Factors considered who I think the greatest players are:
Longevity, consistency, and how they rank next to their contemporaries, i.e where they ever considered the best in the game at any point in their career?
10. Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs 1998-present)
Not flashy, not fancy, the only thing the Big Fundamental knows how to do is win. With his great post-up offensive abilities and his dominating defense, Duncan has led the Spurs to four NBA championships.
9. Bill Russell (Boston Celtics 1957-69)
The biggest winner in NBA history, Russell led the Celtics to eleven NBA titles in his thirteen year career. While not a scorer (he didn't need to be with the talent surrounding him), Russell is arguably the greatest defender and rebounder in NBA history.
8. Larry Bird (Boston Celtics 1979-92)
Known for his uncanny ability to know what was happening on the court at all times, the all-purpose forward from Indiana State was a sharpshooter and a guy who played big in the big games. Red Auerbach, former Celtics coach, calls Larry Bird the greatest NBA player ever.
7. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers 1996-present)
Only one of two players in NBA history to score more than eighty points in a game and only Michael Jordan has had more thirty-point games in playoff history. Frankly, I may not have him high enough on this list: according to Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant is the best Laker ever.
6. Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers 1979-91, 1996)
He played point guard. And he's 6'9". Magic, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, led the Lakers to five NBA championships in eight seasons. Magic has the highest career assist average-per-game ever and, because of his size, tended to dominate smaller guards. Versatile, Magic could play all five positions as well.
5. Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals 1960-70; Milwaukee Bucks 1970-74)
A guard who could do just about everything, Oscar averaged a triple-double one season. That's at least ten points, ten rebounds, and ten assists average per game. Impressive.
4. Shaquille O'Neal (Orlando Magic 1992-96; Los Angeles Lakers 1996-2004; Miami Heat 2004-08; Phoenix Suns 2008-09; Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-present)
Few players have ever dominated the game the way Shaquille O'Neal did during his eight seasons with the Lakers (especially during their championship years of 2000, 2001, and 2002). Shaq was unstoppable (his only weakness was poor free-throw shooting). Over his career he has led three franchises to a total of six appearances in the NBA finals. And he's only one of five players in NBA history to score more than 28,000 career points. Think he's too high on the list? Please. You forget how dominant he was.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks 1969-75; Los Angeles lakers 1975-89)
Kareem played twenty seasons in the NBA and for most of those seasons he was dominant. In only his second year in the league he helped guide the Milwaukee Bucks to their first (and only) NBA title in 1971. After joining the Lakers in '75, Kareem won five more NBA titles. No player in NBA history has won more regular season MVPs (six) and no player scored more points: Kareem is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points.
2. Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors 1959-65; Philadelphia 76ers 1965-68; Los Angeles Lakers 1968-73)
I'm not trying to be trite or flippant but the seven-one hall-of-fame center averaged fifty points a game one season. Do I really need to add more?
1. Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls 1984-93, 1995-98; Washington Wizards 2001-03)
While most of the other greats on this top 10 list are big men, Michael Jordan is a guard. He is the only non-big man in NBA history to dominate like a big man in his prime whether he was scoring at will or shutting down another team's two-guard. Only Wilt Chamberlain--who was over seven feet tall compared to Jordan's six feet six inches--had a higher career scoring average. And only Bill Russell led his team to more NBA championships (eleven compared to Jordan's six).
