The most difficult discussions might not always be the ones that are evident.
When the Complex Sports team began compiling this list, we didn’t hesitate to rank LeBron ahead of Michael Jordan. We also didn’t spend a lot of time debating whether Tim Duncan, for example, should have been ranked higher than Kevin Garnett and Kevin Durant (at least initially).
Instead, when we attempted to fairly place Shaq, Kobe, and several other point guards near the bottom of our list of the 30 Greatest NBA Players of All Time, the politicking and small-minded jabs at each other’s basketball acumen became quite heated, spanning several text threads and Zoom calls. It will undoubtedly touch the most ardent basketball fans and, in our humble opinion, perform considerably better.
We argued up until the deadline about whether Shaquille O’Neal—indisputably one of the greatest big players in NBA history and a real game-changer—should have been rated higher than the legendary Kobe Bryant. In terms of stature and physique, O’Neal was unmatched by any center the NBA had ever seen. How much more credit, though, do you think Bryant deserves for having more rings and being compared to Michael Jordan in a legitimate way?
When there’s only room for one, among these three renowned guards—Chris Paul, Steve Nash, and Allen Iverson—who do you choose? We soon understood that reaching a consensus would be extremely tough as everyone involved in this really difficult and vital undertaking fought for the athlete they believed deserved proper billing.
However, choices had to be made. Consequently, these are the meticulously ranked top 30 players in NBA history, for better or worse. Appreciate or criticize the choices as you see suitable. There are people who adore rankings and people who detest them. We’re happy with our solution even though Kevin Durant might make it into the top 10 the next time it’s updated. Since Nikola Jokic has just joined the list and is now ranked in the top 30, we had to eliminate John Stockton, another all-time great. We’re here to continue the conversation, which never ends.
1. Michael Jordan
In this case, how much explanation is necessary? Michael Jordan is undoubtedly the best. This man was one of the oldest players to average 20 points per game and score forty or more in a game. He won three straight games, went to play baseball, returned, and won three straight again. Without a doubt, the GOAT. Even so, I’ll remind you that he was selected for the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, won five MVP awards, six Finals MVP awards, and never participated in a Finals Game 7. He also won a Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988. He performed at the very best on both ends of the court.
should take daily action to ensure his team’s victory. For better or worse, Jordan was a madman who never missed a game. When my buddy saw how crazy he had been toward his teammates, it reduced him to tears. The Last Dance on ESPN did a poor job of capturing Michael Jordan’s spell on the basketball world despite its best efforts. When you see him at the top of everyone’s list, it supports his case that no guard has ever dominated the league like he did. Never again will there be a Michael Jordan. The success, the brand names, the footwear, and the heritage. Along the way, he made sure you were informed about everything he did. All while wearing a smile.
2. LeBron James
This is an easy one to write, coming from someone who ranks LeBron James as the top NBA player. LeBron James evokes magnificence when one thinks about him. He has done nothing but live up to the enormous hype that was put on his shoulders coming out of high school in Akron, Ohio, starting with the first dribble he took in an NBA game. LeBron not only lived up to the hype, but surpassed it. And to be honest, you’re being foolish if you don’t believe that after his career is done, he has a chance to seize the top spot on this list. The Jordan Williams vs. LeBron James
Though there will always be disagreement, it is truly remarkable that LeBron has reached this point in his career. We could go through all of James’s accomplishments and statistics to support his ranking, but it would be unnecessary. We are all aware of the things he has done and will do for a good number of years to come. In my opinion, James’s 2016 comeback against the 73-win Golden State Warriors, which saw the Cavaliers rally from a 3-1 hole, was what cemented his place in the conversation with MJ. It will be difficult to surpass what I consider to be the single greatest accomplishment in NBA history. From conceding 41 in consecutive games to being blockeimproved in 2016. He was on the squad celebrating the league’s 75th anniversary and, long ago, he attained a level of basketball excellence that is shared by only himself and Michael Jordan. It’s okay that they breathe a different air than the rest of us. Remember that LeBron needs just 1,326 points to surpass Kareem and take the top spot as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Ironically, despite his stats, LeBron has not been acknowledged for his scoring prowess for the majority of his career. Although LeBron hasn’t finished writing his book and may add a few more books along the way, we also shouldn’t discount anything he has accomplished off the court during his career. From establishing his own media company to starting a school in his hometownd in
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the all-time greatest scorer in the NBA and the creator of the most deadly shot in the league’s history, skyhooked his way to 38,387 points in his career. LeBron James may overtake him in four or five more seasons, but The King will need to put in an incredible amount of work to overcome the greatest center in history, whose longevity is virtually unmatched. It’s not normal to receive MVP honors for the NBA Finals 14 years apart, but Abdul-Jabbar did. He was the only player in league history to win an MVP despite his team’s performance, having won six MVPs in all—one more than Russell and Jordan. He also received almost every other individual distinction that a superstar can win.
not qualifying for the postseason. He naturally made the NBA 75 roster. Abdul-Jabbar played for the Bucks and Lakers in equal measure, winning three MVP awards with each team and five of his six rings in Los Angeles. We won’t bore you with a long list of his accomplishments because you would spend hours browsing through this excellent piece of #content. He is a 19-time All-Star and has placed in the top 5 of the MVP voting 15 times. Really, all you need to know is that there is no question about Abdul-Jabbar’s superiority as a center. Though Bill Russell may have amassed more championships and Wilt Chamberlain may hold more unbreakable records, Abdul-Jabbar possessed offensive prowess that Russell did not, and as a result, he retired as the league’s top player in nine statistical categories.
4. Magic Johnson
It would be impossible to discuss the greatest point guards in NBA history without including Magic Johnson at the top. He is ranked No. 4 overall on this list, and for good cause. Magic’s 1979 NBA debut, fresh out of Michigan State, altered the whole nature of the game of basketball. Just consider how amazing it is that Magic scored 42 points and started Game 6 of the NBA Finals at center during his first campaign. He led the Lakers to their first championship in almost ten years while playing all five positions in the game. Magic, at his size, revolutionized the way the basketball world viewed guards, and this was just the beginning. His
Magic had one of the greatest careers in league history, earning him a spot on the NBA’s 75th anniversary squad. What’s the best thing, then? What made Magic so unique as a player was that he brought fun to the game. In the 1980s, he and Larry Bird practically kept the NBA afloat, and despite their stark stylistic differences, there’s no denying who had a bigger impact on basketball. Anybody’s ranking of the top 5 NBA players has to include the captain of the “Showtime” Lakers. —ZF
5. Kobe Bryant
First things first: this is not a choice made in response to Kobe Bryant’s dying. In my opinion, it is impolite to rank Kobe Bean Bryant outside of the top five on any list of all time. After Kobe retired, Magic and Shaq declared him the greatest Laker of all time. That ought to convey something to you. We may discuss how Kobe changed the game and basketball culture, but it shouldn’t even be a yardstick. Numerous achievements are evident, including five championships, two MVP awards from the Finals, eighteen All-Star selections, nine All-Defensive First Teams, and NBA MVP.
choices, the current fourth-place scorer, and so forth. Despite his many achievements, some attempt to undermine him by utilizing sophisticated metrics such as efficiency and utilization rate. That seems incredibly absurd to me for a guy who defeated Bird, LeBron, Wilt, Magic, and Shaq to win at least as many titles. Did you really spend 20 years watching Kobe Bryant, a player on the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, and conclude that, despite his lack of efficiency, he isn’t as outstanding as he is portrayed? Please resist the urge to believe the lies that Bryant wasn’t as outstanding as he was; social media can be both a blessing and a curse. Farewell, Mamba. —ZO