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Michael Daly's top 10 NBA players of all time
Date: August 6, 2020By: Michael Daly
AP, USA TODAY
When discussing the 10 greatest NBA players of all-time, eras play a major role with where the rankings line up. Some people look at the rough-and-tumble style of play in the 1980s as the golden age of the NBA, while other people value the athleticism and training from the last 20 years.
The NBA’s pantheon includes LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and other all-time greats. This list primarily considers each player’s career statistics, championships, and personal accolades. Every player on this list was arguably the most dominant player in their respective era.
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It is difficult to whittle down the list to only 10 players because of the league’s expansive history dating back to the 1940s. The primary reason that this list is only 10 players is to identify and separate a batch of legends from the rest of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. There is not a player on this list that did not compete with at least one other player on this list, which makes comparing two players easier if they played in the same period.
10. Bill Russell (1956-1969, Boston Celtics, Center)
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Russell single-handedly revolutionized the way centers worked in the lane on both sides of the ball. He averaged 15.1 points-per-game, and 22.5 rebounds-per-game in 13 seasons in the NBA. The most incredible part of Russell’s career was his ability to lead the Celtics to the NBA Finals on a year in and year out basis.
In 13 seasons, Russell captured 11 NBA Finals, which is an NBA record for the most championships in a career. As he gained experience in the league, Russell became a do it all big man for Boston with his ability to score, defend, rebound, and pass. Russell became a player coach for the Boston Celtics in 1966 and he won two championships in his duel role on the Celtics.
When compared with contemporary centers, people mention how Russell was not as dominant of a scorer as he could have been. Russell knew his role in head coach Red Auerbach’s system and that was controlling the glass. With teammates like Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, and Tommy Heinsohn, Russell’s focus shifted towards being a true five, as opposed to worrying about being the focal point of the offense. His 21,620 rebounds rank second all-time behind only Wilt Chamberlain.
9. Tim Duncan (1997-2016, San Antonio Spurs, Power Forward)
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Accurately nicknamed the “Big Fundamental,” Duncan was not the most athletic power forward to grace the hardwood, but he knew how to lift a defender off his feet and get to the rim better than anyone else. Easily the greatest power forward of all-time, who also possessed the size of a standard center in the NBA. He was a defensive nightmare for an opposing team’s frontcourt.
The San Antonio Spurs drafted Duncan knowing that he would fit in seamlessly with head coach Gregg Popovich and Hall of Fame center David Robinson. Duncan won five NBA Finals and was a three-time NBA Finals MVP. He won back-to-back MVP awards in 2002 and 2003. Duncan ranks 14th all-time on the NBA’s scoring list with 26,496 points and he is sixth all-time in rebounds, 15,091.
What made Duncan a unique figure during his career compared to other stars was that he was very quiet. He let his play do most of the talking and he rarely engaged in a verbal back and forth with an opponent.
8. Larry Bird (1979-1992, Boston Celtics, Small Forward)
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Unlike Duncan, Bird was one of the most confident players in league history. He was a sharpshooter from downtown and he knew how to win games. Along with Magic Johnson, Bird was instrumental in keeping the NBA afloat in the 1980s. He woke up a dormant league when he led the Boston Celtics on an unprecedented run with three championships and three NBA MVPs. Bird was known for his finesse skills. His battles in the NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers were one of the greatest rivalries in sports history.
He finished his career with 21,791 points and he left his mark on Boston as arguably the greatest player in franchise history. Bird set the bar high for small forwards that can shoot and find ways to score.
7. Wilt Chamberlain (1959-1973, Philadelphia Warriors/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Center)
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Before Chamberlain’s time, the NBA never saw a prolific scoring center that could take a game over under the basket. He entered the NBA scoring 37.4 points-per-game in his rookie season and he holds the record for the highest points-per-game average in a season with 50.4 points-per-game in the 1961-1962 season.
On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain recorded 100 points against the New York Knicks and that scoring total stands as the most points from a player in a single game. He holds seven scoring titles and he is seventh all-time in scoring with 31,419 points. He was truly ahead of his time as a scorer but that was not all he could do.
No other player could match Chamberlain’s knack for rebounding, as he pulled down a total of 23,924 rebounds which is No. 1 all-time. Chamberlain won two NBA Finals with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers. He won four NBA MVP Awards, including three consecutive MVPs from 1966-1968.
6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-1989, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Center)
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With a career total of 38,387 points, Abdul-Jabbar may never be removed from the mountaintop of the NBA’s scoring list. His 20 seasons in the NBA will never be duplicated by another center. He changed the way centers played because he moved out from underneath the basket and worked on his shooting.
His infamous skyhook was the deadliest shot in NBA history. He could land that shot from any location even with defenders draped all over him. Jabbar owns six NBA championships, six NBA MVPs, and 19 All-Star appearances. He holds the record for most All-Star Game appearances.
5. Earvin “Magic” Johnson (1979-1991, 1996, Los Angeles Lakers, Point Guard)
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Despite being the size of a power forward, Johnson was the ultimate point guard that could run the floor, score at will, and defend all five positions. Johnson is fifth all-time in assists with 10,141 assists.
Like Bird, Johnson was a catalyst of change for the NBA. When Johnson and the Lakers played in the 1980 NBA Finals the games were aired on tape delay on CBS. Johnson’s popularity and star power helped the NBA branch out and air their games on live television. In the 1980 NBA Finals, Johnson started game six as the team’s center and he flourished in that role.
Johnson is a three-time NBA MVP, five-time NBA champion, and a 12-time All- Star. He shaped the way the point guard position was played because he was a true facilitator and an unselfish player. He paved the way for larger players to be point guards on their teams.
Before Jordan started his reign over the NBA, Johnson was regarded as the best player in the NBA during his era. The NBA may never see a player with as much personality, flash, and skill as Johnson when he was at his peak with the Showtime Lakers.
4. Oscar Robertson (1960-1974, Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks, Point Guard)
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Until Russell Westbrook accomplished the same feat, Robertson was the only NBA player to ever have a triple-double average for an entire season. In 1962, Robertson averaged 30.8 points-per-game, 12.5 rebounds-per-game, and 11.4 assists-per-game.
Robertson was far before his time because he was a 6-foot-5-inch athletic point guard who could play any position. In the 1960s, point guards were much smaller than Robertson and not nearly as physical. He did not shy away from going in the paint and battling for rebounds with the other team’s big men. Robertson was the 1964 NBA MVP and a three-time All-Star Game MVP. He was selected to 12 All-Star Games during his 14-season career. He won the NBA Finals with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971, which was his first season with the Bucks after being traded from the Cincinnati Royals.
3. Kobe Bryant (1996-2016, Los Angeles Lakers, Shooting Guard)
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The five-time NBA Finals winner wanted to win at all costs on the basketball court. He formed a dynamic duo with Shaquille O’Neal early on in his career that resulted in three consecutive NBA championships and a total of four NBA Finals appearances from 2000-2004. After O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004, Bryant went on to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances, 2008-2010, including two NBA championships during that run.
Bryant is No. 4 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 33,643 points during his 20-year career in Los Angeles. He was known for his signature Mamba Mentality that inspired millions of fans to pursue their dreams in a committed fashion. He was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and he was a two-time NBA Finals MVP. His 18 All-Star selections rank second all-time behind Abdul- Jabbar. He was the All-Star Game’s MVP a total of four times throughout his career. Bryant claimed back-to-back scoring titles in 2006 and 2007.
One of his most signature moments came when he dropped 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006. His point total in that game ranks second all-time behind Chamberlain’s 100-point game. No other player has surpassed Bryant’s 81-point total since.
On the defensive end, Bryant was just as impressive with nine selections to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Bryant’s 1,944 steals rank 17th all-time in NBA history. Comparisons were drawn between Bryant and Jordan because they played very similarly on both ends and Bryant admired Jordan’s greatness on the floor.
2. LeBron James (2003-Pres, Cleveland Cavaliers 2x, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Small Forward)
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Regarded as the greatest player of his generation, James lived up to all of the hype that surrounded him since he was a 16-year-old at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. James is a three-time NBA Finals winner with a total of nine appearances in the Finals throughout his 17 seasons in the NBA.
James is third on the all-time scoring list with 34,164 points and he is just under 3,000 points away from passing Karl Malone for No. 2 on the scoring list. James ranks eighth on the assist’s leaderboard with 9,323 assists in his career. He has a total of four NBA MVP Awards and three NBA Finals MVPs. He is a 16-time All-Star and a three-time All-Star Game MVP. He was named to the All-NBA First Team a total of 12 times and the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times. James is in pursuit of his fourth NBA title this season in the Orlando bubble.
1. Michael Jordan (1984-1993, 1995-1998, 2001-2003, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Shooting Guard)
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Jordan’s legacy is far greater than anyone could have imagined it was going to be when he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. Jordan is a six-time NBA Finals winner with six NBA Finals MVPs. Chicago never lost in the Finals when Jordan played for them and he never played in a game seven in the NBA Finals. Jordan’s 32,292 points rank fifth all-time and he is third in steals with 2,514. Jordan was viewed as the ultimate competitor and he was a master at playing mind games with his opponents. He used everything as fuel to dominate his opponents, whether it was true or not.
The greatest part of Jordan’s game was how he took everything personally and used it to motivate him to win. Every great NBA player has a different switch that makes them standout from the rest of the pack, but Jordan’s switch was one of a kind. Jordan won the NBA MVP Award five times and he was a 14-time NBA All-Star. Jordan ended his career with the Washington Wizards, and he made two All-Star teams in 2002 and 2003 to end his career.
Michael Daly is the Station Manager of 89.5 FM WSOU, and can be reached at wsoustationmanager@gmail.com.
