Just about being on the list of all time leaders in these categories. Jordan may be the GOAT, and the league most definitely altered some of its laws in his wake,but MJnever altered the rule book the way Chamberlain did. The 3-point line is in the same spot today as it was when Bird was playing. He played all five positions in the game and led the Lakers to their first title in nearly a decade. Youre not supposed to win NBA Finals MVP awards 14 years apart, but Abdul-Jabbar did. That's really not an accurate statement at all. In my book, thats the single greatest achievement in NBA history and will be hard to top. Magic Johnson is a two-time Basketball Hall of Fame inductee for his individual career in 2002 and as a Dream Team member in 2010. All-NBA. Knock us all you want, but well rest easy knowing Antetokounmpo belongs here as a newly minted NBA immortal. Barkley couldnt be stopped offensively either, beating out Jordan for the 93 MVP and taking his new team the Suns to the Finals where he lost to Jordans Bulls in six. It also seemed funny how each player's personality seems to have an impact on their category - like Duncan, Nash, and Johnson, 3 of the most widely-considered "nice" guys in the NBA to be assist leaders. The most avid NBA fans among you should take my. O'Neal became an All-Star 15 times and earned the 1999-2000 MVP . Welcome to the sequel of the popular hit game The Best Quiz! For Jordans individual career, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 and a Dream Team member in 2010. He was a two-time NBA MVP, appeared in 14 All-Star games,made firstteam All-NBA an insane 11 times, and is a member of the 75th anniversary team. Blocks and steals werent tallied back then, but there are researchers that claim Russell averaged anywhere between 8-12 blocks per game. But Robertsonbroke the mold almost 20 years before Magic Johnson made his debut. You think Kawhi Leonard doesnt talk much, Popovich said. For you guys, know theres still never been a player quite like him. Take Kobe's 2006 lakers team with Kwame Brown starting and replace Kobe with Duncan, I think not only would that team fail to make the playoffs but would be a top 7 worst team in the league. Hesone of the best big men ever. He also won league MVP for 3 consecutive years, which only Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlian have managed to achieve. Did you really watch Kobe Bryantmember of the NBAs 75thanniversary teamfor 20 years and say to yourself, Well hes not that efficient so I dont think hes great as hes portrayed? In 2000, Shaq became the third player to claim league MVP, finals MVP, and all-star MVP in the same season. Shouldnt that tell you something? Bird wasn't an on-the-ball defender, nor was he a shot blocker. Like Kareems skyhook, Bills knack for keeping balls in play after a block is a lost art as players would rather swat it into the stands and flex on their opponent instead of making the right play. Bird didn't play enough to amass the numbers these guys did, but he outpaced just about everyone in the games he actually played. Even despite losing in the second round to the Boston Celtics this season, Giannis became the first NBA player in history, Few guys in the league have everaffected the game in all facets like Antetokounmpo does, even if that 3-point shot forever remains a work in progress. Per game, he posted an incredible 24.8/10/6.3 stat line with 1.7 steals to boot. I can only imagine how that shit looked back in those days. A Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2001, Julius Erving introduced his former teammate before Malones enshrinement speech and Dr. J joked with the audience that evening, Just think about the sound of that name. Zeke not being on the Dream Team is the biggest snub ever, no exaggeration, but he rightfully earned a spot on the NBA75 team. Compared to most of the guys on this list, though, Curry was a slow starter. The list is endless, controversial, and versatile, including historical players like Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant. Mike has more rings but that's because the NBA is so much more competitive then it was 25 years ago. Jordan is the name that comes to mind when basketball comes. Dominant. AD, HakeemThe Dream Olajuwons inclusion in this part of the list needs noexplanation. The most avid NBA fans among you should take my. Also see Top 100 Baseball Players Quiz by Quizmaster Rate: Featured Quiz Last updated: December 14, 2021 You have not attempted this quiz yet. What is wrong for me is that there is Blake Griffin for example who didn't achieve that much and I think it is bit early to shove him in there. I hated Larry Bird as much as any self-respecting Lakers fan, but the idea that he was somehow overrated is nuts. AC, The. While the Diesel collapsed defenses, Steph expands them, taking the 3-point philosophy of Mike DAntoni and turning it up a couple notches. He is one of the most admired players in the NBA due to his smartness, competitiveness, and ability to perform anything on the floor. Sadly, on October 12, 1999, basketball legend died at 63 due to congestive heart failure. As a 2.05 m guard, he is ranked third all-time triple-double with 138. Ginobili took a bunch of Argentinian scrubs and beat the Dream Team. It is now current. One of the greatest What Ifs in NBA history revolves around Birds back that he infamously injured while paving his mothers driveway during the summer of 1985. That is the best 100 NBA performances quiz. interesting that 75 total spots (top 15 in each category) are comprised of only 50 different players. A guy this young isnt supposed to have so many accolades on his, , especially after he entered the league as such a project. We have included the top stars in the NBA today including Lebron James, Steph Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook, and more. Probably agreed with half of it, but was so respectful he wouldnt say anything until later. After hashing things out, Pop often let Duncan have his way. John Stockton is the NBAs leader in assists and steals; hes a 10-time All-Star, made 11 All-NBA teams, was a five-time All-Defensive squad, and obviously earned inclusion on the NBAs 75thanniversary squad, meaning his rsum runs longer than his (questionable) 61 frame. Jordan never took a game off, he was a maniac for better or worse. We can talk about the way Kobe impacted the game and the culture of basketball but that shouldnt even be a measurement. Bird filled up a box score but he was never strictly a numbers guyhe was just a winner who made ridiculous passes, had a knack for seeing everything unfold seconds before anyone else on the court, and always made the key play that either sealed the deal or keyed a game-defining run. More quiz info >> Start Quiz Comments (119) hahaha. After missing out on his first season, he again claimed the NBA ring and Finals MVP the following season. Besides, Magic has been league MVP 3 times, named to 12 NBA All-Star, and 9 times All NBA First Team honor. I know it's not your decision Quizmaster but just my opinion, When you get Lanier, Cunningham, and Arizin, but forget Harden. He averaged24.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.7 BPG. Besides his playing style, Bird dominated opposition players with his confidence and swagger. https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1323874/every-nba-player-who-has-received-mvp-votes, Contact Us | View Desktop Site. Larry Bird Retired From NBA In 1992 (Source: NBA.com). In his 13 years, Bird led Celtics to 3 NBA titles. Most. larry bird should be 1st all the way boston celtics the best all the way you already know but RIP BILL RUSSEL AND KOBE BRYANT. Duncan led them to 5 NBA titles and 1,001 wins in the regular season, most by the player with one single team in NBA. We could go through all the stats and the awards to prove why James should be where he is on this list, but theres really no need. If anything, this quiz shows how overrated Larry Bird was. He helped the Sixers make the Finals during his first season in the modern NBA, but lost to Bill Waltons Blazers in six games. More quiz info >> Start Quiz Comments (13) Maybe, just maybe LeBron James surpasses him in another four or five seasons, but its going take a herculean effort on The Kings part to supplant the greatest center ever whose longevity is practically unrivaled. 21 on our list. NBA MVP. Threw in Bol for a laugh as time was running out for an undeserved point. Needs to be updated, Paul Pierce is retiring this year. After that, he won his first NBA championship and finals MVP. Hope they make a new list. Feels like he's been around since the 70s. Likewise, in the same season, on March 2, 1962, Chamberlian scored 100 points against New York Knicks highest-ever scored by any NBA player in a single game. The GOAT, no question. Chuck played bigger than he was and was way more athletic than he was perceived. Guys. Best NBA Players of All Time: Top 30 Basketball Players, Ranked | Complex The 30 Best NBA Players of All Time, Ranked By Adam Caparell, Zion Olojede, Angel Diaz, Zach Frydenlund Jun 17,. He is probably the best player in the NBA, and his legacy backs the facts. Right now he is 11th All-Time in scoring. Haters will counter that Wilt played against a bunch of stiffs in the 60s and 70s when the idea that a 71 center could be the most athletic player on the court was reserved forcomic books. In 1967, Chamberlian won one of his two championships playing for the 76ers, and later, in 1972, playing for the Lakers. One more tiny nitpick: Chris Mullin retired in 2001. Sometimes I watch his reverse layup during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the 1980 Finals against the Lakers andtry to figure out how the hell he was able to stay in the air that long. MVP's or championships I will need to do some research. He played at the highest level on both sides of the floor and like Bill Russell before him knew exactly what he had to do to help his team win day in and day out. very debatable IMO. Vince Carter had a ton of nicknames: "Air Canada." "Half Man, Half Amazing.". AD, To me, Kevin Durant is the most skilled offensive player ever to play the game. When youre ranking the best shooting guards of all time, just make sure you have Wade after MJ and Kobe. But if you hold being a third or fourth option in the Spurs system against him, you also have to consider the other sidewhat if he got the keys to a team earlier than he did? You can call him a snake, a cupcake, or whatever, but you cant deny the numbers hes consistently producedit earned him a spot on the NBA 75 team. Late Kobe Bryant is dubbed the most outstanding Laker of all time playing 20 years of his career. Who's the best? I typed "Michael Jordan" and thought the quiz would be over. Unfortunately, Kobe being better than Tim Duncan is a very popular and flawed opinion, Alonzo Mourning retired in 2008, not 2004. And though Wade played for the Bulls and Cavs later in his career, hell always be rememberedas a member of theHeat. A no-brainer Naismith Hall of Famer inductee in 1977, the only thing missing from his sterling rsum was a championship. I'm happy with the 4 points that my limited knowledge of basketball, NBA Jam, common last names, and reading the comments was able to cobble together for me. A true GOAT. 3 during his career. Jack Sikma is Good but the NBA produced SO MANY talented BIg Man and Power Forwards so I think he shoudn't really be in top 100 maybe top 30 centers but not top 100 players. According to CNN, the auction house statement marks it as the most valuable Bryants memorabilia ever sold at an auction. i dont see curry thats how yuo know this list is cap, Not to be rude to all the Steph or Stephen Fans whatever Steph or Stephen is not really good hes only good because of the threes are making, please dont take this personally or to the Steph Curry fans. Like Magic Johnson before him, Garnett raised the bar as to what a man of his sizecould do on the court. Here's a greatest ever quiz without any opinion, based solely on career win-shares: http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/103225/top-50-nba-players, this quiz is an outrage how is LeBron so damn high he is a bum he is basically the smartest kid on the shortbus. I have a new quiz "NBA Top 10 League Leaders of the 2010s" for all NBA fans out there. There will never be another Shaq. Even with all those accomplishments people try to tear him down with advanced statistics like usage rate and efficiency. Everyone's got biases, and it makes sense for ESPN to be biased in favor of the modern day since actively promoting the people playing now is good business for them. After winning his first NBA championship, his journey toward being the greatest began. Probably, his unblockable shot made him score many points. !, This is a very Good Top 10 Great Job, your Top 5 is on point. Why didn't they just type "Malone?' Countries by First Two Letters in 90 Seconds. Of course he made the NBA 75 squad. From opening a school in his hometown to building his own media empire, LeBron has consistently done everything weve expected from him and then some. Jordans brilliance set a standard for future-generation players in the league. But one of the greatest guards ever made the All-Star team each of his 14 seasons in Los Angeles, made 12 All-NBA squads,was a five-time All-Defense selection, and a no-brainer to make the NBAs 75th anniversary team. I'm sorry, is this a 100 Greatest Players in Argentina list? Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lilliard do belong on this list. Splitting his time between the Bucks and Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar won three MVPs with each franchise and five of his six rings in Los Angeles. As for why ESPN placed so many active guys on the list, keep in mind that it's their nature to be biased in favor of the modern era. As he told us in arecent interview, you cant talk basketball without mentioning the king of Miami-Dade County. Were cool with what we came up with knowing the next time we update it Kevin Durant couldsneakinto the top 10. Next on our list of the best NBA players is Larry Bird, often considered the greatest Celtics player and small forward of all time. Career Stats: Points: 19.0 Rebounds: 10.8 Assists: 3.0. And hes not all style and flair either. He nailed a 21-foot shot late against the Oklahoma City Thunder by beating Kareem Abdul-Jabbars 39-year record of 38,387 points on February 8, 2023. Its still bewildering to watch old highlights and see how smooth Olajuwon, atrue dominant force on both sides of the ball, was able to move in the paint for a player his size. Bird and Magic revitalized the NBA and the rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers. Above all of that impact, Dirks numbers and accoladesback up his spot on this list. He averaged 30 or more seven times, including a preposterous 40.6 per over 11 games in 1965. Who else is going to average 50.4 PPG for a season like Wilt did in the 1961-62 season? Lets look at who takes the crown of the greatest. It all started in a YMCA in Springfield, MA for Americans privileged enough to join the club, but basketball games soon began popping up all over the country. By his father (and ESPN). So who do you think is the best? Defenses have to stay up on him full-court, which his handles and elusiveness make impossible to do. His dunking skills were insane, or rather "Vinesane . As active players like LeBron James and Kevin Durants careers are still left to end, and young talents like Giannis Antetokounmpoand Luka Doncic into the league, anybody can claim the crown from Jordan in the future. I am laughing at this comment five years later, and he only just retired last year. But now that hes earned his first championship, Antetokounmpos entered rarified air. And if you add in the all-time Top 50 in Steals-per-Game, 3 players appear in at least 3 of all 4 lists. ZF, The rare legend that bounced around the NBA during his days in the league, know that Malone playing for seven different franchises in the Association shouldnt distract from the fact he is easily one of the best centers of all time. Hes still in the top five in assists (he averaged 13.9 apg in 85) and still gets under MJs skin. No Jack Sikma. Bird has 2 final MVPs, was named to 12 NBA All-star, and 9 All-NBA First Team selections. Tim Duncan. But never forget what the GOAT, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, told us in the documentary: Everybody said I won all these championships, but I didnt win without Scottie Pippen and thats why I considered him my best teammate of all time. If ya dont know, now ya knowwwww.Pippens numbers will likely never wow you because he wasnt the scorer Jordan was. That impact, Dirks numbers and accoladesback up his spot on this.! 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