ESPN’s airing of the “The Last Dance” has reignited the Lebron vs MJ debate. Who is the greatest of all time? Was it either of them? I have always steered away from naming one player as the greatest of all time and instead listed a top 5 based on position. Here is my list of the top 5 NBA players of all time.
Point Guard – Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson was a unique talent. A 6’9″ guard with unrivaled playmaking ability. His 11.2 assists per game remain the NBA record. The “Showtime” Lakers helped revitalize the NBA after a dark period in the league’s history.
Magic dominated the 1980s, winning 5 titles in the decade and taking home 3 Finals MVP awards. He ended up making 9 Finals trips in total. The only knock on Magic is that he played on stacked teams, flanked by another all-time great in Kareem Abdul Jabar.
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One needs only to look to Magic’s rookie season to see that he was carried by no one. With Kareem sidelined with an ankle injury, Magic stepped into his place in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals. Johnson put up 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to clinch the title. He became the only rookie to ever win a Finals MVP.
Shooting Guard – Michael Jordan
You may have heard of this guy. Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, and one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was a 6-time champion, going a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals. He also took home the Finals MVP in all 6 of his appearances.
Though Jordan’s winning ways were legendary, his statistical dominance was equally impressive. He is the all-time leader in points per game with 30.12 in the regular season and 33.45 in the playoffs. Jordan was a 10-time scoring champion, 14 times All-Star, 5 time NBA MVP, and a 10-time member of the All NBA First Team.
Jordan transcended the game that was played on the court. He became a global icon and helped transform Nike from an afterthought to the dominant player in the sneaker game. Nearly 20 years after he retired Jordan is still one of the most recognized athletes in the world.
Small Forward – Lebron James
The lone member of the all-time team still active, Lebron James’ accomplishments should be recognizable to most. James is a 3-time champion, 3-time Finals MVP, 4-time regular season MVP, 16 times All-Star, and a 12-time member of the All NBA First Team.
Lebron has been remarkably consistent and durable in his career. During his 16 year career, his stats have never strayed far from his 27 PPG, 7 APG, and 7 RPG. LBJ came into the league as the most hyped prospect of all time, and he has somehow lived up to that hype.
Power Forward – Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan has been considered the greatest power forward of all time since midway through his playing days. This is a remarkable achievement when you consider the competition at his position includes Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett, Charles Barkley, and Dirk Nowitzki. He never gave critics a chance to doubt this standing thanks to a remarkably consistent 19-year career.
Duncan is a 5-time champion, 3-time Finals MVP, 2-time regular season MVP, 10-time member of the All NBA First Team, and a 15-time member of the All-Defensive Team. For his career, Duncan averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. Along with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, he is a member of the winningest trio in NBA history.
Center – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem is often overlooked in the all-time great discussions. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has as many titles as Jordan and more MVPs. He was voted to the All-Star team a record 19 times, and made 15 All NBA teams.
Kareem was undoubtedly the greatest college player of all time. He led the UCLA Bruins to an 88-2 record during his college career, winning 3 NCAA titles. Kareem was so dominant, the NCAA banned the dunk. Let that sink in.
Despite playing 20 seasons in the NBA, Kareem finished with averages of 25 points and 11 rebounds per game. He also had a field goal percentage of 56%. This high figure was aided by his iconic and nearly unblock-able Sky Hook shot. Any conversation of all-time greats that don’t mention Cap can not be taken seriously.
These are the top 5 players in NBA history in my opinion. Honorable mentions go out to players like Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, and Oscar Robertson.