Basketball fans love a good argument. It's basically the fuel that keeps the NBA world spinning during the off-season. But lately, those late-night debates at the bar or on Twitter have gotten a lot more complicated.
We aren't just looking at black-and-white photos of guys in short shorts anymore. The modern era has produced some absolute monsters who are tearing up the record books in real-time. If you haven't looked at an all-time list in a couple of years, you're probably going to be pretty shocked at where some of your favorites have landed.
The Mount Rushmore is Getting Crowded
When we talk about the top 20 NBA players ever, the conversation always starts at the very top. For decades, it was Michael Jordan, and then a massive gap. Not anymore.
LeBron James has spent the last few seasons effectively erasing every "longevity" argument used against him. He isn't just hanging on; he’s still a top-tier threat even as he pushes past 40. With over 40,000 career points and counting, the statistical mountain he’s built is starting to look unscalable. Honestly, if you still have him behind MJ, you're likely valuing the "6-0" Finals record above everything else, which is fair, but the gap is now razor-thin.
- Michael Jordan: The gold standard. Six rings, six Finals MVPs, and a psychological dominance that we haven't seen since. He didn't just win; he broke people.
- LeBron James: The King. He’s the only player who can legitimately claim to be the best passer and the best scorer on the floor at the same time for two decades straight.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Six MVPs. Think about that. He had a skyhook that was literally unguardable. People forget how much he won before he even joined Magic in LA.
- Bill Russell: The ultimate winner. 11 rings in 13 years. You can't argue with the hardware, even if the era was different.
Why the Middle of the List is a Total Mess
This is where things get really heated. How do you compare a guy like Wilt Chamberlain, who once averaged 50 points a game, to someone like Stephen Curry, who changed the very geometry of the court?
Wilt was a physical anomaly. He was playing a different game than everyone else in the 60s. But then you have Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the two guys who basically saved the league in the 80s. Magic's vision was transcendent, while Bird was arguably the most cold-blooded shooter to ever pick up a ball before the 2000s.
🔗 Read more: Inter Miami vs Toronto: What Really Happened in Their Recent Clashes
Then there’s Kobe Bryant.
People get weirdly defensive about Kobe. He’s often ranked anywhere from 5 to 12. His "Mamba Mentality" wasn't just marketing; he was a technical savant. Five rings in a hyper-competitive Western Conference counts for a lot. If you're building a list of the top 20 NBA players ever, Kobe is usually the guy who defines your criteria. Do you value efficiency or the "clutch" factor?
The Dominant Big Men
- Shaquille O'Neal: For about five years, Shaq was the most terrifying force in sports history. He broke backboards. He broke spirits.
- Tim Duncan: The "Big Fundamental." He wasn't flashy. He didn't have a signature shoe that kids went crazy for. He just won five titles and played elite defense for 19 years.
- Hakeem Olajuwon: The "Dream Shake" is still the most beautiful post-game ever. He's the only guy who ever really made Shaq look human.
The New Blood Crashing the Party
If you're still putting Jerry West or Oscar Robertson in your top 10, you might be holding onto nostalgia a little too tight. The league has never been more talented than it is right now.
Nikola Jokic is the perfect example. A few years ago, the idea of a doughy center from Serbia being a top 20 player of all time was a joke. Now? He has multiple MVPs and a Finals trophy where he looked like a math professor playing against middle schoolers. His advanced stats are the highest we’ve ever seen. He’s basically a 7-foot Magic Johnson with a soft touch from three.
Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are also locked in. Curry changed how every single person on Earth plays basketball. Every kid at the park is now launching 30-footers because of Steph. That kind of cultural shift, combined with four rings, makes him a lock for the top 10 in most modern circles.
💡 You might also like: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the dark horse here. He’s already got the rings, the MVPs, and the Defensive Player of the Year trophies. He’s only 31. By the time he’s done, he might be top 10. Easily.
The Rest of the Elite: 11 through 20
Rankings are subjective. You've got to weigh peak dominance against career length.
- Stephen Curry: The greatest shooter ever. Period.
- Kobe Bryant: The closest thing we ever got to MJ.
- Wilt Chamberlain: The stat-sheet stuffer of all stat-sheet stuffers.
- Hakeem Olajuwon: Defensive anchor and offensive genius.
- Kevin Durant: A 7-foot guard. He’s the most effortless scorer in history.
- Shaquille O'Neal: Pure, unadulterated power.
- Nikola Jokic: The most efficient offensive hub to ever play.
- Oscar Robertson: The original triple-double king.
- Jerry West: The Logo. He averaged 30 a game before the three-point line existed.
- Dirk Nowitzki: He changed the game for big men forever. That one-legged fadeaway is iconic.
Wait, where's Julius Erving? Where's Kevin Garnett?
This is the problem with a top 20. Someone always gets left out. Dr. J brought the flair and the dunking, but his best years were partially in the ABA. Garnett was a defensive monster who probably would have had five rings if he’d played with better talent in his prime.
Honestly, the "all-time" list is always evolving. Ten years from now, we might be talking about Victor Wembanyama or Luka Doncic in these spots. Luka is already putting up numbers that make Oscar Robertson look like a role player. It’s wild.
📖 Related: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
What Most People Get Wrong About These Lists
The biggest mistake is ignoring the context of the era. You can't just look at a box score from 1962 and say it’s better than 2024. The pace was different. The rules were different. In the 60s, you couldn't even palm the ball without a whistle. Now, guys are basically carrying the ball on every crossover.
You also have to look at "Winning Bias." Is Robert Horry a top player because he has seven rings? No. But is Charles Barkley "lesser" because he has zero? A lot of people think so. That’s why top 20 NBA players ever lists are so hard to finalize. You have to balance individual brilliance with team success.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Debate
- Look at the "Peak": If you had to win one game with a player in their absolute prime, who are you taking? Usually, that's Shaq or MJ.
- Value Versatility: Modern players like Jokic and LeBron do everything. They aren't just specialists.
- Don't ignore defense: A guy like Tim Duncan or Hakeem Olajuwon provides value on both ends that a pure scorer like Carmelo Anthony just doesn't.
- Check the "True Shooting": Efficiency matters. Scoring 30 points on 30 shots isn't as good as scoring 25 on 15.
The reality is that there's no "perfect" list. It’s all about what you value in the game of basketball. Whether it's the sheer dominance of Wilt or the finesse of Steph, the beauty of the NBA is that it allows for all these different versions of greatness to exist at once.
If you're looking to settle a bet, just remember: Michael Jordan usually wins the "legacy" vote, but LeBron James is winning the "totality" vote. The rest? Well, that's what the comments section is for.