The NBA is constantly debating comparisons of greatness. Whether it is Kobe Bryant or LeBron James , often the conversation goes through the legendary Michael Jordan. What he did for the game of basketball was unparalleled and very few argue where he belongs on this list.





While there is certainly subjectivity to this argument, I believe that there are certain “tiers” to this debate which I will outline and using that as a guideline, place each star according to their regular season and post-season prowess. Another important thing that I find necessary to keep in mind is the era in which they played.





the greatest—champion to play the game. After all, the Finals MVP award is named after him… For example, Finals MVPs give Bill Russell a problem considering he won a grand total of zero. But considering he was a part of 11 championship runs, it would be illogical to consider him anything but one of the greatest—if notgreatest—champion to play the game. After all, the Finals MVP award is named after him…





not solely consider that. My placement of Karl Malone outside of the top 10 and Kobe Bryant where he is are predicated on the fact that Malone needed that elusive title and Kobe’s five rings don’t skyrocket him to the top of this list. My definition of greatness certainly includes rings on the fingers but doessolely consider that. My placement of Karl Malone outside of the top 10 and Kobe Bryant where he is are predicated on the fact that Malone needed that elusive title and Kobe’s five rings don’t skyrocket him to the top of this list.





not included. I have been an avid supporter of him (just read my A final qualification for my particular list is that LeBron James isincluded. I have been an avid supporter of him (just read my last column ) but I do not want to put him in a spot that will nearly certainly change five years from now. With that in mind, here it is: the greatest NBA players of all time.





The outsiders: five who missed the top 10





15. Bob Pettit





Bob Pettit was honored with the first MVP award in the history of the NBA. An All-Star for each of the 11 years he was in the league, Pettit claimed two MVP awards and an NBA championship before his retirement and induction into the basketball Hall of Fame.





14. Moses Malone





An NBA champion and three-time MVP and, the “chairman of the boards” had an illustrious career that spanned both the NBA and the ABA over three decades (70s, 80s, and 90s).





13. Karl Malone





AKA “the Mailman,” Karl Malone averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds per game over a career that included two MVPs. He’s one of the most decorated players in history that did not win an NBA title.





12. Isiah Thomas





A two-time NBA champion, Isiah Thomas posted one of the best playoff performances that ended in a losing effort. This list has him as the third best point guard of all time behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson.





11. Hakeem Olajuwon





The first overall pick in a 1984 NBA Draft that included Charles Barkley, John Stockton, and Michael Jordan, “Akeem The Dream” was a NBA MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and three-time NBA blocks champion. He holds the NBA record for blocks at 3830—nearly 600 more than the second-place Dikembe Mutombo and 1000 more than Shaquille O’Neal.





Top 10, yes, but something more is missing





10. Kobe Bryant





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 25.5 5.3 4.7 1.5 0.5 .453 .838

*Statistics as of 12/16/2012





Kobe Bryant’s place among the greatest NBA players is a heated debate. His place is often blown out of proportion because of the comparisons to Michael Jordan . While the two do have similar playing styles, Kobe is no Jordan. What he is doing at this stage in his career is amazing but needs to be put in perspective because Jordan’s final year was at age 39—Kobe is “only” 34. He belongs in the top 10 as one of the greatest players of his generation, but no further.





9. Oscar Robertson





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 25.7 7.5 9.5 N/A N/A .485 .838





entire NBA season. Like Kobe, Oscar Robertson had an amazing career but his regular season and Finals MVP awards are not there. Unfortunately for him, that was because there were three other guys named Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who often overshadowed his greatness. Nonetheless, Robertson is well deserving of top-10 recognition—after all, he is the only player in the NBA to average a triple-double over the course of anNBA season.





8. Tim Duncan





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 20.3 11.3 3.1 0.7 2.2 .507 .689





TD is that guy in the corner who gets the job done so quietly that sometimes you forget he’s there. Not only that, but when you think he’s finally met his match, he steps up his game. Putting Duncan over Kobe is a controversial decision—and I will discuss this comparison in depth in the very near future. For now, suffice it to say that, unlike Kobe, he was the best player in most of his championship runs and has a couple MVP awards to boot. He was nothing flashy but he has helped keep the Spurs in the championship hunt well past his prime. Again, like Kobe and the Big-O though, he isn’t quite to that list of guys that you would do anything to get on your team.





Second tier greats: great teams were built around these players





7. Shaquille O’Neal





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 23.7 10.9 2.5 0.6 2.3 .582 .527





The Big Aristotle, the Diesel, or my personal favorite: Shaqovic—feel free to call the 7’1” 325-pounder whichever of the endless list of nicknames that he has given himself. While there is freedom there, no person can place Shaq anywhere but in the heart of the top 10 greatest NBA players of all time. His size alone made him one of the most dominant players in the game. Awkwardly enough, Shaq’s career field goal percentage was higher than his free throw percentage…which gave rise to the infamous Hack-a-Shaq techniques that teams used late in games.





6. Larry Bird





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 24.3 10.0 6.3 1.7 0.8 .496 .886





Quite possibly the best pure shooter that the NBA has ever seen, Larry Bird managed over 10 rebounds, six assists, and nearly two steals a game, as well! 50 percent from the field and 89 percent from the line…he is the standard of greatness for shooting—which is likely why Kevin Durant looks up to him so much. The rivalry between him and Magic Johnson made the NBA’s most intense rivalry (Celtics vs. Lakers) that much more exciting to watch.





5. Bill Russell





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 15.1 22.5 4.3 N/A N/A .440 .561 11 N/A





Russell’s monstrous rebounding numbers need to be put into the context of the era he was playing, but nonetheless the truth is that he and the Boston Celtics dominated that era. 11 titles and 5 MVPs? Bill Russell is top five but not higher because although his rebounding and defensive presence was unparalleled, his offensive skill set was not as impressive. The four players ahead of him on this list were better combinations of offensive and defensive greatness.





Top tier: their resume speaks for itself





4. Magic Johnson





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 19.5 7.2 11.2 1.9 0.4 .520 .848





An NBA Finals MVP and the greatest playoff performance in his rookie year provided a hint at how special Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson was. The 6’9” point guard could truly do it all, and he had over 10,000 assists in his career which was good for fourth-best all time. However, none of the three players ahead of Magic had more than 13 points per game over the course of their career (Jason Kidd, John Stockton, and Mark Jackson).





3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 24.6 11.2 3.6 0.9 2.6 .559 .721





Combine a 7’2” sky-hook with a 6’9” point guard and you have the dominant Lakers of the 1980s. Winning five championships from 1980-1988, this combination of talent was unparalleled considering the two are where they are in the discussion for greatest of all time. Abdul-Jabbar ekes out Magic because he earned twice as many MVP honors, had more titles, and was a more dominating player. 15 career games of at least nine blocks? Incredible.





The game changers, and quite literally so





2. Wilt Chamberlain





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 30.1 22.9 4.4 N/A N/A .540 .511





Chamberlain just lifted him and ball right up towards the rim .” In terms of being a game changer, Chamberlain singlehandedly influenced rule changes in the NBA. “I still remember the time when one of our strongest men, Gene Conley, decided to fight Chamberlain for the ball. He grabbed it and hung on and 100 points in a game is unfathomable; Wilt Chamberlain was simply the epitome of dominating. Again, his numbers probably would not hold up to the defensive efforts that Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant faced, but there is no doubt that he would be the best in that era. Check out these great quotes about his dominance—one from 11-time champion, Bill Russell:





1. Michael Jordan





Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 30.1 6.2 5.3 2.3 0.8 .497 .835



