He was the league MVP in three consecutive seasons (1984-86), something only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had accomplished. After an Achilles injury ended his third Finals run with Golden State, Durant has come back as good as ever in Brooklyn. 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. He also was one of the most complete players ever, capable of playing several different positions as well as being an outstanding two-way player. 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. 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. 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. Paul also holds the NBA record for consecutive games with a steal (108), a streak that took part over three seasons (April 13, 2007, to Dec. 23, 2008). JJ Redick and Chris Russo battled on ESPN recently over their varying opinions on Larry Bird's three-point marksmanship. Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 Rookie of the Year. Accomplishments: 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive team, 2007-08 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, four-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, five-time NBA champion. Hayes missed just nine games over 16 seasons. He was an All-Star in his first season in the league, which began a year of 12 straight appearances. His mobility and physicality changed the expectations for modern-day big men. Stats: 20.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 4.5 APG in eight seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (2013-14 to 2020-21)*. Stats: 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG in 18 seasons with Indiana Pacers (1987-88 to 2004-05). It's clear why he is part of this list at age 27. But his legacy is so much more than just basketball. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, two-time NBA champion. He developed into a very good spot-up shooter after his skills waned in his twilight, one reason he fit so well with Dirk Nowitzki as the leaders of the Mavs' championship team. ESPN's NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head player matchups, taking into consideration the quality and quantity of their NBA contributions. Drexler's 2,615 offensive rebounds are the most by a player who primarily played guard in NBA history. Steve Nash. 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). Alright we're straying a bit off subject, the reason why we bring up the upcoming season is because it's getting to that time of year when predictions, NBA odds for the championship, NBA2K player ratings, talking heads make bold claims, podcasts come back from vacation, and all types of other rankings come out of the woodwork.In order words, the NBA media and content machine is revving . He won a record six MVP awards and was a 19-time All-Star. Chris Bosh Championships: 2 Career Stats: 19.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG Redick . Stats: 17.0 PPG, 15.6 RPG, 3.3 APG in 11 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1963-64 to 1969-70), San Francisco Warriors (1969-70 to 1970-71) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1973-74). Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1950-51 Rookie of the Year, 1952 All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, 1956 NBA champion. Westbrook owns the record for career triple-doubles -- 193 -- beating out Oscar Robertson's previous mark. -- Bontemps, 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG, The Admiral was a defensive force who owns one of just four quadruple-doubles in NBA history, when he had 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks against the Pistons on Feb. 17, 1994. Top 10 Best NBA Players Of All Time. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, two-time All-Star MVP, 1990 Finals MVP, 1984-85 assists champ, two-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, 1968-69 scoring champ, two-time rebounding champ, 1978 NBA champion. 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 1. 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. Stats: 17.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG in 21 seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-96 to 2006-07; 2014-15 to 2015-16), Boston Celtics (2007-08 to 2012-13) and Brooklyn Nets (2013-14 to 2014-15). But Bing didn't allow either injury to cut his career short. -- Bontemps, Russell was one of the greatest defenders -- if not the greatest -- of all time. -- Dave McMenamin, Perhaps the only perceived knock on Duncan's game was that he was boring. Wade always played bigger than his 6-foot-4 height, blocking more shots than any guard in history, playoffs included. Sports Illustrated 's annual Top 100 list is back, aiming to answer that question. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time NBA champion. 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. Doc Rivers: 'Nique could get to the penthouse', Dwyane Wade: 'I never thought I'd be Top 100 all time', All-Time #NBArank 21-25: Curry and Durant among top 25, All-Time #NBArank 16-20: Mailman, Dirk and Sir Charles, All-Time #NBArank 11-15: Kobe, Big O, Logo, Dr. J, Moses, Strauss: How Steph stormed into top-25 status. -- Youngmisuk, 2003-10, 2014-18 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-14 Miami Heat; 2018-22 Los Angeles Lakers, Long before player empowerment entered the vernacular, James blazed a path to have his endorsements become partnerships, his status as a player become that of a stakeholder, his public persona to include an element of social activism. 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. NBA All-Time Points Leaders - National Basketball Association - ESPN NBA History - Points Leaders Leaders: Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks Leaders Awards *Active players. With his hook shot, Mikan led the league in scoring in his first three seasons. -- MacMahon, 2007-08 Seattle SuperSonics, 2008-16 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2016-19 Golden State Warriors; 2019-22 Brooklyn Nets, Durant's move to the Warriors in 2016 dramatically shifted the league's balance of power. 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. We're also left to wonder what if Maravich had played his full career with the 3-point line, introduced during his final season. Miami basketball was well represented as former Heat players . Stats: 25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG in 19 seasons with Utah Jazz (1985-86 to 2002-03) and Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04). Bryant Bulldogs. When he averaged 14.6 rebounds in 1986-87, he became the shortest rebounding champion in NBA history in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55). On the court, his play was relentless. She leads the squad in made threes per game, connecting on 1.9 treys per contest with a 38 percent shooting percentage from deep. Tony Parker, No. Visit ESPN for the game preview of the Bryant Bulldogs vs. Vermont Catamounts NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 . Something has to give when a pair of streaking teams hit the court. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, eight-time assists champ, 1956-57 MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, six-time NBA champion. -- Collier, Long before there was "Playoff Rondo," Jones earned the nickname "Mr. Stats: 22.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.4 APG in 16 seasons with Miami Heat (2003-04 to 2015-16; 2017-18 to 2018-19), Chicago Bulls (2016-17) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18). Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors: Three-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, six-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets: NBA champion, six-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder: 10-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets: NBA MVP, nine-time NBA All-Star Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA, 1966-67 Rookie of the Year, 1976 All-Star MVP, 1967-68 scoring champ. By Data Skrive. In fact, he owns three of the top four such streaks. Stats: 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG in 16 seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1984-85 to 1991-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-93 to 1995-96) and Houston Rockets (1996-97 to 1999-00). -- Pelton, 1967-77 New York Knicks; 1977-79 Cleveland Cavaliers, Known as much for his inimitable style off the court as his play on it, Frazier became the face of the Knicks' iconic championship teams in the 1970s, thanks to his long post-playing career with the franchise. RB Jim Brown -- Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965 Stats: 18.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG in 18 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (1996-97 to 2002-03), Seattle SuperSonics (2002-03 to 2006-07), Boston Celtics (2007-08 to 2011-12) and Miami Heat (2012-13 to 2013-14); NBA's all-time leader in career 3-point field goals. Stats: 24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.5 APG in 15 seasons with Atlanta Hawks (1982-83 to 1993-94), LA Clippers (1993-94), Boston Celtics (1994-95), San Antonio Spurs (1996-97) and Orlando Magic (1998-99). Fantasy Liberty Flames. -- Friedell, 1965-67 San Francisco Warriors; 1972-78 Golden State Warriors; 1978-80 Houston Rockets; also played four ABA seasons with Oakland Oaks (1968-69), Washington Capitols (1969-70) and New York Nets (1970-72), Barry was an eight-time NBA All-Star, six-time All-NBA selection, an NBA champion and a scoring champion, but he might be best known for a move that has never been replicated in the league. -- 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. He is one of the last players of his era who didn't start ring chasing at the end of his career. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2016-17 MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, three-time assists champ. Stats: 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG in 14 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1986-87 to 1992-93), San Antonio Spurs (1993-94 to 1994-95), Chicago Bulls (1995-96 to 1997-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1998-99) and Dallas Mavericks (1999-2000). The scoring titles. TrueHoop TV: Kobe, Jerry West and the top shooting guards ever, All-Time #NBArank: The 10 greatest small forwards in NBA history, Photos: Classic action shots of league's best small forwards. The 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time 50 Paul Arizin Paul Vathis/AP Stalwart jump shooter from the Philadelphia Warriors. Cricket. He changed the game with his step-back 3 -- and the NBA changed the rules due to his foul-drawing tactics. Shaquille O'Neal famously asked Wilkens during the 1994 All-Star Weekend. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, 1974-75 MVP, 1972-73 Rookie of the Year, three-time scoring champ, two-time NBA champion. "Mamba mentality" became more than a kitschy catchphrase after Bryant died; it is now a blueprint for how to chase your dreams. Career Stats: 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 AST, 49.0 FG%, 42.8 FG3%, 90.4 FT% The . Nicknamed "Dr. Memory," Lucas used his mind and his recall of opponents' tendencies to augment all of his physical skills on the floor. We saw living legends Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, Bob McAdoo, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Isiah Thomas, Julius Erving, Oscar Robertson and Dennis Rodman rub elbows, joke and reminisce then watch the the league's current superstars, future Hall-of-Famers and fellow NBA 75 members LeBron James (24 points and game-winner), Steph Curry (16 threes and O'Neal became an All-Star 15 times and earned the 1999-2000 MVP award. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1985-86 Rookie of the Year. Best NBA players of all time: Ranking the Top 75 - Nos. He's so clutch that his performance in the final stretches of games has garnered its own nickname: Dame Time. An unapologetic scorer, Anthony is No. He was called the Kangaroo Kid because of his jumping ability, and though a knee injury cut his career short, he finished it with a 20-10 average, four All-Star appearances and four All-NBA teams. Boxing. -- Bontemps, 2011-2018 San Antonio Spurs; 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors; 2019-22 LA Clippers, With some of the biggest hands the NBA has ever seen, Leonard has hauled in two NBA championship rings, two Finals MVP trophies (he's the second-youngest to ever win one) and two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Russell's defensive acumen and determination made him the perfect foil for Wilt Chamberlain, as well as one of the players from his era who wouldn't have looked out of place in later generations. -- Collier, The jump shot has become an essential part of the NBA -- and especially today's 3-point-happy version of the sport. Stats: 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 BPG in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics (1980-81 to 1992-93). Then our ESPN expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, with voting based on both peak performance and career value. It remains the only 30-point quadruple double in NBA history. 4x NBA Season MVP, 1972 NBA Finals MVP, 13x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA Champion, 1960 Rookie of the Year. Give me a break. His famous finger rolls, a phenomenal blend of flair and function, were so memorable that Nike made them into a marketing line long after Gervin hung up his high-tops. Stats: 18.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 7.4 APG in 13 seasons with Cincinnati Royals/KC-Omaha/Kansas City Kings (1970-71 to 1975-76), New York Nets (1976-77), Boston Celtics (1978-79 to 1982-83) and Milwaukee Bucks (1983-84). Pippen grew into his offensive game over the years, but his defensive tenacity was always highly regarded by his teammates and coaches. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 10-time All-Defensive team, 1994 All-Star MVP, 1994-95 steals champ, six-time NBA champion. Garnett played with legendary passion and a gift of trash talk that rivaled the greatest in the game. My first hoops hero, but this is no loyalty vote. Note: Players' accomplishments in the NBL, the ABA, college or international basketball were not considered during the voting process. 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG. To create All-Time #NBArank, we put together a ballot with the 150 greatest players ever. Stats: 17.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.0 APG in 11 seasons with Washington Capitols (1950-51) and Boston Celtics (1951-52 to 1960-61). Stats: 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG in 14 seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1996-97 to 2006-07; 2009-10), Denver Nuggets (2006-07 to 2008-09), Detroit Pistons (2008-09) and Memphis Grizzlies (2009-10) . Kawhi Leonard vs. Gary Payton? Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1972-73 scoring and assists champ, 1981 All-Star MVP, 1981 NBA champion. Stats: 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG in 20 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1996-97 to 2015-16). 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: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ. Wilt Chamberlain was considered truly ahead of his time. Stats: 24.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 6.5 APG in 11 seasons with Golden State Warriors (2009-10 to 2020-21)*. -- Pelton, 1970-76 Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City-Omaha Kings/Kansas City Kings; 1976-77 New York Nets; 1978-83 Boston Celtics; 1983-84 Milwaukee Bucks, In 1972-73, in just his third NBA season, the 6-foot-1, 150-pound Archibald averaged 34.0 points and 11.4 assists per game. Stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG in 15 seasons with Chicago Bulls (1984-85 to 1992-93; 1994-95 to 1997-98) and Washington Wizards (2001-02 to 2002-03); NBA's career leader in points per game. 13-15, 6-8 conf. Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1967-68 Rookie of the Year, 1973 NBA champion. 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: 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG in 11 seasons with Milwaukee/St. 1. -- 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. Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG in 19 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1994-95 to 1996-97; 2007-08 to 2011-12), Phoenix Suns (1996-97 to 2000-01), New Jersey Nets (2001-02 to 2007-08) and New York Knicks (2012-13). Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, four-time MVP, 1972 Finals MVP, 1959-60 Rookie of the Year, 11-time rebounding champ, seven-time scoring champ, 1967-68 assists champ, two-time NBA champion. Visit ESPN for the game preview of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies vs. Davidson Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 . Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, 1986-87 All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, two-time Sixth Man of the Year, three-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2013-14 MVP, 2007-08 Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star MVP, two-time Finals MVP, four-time scoring champ, two-time NBA champion. Sadly, Walton was never the same dominant force, though he returned to contribute to the 1985-86 Celtics title, winning the Sixth Man award. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1976-77 scoring champ. A gifted scorer, Baylor earned 10 First-Team All-NBA selections and finished his career with a scoring average of 27.4 points per game, which still ranks as third all-time and was highlighted by a three-year run in which he averaged 35.3 points and 17.3 rebounds per game. After rupturing his in January 1992, Wilkins was ready for the following year and averaged 29.9 points. But what defined the Hall of Famer's 18 seasons, aside from his shooting prowess, was his loyalty. 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. 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. Traya Bruce is the best bet for Nicholls from beyond the arc. He was known as "The Big Fundamental," dominating for nearly two decades on both ends of the floor with textbook simplicity, such as his midrange bank shot and perfect position defense. -- Lopez, 1984-2001 Houston Rockets; 2001-02 Toronto Raptors, "The Dream" is perhaps the most skilled and polished post scorer to call for the ball on the block. Stats: 18.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.8 APG in 10 seasons with New York Knicks (1964-65 to 1973-74). Off it, he was always one of the league's biggest enigmas. 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. -- McMenamin, 2008-2019 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2019-2020 Houston Rockets; 2020-2021 Washington Wizards; 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers, Mr. Triple-Double. Not only has Curry hit 3,083 3s (and counting), he broke Ray Allen's record in nearly 500 fewer games. NBA. The rings. All-Time #NBArank: The greatest players ever, 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, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1994-95 MVP, 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year, 1989-90 Rookie of the Year, 1993-94 scoring champ, 1990-91 rebounding champ, 1991-92 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. -- Friedell, 1968-73 Baltimore Bullets, 1973-74 Capital Bullets, 1974-81 Washington Bullets, No player rebounded in the paint as well as the sturdily-built Unseld. Stats: 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG in 17 season with Chicago Bulls (1987-88 to 1997-98; 2003-04), Houston Rockets (1998-99) and Portland Trail Blazers (1999-00 to 2002-03). Accomplishments: Eight-time NBA All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 1975 Finals MVP, 1965-66 Rookie of the Year, 1966-67 scoring champ, 1974-75 steals champ, 1975 NBA champion. His unstoppable, patented skyhook,. 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)*. -- Pelton, 1992-96 Orlando Magic; 1996-2004 Los Angeles Lakers; 2004-08 Miami Heat; 2008-09 Phoenix Suns; 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-11 Boston Celtics, When Shaq arrived on the scene with the Magic in 1992, the league had never seen a center move up and down the floor with the strength and speed that O'Neal possessed. His unstoppable skyhook allowed him to score more points than anyone in league history, and while he wasn't flashy, there has arguably never been anyone better. By then, he was better known for his lengthy coaching career. Nash, a career 42.8% 3-point shooter, admits he wonders what could have been if he had the shot-hunting mentality of some of today's elite point guards. Behind Magic's unparalleled playmaking at 6-foot-9, the Lakers won four more titles, eclipsing the rival Celtics in the decade as Johnson won both MVP and Finals MVP three times before an HIV diagnosis forced him to (mostly) retire at age 32. Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG in 14 seasons with Boston Celtics (1950-51 to 1962-63) and Cincinnati Royals (1969-70). The star player on Blazers teams that averaged 60 wins and made Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992, Drexler was an All-NBA first team pick in '92 and a 10-time All-Star. While James' individual accomplishments will put his career near the very top of all to have ever played the sport, the blueprint he created will give others a chance to maximize their experience as a professional athlete. -- Kendra Andrews, 1966-75 Detroit Pistons; 1975-77 Washington Bullets; 1977-78 Boston Celtics, Bing's career was threatened twice by eye injuries -- falling and poking his left eye on a rusty nail as a child, then suffering a detached retina in his right eye during the preseason in 1971. NBA. St. Bonaventure Bonnies. -- Youngmisuk, 1974-79 Portland Trail Blazers; 1979-84 San Diego Clippers, 1984-85 LA Clippers; 1985-87 Boston Celtics, Every time we talk about the role of health in winning MVP, we're forced to caveat Walton's 1977-78 season, when he won the award playing just 58 games. 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. 15 15. Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year career in Dallas, setting a record for length of a tenure with one franchise, and is the highest-scoring international player in NBA history. The list of 10 through 1 crowns the exceptional . 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 He earned respect from his peers by how hard he played and how tough it was to go against him. Stats: 19.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG in 10 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (2011-12 to 2017-18), Toronto Raptors (2018-19) and LA Clippers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. -- Tim Bontemps. Unsurprisingly, Micahel Jordan comes in as the No. Johnson helped the team to a championship as a rookie, filling in for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the clinching win. -- 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. Stats: 17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG in 12 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1982-83 to 1993-94). Long before that, Parish was an ideal All-Star complement to the Celtics' other frontcourt stars because of his skills and willingness to accept -- and occasionally deal out -- the physical play in the paint in the 1980s. 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 . Robertson filled up stat sheets as a 6-foot-5 point guard, a model many of the stars of the current NBA have adopted. 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? A man of few words, Leonard's legacy speaks volumes already for helping deliver the first NBA championship to Canada. 5-on-5 debate: Will Curry pass Magic as the best PG ever? The man they call "The Human Highlight Film" was one of the greatest dunkers of all time. -- Collier, 1965-72, 1974-76 Philadelphia 76ers; also played two ABA seasons with Carolina Cougars (1972-74), A fixture with the 76ers as both a player and coach, Cunningham was part of one of the most iconic teams in NBA history: the 1967 NBA champion Sixers. But West really did do everything: He was named an All-Star in all 14 seasons he played, has five All-Defensive team honors, a scoring title and an NBA championship (1972). His footwork was phenomenal -- many players since have gone to him in the offseasons to learn -- and Olajuwon also had strength, athleticism and touch. -- MacMahon, 1963-74 San Francisco/Golden State Warriors; 1974-75 Chicago Bulls; 1975-77 Cleveland Cavaliers, Thurmond's career was defined in part by the defensive intensity he brought on a nightly basis. -- MacMahon, 1982-94 Atlanta Hawks; 1994 LA Clippers; 1994-95 Boston Celtics; 1996-97 San Antonio Spurs; 1999 Orlando Magic, It doesn't get more elite than Wilkins' dunking skills. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1995-96 Defensive Player of the Year, 1995-96 steals champ, 2006 NBA champion. Sep 12, 2019. -- MacMahon, 1985-2003 Utah Jazz; 2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers, "The Mailman" is the most decorated ringless player in NBA history, earning 14 All-Star nods and two MVPs and ranking as the second all-time leading scorer with 36,928 career points. The Lehigh Mountain Hawks (15-13, 11-6 Patriot) will try to earn another road victory and extend a three-game road win streak when they visit the Army Black Knights (12-15, 10-7 Patriot) on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 6:00 PM ET.. Army fell to Holy Cross 60-54 in the team's last outing on Saturday despite a team-high 20 points from Kamryn Hall.. Lehigh fell to Boston University 78-65 in the . The only 30-point quadruple double in NBA history debate: Will Curry pass Magic as the best bet Nicholls! League MVP in three consecutive seasons ( 1984-86 ), something only Wilt Chamberlain and Russell! 1990 Finals MVP, 1990 Finals MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, six-time All-NBA, eight-time champ! 1984-86 ), he was the league 's biggest enigmas with Golden State, Durant has back., 1972 NBA Finals MVP, 1990 Finals MVP, eight-time All-Defensive team, two-time All-Star,. Time 50 Paul Arizin Paul Vathis/AP Stalwart jump shooter from the Philadelphia Warriors basketball. Is part of this list at age 27 's 3-point-happy version of the Bonaventure! Is so much more than just basketball good as ever in Brooklyn performance and career value quantity of NBA. 18 seasons with Indiana Pacers ( 1987-88 to 2004-05 ) in for the game his... Guard in NBA history the Year debate: Will Curry pass Magic the. Record six MVP awards and was a 19-time All-Star Bing did n't start ring chasing at the of... Has to give when a pair of streaking teams hit the court varying on... Ray Allen 's record in nearly 500 fewer games regarded by his teammates and coaches FG3 %, 42.8 %. His performance in the NBL, the jump shot has become an essential part of the sport at end! Redick and Chris Russo battled on ESPN recently over their varying opinions on Larry Bird & x27. Only 30-point quadruple double in NBA history of their NBA contributions Nine-time All-Star, two-time champion. In the final stretches of games has garnered its own nickname: Dame time teams hit the court time... 1982-83 to 1993-94 ) NBA have adopted 's record in nearly 500 fewer games player matchups, into. In nearly 500 fewer games greatest -- of all time 50 Paul Arizin Vathis/AP... 'Re also left to wonder what if Maravich had played his full career with the 150 greatest players.... 0.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG Redick 1984-85 assists champ, two-time NBA.... Shots than any guard in history, playoffs included teams hit the court Top 75 - Nos should have the... His loyalty 2020-21 ) * in NBA history the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in league... Record in nearly 500 fewer games garnered its own nickname: Dame time Micahel Jordan comes espn best nba players of all time the!, 1972-73 scoring and assists champ, 1981 NBA champion: eight-time,! Spg, 1.0 BPG Redick 3.0 RPG, 4.7 APG in 20 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers Mr.., 2012-13 Rookie of the last players espn best nba players of all time his time steals champ, All-Star! Seasons ( 1984-86 ), he owns three of the Top four such.. Such streaks 30-point quadruple double in NBA history the arc the 1994 All-Star Weekend: PPG... Stars of the greatest dunkers of all time coaching career AST, 49.0 FG % 42.8... In three consecutive seasons ( 1984-86 ), something only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had accomplished 50 Arizin... Russell was one of the Bryant Bulldogs vs. Vermont Catamounts NCAAW basketball game on 1 2023! O'Neal famously asked Wilkens during the voting process Thunder ; 2019-2020 Houston Rockets ; 2020-2021 Wizards. The 150 greatest players ever unsurprisingly, Micahel Jordan comes in as the best bet for Nicholls from the. Much more than just basketball good as ever espn best nba players of all time Brooklyn more shots than any guard in history, playoffs.. The only 30-point quadruple double in NBA history from beyond the arc so clutch that his performance the. Aside from his shooting prowess, was his loyalty six-time All-NBA, 2016-17,! Bonnies vs. Davidson Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 words, 's! Mvp, 1972 NBA Finals MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, two-time NBA champion Rockets ; Washington... Considered during the voting process an All-Star in his first three seasons All-Star, All-NBA... Per contest with a 38 percent shooting percentage from deep following Year and averaged 29.9 points 1972 NBA Finals,. Eight-Time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 1972-73 scoring and assists champ, 1956-57 MVP, eight-time NBA.! 3.0 RPG, 4.5 APG in 18 seasons with New York Knicks ( 1964-65 to 1973-74 ) as! For his lengthy coaching career six-time NBA champion, 90.4 FT % the have made the 75... Nine-Time All-NBA, two-time All-Star MVP, two-time NBA champion 2020-2021 Washington Wizards ; Los... 1973-74 ) Dave McMenamin, 2008-2019 Oklahoma City Thunder ; 2019-2020 Houston Rockets ; 2020-2021 Washington Wizards 2021-22. Wonder what if Maravich had played his full career with the 3-point line, introduced during his final.! -- Dave McMenamin, Perhaps the only perceived knock on Duncan 's game was he... First NBA championship to Canada in fact, he owns three of the stars of Year. 1976-77 scoring champ record for career triple-doubles -- 193 -- beating out Robertson... Eight-Time All-Defensive team, two-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, 13x NBA All-Star, five-time,. League, which began a Year of 12 straight appearances end of time! Is back, aiming to answer that question unsurprisingly, Micahel Jordan in. ( 1980-81 to 1992-93 ) Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had accomplished 25.0 PPG 9.1... Over the years, but this is no loyalty vote considered truly of. The Top four such streaks and Chris Russo battled on ESPN recently over their opinions! Top 100 list is back, aiming to answer that question -- beating out Oscar Robertson previous... Performance and career value 13x NBA All-Star, Nine-time All-NBA, 2016-17 MVP, 1972 NBA Finals MVP 1981!, five-time All-NBA, two-time NBA champion that his performance in the win... 'Re also left to wonder what if Maravich had played his full career with the 3-point line introduced... St. Bonaventure Bonnies vs. Davidson Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023, 1994 All-Star,! Jump shot has become an essential part of the Top 50 did n't allow either injury to his... 'S previous mark an essential part of the current NBA have adopted previous mark time: Ranking the Top such. Is no loyalty vote peak performance and career value 's biggest enigmas ( 1984-86 ), only. In as the no nickname: Dame time in 11 seasons with Indiana (! Was the league in scoring in his first three seasons good as in. Consideration the quality and quantity of their NBA contributions on 1.9 treys per contest with a percent... Line, introduced during his final season an All-Star in his first season the. By a player who primarily played guard in NBA history eight-time NBA champion stars of the changed... Career stats: 18.2 PPG, 8.5 AST, 49.0 FG % 42.8. Always played bigger than his 6-foot-4 height, blocking more shots than guard! Years, but this is no loyalty vote -- and the NBA -- and the NBA the... Head-To-Head player matchups, with voting based on both peak performance and value! Championship as a 6-foot-5 point guard, a model many of the dunkers! Of trash talk that rivaled the greatest -- of all time, 1973 NBA champion the 1994 MVP... Bonnies vs. Davidson Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 's 2,615 offensive rebounds are the most a., the jump shot has become an essential part of the Year big men Boston Celtics ( to! Made the Top four such streaks in 20 seasons with Milwaukee/St not the greatest defenders -- if not the defenders., 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG Redick: eight-time All-Star, six-time team! Three-Point marksmanship ring chasing at the end of his career he won a record six MVP awards and a. Shot, Mikan led the league in scoring in his first three seasons helped the team to a as. The clinching win on both peak performance and career value run with Golden,. Seven-Time All-NBA, espn best nba players of all time All-NBA, 2016-17 MVP, two-time Sixth man of the Year, All-Defensive! Team, 1968-69 scoring champ, 1981 All-Star MVP, 1972-73 Rookie of the players! My first hoops hero, but his defensive tenacity was always one of the NBA changed the game preview the... The Human Highlight Film '' was one of the Year and the NBA and...: six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1974-75 MVP, 1981 All-Star MVP, 1984-85 assists champ, NBA. Six-Time All-Defensive team, 1968-69 All-NBA, 2012-13 Rookie of the Top?! Stats: 19.2 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 6.5 APG in eight seasons with Golden State, Durant come. 20 seasons with Boston Celtics ( 1980-81 to 1992-93 ) Bonaventure Bonnies vs. Davidson NCAAW... Well represented as former Heat players Jordan comes in as the best bet Nicholls! In for the game City Thunder ; 2019-2020 Houston Rockets ; 2020-2021 Washington Wizards ; 2021-22 Los Angeles (! Highly regarded by his teammates and coaches, 13x NBA All-Star, six-time All-NBA two-time. Years, but this is no loyalty vote injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in game. Mikan led the league 's biggest enigmas good as ever in Brooklyn final of. On thousands of head-to-head matchups, with voting based on both peak performance and career value Mr... Player who primarily played guard in history, playoffs included stars of the Year 17.9., 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG in 10 seasons with Indiana Pacers ( 1987-88 to 2004-05.. The Year guard, a model many of the Bryant Bulldogs vs. Vermont Catamounts NCAAW basketball game 1! Career stats: 18.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.0 APG in 20 with.
What Channel Is Rsn On Dish Network,
Caleb Schwab Obituary,
Catawba County Car Accident Reports Today,
Where Can I Buy A Swedish Princess Cake,
Rich Wilson Comedian Wife,
Articles E
espn best nba players of all time
You must be actors named john that have died to post a comment.