The world of Basketball has witnessed a lot of extraordinary players down the history lane. The contribution of these players to their team and the game is immeasurable. Here are the top 5 greatest NBA players of all time.
5. Steph Curry
The MVP of the latest season NBA Finals and the best player of the reigning champion team Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry is one of his kind when it comes to his shooting skills. He sets a new record for three-pointers every year and breaks them himself the following season.
This four-time NBA Championship winner also has an NBA record on his name. He has a record number of 3-point field goals and a record average free throw percentage of .908.
4. Kobe Bryant
Basketball was in Kobe’s genes, having been born to a former professional basketball player. He played as a shooting guard for the infamous Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years.
This 18-time NBA All-star player led his team to victory in five NBA Championships. He was announced the NBA MVP in 2008 and is a two-time NBA Finals MVP.
3. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
A nineteen-time NBA All-star, Kareem Abdul initially played for the Milwaukee Bucks as a central player. However, after a successful run with his former team, he went on to Los Angeles Lakers for the latter half of his career.
He is also a six-time NBA MVP which is the highest number a player has ever achieved. This six-time NBA Champion is also a record holder for two NBA records: 18 All-star games played and an average of 2.1 blocks per game in those 18 matches.
2. LeBron James
The player has been mentioned in the ALL-NBA Team a total of 13 times. LeBron started his professional career with Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he could not win a single championship with the team in seven years. The player moved on to Miami Heat to win his first championship in 2012.
He is a four times NBA Champion and currently plays as a small forward for the LA Lakers. He is also a four-time NBA MVP and eighteen-time NBA All-Star.
1. Michael Jordan
The name speaks for itself when it’s Jordan. MJ was one of the finest players of his era and there was no match for his skillset. He was way ahead of his time and was making inhuman plays that nobody else was capable of imagining.
Let aside the praise and let the numbers speak for him. He has led his team to victory in six NBA Championships. In all those final matches he was the MVP of the team. During his peak, he won all the championships that he encountered. He missed his streak of seven only because he had quit basketball due to his father’s death in 1995.
The player has the NBA record for the highest average of points per game(PPG) in his career. His all-time average is 30.1 PPG. The player also has five annual MVP awards sitting atop the humungous mountain of awards in his home.
Special Mention:
Bill Russell
The player with the most number of Championships is none other than the center player for Boston Celtics, Bill Russell. He was an integral part of the unbeatable Celtics team who won the Championships seven consecutive times between 1957-66.
Bill Russell is a five-time NBA MVP and a 12 times NBA All-Star. In his fifteen years basketball career, he grabbed the trophy a total of 11 times with an 85% win rate. The player also holds the record for the highest average RPG in NBA. He had an average of 24.9 rebounds per game for his entire career.
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