Top 5 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time

1. LeBron James

Yes, the man many fans (ignorantly) consider the most overrated choke artist in the league is actually the best player to ever set foot on a court. LeBron James just does things that shouldn’t be humanly possible.

He’s bigger than a good portion of the players in the NFL and yet he still moves as gracefully as the most nimble guards in basketball.

Moreover, he not only faced the incredible pressure of being anointed “The Chosen One” by Sports Illustrated as a teenager, but he’s actually exceeded the lofty expectations set for him.

2. Michael Jordan

Most famous player ever? Absolutely. Most important player ever? Quite possibly.

Most obsessively competitive to the detriment of ever having normal human relations with anybody? Oh my, yes.

3. Magic Johnson

One of the most ebullient personalities to ever play in the NBA, Johnson’s charm was a major factor in the massive increase in the league’s popularity during the 1980s. But he was so much more than a dazzling smile.

Johnson’s otherworldly passing set the stage for the “Showtime” L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships during his 13 years with the franchise. The 6’9” Johnson (making him the NBA’s tallest point guard) not only posted the best assists-per-game mark in league history (11.2) but had a tremendous all-around game, as well.

4. Wilt Chamberlain

Admittedly, Chamberlain played at a time when post players were significantly smaller and basketball wasn’t drawing the types of athletic marvels we see today, but the man was so incredibly dominant that he deserves a spot in the top five regardless of context.

The four highest all-time NBA single season scoring averages all belong to Chamberlain…in his first four professional seasons.

5. Oscar Robertson

During the 1961–62 season, “The Big O” averaged a triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game.

Oh, and the 12-time All-Star also helped initiate true free agency into the NBA through a landmark antitrust suit, an accomplishment just as impressive as his jaw-dropping on-court exploits.