NBA's Top 25 Greatest Players of All Time

Marcel  Mansour by Senior Analyst Written on October 08, 2008
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He was one of the most durable players of all time, as he only missed nine games in his career and played 80 or more games in every season. He was also selected to the All-NBA team six times, with three of the selections as a member of the first team.

Hayes also led the Bullets to a championship in the 1977-1978 season.

 

20. Julius Erving, "Doctor J"

"Doctor J" was one of the most entertaining and athletic players of all time. As the face of the NBA for several years, he averaged 22 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, along with a fantastic 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks. He also shot a fantastic 50.7 percent from the field and 77.7 percent from the free-throw line.

The Doctor was selected to 11 All-Star teams and was also selected to the All-NBA team six times, with four of the selections as a member of the first team. He also won the MVP Award in the 1980-1981 season and two All-Star game MVPs.

He led the Sixers to a championship in the 1982-1983 season.

 

19. Elgin Baylor

Baylor is probably the most underrated player of all time. In his 14-year career, he averaged a fantastic 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He also shot 43.1 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free-throw line.

He had one of the greatest statistical seasons ever in the 1961-1962 season, as he averaged 38.3 points and 18.6 rebounds along with 4.6 assists.

Baylor was selected to 11 All-Star teams and an unbelievable 10 All-NBA teams, with all of the selections as a member of the first team. He also won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1959 and the All-Star Game MVP in 1959.

He ranks fifth all-time in career points per game, but he never won a ring, as his Lakers repeatedly lost to the Celtics in the Finals.

 

18. Isiah Thomas

Thomas was one of the best scoring point guards of all time. In his career, he averaged 19.2 points, 9.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, along with two steals per game. He also shot a solid 45.2 percent from the field, and was one of the most clutch players of all time. He led the "Bad Boy" Pistons to back-to-back championships in the late 1980s.

He was selected to 11 All-Star games, and won the All-Star MVP twice, in 1984 and 1986. He also won the 1990 Finals MVP, as he led the Pistons over the Portland Trailblazers for their second-straight championship.

He was selected to five All-NBA teams, with three of them being first-team selections. He led the league in total assists twice and in assists per game once.

 

17. Bob Pettit

Pettit was one of the first dominant big men in the league. He had career averages of 26.4 points, 16.2 rebounds, and three assists along with 43.6 percent from the field and 76.1 percent from the free-throw line.

He was selected to 11 All-Star teams in his 11-year career. He was also selected to the All-NBA team in the 11 seasons he played, 10 of the selections as a member of the first team.

Pettit also won four All-Star game MVP awards, which is the most all-time and he won two MVP awards, one in the 1955-1956 season and the other in the 1958-1959 season. He also won two scoring titles in his career.

Vote Now! - Author Poll

Who is the greatest of all time?

  • Magic Johnson
  • Kareem Abdul Jabbar
  • Michael Jordan
  • Wilt Chamberlain
  • Larry Bird
vote to see results
Results - Author Poll

Who is the greatest of all time?

  • Magic Johnson

    13.8%
  • Kareem Abdul Jabbar

    4.6%
  • Michael Jordan

    70.4%
  • Wilt Chamberlain

    5.8%
  • Larry Bird

    5.4%
  • Total votes: 1165
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written on October 08, 2008 Rankings/List

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