Top 10 Greatest Basketball Players Of All Time!

This debate will go on for years past this article, but maybe this will help add fuel to the already burning flame. Before I start I just want to remind people that this is my opinion, mine only. Anyway here we go:

10. Bill Russell: He was one of the geatest centers and leaders of all time. He led the Celtics to 11 championships. He also won 12 All-Star selectins and five MVP awards. He is a legend and a great pesonality who fought for equality and to become a better player. He achieved both.

9. Magic Johnson: The inventor of the Showtime he was one of the flashiest and funniest players in NBA history. He was an oversized backcourt presence, following the footsteps of great players like Oscar Robertson. He proved that size didn't matter if you wanted to play a point guard.

8. Oscar Robertson: He led the Bucks to a Championship. I mean that's his greatest stat of all. Before that he set an untouched mark of averaging a triple double the whole season. That's hard to do! No one else ever did it! He is a legend and the great inventor of the fadeaway.

    If it was not for him many of these players would not be on the list and might not have even made it to the NBA. he set landmarks in basketball and that cannot be disputed.

7. Wilt Chamberlain: He is famous for scoring 100 points in a game, an unprecedented achievement. He is the all time leading rebounder as well as a four time MVP winner. He raised the bar for centers and few have touched it since.

6. Tim Duncan: The greatest Power Forward of all time. Duncan average a double double in every one of his 12 season as well as winning back to back MVP awards in 2002 and 2003. He has been very consistent throughout his career and it has led him to four NBA titles and 11 All Star games.

   He helped stars like Tony Parker become better and play better and Parker is now an essential part of the Spurs team and him and Duncan are very close friends.

5. Hakeem Olajuwon: He is the best blocker in NFL history. He led the Rockets to back to back NBA titles and won Finals MVP awards in each one. He has grown into a legend of basketball with his game and has managed to be one of the best while playing with the best.

   They didn't just name him "The Dream" because it sounded nive and pretty, but because it best described his playing. He played like every coaches dream and every opponent's nightmare. A great player and personality.

4. Shaquille O'Neal: Again, let me remind you that this is my opinion and I have my reasons. First of all, he is a four time NBA Champion, League MVP, Finals MVP, 15 time All-Star and on and on. He is the highest rated center on the list because he is the greatest center.

    Wilt might have been the original powerful center, but Shaq became the best. He has the biggest personality in the NBA and also a lot of skill. He has helped stars like Dwyane Wade, Penny Hardaway, and Kobe Bryant to blossom into great players and has helped two of them (Wade and Kobe) to championships.

3. John Stockton: The greatest point guard of all time. He leads the NBA in assists and steals by immpossible margins. He was a great leader and except for never winning a ring or an MVP award had a great career. A two time Olympic gold medalist and a Utah icon, a great basketball player.

2. Larry Bird: It's not always about how many championships and player has won or how many MVP awards he collected or how any points he scored. Larry Bird did plenty of all of them, but he was also a very smart player. He seemed to make the right decision almost every time he touched the ball.

   He led the Celtics to three NBA titles and was a 12 time All Star. Whether you call him "The Hick From French Lick" or "The Great White Hope" or even "Larry Legend" he is still one the best players to ever hold the rock.

1. Michael Jordan: You knew this was coming. As soon as you read the title you knew who was going to be number 1. He will always be number 1. 14 time All Star, 5 tie MVP,6 Championships and heart. He is the most skilled basketball player in the history, but he also had the most passion for the game.

He loved the game. He lived the game. Nobody ever had the heart and passion for the game that he did. He played a playoff game while suffering from food poisoning and ended up scoring 38 points! That's dedication, that's greatness.

Honorable Mention:

Kareem Abdul Jabbar: A great player, but is just outside the list.

Jerry West: Number 11, but could not be in the top ten.

Julius Erving: The Dr. is number 12, but he cannot compete with these guys.

Before I say farewell, I just want to say that if you want to tell someone should be on the list, you first have to tell me who has to go. That's the way it goes.