Is LeBron James still King of the NBA? Barkley sits at fifth in value over replacement player and when it comes to career box plus/minus, he ranks only behind Michael Jordan and LeBron James, revealing his overall dominance. As LeBron's legacy continues to grow, the debate of who is the best player in league history becomes closer than ever before. Robertson was the first player in NBA history to average a triple double for an entire season, and his 181 career triple doubles are 43 more than the player with the second-highest number. From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, here are the 30 best basketball players to ever play. on 2/19/21 at 12:34 am to SloaneRanger. But his three championship rings may be his best accomplishment, especially since one came without the aid of LeBron James, leaving no doubt to his leadership abilities. Russell was also a 12-time NBA All-Star and 11-time All-NBA team selection. Philadelphia Warriors legend Paul Arizin was a member of the first-ever NBA All-Star team in 1951, one of 10 times he was given that honor during his career. In just seven seasons in the NBA, George Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to a stunning five championships, cementing himself as the league’s first dominant star. Killer Stat: .435 Three-Point Shooting Percentage. A defender’s nightmare in his NBA heyday, Karl Malone put up 25 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for his entire career, which lasted nearly 20 years and somehow never resulted in a championship. One of the game’s first all-around stars, Elgin Baylor also might have had the worst luck in NBA history, never winning a championship despite helping lead the Lakers to eight NBA Finals appearances in his 14 seasons on the court. He’s averaging 24 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, as well as 2.4 blocks every time he takes the floor. 2004. On top of that, he’s contributing 6.4 assists per game, which puts him in the top 50 all time for that category. In a time where load management keeps many star players on the bench, Lillard has averaged 36.28 minutes per game for his career, which is only behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant among active players. The 10-time All-Star and nine-time All-Defensive selection is ranked second all time for assists and steals, fifth for minutes played and inside the top 30 for defensive rebounds. Since joining the Houston Rockets that same year, Harden has revealed himself to be one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, averaging more than 29 points per game since the 2012-13 season. Let that sink in for a moment. Before a guy named LeBron James hit the scene, Nate Thurmond was probably the most famous basketball player to come from Akron, Ohio. by q23 Plays Quiz not verified by Sporcle . Probably the greatest compliment to the '03 class is to acknowledge that all 30 players on this list were NBA starters at one point in their career, not many draft classes can stake that claim. Somehow, he was only a five-time All-Star, but at least he landed in the Hall of Fame. That said, Embiid hasn't always been put in a position to succeed. Despite his well-documented protest, Allen Iverson clearly spent a lot of time at practice. Career Celtic John Havlicek won a mind-boggling eight championships in his 16 seasons in the NBA, which goes nicely with the NCAA championship he won at Ohio State. The best point guard of his generation — and possibly the best ever — “CP3” has proven to be as good at providing scoring opportunities for his teammates as he is at taking them for himself. Contributor III. The six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls was a member of the league’s vaunted All-Defensive squad an astonishing 10 times, which is the sixth most selections ever and one more than his fabled teammate, Michael Jordan. Averaging a career double double of 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game is the first thing that jumps out about Charles Barkley’s career in Philadelphia, Phoenix and Houston, but when you look at his ranking in advanced statistics, you really see how special he was. Selected as an All-Star in all 16 of his professional seasons, “Dr. The Washington Post’s Top 100 of 2021 list projects the premier NBA talents for the 2020-21 season. This time nine members - myself included - ranked who they believe are the top 30 players in the league. The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, here are the 30 best basketball players to ever play. Click the Pk for players drafted in that slot. Intro 50-41 40-31 30-21 20-11 10-01 Credits. “The Glide” was a perennial All-Star during the late 1980s and through the ‘90s, making the squad 10 times in 16 seasons. By Aliano Christopher Published Feb 01, 2017. He led the Warriors to a championship in 1956 because of his prolific scoring and rebounding abilities. Comments. Germany’s greatest contribution to the game, Dirk Nowitzki was one of the most dynamic big men the NBA has ever seen. He averaged an even 20 points to go along with 6.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists on a nightly basis for his Hall-of-Fame career. in 2003-04. Named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history by the league in 1996, Pippen is arguably the best wing defender of all-time. Robinson was also a beast in terms of advanced metrics, ranking in the top five for career box plus/minus. Baylor was a beast, averaging 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game for his career. We explore the top 5 undrafted players in the league this season. Even more impressively, Arizin hardly ever took a breather, averaging 38.4 minutes per game, which is the 12th highest average ever. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The nearly-7-foot giant became the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple double and is still one of just four guys to ever do it at that level. Hakeem Olajuwon ranks 14th all time in value over replacement and is 10th for that category when it comes to playoff games. Arguably the best shooter in history, Steph Curry has also proven himself to be one of the biggest winners ever in the NBA. As dominant as any single player has ever been in a team sport, Wilt Chamberlain was unstoppable in his day. In that former league, he ranks as the second all-time scorer, with his 27,482 points ranking him 11th in the history of both leagues combined. The Lakers icon averaged nearly a triple double for his career, putting up 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 11.2 assists per night in a 16-year span. Believe it or not, there have been seven players in the NBA all time who attended Western Carolina University, including Martin, the 26th overall pick in the 2004 draft. Sports Quiz / Best NBA Player's of 2004-2011 Random Sports or Basketball Quiz Can you name the Best NBA Player's of 2004-2011? I'd let it play out a bit. Stockton was also a ruthless defender, ranking in the top 10 for career steals per game. ... and averaged a career-best 24.2 points during the 2004 season. History Players Tournaments Teams Leagues Games Tips Forums Search. A truly special one can even lead a team to season-length greatness without needing a ton of help. He averaged a stellar 22.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for his career, easily landing him in the Hall of Fame and on this list of the greatest NBA players ever. No more arenas filled with thousands of screaming fans, although the NBA has found a way to let at least some fans watch the games live. In addition to all that, his career average of 22 points per game is 33rd in NBA history. On the heels of his recent retirement, Dwyane Wade sits in the all-time top 40 for many statistical categories, including steals, points, field goals and free throws made. Sinking more than 58 percent of his career field goals attempted, O’Neal has the sixth-best shooting percentage in NBA history, and the second-best such mark among retired players. Wallace averaged a career-best 15.4 rebounds per game in 2002-03 and was part of the 2004 NBA championship team in Detroit. His career totals put him inside the all-time top 20 for both points scored and field goals made. 2004-05 NBA season Finals, awards and best players NBA Finals 2005. Playing alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson with the “Showtime” Lakers, Bob McAdoo has a tendency to be overlooked in hindsight. Before LeBron James came around, there may never have been a better all-around player than Magic Johnson. League leaders for the 2004-05 NBA season. You get a true sense of how special Erving was compared to the players of his era when you realize he was named to 12 All-League teams, which puts him in a third-place tie for the most such honors in history. Read Full Review . 2019-20 stats: 23 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 blocks, 47.7% FG, 33.1% 3FG Where he stands right now: On pure talent alone, few players can top Embiid; it's been frustrating to watch him fall short of his tremendously high ceiling thus far. Couple that with his 21.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game and you’ll understand why the San Antonio Spurs great made the All-NBA team 10 times. LeBron … Curry’s skill at shooting three pointers is nearly unmatched, with him ranking third all-time in three-pointers made and fourth in three-point shooting percentage. “The Beard” also ranks in the top 10 for both career box plus/minus and win shares per 48 minutes. Killer Stat: 16-Time All-Star in 16 Seasons Played. Photo: Reuters. NBA's best players gather for All-Star Game like no other By Ben Morse, CNN 11 mins ago. Throw in the fact that he’s arguably the best college basketball player in history and you’ve got probably the best full career any baller has ever had. It is typically a time where the great and good of the NBA showcase their unique skills to an assembled crowd of fans and A-list celebrities. But, of those NBA stars, who have been the greatest players of all? In terms of value over replacement player, for both the regular season and playoffs, as well as career box plus/minus, he’s the best in NBA history. He won two championships with the team in the 1980s, which came a few years after his peak in the mid-1970s, when he was named MVP and led the league in scoring three times. His career average of 26.7 points per game is ridiculous and ranks as the seventh-best mark in history. He was named an All-Star and All-NBA selection in all 11 seasons of his career, including 10 first-team All-NBA selections, which is the same number Michael Jordan earned. 1. NBA Player Salaries - 2020-2021 Season: You can stand in awe of his career stat line of 27.11 points (fourth all time), 7.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists per ... Read more The Best NBA Players Of All Time 03 Giannis Antetokounmpo. Hands-down the most prolific winner in American sports history, Bill Russell helped lead the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA titles in his 13-season career. Here are some more insane figures about Havlicek’s NBA tenure: he was a 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA pick and eight-time All-Defensive pick, making him easily one of the most decorated players in history. Few players offered as much inch-for-inch power to their teams as Jason Kidd, who stood at just 6 feet, 4 inches tall but played much bigger. by KobeFanSince2004 Plays Quiz not verified by Sporcle . I had it March of last year, and my feeling has always been I’m not taking the vaccine almost a year later. NBA’s best players gather for All-Star Game like no other. 50 BEST PLAYERS IN THE NBA. Toss in the fact that he’s also averaged 7.1 rebounds per game and you’ll understand why he’s 12th all time in win shares per 48 minutes. “The Big O” ranks in the all-time top 10 for points per game (25.7) and assists per game (9.5), while his average of 7.5 rebounds per game is also nothing to take lightly. He finished his career with averages of 5.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, having won four Defensive Player of the Year awards and making four All-Star teams. Copyright © The Delite, All Rights Reserved. Abdul-Jabbar was a key part of six championship-winning teams for the Bucks and the Lakers. Posted: May 8, 2005 Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns was named the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2004-05 season, the NBA announced today. Credentials: Only player to finish in top 10 in points, rebounds, blocks and field-goal pct. You can stand in awe of his career stat line of 27.11 points (fourth all time), 7.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, but James is one of those players whose advanced statistics are even more mind-boggling. Gaming Quiz / Best NBA 2K Players Each Year. He might not have been the flashiest player of his day, but “The Big Fundamental” was a nearly unstoppable winner in the first part of the 2000s, leading the San Antonio Spurs to five championships. Best NBA Player Props Bets for March 2. It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. He earned that by being a fierce competitor who averaged a double double of 17.8 points and 10 rebounds per game for 20 years. He’s made four All-Star teams and All-NBA squads thanks to his reliable production, which has seen him average an impressive 23.7 points per game for his career, which puts him in the top 25 all time. Best NBA Player Props Bets for March 2. Players like Kyle Korver, Luke Walton and Mo Williams all were drafted in the second round in 2003. We searched through the many statistical leaderboards at Basketball-Reference.com and found the players who dominated the game and left very large basketball shoes for their successors to fill. Larry Bird was about as deadly a shooter as there’s ever been, proving instrumental to the Boston Celtics teams that he led to three NBA championships — and five NBA Finals appearances — in the 1980s. They finally broke through and reached the Western Conference finals in 2004, solidifying Garnett’s place as the NBA’s best player. The three-point contest, started in 1986, has become one of the most exciting parts of every All-Stat Weekend. On top of that, Irving has averaged 22.4 points and 5.7 assists per game for his career, the former of which ranks him inside the all-time top 30. In a generation of prolific production, LeBron James stands apart as the best — and as one of the game’s all-time greats. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The NBA has done vaccine PSAs with Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, but there's a strong belief the league's top players -- many of whom who are Black -- … After a college career at Kentucky where he was an absolute beast, Dan Issel continued that dominance throughout his professional career, which spanned the ABA and NBA. On top of all that, Drexler is one of only 11 players to average at least 2.0 steals per game for his NBA career. He was also a monster on defense, averaging 2.35 steals per game, which is the best mark among all Hall of Famers and third in NBA history. NBA. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. NBA Champion: San Antonio Spurs. LeBron James has earned his fourth NBA championship and fourth Finals MVP, closing the gap on the ring total of all-time great Michael Jordan. “Larry Legend” held down averages of 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in his career, figures which helped him put together 59 career triple-doubles. #2 — LeBron James (2004-Present) Killer Stat: 27.1 Points Per Game In a generation of prolific production, LeBron James stands apart as the best — and as one of the game’s all-time greats. The fact that he never got to win an NBA championship is one of the game’s true travesties. 100% Deposit Match Up to $600. He averaged 24.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for his career, and ranks 17th all-time in steals per game for his combined ABA/NBA career. Do you have a sports website? The Top 50 NBA Players in the Decade of the 2000s. This is a collaborative effort from our NBA Global Staff. KRDO | 20m. T-10. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The fact that he led his Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat teams to eight consecutive NBA Finals, winning three championships, is also nearly unfathomable in an age where elite talent is spread across the league. Pettit was also the first player to ever be named NBA MVP, an honor he would win twice. “Black Mamba” is tied for first all time with 15 All-NBA selections and his 25 career 50-point games rank him third all time, behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. From Luka Doncic to Lebron James. He averaged a double double for his career, landing him a ridiculous 15 selections on the All-NBA squad, which ties him for the most in history. Durant was ranked No. Data Provided By The 118 different games in which he scored at least 50 points is by far the most ever — 87 more than Jordan, who takes second. Also no slouch with the ball, Pippen averaged 16.1 points per game for his career to go with his stellar average of 1.96 steals per game, which is 14th in history. How to Play. NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs (W) 4 Detroit Pistons (E) 3 NBA Finals MVP: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) Main players: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili, Robert Horry (San Antonio Spurs), Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Richard Hamilton (Detroit Pistons). The eight-time All-Star was mostly remembered for his time with the Denver Nuggets, where he led the league in scoring for the 1982-83 season. Speaking of that number, Bryant also averaged 25.0 points per game for his career, which puts him at 12th all time. No player in NBA history has matched — or even come within 1,000 points of — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points. Only three players have ever put together more 50-point games than Harden — and they are all on this list. LeBron James has earned his fourth NBA championship and fourth Finals MVP, closing the gap on the ring total of all-time great Michael Jordan. Seasons worn: 1999-2004. Notable players in this look: Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac, Mike Bibby. Ranking the 30 best players in the 2019-20 NBA season restart. June 20, 2011. He put together career averages of 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.09 blocks per game, the latter of which is the best mark among all Hall of Famers. the official stats partner of the NBA. Towering over most other players, the 7-foot 1-inch giant managed to rip down 22.9 rebounds per game, a number that will likely never be matched for the rest of time. Colorado (19 players) All-Time: Chauncey Billups (Denver) - 15.2/2.9/5.4 (1998-2014) - One of the most famous "late-bloomers" in the NBA, the two-way guard is most famous for his 2004 Finals MVP. From Larry Bird winning it three straight times, the last of which he accomplished wit… re: Top NBA players are hesitant to promote the vaccine Posted. Are you a Stathead, too? Every Sports Reference Social Media Account. Tied #10 Kevin Martin. Rate 5 stars Rate 4 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 2 stars Rate 1 star . 3 / 20. He also put up at least 50 points in 17 different games, which is fifth-most all time. Jordan is the greatest scorer in NBA history, averaging 30.1 points per game, which is higher than even Wilt Chamberlain. He was a monster around the rim, averaging 2.4 blocks and 9.8 rebounds to go with 21 points per game for his career. Comment Bubble Icon. Perhaps more than any other team sport, basketball allows for excellent players to make themselves stand out from those who are merely good. These 50 players were selected through a vote by a panel of media members, former players and coaches, and current and former general managers. From Larry Bird winning it three straight times, the last of which he accomplished wit… He actually places among the all-time greats in that area as well, ranking second in NBA history in career triple doubles recorded. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Speaking of wicked defenders, Scottie Pippen is legendary for his skills on that side of the floor. Click the College for players drafted from that college. Here's how cities are intervening. Ewing’s heroics made him a favorite of fans and experts on the game, landing him in 11 All-Star Games and seven All-NBA squads. Somehow, he only won a single championship despite leading nine different Los Angeles Lakers teams to the NBA Finals. He’s the only player in history to accomplish that feat. The former champion with the Boston Celtics in 2008 has the fourth-highest value over replacement player ever, putting him above Charles Barkley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan. by Wild Thang. There was a stretch from 1988-1993 with the Jazz in which “The Mailman” averaged nearly 29 points and more than 11 rebounds per game, but he wouldn’t earn his two NBA MVP awards until after that. He’s averaged better than 27 points per game in his career thus far, making him one of only six guys to ever hit that mark. Here we rank the 30 best individual NBA seasons from players over 35. Here's a look at some numbers to support either side of the argument. With a … Which one of Pascal Siakam and Jayson Tatum made the top 10? He averaged 16.3 points and 6.7 assists per game for his career and finally won that long-overdue championship near the end of his career in 2006 with the Miami Heat. Homeless Americans fear vaccine conspiracies. He ranks in the top 10 all-time in a host of other categories, including value over replacement player and win shares per 48 minutes. Hall of Famer Alex English never won a championship, but it wasn’t for lack of effort or skill. LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 21: Brooklyn Nets Guard Joe Harris (12) tries to save the ball during a NBA game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers on February 21, … Or write about sports? However, TheDelite may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website. NBA player props for all seven games on Monday March 1st, 2021. The six-time All-Star proved a dynamic teammate for LeBron James, helping him lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a championship in 2016. Davis’ player efficiency rating is the third-best in NBA history, only behind LeBron James and Michael Jordan, making him a general manager’s dream. Random Gaming or Video Games Quiz. Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history. A guard who was truly ahead of his time when it came to doing it all for his team (he played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks), Oscar Robertson was the original prototype of a Russell Westbrook- or James Harden-type player. Towering at 6 feet 10 inches, Mikan used his massive size and innovative moves to average 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds per game, leading the league in scoring three times. 2004 — Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (No. Of course, Russell’s era — in which players that matched his stature of 6 feet 10 inches were far less common — makes his numbers a bit less impressive, but he was unquestionably dominant. Durant takes some flack for joining the already-great Golden State Warriors after he failed to beat them with his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he was an instrumental part of that team’s most recent two championships before splitting for Brooklyn. All that and more in our latest player rankings. NBA Player Props & Betting Picks: Steph Curry O/U 5.5 Assists. Johnson’s spectacular play helped him lead the Lakers to five NBA championships in his career, and he ranks fourth all time in value over replacement player for playoff games, showing they couldn’t have done it without him. Support Sporcle. Get the ad-free and most optimal, full-featured Sporcle experience. The 247Sports rankings are determined by our recruiting analysts after countless hours of personal observations, film evaluation and input from our network of scouts. Current player stats were accurate as of January 2020. 0 of 49. In 2003 the NBA saw its current wave of stars enter the league. Homeless Americans fear vaccine conspiracies. Another stat that might shock you is that O’Neal averaged more points per game than Steph Curry, contributing 23.7 points on any given night — virtually all of which came inside the paint. McAdoo’s numbers were phenomenal, as he averaged 22.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game on the low post. Do you have a blog? Popular Quizzes Today . He averaged 20.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over a span of 20 years and led the Dallas Mavericks franchise to its only championship, in 2011. Can you name the NBA Guess Teams Best Player From Last Decade? We’re ranking the best NBA players of all time. Top 50 Best Basketball Players Of The 2013-2014 NBA Season. It’s hard to believe that James Harden was coming off the bench as recently as 2012, when he played for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In addition to being the game’s best rebounder ever, his scoring average of 30.1 points per game is second only to Michael Jordan’s, showing he could be a one-man powerhouse for the four different NBA teams he led. Jerry West was so undeniably good that he was voted the MVP of the 1969 NBA Finals — despite being on the losing team! Best bets and player props for points, rebounds, assists and three pointers made. A great basketball player can take over a game almost single-handedly. Wallace averaged a career-best 15.4 rebounds per game in 2002-03 and was part of the 2004 NBA championship team in Detroit. Ranking The 30 Best Players Selected In The Epic 2003 NBA Draft. share url email fbmsngr whatsapp sms. Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes was good for filling a box score, thanks to his career double-double average of 21 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. See the highest and lowest player salaries in the NBA on ESPN.com. His 12 first-team All-NBA selections are also the most ever. Bookies.com senior handicapper Adam Thompson has scoured the top online sportsbooks around the country to find the 3 intriguing NBA player prop bets you should consider tonight. He finished his career with averages of 5.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, having won four Defensive Player of the Year awards and making four All-Star teams. Today, we’ll look back to the 2000s. With certain restrictions in place, basketball games certainly aren’t the same as they were before. The average position was then taken for each player to determine the order. Arguably the best pure point guard in basketball history, Utah Jazz icon John Stockton’s scoring average of 13.1 points per game is one of the lowest on this list, but his average of 10.5 assists per game is second all time. Louis Hawks, but Bob Pettit certainly made the most of it. You can get a sense of how irreplaceable Stockton was to the outstanding Jazz teams he led in the 1990s by the fact that he ranks 20th in NBA history in value over replacement player.

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