The Top 10 NBA Players of All-Time

I’m a basketball nerd – a total snob of the sport. I love it in its present form, but I’m also a historian who watches games from the past, even as far back as the days before there was a 3-point line.

I just adore the psychology of the sport and the teamwork necessary to be successful. Because of that, I coach basketball at the youth level, and I study it at every level – from Biddy Basketball all the way to the NBA.

I’m a non-discriminatory basketball dork. I love the game at both the men’s and women’s levels, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Many sports fans criticize the WNBA and women’s college basketball. I love both. I think the women’s game is often the purest form of hoops we have in terms of teamwork, ball movement and excellent shot selection.

So with all of this being said, it’s my time to formally chime in on one of the oldest, but most polarizing debates there is in sports: the debate regarding the best hoops stars of all-time.

This is a topic I’ve always avoided in the past, because I think putting out such a list in many ways it’s a lose-lose situation for a journalist to be in. For one, it’s impossible to rank players without making someone upset. We all grew up at different times and in different eras. My favorites will not be someone else’s and so-on and so-forth. It spews passion and pointed conversation that detracts from the greatness of everyone involved. For example, the LeBron guy always disrespects Michael Jordan’s greatness. On the same foot, Jordan guy always mocks LeBron and others. That’s not fair. Both players are great, and both players should be appreciated for what they are.

Likewise, lists are tough because of how much the sport has changed. Today’s players have better training and are bigger, faster and stronger than ever. But if the guys of the past had the same, couldn’t they have been equally dominant? It’s a question that we’ll never know the answer to, which is exactly why this is so challenging and difficult.

But my whining aside, here’s what I got – my Top 10 NBA players of all-time. Most of the names won’t be a shock, but the order just may be.

Have an opinion? Do you agree? Disagree? Drop me a line, and we can have a little friendly debate. That’s something that’s always welcome in these lonely sportsless summer months.

CASEY’s CORNER TOP 10 NBA PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME:

No. 10: Shaquille O’Neal

For about a half-decade, Shaq was an absolutely unstoppable force – maybe the most unguardable player in league history. He would have had a shot to be No. 1 all-time if not for motivation issues throughout his career. Shaq had a tendency to be overweight and a bit of a lollygagger. If he could have sustained his greatness a little longer, he’d be far higher, because his best was so damned good.

No. 9: Bill Russell

Gosh, you know your list is amazing when you have Bill Russell at No. 9. Russell was a dominant defensive center in the NBA’s earliest days, winning 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons. But deep down, I always wonder how great Russell truly is, because he played on absolutely amazing teams loaded full with Hall of Famers. I think other guys did more with less, so Russell comes in at No. 9, though he’s Top 5 or Top 3 on many others.

No. 8: Jerry West

Jerry West was so far ahead of his time. A dynamic scoring guard, West averaged 27.0 points and 6.7 assists per game in a 14-year career (1960-74) that never had the benefit of the 3-point line, though most of his shots were from that distance. Today, West would be celebrated and praised as a better, more dominant Stephen Curry. If not for the great Boston Celtics teams of the 1960s, this guy would maybe have 5-6 NBA Championships.

No. 7: Larry Bird

Hands down, the best shooter of all-time. Up until this year, I had ol’ Larry Legend comfortably at No. 6 on my list. But some recent happenings in the NBA have made me change his positioning and drop him to No. 7 – not that that’s such a bad thing anyway.

No. 6: LeBron James

The NBA’s King is that “recent happening” that dropped Larry Bird down a notch on the hierarchy. James is the most physically imposing player in the history of the game. He’s built like a center, but plays like a guard. He can guard all five positions and can be absolutely dominant when he wants to be. But too often in LeBron’s career, he’s settled for less than his full potential, which is why he’s not No. 2 behind Michael. But unlike others from the past, LeBron still has many years to pave his path. Five years from now, he just may occupy the top spot.

No. 5: Wilt Chamberlain

The massive 1960s big man is the hardest player to grade on this list. Was he truly a basketball juggernaut or was he a product of being the only tall player of his generation? I lean toward the former. Scoring 100 points in a game is insane – no matter who you play against. Chamberlain was a dominant force, unquestionably one of the legends of our game.

No. 4: Kobe Bryant

I can hear LeBron James’ fans hollering from a mile away. Yes, I have Kobe over LeBron, and yes, I think that’s the right decision to make. Something has to be said for longevity. Kobe Bryant won five NBA Championships with the Lakers. He didn’t need to pick and choose his teams and cities like James did. When LeBron’s full legacy is paved, he may top Kobe, but for right now, the edge goes to Bryant, just to honor the dude’s loyalty to his organization and the overall greatness he’s displayed in his career.

No. 3: Oscar Robertson

With Oscar Robertson, I’ll be brief. The dude averaged a triple-double for an entire NBA season. Anyone who knows a lick about basketball knows how amazingly dominant that feat is. Robertson averaged 29.3 points, 10.3 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game over 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1960s. Robertson was the original LeBron James – the basketball player who truly could do anything.

No. 2: Magic Johnson

Today’s NBA game is as exciting as it is because of Magic Johnson. The high-flying, explosive style that we see in the modern game is a product of the best point guard of all-time. His career was cut a hair short with all of the HIV stuff, but at his peak, Magic Johnson was an absolutely transcendent player.

No. 1: Michael Jordan

There is only one Michael Jordan. The dude made the NBA Finals six times. He won all six. He took two seasons off in the peak of his career, and came back without missing a beat. Jordan was dominant both offensively and defensively. He was a fierce competitor who didn’t like to lose – at anything. Jordan’s competitiveness is second to none and his combination of talent, athleticism and work ethic make him the best to have ever played the game.

Geez, this is hard. Any list that excludes Tim Duncan, Elgin Baylor, Kevin McHale, and some of the other great players in the game is a list that’s incredibly tough to create and make.