Basketball Reference Blog
Top 20 NBA Players of All Time
Posted by Jonah Gardner on October 27, 2022
It’s perhaps the most controversial question in sports: Who are the best NBA player of all time? There are a million different ways to answer it, but in this post, we’re going to break down the greatest NBA players of all time according to Win Shares, an advanced stat that measure a player’s performance based on team wins and the player’s statline. We’ll also include ABA years and stats for this.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Pronunciation: \kuh-REEM ab-dool juh-BAR\
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ▪ Twitter: kaj33
(born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.)
(Lew, Cap, Murdock, Big Fella)
Position: Center ▪ Shoots: Right
7-2, 225lb (218cm, 102kg)
Born:
April 16,
1947
College: UCLA
High School: Power Memorial in New York, New York
Draft: Milwaukee Bucks, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1969 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 18, 1969
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1995 (Full List)
Career Length: 20 years
- Hall of Fame
- 19x All Star
- 2x Scoring Champ
- 1975-76 TRB Champ
- 4x BLK Champ
- 6x NBA Champ
- 15x All-NBA
- 11x All-Defensive
- 1969-70 All-Rookie
- 1969-70 ROY
- 2x Finals MVP
- 6x MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1560
24.6
11.2
3.6
55.9
5.6
72.1
55.9
24.6
273.4
Kareem is inarguably one of the greatest NBA players of all time, ranking first in career Win Shares due to his nearly unprecedented longevity. Kareem played in the NBA for 20 seasons, picking up six rings and six MVP awards.
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley
(Sir Charles, The Round Mound of Rebound, The Chuckster, The Chuck Wagon, The Prince of Pizza, The Incredible Bulk, The Leaning Tower of Pizza, Bread Truck, Boy Gorge, Love Boat, Food World, The Crisco Kid, Wide Load from Leeds, Ton of Fun, Goodtime Blimp,)
Position: Power Forward and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
6-6, 252lb (198cm, 114kg)
Born:
February 20,
1963
College: Auburn
High School: Leeds in Leeds, Alabama
Draft: Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (5th pick, 5th overall), 1984 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 26, 1984
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2006 (Full List)
Career Length: 16 years
- Hall of Fame
- 11x All Star
- 1986-87 TRB Champ
- 11x All-NBA
- 1984-85 All-Rookie
- 1990-91 AS MVP
- 1992-93 MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1073
22.1
11.7
3.9
54.1
26.6
73.5
55.8
24.6
177.2
One of the most charismatic players in NBA history, Charles Barkley was also one of the greatest. Barkley averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds, one of seven players to average 22 and 11 for their careers. Barkley made 11 All-NBA teams, and has a virtually unprecedented 15 nicknames on his Basketball Reference page.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant ▪ Twitter: kobebryant
(Black Mamba, KB24, Vino, Showboat, Little Flying Warrior, The Eighth Man, Lord of the Rings)
Position: Shooting Guard and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
6-6, 212lb (198cm, 96kg)
Born: August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania us
Died:
January 26, 2020
Relatives: Father Joe Bryant; Uncle Chubby Cox
High School: Lower Merion in Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Draft: Charlotte Hornets, 1st round (13th pick, 13th overall), 1996 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: November 3, 1996
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2020 (Full List)
Career Length: 20 years
- Hall of Fame
- 18x All Star
- 2x Scoring Champ
- 5x NBA Champ
- 15x All-NBA
- 1996-97 All-Rookie
- 12x All-Defensive
- 4x AS MVP
- 2007-08 MVP
- 2x Finals MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
- 2018 Oscar
Career
1346
25.0
5.2
4.7
44.7
32.9
83.7
48.2
22.9
172.7
Perhaps the greatest Laker in history, Kobe Bryant is synonymous with the city of Los Angeles and with the post-Jordan style of basketball that dominated the league in the 2000s. Kobe has five rings, two Finals MVPs, the second highest scoring game in NBA history, and even an Oscar.
Wilt Chamberlain
Pronunciation: \CHAIM-bur-lin\
Wilton Norman Chamberlain
(Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, Dippy, Dip, The Load, Big Musty, The Record Book, Hook and Ladder, Wiltie, Whip, Whipper)
Position: Center ▪ Shoots: Right
7-1, 275lb (216cm, 124kg)
Born: August 21, 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania us
Died:
October 12, 1999
College: Kansas
High School: Overbrook in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Draft: Philadelphia Warriors, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1959 NBA Draft (territorial selection)
NBA Debut: October 24, 1959
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1979 (Full List)
Career Length: 14 years
- Hall of Fame
- 13x All Star
- 7x Scoring Champ
- 11x TRB Champ
- 1967-68 AST Champ
- 2x NBA Champ
- 10x All-NBA
- 1959-60 AS MVP
- 4x MVP
- 1959-60 ROY
- 2x All-Defensive
- 1971-72 Finals MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1045
30.1
22.9
4.4
54.0
51.1
26.2
247.3
One of the most dominant players in NBA history, Wilt Chamberlain holds what is widely considered to be one of the most unbreakable records in sports: his single-game scoring record of 100 points. Wilt won four MVP awards and finished his career averaging over 30 points and 20 rebounds per game.
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore Duncan
(Timmy, The Big Fundamental, Groundhog Day, Old Man Riverwalk, The Stone Buddha)
Position: Center and Power Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
6-11, 250lb (211cm, 113kg)
Born:
April 25,
1976
College: Wake Forest
High School: Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Draft: San Antonio Spurs, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1997 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 31, 1997
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2020 (Full List)
Career Length: 19 years
- Hall of Fame
- 15x All Star
- 5x NBA Champ
- 15x All-NBA
- 15x All-Defensive
- 1997-98 All-Rookie
- 1997-98 ROY
- 3x Finals MVP
- 1999-00 AS MVP
- 2x MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1392
19.0
10.8
3.0
50.6
17.9
69.6
50.7
24.2
206.4
Tim Duncan isn’t just one of the best players in NBA history, he’s also one of the best teammates, seamlessly changing his role to fit with the players around him while leading the Spurs to five NBA titles. Duncan himself won two MVPs and made 15 All-NBA teams.
Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II ▪ Twitter: JuliusErving
(Dr. J, The Doctor, J.W., The Claw, Black Moses, Houdini, Little Hawk, Doc, Julie, Super Julius)
Position: Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
6-7, 210lb (201cm, 95kg)
Born:
February 22,
1950
Relatives: Cousin Jeff Halliburton
College: UMass
High School: Roosevelt in Roosevelt, New York
Draft: Milwaukee Bucks, 1st round (12th pick, 12th overall), 1972 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 22, 1976 ▪ ABA Debut: October 15, 1971
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1993 (Full List)
Career Length: 16 years
- Hall of Fame
- 16x All Star
- 1983 NBA Champ
- 2x ABA Champ
- 7x All-NBA
- 5x All-ABA
- 1971-72 All-Rookie
- 4x MVP
- 1975-76 All-Defensive
- 2x AS MVP
- ABA All-Time Team
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1243
24.2
8.5
4.2
50.6
29.8
77.7
50.9
23.6
181.1
Dr. J is considered one of the NBA’s greatest. On top of that, he’s by far one of the best ABA players ever. Erving won two ABA championships and three ABA MVPs before the league folded. Once he joined the NBA, he notched another title and another MVP.
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett ▪ Twitter: KevinGarnett5KG
(KG, The Big Ticket, The Kid)
Position: Power Forward, Center, and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
6-11, 240lb (211cm, 108kg)
Born:
May 19,
1976
Relatives: Cousin Shammond Williams
High Schools: Mauldin in Mauldin, South Carolina, Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois
Draft: Minnesota Timberwolves, 1st round (5th pick, 5th overall), 1995 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: November 3, 1995
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2020 (Full List)
Career Length: 21 years
- Hall of Fame
- 15x All Star
- 4x TRB Champ
- 2008 NBA Champ
- 9x All-NBA
- 1995-96 All-Rookie
- 12x All-Defensive
- 2002-03 AS MVP
- 2003-04 MVP
- 2007-08 Def. POY
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1462
17.8
10.0
3.7
49.7
27.5
78.9
50.1
22.7
191.4
Kevin Garnett was also one of the most electrifying NBA greats to watch. KG won MVP once, led the NBA in win shares twice, and, after a career of playoff struggles, finally won the NBA title in 2008 with the Boston Celtics. He still holds the Timberwolves franchise records for games played, points, assists, and rebounds.
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore ▪ Twitter: ArtisGilmore53
(The A-Train, Late Sleeper, Rigor Artis)
Position: Center ▪ Shoots: Left
7-2, 240lb (218cm, 108kg)
Born:
September 21,
1949
Colleges: Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University
High School: Carver in Dothan, Alabama
Draft: Chicago Bulls, 7th round (15th pick, 117th overall), 1971 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 22, 1976 ▪ ABA Debut: October 16, 1971
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2011 (Full List)
Career Length: 17 years
- Hall of Fame
- 11x All Star
- 1975 ABA Champ
- 5x All-ABA
- 1971-72 All-Rookie
- 1971-72 MVP
- 1971-72 ROY
- 5x All-Defensive
- 1973-74 AS MVP
- ABA All-Time Team
Career
1329
18.8
12.3
2.3
58.2
15.0
69.8
58.2
21.4
189.7
The second player on this list to start his career in the ABA is Artis Gilmore. The big man led the NBA in field goal percentage four times in his career, and he won ABA MVP in 1972 as a rookie.
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James ▪ Twitter: KingJames ▪ Instagram: kingjames
(King James, LBJ, Chosen One, Bron-Bron, The Little Emperor, The Akron Hammer, L-Train)
Position: Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Guard, and Shooting Guard ▪ Shoots: Right
6-9, 250lb (206cm, 113kg)
Born:
December 30,
1984
High School: St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio
Recruiting Rank: 2003 (1)
Draft: Cleveland Cavaliers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 2003 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 29, 2003
Experience: 19 years
- 18x All Star
- 2007-08 Scoring Champ
- 2019-20 AST Champ
- 4x NBA Champ
- 18x All-NBA
- 2003-04 All-Rookie
- 2003-04 ROY
- 3x AS MVP
- 6x All-Defensive
- 4x MVP
- 4x Finals MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
2022-23
Career
4
1370
25.3
27.1
10.0
7.5
7.8
7.4
45.3
50.5
25.7
34.5
73.7
73.4
50.6
54.5
19.5
27.3
0.2
249.7
For many, LeBron isn’t just one of the greatest NBA players of all time, or even one of the 10 greatest NBA players of all time, he’s simply the GOAT. LeBron has four rings, four MVPs, four Finals MVPs, 18 All-NBA appearances, and nearly two decades of hegemonic rule over the NBA.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan
(Mike, Air Jordan, M.J., His Airness, Money, Black Cat, Mr. June, G.O.A.T., Superman, Captain Marvel, Black Jesus)
Position: Shooting Guard and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
6-6, 198lb (198cm, 89kg)
Born:
February 17,
1963
College: UNC
High School: Emsley A. Laney in Wilmington, North Carolina
Draft: Chicago Bulls, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1984 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 26, 1984
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2009 (Full List)
Career Length: 15 years
- Hall of Fame
- 14x All Star
- 10x Scoring Champ
- 3x STL Champ
- 6x NBA Champ
- 11x All-NBA
- 1984-85 All-Rookie
- 1984-85 ROY
- 9x All-Defensive
- 3x AS MVP
- 1987-88 Def. POY
- 5x MVP
- 6x Finals MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1072
30.1
6.2
5.3
49.7
32.7
83.5
50.9
27.9
214.0
If your GOAT isn’t LeBron, it’s probably Michael Jordan. Jordan won six NBA titles without ever losing in the Finals. He’s also a five-time MVP who holds the all-time career record in points per game. And he did it all while being a one-of-a-kind culture icon, whose force of personality was so mesmerizing that he inspired The Last Dance, a ten part documentary about his exploits.
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone ▪ Twitter: TheDeliverer_32
(The Mailman, King Karl)
Position: Power Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
6-9, 250lb (206cm, 113kg)
Born:
July 24,
1963
College: Louisiana Tech
High School: Summerfield in Summerfield, Louisiana
Draft: Utah Jazz, 1st round (13th pick, 13th overall), 1985 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 25, 1985
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2010 (Full List)
Career Length: 19 years
- Hall of Fame
- 14x All Star
- 14x All-NBA
- 1985-86 All-Rookie
- 4x All-Defensive
- 2x AS MVP
- 2x MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1476
25.0
10.1
3.6
51.6
27.4
74.2
51.8
23.9
234.6
Few can match Karl Malone for longevity, as he ranks third all-time in points and sixth in games played. Malone won two MVPs and made the All-Star Game 14 times in his career.
Moses Malone
Moses Eugene Malone
(Chairman of the Boards, Big Mo, Octobull)
Position: Center and Power Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
6-10, 215lb (208cm, 97kg)
Born: March 23, 1955 in Petersburg, Virginia us
Died:
September 13, 2015
High School: Petersburg in Petersburg, Virginia
NBA Debut: October 21, 1976 ▪ ABA Debut: October 18, 1974
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2001 (Full List)
Career Length: 21 years
- Hall of Fame
- 13x All Star
- 6x TRB Champ
- 1983 NBA Champ
- 8x All-NBA
- 1974-75 All-Rookie
- 2x All-Defensive
- 3x MVP
- 1982-83 Finals MVP
- ABA All-Time Team
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1455
20.3
12.3
1.3
49.5
9.6
76.0
49.5
22.0
179.1
Moses Malone earned a reputation as one of the top NBA players thanks to his dominance inside and on the boards. He led the league in rebounding six times and won the MVP award three times. Along with Dr. J, he was a key player in the Sixers 1983 title run.
Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne Miller ▪ Twitter: ReggieMillerTNT
(Uncle Reg, The Knick Killer, Killa, Funk, Mighty Mouth, Freddy)
Position: Shooting Guard ▪ Shoots: Right
6-7, 185lb (201cm, 83kg)
Born:
August 24,
1965
College: UCLA
High School: Riverside Polytech in Riverside, California
Draft: Indiana Pacers, 1st round (11th pick, 11th overall), 1987 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: November 6, 1987
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2012 (Full List)
Career Length: 18 years
Career
1389
18.2
3.0
3.0
47.1
39.5
88.8
54.4
18.4
174.4
Before he was a regular fixture on NBA broadcasts as an announcer, Reggie Miller was one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He made three All-NBA team appearances behind his excellent shooting, and his Pacers teams were some of the most memorable of the 1990s.
Dirk Nowitzki
Pronunciation: \Na-VIT-skee\
Dirk Werner Nowitzki ▪ Twitter: swish41
(Dirty, Tall Baller from the G, German Race Car, German Jesus)
Position: Power Forward and Center ▪ Shoots: Right
7-0, 245lb (213cm, 111kg)
Born:
June 19,
1978
High School: Rontgen Gymnasium in Wurzburg, Germany
Draft: Milwaukee Bucks, 1st round (9th pick, 9th overall), 1998 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: February 5, 1999
Career Length: 21 years
Career
1522
20.7
7.5
2.4
47.1
38.0
87.9
51.2
22.4
206.3
Perhaps the greatest shooting big man of all time, Dirk Nowitzki is without a doubt one of the top NBA players of all time. Nowitzki was NBA MVP in 2007, holds the record for most 3s by a seven-footer, and, in 2011, finally won an NBA title.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal ▪ Twitter: SHAQ
(Shaq, Diesel, The Big Aristotle, Superman, Shaq Fu, Shaq Daddy, Warrior)
Position: Center ▪ Shoots: Right
7-1, 325lb (216cm, 147kg)
Born:
March 6,
1972
Relatives: Son Shareef O’Neal
College: LSU
High School: Cole in San Antonio, Texas
Draft: Orlando Magic, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1992 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: November 6, 1992
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2016 (Full List)
Career Length: 19 years
- Hall of Fame
- 15x All Star
- 2x Scoring Champ
- 4x NBA Champ
- 14x All-NBA
- 1992-93 All-Rookie
- 1992-93 ROY
- 3x All-Defensive
- 3x AS MVP
- 3x Finals MVP
- 1999-00 MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1207
23.7
10.9
2.5
58.2
4.5
52.7
58.2
26.4
181.7
Considered one of the greatest NBA players of all time almost from the moment he stepped on the court, Shaq’s one of a kind dominance led to four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, and 15 All-Star appearances.
Chris Paul
Christopher Emmanuel Paul ▪ Twitter: CP3 ▪ Instagram: cp3
(CP3, The Point God, The Skate Instructor)
Position: Point Guard ▪ Shoots: Right
6-0, 175lb (183cm, 79kg)
Born:
May 6,
1985
College: Wake Forest
High School: West Forsyth in Clemmons, North Carolina
Recruiting Rank: 2003 (6)
Draft: New Orleans Hornets, 1st round (4th pick, 4th overall), 2005 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: November 1, 2005
Experience: 17 years
- 12x All Star
- 5x AST Champ
- 6x STL Champ
- 11x All-NBA
- 2005-06 All-Rookie
- 2005-06 ROY
- 9x All-Defensive
- 2012-13 AS MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
2022-23
Career
4
1159
9.8
18.1
5.5
4.5
10.3
9.5
36.8
47.3
31.3
36.9
100.0
87.1
43.4
52.2
15.9
24.6
0.5
199.4
One of two active players on the list, CP3’s appearance may be a surprise considering he never won a title or an MVP award. But he ranks 9th all-time in win shares, with 11 All-NBA appearances and nine All-Defense appearances.
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson
(Big O, Mr. Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch)
Position: Point Guard ▪ Shoots: Right
6-5, 205lb (196cm, 92kg)
Born:
November 24,
1938
College: Cincinnati
High School: Crispus Attucks in Indianapolis, Indiana
Draft: Cincinnati Royals, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1960 NBA Draft (territorial selection)
NBA Debut: October 19, 1960
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1980 (Full List)
Career Length: 14 years
- Hall of Fame
- 12x All Star
- 6x AST Champ
- 1971 NBA Champ
- 11x All-NBA
- 3x AS MVP
- 1960-61 ROY
- 1963-64 MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1040
25.7
7.5
9.5
48.5
83.8
23.2
189.2
Although Oscar’s triple-double record was recently broken, his impact on the game remains strong. Oscar was one of the top NBA players of all time, winning the 1964 MVP award and the 1971 NBA title.
David Robinson
David Maurice Robinson ▪ Twitter: DavidtheAdmiral
(The Admiral, D-Rob)
Position: Center ▪ Shoots: Left
7-1, 235lb (216cm, 106kg)
Born:
August 6,
1965
College: United States Naval Academy
High School: Osbourn Park in Manassas, Virginia
Draft: San Antonio Spurs, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1987 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: November 4, 1989
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2009 (Full List)
Career Length: 14 years
- Hall of Fame
- 10x All Star
- 1993-94 Scoring Champ
- 1990-91 TRB Champ
- 1991-92 BLK Champ
- 2x NBA Champ
- 10x All-NBA
- 8x All-Defensive
- 1989-90 All-Rookie
- 1989-90 ROY
- 1991-92 Def. POY
- 1994-95 MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
987
21.1
10.6
2.5
51.8
25.0
73.6
51.9
26.2
178.7
The Admiral was one of the top NBA players of all time, winning two titles with the San Antonio Spurs. One of the most iconic players of the 1990s, Robinson led the league in scoring, rebounds, and blocks at different points in the decade.
Bill Russell
William Felton Russell ▪ Twitter: realbillrussell
(Russ, Whiskers, Willie, Bill the Hill, The Stuffer)
Position: Center ▪ Shoots: Left
6-10, 215lb (208cm, 97kg)
Born: February 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana us
Died:
July 31, 2022
Relatives: Cousin Bob Hopkins
College: San Francisco
High School: McClymonds in Oakland, California
Draft: St. Louis Hawks, 1st round (2nd pick, 2nd overall), 1956 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: December 22, 1956
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1975 and Coach in 2021 (Full List)
Career Length: 13 years
- Hall of Fame
- 12x All Star
- 4x TRB Champ
- 11x NBA Champ
- 11x All-NBA
- 5x MVP
- 1962-63 AS MVP
- 1968-69 All-Defensive
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
963
15.1
22.5
4.3
44.0
56.1
18.9
163.5
Bill Russell isn’t just one of the greatest NBA players of all time, he’s probably it’s most famous winner. Russell won 11 NBA titles, a record that stands to this day, and his five MVP awards aren’t too shabby either. Russell’s number 6 is being retired league-wide to commemorate his impact on the game.
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton
(Stock)
Position: Point Guard ▪ Shoots: Right
6-1, 170lb (185cm, 77kg)
Born:
March 26,
1962
Relatives: Sons David Stockton, Michael Stockton
College: Gonzaga
High School: Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Washington
Draft: Utah Jazz, 1st round (16th pick, 16th overall), 1984 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 26, 1984
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2009 (Full List)
Career Length: 19 years
- Hall of Fame
- 10x All Star
- 9x AST Champ
- 2x STL Champ
- 11x All-NBA
- 5x All-Defensive
- 1992-93 AS MVP
- NBA 75th Anniv. Team
Career
1504
13.1
2.7
10.5
51.5
38.4
82.6
54.6
21.8
207.7
The NBA’s career leader in assists, John Stockton is one of the top NBA players of all time. His longevity was nearly unsurpassed, as only four people played in more NBA games than him. Stockton lead the league in assists nine times and also made five All-Defensive teams.
FAQ’s
Most experts agree that the best NBA player of all time is either Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Some would also advocate for Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
By Win Shares, the top 10 players in NBA history are: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, John Stockton, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett.
Win Shares are a cumulative stat that rewards playing a lot of games for teams that win. For example, while Michael Jordan ranks 5th in win shares, he ranks first in win shares per 48 minutes played, an indication that on a per-minute basis, he was the greatest player in NBA history, but he didn’t appear in as many games as the players ahead of him.
Among active player, the top 5 in win shares are LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Dwight Howard.
It is a tie between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
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