The Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debatewill never cease, but the fact that LeBronhas already made it to this level is pretty damn amazing. Old heads might cringe at putting a 26-year-old, after only eight seasons, up here over a number of worthy legends, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time regular-season MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, and just earned his first Finals MVP honors after authoring arguably the greatest performance in a close-out game weve ever seen. When 5-foot-9-inch (175 cm) Isaiah Thomas tipped off against 5-foot-6-inch (168 cm) Tyler Ulis, it was speculated to be the shortest . However Magic was the greatest, every game he had multiple assists that made you wonder how he did that. Alongside 11 NBA titles, Russell is also 5 MVP awards, 12 NBA All-Star, 3 All-NBA First Team. Others argued it should be about the numbers andthat awardsdont always end up belonging to the most deserved individual. These players have proven that being short does not necessarily mean you won't have a career in the NBA. Robinson was a guy who really did it all, and his numbersprove that. Maybe we have Robinson too low, but when you get to this point, and youre comparing ultra great players to ultra great players, its basicallylike splitting hairs. Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues started his professional career in the United States Basketball League in . And I didnt even mention how magical he was during the 2011 NBA Finals when his Mavs upset LeBron James and theHeat. 20 Worst NBA players of all-time Vincent Frank Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports The worst NBA players in history are not talked about too often. Tim Duncan, the best rebounder the games seen since Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, finished 9,000 boards behind Chamberlain despite playing five more seasons than the legendary lothario. Its guaranteed to get hardcore basketball fans in their feelings and, in our humble opinion, do a much better job than some of those other rankings floating around the interwebs that shall remain nameless. He has the full offensive package with no weaknesses. Almost up until deadline, we debated whether Shaquille ONeal, inarguably one of the best big men in NBA history and a true disruptor on the court, deserved to be ranked higher than the late, great Kobe Bryant. The 6'7 forward played for over 15 seasons and averaged just over five minutes a night, which speaks volumes about Greg's commitment to basketball. Hes an enigma in some ways. Magic Johnson 5. Apart from leading the Bulls to two three-peats during the 1990s, Jordan won five regular-season MVPs and six NBA Finals MVPs (a record). In this report, we will identify the five greatest NBA players who were measured at the height of 6'6''. In 1998, Bird was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Later, on 17th May 2021, Duncan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. An average male aged 20 or older in the United State stands just 5'9.5"whilethe typical height of an NBA athlete is usually around 6'7", but varies year to year. In 1975 Bill Russell was enshrined into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Kobe Bryant's killer instincts have made him one of the top scorers in NBA history. As a basketball player, Cousy remains one of the all-time greats Hall of Famer, 13-time NBA All-Star, a member of six championship teams who averaged 18.4 points and 7.5 assists per game in . He also had memorable performances in several games of the NBA Finals, which were pivotal to Chicago's success (such as the fourth game of the 1993 NBA Finals or the sixth game of the 1998 series). 4. As active players like Lebron James, Kevin Durants careers are still left to end and young talents like Zion Williamson, Luka Doncic coming into the league, anybody can claim the crown from Jordan in the future. His career will undoubtedly always be tied to the failures to win a ring, but the production was always there for Malone. Later, in 2006 and 2007, he won the scoring title. The National Basketball Association (NBA) had its first Iranian player in Haddadi. And the best part? Below is the list of 6'5 Players sorted by 2K Rating from highest to lowest on NBA 2K23. Wilkes averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds in the series. Warriors fans booed then-new owner Joe Lacob on Chris Mullin Night because he gave the team to Steph after trading fan favorite Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut. In between those heights, every single number is represented with the small exception (pun intended) of the 5'4" spot. Later, in 1995, Abdul-Jabbar was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The Bad Boys wreaked havoc on the NBAs Holy Trinity ofMagic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan and most of the damage that was done was on the orders of the 61 point god. Jordan is the name that comes to mind when basketball comes. In his 13 years, Bird led Celtics to 3 NBA titles. In 2000, Shaq became the third player to claim league MVP, finals MVP, and all-star MVP in the same season. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. The answer to this question is endless and controversial as many players have shown their potential in the NBA, if not the greatest, the best. AC, Flash! His career started in the 1974-75 NBA season with the Golden State Warriors. Michael Jordan cries after winning his first NBA championship. For point Guard, it will be Magic Johnson, a 5-time champion. Like Kareems skyhook, Bills knack for keeping balls in play after a block is a lost art as players would rather swat it into the stands and flex on their opponent instead of making the right play. To me, thats absolutely silly for a guy who still managed to win just as many or more titles than Bird, LeBron, Wilt, Magic, and Shaq. Greg Foster is undeniably one of the worst players in NBA history, with his 6 ppg average. ZO, Lets get this out the way first:this isnt a reactionary decision to Kobe Bryantspassing. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Few guys in the league have everaffected the game in all facets like Antetokounmpo does, even if that 3-point shot forever remains a work in progress. Later, with two 3 peats and 6 Finals MVP, there is no denying why he is the goat. Furthermore, his rivalry with Larry Bird took NBA to a height where it is at present. He helped revolutionize the power forward position even more so than Tim Duncan did (hes a center! Did you really watch Kobe Bryantmember of the NBAs 75thanniversary teamfor 20 years and say to yourself, Well hes not that efficient so I dont think hes great as hes portrayed? A two-timechampion,MVP, 10-time All-Star,Defensive Player of the Year, four-time first team All-NBA guy cant crack the top 20. 1 on theirbest NBA players list, this is an easy one to write. Kobe Bryant 1996-2016: 25.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.7 apg, 172.7 Win Shares, 1-time MVP, 15-time All-NBA, 5-time champion The final two of those titles cemented Bryant in this top 10, but we should . AC, You want to talk about underrated? That team was guided by Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Cunningham himself. Despite going to nine NBA Finals with the Lakers, West won only one title in 1972. He was a dominant force on the court and led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s. Michael Jordan is easily the most recognizable human being in the world listed as a 6'6'' man. Some will love the rankings, others will loathe them. It's surprising how long he stayed active despite being so low-production. In the 2006-07 season, he averaged 35.4 PPG. He is an inspirational figure in the sporting world. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Browse NBA Top Contributed Quizzes in Sports 1 Liverpool FC: Players with 'K' last names 2 Asian nations to have played at the World Cup 3 Line-up: England (vs Tunisia), 1998 4 Liverpool FC: Players with 'H' last names 5 2022 World Cup Stars 6 NBA MVP Slot Machine 7 Countries of the World Cup 8 Australians with the most men's Test hundreds at home Magic Johnson is a two-time Basketball Hall of Fame for his individual career in 2002 and as a Dream Team member in 2010. Though Thompson missed last year's entire season and will miss the 2020-21 NBA campaign, his first eight years in the league are full of greatness. Early in his career he was quicker and stronger than everyone else, but as he got older he was able to add more finesse to his game. There were passionate pleas to weigh unprecedented accomplishments over sustained excellence. Kobe Bryant was the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. From the 5'3" Muggsy Bogues to the 7'7" Manute Bol, read on to discover the best current and historical players in the NBA at each and every height. A small forward with great scoring ability and a tremendous rebounder, Cunningham is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. There should be no shock that Dwyane Wade lands on this list. Lebron isnt in this conversation. Typically, players this tall have a reputation for being good blockers, and Closs was no exception. sports Basketball He played all five positions in the game and led the Lakers to their first title in nearly a decade. From the first dribble he took in an NBA game up until now, hes done nothing but live up to the massive hype that was placed on his shoulders coming out of high school in Akron, Ohio. 97. Hesone of the best big men ever. Birds been supplanted by someone else on that mythical list, but the Hick from French Lick is forever aLegend. However, theres no denying what he did on the court asthe leader on two of the most hated championship teams in NBA history. After missing out in his first season, he again claimed NBA ring and Finals MVP next season. Nor were they expected to rip down double-digit boards on a nightly basis. This Oklahoma City Thunder point guard probably has one of the most unique styles in all of NBA history because of his taste in vibrant color combinations. AD, Call it an overreaction if you foolishly insist, but with all the accolades and the company he now keeps after that epic run through the 2021 NBA Finals, Greek Freak absolutely belongs on thislist. The 1964 NBA MVP, the 1961 Rookie of the Year, a 12-time All-Star,an 11-time All-NBA selection, NBA 75 I can keep going. 15 Herm Klotz - 5 ft. 7 in. ZF, The rare legend that bounced around the NBA during his days in the league, know that Malone playing for seven different franchises in the Association shouldnt distract from the fact he is easily one of the best centers of all time. Three-time firstteam All-NBA. Thats flat out impressive. For the word puzzle clue of 5 time all star 5 time all nba, the Sporcle Puzzle Library found the following results. Even despite losing in the second round to the Boston Celtics this season, Giannis became the first NBA player in historywith 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a single series. RIP Mamba. Who cares? But now that hes earned his first championship, Antetokounmpos entered rarified air. After that, he won his first NBA championship and finals MVP. They breath different air than the rest of us and thats ok. Lets not forget LeBronis only 1,326 points away from passing Kareemto become the No. And though Wade played for the Bulls and Cavs later in his career, hell always be rememberedas a member of theHeat. Billy Cunningham spent his entire nine-year NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers. As a 6 ft 9 inches guard, he was walking triple-double, ranking third in all-time triple-double leader with 138. Dirk brought about change that fundamentally altered the way the NBA is played. My list is 1 jordan 2 LeBron 3 Kareem 4 Magic Johnson 5 Larry. Marques Johnson weighed 218 lbs (98.9 kg) when playing. AC, As someone who has LeBron James as No. But Im still going to remind you that he never played in a Finals Game 7 in six appearances and won a Defensive Player of the Year award (88) along with his five MVPs, six Finals MVPs, and was named to theNBAs 75th anniversary team. ZF, The NBAs all time leading scorer and inventor of the most lethal shot in Association history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar skyhook-ed his way to 38,387 career points. His Jordan brand skyrocketed the popularity of basketball. Similarly, Bird also has 2 finals MVP, 12 NBA All-star, and 9 All-NBA First Team selections to his name. Thediscourse never diesand were here for it. You think Kawhi Leonard doesnt talk much, Popovich said. Only eight players in NBA history have won three or more MVP awards and Malone doesnt get anywhere near the love that Larry Bird and Magic Johnsonthe other two players to win three MVPsreceive. The numbersshow that Malone is easily a top 20 player in NBA history. Pippen is inarguably one of the greatest defenders in NBA history having made 10 All-Defensive squads (8 First-Team selections) during his 17-year career and regularly stifled the oppositions best player like it was nothing. Likewise, he was one of the first player o take full advantage of newly formed 3 pointers. Sidney Moncrief is a basketball player who plays in the NBA. ZF, While we can argue all day and night about the value of the triple-double in todays position-less game, when Oscar Robertson became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over a season it was nothing short of monumental. Follow the link on the last frame to see those over 6-6.<br><br>Runner-ups: Elgin Baylor, Pete Maravich . But its his quiet, dignified manner thats earned him the most praise. My guy was brought to tears when he looked back at how maniacal he was towards his teammates. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. He is followed by Anthony Edwards in second place, while Dejounte Murray is third. Kareem ranks top 10 all-time in points (1st with 38,387), games played (2nd with 1,560), rebounds (3rd with 17,440), blocks (3rd with 3,189), field goals made (1st with 15,837), and free throws attempted (7th with 9,304). 5) Bill Russell. One of the most memorable games is replacing injured Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 of the NBA finals during rookie season. His signature play of tapping the ball to a teammate helped him invent the fast break. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Bill: Magic (Johnson) and Michael (Jordan), Larry (Bird), (Elgin) Baylor, Oscar (Roberston), and probably either (Hakeem) Olajuwon or (Bob) Petit. When Timmy first got here, it was like mental telepathy. Checkout the latest stats of Marques Johnson. In 1975, the small forward went on to win the Rookie of the Year award and then was the second-leading scorer for the team in the NBA Finals, as Golden State won the 1975 title (the first of four championships in Wilkes' career). Moses Malone 15. Likewise, personal accolades in his resume include 15x All-star, 2x NBA MVP, 3x Finals MVP. Marques Johnson was drafted by Milwaukee Bucks, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1977 NBA Draft. Theres a reason why theFinals MVP awardis named after him. Point guards werent supposed to be 65 scoring machines that could get a bucket from anywhere on the court like The Big O could. 3 left fans in awe. After joining the Lakers in free agency, Shaq formed one of the deadliest NBA duos with Kobe Bryant. Throughout his NBA career, he played for one single team San Antonio Spurs. Cant argue with the results. From opening a school in his hometown to building his own media empire, LeBron has consistently done everything weve expected from him and then some. Ever. On 26th January 2020, 41 years old Kobe Bryant, alongside his daughter Gianna and six family friends, and the pilot died in a helicopter crash. STOP IT!! . LeBron James 3. Read Also: The 20 Richest NBA Players in the World. I would say something to him and he would stare. And who do you give the nod to betweenthree legendary point guardsChris Paul, Steve Nash, and Jason Kiddwhen theres only room for one? So, the next time you are your friends are sitting around naming your favorite NBA of all time, hopefully, a few of these guys will make their way onto your list. Similarly, to be in the conservation of greatest is similar to be part of the exclusive club. Four-time NBA scoring champion. Data Provided By In my book, thats the single greatest achievement in NBA history and will be hard to top. AI is unquestionably a top 30 NBA player ever. 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. !, This is a very Good Top 10 Great Job, your Top 5 is on point. You cant deny how dominant of an offensive force the Greek Freak is in the paint, how incredible of a defender hes worked to become, and how inspiring his journey from a skinny kid in Athens to NBA superstar is to millions of basketball fans. NBA 75 honoree, five-time champion, three-timeFinals MVP, two-time regular-season MVP, 15-time All-Star,15-time All-NBA and All-Defensive team selection later, Duncan played all 19 seasons inSan Antonio and consistently put up numbers like he was a robotwith the personality, as portrayed by the media,to match. He was always one of the most entertaining players on and off-the-court, leading him to becoming an Emmy Award-winning studio host onInside the NBA. Abdul-Jabbar has collected every individual accolade that a player can win in the NBA. AD, To me, Kevin Durant is the most skilled offensive player ever to play the game. Bryant averaged 25 points, five assists, and five rebounds in his NBA career. Seriously, they made rules to try and limit his dominance since he owns records no player now or in the future will ever come close to eclipsing. Hes a 7guard. 5. The Big O was a nightmare matchup because he scored in ways few were able to figure out. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com We present them here for purely educational purposes. It was probably like watching an alien. Milwaukee Bucks, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1977 NBA Draft, More Marques Johnson pages at Sports Reference. For you guys, know theres still never been a player quite like him. For a guy his size to go out and drop 48 on the road against the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers is straight-up unbelievable. The list goes on, but Iversons cultural impact on the current, and even future,generationof NBA players are more meaningful thanhis numbers on the court. The only knock against Neil Johnston's Hall-of-Fame career is that it was far too short. Even despite losing in the second round to the Boston Celtics this season, Giannis became the first NBA player in history, Few guys in the league have everaffected the game in all facets like Antetokounmpo does, even if that 3-point shot forever remains a work in progress. What a waste of a name if he didnt make it. Malone made that name synonymous with rebounding, winning, and ultimately, immortality. Its the playoff excellence that helps elevate Duncan above the more physically and athletically gifted contemporary power forwards like Karl Malone and Kevin Garnett. Lebron should not be in the top 10. NBA is challenged by 30 groups which incorporates 29 groups from United States and 1 from Canada. Just For Fun 3m hide this ad Quiz Scoreboard Sign Up to Join the Scoreboard 42. There will never be another Shaq. With five championships, three MVPs, nine-time All-NBA firstteam selections, and inclusion on the NBAs 75th anniversary team, Magic hadone of the best careersin league history. One of the best NBA players of all time, Russell averaged 15.1 points and an unbelievable 22.5 rebounds per game. The Admiral was able to do it all and then some. In case you've just realized your growth spurt might not come, don't ditch your jersey yet. And nobody on this list comes close to what Russell,and obvious NBA 75thanniversary team member,has done. Marques Johnson is not in the Hall of Fame. Sure, he played with some other legendary Lakers and the 1-8 record in the Finals stands out. Dirk Nowitzki 5. This might shock you: Elgin Baylor. Show some respect. Muggsy Bogues (5 feet 3 inches) Mugsy Bogues is perhaps the most famous short player in NBA history. Youre not supposed to win NBA Finals MVP awards 14 years apart, but Abdul-Jabbar did. Pete Chilcutt source Pete Chilcutt's career lasted from 1991 to 2000. Marques Johnson was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Now hes the first unanimous MVP in league history (which is pretty stupid, but still) and has four rings to go with another MVP. Learn how your comment data is processed. Moreover, its not possible to talk about Abdul-Jabbar without mentioning his signature shot skyhook. Even more impressive for the context of Olajuwonscareer is that he did all of this while big men ran the NBA (outside of Michael Jordan). Follow him onTwitter. Dominant. Sadly, on 12th October 1999, basketball legend Wilt Chamberlian died at 63 due to congestive heart failure. Six times Malone, nicknamed the Chairman of the Boards, led the NBA in rebounds and for 14 straight seasons, he averaged double-digits cleaning up the glass. Ervings career numbers are just as impressive as his plays. Arguably the greatest player in NBA history for many, Michael Jordan is easily the greatest player in NBA history with a height of 6'6''. 50 Best NBA players of 2022: New Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell ascends the rankings 15. The 6-foot 4-inch and 190 pounds NBA player was born on September 21, 1957, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Moreover, his signature post-move called doorstep spin move bullied players. Sure, his game has holes, and Bucks haters will say their run to the title wasnt the hardest. Clutch. Likewise, he is also a 17-time All-Star and 3 time NBA All-Star MVP. M.J., Slammer are nicknames for Marques Johnson. Were cool with what we came up with knowing the next time we update it Kevin Durant couldsneakinto the top 10. 1 spot on this list when his career is over. Or write about sports? Shane Larkin - 5-foot-11 Shane Larkin #0 of the Brooklyn Nets heads for the net | Elsa/Getty Images Shane Larkin, who comes in just slightly below six-feet tall, was originally drafted No. For myself, Ill never forget Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals. ZF, Before he was known as The Logo, his teammates called him Mr. Every analyst, player, coach, and fan has their own opinion. Chuck played bigger than he was and was way more athletic than he was perceived. Russell is the one who raised NBA defensive play to a new height. 5 Smallest NBA Players of All-Time. Because of Chamberlains domination, the league widened the lane, outlawed players rebounding missed free throws before the ball touched the rim, changed the definition of offensive goaltending, and forbade inbounds passes over the basket because it was an automatic alley-oop to Wilt every single time. Shaq with a monstrous dunk over Suns players. Of course, there are outliers in these samples. Sure, Duncan benefited greatly from playing alongside the legend David Robinson and future Hall of Famers Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Pau Gasol, and Kawhi Leonard. If your team doesnt have a big man that can shoot from 3, youre not winning anything. The NBA is filled with giants. The younger generationsgetsto enjoy the Chuckster in ways older NBA fans never imagined. 98. AC, Yet another tough ranking. 1 scorer in NBA history. The way every player gets compared to Michael Jordan nowadays, thats how it was with West back in the 60s and 70s. Tim Duncan 10. Later, he captured 2 NBA titles, 2 Finals MVP, and 2 league MVP in the Heat. Later, in 2008 and 2009, Bryant led the Lakers back to the back championship and was named Finals MVP both years. Likewise, in his last game dropped 60 points against Jazz, most in the last game by any player. Late Kobe Bryant is dubbed the greatest Lakers of all time playing 20 years of his whole career. Lakers SG Kobe Bryant: $323,312,307 Career: 1996-2016 But now that hes earned his first championship, Antetokounmpos entered rarified air. AC, Elgin Baylor never won a ring. ZF, Crazy that Chuck is now underrated. There was no way the greatest basketball squad ever assembled could leave off the greatest small forward the game had ever known at that point. The next four to five players are debatable. Dikembe Mutombo Probably, his unblockable shot made him score many points. Who cares? Explore more crossword clues and answers by clicking on the results or quizzes. Zeke not being on the Dream Team is the biggest snub ever, no exaggeration, but he rightfully earned a spot on the NBA75 team. the official stats partner of the NBA. At 7 ft 1 inch and 300 pounds, he dominated the opposition with his raw strength, speed, explosiveness, and skills. Thomas was a diabolical general who was able to score whenever he wanted and put his team on his back to will them to victory. A member of the leagues 75thanniversary team, he long agoreached a different plane of basketballgreatness that only himself and Jordan occupy. In fact, it was Magic that he moldedhis game after as a youngster, which led to KG being one of the most versatile big men the NBAhas ever seen. He averaged24.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.7 BPG. Marques Johnson was born on February 8, 1956. A three-time champion who won three consecutive MVPs in the mid-80s, and obviously made the NBAs 75th anniversary team, Bird knocked down daggers like it was nothing and loved ripping out the hearts of his rivals while talking some of the most underrated trash. Larry Bird 7. Just think about how incredible it is that in his first season in the league, Magic started Game 6of the NBA Finals at center and dropped 42 points. Magic made the game funthats what made Magic so special as a player. Robinson averaged a 21.1 PPGand 10.6 RPG double-double for his career while racking up 3.0 BPGin the process. larry bird should be 1st all the way boston celtics the best all the way you already know but RIP BILL RUSSEL AND KOBE BRYANT. But one of the greatest guards ever made the All-Star team each of his 14 seasons in Los Angeles, made 12 All-NBA squads,was a five-time All-Defense selection, and a no-brainer to make the NBAs 75th anniversary team. Jerry West 14. It took Paul Silas a few years to get to that level as a player as well. A true GOAT. AC, Bostons had more than its fair share of Hall of Famers roll through the old Boston Garden, but nobody was as lethal a scorer or as clutch at the end of games like Larry Legend. Talking about it, Wilt is responsible for many NBA rule changes like offensive goaltending, extending the lane, and revising regulations regarding free throws and inbounding. It was either a bucket or a foul. Six, you gotta give me six. Of course Michael Jordan is No. Thompson averages 19.5 points per game in his career with 46/42/85 shooting splits in his NBA trajectory. Hes a three-timeNBA champion with aFinals MVP, a 13-timeAll-Star, a seven-time All-NBA member, three-time All-Defensive team members,has one NBA scoring title, and a spot on the 75th anniversary teamsomething Wade told us he still cant believe. But it didnt stop him from averaging 24.3 PPG and 10.0 RPG for his 13 seasons. Rick Barry was the best player on that Warriors' team, but the 22-year-old Wilkes was already one of the best players on the roster. Nicknamed 'The Iceman', George Gervin was a player with immense style. Thats why even though he could barely get loose enough to play at the end of his final season, Bird was one of the most celebrated members of the legendary Dream Team. Who will ever score 100 points in a game like Wilt did? AC, Some of us are willing to die on the Wilt Chamberlain Belongs on the NBAs Mt. Nobody could.AC, The Admiral. Although mainly regarded as a scoring machine, Jordan was a great defender too. Lebron James is the future hall of fame inductee. ZO, Call it an overreaction if you foolishly insist, but with all the accolades and the company he now keeps after that epic run through the 2021 NBA Finals, Greek Freak absolutely belongs on thislist. A 19-time All-Star who 15 times finished in the top 5 of the MVP voting, well spare you from listing out all his accolades because youd be scrolling this fine piece of #contentfor hours. The Mound Round of Rebound was a beast on the boards, averaging 11.7 for his career even withhis down years in Houston. ZF, If youre wondering why we have the diminutive point guard who played all 19 seasons of his storied career with the Jazz on this list, I have to seriously question your basketball IQ. Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. And no soulwill ever approach his 23,924 career rebounds. The 5 Greatest Jayhawks NBA Players of All Time. He had to get famous. Bryant also won two NBA Finals MVPs, a regular-season MVP, and led the league in points twice in his career. Barkley couldnt be stopped offensively either, beating out Jordan for the 93 MVP and taking his new team the Suns to the Finals where he lost to Jordans Bulls in six. But you can only dominate the competition in front of you and the NBA did its best to reign in The Big Dipper, who rightfully earned a spot on theNBAs 75thanniversarysquad,when opponents couldnt. 1 overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft, the Rookie of the Year in 1959, an 11-time All-Star, and an astounding 10-time First-Team All-NBA selection, Baylor of course resides on the NBAs 75th anniversary team as he more than lived up to the hype when he entered the league and left it averaging 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. For me, what secured James spot in the conversation with MJ was his performance in 2016 when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit against the 73-win Golden State Warriors. John Stockton is the NBAs leader in assists and steals; hes a 10-time All-Star, made 11 All-NBA teams, was a five-time All-Defensive squad, and obviously earned inclusion on the NBAs 75thanniversary squad, meaning his rsum runs longer than his (questionable) 61 frame. Kobe Bryant 1. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. With LA, Wilkes won three more championships and performed well behind Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Id love to see some of todays greats playing against Elgin. Twitter: Instead, the politicking and petty attacks on each others basketball intelligence got really heated, over multiple Zoom calls and text threads, when we tried to properly rank Shaq and Kobe and a bunch of point guards toward the bottom of our30 Best NBA Players of All Time list. He also won league MVP for 3 consecutive years, which only Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlian have managed to achieve. And now, the incredible shrinking stars: the best players, inch by inch, at 6-5 on down. Moreover, his clothing will generally be heavily contrasted with one another. I wasnt sure if he was paying attentionfinally I realize he understood everything I was saying. Jerry West was that lethal shooting the ballan absurd 47.4 percent for his careerand retired after the 1974 season ranked in the top 5 in points scored, points per game, free throws made, and assists. LeBron James has called him the pound-for-pound best ever. In the NBA, Cunningham won the 1967 championship with the 76ers. Vote up the best basketball player ever, and those who follow close behind. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Onto the final 3, Kareem Abdul Jabbar ranks third on our list of best NBA players of all time. Dwyane Wade has said AI is part of the reason he woreNo. Muggsy Bogues (1.60) Earl Boykins (1.65) Spud Webb (1.68) Mel Hirsch (1.68) Keith Jennings (1.70) Greg Grant (1.70) All-time NBA players with the most NBA seasons played. Karl Malone 16. If he brings home another title in Brooklyn, he could be pushing top 10 by the end of his career. Over 20 seasons in the NBA, he became the top scorer in the history of the Association (38,387 points), six-time MVP (a record), six-time All-American with the Bucks and Lakers, and has been called up to the All-Star Game (19 times). Bill Russell might have more titles, Wilt Chamberlain might have all those untouchable records, but Abdul-Jabbar was offensively skilled in ways Russell never was and retired as the league leader in nine statistical categories thanks to an impressive staying power Chamberlain couldnt match. Russell won five NBA MVPs, even during a time when fellow all-time great Wilt Chamberlin, one of the most prolific . Antetokounmpo is a 4-time All-Star and made the all-NBA first team once. The late, great Kobe Bryant had a legendary NBA career with the LA Lakers. Shaquille O'Neal 8. He was a two-time NBA MVP, appeared in 14 All-Star games,made firstteam All-NBA an insane 11 times, and is a member of the 75th anniversary team. Karl Malone Karl Malone is one of the best NBA players to never win a championship in his career;. . The Greek Freak is currently leading the race to win the 2022-2023 MVP award after putting up an outstanding performance in the league. Lebron already holds the record for 16 All-NBA team selection. In that span, he was a six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection, three-time league scoring champion and led the Philadelphia Warriors to a championship in 1956. Tim Duncan, probably the greatest power forward of all time, takes the number 10 spot on our list. Dr. J floated through the air as his lanky limbs cut to the rim and his hair blew in the wind. Although ranked second in our list by the end of his career, James may take the number 1 spot. Firstly, Kareem Abdul Jabbar is the leading scorer in NBA history, with 38,837 points in 20 seasons. You cant deny how dominant of an offensive force the Greek Freak is in the paint, how incredible of a defender hes worked to become, and how inspiring his journey from a skinny kid in Athens to NBA superstar is to millions of basketball fans. And, oh, yeah, lets not forget he was a member of the greatest team ever assembled: the 1992 Dream Team. However, he is probably disrespected when there is conservation in the goat debate. Complete listing of all NBA Players and team rosters. All with a smile on his face and a cigar about to be lit. Top 50 NBA Players Of All Time Can you name the Top 50 NBA Players Of All Time? Barkley started J-ing people up and shooting threes, forcing opponents to guard from all over the court and not just on the block. Theres virtually no formula to stop him. There have been a lot of great passers in the NBA, like Pistol Pete, Larry Bird, Steve Nash, Dereck Williams, and John Stockton. AD, Theres really only one thing KawhiLeonardhas left to accomplish in his career. Either way, the following is a closer look at 15 of the top NBA players who stand at under 6 feet tall. Kareem also won rookie of the year in his debut season. Wilkes had one of the most overlooked games ever in the 1980 NBA Finals. hide this ad PLAY QUIZ Score 0/50 Timer 10:00 Recently Published Homophone Map II Language 4m Jus-t For Fun! Join our linker program. Being two of the. There are no specific criteria for calling one the greatest. In the 1970s John Brisker took the entire American Basketball Association by Storm when he began to insert fights And even on one occasion took a gun with him on courtside. Moreover, in 2006 against the Raptors, Kobe scored 81 points second-highest in a single game. Rushmore hill because nobody changed the game like Wilt the Stilt did. Copyright 2000-2022 Sports Reference LLC. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, five-time MVP, six-time Finals MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, 1987-88 Defensive Player of the Year, 1984-85 Rookie . Right, Born: He was truly ahead of his time. Duncan grew up in the US Virgin Islands. On 26th January 2020, 41 years old Kobe Bryant, alongside his daughter Gianna and six family friends, and the pilot died in a helicopter crash. Shaq was dominant at every end of the floor in scoring, rebound, block, a low post, fast-break over 2 decades of his career. Subscribe to ESPN+ http://espnplus.com/. (1947-1948) NBA Players Jersey Numbers 2021-22 NBA Players Height 2022-23 NBA Players Age 2021-22 NBA Player Positions 2021-22 Likewise, he is also 15 time NBA All-Star, 8 All NBA First team. The game is so open and free for those who have the ability that we have seen dynasties built around 7-footers and many championships won by teams with a 6'1'' player guiding them. Blocks and steals werent tallied back then, but there are researchers that claim Russell averaged anywhere between 8-12 blocks per game. The irony of it is that most of his career, LeBron has not been recognized for his scoring ability despite his numbers. Not only is he the greatest winner in all of American sports, Russell is also both the smartest and best defensive player to ever pick up a basketball. Shoots: Hes top 10 in rebounds, blocks, win shares, and defensive win shares. Duncan led them to 5 NBA titles and 1,001 wins in the regular season, most by the player with one single team in NBA. ZF, Dr. J was everyones Michael Jordan before Michael Jordan. Bill Russell with his 11 NBA championship rings. It upsets me that people might be shocked that Allen Iverson is included on this list. Steven Jackson: Dark Horse Commercial of the Year Candidate, Brian Wilson vs. James Harden: The Battle of the Beards, Comparing NBA Stars to their Animal Equivalents. Be the first one to comment on this story. He and Larry Bird literally saved the league in the 80s and while they couldnt have been more different stylistically theres no argument whose influence on the game of basketball was greater. Later, in 2010 as a Dream Team member, he was inducted again into the Hall of Fame. 37 Dirk Nowitzki. From dropping 41 in back-to-back games to the block in Game 7, LeBron leveled up in 2016. In 2021, Kobe Bryant was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Lakers SF LeBron James: $387,384,119 Career: 2003-present NBA seasons: 19 2. Shaquille O'Neal 3. After retiring from the NBA playing career, Duncan became assistant coach of the Spurs for the 2019-2020 season. In the 1965 Playoffs, the Boston Celtics, led by Bill Russell were inbounding the ball and turned it over. ), yet I feel like hes been underappreciatedbecause ofall those years carrying mid teams on his back in Minnesota. His number throughout the NBA is legendary itself. West legitimately did it all, including leading the league in scoring during the 1969-70 season and assists during his lone championship season. We all know what hes done and will continue to do for at least a few more years. When you think of LeBron James, youthink of greatness. Later, in 2008, he led the USA Redeem Team to the gold medal in Beijing Olympics and another gold in London Olympics. He will always be an NBA legend, and his career was simply incredible to witness. 3 during his career. Some just stand out more than others. NBA All-Time Points Leaders - National Basketball Association - ESPN NBA History - Points Leaders Leaders: Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks Leaders Awards *Active players are. LosingtwoFinals defeats at the hands of MJ and company certainly didnt help. In an era in which steals and blocks . AD, HakeemThe Dream Olajuwons inclusion in this part of the list needs noexplanation. Whenever there is a debate about a goat, one name definitely pops out thats King James. 9. As he told us in arecent interview, you cant talk basketball without mentioning the king of Miami-Dade County. After four years at Wake Forest, he morphed into a generational talent that every horrible team during the 1996-97 season hoped it would land so he could single-handedly reverse their fortunes. For Jordans individual career, he was inducted into the hall of fame in 2009 and a Dream Team member in 2010. Who Is Kyle Hamiltons Father, Derrick Hamilton? Likewise, Chamberlain is 13x All-Star, 7 All-NBA First team, and 1980 rookie of the year. NBA is considered as the most renowned b-ball competition in the World. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6. The five-time NBA MVP helped the Boston Celtics establish themselves as one of the greatest franchises in all professional sports, even today. Crossword Clue. In case you hadn't noticed, the Wiz from Wuerzburg has been outscored by only five playersAbdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. 9. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles. Sometimes I watch his reverse layup during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the 1980 Finals against the Lakers andtry to figure out how the hell he was able to stay in the air that long. His college career is practically unmatched, but since were talking professional basketball here know that he was the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell to win an MVP between 1960 and 68. This was just the start for Magic, who at his size, completely changed the way the basketball world looked at guards. Marques Kevin Johnson In addition, he made the all-NBA second team twice and was named the most improved player in 2017. If you are looking at this article because you are playing Poeltl then the following articles may also be useful to you: What are the NBA Divisions ? And lets be honest, youre being naive if you dont think he has a chance to take the No. Green had some . Hes arguably become the best player in the NBA at this point. Moreover, Russell shot-blocking ability and man to man defense was the main reason behind Celtics domination during his playing time. Onto his 19th season in the NBA, Lebron James has never slowed down since making his debut. Social media can be a blessing and a curse so please dont buy into the nonsense that Bryant wasnt as great as he was. A member of the leagues 75th anniversary team, Curry is easily one of the most influential players to lace em up. Muggsy Bogues 5 3. Like Magic Johnson before him, Garnett raised the bar as to what a man of his sizecould do on the court. 'His Airness' is surely one of the greatest players in NBA history and even the greatest ever in the minds of lots of NBA fans and analysts. Yeah, injuries cut him down his last few seasons, but from his Rookie of the Year campaign during the 97-98 season through the 2009-10 season, Duncan was good for a double-double. Hes made five All-NBA squads, four times hes been named to one of the NBAs All-Defense teams, hes an All-Star MVP,was the Most Improved Player of the Year in 2017, and was named to the leagues 75thanniversary squad. Probably agreed with half of it, but was so respectful he wouldnt say anything until later. After hashing things out, Pop often let Duncan have his way. Here are 25 NBA players that were all under six-feet tall. 6'6": Kobe Bryant (Current) and Michael Jordan (All Time) 15 of 28 Kobe Bryant Years Played: 1996-current Position: Shooting guard Career Per-Game Stats: 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7. We could go through all the stats and the awards to prove why James should be where he is on this list, but theres really no need. PF Kevin Garnett: $334,304,240 Career: 1995-2016 NBA seasons: 22 3. Jordan was also a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He did it all and made sure you knew about it along the way. Bird filled up a box score but he was never strictly a numbers guyhe was just a winner who made ridiculous passes, had a knack for seeing everything unfold seconds before anyone else on the court, and always made the key play that either sealed the deal or keyed a game-defining run. He is one of the players whose career stats and achievements definitely back why he is one of the greatest. Shaq, obviously a member of the NBA 75 team,is one of the most skilled bigs ever to touch a basketball and weve all seen the video of him cooking MJ in a one-on-one before the All-Star Game. olskool888, Position: Thats a fitting tribute to record consecutive 18-time all-star starter and joint 4 times all-star MVP. But how much more credit do you give Bryant for winning more rings and drawing legit comparisons to Michael Jordan? He also made 11 NBAAll-Star teams, won threeMVP awards across the NBA and ABA, andmade the 75th anniversary team. But the debate on a goat is a never-ending cycle. Werealreadyseeing Stephs impact on basketballas kids start launching from deep earlier than ever in their young careers and on the league with NBA teams putting the mid-range jumper out to pasture and fully embracingthe 3-pointer. Ranked by votes from thousands of fans, this list features the all time NBA GOATs, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird.
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