The NBA has a rich history, dating back nearly 68 years, full of decorated organizations and players. When it comes to ranking the 10 best players in the NBA, there is often debate who makes the list because so many players have dominated the league for years. It goes without saying that ranking the top NBA players of all time doesn’t come without its own set of controversies. While some of the main names, such as Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, seem to always be at the top.
- Michael Jordan
- Name: Michael Jeffrey Jordan
- Born: 17th February 1963 in Brooklyn, New York
- Nickname: “MJ”, “Air Jordan”
- Height: 6’6’’
- Weight: 195 lbs.
- Position: Shooting Guard
- NBA Debut: 26th October 1984
- Accolades: 6 time NBA Champion, 6 time NBA Finals MVP, 5 time NBA MVP, 14 time NBA All Star, 3 time NBA All Star Game MVP.
- Hall of Fame: Inducted as a member of the Dream Team in 2010 and an individual in 2009.
2. Magic Johnson
- Name: Earvin Johnson Jr.
- Born: 14th August 1959 in Lansing, Michigan
- Nickname: “magic”
- Height: 6’8’’
- Weight: 215 lbs.
- Position: Point Guard
- NBA Debut: 12th October 1979
- Accolade: 5 time NBA Champion, 3 time NBA Finals MVP, 3 Time NBA MVP,12 time NBA All Star, 2 time NBA All Star Game MVP
- Hall of Fame: Inducted as an individual in 2002 and a member of Dream Team in 2010.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Name: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Born: 16th April 1947 in New York
- Nickname: “Cap”, “Lew”
- Height: 7’2’’
- Weight: 225 lbs.
- Position: Center
- NBA Debut: 18th October 1969
- Accolades: 6 time MBA Champion, 2 time NBA Finals MVP, 6 time NBA MP, 19 time NBA All Star
- Hall of Fame: Inducted as an individual in 1995
4. Larry Bird
- Name: Larry Joe Bird
- Born: 7th December 1956 in West Baden, Indiana
- Nickname: “The Hick from French lick”, “Larry Legend”
- Height: 6’9’’
- Weight: 220 lbs.
- Position: Power Forward, Small Forward
- NBA Debut: 12th October 1979
- Accolades: 3 time NBA Champion, 2 time NBA Finals MVP, 3 Time NBA MVP, 12 Time NBA All Star, NBA All Star MVP
- Hall of Fame: Inducted as an individual in 1998
5. Hakeem Olajuwon
- Name: Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon
- Born: 21st January 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria
- Nickname: “The Dream”
- Height: 7’0’’
- Weight: 255 lbs.
- Position: Center
- NBA Debut: 27th October 1984
- Accolades: 2 time NBA Champion, 2 time NBA Finals MVP, NBA MVP, 12 time NBA All Star
- Hall of Fame: Inducted as an individual in 2008
6. Wilt Chamberlain
- Name: Wilton Norman Chamberlain
- Born: 21st August 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Died: 12th October 1999.
- Nickname: “The Big Dipper”, “Wilt the Silt”, “Goliath”
- Height: 7’1’’
- Weight: 275 lbs.
- Position: Center
- NBA Debut: 24th October 1959
- Accolades: 2 time NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, 4 time NBA MVP, 13 time NBA All Star, NBA All Star Game MVP
- Hall of Fame: Inducted as an individual in 1979
7. Shaquille O’Neal
- Name: Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal
- Born: 6th March 1972 in Newark, New Jersey
- Nickname: “Shaq”
- Height: 7’1’’
- Weight: 325 lbs.
- Position: Center
- NBA Debut: 6th November 1992
- Accolades: 4 time NBA Champion, 3 time NBA Finals MVP, NBA MVP, 15 time NBA All Star, 3 time NBA All Star MVP
8. Kobe Bryant
- Name: Kobe Bean Bryant
- Born: 23rd August 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Nickname: “Black Mamba”
- Height: 6’6’’
- Weight: 212 lbs.
- Position: Shooting Guard
- NBA Debut: 3rd November 1996
- Accolades: 5 time Champion, 2 time NBA Finals MVP, NBA MVP, 18 time NBA All Star Game MVP
9. LeBron James
- Name: LeBron Raymone James Sr.
- Born: 30th December 1984 in Akron, Ohio
- Nickname: “King James”, “Bron”, “Chosen One”, Akron Hammer”
- Height: 6’8’’
- Weight: 250 lbs.
- Position: Small Forward, Power Forward
- NBA Debut: 29th October 2003
- Accolades: 3 time NBA Champion, 3 time NBA Finals MVP, 4 time NBA MVP, 15 time NBA All Star, 3 time NBA All Star Game MVP.
10. Kevin Durant
- Name: Kevin Wayne Durant
- Born: 29th September 1988 in Washington D.C.
- Nickname: “Durantula”, “Slim Reaper”
- Height: 6’9’’
- Weight: 240lbs.
- Position: Small Forward
- NBA Debut: 31st October 2007
- Accolades: 2 time NBA Champion, 2 time NBA Finals MVP, MBA MVP, 10 time NBA All Star, 2 time NBA All Star Game MVP.
