The 77 Best Basketball Players of All Time

Looking for a list of the best basketball players of all time? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the 77 greatest players to ever play the game

The 77 best basketball players of all time: an introduction

Basketball is a sport with a rich history and a bright future The best basketball players of all time have thrilled fans with their incredible skills and athleticism, and they continue to inspire new generations of players.

The 77 best basketball players of all time represent the very best that the sport has to offer. They are the legends who have shaped the game and defined what it means to be a great basketball player

These are the 77 best Basketball Players of all time.

The 77 best basketball players of all time: the top 10

The game of basketball has been around for over a century, and in that time, there have been some truly Great players who have graced the hardwood. In this article, we’ll be counting down the 77 best basketball players of all time, starting with the top 10.

10. Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson was one of the most gifted and versatile players the game has ever seen. He was a 6’5″ guard who could do it all, and is one of only two players in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. In his career, Robertson won an NBA Championship an NBA Finals MVP Award and was a 12-time All-Star.

9. Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain is one of the most dominant players in NBA history He was a 7’1″ center who was an unstoppable force on both ends of the floor. In his 14-year career, Chamberlain won two NBA championships four MVP Awards and was a 13-time All-Star. He also holds numerous NBA records including most points in a single game (100) and most rebounds in a single game (55).

8. Bill Russell

Bill Russell is widely considered to be the greatest Defensive Player in NBA history He was a 6’9″ center who led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA Championships in his 13-year career. Russell was also a five-time MVP and a 12-time All-Star. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.

The 77 best basketball players of all time: the next 10

This is the third and final installment in our series on the 77 best basketball players of all time. We started with a list of the 20 greatest point guards followed by the 20 greatest Shooting Guards Now we move on to the next 10 players, all of whom played either small forward or Power Forward

To be eligible, a player must have played at least 10 seasons in the NBA (or its equivalent, the ABA). He must also be retired from playing for at least three years. We’re defining “best” as a combination of peak performance and longevity.

10. Scottie Pippen (1987-2004)

A 6’8″ versatile wing who could play and defend multiple positions, Pippen was the perfect complement to Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls dynasty teams of the 1990s. He was a seven-time All-Star, a ten-time All-NBA selection, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Pippen is widely considered one of the best Defensive Players in NBA history

9. Karl Malone (1985-2004)

Malone was one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history averaging more than 25 points per game over his 19 seasons in the league. A two-time MVP and 14-time All-Star, Malone was named to the All-NBA First Team 11 times. He won two Olympic gold medals as part of Team USA in 1992 and 1996. Malone fell just short of winning an NBA Championship losing to Jordan’s Bulls in the Finals twice.

8. Wilt Chamberlain (1959-1973)

Chamberlain was a physical marvel who dominated opposing centers with his size, strength, and athleticism. He holds numerous NBA records including most points in a game (100) and most rebounds in a season (2722). Chamberlain won four NBA titles and was named MVP four times. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in Basketball History

The 77 best basketball players of all time: the next 10

As we come to the end of our list of the 77 best basketball players of all time, we present the next 10, featuring some all-time legends as well as a few active stars who are sure to make their mark on the game in the years to come.

10. Shaquille O’Neal
9. Wilt Chamberlain
8. LeBron James
7. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
6. Magic Johnson
5. Bill Russell
4. Michael Jordan
3. Kobe Bryant
2. Larry Bird
1. Tim Duncan

The 77 best basketball players of all time: the next 10

This is the second installment of our series on the 77 best basketball players of all time. In this installment, we’ll be counting down from #67 to #56.

To be clear, these rankings are based on a player’s overall career, not just their performance in a single season or playoffs. We’re also looking at a player’s individual stats, as well as their impact on the game and their team’s success.

With that said, let’s get started.

#67: Alonzo Mourning
Mourning was one of the best defensive players of his generation, averaging 2.8 blocks per game over his career. He was also a very good rebounder and scorer, averaging over 20 points per game in eight different seasons. Mourning played most of his career with the Miami Heat winning an NBA Championship with them in 2006.

#66: Jerry Lucas
Lucas was one of the most talented offensive players of his era, averaging over 17 points per game throughout his career. He was an excellent rebounder as well, grabbing over 10 rebounds per game in five different seasons. Lucas won an NBA championship with the New York Knicks in 1973.

#65:alex English
English was one of the best scorers in NBA history averaging over 21 points per game throughout his 16-year career. He was named to eight All-Star teams and won an NBA Finals with the Denver Nuggets in 1985.

#64: Bob Lanier
Lanier was one of the best big men of his era, averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game throughout his 14-year career. He was named to eight All-Star teams and won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971.

The 77 best basketball players of all time: the next 10

10. Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson is often considered the best player of the 1960s and one of the greatest players of all time. He was a 12-time All-Star and a nine-time member of the All-NBA first team. He was also the league MVP in 1964 and a two-Ime Nba champion.

9. Jerry West
Jerry West is one of the few players on this list who is also widely considered to be one of the best players ever to play in the NBA Finals He was a 14-time All-Star and a 12-time member of the All-NBA first team. He was also the league MVP in 1969 and a one-time NBA Champion

8. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is one of the most dominant players in NBA history He was a 14-time All-Star and a 10-time member of the All-NBA first team. He was also the league MVP four times and a two-time NBA champion

7. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is one of the most popular players in NBA history He was a 12-time All-Star and a nine-time member of the All-NBA first team. He was also the league MVP three times and a five-time NBA champion

6. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant big men in NBA History He was a 15

The 77 best Basketball Players of all time: the next 10

We’re counting down the 77 best players in NBA history To make our list, we consulted with dozens of experts, including former players, coaches and long-time fans. We also took into account each player’s statistical achievements, their impact on the game and their cultural significance.

In our last installment, we revealed the next 10 players on our list, including some all-time greats like Larry Bird and Julius Erving Here are the 10 best players from No. 67 to No. 56:

67. Michael Finley

Finley was one of the best shooters of his generation, a versatile wing who could score in bunches and was not afraid of the big moment. He was a key member of some very good Dallas Mavericks teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s, teaming up with Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash to form a potent offensive trio.

68. Sam Perkins

A 6’9” center who could shoot from anywhere on the court, Perkins was ahead of his time as a floor-spacing big man. He was a key cog on some very good Lakers teams in the 1980s, winning three championships alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

69. Jerry Lucas

Lucas was one of the most decorated college players of all time, winning two National Championships at Ohio State and being named the National Player of the Year in 1961. He went on to have a very successful NBA career, making seven All-Star teams and winning an MVP award in 1964. Lucas is also considered one of the greatest rebounders in history — he still holds the record for highest career rebounding average (19.2) for players 6’9” or taller.

70. Guy Rodgers

Rodgers was one of the quickest point guards in NBA history — he once said that he “could start and stop on a dime better than anyone [he] knew.” He was also an excellent playmaker, leading the league in assists four times during his career (including a then-record 908 assists in 1961-62). Rodgers was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

The 77 best basketball players of all time: the next 10

The next ten players on our list are:

11. Dwayne Wade
12. Magic Johnson
13. Tim Duncan
14. Jerry West
15. Oscar Robertson
16. Shaquille O’Neal
17. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
18. Wilt Chamberlain
19. LeBron James
20. Bill Russell

The 77 best Basketball players of all time: the next 10

In this final installment of our list of the 77 best basketball players of all time, we present the next ten men who round out this collection of Hall-of-Famers, All-Stars, and MVPs. From Fachusetts to Texas, these legends of the hardwood dominated the competition and thrilled fans for generations.

11) Bill Sharman, Boston Celtics
12) Willis Reed, New York Knicks
13) Oscar Robertson Cincinnati Royals
14) Jerry West Los Angeles Lakers
15) Phil Jackson New York Knicks
16) Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
17) Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs
18) Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers
19) Larry Bird Boston Celtics
20) Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia Warriors

The 77 best basketball players of all time: the final 7

We’ve reached the final seven in our countdown of the 77 best basketball players of all time.

To make it to this point, each of these legends has had to overcome significant odds. They’ve battled through injuries, endured political tumult, and persevered through heartbreak. They are, quite simply, the best of the best.

So who rounds out our list? Let’s find out.