GOAT Rankings: Top 10 NBA Players of All-Time
Greatest of all time.
The GOAT.
This acronym is used to described the best of the best when it comes to athletes in their sport.
With basketball, this topic is highly debated as people from lunch tables and barbershops alike all have different opinions on who their GOAT is.
Now, I’m here to tell you, although there can only be one GOAT, there still can be all-time greats. Throughout the NBA’s 74-year history, the game has been transcended and impacted by generations of otherworldly talent, all of whom are worthy of GOAT status.
All the players on this list can be considered one of the all-time greats, as each has made a mark on the league in more ways than one. Each player on this list has honed an attribute or ability to their game that makes them one of the greats.
Below, I’ll be ranking the Top 10 Players of All-time according to their GOAT rank. The GOAT rank will take into account their stats, accolades, specialties, and overall impact on the game to determine their rankings. Out of the 10 first-ballot Hall of Famers listed below, their can only be one GOAT, so let’s get into it.
GOAT Rank 10. Stephen Curry
· 2009–20 Golden State Warriors
· 23.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 3.6 3s PG
· GOAT Attribute: Shooting
I know some people might not agree with this, but Stephen Curry is already a top-10 player of all-time. The man has single-handily changed the game of basketball, as now more than ever, we’re seeing teams shoot more threes all because of him. He’s the greatest shooter of all time, for at age 33, he’s already second all-time in three pointers made (2677) and is going to smash Ray Allen’s record of 2973 before he retires. Curry has led the Golden State Warriors to three NBA championships and earned two MVP awards, becoming the first unanimous MVP in league history in 2015–2016. Ever since his March Madness performance at Davidson, Curry’s play has impacted the next generation of hoopers, all of whom want to replicate his game and be just like Steph.
GOAT Rank 9. Shaquille O’Neal
· 1992–96 Orlando Magic; 1996–2004 Los Angeles Lakers; 2004–08 Miami Heat; 2008–09 Phoenix Suns; 2009–10 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010–11 Boston Celtics
· 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG
· GOAT Attribute: Dominance
Probably the most dominant big man I’ve seen in my lifetime, Shaquille O’Neal took over the NBA, not just with his play, but with his charismatic attitude. From starring in movies to dropping rap albums and diss tracks, Shaq became a global phenomenon, while still giving teams the business on a nightly basis. Averaging a double-double for over two decades, O’Neal won four championships (3 with the Lakers, 1 with the Heat) and three Finals MVP’s. “The Big Aristotle” was the league MVP in 1999–2000, and was a 15 time All-star throughout his career, playing on six different teams. Standing at 7'1" weighing 326 lbs, Shaq forcefully made his presence felt night in and night out, finishing out his career as the eighth highest scorer in NBA History (28,596).
GOAT Rank 8. Tim Duncan
· 1997–2016 San Antonio Spurs
· 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.2 BPG
· GOAT Attribute: Fundamentals
When creating this list, it’s hard to argue Tim Duncan not being apart of it, as the man was a bonafide winner. The first overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, Duncan led the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA Championships, becoming the first player ever to win a championship in three different decades. “The Big Fundamental” was just that, as his play was slow and methodic, but effortless in ways that made him unstoppable. The pioneer of the mid-range bank shot, Duncan was a 15x All-star, a 2x League MVP, and an 8x NBA All Defensive First Teamer who accumulated 1,001 regular season victories, the most for any player with one team in NBA history.
GOAT Rank 7. Larry Bird
· 1979–92 Boston Celtics
· 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG
· GOAT Attribute: Confidence
Larry Legend. Larry Bird revitalized the game in the 80’s, leading the Boston Celtics to three NBA Championships during his 13-year career. The three-time consecutive MVP was an All-star for every season of his career except one where he only played in six games due to injury. Hailed as the greatest Small Forward ever, Bird earned nine NBA All-First Team honors, and is one of only eight players in NBA history to be a part of 50–40–90 club. Known for his cockiness, Bird won three straight three-point contests and even famously won in 1987 where he wore his warm-up jacket throughout and asked the other contestants before “So who’s coming in second?” After his playing career, Bird continued his excellence with the Indiana Pacers, becoming the first person ever to win an MVP, Coach of the Year Award, and NBA Executive of the Year Award.
GOAT Rank 6. Kobe Bryant
· 1996–2016 Los Angeles Lakers
· 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 3s PG
· GOAT Attribute: Desire to be great
The Black Mamba, my favorite player of all-time, the late great Kobe Bryant absolutely deserves to be on this list not just for his career accolades, but his desire to be great. His phrase “Mamba Mentality” took on a life of its own as people everywhere hone this mindset when wanting to achieve their dreams and become the best version of themselves. Kobe Bean Bryant was a 5x NBA champion and 2x Finals MVP, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 18x All-star won the NBA All-star game MVP four times, the most of any player and now has the award named after him. Bryant was an 11x All-NBA first teamer while also being a 9x NBA All- Defensive first teamer. Kobe was a born scorer, achieving two scoring titles and ranking fourth all-time in career point points scored. From his 81-point game to his 60-point finale, the Lower Merion native left a lasting impact on the game that will surely not be forgotten.
GOAT Rank 5. Magic Johnson
· 1979–91, 1996 Los Angeles Lakers
· 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 1.9 SPG
· GOAT Attribute: Passing
Earvin “Magic” Johnson revolutionized the game when he came into the league, becoming the tallest point guard in league history at 6’9”. Magic took the league by storm as no one ever saw a point guard so tall move the ball with such grace and dish no look dimes with ease. Johnson was the first overall pick in 1979, spending his entire playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, headlining the “Showtime” Lakers to 9 NBA Finals appearances and five NBA championships. Johnson was a 9x All- NBA first teamer and lead the league in assists 4x while also leading the league in steals twice. The 12x All-star was a 3x MVP and the face of basketball for much of the 80’s as him and Larry Bird’s Celtics/Lakers rivalry have been accredited for changing and saving the game of basketball.
GOAT Rank 4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
· 1969–75 Milwaukee Bucks; 1975–89 Los Angeles Lakers
· 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG
· GOAT Attribute: Scorer
The greatest scorer of all time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ranks first in career points by over 2,000 points to the next closest player. Formerly known as Lew Alcindor, Abdul- Jabbar won three NCAA championships with UCLA before he was selected first overall in 1969 by the Milwaukee Bucks. After six years and one championship with the Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he would win five more NBA titles. Kareem was an NBA record 6x NBA MVP and a 19x NBA All-star throughout his career. The inventor of the sky hook, Kareem absolutely dominated the game in every facet, becoming the second best big man to ever play the game.
GOAT Rank 3. Wilt Chamberlain
· 1959–62 Philadelphia Warriors, 1962–65 San Francisco Warriors; 1965–68 Philadelphia 76ers; 1968–73 Los Angeles Lakers
· 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG
· GOAT Attribute: Physical Specimen
The reason Kareem is the second greatest big man of all time is because of this man right here. Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain is arguably the best athlete to ever grace the basketball court simply based off his measurables. This man was 7”1’, could run a 4.40 40-yard dash, bench over 500 pounds, and had a vertical jump of 48 inches. He was truly ahead of his time, as Chamberlain dominated the sport for 15 years, winning two championships with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers. Wilt was a 4x league MVP and 13x NBA All-star who could do it all on the basketball court. He was a 7x scoring champion (7th highest scorer of all time), an 11x rebounding champion, and just for fun, was the NBA’s assist leader in 1968. Wilt averaged video game numbers during his career, becoming the only NBA player in history to average over 50 points per game in a season. He also holds the top three spots in the record book for rebounds per game in a season. Mostly known for his unbeatable record of 100 points scored in one game, Wilt also is the only player in NBA history to have 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 20 assists in a game. The man was a unicorn on the court and physical specimen the game will never see again. Just because he played in an era where competition was a lot different, we can’t disrespect the numbers he put up and the impact he had on the game of basketball. Best big man of all-time.
GOAT Rank 2. Michael Jordan
· 1984–93, 1995–98 Chicago Bulls; 2001–03 Washington Wizards
· 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG
· GOAT Attribute: Winner
The GOAT in a lot of people’s eyes, Michael Jordan is the second greatest basketball player in my GOAT rankings. MJ played for 15 years in the league, going a perfect 6–6 in the NBA finals and winning 6 NBA Finals MVPs. His Airiness was a 14x NBA All-star and a 5x NBA Most Valuable Player. Regarded as the best two-way player of all time, Jordan won 10 scoring titles and was a 9x First Team All-Defense selection. The two-time Slam Dunk Champion ranks fifth all time in scoring and holds the record for career regular season scoring average of 30.12 points per game and also holds the all-time playoff points per game record of 33.5. Outside of the NBA, Jordan remains the richest former professional athlete in the world, accumulating a net worth of $1.6 billion thanks to his own Jordan brand. The man has won on and off the court.
GOAT Rank 1. LeBron James
· 2003–10, 2014–18 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010–14 Miami Heat; 2018–20 Los Angeles Lakers
· 27.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG
· GOAT Attribute: Everything
A controversial ranking none the less, LeBron James comes in at No.1 on the GOAT Rank of Top 10 NBA players of all-time. A 6’9” phenom from Akron, Ohio, LeBron’s stardom began at a young age as he was labeled the next great NBA star while in high school. Selected as the first overall pick in 2003 by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron’s expectations were sky high as he was compared to greats before he even stepped on the court. Now in his 18th season, it’s safe to say he lived up to the hype, winning 4 NBA Titles, 4 Finals MVP’s, and 4 regular season MVP’s. The 17x All-star is a 13x All-NBA First team selection, and a 5x NBA All-Defensive team section. He holds the record for most points and minutes played in the playoffs.
When it comes to all-time records, he ranks third on the NBA’s scoring list, 8th on the NBA’s assists list, and 13th on the NBA’s steals list. He can do it all and I feel like that’s what separates him from Jordan as LeBron can impact the game in more ways than one. I’ll admit, not being able to see Jordan play in my lifetime definitely has an impact on my vote, but I truly believe LeBron is the best all around athlete to ever play the game of basketball. He seems to have broken almost every record when it comes to being the youngest player to achieve it and at age 36, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. And that’s why he’s considered the GOAT in my eyes. Based on how he keeps his body in top shape, he still has about five more years left in him, giving him more than enough time to break even more records and becoming the game’s greatest scorer of all time.
Sources:
“Basketball Statistics and History.” Basketball, Sports Reference , 2021, www.basketball-reference.com/.
“NBA History Leaders .” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 2021, www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders.
“Ranking the Top 74 NBA Players of All Time: Nos. 10–1.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 13 May 2020, www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29105801/ranking-top-74-nba-players-all-nos-10-1.