espn best nba players of all time
-- MacMahon, 1982-94 Atlanta Hawks; 1994 LA Clippers; 1994-95 Boston Celtics; 1996-97 San Antonio Spurs; 1999 Orlando Magic, It doesn't get more elite than Wilkins' dunking skills. Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time -- he changed so many different facets of the league -- but maybe most of all, he showed players they could grow themselves into a global brand on and off the floor with stellar play and the right marketing machine behind it all. Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.4 BPG in 17 seasons with New York Knicks (1985-86 to 1999-00), Seattle SuperSonics (2000-01) and Orlando Magic (2001-02). Visit ESPN for the game preview of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies vs. Davidson Wildcats NCAAW basketball game on 1 March 2023 . So, yeah, he definitely played. -- Andrews, 1986-93 Detroit Pistons; 1993-95 San Antonio Spurs; 1995-98 Chicago Bulls; 1999 Los Angeles Lakers; 2000 Dallas Mavericks, The unofficial titleholder for the most dominant rebounder in NBA history, Rodman led the league in the category for seven consecutive seasons. Being in the conversation as the best player of all time means being part of an exclusive club -- no disrespect to those who just missed out on the top 10. Stats: 23.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.1 APG in 10 NBA seasons with San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1965-66 to 1966-67; 1972-73 to 1977-78) and Houston Rockets (1978-79 to 1979-80); also played four ABA seasons with Oakland Oaks (1968-69), Washington Capitols (1969-70) and New York Nets (1970-71 to 1971-72). He played in 1,158 victories, including the playoffs, more than anyone in NBA history other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If there's no D-Wade in Miami, there aren't three championship banners hanging just off Biscayne Bay Boulevard. Westbrook also holds the record for consecutive triple-doubles (11 in a row). Consider the hardware he has collected since entering the league: MVP (twice), Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and Finals MVP. Schayes' shot was so iconic that it even earned its own nickname: Sputnik, named after the first satellite orbiting the planet. Accomplishments: Two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, 1977-78 MVP, 1977 Finals MVP, 1985-86 Sixth Man of the Year, 1976-77 rebounding champ, 1976-77 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. ESPN has been counting down the 100 best NBA players of all-time. And for the first time in the list's history, there's a new No. The star player on Blazers teams that averaged 60 wins and made Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992, Drexler was an All-NBA first team pick in '92 and a 10-time All-Star. Fantasy. Accomplishments: 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive team, 2007-08 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, four-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, five-time NBA champion. 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 . Stats: 16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.7 APG in 17 seasons with Seattle SuperSonics (1990-91 to 2002-03), Milwaukee Bucks (2002-03), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05) and Miami Heat (2005-06 to 2006-07). He was the league MVP in three consecutive seasons (1984-86), something only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had accomplished. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, three-time scoring champ, 2016-17 assists champ, 2017-18 MVP, 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year. Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG in 13 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1979-80 to 1990-91; 1995-96). Stats: 18.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.1 APG in 15 seasons with Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1949-50 to 1963-64). Nicknamed "Dr. Memory," Lucas used his mind and his recall of opponents' tendencies to augment all of his physical skills on the floor. John Stockton as the top-20 player in NBA history? However, he led the league in scoring at 31.1 PPG in 1976-77 while playing for the New Orleans Jazz, earning one of his four All-NBA honors. -- Youngmisuk, 1974-79 Portland Trail Blazers; 1979-84 San Diego Clippers, 1984-85 LA Clippers; 1985-87 Boston Celtics, Every time we talk about the role of health in winning MVP, we're forced to caveat Walton's 1977-78 season, when he won the award playing just 58 games. TrueHoop TV: Is small forward a dying position in the NBA? Stats: 27.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.7 APG in 14 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1960-61 to 1973-74). -- Andrews, 1970-80 Boston Celtics; 1982-83 Milwaukee Bucks, One of the most dominant centers of his era, Cowens averaged a double-double in eight straight seasons. 4 pick in the draft and won an MVP award two years later. -- Bontemps, 2011-2018 San Antonio Spurs; 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors; 2019-22 LA Clippers, With some of the biggest hands the NBA has ever seen, Leonard has hauled in two NBA championship rings, two Finals MVP trophies (he's the second-youngest to ever win one) and two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1994-95 MVP, 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year, 1989-90 Rookie of the Year, 1993-94 scoring champ, 1990-91 rebounding champ, 1991-92 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive Team, 2003-04 MVP, 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year, 2003 All-Star MVP, four-time rebounding champ, 2008 NBA champion. Give me a break. 9-20, 3-13 conf. 75-51 For subscribers Ranking the greatest 75 NBA players of all time: Nos. Stats: 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG in 14 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1986-87 to 1992-93), San Antonio Spurs (1993-94 to 1994-95), Chicago Bulls (1995-96 to 1997-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1998-99) and Dallas Mavericks (1999-2000). Career laurels: 11 NBA champion (1957, 1959-1966, 1968, 1969); 5 NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965); 12 NBA All-Star (1958-1969); NBA All-Star Game MVP (1963); 3. 5-on-5: Is Blake Griffin one of the 10 best power forwards ever? "Mamba mentality" became more than a kitschy catchphrase after Bryant died; it is now a blueprint for how to chase your dreams. Players trusted Pippen and they always understood he was a more complete player than he was given credit for because he played in Michael Jordan's gigantic shadow throughout their time in Chicago. Preview; Bellarmine Knights vs Liberty Lady Flames Stats, Game Time, and more. -- Lopez, 1959-62 Philadelphia Warriors, 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors; 1965-68 Philadelphia 76ers; 1968-73 Los Angeles Lakers, There are very few players who hold a record that will most likely never be broken. Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, five-time assists champ, two-time MVP. Stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG in 10 seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75 to 1977-78), San Diego/LA Clippers (1979-80 to 1984-85) and Boston Celtics (1985-86 to 1986-87). Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, 2020 All-Star MVP, 2014-15 steals champ, two-time NBA champion. -- Bontemps, Johnson revolutionized the game, entering the league as the tallest point guard in league history at 6-foot-9. Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year career in Dallas, setting a record for length of a tenure with one franchise, and is the highest-scoring international player in NBA history. His unstoppable, patented skyhook,. Stats: 18.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.9 APG in 13 seasons with Baltimore Bullets (1967-68 to 1971-72) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1979-80). Perhaps the greatest two-way player of his generation, Leonard dissects defenses with robotic midrange precision while disrupting offenses with his long arms and physical defense. -- Ohm Youngmisuk, The greatest winner in basketball history, Russell claimed 11 titles in 13 years by turning the Celtics into a defensive juggernaut. -- McMenamin, 1984-93, 1995-98 Chicago Bulls; 2001-03 Washington Wizards. MLB. The Bullets/Wizards haven't come close to that kind of success since. Drexler is also one of four players in league history to have at least 2,000 offensive rebounds and 2,000 steals (Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone). -- Jamal Collier, 1962-68 Detroit Pistons; 1968-74 New York Knicks, For the first six years the NBA started naming an All-Defensive First Team, DeBusschere's name was included on the list. Stats: 27.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG in 18 seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04 to 2009-10; 2014-15 to 2017-18), Miami Heat (2010-11 to 2013-14) and Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19 to 2020-21)*. While Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar get the lion's share of the credit for those teams, Worthy's 1988 NBA Finals MVP distinction tells the story of just how key he was in L.A.'s success, earning his "Big Game James" nickname for elevating his play when the games mattered most. Accomplishments: 11-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1980-81 MVP, two-time NBA All-Star MVP, 1983 NBA champion. By the time he hangs up his jersey, he will have obliterated the record. McHale always seemed to find a way to make a play on the blocks and helped lead the storied Larry Bird-led teams with a toughness that defined his career. Stats: 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG in 17 season with Chicago Bulls (1987-88 to 1997-98; 2003-04), Houston Rockets (1998-99) and Portland Trail Blazers (1999-00 to 2002-03). Sep 12, 2019. Stats: 25.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.5 APG in 12 seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder (2009-10 to 2011-12), Houston Rockets (2012-13 to 2020-21) and Brooklyn Nets (2020-21)*. His mobility and physicality changed the expectations for modern-day big men. Tony Parker. Some say Durant is the best scorer of all time as a 7-foot player who plays like a guard and can get his shot off anytime he wants. He was an All-Star in his first season in the league, which began a year of 12 straight appearances. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, five-time All-Defensive team, 1969 Finals MVP, 1972 All-Star MVP, 1969-70 scoring champ, 1971-72 assists champ, 1972 NBA champion. We did. NCAAW. Old school or new school? Behind Magic's unparalleled playmaking at 6-foot-9, the Lakers won four more titles, eclipsing the rival Celtics in the decade as Johnson won both MVP and Finals MVP three times before an HIV diagnosis forced him to (mostly) retire at age 32. Off it, he was always one of the league's biggest enigmas. "The Mailman" is the most decorated ringless player in NBA history, earning 14 All-Star nods and two MVPs and ranking as the second all-time leading scorer with 36,928 career points. 9. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1968-69 MVP, 1968-69 Rookie of the Year, 1978 Finals MVP, 1974-75 rebounding champ, 1978 NBA champion. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, 1963-64 MVP, 1960-61 Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star MVP, six-time assists champ, 1971 NBA champion. NFL. America East Playoffs - Quarterfinal. -- Dave McMenamin, Perhaps the only perceived knock on Duncan's game was that he was boring. She paces the . Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1968 All-Star MVP, 1967 NBA champion. The GOAT. Stats: 20.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.0 APG in nine seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1965-66 to 1971-72; 1974-75 to 1975-76); also played two ABA seasons with Carolina Cougars (1972-73 to 1973-74). 52 - The record for the most points in an All Star Game is 52, set by Anthony Davis for the Western Conference in 2017. -- Friedell, 1972-76 Buffalo Braves; 1976-79 New York Knicks; 1979 Boston Celtics; 1979-81 Detroit Pistons; 1981 New Jersey Nets; 1981-85 Los Angeles Lakers; 1986 Philadelphia 76ers, It didn't take long for McAdoo to start dominating, getting off to one of the best individual starts an NBA scorer can have. The first in a long lineage of dominant Lakers big men, Mikan won five championships and was an ambassador for the game. -- Youngmisuk, 1996-2003 Milwaukee Bucks, 2003-07 Seattle SuperSonics; 2007-12 Boston Celtics; 2012-14 Miami Heat, 18.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.3 3PG, Before Stephen Curry came along and broke his all-time 3-point record, Allen was regarded as the smoothest shooting player of all time. She leads the squad in made threes per game, connecting on 1.9 treys per contest with a 38 percent shooting percentage from deep. In fact, he owns three of the top four such streaks. -- Tim MacMahon, 18.2 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 Steals PG, 1.8 3s PG, The Pacers' legend became one of the greatest shooters in NBA history with one of the fastest releases the game has seen. Stats: 20.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.3 BPG in 19 NBA seasons with Buffalo Braves (1976-77), Houston Rockets (1976-77 to 1981-82), Philadelphia 76ers (1982-83 to 1985-86; 1993-94), Washington Bullets (1986-87 to 1987-88), Atlanta Hawks (1988-89 to 1990-91), Milwaukee Bucks (1991-92 to 1992-93) and San Antonio Spurs (1994-95); also played two ABA seasons with Utah Stars (1974-75) and Spirits of St. Louis (1975-76). Stats: 19.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG in 10 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (2011-12 to 2017-18), Toronto Raptors (2018-19) and LA Clippers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. Deonna Brister adds 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Lady Colonels, and Kyla Hamilton averages 10.8 points, 4.2 assists and two steals per game. Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG in 19 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1994-95 to 1996-97; 2007-08 to 2011-12), Phoenix Suns (1996-97 to 2000-01), New Jersey Nets (2001-02 to 2007-08) and New York Knicks (2012-13). -- Andrews, Adding Magic, the top pick of the 1979 draft, catalyzed the Lakers' dynasty. He played his entire career in Detroit and won back-to-back championships in 1989 and '90, winning Finals MVP in 1990. -- Pelton, 1967-77 New York Knicks; 1977-79 Cleveland Cavaliers, Known as much for his inimitable style off the court as his play on it, Frazier became the face of the Knicks' iconic championship teams in the 1970s, thanks to his long post-playing career with the franchise. He won six championships -- with the first and last coming 17 years apart -- and was named to 15 All-NBA teams, with 10 first-team selections. ESPN+. He is one of the last players of his era who didn't start ring chasing at the end of his career. MLB. -- Kendra Andrews, 1966-75 Detroit Pistons; 1975-77 Washington Bullets; 1977-78 Boston Celtics, Bing's career was threatened twice by eye injuries -- falling and poking his left eye on a rusty nail as a child, then suffering a detached retina in his right eye during the preseason in 1971. He became the face of a generation of big men and was dominant down low as he helped push the Lakers to three straight NBA titles from 2000 to 2002. Not only has Curry hit 3,083 3s (and counting), he broke Ray Allen's record in nearly 500 fewer games. The Vermont Catamounts (22-6, 14-2 America East) look to continue a 14-game winning streak when they host the Bryant Bulldogs (9-20, 3-13 America East) at 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at . All-time NBArank: Nos. Completing 10 incredible seasons, Maravich would make 5 All-Star appearances and lead the NBA in scoring in 1977 at 31.1 PPG. An unapologetic scorer, Anthony is No. No other player in NBA history has those scoring and assist averages in the same season (only Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook also had 30-point, 10-assist seasons). Steve Nash. -- Collier, The jump shot has become an essential part of the NBA -- and especially today's 3-point-happy version of the sport. -- Nick Friedell, 2009-2012 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2012-2021 Houston Rockets; 2021-2022 Brooklyn Nets; 2022 Philadelphia 76ers, Harden might be the most polarizing player of his generation. Stats: 18.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG in 18 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (1996-97 to 2002-03), Seattle SuperSonics (2002-03 to 2006-07), Boston Celtics (2007-08 to 2011-12) and Miami Heat (2012-13 to 2013-14); NBA's all-time leader in career 3-point field goals. 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 of the Year, 10-time scoring champ, three-time steals champ, six-time NBA champion. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2016-17 MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, three-time assists champ. Following his breakout campaign, Pierce made the All-Star team 10 of the next 11 seasons. Without Johnson and his rivalry for the ages with Bird and the Celtics, the NBA may not be where it is today. To create All-Time #NBArank, we put together a ballot with the 150 greatest players ever. 13-15, 6-8 conf. More than anything, Duncan was one of the best winners, leading the Spurs to five titles and 1,001 regular-season victories, the most for any player with one team in NBA history. The voting pool included 76 players, as there was a tie during the NBA's voting for its 75th Anniversary Team. 49. Cricket. Stats: 17.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.0 APG in 11 seasons with Washington Capitols (1950-51) and Boston Celtics (1951-52 to 1960-61). Just like Paul Arizin, Maravich was one of the pioneers for making the NBA more renowned. Top accolades: Four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, one MVP, eight All-NBA 1st Team selections, 15 All-Stars, three All-Defensive 2nd Team selections NBA rank: 8th in scoring and. Pitchin' Paul. Long after he became one of the best players in the league, Allen maintained the same mindset that got him to that point -- showing up hours before his teammates to go through the same shooting drill he completed religiously during his Hall of Fame career. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 2008 Finals MVP, 2008 NBA champion. Top 10 Best NBA Players Of All Time. Rob Mahoney. Stats: 17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG in 12 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1982-83 to 1993-94). He also was one of the most complete players ever, capable of playing several different positions as well as being an outstanding two-way player. Stats: 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG in 21 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1998-99 to 2018-19). Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1967-68 Rookie of the Year, 1973 NBA champion. On March 12, 1985, Larry Bird put on a shooting clinic for the ages, scoring a Celtics-record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Andrew D Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images. Stats: 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 APG in 16 season with San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968-69 to 1971-72; 1981-82 to 1983-84) and Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972-73 to 1980-81) . While the Knicks never won a title during his career, they won a lot of games because Ewing delivered game after game and season after season for a rabid fan base that appreciated how the Georgetown great brought the storied franchise back to life in the 1980s and 90s. Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1999-2000 MVP, 1992-93 Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star MVP, three-time Finals MVP, two-time scoring champ, four-time NBA champion. 76 all the way to No. His famous finger rolls, a phenomenal blend of flair and function, were so memorable that Nike made them into a marketing line long after Gervin hung up his high-tops. The 30 Best NBA Players of All Time, Ranked By Adam Caparell, Zion Olojede, Angel Diaz, Zach Frydenlund Jun 17, 2022 Image via Complex Original The toughest debates may not be the obvious ones.. He earned respect from his peers by how hard he played and how tough it was to go against him. The Jazz's arena sits at the intersection of Stockton and Malone, honoring the duo that's practically synonymous with the pick-and-roll. He won Rookie of the Year after Boston made him the No. -- MacMahon, 1990-2003 Seattle SuperSonics; 2003 Milwaukee Bucks; 2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers; 2004-05 Boston Celtics; 2005-07 Miami Heat, Remembered as one of the NBA's greatest defenders in the backcourt, "the Glove" teamed up with Shawn Kemp to lead the brash, young Sonics to five consecutive seasons of 55+ wins. NBA. Stats: 22.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.9 APG in 11 NBA seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1976-77 to 1986-87); also played five ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1971-72 to 1972-73) and New York Nets (1973-74 to 1975-76). On the court, his play was relentless. 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. Fantasy. Boxing. His skyhook was an unstoppable weapon, becoming one of the most iconic shots the game has ever seen. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, 1986-87 All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, two-time Sixth Man of the Year, three-time NBA champion. ESPN's NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, taking into consideration both total career value and peak performance. 1. Note: Players' accomplishments in the NBL, the ABA, college or international basketball were not considered during the voting process. McHale's ability to play through pain and injury made him one of the most beloved Celtics players of all time. 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