In 1998, Bird was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. No guard has ever dominated the league like he did, which helps his case when you see him on the top of everyones list. Mookie Blaylock was, by far, a better defender than Larry Bird -- without question. Please don't give Oscar Robertson when we type in "Robinson". In fact, it was Magic that he moldedhis game after as a youngster, which led to KG being one of the most versatile big men the NBAhas ever seen. People could argue it but its pretty fair and pretty much on point in order of ranking with arguably some exceptions. Statistics accurately portray a number of things. Similarly, LeBron is the top scorer in a playoff with 7,631 points and ranks first in the all-time point leaders list. AI is unquestionably a top 30 NBA player ever. Karl Malone Kobe Bryant Michael Jordan Dirk Nowitzki Wilt Chamberlain Shaquille O'Neal Carmelo Anthony Moses Malone Elvin Hayes Hakeem Olajuwon Oscar Robertson Dominique Wilkins Tim Duncan Rebounds Wilt Chamberlain Bill Russell Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Elvin Hayes Moses Malone Tim Duncan Karl Malone Robert Parish Kevin Garnett Dwight Howard Duncan led them to 5 NBA titles and 1,001 wins in the regular season, most by the player with one single team in NBA. Duncan just retired. There's not much I could write here that hasn't already been said, but I am happy that there seems to be very little controversy among this group that he's #1 of all-time, and I really have a hard time imagine his accomplishments ever being eclipsed. David Robinson is a true generational talent comes in at No. On April 16, 2003, Jordan played his final NBA game and received a three-minute standing ovation from his teammates, his opponents, the officials, and the crowd of 21,257 fans. He earned just about every individual honor a superstar can earn, most especially six MVPs (one more than Russell and Jordan) and hes still the only player in league history to win an MVP despite his team not making the playoffs. | View Desktop Site. Theres a reason why theFinals MVP awardis named after him. Thats why even though he could barely get loose enough to play at the end of his final season, Bird was one of the most celebrated members of the legendary Dream Team. In 1967, Chamberlian won one of his two championships playing for the 76ers, and later, in 1972, playing for the Lakers. Member of the NBA 75thanniversary team. Later, to honor Bryant, NBA changed the All-Star MVP name to Kobe All-Star MVP in 2020. :-). In 2008, Kobe won his careers first and only MVP award. But it's not quizmaster's list. But Robertsonbroke the mold almost 20 years before Magic Johnson made his debut. Lets look at who takes the crown of the greatest. With his unique skillset offensively, it was on the defensive end where KG was at his best. We all know what hes done and will continue to do for at least a few more years. Thats a fitting tribute to a record consecutive 18-time all-star starter and joint 4 times all-star MVP. Anybody else going to averaged 22.9 RPG during their career like Wilt did? A former professional basketball player and coach is considered one of the best NBA players and the most incredible power forward of all time. His Airness Michael Jordan brought basketball back to life when its rating reached its lowest point. And nobody on this list comes close to what Russell,and obvious NBA 75thanniversary team member,has done. The younger generationsgetsto enjoy the Chuckster in ways older NBA fans never imagined. You guys just hatin. When you think of LeBron James, youthink of greatness. Detroit won back-to-back championships in the middle of what many call the toughest era of NBA basketballand made Jordan scratch and claw for years before he finally got the Bulls over the hump. He has the full offensive package with no weaknesses. I created a quiz for every player who has ever received an MVP vote (over 275 players!). Yeah, per-game statistics are more telling than aggregate statistics. A 19-time All-Star who 15 times finished in the top 5 of the MVP voting, well spare you from listing out all his accolades because youd be scrolling this fine piece of #contentfor hours. Bird is well known for his excellent passing and defensive ability. ZF, While we can argue all day and night about the value of the triple-double in todays position-less game, when Oscar Robertson became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over a season it was nothing short of monumental. Who do I think was the greatest? LosingtwoFinals defeats at the hands of MJ and company certainly didnt help. STOP IT!! Show some respect. A three-time champion who won three consecutive MVPs in the mid-80s, and obviously made the NBAs 75th anniversary team, Bird knocked down daggers like it was nothing and loved ripping out the hearts of his rivals while talking some of the most underrated trash. It was probably like watching an alien. Lonzo Ball didn't work for any of these categories. In 2008 and 2009, Bryant led the Lakers to back to the back championship and was named Finals MVP both years. Location: Atlanta, Georgia Team Names: Atlanta Hawks, St. Louis Hawks, Milwaukee Hawks, Tri-Cities Blackhawks Seasons: 74; 1949-50 to 2022-23 Record: 2881-2953, .494 W-L% Playoff Appearances: 48 Championships: 1 More Franchise Info He is absolutely as successful then as he is today. AC, Elgin Baylor never won a ring. If anything, this quiz shows how overrated Larry Bird was. 1 scorer in NBA history. at no point in his entire life has Manu Ginobili been "the best player in the world." AC, As someone who has LeBron James as No. Magic Johnson Played 13 Seasons In The NBA (Source: NBA.com). The only player in history to come close to matching his winning is Michael Jordan. We may never see a 71, 365-poundbig that was as explosive, athletic, and quick as Shaq. He won 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons as a player and coach. Seriously, they made rules to try and limit his dominance since he owns records no player now or in the future will ever come close to eclipsing. In 251 playoff games, he averaged 19.9 PPG and 11.0 RPG. Lebron should not be in the top 10. Dominant. James, who operated as the face of the league in the 2010s . My list is 1 jordan 2 LeBron 3 Kareem 4 Magic Johnson 5 Larry. not then. I can only assume that's who shplody was referring to. Had a hard time with the blockers the ones I got happened to be rebounders (bigger names). The beauty of Shaqs dominance is that youcould know after two dribbles that hewas about to hit you with a dropstep in the post, but you just werent going to stop it even if you knew it was coming. Top 10 point guards. not ever. After all, "today's players aren't as good as the ones from yesteryear" isn't exactly a good business model. Sure, he played with some other legendary Lakers and the 1-8 record in the Finals stands out. We update this quiz at the end of every season. Really? We have included the top stars in the NBA today including Lebron James, Steph Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook, and more. You have entered an incorrect email address! But decisions had to be made. Others argued it should be about the numbers andthat awardsdont always end up belonging to the most deserved individual. Also surprised about Alvin vs. Oscar Robertson--fewer people got the latter, but he's the one I was aiming for when I typed "Robertson." Top 10 Best NBA Players Of All Time!! A true GOAT. Theres absolutely nothing left for Steph to accomplish and thats why he ranks in our top 10 list. Zeke not being on the Dream Team is the biggest snub ever, no exaggeration, but he rightfully earned a spot on the NBA75 team. You think Kawhi Leonard doesnt talk much, Popovich said. Now just look at the NBA today. AC, Zekes legacy has been somewhattarnished over the yearsby the opinions of his peers and the off-the-court issues he brought on himself while in theKnicks front office. However, it takes a truly rare talent to make more than one of the categories. Nowitzki ahead of Barkley, Robinson, Ewing? From the high-flying dunks to the clutch mid-range jumpers off that patented D Wade pump fake, there was moment after moment where No. Career laurels: 11 NBA champion (1957, 1959-1966, 1968, 1969); 5 NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965); 12 NBA All-Star (1958-1969); NBA All-Star Game MVP (1963); 3. Only eight players in NBA history have won three or more MVP awards and Malone doesnt get anywhere near the love that Larry Bird and Magic Johnsonthe other two players to win three MVPsreceive. Duncan, known as the The Big Fundamental, ruled both ends of the floor for 20 years with his textbook basketball skills like midrange bank jump shot and perfect positioning in the defense. ZF, How much of an explanation do you need here? Countries by First Two Letters in 90 Seconds. Vince Carter had a ton of nicknames: "Air Canada." "Half Man, Half Amazing.". This quiz is really out of date. Due to HIV, Magic prematurely retired at 32 in 1991. SMH. As a rookie, he went to a team that had finished with the 2nd-worst record in the NBA and led them to the best record in the NBA. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich put it best when the franchise retired Duncans jersey. ZO, When you talk about best PGs in NBA history, it would be impossible to not have Magic Johnson as No. I know a few random players from the last 20 years, but not nearly enough. Right now he is also 18th All-Time assists. Hes a 7guard. The description needs to be updated to be accurate. He is on track to become #1 all time. This article was last updated by Vandana Thapa on March 1, 2023. Contact Us The moments he delivered in South Beach will live in basketball infamy. In 1978, Chamberlian was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Presumably because he wasn't high enough in any one of those statistics to make the list. The Dream Shake will forever be one of the most iconic moves in NBA history and for that, we will always be thankful for Hakeem Olajuwon. Bird could do it all. They continue to way over hype active players. Just about being on the list of all time leaders in these categories. Thomas was a diabolical general who was able to score whenever he wanted and put his team on his back to will them to victory. Why didn't they just type "Malone?' Top Contributed Quizzes in Sports 1 2022 World Cup Stars 2 NBA Photo Minefield: 2-Team Players 3 4 Every captain to win the T20 World Cup 5 NBA Chain Quiz (Medium Difficulty) 6 The Best Premier League Trios 7 Hiding NBA Logos II 8 NBA Logic Puzzle 2.0 9 Sports I Drew :) 10 Top 5 Arsenal Goals and Assists Since 2000 Explore More Ever. Throughout his NBA career, he played for one team, San Antonio Spurs. The toughest debates may not be the obvious ones. Worst NBA players: The top 10 10. He had a disk replaced, otherwise he would have retired some years earlier. Dirk brought about change that fundamentally altered the way the NBA is played. As active players like LeBron James and Kevin Durants careers are still left to end, and young talents like Giannis Antetokounmpoand Luka Doncic into the league, anybody can claim the crown from Jordan in the future. Career Stats: Points: 19.0 Rebounds: 10.8 Assists: 3.0. Later, in 2006 and 2007, he won the scoring title. Bird's main reason for not appearing on these lists is the short length of his career. He did it all and made sure you knew about it along the way. It upsets me that people might be shocked that Allen Iverson is included on this list. In 2021, Kobe Bryant was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Also Gasol is elite, no question. Is Jordans brand skyrocketing in the popularity of basketball? LeBron joined Miami Heat in 2010 to form BIG 3 alongside Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh after winning back-to-back MVPs. Sometimes I watch his reverse layup during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the 1980 Finals against the Lakers andtry to figure out how the hell he was able to stay in the air that long. Top 1,000 NBA Players (#501-1,000) -. In his 20th NBA season, LeBron nailed a 21-foot shot late against the Oklahoma City Thunder by breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 points on February 8, 2023. | View Desktop Site. Well done. His signature play of tapping the ball to a teammate helped him invent the fast break. He played forever, has a ring, scored 17,000 points despite being on two mostly mediocre teams, led centers in FT% and was the first big man to master the 3-point shot. His numbers throughout the NBA career was legendary. He won scoring titles 7 times, rebounding titles 11 times, and durability titles once in his career. Includes several levels with the players in the NBA 2017. 5-on-5 debate: Will Curry pass Magic as the best PG ever? ZO, The Shaq of point guards. got 31 yeah, stockton and malone alone gave me 4. Then I saw you rank Wilt Chamberlain above Shaq and Russell which is correct and I dont care what anybody texts here He was one of the first players to take full advantage of newly formed 3-pointers. Top 10 All-Time NBA Players By Position #1 Guess the 10 best NBA players by their position according to ESPN Quiz by Tottenham63 Rate: Nominate Last updated: May 29, 2016 You have not attempted this quiz yet. Russell made over 1 rebound for every two minutes that he spent playing. LeBron not only matched the hype, but he exceeded it. Jordans jersey from his opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold as the most expensive memorabilia in history for $10.1 million in September 2022. James Corden James Harden Jeremy Corbyn James Bond 2/10 nba.com/warriors Who's this Golden State Warrior? If Bird wasnt Mr. DIY, its staggering to think what else he couldve done since he was never quite the same after that andhorribly hobbled his final few years in the league. While the Diesel collapsed defenses, Steph expands them, taking the 3-point philosophy of Mike DAntoni and turning it up a couple notches. Argh. Also, you should change the order of players. LeBron already holds the record for 16 All-NBA team selections. https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1323874/every-nba-player-who-has-received-mvp-votes, Contact Us The list is dated for sure. Youre telling me somebodys going to average more than 45.8 minutes per game like Wilt did during his 13 seasons in the NBA? He was possibly the best player in the world at that time. One more tiny nitpick: Chris Mullin retired in 2001. Who else is going to average 50.4 PPG for a season like Wilt did in the 1961-62 season? Tagline says "Can you the" missing a "name". | Privacy Settings To me, thats absolutely silly for a guy who still managed to win just as many or more titles than Bird, LeBron, Wilt, Magic, and Shaq. Wedding, Kids & Girlfriends. I have a new quiz "NBA Top 10 League Leaders of the 2010s" for all NBA fans out there. Knock us all you want, but well rest easy knowing Antetokounmpo belongs here as a newly minted NBA immortal. ESPNs The Last Dance tried its best to encapsulate MJs stranglehold on the basketball world and still didnt do it justice. Abdul-Jabbar wasnt physically dominant the way Wilt or Shaquille ONeal was, but his fluidity was something special for someone of his gargantuan size. You could go on and on with former and current NBA stars talking about why Iverson was so great and means so much to them. Charles Barkley played 16 seasons in the NBA. Instead, the politicking and petty attacks on each others basketball intelligence got really heated, over multiple Zoom calls and text threads, when we tried to properly rank Shaq and Kobe and a bunch of point guards toward the bottom of our30 Best NBA Players of All Time list. He is, without a doubt, thegreatest shooter of all timeafter becomingthe careerleader in made 3-pointers. I forget Barkley on EVERY NBA quiz that I dothe one time i actually remember to try himhe's not on there. Shaq, obviously a member of the NBA 75 team,is one of the most skilled bigs ever to touch a basketball and weve all seen the video of him cooking MJ in a one-on-one before the All-Star Game. Fifty players were selected through a vote by a panel of media members, former players and coaches, and current and former general managers. 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Finals MVP both years made over 1 rebound for every two minutes he! Please do n't give Oscar Robertson when we type in `` Robinson '' retired at 32 in 1991 the of. On track to become # 1 all time have a new quiz `` NBA top 10 league of... Mold almost 20 years, but he exceeded it ( Source: NBA.com ) by far a... ; s this Golden State Warrior best NBA players ( # 501-1,000 ) - made over 1 for. Lakers to back to life when its rating reached its lowest point of LeBron James, who as. Come close to what Russell, and durability titles once in his entire life Manu! Referring to ones i got happened to be updated to be accurate, when you Kawhi! Forward of all time! people might be shocked that Allen Iverson is included on this list Bryant...