The debate regarding who truly is the greatest basketball player of all time is a topic that has always been on the lips of NBA fans. It remains one of the fiercest arguments in all of sport, with a handful of superstars holding equally valid claims to the crown.
To finally settle the debate, the fan-voting platform Ranker put the ultimate question to the public, and the top 20 has been revealed.
20 greatest NBA players of all time ranked by fans (20-11)
Position
20.
19.
18.
17.
16.
15.
14.
13.
12.
11.
10 Bill Russell
Bill Russell
There might not be a more prolific winner in the history of North American sports than Bill Russell. Anchoring the legendary Boston Celtics dynasty, Russell collected an unfathomable 11 NBA Championships in just 13 seasons, including eight consecutive titles between 1959 and 1966.
His list of achievements is also staggering: five regular-season MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections. Russell also made history in 1966 when he became the first black head coach in major US professional sports. His defensive genius and unparalleled leadership make him a worthy top-10 lock.
9 Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
When Wilt Chamberlain joined the NBA, he was a statistical anomaly that forced the NBA to literally change its rulebook. The 7-foot-1 Philadelphia native holds over 70 NBA records, the most famous being his 100-point game in 1962.
The 20 greatest NBA players of all time have been named & ranked by AI - in order Related
AI Names and Ranks 20 Greatest NBA Players of All Time
Michael Jordan or LeBron James? Well, AI has seemingly settled the debate once and for all.
Chamberlain captured two NBA titles, one with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972, while picking up four MVP awards along the way. Even with modern debates about the era he played in, the sheer magnitude of Chamberlain's physical and statistical dominance remains undeniable.
8 Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal-1
You would struggle to find a more physically imposing and terrifying force in NBA history than Shaq. O’Neal bulldozed his way to four championship rings, famously teaming up with Kobe Bryant to create one of the most iconic partnerships in NBA history as the Lakers three-peated the championship in the early 2000s.
A three-time Finals MVP and member of the 1996 Olympic "Dream Team", Shaq was virtually unguardable on his day. In a testament to his lasting impact, three different franchises – the Orlando Magic, LA Lakers, and Miami Heat – have all retired his jersey.
7 Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan Spurs
Nicknamed "The Big Fundamental", Duncan spent his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs, quietly transforming them into a dynasty.
Duncan walked away from the sport with five championship rings, three Finals MVPs, and two regular-season MVP awards. Widely considered the greatest power forward to ever pick up a basketball, he remains the only player in NBA history to be selected in both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons.
6 Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
The Los Angeles icon, Kobe Bryant, cemented himself as a global phenomenon during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Picking up five NBA championships and delivering a legendary 81-point game in 2006, Bryant’s lethal scoring ability and obsessive drive to win made him one of the most feared competitors in sport history. The 18-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medallist tragically passed away in 2020, but his cultural impact and legacy as an all-time great are forever remembered by those connected to the game.
5 Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
Before the high-flying heroics of the modern era, there was Magic. Standing at a towering 6-foot-9, Magic Johnson revolutionised the point guard position, orchestrating the famous "Showtime Lakers” of the 1980s with a dazzling array of no-look passes and fast-break offence.
Steph Curry Named His Top 5 NBA Players of All-Time - No Kobe Bryant Related
Steph Curry Named His Top 5 NBA Players of All Time - Snubbed Kobe Bryant
The greatest shooter in NBA history has had his say on the GOAT debate.
Spending his entire career in purple and gold, Johnson secured five NBA championships, three MVP awards, and three Finals MVPs. He is universally recognised as one of the greatest floor generals to ever step onto the court.
4 Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Bird was the ultimate all-around forward and one of the deadliest shooters the league has ever witnessed. Long before the three-point revolution, "Larry Legend" was stretching defences and single-handedly redefining the small forward position.
The undisputed star of the iconic 1980s Boston Celtics squad, Bird captured three NBA championships in the 1980s and managed the incredibly rare feat of winning three consecutive regular-season MVP awards. A legendary trash-talker with the skills to back it up, Bird’s iconic rivalry with Magic Johnson revitalised the NBA and laid the groundwork for its modern success.
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Lakers
Across an astonishing 20-year career split between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kareem secured six NBA championships, 19 All-Star nods, and a record-setting six regular-season MVP awards.
Armed with the unblockable "skyhook" shot, Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA’s all-time scoring record for nearly four decades with 38,387 points.
2 LeBron James
LeBron James Lakers
LeBron James is the defining player of the 21st century. Having shattered the seemingly unbreakable all-time scoring record, recently surging past an astronomical 43,000 regular-season points, LeBron’s longevity and sustained peak are completely unprecedented in basketball history.
Boasting four NBA championships with three different franchises, LeBron’s historic 2016 Finals comeback against the Golden State Warriors remains his crowning achievement. Now into his 40s and remarkably still producing at an elite level, his all-around prowess on the court keeps him consistently in the GOAT conversation.
1 Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan with the MVP award
It comes as no surprise that the fans have crowned "His Airness" with the number one spot. With a flawless 6-0 record in the NBA Finals and six Finals MVPs with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan dominated basketball, but also transcended sport entirely.
Holding the highest regular-season scoring average in NBA history (30.1 points per game), Jordan was breathtakingly athletic. He defined the culture of 1990s basketball and became a global billionaire icon off the court through his legendary Air Jordan partnership with Nike. For the fans, MJ remains the undisputed greatest of all time.