Top 10 NBA Players Of All Time

Basketball is one of the most popular game in the world. Here’s a list of 10 NBA players of all time, including all stats: championships, playing time, teams, appearances, awards, accolades, and what they have done for NBA and basketball games:

10. Kobe Bryant

Career Year: 1996-2016

Career Stats:

Points: 25.0 PPG  
Rebounds: 5.2 RPG  
Assists: 4.7 APG 

An American professional basketball player, Kobe Bryant, was a shooting guard and spent his whole 20-year career-life as the Los Angeles greatest Laker in the NBA. He achieved 17 times the title of player of the month and 32 times the week’s player. He won Olympic gold medals two times. He was the most valuable NBA player and also got two NBA finals and four NBA all-star MVP.

9. Tim Duncan

Career Year: 1997-2016

Career Stats:

Points: 19.0 
Rebounds: 10.8 
Assists: 3.0 

A former professional basketball player and coach is considered one of the best NBA players and the most incredible power forward of all time. 

As a swimmer, he began his career until 9th grade. After that, he played basketball as a college player and won many awards. In 1997, the San Antonio Spurs selected Tim Duncan as the first draft pick. Tim Duncan and Robinson were recognized as Twin Towers in the 1997–1998 season. Both received this status for their incredible defense close to the basket. He also led the spurs team from 2003. He is the best defender as well league’s top scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker.

8. Larry Bird

Career Year: 1979-1992

Career Stats:

Points: 24.3 PPG
Rebounds: 10.0 RPG
Assists: 56.3 APG

Larry Bird is one of the best players in NBA history. His followers gave him nicknames “The Hick from French Lick” and “Larry Legend.” With the sixth overall pick, he was drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics; he started from small forwards and power forwards for 13 seasons. In 2016, Fox Sports ranked Larry the most outstanding NBA small forward and best Boston Celtics player of all time. In NBA history, Bird is the only player named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, NBA Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. He also received  NBA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 along with Magic Johnson.

7. Shaquille O’Neal

Career Years: 1992-2011

Career Stats:

Points: 23.7 PPG
Rebounds: 10.9 RPG
Assists: 2.5 APG

A former American basketball player who also analyzed sports on ‘Inside the NBA’ TV show on TNT and played in his 19-year career for six teams. In the 1992 draft, Orlando Magic drafted him with the first pick. After that, he also led the team for the NBA finals. Then he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent. 

In the midst of tensions between O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, O’Neal played for the Miami Heat. He was traded to other teams such as Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics in his career history. 

Apart from basketball, he is a music producer, DJ Diesel, Rapper, and appears in many movies or shows. 

6. Wilt Chamberlain

Career Years: 1959-1973

Career Stats:

Points: 30.1 PPG
Rebounds: 22.9 RPG
Assists: 4.4 APG

One of the best players in history played for the San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. Before the NBA, he played for the University of Kansas and the Harlem Globetrotters. He was recognized with various nicknames throughout his career including, the big dipper, Goliath and Wilt the Stilt. He also played volleyball after basketball. He tried his luck in different professions, including business, book writing, and actor. He also served as a coach.

5. Magic Johnson

Career Years: 1979-1991, 1996

Career Stats:

Points: 19.5 PPG
Rebounds: 7.2 RPG
Assists: 11.2 APG

The former president of Los Angeles Lakers basketball operations and former basketball player of NBA rated as the greatest point guard of all time. Lakers selected him in the 1979 NBA draft, and he served for 13 years for the Lakers. In 1991, he retired suddenly due to HIV. He played again in the All-star Game 1992, but his colleagues protested, and he quit one more time for four years. Before his final retirement, he returned in 1996 and played 32 games for the Lakers. 

4. Bill Russell

Career Years: 1956-1969

Career Stats:

Points: 15.1 PPG
Rebounds: 22.5 RPG
Assists: 4.3 APG

Bill Russell was the centerpiece who played for NBA Boston Celtics. He also led the San Francisco Dons for two years. Besides, he headed the gold-medal-winning U.S. national basketball team at the Olympics. During his career, the Celtics’ primary reason to keep him was the man-to-man defense and shot-blocking. Only two players had caught almost 50 rebounds in a single game, one player of which Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Career Years: 1969-1989

Career Stats:

Points: 24.6 PPG
Rebounds: 11.2 RPG
Assists: 3.6 APG

He played center mostly for 20 seasons for the Milwaukee Bucks and the NBA’s s Angeles Lakers. He was also ranked as the best player as well the greatest center of all time. He used his trademark skyhook shot to become one of the top scorers of the league. He has also made a career as an actor, a basketball coach, a best-selling author, and a martial artist. He also rewarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.  

2. LeBron James

Career Years: 2003-present

Career Stats:

Points: 25.2 PPG
Rebounds: 7.9 RPG
Assists: 7.4 APG

A basketball player for NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers also ranked as at the greatest player of all time; he is repeatedly compared with Michael Jordan. Initially, he played for the school; then, he was chosen by Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft. He has got more money and success from various professions. LeBron James has starred in the movie Trainwreck, multiple books, documentaries, TV commercials, and NBA’s hosted Saturday Night Live or ESPY Awards.

1. Michael Jordan

Career Years: 1984-93, 1995-98, 2002-04

Career Stats:

Points: 30.1 PPG
Rebounds: 6.1 RPG
Assists: 5.3 APG

Michael Jordan is mainly recognized by his name initials MJ. The Charlotte Hornets principal owner and chairman played fifteen years of the NBA. His proficiency to leap by operating slam dunk from the free-throw line in slam dunk events gave him Air Jordan and His Airness names. He is also acknowledged for his own product and appeared in the movie ‘Spice Jam’ and the miniseries ‘The Last Dance.’ He became the fourth African American richest person and the first billionaire NBA player.