Top 10 NBA players of all-time

How are top 10 NBA players in NBA history?

I'll start with mine share yours.

1) Michael Jordan
2) Kareem
3) Kobe Bryant
4) Magic Johnson
5) Wilt Chamberlain
6) Bill Russell
7) Tim Duncan
8) Larry Bird
9) Shaq
10) Lebron

11) Hakeem Olajuwon

 

I have the same players in my top 10, except Hakeem replaces Lebron. I'll have to do some research before I can make a full top 10. MJ and Kareem are my #1 and #2 though.

 

Awesome stuff. I go back and forth with Lebron and Hakeem but Lebron 4 MVP rewards along with 2 rings, 2 FMVP give him nod for me over Hakeem and his career still going strong.

 

Good list somewhat surprised Duncan is left off your top 10 list greatest PF of all time the big fundamental was phenomenal for two decades and class act great teammate to have along with no ego.

 

The forgotten one Oscar was amazing averaging almost triple double for his career is unheard of.

 

01. Michael Jordan
02. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
03. Magic Johnson
04. Bill Russell
05. Kobe Bryant
06. Tim Duncan
07. Shaquille O'Neal
08. Larry Bird
09. Wilt Chamberlain
10. Hakeem Olajuwon

Lebron is around #12 for me and if gets another ring he jumps to #8.

This is my best effort combining best career (rings and accolades) and who I think is most skilled. If you asked me flat out who are the three best players of all time without taking into account rings and other accolades, I would say MJ, Kobe, and Wilt.

 

I'm shocked people still to this day have Magic ranked over Kobe when Jerry West, Shaq, and Magic himself calls Kobe the greatest Laker of all-time. I mean Kobe has most of all Lakers franchise records five rings, seven Finals appearances and is most tendured franchise player in its history two decades of greatness.

 

Kareem
Jordan
Magic
Wilt
Kobe
Malone (Karl)
Bird
Duncan
Russell
Shaq

Honorable mention:
Hakeem, Havlicek, Moses Malone, Dr. J, Maravich, Baylor, West, Cousy, Robertson

 

I honestly think Kobe is a better player than Magic, all things considered. However, I feel like Magic had arguably a better career especially considering that he and Bird essentially revived the NBA in the 80s. With them both having 5 rings, Magic edges Kobe on my top 10. I can absolutely can understand if one ranks Kobe higher though.

 

I'm not much of a fan on the greatest players having to have "rings". Over at CL Roo posted a great post on the few number of teams that have actually won championships in the NBA. I can't remember the number but it was like 50% of all championships are held by 3 team and 75% by like 6 or 7. He and I used to debate that one all day. Over the years I tend to agree that individual greatest players are just that... individual players and should be evaluated as such.

Some players influenced the game immeasurably like Baylor and Maravich while never winning a chip and some like Russell won a lot because of the level of competition and team they were on. It's a hard thing to separate but some players dominate in every aspect yet never won like Karl Malone.

 

It's too hard to rank because its seems so top heavy with bigs who were just so dominant in their eras (wilt/kareem/russell/shaq/hakeem/duncan). That's already 6 spots.

i'm going to do a top 10 by position:

Pg: Magic/Robertson
Sg: MJ/Kobe
SF: Bird/Lebron (here's why: kobe guarding lebron really physical in that ASG flusted the f*** out of him. he would be less great in earlier eras)
PF: Duncan/Mailman
C: Kareem/Wilt

(Hakeem, Russell, and Shaq all go ahead of Malone if ranked without positions)

 

I don't think I can make a top 10, honestly. I'm not a believer of this GOAT stuff. I can't just go and compare Kareem and MJ, and let's not even go to, say, Wilt and LeBron James.

Also, what do we mean by GOAT? If we're just talking about accomplishments, I don't think anyone can go over Bill Russell. This is a game about winning championships, and he has an impressive amount of 11, something I don't think someone will ever accomplish again.

But do I think Russell is the best basketball player we've ever seen? No, honestly, I think Wilt is better. And by that same token, I respect Tim Duncan A LOT. I think he's a fantastic player and has been one for many years, but I don't think he's the best PF I've ever seen. To be honest, I think Garnett was better than Duncan for many years (not right now, obviously), but he just happened to have a much worse team through most of his career. Of course, in terms of accomplishments, KG won't come near Duncan... And I still think KG was the better player.

I do think there're players that clearly stand out each generation, and each and every one of them could make a case... and they're definitely more than 10.

 

I agree. I threw 10 out there. Garnet is one I forgot and yes he, in my opinion, is right there with Duncan.

Different era's yielded different results. Russell's 11 chips were in a very small league that was diluted by the ABA. He was a great player but his role in the Civil Rights movement made him more iconic than his play on the court. Don't get me wrong, he was fantastic but he game wasn't as well rounded as Wilt.

Havlicek, Maravich, Robertson and Baylor laid the groundwork as players for Magic, Jordan, Kobe and LeBron in that they showed that position need not define your game. Magic thought the best player he'd ever seen was Maravich for example. He also thought Robertson was the best ever.

If it's championships then how is Havlicek not right up there with Russell, Jordan and Kareem? 8 is the second most I believe.