Top 20 Best NBA Players of All Time You Should Know (Up to 2017)

KMazing – the USA basketball competition or commonly called the NBA never escaped the conversation of many parties around the world. Thus, until now the NBA is still known to be the most competitive and best male basketball competition in the world. This title is reinforced by the quality of the game shown in every club that takes part in the NBA competition. The quality of the players that involved is on the top shelf of the time. Every club in the NBA competition has a number of players who have very good quality.

But before millennium comes, the record has been made by the older generation player, which create momentum for the competition to take its place as the number one. Undoubtedly, NBA has been blessed with several top players whose achievement get them the legendary status in the competition and the players itself earned their spot as the legendary player of NBA. If you ever wonder who are those great players, you are in the right spot. Here are our top picks for 20 greatest NBA player of all time.

Disclaimer: The ranks of the player didn’t mean the ability or achievement of the players, it was a result from Kmazing team. Peace !

Anyway, let’s go!

20. Reggie Miller

The figure of Reggie Miller actually looks a bit “weird”. His body is really skinny but this player is famous for his 3-point shooting that often comes at crucial moments. Even the at the extreme, he often takes a shot at some distance from the 3-point line.

Actually, Reggie was born with a defective foot shape, causing him to not walk properly. As a child, he walked with the reinforcement plat until he was strong enough to keep up with his body. Many people do not think he could finally be one of the best players in the NBA. Reggie also had time to bring the Pacers to NBA Final in 2000, but unfortunately lost to the Lakers 4-2 at the time.

Scottie Pippen

The player with the full name Scottie Maurice Pippen is the teammate of Michael Jordan when the Chicago Bulls takes the NBA champion six times. Many assume that Pippen is always under the shadow of Jordan. Indeed there is a point, it was proved when the team was abandoned by Jordan, it is Pippen who always scored the highest point for the Bulls but still cannot take the Bulls into a champion.

Because obviously, Pippen’s contribution is so great for Jordan in making the Bulls succeed the champion. Pippen is well known as the best defending player. In addition, he has won six NBA championship rings, Pippen has also been elected eight times as the NBA All-Defensive player, 3 times All-Star First Team, 1 MVP All-star and he also holds the record of most players playing in the playoffs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbYtgQ6_JWM

Charles Barkley

The player with a nickname “Sir Charles” is one of the best players. His early career was as a Philadelphia 76ers player. Barley took Phoenix Sun to the NBA Finals in 1993 against Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. In that year Barkley also won regular season MVP and in 1993 Final, and Barkley recorded a triple-double during the final game. He also strengthened the dream team and won the gold medal in 1992 and 1996. Unfortunately, he was shining at the wrong time, during his golden time, there was also Michael Jordan playing to his fullest so Charles Barkley did not get a proper chance to become NBA Champion.

Kevin Durant

Former Oklahoma City Thunder player has been flooded with various previous achievements. “Rookie of the Year”, two Olympic gold medals, and MVP in the 2013-2014 season. But now Kevin Durant became the frontman of the Golden State Warriors with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Currently, he is the first idol frontcourt in the “NBA All-Star” 2017.

Julius Erving

Dr. J aka Julius Winfield Erving II has played for three teams. There are Virginia Squires, New York Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. He was instrumental in legitimizing the ABA or the American Basketball Association. He was even very popular when the event was merged with the NBA, right in the 1975-1976 season. In 1993, he was inducted into the “Basketball Hall of Fame”. A year later, Sports Illustrated mentioned his name in the 40 Most Important Athletes of All Time. Then in 2004, comes “Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame” inaugurated him for his effort in the basketball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I8enjGYp-s

Jerry West

Players dubbed as “Mr.Clutch” is so devoted to the Los Angeles Lakers team. As long as the figure of the point guard, he has been considered very successful. He became All-Star MVP, 14x in the NBA All-Star team, sworn in the “Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame”, and joined in the list of 50 Greatest Players Throughout the History of the NBA. He’s still in the basketball world. Even his son, Jonnie, has joined the West Virginia Mountaineers team.

Stephen Curry

Wardell Stephen Curry is also an MVP winner for two seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16. He even became the first player to win the MVP title with unanimous votes in NBA history! Now he is just behind LeBron James for the first rank in terms of a prestigious title in the NBA. Curry is known for his three-point shoot accuracy and ability to be an integral part of Golden State Warrior.

Tim Duncan

Playing from 1997 to 2016, Tim Duncan is known as one of the best legendary basketball players with the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan is not only skilled and has amazing skills, but also known as a player who is very quiet and has a good leadership. So it’s no surprise when he made it into this list. The individual achievement of a Tim Duncan is also very impressive. He won two MVP titles, four NBA championship rings, and 13 consecutive years on the NBA All-Star team. At the age of 37 years, Tim Duncan is also still able to take the San Antonio Spurs into the NBA Finals.

Wilt Chamberlain

In the NBA itself, Wilton Norman “Wilt” Chamberlain plays for the Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers. He himself is responsible for the center position. In fact, he is touted as one of the names that dominate the history of the NBA basketball game. He is famous for his tough durability, as reliable scorers, and also in terms of rebound. No doubt if his career was so brilliant. He won two NBA championships and was included in the list of Top 50 Greatest Basketball Players Throughout NBA History. After leaving the field, he continued his career as an actor, writer, and businessman.

Karl Malone

The mailman has been experienced for 18 seasons in the NBA. He and his partner, John Stockton, is known as a very tough Utah Jazz duo. But in 2003, he later left for the Los Angeles Lakers. After no longer being a professional player, he had been an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech from 2007-2011. In 2010, he was sworn in twice in the “Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame”, both on behalf of the individual and as a member of the 1992 US Olympic team.

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon

His professional career took place from 1984 to 2002. During that time, he faithfully occupies the center position in the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. His dedication made Hakeem sworn in the “Basketball Hall of Fame” in 2008. Then in 2016, he was also inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. He broke the record for NBA MV, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in one season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-OdHyp2cwY

Larry Bird

During his time in the NBA, Larry Joe Bird joined the Boston Celtics. Together with the team, he has managed to win the NBA championship three times and the NBA Finals MVP award twice. His love of the basketball world keeps him active despite being no longer a professional player. He decided to become president of the Indiana Pacers team. Larry Bird is the only name that gets the title of Most Valuable Player, Executive of the Year, and Coach of the Year at the same time.

Larry Bird is known as one of the best shooters in the NBA, with a very high accuracy of the shot. On average, he recorded 91.6 percent shooting accuracy from within the two-point line and three times in a row selected as MVP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lt1x-k3QGU

LeBron James

Lebron James is a 32-year-old basketball player, playing forward. He formerly strengthened the Cleveland Cavaliers there in 2003, then moved to Miami Heats in 2010 until 2014. Then he moved to re-join his old club, the Cleveland Cavaliers until now. Throughout his career to become a basketball player, he was able to achieve a number of achievements that are very prestige. He won 3 NBA titles and received the NBA’s best player title (MVP) 4 times, precisely in 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

Oscar Robertson

Oscar Palmer Robertson aka “The Big O” is a former player of the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks teams. During his 14 professional seasons, he has won the MVP Award, 12x All-Star and 11x as a member of the All-NBA team. He was sworn in twice in the “Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame”. Whether it’s on behalf of the person, as well as members of the 1960 US Olympic team. In 1996, voters placed him as one of the Top 50 Best Basketball Players Throughout NBA History.

In his second year, he managed to record an average of 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.8 assists; a triple-double note (double-digit scoring for three things at once) is highest of all time. Not only that, the record 186 times triple-double throughout his career also seems not easily broken in the near future.

Bill Russel

If there is a player who is considered a “god” for Boston Celtics supporters, maybe that figure is Bill Russell. Bill Russell is a player who managed to bring the Boston Celtics from a mediocre team to the NBA champions 11 times in 13 years of his career. This record until now is still a record that can not be equaled by any other NBA players. Yes, Bill Russell really became the spirit of the Boston Celtics team game. He was not only good at scoring and defending, but he also became the main inspiration of his colleagues on the pitch. When Bill Russell came, the Boston Celtics won. And when he retired, this team suffered a downturn.

Shaquille O’Neal

Who does not know the giant figure standing under the basket of LA Lakers, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic? Yes, in his 9-year career as a professional basketball player which ended in 2011, O’Neal won dozens of individual titles as well as teams prestige trophy. To date, O’Neal is also known as one of the best NBA centers of all time. He managed to dedicate three titles to the LA Lakers, in those days he and Kobe Bryant were so dreaded by opponents as a very dangerous death duo. O’Neal was also elected 15 times to appear alongside the NBA All-Star team and sit sixth in the rankings as the all-time leading scorer in the NBA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDSFPvmA75o

Magic Johnson

Had he not played in the same period as Larry Bird, perhaps Magic Johnson could have achieved more achievements and could even be number one on the list of world’s best basketball players. Yes, the rivalry between these two basketball players is so fierce, and in the competition, Johnson managed to dedicate 5 titles to L.A. Lakers and three MVP titles for himself.

His playing style is so extraordinary, where he plays as the heart of team attack that often scores incredible scores and assists. This is what makes the player who has the name of Earvin Johnson is getting the middle name of “Magic” as proof of his prowess on the field.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrC5x3UEx5s

Kobe Bryant

The blood of basketball really flowed from his father, Joe Bryant, who was none other than a former NBA player of the 70-90s. Kobe Bryant spent about 20 years to defend the Los Angeles Lakers team in the NBA. He and the great team have already claimed five NBA championships. Given his age of 34, he became the youngest basketball player to achieve 30,000 points. Sporting News and TNT also put his name as Top NBA Player of the 2000s. Unfortunately, because of health issues, he has decided to retire post 2015-2016 season.

Kobe Bryant presented five titles for LA. Lakers. To date, Kobe has ranked fourth most NBA player scored the most, totaling 31,617 points. Remarkably, all these points he scored are with the same team, L.A. Lakers.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The man whose real name is Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr has been in the NBA for 20 seasons. Its existence means so much to the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Long before the era of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, L.A. The Lakers already have a legend. Yes, Kareem Abdul Jabbar is a remarkable player figure, who until now was in the number one position as the highest scorer in the history of the NBA. In his 20-year career, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar totaled 38,387 points. In the 1970s, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was an unrivaled figure. He successfully won 6 MVP titles and 6 league titles. Together with Magic Johnson, he is known as the best generation of L.A. The Lakers who succeeded in bringing these teams into their heyday.

Michael Jordan

If there are players who can be called the world’s best basketball player of all time, then Michael Jordan is the most worthy of this title. The player who achieved his heyday with the Chicago Bulls has successfully won 6 titles for the team and 5 MVP awards and recorded 10 times to become the highest scorer in one season. Jordan also ranked fourth as the NBA player scored the most under Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Kobe Bryant.

In addition to success in sports, Michael Jordan also became a successful figure in the world of entertainment and marketing. Until now, he is known as the “symbol” of basketball. He also starred in many films and became an international ambassador for various humanitarian missions. What a perfect basketball player!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL–gQ2AvJY