Ranking the top 25 nba players all time is basically an invitation for a fight. You've got the old-school crowd who swears by Bill Russell’s rings, the 90s kids who think Michael Jordan is a literal deity, and a newer generation that looks at LeBron James’ counting stats and wonders how anyone could possibly disagree. Honestly, it’s a mess.
But that's the fun part.
Basketball isn't just about who put the ball in the hoop the most. It’s about how they changed the geometry of the court. It's about who made the other nine guys on the floor look like they were playing a different sport. We're in 2026 now, and the perspective has shifted a bit. LeBron has crossed the 50,000 total career points mark (regular season plus playoffs), Steph Curry has essentially broken the way teams play defense, and Nikola Jokic is reinventing what a center even does.
Let's get into the weeds of who actually belongs on the mountaintop.
The Tier of the Gods
If you don't have Michael Jordan and LeBron James at the top, you're probably just trying to be contrarian. Jordan is the peak of "peak." He went 6-0 in the Finals and never even let a series go to a Game 7. That’s psychological warfare. He was a 10-time scoring champion and a Defensive Player of the Year. He was a monster.
Then there's LeBron.
People used to knock him for the Finals record, but that's kinda silly when you look at the longevity. He’s been the best player on the floor for twenty-plus years. By early 2026, he’s sitting on over 42,000 regular-season points. He’s passed Kareem. He’s passed everyone. If Jordan is the highest peak, LeBron is the longest mountain range.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar usually rounds out the top three. Six MVPs. Six rings. The Skyhook. It’s the most unguardable shot in history. If you put him in the modern era with today's spacing, he’d probably average 40 without breaking a sweat.
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The Big Man Problem: Wilt vs. Russell
This is where the lists always get hairy.
Wilt Chamberlain once averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds in a single season. Think about those numbers. They don't even look real. He’s the guy who scored 100 in a game. But then you have Bill Russell.
Russell has 11 NBA championships. He won so much they literally named the Finals MVP trophy after him. Wilt had the stats; Russell had the jewelry. Most modern analysts have started leaning toward Russell because his impact on winning was just undeniable, even if his offensive game was limited.
- Michael Jordan
- LeBron James
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Bill Russell
- Wilt Chamberlain
That top five is almost set in stone, though the order varies depending on if you value dominance or winning more.
The Lakers Dynasty and the Bird Era
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the NBA. Literally. In the 80s, the league was on tape delay. These two brought it into the light. Magic is still the greatest floor general to ever live. A 6'9" point guard who could see over everyone? Cheating.
Larry Bird was the ultimate "don't let the look fool you" player. He’d tell you exactly where he was going to hit the game-winner, then go do it. Three straight MVPs in the mid-80s. People forget how athletic he was before the back injuries took over.
Then you have Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Shaq from 2000-2002 was the most physically dominant force we’ve ever seen. Period. You couldn't stop him; you could only hope he missed his free throws. Kobe, on the other hand, was the closest thing to Jordan's "assassin" mentality. Five rings. 81 points. The Mamba Mentality wasn't just a marketing slogan; it was a way of life that influenced the entire next generation.
Why Tim Duncan Still Matters
Tim Duncan is the most boring superstar ever, and I mean that as a massive compliment.
He didn't have the flash of Kobe or the power of Shaq, but he had the results. Five titles across three different decades. He was the anchor of a Spurs culture that defined consistency. Some people rank Kobe higher because of the "it" factor, but if you're building a team to win for 20 years, you're taking Duncan.
Timmy sits comfortably in that 7-10 range for most experts. He was a 15-time All-Defensive selection. That’s the stat that usually ends the argument.
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The Modern Shift: Steph and KD
We have to talk about Stephen Curry.
The guy changed the game more than anyone since Wilt. Before Steph, shooting a three from the logo was a benchable offense. Now, it’s a standard play. He’s the greatest shooter ever, but he’s also one of the best off-ball movers the league has ever seen. He’s a four-time champ. He finally got that Finals MVP in 2022 to quiet the haters.
Kevin Durant is the most "video game" player on the list. A 7-footer with the handle of a guard and a jumper that is pure silk. His move to Golden State hurt his "legacy" in the eyes of some, but you can't deny the talent. He’s a two-time Finals MVP and one of the most efficient scorers to ever lace them up.
Rounding Out the Top 25
The bottom half of the top 25 is where things get really subjective. You’ve got the pioneers like Oscar Robertson (the original triple-double king) and Jerry West (the literal logo).
Then you have the 90s legends who just happened to run into Michael Jordan. Hakeem Olajuwon is the best defensive center of the modern era. His "Dream Shake" was a work of art.
Let's look at the remaining spots:
- Hakeem Olajuwon: Two rings, two DPOYs. Maybe the most skilled big ever.
- Oscar Robertson: Averaged a triple-double for a season when that was considered impossible.
- Jerry West: The only player to win Finals MVP on a losing team.
- Moses Malone: The most underrated superstar. Three MVPs. Absolute beast on the boards.
- Julius Erving: Dr. J brought flair and dunking to the mainstream.
- Dirk Nowitzki: The 2011 run is still the most impressive individual carry-job in history.
- Kevin Garnett: Changed how we view "versatile" big men. Intense as hell.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: Already has a ring, two MVPs, and a DPOY. He's climbing fast.
- Dwyane Wade: The third-best shooting guard ever. 2006 Finals Wade was peak "Flash."
- Nikola Jokic: By 2026, he’s likely a 3 or 4-time MVP. His passing is historic.
- Charles Barkley: No ring, but he was the only guy who could truly challenge MJ in his prime.
- Isiah Thomas: The leader of the Bad Boys. Beat Bird, Magic, and Jordan in their primes.
- Elgin Baylor: The first player to really take the game above the rim.
- David Robinson: "The Admiral" was a statistical marvel and a defensive wall.
- John Havlicek: Eight rings. The ultimate engine for the Celtics' second dynasty.
The "What If" and the New Guard
The biggest debate in 2026 is where to put the active guys. Nikola Jokic is the big one. His advanced metrics are the best we've ever seen. Like, literally ever. If he wins another title, he's jumping into the top 12 easily.
Then there's Luka Doncic. He's putting up numbers that rival Oscar Robertson and LeBron, but he needs the hardware.
The problem with these lists is that we tend to overvalue the past because of nostalgia or overvalue the present because of "recency bias." The truth is usually somewhere in the middle. We're seeing a level of skill today that the 60s couldn't imagine, but the 60s had a level of grit and physical toll that today's "load management" era avoids.
How to Actually Rank These Guys
If you want to make your own list, don't just look at points. Look at:
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- Era Dominance: Were they the best player in the league for a 5-year stretch?
- Two-Way Play: Did they play defense, or were they a revolving door? (This is why Garnett and Hakeem rank so high).
- Playoff Elevation: Did their stats go up or down when the lights got bright?
- Innovation: Did they force the league to change its rules or style?
Actionable Insight for NBA Fans
If you're arguing about the top 25 nba players all time at a bar or on Twitter, the best way to win is to define your "Success Metric" first. Are you counting rings? Then Bill Russell is your GOAT. Are you counting peak dominance? It’s Shaq or Jordan. Are you counting the total body of work? It’s LeBron.
The biggest mistake people make is switching their criteria halfway through the list just to fit their favorite player in. Pick a lane and stay in it.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the 2025-26 advanced stats like LEBRON (the impact metric) and True Shooting+. These are increasingly used by Hall of Fame voters to separate the "good" from the "all-time great." As the 2026 season progresses, watch if players like Giannis or Jokic continue to sustain their "per-100-possession" dominance—that's the real test of whether they'll leapfrog the legends of the 90s.