Top 7 NBA players of all time: An Opinion
Travis Willmann, Sports Editor
Courtesy of Unsplash.com
The views and opinions expressed on in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Vision NGU or North Greenville University.
Since the creation of the NBA in 1946, some of the greatest athletes in sports history have been NBA players. Players such as Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlin, Stephen Curry and Kevin Garnett are just some of the great players that have played in the NBA. However, like with every sport, only a select few make it into the top seven greatest players ever.
Number 7: Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan spent his entire career playing for the San Antonio Spurs, which is something not seen often in today’s NBA. Even though Duncan’s stats do not pop out in the record books, what he did during his career with the Spurs is what makes him worthy of a top seven spot. Duncan was known more for his defensive ability than his offensive ability but still managed to average 19 points a game during his 18-year career. Duncan was a natural leader and he led the Spurs to five NBA championships. He was always the go-to player if the Spurs needed a quick bucket or a defensive stop.
Number 6: Bill Russell
Bill Russell was more than an NBA player. During his career, he led the way for African Americans to be accepted on and off the court. However, he is most known for his competitiveness. He always gave his all to the game and always left everything on the court. Russell was also the first player to consistently block shots, becoming the NBA’s first “shot blocker.” He ended his career winning 11 NBA titles and the leadership that he brought to the court is still unparalleled to this day.
Number 5: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Spot five seems a little low for the all-time leading scorer in the NBA, but the next four players are really good. Kareem averaged a 50 percent field goal percentage over his 20 seasons in the NBA. He additionally won six NBA championships and six MVP titles. However, what made Kareem unstoppable was his patented “sky-hook” shot. This shot made him unstoppable because the shot was indefensible. Kareem simply shot over every player that defended him and his field goal percentage shows that.
Number 4: Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is known to be the greatest point guard to ever play because of his athletic ability and shot-making ability. However, he became known as the ultimate Laker when he played three different positions in one game. The game was during his rookie season when Johnson led the Lakers to game six of the NBA finals. During the game, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went out with an ankle injury and Johnson was forced to play all three positions. Johnson was also the first player to acquire stardom and fame, which paved the way for players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Number 3: Wilt Chamberlin
Wilt Chamberlin averaged 50 points and 26 rebounds for 80 games during the 1962 season, according to CBSsports.com. Chamberlin dominated the boards and the shooting scene averaging 30 points and 23 rebounds for his career according to NBA.com. There has not been a more offensive-minded player in the history of the NBA other than Chamberlin. Chamberlin has been named the first modern era superstar, making analytics a major part of the sport. His production during his years of playing was incredible and ability to make an art out of basketball was undeniable.
Number 2: LeBron James
“The King.” “The Chosen One.” He has many names, but his teammates call him Lebron James. When James was in high school, his feel for the game and unparalleled ability to get to the hoop and make plays was undeniable. That only increased once James got to the NBA. James has a unique ability to make teams not only better but championship worthy. Only a few players in NBA history have been able to do this. James has also been able to take care of his body and become one of the smartest basketball players ever. In 16 years in the NBA, James has won three NBA titles, six all-defense titles and four MVP awards, according to Basketball-Reference. James is also the only player to ever challenge Michael Jordan for his throne.
Number 1: Michael Jordan
The GOAT. Aka, The Greatest of All Time: Michael Jordan brought something to the game of basketball that had never been seen before. Along with Jordan’s competitiveness, his capacity to score was and has been unmatched. Jordan did things that the basketball world had never seen before and through this, he made the NBA popular. Jordan changed the game of basketball completely, according to CBSsports.com. Jordan became famous on and off the court. Every player that has come after him, has imitated in some way shape or form, something that Jordan did. Not to mention that Jordan is a six-time NBA champion, he is a six-time Final’s MVP winner, five-time MVP winner, a 14 All-Star champion, and has 10 scoring titles. Jordan’s greatness still casts a shadow over LeBron James and will continue to do so until the conclusion of time.
