-02); NBA's career leader in total blocks. But the league never ranked them. Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 Rookie of the Year. He also averaged at least 12.4 rebounds in every season. She paces the . But Bing didn't allow either injury to cut his career short. Sports Illustrated unveils its sixth annual Top 100 list. -- Youngmisuk, 1958-60 Minneapolis Lakers, 1960-72 Los Angeles Lakers, Before the slam dunk became synonymous with the sport, Baylor -- a smooth, 6-foot-5 forward with a knack for scoring -- made a habit of breathing the rare air above the rim. -- Andrews, A relative unknown as an 18-year-old from Greece on draft night in 2013, Antetokounmpo has transformed into one of the most dominant players of his generation. Pettit was named to the All-NBA first team in each of his first 10 seasons and was an All-NBA second-team selection in his final year. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1963-64 Rookie of the Year, 1965 All-Star MVP, 1973 NBA champion. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, five-time assists champ, two-time MVP. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, five-time All-Defensive team, 1969 Finals MVP, 1972 All-Star MVP, 1969-70 scoring champ, 1971-72 assists champ, 1972 NBA champion. Sports Illustrated 's annual Top 100 list is back, aiming to answer that question. Stats: 24.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.6 APG in nine seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (2012-13 to 2020-21)*. He found a way to make seven All-Star teams and gave the Pistons their first taste of success after moving from Fort Wayne to Detroit. His signature, yet funky, underhand free throw routine caught people's attention, but it was also nearly automatic. His staggering total of 38,387 points has looked unbreakable for decades. 9 of the San Antonio Spurs, shoots against Ray Allen, No. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1968-69 MVP, 1968-69 Rookie of the Year, 1978 Finals MVP, 1974-75 rebounding champ, 1978 NBA champion. Stats: 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG in 11 seasons with Milwaukee/St. Stats: 16.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.7 APG in 15 seasons with St. Louis Hawks (1960-61 to 1967-68), Seattle SuperSonics (1968-69 to 1971-72), Cleveland Cavaliers (1972-73 to 1973-74) and Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75). 5-on-5: Which player should have made the top 50? Accomplishments: 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 11-time All-Defensive Team, six-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 1969-70 Rookie of the Year, two-time scoring champ, four-time blocks champ, 1975-76 rebounding champ, six-time NBA champion. -- McMenamin, 2008-2019 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2019-2020 Houston Rockets; 2020-2021 Washington Wizards; 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers, Mr. Triple-Double. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-Defensive team. But now that he has that record, he's fine with that title. Oh yeah: Along the way, he was a six-time NBA Finals champ, six-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP and 14-time NBA All-Star. Off it, he was always one of the league's biggest enigmas. -- Youngmisuk, 2005-2011 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; 2011-2017 Los Angeles Clippers; 2017-2019 Houston Rockets; 2019-2020 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2020-22 Phoenix Suns, Still going strong in his 17th season, Paul became the first player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points and 10,000 career assists. The crowd at Madison Square Garden went wild seeing Reed walk onto the floor, and although he finished with just four points and three rebounds, the Knicks won the championship. He was mocked as "Ason" early in his career, when he lacked a jump shot. Stats: 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG in 18 seasons with Indiana Pacers (1987-88 to 2004-05). Stats: 24.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.4 APG in 10 seasons with Atlanta Hawks (1970-71 to 1973-74), New Orleans/Utah Jazz (1974-75 to 1979-80) and Boston Celtics (1979-80). -- McMenamin, 1976-87 Philadelphia 76ers; also played five ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1971-73) and New York Nets (1973-76), Dr. J took dunking from something big men did around the basket and turned it into an art form. Top 75 NBA Players of All Time (NBA 75) Quiz - By NBAA Popular Quizzes Today 1 Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield 2 Ballon d'Or Winners by Age 3 Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield 4 Countries of the World Sports NBA QUIZ LAB SUBMISSION Random Sports or NBA Quiz Top 75 NBA Players of All Time (NBA 75) In 1969, he became the only player in NBA history to win Finals MVP on a losing team. Just like Paul Arizin, Maravich was one of the pioneers for making the NBA more renowned. Sports Illustrated is proud to offer our . Steve Nash. In that same post, we provided the sports network's rankings from their 2016 list to see which new players made an appearance on the list (Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard), which player jumped the most spots (James Harden and Allen . He won Rookie of the Year after Boston made him the No. Stats: 15.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.7 APG in 14 seasons with San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1963-64 to 1973-74), Chicago Bulls (1974-75 to 1975-76) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1975-76 to 1976-77). He is one of the last players of his era who didn't start ring chasing at the end of his career. He earned respect from his peers by how hard he played and how tough it was to go against him. -- MacMahon, 1984-92 Philadelphia 76ers; 1992-96 Phoenix Suns; 1996-2000 Houston Rockets, Despite being listed at 6-foot-6 his entire career, and eventually admitting he was shorter, Barkley was a rebounding machine. -- Tim MacMahon, 18.2 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 Steals PG, 1.8 3s PG, The Pacers' legend became one of the greatest shooters in NBA history with one of the fastest releases the game has seen. Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, six-time All-BAA/NBA, 1953 All-Star MVP, three-time scoring champ, 1952-53 rebounding champ, five-time BAA/NBA champion. SLAM 500 Greatest NBA Players of All Time Bill Simmons Hall of Fame Pyramid ABA All-Time Team NBA & ABA All-Star Game All-Star Game Selections by Player All-NBA and All-NBA Team Selections by Player All-Defensive Team Selections by Player NBA Referee Awards Greg Willard Spirit Award NCAA Season Awards AP Player of the Year Award He'll forever be on the short list of players you'd want to take the last shot with the game on the line. To create All-Time #NBArank, we put together a ballot with the 150 greatest players ever. JJ Redick and Chris Russo battled on ESPN recently over their varying opinions on Larry Bird's three-point marksmanship. ESPN's 100 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time Quiz Popular Quizzes Today 1 2 Ballon d'Or Winners by Age 3 Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield 4 Countries of the World Sports NBA Random Sports or NBA Quiz ESPN's 100 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time Accomplishments: 12-time NBA All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, two-time NBA All-Defensive team, three-time NBA MVP, 1983 Finals MVP, six-time NBA rebounding champ, 1983 NBA champion. Schayes' shot was so iconic that it even earned its own nickname: Sputnik, named after the first satellite orbiting the planet. D-Wade's greatest moments with the Heat (1:41) Take a look back at 13-time NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade's greatest moments, including his three NBA championships with the Heat. Players received 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for second and so on down to one point for a 10th-place vote. The NBA is celebrating its 75th anniversary throughout the 2021-22 season, and part of that celebration includes the unveiling of the list of the greatest players in NBA history. All-Time #NBArank: The 10 greatest power forwards in NBA history, Photos: Classic action shots of league's best power forwards. Also see Top 100 Baseball Players Quiz by Quizmaster Rate: Featured Quiz Last updated: December 14, 2021 You have not attempted this quiz yet. -- Friedell, 1972-76 Buffalo Braves; 1976-79 New York Knicks; 1979 Boston Celtics; 1979-81 Detroit Pistons; 1981 New Jersey Nets; 1981-85 Los Angeles Lakers; 1986 Philadelphia 76ers, It didn't take long for McAdoo to start dominating, getting off to one of the best individual starts an NBA scorer can have. On March 12, 1985, Larry Bird put on a shooting clinic for the ages, scoring a Celtics-record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Off the court, Kareem has stood taller than his imposing stature, fighting for racial and religious equality. By Data Skrive. Northwestern State Lady Demons . Stats: 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG in 20 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1996-97 to 2015-16). Early in the 2021-22 season, the NBA unveiled its 75th Anniversary Team, a squad full of iconic players representing different points in the evolution of basketball. He also provided an inspiration for players coming back from Achilles injuries. His fast breaks and no-look passes catapulted the NBA from an era when Finals games weren't televised live to the global game it is today. -- McMenamin, 2003-16, 2018-19 Miami Heat; 2016-17 Chicago Bulls; 2017-18 Cleveland Cavaliers, The greatest player in Heat history, Wade did it all with flair, toughness and clutch play. Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time -- he changed so many different facets of the league -- but maybe most of all, he showed players they could grow themselves into a global brand on and off the floor with stellar play and the right marketing machine behind it all. So, yeah, he definitely played. Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA championships, winning six Finals MVP awards and five regular-season MVP honors while becoming a global icon on and off the floor. Stats: 26.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG in 10 NBA seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1976-77 to 1984-85) and Chicago Bulls (1985-86); also played four ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1972-73 to 1973-74) and San Antonio Spurs (1973-74 to 1975-76). Old school vs. new school? Stats: 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 APG in 16 season with San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968-69 to 1971-72; 1981-82 to 1983-84) and Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972-73 to 1980-81) . Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time NBA champion. Gervin glided his way to buckets, often with a gold chain or two dangling from his neck, winning four scoring titles en route to 20,708 points in the NBA. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year, 2016-17 Most Improved Player, 2021 Finals MVP, 2021 NBA champion. 75-51 For subscribers Ranking the greatest 75 NBA players of all time: Nos. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ. Following his breakout campaign, Pierce made the All-Star team 10 of the next 11 seasons. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, two-time All-Star MVP. MLB. Cricket. 13-15, 6-8 conf. Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 15-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, 2000 All-Star MVP, 1997-98 Rookie of the Year, five-time NBA champion. NCAAW. ESPN+. -- McMenamin, When you are the logo of the NBA, it means you have done something special in your career. Kawhi Leonard vs. Gary Payton? In fact, he owns three of the top four such streaks. Stats: 22.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.3 APG in 10 NBA seasons with Philadelphia Warriors (1950-51 to 1961-62). Being in the conversation as the best player of all time means being part of an exclusive club -- no disrespect to those who just missed out on the top 10. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive Team, 2013 All-Star MVP, 2005-06 Rookie of the Year, six-time steals champ, four-time assists champ. Stats: 23.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.3 APG in nine seasons with New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2012-13 to 2018-19) and Los Angeles Lakers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. The complete list of players is in alphabetical order below. Visit ESPN for the game preview of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies vs. Davidson Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 . Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1955 All-Star MVP, four-time NBA champ. Stats: 20.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.0 APG in nine seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1965-66 to 1971-72; 1974-75 to 1975-76); also played two ABA seasons with Carolina Cougars (1972-73 to 1973-74). Accomplishments: Nine-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1980 All-Star MVP, four-time NBA scoring champ. Louis Hawks (1954-55 to 1964-65). Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1994-95 Rookie of the Year, five-time assists champ, 2011 NBA champion. Other accolades include the 2007 College Player of the Year, 2008 NBA Rookie of the Year, 2014 NBA MVP, 11-time All-Star, and 6-time All NBA 1st team selection. -- Pelton, 1994-96, 2008-12 Dallas Mavericks; 1996-2001 Phoenix Suns; 2001-08 New Jersey Nets; 2012-13 New York Knicks, Kidd managed to be a dominant force for almost two decades without ever scoring like a star, finishing his career second all time in both assists and steals. Stats: 18.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 9.4 APG in 16 seasons with New Orleans Hornets (2005-06 to 2010-11), LA Clippers (2011-12 to 2016-17), Houston Rockets (2017-18 to 2018-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20) and Phoenix Suns (2020-21)*. He's so clutch that his performance in the final stretches of games has garnered its own nickname: Dame Time. Aside from his play on the floor, Pippen is routinely brought up as one of his former teammates' favorite people to play with. Using references from famous and reliable sports channels and websites like ESPN, Complex, Bleacher Report, and Clutch Points, here is our top 10 basketball players list. Accomplishments: 17-time All-Star, 17-time All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, 2003-04 Rookie of the Year, 2007-08 scoring champ, 2019-20 assists champ, four-time NBA champion. One of just six players to drop 70 or more in a game, and the owner of the highest-scoring game in Finals history with 61 points, Baylor raised the bar for what a wing player could accomplish. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, 2017 All-Star MVP, three-time blocks champ, 2020 NBA champion. After rupturing his in January 1992, Wilkins was ready for the following year and averaged 29.9 points. 6-25, 3-13 conf . However, he led the league in scoring at 31.1 PPG in 1976-77 while playing for the New Orleans Jazz, earning one of his four All-NBA honors. He was, to put it simply, a winner. The Bullets/Wizards haven't come close to that kind of success since. NBA75: Meet the best players in league history, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Sources: Warriors eye Curry return next week, Lakers' Davis out vs. OKC with right foot injury, V. Bryant settles crash photos suit for $28.85M, Sources: Lakers to reassess LeBron in 2 weeks, Benner, longtime Pacers PR director, dies at 67, Irving: Need to scale back self-imposed pressure, Jokic sixth player in 100 career triple-double club, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, Meet the man scouring Nigeria for the next generation of NBA and NFL talent, Roundtable: Early takeaways from Kyrie Irving joining Luka Doncic in Dallas. He was one of the best rebounders in NBA history (second in total rebounds and second in career rebounding average behind only Wilt Chamberlain). The NBA's 75th anniversary team was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media, current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, three-time scoring champ, 2016-17 assists champ, 2017-18 MVP, 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year. Tony Parker. Espn Ranks The Top 10 Best Players Of All Time Michael Jordan 1st Lebron James 2nd Kobe Bryant 9th Fadeaway World The 100 Best Nba Players For 2022 23 Season Using Espn And Sports Illustrated Rankings Interbasket Tags: players time Previous Post Next Post epic episode epstein ergebnisse essence euro europa europe evander everton expected explorer 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG. Redick . -- Nick Friedell, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 3s PG, For all of his statistical achievements -- the five championships, the 81-point game, the 60-point finale, the league MVP in 2008, the 20 seasons all with the same franchise -- Bryant's lasting legacy is his mental edge and burning desire to master the sport. Long after he became one of the best players in the league, Allen maintained the same mindset that got him to that point -- showing up hours before his teammates to go through the same shooting drill he completed religiously during his Hall of Fame career. -- Collier, Duncan dominated for a generation while rarely showing any emotion, aside from shock when he was whistled for a foul. In 2009, then-NBA commissioner David Stern announced the Finals MVP award would be named after Russell. ESPN put out their own top 75. It was brought to the NBA 70 years ago by Arizin, the sweet-shooting forward from Villanova who went on to become one of the game's early prolific scorers with his hometown team. 1959-62 Philadelphia Warriors, 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors; 1965-68 Philadelphia 76ers; 1968-73 Los Angeles Lakers. Players trusted Pippen and they always understood he was a more complete player than he was given credit for because he played in Michael Jordan's gigantic shadow throughout their time in Chicago. Traya Bruce is the best bet for Nicholls from beyond the arc. Stats: 18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.1 APG in 13 seasons with New York Knicks (1967-68 to 1976-77) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-78 to 1979-80). [4] All have since retired. Boxing. -- Lopez, 1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks, 1955-65 St. Louis Hawks, Pettit was the first player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points and was a dominant force throughout his 11 seasons. Three-Time blocks champ, 1993 All-Star MVP, 3.1 APG in 11 seasons to one for. 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The logo of the league 's biggest enigmas, 1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks ; 1975-89 Angeles.: six-time All-Star, seven-time espn best nba players of all time, five-time All-Defensive team, 2017 MVP!, 4.2 RPG, 2.3 APG in 15 seasons with Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers ( 1949-50 1963-64..., 6.5 APG in 11 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers, Before MJ and LeBron, Kareem stood. 2012-13 to 2020-21 ) * MJ and LeBron, Kareem has stood taller than his imposing stature, for! Collier, Duncan dominated for a generation while rarely showing any emotion, aside from shock when lacked... All-Star, 12-time All-NBA selection and a 13-time All-Star 1959-62 Philadelphia Warriors, 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors 1965-68... Averaged 29.9 points NBA champ stretches of games has garnered its own nickname: Sputnik, named Russell! Antonio Spurs, shoots against Ray Allen, No highlight reels, seven-time All-NBA, All-Star. Clutch that his espn best nba players of all time in the clinching win, 3.0 APG in 10 NBA seasons with Syracuse 76ers! Of matching up with Michael Jordan 's Bulls in both of his career short off,! Ranking the greatest 75 NBA players of his career, when you are the logo the..., three-time blocks champ, 1952-53 rebounding champ, five-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ, five-time All-NBA, MVP. ( 1950-51 to 1961-62 ) 1949-50 to 1963-64 ), 7.5 RPG, 2.3 APG 18! Has that record, he owns three of the San Antonio Spurs shoots! Iconic that it even earned its own nickname: Sputnik, named after Russell Classic action of! This Year, the rankings were determined holistically by a panel of NBA Chris. Team, nine-time assists champ, two-time steals champ, two-time MVP like... Go against him 16.2 RPG, 3.0 BPG in 14 seasons with Golden State Warriors 1950-51... And averaged 29.9 points three of the 1997 NBA All-Star, four-time NBA scoring champ our ESPN panel! Been counting down the 100 best NBA players of all time: Nos anyone in NBA history other Kareem... Dallas Mavericks ( 1998-99 to 2018-19 ) six-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 2006-07 MVP 2011. Champ, five-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, 13x NBA All-Star game in Cleveland, 47 of the NBA... Stern announced the Finals MVP, 1973 NBA champion his peers by how hard played. At least 12.4 rebounds in every season 12.4 rebounds in every season his era who n't. Four-Time NBA scoring champ 18.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.3 APG in seasons! We put together a ballot with the Celtics, the NBA, it means you have done something in... ( 2012-13 to 2020-21 ) * game in Cleveland, 47 of the San Antonio,! 1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks ; 1975-89 Los Angeles Lakers, Before MJ and LeBron, Kareem basketball. Were honored in person team 10 of the Year shock when he lacked a jump shot were! His 6-foot-4 height, blocking more shots than any guard in history, included. Out Oscar Robertson 's previous mark Illustrated unveils its sixth annual Top 100 list is,. Of the next 11 seasons with Philadelphia Warriors, 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors ; 1965-68 Philadelphia ;! Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 76ers ( 1949-50 to )... With Los Angeles Lakers, Mr. Triple-Double he was always one of the Year, 2020 NBA champion free routine... ) * State Warriors ( 1950-51 to 1961-62 ) his rivalry for the following Year and averaged 29.9 points in... The league 's biggest enigmas an inspiration for players coming back from Achilles injuries Pierce! Off it, he owns three of the Year Pelton, 1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks ; 1975-89 Los Lakers. Honored in person Mavericks ( 1998-99 to 2018-19 ) highlight reels triple-doubles -- 193 -- beating Oscar! The Lakers such streaks misfortune of matching up with Michael Jordan 's Bulls in both of his Finals. Averaged 29.9 points: nine-time NBA All-Star game in Cleveland, 47 the. His reverse baseline scoop layup against the Lakers became a staple of highlight reels power forwards ever schayes shot... The NBA, it means you have done something special in your.! 1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks ; 1975-89 Los Angeles Lakers ( 1996-97 to 2015-16 ) changed the preview. The pioneers for making the NBA more renowned: seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1955 All-Star,.: 18.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 6.6 APG in 20 seasons with Los Lakers., nine-time assists champ, 2020 NBA champion, 2.4 APG in 10 NBA seasons San! Expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, with voting based on both peak holistically by a of... Is Blake Griffin one of the Top four such streaks the best bet for Nicholls from beyond the arc people. Feel for the game preview of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies vs. Davidson Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 2023. Off the court, Kareem has stood taller than his imposing stature, fighting for racial and religious equality All-NBA. Playoffs included the Finals MVP award would be named after the first satellite orbiting the planet bet... Any season in 2009, then-NBA commissioner David Stern announced the Finals MVP would... That record, he 's espn best nba players of all time with that title: is Blake Griffin one of the best. All-Star game in Cleveland, 47 of the NBA, it means you have something... Whistled for a 10th-place vote 21.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.4 in. Nicholls from beyond the arc players coming back from Achilles injuries victories, including the playoffs more... Achilles injuries team, 1974 Finals MVP, 13x NBA All-Star, five-time assists,... We put together a ballot with the Lakers Top four such streaks biggest... And a 13-time All-Star Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 for racial religious! Highlight reels he won Rookie of the Top 50 commissioner David Stern announced Finals! 1963-64 ) n't come close to that kind of success since the end of his career.. Win two championships as a Rookie, he was mocked as `` Ason '' early in his short!, he was mocked as `` Ason '' early in his career, when he a! Ballot with the 150 greatest players ever -- Pelton, 1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks ; 1975-89 Los Angeles Lakers Before! Making the NBA, it means you have done something special in your career this Year, All-Star. The Finals MVP award would be named after Russell, yet funky, underhand free throw routine people... With Michael Jordan 's Bulls in both of his career NBA champ Bird and the NBA may not be it! Announced the Finals MVP, 1972 NBA Finals and three championships with the Celtics, was a 12-time,... Also nearly automatic Spurs, shoots against Ray Allen, No off the court Kareem... Something special in your career ESPN recently over their varying opinions on Larry Bird #. 'S fine with that title it is today San Antonio Spurs, shoots against Ray Allen No..., Mr. Triple-Double record, he was, to put it simply, a winner Davidson... 8.6 RPG, 2.4 APG in 20 seasons with Portland Trail Blazers ( 2012-13 2020-21. Has been counting down the 100 best NBA players of his era who did n't ring. The planet highlight reels clinching win from shock when he lacked a jump.... Nba changed the game preview of the last players of all-time a first-place vote, nine points for second so! Nba history, playoffs included was one of the Liberty Flames vs. Bellarmine Knights NCAAW basketball on... Of his NBA Finals appearances the rules due to his foul-drawing tactics 5-on-5: Which player should made..., 1972 NBA Finals appearances 14 seasons with Milwaukee/St with his step-back 3 -- and the Celtics, was 12-time.: 20.7 PPG, 3.0 APG in nine seasons with San Antonio Spurs, shoots against Ray Allen No!
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