Legendary: The Top 15 Greatest NBA Players of All Time

Thomas is truly one of the top point guards ever. He was the heart and soul of those talented Detroit "Bad Boy" Pistons teams that won championships in both 1989 and 1990.

During his illustrious career, Thomas was named to 12 All-Star teams and was foolishly left off of the Original Dream Team roster.

In Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals, Isiah showed the world that he was a gutsy competitor—he scored 25 points in the third quarter as he hobbled on a sprained ankle.

Although he was only 6-foot-4, Barkley found a way to become one of the league's greatest power forwards. "The Round Mound of Rebound" was the 1993 NBA MVP, and was a 12-time All-Star.

Barkley won two Olympic gold medals, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006. Unfortunately, he never won a ring during his career which included stops in Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Houston.

The "Mailman" is second on the all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He won two regular season MVP awards, made 13 All-Star teams, and was amazingly named to the All-NBA First Team 11 times.

Malone never won a championship, but he led the Utah Jazz to two NBA Finals appearances (1997 and 1998), and was a key role player on the Lakers team that made the Finals in 2004.

Just like Barkley and Malone, Baylor failed to win a championship, but that doesn't mean that he wasn't one of the all-time greats.

Baylor was a scoring machine; he once scored 71 points in a game, and holds the record for most points scored in a NBA Finals game with 61. The long-time Laker scored at least 40 points in 87 regular season games, and was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996.

Impressively, West was selected to play in the All-Star Game on 14 occasions, and was named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times.

West played so great in the 1969 NBA Finals, he earned the MVP of the series even though his Lakers were the losing team. He won his only championship in 1972.

Duncan possesses an outstanding resume. The San Antonio Spurs big man has four championships rings, two regular season MVP awards, three NBA Finals MVP awards, and has been selected to 11 All-Star teams, 12 All-NBA Teams, and 12 All-Defensive Teams.

Oh yeah, he also won the Rookie of the Year in 1998. Duncan is widely considered the top power forward of all time.

After Michael Jordan briefly retired, Olajuwon became "The Man" in the NBA as he led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995. The 12-time All-Star center won a regular season MVP, two Finals MVPs, and was named Defensive Player of the Year twice.

Olajuwon also won a gold medal playing for the U.S. in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Shaq is known as one of the league's most dominating players of all time. When he attacks the rim for a powerful slam, it's best to get out of the way.

The 14-time All-Star has won four championships, and quite possibly could get a fifth in the upcoming season as he teams up with LeBron James in Cleveland.

It's hard to believe that O'Neal has only won one regular season MVP; however, he's won three NBA Finals MVPs, three All-Star Game MVPs, and has led the league in scoring twice.

Robertson is the only player in history to average a triple-double in a season, and it's safe to say that nobody will ever accomplish such a feat ever again.

The "Big O" teamed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the 1971 title, which was the only championship that he won during his legendary career. He also won an MVP award, and was a 12-time All-Star.

Not known for his quickness or ability to win a slam dunk contest, Bird brought a lot to the table: he could score, rebound, and was an exceptional passer.

He also was a gifted leader. Bird led the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s, which was perhaps the best decade in NBA history.

"Larry Legend" won three regular season MVP awards, two Finals MVPs and earned 12 trips to the All-Star Game.

Russell led the Celtics to an unprecedented eleven championships during his 13-year Hall-of-Fame career. His strong defensive presence helped him win five MVPs and twelve trips to the All-Star Game.

Even though he won six championships, six MVP awards, and was named to 19 All-Star teams, Abdul-Jabbar is rarely thought of as the greatest player of all time. He could very well be the most underrated player ever.

Abdul-Jabbar used his famous "Skyhook" shot to score more points than any other player in history—and I guess you can say there was nothing that he didn't accomplish.

Johnson was perhaps the rarest player of all time. How many other 6'9" point guards do you know of? He could easily play all five positions, and nobody could run a more exciting fast break than Magic Johnson.

The 12-time All-Star point guard helped lead the Lakers to five championships, won three regular season MVPs, and three Finals MVPs.

No one would ever argue that he was the greatest point guard of all time, and in fact, many people consider him to be the greatest player of all time.

Wilt was the most dominant player the NBA has ever seen. Is he the greatest? Some would say yes; some would say no. His record-setting 100-point game will never be surpassed.

It's strange that he only won two championships and four MVPs. With his talent, you would think that he would easily have won at least 10 rings and 10 MVP trophies.

Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever lace up a pair of sneakers.

He did it all—the former North Carolina Tar Heel led the Chicago Bulls to six championships, he won five regular season MVPs, six Finals MVPs, was selected to 14 All-Star teams, and was named the Defensive Player of the Year once.

Don't forget that he won three All-Star Game MVP awards and two Slam Dunk titles as well.

When you put together a list of the all time greats, it just doesn't seem right not to pencil MJ in at the No. 1 spot whether you love him or hate him.