Ranking the top 100 NBA players all time is basically an invitation for a fight. Seriously. You put Kobe Bryant at 11 and Lakers fans are ready to burn the internet down. You put Bill Russell at 5 and people scream about "plumbers and firemen." It’s a mess. But honestly, it’s a fun mess.
The game has changed so much. In the 60s, a "big" was someone like Bill Russell who basically just jumped and blocked everything. Now? You’ve got Nikola Jokić—a guy who looks like he just finished a heavy lunch—throwing 50-foot water polo passes and leading the league in triple-doubles. How do you even compare them?
Most lists you see are just popularity contests or stat-sheet dumps. They ignore the context. They ignore the fact that George Mikan had to play in a league where the 3-point line was a fever dream and the lane was as narrow as a sidewalk.
The Unsolvable GOAT Logic
The Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate is the sun that everything else in basketball orbits. It's exhausting. But here’s the thing: Jordan went 6-0. That’s the trump card. You can’t argue with a perfect Finals record while smoking cigars in the locker room.
LeBron, though? The longevity is stupid. It’s actually offensive. He’s in his 23rd season in 2026, and he’s still a top-10 player in the league. Nobody has ever done that. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was amazing, but even "The Captain" wasn’t carrying a heavy load at 41 like LeBron is.
If we’re talking pure peak, it’s MJ. If we’re talking the greatest "career," it’s James. Most experts, including the recent 2025 Bleacher Report consensus, still give the edge to Jordan by a hair. It’s usually a one-vote difference. One guy prefers the killer instinct; the other prefers the four-decade-long dominance.
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The Disrespect for the "Old Heads"
We need to talk about Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. People love to say Wilt only dominated because he was bigger than everyone. That’s kinda lazy. Wilt was a world-class track athlete. He averaged 48.5 minutes per game one season. Think about that. He played every single minute of every game, including overtimes, except for 8 minutes of one game.
Then there’s Russell. 11 rings. Eleven.
You can’t write a list of the top 100 NBA players all time and put Russell outside the top five. It’s mathematically impossible to ignore that much winning. He didn’t care about points. He cared about ruining your night defensively.
Why the Middle of the List is Harder Than the Top
The top 10 is easy-ish. Jordan, LeBron, Kareem, Magic, Bird, Russell, Wilt, Shaq, Duncan, Kobe. You can shuffle them, but those are the names.
It’s when you get to number 47 that things get weird.
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Take a guy like Isiah Thomas. The Pistons version, not the current one. He’s often buried behind guys like John Stockton because Stockton has the raw assist numbers. But Isiah beat Jordan. He beat Bird. He beat Magic. In their primes. If you’re building a team to win a title tomorrow, are you really taking Stockton over Zeke? Most NBA alumni say no.
And what about the new era?
- Nikola Jokić: He’s already soared into the top 20 for most historians. Three MVPs (and counting) and a title changes your legacy fast.
- Stephen Curry: He’s the reason your local gym is full of 10-year-olds hucking shots from half-court. He changed the geometry of the game. That puts him top 10 for some, top 12 for others.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: A defensive monster who can run the floor like a gazelle. He’s firmly in the top 25 now.
The Skill vs. Accolade Trap
A big mistake people make is weighing rings too heavily for individual rankings. Is Robert Horry a better player than Charles Barkley? Of course not. But Horry has seven rings and Chuck has zero.
Barkley was a 6'6" (maybe 6'4" if he took his shoes off) power forward who outrebounded giants. He’s easily a top 25 talent. Same for Elgin Baylor. Baylor basically invented the "playing above the rim" style that Dr. J and MJ perfected. Because he never won a ring, people forget he once scored 61 points in a Finals game.
The 2026 Perspective: Rising Stars in the Top 100
Since we're looking at this from 2026, the list has shifted. Kevin Durant is still climbing, now sitting with the Houston Rockets and adding to a scoring total that is becoming legendary. Luka Dončić is the big question mark.
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By the numbers, Luka is a top 50 player already. He averages nearly a 30-point triple-double for his career. But the "all-time" list is a gated community. You need the hardware. Without a ring, Luka stays in that "dominant but not legendary" tier with guys like James Harden and Chris Paul.
Harden is an interesting case. People hate his style, but the man is one of the greatest offensive engines to ever live. You put him in the top 100 NBA players all time and people scoff, yet he’s top 15 in scoring and top 10 in assists. The math doesn't lie, even if the "eye test" is frustrating.
Ranking the "Unrankables"
How do you rank a guy like Dennis Rodman?
He couldn't shoot. He barely wanted to score. But he’s the greatest rebounder for his size ever and could guard 1 through 5. Most lists put him around 60. Is that too low? If winning is the goal, Rodman is more valuable than a high-volume scorer who plays zero defense.
Then there’s the "Logo," Jerry West.
He went 1-8 in the Finals. That sounds bad until you realize he was the only player to ever win Finals MVP on a losing team. He was so good the NBA literally put him on the stationery. He’s a top 15 lock, regardless of the Finals record.
Actionable Insights for Your Own List
If you're trying to settle a debate at the bar or write your own rankings, keep these three things in mind:
- Era Neutrality: Ask yourself, "If I put this guy in a time machine, would he still dominate?" Shaq would kill in any era. Bob Cousy might struggle with modern full-court presses, but his vision was timeless.
- Peak vs. Longevity: Decide what you value more. Bill Walton had the greatest two-year peak ever, but his feet gave out. Do you reward the brilliance or the 20-year grind of a guy like Dirk Nowitzki?
- Two-Way Impact: Don't just look at points. Basketball is 50% defense. This is why Tim Duncan often ranks higher than Kobe Bryant in "analytical" lists—his defensive impact was gargantuan for two decades.
The best way to really understand these rankings is to stop looking at the numbers and start looking at the film. Go watch Hakeem Olajuwon’s "Dream Shake" against David Robinson in 1995. You’ll see why he’s a top-12 player. Stats give you the skeleton, but the impact gives you the soul of the player.
Start by picking your "Tier 1" (the top 12) and work backward. You'll find that once you get past the obvious legends, the top 100 NBA players all time becomes a beautiful, subjective argument that keeps the game alive.