Who Is the Best NBA Player of All Time?

The NBA’s greatest player of all time debate is something that will likely never reach a universal conclusion.

However, we can recognize how great these players were and how their efforts gave their teams favourable NBA odds to win a championship.

Let’s take a look at some of the greatest players to ever step onto the hardwood.

Who Is the Best NBA Player of All Time?

LeBron James

LeBron James has helped all of his teams boast high championship basketball odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook throughout his career.

LeBron James highlights 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NBi72joGTL

— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) April 7, 2021

King James has made a living by powering down the lane like a locomotive and throwing down some of the most powerful dunks imaginable, often through heavy contact.

His incredible build and athletic prowess are complemented by arguably the highest basketball IQ the game has ever seen. This is evidenced by his ability to thread no-look, behind-the-back passes and sling the ball past defenders with precision, making the most difficult passes look easy.

Defensively, James is exceptional in rotation, with the leaping ability to meet his opponents at the summit and swat away easy looks. He forces opponents into tough shots by standing his ground and preventing them from blowing by him, often knocking the ball loose to create easy transition points.

James has helped elevate lean teams to championship contention, a prime example being when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007 at just 22 years old with no true co-star by his side.

James rejoined the Cavs in 2014 after bolting for the Miami Heat in 2010, where he earned two rings.

While Cleveland had a young Kyrie Irving, they still failed to reach the playoffs in the years the kid from Akron was out of town. However, upon his return, James led the Cavs to the Finals four straight times, extending his personal streak to eight.

James led the Cavs to their first championship win in 2016, but it wasn’t easy. They faced a 3-1 deficit to the Golden State Warriors, who had just finished with the best record in NBA history at 73-9, and no team had ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. 

But James put forth back-to-back 41-point efforts, a 27-point triple-double, and executed arguably the biggest chase-down block of all time in Game 7 to help the Cavs secure the historic upset.

After his second go-around at home, James moved on to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, helping them win a championship in 2020.

Since tracking began in 1996-1997, James has the most clutch-time points in NBA history, second-most game-tying or game-winning shots inside the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime, and five game-winning buzzer beaters in the playoffs, which is the most in league history.

When you consider that James has the most points in NBA history, his incredible longevity while only showing subtle signs of decline, and his overall ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, James deserves the label of being the NBA GOAT.

Accomplishments: 20-time All-Star, 20-time All-NBA, four-time champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time NBA MVP, six-time All-Defensive, one-time scoring champion, one-time assist champion.

Best NBA Players Ever, Honor Roll

Michael Jordan 

Michael Jordan didn’t need much of a runway to take off and could leap from anywhere, treating fans worldwide to some of the most majestic dunks and layups you’ll ever see, hence the Air Jordan nickname. It looked even better when he’d finish through contact and over outstretched arms.

MJ also had the complete package as a midrange scorer with his face-ups, jab steps, pull-ups, turnarounds, and fadeaway jumpers.

Defensively, Jordan suffocated his opponents, especially on the perimeters, where he made it impossible for them to blow by him. He’s the only guard and one of three players to record at least 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season.

Jordan averaged 31.5 points per game in his 930 games with the Chicago Bulls. His playoff average of 33.4 points per game is the most in NBA history, which includes his 41 points per game during the 1993 NBA Finals, the highest in NBA Finals history.

Michael Jordan's TOP 23 DUNKS in NBA Playoffs 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UsDawgt4Fv

— OLDSKOOLBBALL (@Oldskoolbball1) April 29, 2024

MJ came through in the most crucial moments of several of those games by drilling some of the most memorable game-winning shots of all time, as his nine game-winning buzzer-beating shots are the most of all time.

His most memorable one may have come as his last shot as a Bull during Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, where he crossed up Byron Russell and elevated to help Chicago win its sixth championship of the decade. Some may think it was a push-off, but that’s up to your interpretation.

Many fans consider Jordan the GOAT due to his six championships with one team in as many tries, achieved through two separate three-peats, with a retirement and stint in professional baseball in between. They may even remind you that he never needed to play in a Finals Game 7, led the Bulls to a 72-10 record during the 1995-1996 season, played in an era with more physical play, and rarely, if ever, sat out any games. 

Jordan also gained a lot of admiration for his commitment to studying film, analyzing opponents’ tendencies, and executing strategies that helped give him an advantage on both ends of the floor. MJ wasn’t afraid to sprinkle in a little bit of trash talk either, and the best part was that he’d back it up.

Jordan’s peak is something we may never see again, but in my opinion, it’s hard to ignore James’ unparalleled longevity and his consistent ability to impact the game at the highest level throughout his career.

Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, six-time champion, six-time Finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year, nine-time All-Defensive, 10-time scoring champion. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA’s all-time points record for nearly 40 years, consistently torching his opponents inside the paint, especially with his deadly skyhook. He also got all of those points with just one 3-pointer made.

Abdul-Jabbar has the most MVPs in NBA history and won Finals MVPs in 1971 and 1985, speaking to how long he lasted in the league as a dominant all-around force as a scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker.

Accomplishments: 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, six-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, six-time NBA MVP, 11-time All-Defensive, four-time block champion, two-time scoring champion.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Magic Johnson revolutionized the point guard position with his no-look passes on the fast break, alley-oop lobs from halfcourt, and bullets past multiple defenders to set up plays for his teammates.

His bigger frame also allowed him to post up smaller defenders and get to the rack at will, especially in transition.

Johnson is still the only rookie to win Finals MVP, as he started at center in Game 6 and dropped 42 points in 1980.

Magic Johnson highlights never get old.

No doubt the greatest point guard of all-time.

Controlled a game like no one else.

Put the 'show' in 'showtime'.

Saved the NBA (along with Larry Bird).

Greatest passer & leader in basketball history. pic.twitter.com/5g7y6hrTdj

— PBA insider 🏀 (@PBAinsider) February 10, 2020

Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, five-time champion, three-time Finals MVP, three-time NBA MVP, four-time assist champion, two-time steals champion.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant was a clone of Jordan in many ways, especially as a midrange scorer and perimeter defender.

Bryant’s commitment to excellence, dubbed Mamba Mentality, included early morning training sessions, the willingness to play through pain, and learn from failures.

The Black Mamba’s hard work paid off, as his 81-point game on Jan. 22, 2006, is the second-highest point total scored by an individual player in a game. He also had a stretch of four straight 50-point games in 2007 and nine straight 40-point games in 2003.

Bryant’s eight game-winning buzzer-beating shots are second all-time. He also has the second-most clutch time points and the most game-tying or game-winning shots inside the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime.

17 years ago: Kobe Bryant drops 60 points against the Grizzlies.

It was Mamba’s third of four straight 50+ point games. 🐐
pic.twitter.com/ONJHyd7Ulf

— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) February 22, 2024

Accomplishments: 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, five-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, one-time NBA MVP, 12-time All-Defensive, two-time scoring champion.