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NBA top 25

All-time ranking. Each card shows where consensus puts the player and where I put them — green ▲ means I have them higher than the broader internet does, red ▼ means lower. Scroll through; bring receipts to disagree.

Consensus baseline: B/R's Top 100 NBA Players of All Time, Ranked

How this list gets built →

  1. LeBron James

    2000s–2020s +1 vs consensus

    Cleveland Cavaliers · Miami Heat · Los Angeles Lakers

    • 4× NBA Champion
    • 4× Finals MVP
    • 4× MVP
    • All-time scoring leader
    • 20× All-Star

    Greatest career of all time. Wherever he went, he won. Greatest floor raiser, no question.

  2. Michael Jordan

    1980s–1990s -1 vs consensus

    Chicago Bulls · Washington Wizards

    • 6× NBA Champion
    • 6× Finals MVP
    • 5× MVP
    • 10× scoring champion
    • 14× All-Star

    Combined freak athleticism with efficient scoring — we all know why he's undoubtedly top 2. Having arguably the GOAT coach, sidekick, and running a truly game-changing system in the triangle made life a lot easier for him than, say, LeBron had.

  3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

    1970s–1980s Matches consensus

    Milwaukee Bucks · Los Angeles Lakers

    • 6× NBA Champion
    • 2× Finals MVP
    • 6× MVP
    • 19× All-Star

    Only career to rival LeBron's — he was the best in HS, college, and the NBA, plus longevity.

  4. Shaquille O'Neal

    1990s–2000s +2 vs consensus

    Orlando Magic · Los Angeles Lakers · Miami Heat

    • 4× NBA Champion
    • 3× Finals MVP
    • 1× MVP
    • 15× All-Star

    Maybe the most dominant peak of all time. The main reason (along with LeBron) that Kobe and Duncan were rarely ever considered the best player in the league in any given year.

  5. Tim Duncan

    2000s–2010s +2 vs consensus

    San Antonio Spurs

    • 5× NBA Champion
    • 3× Finals MVP
    • 2× MVP
    • 15× All-Star

    Elite longevity, ultimate team player, with an underrated peak.

  6. Kobe Bryant

    2000s–2010s +5 vs consensus

    Los Angeles Lakers

    • 5× NBA Champion
    • 2× Finals MVP
    • 1× MVP
    • 18× All-Star
    • 81-point game

    Just behind Duncan and Shaq. Slightly dragged down due to efficiency and being Robin to Shaq's Batman.

  7. Larry Bird

    1980s +1 vs consensus

    Boston Celtics

    • 3× NBA Champion
    • 2× Finals MVP
    • 3× MVP
    • 12× All-Star

    Gets the edge over Magic thanks to lesser teams. Better defender and a shooter ahead of his time.

  8. Magic Johnson

    1980s -4 vs consensus

    Los Angeles Lakers

    • 5× NBA Champion
    • 3× Finals MVP
    • 3× MVP
    • 12× All-Star

    Bird gets the edge — he didn't have Kareem and Worthy. But arguably the best passer of all time and a true Swiss army knife.

  9. Bill Russell

    1950s–1960s -4 vs consensus

    Boston Celtics

    • 11× NBA Champion
    • 5× MVP
    • 12× All-Star
    • Greatest winner in team-sport history

    11 rings — we all know it. Can't go higher since the league had 8 teams.

  10. Stephen Curry

    2010s–2020s Matches consensus

    Golden State Warriors

    • 4× NBA Champion
    • 1× Finals MVP
    • 2× MVP (one unanimous)
    • All-time 3-point leader

    Greatest shooter of all time. An all-time ceiling raiser — if doing a 1-on-1 draft for an all-time team, he's my top pick.

  11. Hakeem Olajuwon

    1980s–1990s +1 vs consensus

    Houston Rockets · Toronto Raptors

    • 2× NBA Champion
    • 2× Finals MVP
    • 1× MVP
    • 12× All-Star

    TODO_USER

  12. Wilt Chamberlain

    1960s–1970s -3 vs consensus

    Philadelphia / SF Warriors · Philadelphia 76ers · Los Angeles Lakers

    • 2× NBA Champion
    • 4× MVP
    • 100-point game
    • 13× All-Star

    TODO_USER

  13. Kevin Durant

    2010s–2020s Matches consensus

    OKC / Seattle · Golden State Warriors · Brooklyn Nets · Phoenix Suns

    • 2× NBA Champion
    • 2× Finals MVP
    • 1× MVP
    • 4× scoring champion

    TODO_USER

  14. Nikola Jokić

    2010s–2020s +3 vs consensus

    Denver Nuggets

    • 1× NBA Champion
    • 1× Finals MVP
    • 3× MVP

    TODO_USER

  15. Moses Malone

    1970s–1980s +6 vs consensus

    Houston Rockets · Philadelphia 76ers · Washington Bullets

    • 1× NBA Champion
    • 1× Finals MVP
    • 3× MVP
    • 'Fo, Fo, Fo'

    TODO_USER

  16. Giannis Antetokounmpo

    2010s–2020s +8 vs consensus

    Milwaukee Bucks

    • 1× NBA Champion
    • 1× Finals MVP
    • 2× MVP
    • 1× DPOY

    TODO_USER

  17. Dirk Nowitzki

    2000s–2010s +1 vs consensus

    Dallas Mavericks

    • 1× NBA Champion
    • 1× Finals MVP
    • 1× MVP
    • Stretch-four blueprint

    TODO_USER

  18. Kevin Garnett

    1990s–2010s -2 vs consensus

    Minnesota Timberwolves · Boston Celtics · Brooklyn Nets

    • 1× NBA Champion
    • 1× MVP
    • 1× DPOY
    • 15× All-Star

    TODO_USER

  19. Scottie Pippen

    1980s–2000s +9 vs consensus

    Chicago Bulls · Portland Trail Blazers · Houston Rockets

    • 6× NBA Champion
    • 7× All-Star
    • 10× All-Defensive

    TODO_USER

  20. Kawhi Leonard

    2010s–2020s +12 vs consensus

    San Antonio Spurs · Toronto Raptors · Los Angeles Clippers

    • 2× NBA Champion
    • 2× Finals MVP
    • 2× DPOY

    TODO_USER

  21. Chris Paul

    2000s–2020s +9 vs consensus

    New Orleans Hornets · Los Angeles Clippers · Houston Rockets · OKC Thunder · Phoenix Suns

    • 12× All-Star
    • 5× assists leader
    • 6× steals leader

    TODO_USER

  22. Charles Barkley

    1980s–1990s +3 vs consensus

    Philadelphia 76ers · Phoenix Suns · Houston Rockets

    • 1× MVP
    • 11× All-Star
    • Greatest 6'4" rebounder ever

    TODO_USER

  23. Oscar Robertson

    1960s–1970s -9 vs consensus

    Cincinnati Royals · Milwaukee Bucks

    • 1× NBA Champion
    • 1× MVP
    • First averaged triple-double season

    TODO_USER

  24. Jerry West

    1960s–1970s -9 vs consensus

    Los Angeles Lakers

    • 1× NBA Champion
    • 1× Finals MVP (in a losing effort)
    • 14× All-Star
    • The literal logo

    TODO_USER

  25. Dwyane Wade

    2000s–2010s -2 vs consensus

    Miami Heat · Chicago Bulls · Cleveland Cavaliers

    • 3× NBA Champion
    • 1× Finals MVP
    • 13× All-Star

    TODO_USER