Best Basketball Players Ever: The Greatest of All Time

Top 10 Best Basketball Players of All Time

Many basketball players have shaped the sport we know and love today, but there are some that have been particularly influential. From Magic Johnson to LeBron James, here are 10 players who we think have stood out amongst the best of the best:

LeBron James: 4X NBA champion, 20X NBA All-Star

The face of NBA basketball across two decades, LeBron’s versatility, consistency, and high basketball IQ have redefined greatness in both regular seasons and playoffs. He led the Miami Heat to championships in 2012 and 2013 before triumphing with hometown team the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. 

James then led the Los Angeles Lakers to the title in 2020. James has shattered many records in the NBA and takes top spot for his longevity. Notably, he broke the all-time NBA scoring record despite not being a scorer first and foremost. Also, he was the first player in NBA history to stick around in the league for long enough to see his son, Bronny James, become his teammate.

Michael Jordan: 6X NBA champion, 6X NBA Finals MVP

Known for his intense competitiveness, MJ's six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and scoring prowess have made him a legend and cultural icon. He revolutionised the business of the NBA by selling sneakers which helped take basketball culture to new heights around the world. One of the most dominant players in the history of basketball, he is regarded by some still to be the best. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 6X NBA champion, 19X NBA All-Star

The all-time scoring leader for many years until James broke his record, Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook and longevity in the game set him apart. He is known not only as a great basketball player but a committed social activist.

Bill Russell: 11X NBA champion, 5X NBA MVP

With an unprecedented 11 titles in 13 seasons, Russell’s defensive brilliance and leadership helped establish the Celtics as a dynasty.

It is difficult to understate just how impressive his 11 titles were, particularly as a key player in his team as evidenced by five NBA MVP awards.

Wilt Chamberlain: Only player to have scored 100 points in a game

A statistical marvel, Wilt’s dominance in his era made him nearly unstoppable on the court. Chamberlain remains the only player in history to score 100 points in an NBA game.

Chamberlain won NBA championships first with the Philadelphia 76ers and then with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Larry Bird: 3X NBA champion, 12X NBA All-Star

A relentless shooter and intense competitor, Bird’s impact on the game transcends his stats. In his rivalry with Magic Johnson lies some of the origins of the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

Bird was a versatile forward, comfortable at both small forward and power forward. He was a unique player whose style bore some similarity to that of LeBron James in the modern NBA era.

Kobe Bryant: 5X NBA champion

Known for his unmatched work ethic and scoring ability, Bryant’s influence on the game and fans remains strong. He won five NBA championships with the LA Lakers.

Bryant won three NBA championships together with Shaquille O’Neal. After O’Neal’s departure, there were questions over whether or not he could carry the LA Lakers on his back.

After some turbulent times, Bryant had a superb run in the late 2000s and early 2010s to assert his status as the world’s dominant basketball player of his era. He won gold medals at the Beijing and London Olympics with Team USA and also clinched two more NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.

Bryant tragically died in a 2020 plane crash but he leaves behind a storied legacy in both the NBA and international basketball.

Shaquille O’Neal: 4X NBA champion

At his peak, Shaq was one of the most dominant forces in the paint, helping lead the Lakers to three NBA championships and the Miami Heat to one. 

You would be hard-pressed to find a more dominant big-small duo in NBA history than O’Neal and Bryant in the early 2000s when they won three straight championships with the Lakers. Although they did not always get along, they buried the hatchet before Bryant’s tragic fatal plane crash in 2020.

Tim Duncan: 5X NBA champion

Known for his fundamentals and leadership, Duncan was the anchor of the Spurs' dynasty with five championships.

Best Basketball Players in the World Currently

LeBron James remains one of the best players currently playing in the NBA, where he is on the books of the LA Lakers still. However, he is not as dominant as he once was.

Steph Curry and Kevin Durant have been two of the other dominant stars of the modern NBA. In the past, they teamed up for the Golden State Warriors. Curry remains on the books of the Warriors, where he is still the key player. Durant is now at the Phoenix Suns.

Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant//Getty Images

However, in recent years, the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić have taken over as the dominant players in the NBA with the likes of James, Curry and Durant reaching the end of their heydays.

Curry has had a significant impact on the way modern day guards play and the likes of Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) look set to become the dominant players in the position.

Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-3 center/power forward from France, was drafted first in 2023 by the San Antonio Spurs and looks likely to become one of the faces of the NBA in years to come.