The NBA has witnessed extraordinary talent grace the hardwood. Prolific scorers, dominant defenders, and creative geniuses who have each left their mark. But to be considered one of the all-time greats, a player must transcend individual brilliance. They must make even fellow elite professionals look ordinary, rise to the occasion when the stakes are at their highest, and sustain that excellence across the span of their career.
These aren’t just athletes, they’re icons who reshaped the game, inspired generations, and left legacies that still loom large. From unbreakable records to unforgettable performances, these are the greatest players in NBA history, according to you, the fans.
20 greatest NBA players of all time voted by fans (20-11)
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Stats correct as of 06/06/25
10 Magic Johnson
NBA Championships: 5
Magic Johnson
At 6’9”, Magic Johnson redefined what a point guard could be. Over 13 seasons, he averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game, while shooting 52% from the field and 84.8% from the free-throw line. He led the Lakers to five NBA titles, earned three MVP awards, and claimed three Finals MVPs.
Off the court, his leadership and charisma turned “Showtime” into an enduring cultural phenomenon. Magic’s career isn’t just about statistics; it’s about transforming an era and inspiring a generation. His style, flair, and vision made fast-break basketball irresistible to watch and set a new standard for point guard play.
9 Hakeem Olajuwon
NBA Championships: 2
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon was elegance and dominance rolled into one. The Nigerian-born center was selected first overall in the legendary 1984 NBA Draft, ahead of the likes of Michael Jordan (#3), Charles Barkley (#5), and John Stockton (#16), and he more than lived up to that billing. Over an 18-year career, Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, but this wasn’t even his most impressive career statistic. His staggering 3.1 blocks per game still has him topping the league’s all-time blocked shots list with 3,830, over 500 more than the late Dikembe Mutombo in second place.
At the other end of the floor, his footwork in the post was unmatched, with the ‘Dream Shake’ leaving even the best defenders guessing. He led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995, earning Finals MVP both times, and remains the only player in league history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season (1994). A 12-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Olajuwon’s unique combination of finesse, power, and defensive excellence made him one of the most complete big men the sport has ever seen.
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8 Stephen Curry
NBA Championships: 4
Golden State Warriors' point guard Stephen Curry during Game 7 of the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Sacramento Kings.
Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Stephen Curry changed basketball through shooting alone. Averaging over 24 points per game in his career, he is the NBA’s all-time three-point leader. A four-time champion and two-time MVP, with one of those being the only unanimous MVP vote in NBA history.
Curry’s quick release and range forced opposing defences to stretch beyond convention. In the post-season, he’s put up 26.8 points per game on average, hitting over four threes per game during deep play-off runs. His influence is undeniable: defenders now guard at the arc, spacing has opened up, and even grassroots teams emphasise shooting. Curry didn’t just win titles, he changed the DNA of modern basketball forever.
7 Shaquille O’Neal
NBA Championships: 4
Shaquille O’Neal was a physical phenomenon the league had no answer for. Standing at 7’1” and weighing over 320lbs, Shaq moved with agility that defied his frame. Over 19 seasons, he averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting an incredible 58.2% from the field.
His peak years with the Los Angeles Lakers saw him dominate opponents at will, forming a legendary partnership with Kobe Bryant and winning three straight NBA titles from 2000 to 2002. He added a fourth ring with Miami in 2006. O’Neal was a 15-time All-Star, a league MVP in 2000, and a three-time Finals MVP. Despite his struggles at the free-throw line, few players in history were as unstoppable in the paint. Off the court, Shaq became one of the sport’s biggest personalities, but it was his sheer dominance on it that made him an all-time great.
6 Kobe Bryant
NBA Championships: 5
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant embodied work ethic, competitive fire, and a refusal to settle for anything less than greatness. Over his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he became a five-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, and one-time league MVP. He retired with averages of 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Perhaps his most iconic moment was an 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. Bryant also scored 60 points in his farewell game, a perfect sign-off from a career filled with clutch moments.
His relentless pursuit of excellence, known as the ‘Mamba Mentality’, inspired athletes across all sports. Kobe was an 18-time All-Star, a 12-time All-Defensive Team selection, and made the All-NBA First Team 11 times. He was more than just a scorer; he was a symbol of discipline, resilience, and greatness that will be missed by everyone that was inspired by him.
5 Tim Duncan
NBA Championships: 5
Kendrick Perkins and Tim Duncan battle for rebound
Nicknamed “The Big Fundamental,” Tim Duncan was never flashy, but his consistent excellence led the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA titles. Over 19 seasons, the 1997 #1 pick out of Wake Forest averaged 19 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. Duncan won back-to-back MVPs in 2002 and 2003 and was a three-time Finals MVP. He made 15 All-NBA Teams and 15 All-Defensive Teams, highlighting his impact at both ends of the floor.
A master of positioning, footwork, and timing, Duncan used quiet leadership and near-perfect fundamentals to control the paint without ever needing the spotlight. His play-off performances were legendary, particularly his 2003 run where he averaged 24.7 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. Understated yet unstoppable, Duncan turned consistency into superstardom, becoming one of the most successful players of all time, both statistically and in terms of championships.
4 Larry Bird
NBA Championships: 3
Larry Bird Team USA 1992
Larry Bird was as cold-blooded as he was brilliant. The Boston Celtics legend averaged 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game over 13 seasons, helping the franchise win three NBA titles in the 1980s. Bird claimed three straight league MVPs from 1984 to 1986, a feat achieved by only a select few in history.
His shooting touch, basketball IQ, and fierce competitiveness made him the heartbeat of one of the NBA’s most iconic dynasties. Bird shot nearly 50% from the field, 38% from three, and over 88% from the line, making him one of the most efficient scorers ever. Beyond numbers, it was his clutch play and intense rivalry with Magic Johnson that helped elevate the NBA to new heights. Bird didn’t just win games, he dictated them, often telling defenders exactly what he was going to do before doing it.
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
NBA Championships: 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee Bucks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA’s all-time scoring leader for 39 years for a reason. With 38,387 career points, his patented skyhook became one of the most unstoppable shots in basketball history. Across 20 seasons, Kareem averaged 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He won six league MVP awards, more than any other player, and added six championships to his name, including five with the Lakers during the Showtime era.
A 19-time All-Star and 15-time All-NBA selection, Kareem was as effective defensively as he was offensively, averaging 2.6 blocks per game across his career. His longevity, discipline, and ability to dominate across decades made him not just a generational player but a timeless one. Few athletes in any sport have been as consistently elite for as long as Kareem ‘The Dream’.
2 LeBron James
NBA Championships: 4
LeBron James is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, a player whose combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ is almost mythical. Since entering the league in 2003 straight out of high school, he’s averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game across a career that continues to defy age. A four-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP, LeBron has appeared in 10 NBA Finals and is the all-time leading scorer in both regular season and play-off history. He’s a 20-time All-Star, a 13-time All-NBA First Team selection, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
But beyond the accolades, it’s his adaptability that stands out. He’s dominated at every position, evolved with the game, and raised the level of every team he’s joined. LeBron is the blueprint for the modern basketball player; versatile, powerful, and relentlessly driven.
1 Michael Jordan
NBA Championships: 6
Michael Jordan isn’t just the greatest basketball player of all time; he’s the benchmark for greatness in all of sport. Over 15 NBA seasons, Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, the highest career scoring average in league history. His resume is almost mythical; six NBA championships, six Finals MVPs, five league MVPs, 10 scoring titles, 14 All-Star appearances, and nine All-Defensive First Team selections.
What truly set Jordan apart was his ruthless drive to win. He went 6-0 in NBA Finals, never needing a Game 7, and delivered iconic moments time and time again, from ‘The Shot’ over Craig Ehlo, to the flu game in Utah, to his final jumper with the Bulls in 1998. Beyond his individual accolades, Jordan transformed the Chicago Bulls into a global powerhouse and elevated the NBA to international prominence.
But it wasn’t just his on-court brilliance. Jordan became a global cultural icon, his partnership with Nike redefined sports marketing, his competitive fire became the stuff of legend, and his influence remains unmatched across generations. From basketball fans to aspiring athletes around the world, MJ didn’t just inspire, he redefined what was possible.
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