Top 50 NBA Players of All Time

Top 50 NBA Players of All-Time List

Without further ado, here are the Top 50 NBA players of all time based on our formula:

2. Michael Jordan

“Air” Jordan comes in at number two on the Lineups.com “Top 50 NBA Players of All Time” list. Few players in any sports have ever amassed the accolades or displayed sheer dominance like Jordan did. MJ was such a freak athlete that people questioned whether he actually defied gravity. Have you ever heard of “hang time?” Jordan paired his freakish ability to launch himself and seemingly float in the air for acrobatic finishes  with an elite mid-range jumper and impeccable footwork. MJ “Stans” will hate this list, but it is notable to point out that he ranked first for us in the “eye test” category, which was our only subjective category outside of “Era Dominance” (he also logged a perfect score there, too.)

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

When considering the most dominant shots in NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s “sky hook” is undoubtedly at the top of every list. Kareem stood at 7-foot-2 with a massive, plus wingspan; he was physically imposing, balanced, strong, and had arguably the greatest touch of any big man ever. Imagine trying to consistently shoot and make a “sky hook” from 15-18 feet from the basket: you couldn’t do it. Kareem was recently passed by LeBron as the leading scorer in NBA history, but Abdul-Jabbar’s longevity, scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and defensive IQ make him amongst the greatest ever.

4. Wilt Chamberlain

“The Big Dipper” is best known for having the most ludicrous stat lines. In his best season, Chamberlain posted 50 points and 26 rebounds per game on over 50% shooting from the field. Arguments against Wilt’s greatness usually involve claims that he “played against plumbers.” Unless Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Bob Lanier, Nate Thurmond, Bob Pettit, Spencer Haywood, and Elvin Hayes were firefighters, then that credence is inaccurate. No matter the era, Chamberlain would have been dominant; he stood at 7-foot-1 and reportedly boasted a 48 inch vertical while also possessing a 4.5 40-yard dash time (he was a track star.) All things considered, Wilt might actually be underrated by most analysts and lovers of the game: blocks were not recorded until Chamberlain retired, but if they were, he could have averaged nearly a quadruple double during the 1967-68 season.

5. Shaquille O’Neal

“Superman” was so dominant that teams began fouling him without the ball because they couldn’t stop him with it. “Hack-a-Shaq” was the coined term; this strategy had been used in some capacity before, but became popularized with O’Neal. Shaq’s poor free-throw shooting was his Achilles hell in a league that otherwise had absolutely no answer for him inside the paint. O’Neal finished his career as a four-time NBA champion, including three consecutive rings with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, often considered one of the greatest teams ever. 

6. Larry Bird

“Who’s playing for second?” Larry Bird, arguably the greatest trash talker in the game’s history, walked into the 1988 three-point shooting contest and delivered this memorable line before driving a stake through the hearts of all of the other competitors. That is just the tip of the iceberg: Bird also poured in 47 points using primarily his left hand in a game against the Blazers, just as he said he would beforehand. Not to mention, he hit the game-tying and game-winning shots in that bout. “Larry Legend” had one of the best three-year stretches ever, winning three consecutive MVPs and two NBA Championships from 1984 to 1986. Longevity, or lack thereof, hurt Bird a bit in our rankings, but his prime years are revered as some of the best ever.

7. Magic Johnson

Here’s an exercise: go to YouTube and watch Magic Johnson highlights and ask yourself if there has ever been another 6-foot-9 point guard that has displayed the combination of flashy passing, crafty finishing, and slick playmaking. The answer would be a resounding “No.” LeBron would be the closest comparison and even his passing ability is not as awe-inspiring and mouth-dropping as Magic’s. Magic and the aforementioned Bird, are considered the saviors of professional basketball and the NBA. Between his flare and Bird’s fundamentals, these two players were the perfect complements and it should come as no shock that these two are cemented in the top ten. Further, Magic and Bird had the most narrow point differentials in our formula out of every player ranked. Again, not surprising.

8. Tim Duncan

“The Big Fundamental” earned his name through achieving a level of mastery in footwork and touch around the rim and off the glass. Duncan is the best power forward ever, and our ratings further validate his greatness; he dominated in an era that featured Shaq, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, Yao Ming, Pau Gasol, and many other greats. Between his longevity, individual accolades, championships, efficiency, and overall winning play, Duncan was a surefire lock to rank highly in our ratings.

9. Kobe Bryant

Every NBA-obsessed kid that grew up in the 2000s and 2010s has thrown a piece of trash in a garbage can and yelled, “Kobe!” This small behavior is simply an homage to Bryant’s absurd shot-making ability. No one could “go get a bucket” like the “Black Mamba,” one of the most mentally tough and clutch players ever. Kobe thrived in his younger years with Shaq, winning three consecutive NBA Championships as the sort of “Batman” to O’Neal’s “Superman,” but after they split, he rebranded himself, changed his jersey number, and won two more rings with Pau Gasol a handful of years later.

10. Bill Russell

How much of a “winner” was Bill Russell? He won 11 NBA Championships in 13 total seasons, by far the most of any other player in the history of the game (who wasn’t on those historic Celtics teams.) Russell accomplished this feat while playing against several all-time great big men, like Wilt Chamberlain, Walt Bellamy, Willis Reed, and Nate Thurmond. While he was not particularly known for his offensive talents, Russell is amongst the greatest rebounders and defenders ever, exemplified by how well he scored in both of those categories in our formula.

11. Kevin Durant

12. Steph Curry

13. Nikola Jokic

14. Giannis Antetokounmpo

15. Hakeem Olajuwon

16. Karl Malone

17. Dirk Nowitzki

18. Kevin Garnett

19. David Robinson

20. Moses Malone

21. George Mikan

22. Oscar Robertson

23. Jerry West

24. Charles Barkley

25. James Harden

26. Kawhi Leonard

27. Scottie Pippen

28. Julius Erving

29. Dwyane Wade

30. Chris Paul

31. Dwight Howard

32. Bob Pettit

33. John Stockton

34. John Havlicek

35. Russell Westbrook

36. Anthony Davis

37. Bob Cousy

38. Walt Frazier

39. Jason Kidd

40. Gary Payton

41. Isiah Thomas

42. Kevin McHale

43. Tracy McGrady

44. Bill Walton

45. Paul Pierce

46. Steve Nash

47. Allen Iverson

48. Willis Reed

49. Patrick Ewing

50. Dominique Wilkins

How Did We Rank the Top 50 NBA Players of All Time?

Drew Norton and Braxton Reynolds strived to create the most objective, all-encompassing Top 50 NBA Players of All Time list through a detailed formula that pulled from varied measures of success, which considered both peak and longevity. This resulted in six general categories: 

• Eye Test (25%)
• Accolades (25%)
• Advanced Stats (20%)
• Skills (20%)
• Longevity (5%)
• Impact & Era Dominance (5%)

The categories were weighted to a certain percentage, and the sum totaled 100 percent (or points.) For each category, the players in contention were ranked based on their production. For example, the Advanced Stats category utilized Win Shares and Win Shares per 48 minutes over each player’s respective seven-year peak. The top three were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain, while Elgin Baylor placed 50th. Since it was weighted to 20%, Abdul-Jabbar received 20 points, Jordan received 19.6, Chamberlain received 19.2…all the way down to 0.4 points for Baylor. Any player who placed below Baylor received zero points for the category.

The same procedure occurred across every category except for accolades, which used point buckets (explained further below). As another example, in the longevity (5%) category, Abdul-Jabbar scored 5 points, Nowitzki scored 4.9…all the way to Julius Erving at 0.1 points. Essentially, the players were scored from 50 to zero points and then adjusted based on the weighted percentage. 

The Top 50 NBA Players of All Time list was then ordered by the player’s total points from every category. In our humble opinion, it’s the most detailed and thorough list of all time.

Formula Breakdown 

Below is our complete formula breakdown, featuring every metric, statistic, and analytic used, as well as how these were all weighted.

Eye Test of Absolute Peak Play (25%): We ranked every player based on the eye test of their absolute peak form – no stats were used. In other words, were they unstoppable offensively? Did they lock down opponents on defense? Did they elevate teammates? Would their peak form beat another player’s peak form in a vacuum? 

Stats and accolades do not come close to telling the complete story of a player’s skill set and impact, so the eye test was weighted heavily. Since it solely judged peak form, it didn’t punish players who were exceptional at the game of basketball but diminished by injuries or other unfortunate circumstances. The top player received 25 points all the way down to 0.5 points for the 50th-best player. Players ranked 51st and below received zero points. 

Rings (6%): While it’s not a discussion-ender, championships are nonetheless crucial for measuring the success of a player’s career. At the end of the day, the goal every season is to win the championship. Five buckets were utilized to assign points here instead of the 50-point scale used for other categories. If a player won five or more rings, they received six points. Four rings received 4.8 points, three rings received 3.6 points, 1-2 rings received 2.4 points, and zero rings received 1.2 points. 

Finals MVP (6%): Winning a championship is impressive, but doing so as the best player in the Finals demands even more praise. It portrays their ability to withstand pressure and an innate skill to carry a team across the finish line. Like the Rings subsection, the bucket system was also used here. Four or more FMVPs got 6 points, three FMVPs got 4.8 points, two FMVPs got 3.6 points, one FMVPs got 2.4 points, and zero FMVPs got 1.2 points.  

MVP (5%): This award recognizes utter regular season domination over the competition across an entire season. It’s not genuinely accurate since the award is often narrative driven; however, earning an MVP is exceedingly tricky. Buckets were used again. Four or more MVPs received 5 points, Three MVPs received 4 points, two MVPs received 3 points, one MVP received 2 points, and zero MVPs received 1 point. 

All-NBA First Team (4%): Because it’s the best of the best, only All-NBA First Team appearances were factored in. Buckets were utilized too. Eleven or more FTs received 4 points, 8-10 FTs received 3.2 points, 5-7 FTs received 2.4 points, 3-4 FTs received 2.4 points, and 0-2 FTs received 1.2 points. 

All-Defensive First Team (4%): As was the case with All-NBA, only the First Team for All-Defensive is counted. This was the final metric that employed buckets. Eight or more FTs received 4 points, 5-7 FTs received 3.2 points, 3-4 FTs received 2.4 points, 1-2 FTs received 2.4 points, and zero FTs received 1.2 points. 

Seven-year peak Win Shares + Win Shares per 48 (20%): These advanced stats provide an estimate of the number of wins contributed by a player. It seeks to answer how impactful a player is in winning games. Players were ranked in each metric based on their peak seven-year production, and then the two ranks were summed together. For example, Abdul-Jabbar ranked second in Win Shares and first in Win Shares per 48 minutes for a total of three. This was the lowest total of anyone, so he received 50 points, which was converted to 20 points when adjusted for the weighted percentage. This process continued until 50th place Elgin Baylor, who received 0.4 points. Players ranked 51st and below received zero points. 

Seven-year peak Points per 100 Possessions (4%): Basketball revolves around putting the ball in the basket. Therefore, scoring is a coveted skill and highly valuable. Because different eras played at different paces, we only included points per 100 possessions as a method of standardization. The metric is far better than PPG because it’s unreasonable to compare a player from the lightning-quick 1960s to the lumbering 2000s – the 1960s player received far more possessions and opportunities to score. The top player in seven-year peak points per 100 possessions received 4 points all the way down to 0.08 points for the 50th best player. Players ranked 51st and below received 0 points. 

Seven-year peak Assists per 100 Possessions (4%): A scorer can only generate points for himself, but a playmaker can generate points for every player on the court. Therefore, playmaking is an incredibly crucial skill that correlates strongly with offensive success. Some players are flashier than others and throw jaw-dropping passes, yet the only thing that matters is results. Per 100 possessions was employed over APG in order to standardize across eras. The top player in seven-year peak assists per 100 possessions received 4 points all the way down to 0.08 points for the 50th-best player. Players ranked 51st and below received zero points. 

Seven-year peak Rebounds per 100 Possessions (4%): Preventing points is just as vital as scoring them, and defensive rebounds end an opponent’s chance to score. Meanwhile, offensive rebounds extend possessions and allow for more opportunities to score. For those reasons, rebounding is an essential skill that winds up affecting the net opportunities a team has in a game. Per 100 possessions was employed over RPG in order to standardize across eras. The top player in seven-year peak rebounds per 100 possessions received 4 points all the way down to 0.08 points for the 50th-best player. Players ranked 51st and below received zero points.  

Career True Shooting Points Added (4%): If a player cannot score efficiently, then they mathematically hurt their team’s offense in the long run. The optimal player racks up points but does so on hyper-efficient points per possession efficiency. True Shooting measures efficiency while accounting for the differences between two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws. For example, two players could have identical FG%, with one player making more threes. That player scored more points, and true shooting reflects this, while FG% does not. 

True Shooting Points Added measures “the number of extra points added by True Shot Attempts made above league average,” per Basketball Reference. It’s an excellent efficiency stat that recognizes the different shot attempts and standardizes across eras since it measures against the league average at the time. In order to reward countless years of efficient scoring, career totals were used instead of a seven-year peak. The top player received 4 points all the way down to 0.08 points for the 50th best player. Players that ranked 51st and below received zero points. 

One-year peak Defensive Win Shares (4%): Defense is the hardest skill to statistically measure, so this metric was the only slightly unreliable one in the formula. However, it gives a decent broad picture of how impactful a player’s defense was in winning games. Only a one-year peak was implemented in order to capture the heights of their defense. The top player received 4 points all the way down to 0.08 points for the 50th best player. Players ranked 51st and below received zero points. 

Career Games Played (5%): Since seven-year peaks were frequent, we wanted to reward longevity, as well. NBA franchises are cold-blooded about their limited depth chart. If a player manages to cling onto a team in their mid-to-late 30s, then it’s because they are still valuable enough to do so. The same can be said of a 19-year-old who beat out others in their primes for a roster spot. Career games played were our chosen metric for longevity. The top player received 5 points all the way down to 0.1 points for the 50th best player. Players ranked 51st and below received zero points.

Era Dominance + Change Game (5%): Did a player have his era in a stranglehold when considering both individual and team success? Did they change the game through their on or off-court impact? Both questions were subjectively considered when assigning points. Players were given 0,1,2,3,4 or 5 as grades.

Exceptions & Limitations

Accolades Issues: We did everything in our power to choose metrics that most accurately defined the category while also being available since George Mikan’s first season (1948-49). Unfortunately, the MVP award started in 1956, FMVP in 1969, and All-Defensive First Team in 1969. We went back and awarded MVPs and FMVPs to players who played before the invention of the awards. In an effort to be overly cautious and not undeservedly inflate accolades, we only granted awards during instances where it felt inconceivable that the player would not have won. Due to this caution, we didn’t award All-Defensive First Teams since it wasn’t clear-cut, which hurt players such as Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. These were our additions:

• George Mikan: +3 MVP & +4 FMVP
• Bill Russell: +4 FMVP (at least)
• John Havlicek: +1 FMVP
• Wilt Chamberlain: +1 FMVP
• Bob Pettit: +1 FMVP
• Bob Cousy: +1 FMVP

Statistics Issues: Per 100 possessions stats were not available until the 1974 season. However, we were able to calculate it for previous players by using pace and Per 36 minutes stats. The only instance we were unable to 100% accurately do so was George Mikan’s first three seasons. Instead, we used the pace from the 1952 season and applied that to 1949-1951. Although it’s not perfect, the numbers should be extremely close. In addition, we didn’t have rebounds registered for a few seasons. It didn’t drastically affect him, though, and it’s worth noting that the category is only worth 4% of the total grade. 

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