Top 10 Greatest All-Around Players in NBA History

Yep. Michael Jordan could pass the ball, too.

The most versatile players in NBA history have a lot in common: they are superstars, leaders of their teams, and the most recognizable names and faces for their franchises.

These All-Stars were able to excel at several facets of the game, scoring, rebounding, passing, and blocking shots on their way to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

When they were on the court, they could hurt the opposition in a variety of ways. Scoring is great but it’s only one part of the game. Likewise, rebounding and passing are essential to winning, but you have to score to win.

Every player on the list has won an NBA MVP award and all but one won an NBA championship.

Each player has led the league in at least one statistical category and although all are noteworthy, a few rise above the rest of the pack.

Steals, blocks, and assists are listed when significant. Blocked shots weren’t officially recorded until the 1973-74 NBA season.

Feel free to comment and if there’s someone you think should be included, mention who you think the player should replace.

LeBron James

The only player on the list to jump from high school to the NBA, LeBron James is currently third on the all-time for points per game and has one scoring title under his belt.

The 6’8” small forward and 2008-09 MVP has a commendable .471 career field goal percentage.

Points per game 27.5
Rebounds per game7.0
Assists per game 6.7

Hakeem Olajuwon

He’s 31st in career scoring average, third in blocks per game, and 26th in rebounds per game.

The Dream led the league in blocks three times and won two NBA titles, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, one MVP award, and an Olympic gold medal.

Points per game 21.8
Rebounds per game 11.1
Blocks per game 3.0
Assists per game 6.0

Bob Cousy

An All-Star in 13 of his 14 seasons, Cousy won six NBA championships and led the league in assists per game eight times.

The 6’1”, 175-pound point guard averaged more than six rebounds per game in five NBA seasons and was named MVP in 1957.

Points per game 18.4
Rebounds per game5.2
Assists per game 7.5

Larry Bird

Bird is 15th in career scoring average and 43rd in rebounds per game. He won three NBA MVP awards and three championships.

Bird is tenth on the all-time list for free throw percentage, leading the league in the category four times.

Points per game 24.3
Rebounds per game10.0
Assists per game 6.3

Magic Johnson

Magic is first in assists per game and 60th in points per game. Johnson won five NBA titles, played in nine NBA Finals, won three MVP awards, and led the NBA in assists four times.

Points per game 19.5
Rebounds per game7.2
Assists per game 11.2

Bob Pettit

(Pettit is on the right; Darrell Walker on the left.)

Pettit was an All-Star in each of his 11 seasons and he’s third on the all time in rebounds per game and seventh in points per game.

The Hall of Famer led the league in scoring twice and was a two-time MVP.

Points per game 26.4
Rebounds per game 16.2
Assists per game 6.0

Bill Russell

Russell is second on the all-time list in rebounds per game and won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons after winning back-to-back championships in his junior and senior seasons at the University of San Francisco.

Russell led the league in rebounds per game five times and was named NBA MVP five times.

Points per game 15.1
Rebounds per game 22.5
Assists per game 4.3

Oscar Robertson

Robertson’s all-around prowess was statistically legendary and he’s the all-time leader in triple-doubles with 181. He’s fourth on the all-time list in assists per game and ninth in points per game.

He’s the only player to average a double-double for an entire season. In his second season in 1961-62, Robertson averaged 30.8 ppg, 11.4 apg, and 12.5 rpg.

He won one NBA championship, one MVP award, and led the NBA in assists per game a whopping seven times.

Points per game 25.7
Rebounds per game7.5
Assists per game 9.5

Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain is second all-time in points per game, first in rebounds per game, and once led the league in total assists in 1967-68.

Wilt won seven scoring titles, 11 rebounding titles, and he won four MVP awards and two NBA championships.

Chamberlain led the league in rebounding in his rookie season in 1959-60 and in his final season in 1972-73.

Points per game 30.07
Rebounds per game22.9
Assists per game 4.4

Michael Jordan

Jordan barely edges Wilt Chamberlain as the all-time leader in points per game and won six NBA championships, five MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals, and one Defensive Player of the Year award.

He led the league in scoring ten times and in steals three times.

His finest season was 1987-88 when he won the Slam Dunk title, the All-Star game MVP award, led the league in points per game, minutes per game, and steals per game, and was named NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

His career 49.7 field goal percentage is superb for a shooting guard and he’s the game’s greatest player ever.

Points per game 30.12
Rebounds 6.2
Assists per game 5.3
Steals per game2.3