All-Time List: If Active NBA Players Careers Ended Today

It's pretty clear to most even casual NBA fans who the greatest player of all-time is: Michael Jordan.  But how do the active players fit into the list of all-time greats?  I'm going to compile my top 5, based on career to-date.  Following the list, I will put a list of active players who have the best chance of cracking into the top players ever to hit the hardwood.

All-Time Rankings Among Active Players

1) Kobe Bryant- Granted, he's one of the most hated players on the planet, but he is also the best.  At 6'6", 205 pounds, Bryant has the prototypical body for an elite basketball talent.  Bryant has three NBA championship rings and consistently performs in the playoffs, truly making him a great player.  Over his career, Bryant has compiled mind-blowing statistics including an average of 25 points per game, to go with 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.  What is perhaps even more impressive, is even though Bryant is most widely known for his offensive ability, his defense may just be worth equal acclaim.  As a 7-time All Defensive selection, the rest of the league certainly realizes how well Bryant plays on the defensive end.  His natural athletic ability and quickness allow him to stick like glue on smaller guards, while his strong 6'6" frame make him more than capable of guarding a star such as Tracy McGrady.  It's quite simple: Bryant will go down as one of the top 20 players in the NBA, without a doubt.  ESPN even went as far as to rank him the second best shooting guard of all-time behind Jordan, ahead of the "NBA Logo", Lakers legend Jerry West.

2) Tim Duncan- I know I'm a huge Duncan fan, but I truly believe he has earned this distinction over O'Neal.  Despite Duncan's ordinary size, in comparison to O'Neal's mammoth stature, he still put up very impressive numbers throughout his career.  As the winner of four NBA titles, winning the Finals MVP on three occasions, Duncan is the epitome of a true basketball player.  Even when the league moved to a more fast-paced, flashy game, Duncan continued his so-called "boring" style, meanwhile producing championships in the process.  As a double-double average performer at 21.6 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game, Duncan always played with reason and never took a game off.  As a ten-time member of not only the All-Star team, but also the NBA All-Defensive Team, Duncan has clearly cemented his place in Springfield, Massachusetts as a Hall-of-Fame player.  What separates Duncan from O'Neal, in my mind, is that Duncan revolutionized the game as a big man who could step around the 15-20 foot area, and kiss a sweet jumper off the glass, almost automatically.  O'Neal, although the most dominant player ever, did most of his damage around the low block, where there was no one to physically match up with him.  Duncan, as a PF/C hybrid, is still gunning for more championships, and if the first round is any indication that Duncan wants another title this year, the rest of the league better watch out.

3) Shaquille O'Neal-  As was already stated, O'Neal is the most dominant big man ever to play the game.  "The Diesel" helped the Lakers to a dynasty in the early 2000s by winning three consecutive championships, only to be followed by a championship with the Miami Heat to bring his career total to four, the same as Duncan.  O'Neal was also the recipient of three Finals MVP awards, matching Duncan.  At 25 points per game, and just a tad over 11 rebounds per contest, Shaquille dominated like none before him.  However, where O'Neal lacked was on the defensive end.  Shaq was never widely known for his defensive abilities, especially due to his slow feet and almost non-existent vertical jump.  This is where I separate Duncan and O'Neal: defense.  Shaq may be in most people's minds, ahead of Duncan, but I believe that is up for serious consideration.

4) Kevin Garnett- Garnett came straight out of high school like Bryant and made an immediate impact, scoring 10 points per game and coralling 6 rebounds per game.  Additionally, by his fourth year, Garnett had already established himself as one of the best post players in the game, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.  For several years, Garnett didn't have much of a supporting cast, the main reason why he never won a title.  This year is very important for KG, as his continues to rack up the years in the league, and still has yet to win a title.  Garnett spent many years in Minnesota with almost identical numbers to Duncan, but he could never complete his season as part of the last team standing.  Garnett deserves an immense amount of credit for sticking with the Timberwolves for so long during such a time of mediocrity.  When it's all said and done, I believe that Garnett will be remembered for years as one of the best power forwards to lace 'em up.  

5) Allen Iverson-  The expectations were high for this undersized guard after an illustrious career at Georgetown University, and boy did he respond to the expectations plus some.  In just his first season, Iverson showed that he was ready for the league, averaging 23.5 points per game, while winning Rookie of the Year.  Also, Iverson's career average of 27.8 points per game ranks third all-time behind only Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.  For this albeit generous 6'0" guard, his overcame his lack of size with a quick release and uncanny ability to dart through defenses to score easy buckets at the rim.  Iverson's fearlessness allowed him to go amongst some of the tallest players in the game and still find creative ways to finish near the basket.  Iverson is just another player who would surely be ranked higher amongst active players, if not for the fact that he has still yet to win a championship.  Many fans will remember Iverson for his infamous press conference, in which he used the word "practice" several times.  However, what everyone will remember him for is his large heart and passion with which he played, and his famous crossover dribble, that even got MJ a little shook up a time or two.  Iverson is an incredible talent, and it may be a long time before we see another player of his height make such a large impact on the game.

Young Players with a chance to make a good showing on the all-time ranking: 

1- LeBron James: It's simply incredible watching what this kid can do!  He has the rare chance to become one of the top 5 players the game has ever seen.

2- Dwight Howard: This athletic manchild has taken the NBA by storm, and it doesn't seem like anything is slowing him down.  It will be interesting to see if Dwight can win some championships with his team in Orlando.

3- Dwayne Wade: Sure he plays on a mediocre Heat team, but Wade has already won a ring, and if he is healthy, remains one of the best players in the game.

4- Carmelo Anthony: This bulky, but strong and athletic small forward can really play.  If only he were in the Eastern Conference...

5- Chris Paul: Think Jason Kidd, but better, and a whole lot younger.  Enough said.

6- Deron Williams: Talk about underrated, I think Williams might have a chance to be even better than Chris Paul.  Wow, that's a scary thought.