Since we are without live sports and we are reduced to watching old games in each of our favorite sports these days, we have seen a lot of lists, trying to generate some conversations.
We recently wrote a piece about the way players seem to be evaluated in basketball these days, and whether or not you regarded that as “old man ranting” or not, we think many of the ways used by younger fans isn’t correct.
All that said, we decided to put together our list of the best ten players in NBA history.
1. Michael Jordan. For much of our life, we regarding Wilt Chamberlain as the best ever, but watching Jordan win six titles in eight years won us over. We know this isn’t a popular opinion, but Scottie Pippen was a very good player, but he isn’t a Top 50 All Time player without being on the same team as Jordan.
Remember, in the second season Jordan was away playing baseball, the Bulls were slightly over .500. They won three more titles when MJ returned.
2. LeBron James. First, it is not a disgrace to be the second best player of all time, and we can understand people thinking getting to nine NBA Finals is a greater feat than winning six championships.
James is probably the greatest athlete to play in the league, and he certainly has dragged his share of poor supporting casts to The Finals (2007, 2018). And remember, he may wind up as the all time scoring leader, and still is regarded as a playmaker, first and foremost.
3. Wilt Chamberlain. The most dominant force ever. Averaged 50 points per game in a season, 44 per night in another, and over 35 a game in three more. And led the league in assists in 1967-68.
As for comments that he played against plumbers? Take a look at the careers of players like Walt Bellamy and Nate Thurmond. And he more than held his own when he was in his mid-30’s vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The all time leading scorer and played effectively in the league into his 40’s. His sky hook might have been the most unstoppable weapon in league history. However, didn’t average over 10 rebounds per game after the ’80-’81 season.
5. Bill Russell. Greatest winner in NBA history winning 11 titles in 13 seasons. But, let’s not forget he had a lot of great teammates: Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, Tom Heinsohn, John Havlicek. He changed the game though, by showing defense and shot blocking can be as important as scoring.
6. Oscar Robertson. The “Big O” had five seasons in his career where he scored 30 points and dished out 10 assists per game. And at age 35, still scored 14 points a game and dished out 9 assists for a Milwaukee team (with Abdul-Jabbar) that lost in the NBA Finals.
Of course, had the first “triple double” season his second year in the league.
7. Larry Bird and 8. Magic Johnson. We put these two together because they ushered in an era where it was cool to pass again. We put Bird slightly ahead because he was the better scorer (four seasons over 25 per game).
Johnson was the first big guy (6’9″) to play the point, and he controlled the game for the Showtime Lakers. Bird averaged 10 boards and 6 assists, Johnson 11 assists and 7 boards. And they were the greatest rivalry in the NBA over a half dozen years.
9. Tim Duncan. The greatest power forward ever, and the best player on four of the Spurs’ five championship teams. Averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds a game in the playoffs at age 37 for championship #5. Did it in just under 33 minutes per game.
10. Jerry West. The guy is the freakin’ logo for the NBA. Four seasons of over 30 points per game, three seasons over 8 helpers. At 33-years-old, led the Lakers to a 69-13 record (then the best ever), scoring 25.8 points and passing out 9.7 assists.
The next ten in no particular order would include Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Bob Pettit, Kevin Garnett, and Julius Erving, Karl Malone, and Rick Barry.
Being an experienced NBA fan, we’ve seen all of these players in action. It has been a great league for a long time, not just the last 20 years.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 
I agree with this list of top players.