NBA History: Greatest All-Time Players Who Are Still in the League

The NBA is defined by its stars. The elite players make the league what it is and, more than any other professional sport, determine the league's success.

When you think of the greatest players in NBA history, names like Jordan, Magic and Wilt instantly come to mind. There are some current players who rank among the all-time best and whose legacies are already up there with greatest in league history.

5) LeBron James

I realize that he is only 27 years old. However, he has already accomplished so much in his career that he deserves to be on this list. At least hear me out.

James is one of just 12 players in NBA history to win multiple MVP awards, and he is on track to win another this season. He has been named to eight All-Star teams, seven All-NBA teams and is a three-time All-defensive first-team selectee.

LeBron’s game is like no other. He combines Karl Malone’s build with Magic Johnson’s passing ability and also sprinkles in the leaping ability of Dominique Wilkins. In each of the last five seasons he has averaged at least 27 points per game, seven rebounds and seven assists per game. James is arguably the NBA’s best perimeter defender, best passer and best player at attacking the basket.  

I know everyone is against LeBron because of “the decision.” Still, we must not forget that James led a team to the finals that had Eric Snow as its starting point guard and Zydrunas Ilgauskas as his second best player.  

4) Dirk Nowitzki

A year ago, Dirk Nowitzki was viewed as a choker. He was viewed as a great regular season player who couldn’t come through in the clutch.

Last postseason, Nowitzki erased all this talk by putting forth one of the best postseason performances in NBA history. The 2006 league MVP carried an unappreciated Mavericks team all the way to the NBA Finals where they beat the heavily favored Miami Heat in six games with Nowitzki being named series MVP.

Nowitzki is the best shooting seven-footer of all time. He has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds per game over the course of his career, while shooting 88 percent from the foul line and 38 percent from long range.

Nowitzki has made 11 All-Star teams and 11 All-NBA teams, and his style of play has transformed the game as we know it. The resilience Nowitzki showed after coming back from the Mavericks' devastating 2006 finals defeat was an amazing thing to watch and proves Nowitzki's place among the league’s best ever.

3) Kevin Garnett

Garnett’s intensity and passion on the court has made him one of the most revered leaders in league history. In 2008, Garnett was finally able to achieve the championship ring that eluded him for so long after being traded to the Boston Celtics and transforming the culture of an entire franchise.

Garnett has received plenty of accolades over his career. He has been named league MVP and defensive player of the year, as well as being named to 14 All-Star teams and nine All-NBA teams, including four first-team selections.

The all-around game Garnett has showcased over his career has been remarkable. He has averaged over 20 points per game on nine different occasions, 10 or more rebounds per game 10 times and four or more assists per game 10 different times.

Garnett has combined his elite athleticism and size with his basketball skills and knowledge of the game to turn him into an all-time great player.

2) Tim Duncan

Duncan, in my opinion, is the most underrated player in NBA history. He doesn’t have the charisma or behemoth size of Shaq, the late-game death stare of Kobe or the insane athleticism of LeBron James. But what Duncan has been over the course of his historic career is one of the most fundamentally sound big men in NBA history.

Duncan’s low-post moves are up there with Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin McHale. His signature bank shots and uncanny passing ability from the low post are unmatched. Duncan’s impressive consistency and durability allowed the big man to average at least 19 points and 11 rebounds per game for 12 consecutive seasons to begin his career.

Duncan has also been among the league’s best defensive big men throughout his career. His size and lateral quickness has helped him stifle opponents for years, and has culminated in him being named to 13 NBA All-defensive teams.

Duncan has also been one of the league’s best winners. He has lead four teams to NBA titles despite playing with few All-Star caliber players. His unselfishness and ability to take over games when his team needs it most has made Duncan the best power forward in NBA history.

1) Kobe Bryant

The Black Mamba’s resume speaks for itself. Five-time NBA champion, two-time finals MVP, 2008 NBA MVP, 14-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA first team and nine-time All-NBA defensive first team.

Earlier this season, Bryant became the Lakers' franchise scoring leader and passed former teammate Shaquille O’Neal for fifth place on the all-time scoring list. Kobe Bryant is only behind the immortal Michael Jordan when it comes to the pantheon of NBA shooting guards.

Bryant’s detractors said he couldn’t win a championship without Shaq. Well, he proved them all wrong by winning back-to-back championships and being named finals MVP on both occasions.

Like Jordan, Bryant has reinvented himself from an athletic high-flying scoring machine to a knock-down perimeter shooter during his later years. Bryant is still the league's most feared closer, and his legacy surpasses any of today’s elite.