[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

#10.  Kobe Bryant

• 25.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG
• 5x NBA Champion
• 2x Finals MVP
• 1x NBA MVP
• 13x NBA All-Star
• 12x All NBA Team Selection
• 10x All Defensive Team Selection
• Los Angeles Lakers (1996 – Present)

#9.  Larry Bird

• 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG
• 3x NBA Champion
• 2x Finals MVP
• 3x NBA MVP
• 12x NBA All-Star
• 10x All NBA Team Selection
• 3x All Defensive Team Selection
• Boston Celtics (1979 – 1992)

#8.  Tim Duncan

• 21.0 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 2.3 BPG
• 4x NBA Champion
• 3x Finals MVP
• 2x NBA MVP
• 13x NBA All-Star
• 13x All NBA Team Selection
• 12x All Defensive Team Selection
• San Antonio Spurs (1997 – Present)

#7.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

• 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG
• 6x NBA Champion
• 2x Finals MVP
• 6x NBA MVP
• 19x NBA All-Star
• 15x All NBA Team Selection
• 11x All Defensive Team Selection
• Milwaukee Bucks (1969 – 1975)
• Los Angeles Lakers (1975 – 1989)

#6.  Earvin "Magic" Johnson

• 19.5 PPG, 11.2 APG, 7.2 RPG
• 5x NBA Champion
• 3x Finals MVP
• 3x NBA MVP
• 12x NBA All-Star
• 10x All NBA Team Selection
• Los Angeles Lakers (1979 – 1991, 1996)

#5.  Oscar "The Big O" Robertson

• 25.7 PPG, 9.5 APG, 7.5 RPG
• 1x NBA Champion
• 1x NBA MVP
• 12x NBA All-Star
• 11x All NBA Team Selection
• Cincinnati Royals (1960 – 1970)
• Milwaukee Bucks (1970 – 1974)

#4.  Shaquille O’Neal

• 24.0 PPG, 11.0RPG, 2.3BPG
• 4x NBA Champion
• 3x Finals MVP
• 1x NBA MVP
• 15x NBA All-Star
• 14x All NBA Team Selection
• 3x All Defensive Team Selection
• Orlando Magic (1992 – 1996)
• Los Angeles Lakers (1996 – 2004)
• Miami Heat (2004 – 2008)
• Phoenix Suns (2008 – 2009)
• Cleveland Cavaliers (2009 – 2010)
• Boston Celtics (2010 – Present)

#3.  Bill Russell

• 15. PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG
• 11x NBA Champion
• 5x NBA MVP
• 12x NBA All-Star
• 11x All NBA Team Selection
• 1x All Defensive Team Selection
• Boston Celtics (1956 – 1969)

#2.  Wilt Chamberlain

• 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG
• 2x NBA Champion
• 1x Finals MVP
• 4x NBA MVP
• 13x NBA All-Star
• 9x All NBA Team Selection
• 2x All Defensive Team Selection
• Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959 – 1965)
• Philadelphia 76ers (1965 – 1968)
• Los Angeles Lakers (1968 – 1973)

#1.  Michael Jordan

• 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG
• 6x NBA Champion
• 6x Finals MVP
• 5x NBA MVP
• 14x NBA All-Star
• 11x All NBA Team Selection
• 9x All Defensive Team
• Chicago Bulls (1984 – 1993, 1995 – 1998)
• Washington Wizards (2001 – 2003)

[ChrispyParticipant]

I haven’t seen the actual article, so I would like to know what the criteria was for setting this list. Anyone else curious about Shaq ahead of Oscar, Magic and Larry? I mean at this point one could almost arrange it multiple ways, but I think I would have those gentlemen ahead of Shaq. Whenever I think of Shaq I always find myself thinking, "If only he could have stayed in shape…Damn, he would have been even more dominant".

[akhan786Participant]

All respect to O and shaq but I think that they should be behind Larry, Kareem, and Magic.

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

Word. SLAM magazine LOVES Shaq. He’s not top 5 all time.

[Ghost01Participant]

1. MJ

2. Russell

 

Thats all that really matters. Personally i go

3. Bird

4. Wilt

5. Magic

6. Kareem

7. Big O

8. Shaq

9. Duncan

10. Kobe

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Glad im not the only one who thinks Shaq in the 4 spot is a bit unreasonable.  Statistically and by championships/awards he is ousted by a fair amount of player after him.  Personally, I would even put Kobe b4 him.  Shaq has become a journeyman NBA player the last several seasons and while I applaud him for his longevity, particularly as a 7 footer, he certainly was not better than Kareem, Magic, or Bird IMHO.

[TeamShowtimeLakersParticipant]

Kobe should definitely be higher on this list. I would say since his career isnt over and his legacy continues to grow, he would eventually be easily in the Top 5!

[GrandmamaParticipant]

ChrisP must be confused or didn’t see Shaq play the first twelve years of his career.

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 Besides shaq’s nomadic ways

I was suprised at how little movement these players had!

[surveParticipant]

I personally dont put anyone ahead of Magic except Jordan, other than that, the first 10 is ok.  Yeah, Shaq could be a lil high, but then again, once you are on the elite level like the guys on this list, stats dont mean as much when you compare against the dominance a player had and how valuable he was to his team.  If Shaq were playing in Wilt’s days, there would be absolutely no way to stop him and they would probably have to create rules against him like they did in Kareem’s days.   Also there is a thin line between how great a player was as an individual and how great his career was which is a lil bit more indicative as to the players they had around them.  ex: Jordan, great player regardless.  Jordan minus Pippen, maybe a few less rings.

[apb540Participant]

my top 4 would go: MJ, Russell, Bird/Magic (can’t pick)

After that I have a really tough time picking one before the other.

[Author]

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