The Greatest: 34 All-Timers Playing in NBA in 2010-11
The 2010-11 NBA season has its own top players, but not all of this season’s top players will be considered all-time NBA greats. This is a list of current NBA players who, in my opinion, are already considered within the top 180 NBA players of all time. Some of them are older now, and some have not accomplished a lot, but in the end, they will stand the test of time, in fans' minds.
I’ve been an NBA fan since 1989 and seen the league change. At age 32 , I admit to myself that the league used to be tougher, so these guys rank, with that in consideration, up against the greatest players of all time.
34. Deron Williams
Williams is a smooth PG who ranks, in my opinion, as the 178th greatest player of all time. Who knows if he would have been as good as he is today if he had played in the 1980’s?
33. Zach Randolph
I truly believe Randolph could make it in any NBA era, especially since he has taken control of that beastly body. He ranks No. 168 among the all time greats.
32. Rajon Rondo
This slick little guy has the cunning needed to school the NBA today, and his skills will stand the test of time. He is considered the 163rd greatest player of all time in my opinion.
31. Derrick Rose
Yes, he may seem slightly unstable at the moment, but the guy is still young. He also has a body and drive and desire to be great. In the end, I believe he is the 160th greatest player ever.
30. Brandon Roy
Now, this guy could have made it in any NBA era. His tough body and ferocious skills would translate through time. He’s physically awesome, but skill-wise kind of shaky. He still already ranks No. 153 of all time.
29. Gilbert Arenas
He’s the guy we all love to hate, but if anything, his shooting skills alone rank him No. 150 all time. He could have been higher, but it’s his fault, really.
28. Antawn Jamison
He may not be considered by many to be in the top 30 in today’s NBA anymore, but that’s because he’s kind of old (34). This guy has been around, accomplished a lot, scored a lot and earned his stripes. He ultimately ranks No. 143 of all time!
27. Baron Davis
He’s a shaky shooter, but a powerful person. His girth and skill and intelligence make him rank as the 140th greatest NBA player as of today.
26. Vince Carter
Believe me, I wanted him to rank higher, but he does not. I’ve watched VC his entire NBA career and he truly did not live up to his potential. His potential is awesome though, as he still ranks as the 137th greatest NBA player ever.
25. Chris Bosh
Yes, he ends up ranked higher than VC. Why? Skill and teammates make players better. This guy will win titles. He ranks No. 131 of all time at the moment, given somewhat of a push by D-Wade and LBJ, but even on his own. He’s better than Horace Grant ever was, and HG has three rings.
24. Amar'e Stoudemire
Although he needs to be set up to be truly effective, this big man could have been sick in any NBA era. He ranks as the 130th greatest NBA player ever, at the moment. He could move up the list soon.
23. Carmelo Anthony
He reminds me of Vince Carter in a way. He is so interested in looking cool and getting stats that he may end up without a title in his career. Nevertheless Carmelo is a great player, with more skills than Vince. He is the 128th greatest player ever.
22. Kevin Durant
It seems wrong to list him as only the 122nd greatest player ever. He’s so young at the moment, it is hard to project him higher. I love this guy and he will obviously and quickly move up the all-time list as he gets more years under his belt. Believe that! He ranks higher than Kobe Bryant did at age 21, which says a lot.
21. Jason Kidd
If only he shot better throughout his career, he would be way higher on the list. Oh yeah, he could have won a title too. He ranks No. 121 of all time. One of the greatest passers ever!
20. Tracy McGrady
I know, I know, but don’t hate. I’m not talking about this year, or the last few actually. McGrady ranks No. 115 of all time. I watched his whole career and wasn’t a big fan of his, but you should’ve seen what he used to do, what he accomplished and how he accomplished it.
19. Michael Finley
Ranks among the all-time greats of the NBA because he would have excelled in any era. He is ranked No. 108 of all time. He’s won a title, you know. The last few years he’s been a bench guy, though. It’s OK Finley, I recognize.
18. Ben Wallace
Another old guy who ranks up there because he would have been a defensive terror in any era. Remember the 2004 Pistons that beat Shaq, Kobe, GP and Karl Malone four games to one in the Finals? Thanks for the memories big Ben. He ranks No. 100 for all time.
17. Ray Allen
This pure shooter won it all in 2008 as an amazing complimentary shooter. He ranks as the 94th greatest player ever.
16. Manu Ginobili
Three NBA rings in a nine-year career. Ginobili possesses an amazing skill set and gave us respect for foreign players. He is the 92nd greatest NBA player ever.
15. Chauncey Billups
The 2004 NBA Finals MVP would have been great in any era, which is why he is the 80th greatest player in NBA history.
14. Tony Parker
Also a Finals MVP, Parker could have been even better in another era, which I do not think is common in the NBA today. Parker is more amazing that we now see him to be. He is the 70th greatest NBA player ever!
13. Grant Hill
To watch Hill now, one would never assume he is one of the greatest ever. Luckily I’m 32 so I watched his whole career. Believe me, he is for absolutely sure the No. 69 greatest NBA player ever, but in all honesty he could have been higher. Damn injuries.
12. Chris Paul
He hasn’t really accomplished much, but he will. Even at the moment I see him as an all-time talent NBA player, hence his ranking as the 68th greatest player ever, already!
11. Pau Gasol
This guy has sick skills. Wow! He blows my mind. Gasol is an underrated two-time NBA champion, and I truly believe he should have been the 2010 Finals MVP. He is the 67th greatest player ever so far.
10. Paul Pierce
The 66th greatest player of all time. Do you really have to ask why?
9. Dirk Nowitzki
This big man is kind of soft, but if he wasn’t, he would be one of the top 10 ever. He ranks No. 59 of all time in my opinion.
8. Dwight Howard
This giant man ranks No. 54 of all time. He doesn’t possess the overall skills of some of the all-time great centers but he still could have made it as a star in any era, with the proper teammates.
7. Steve Nash
Yeah, he’s now old, but this wizard of hoopology would have been an amazing player at any time. He is the 43rd greatest player ever.
6. Kevin Garnett
Another old guy who today’s fans might have forgotten or seen how awesome this dude was overall, in every way. He is the 30th greatest NBA player ever.
5. Dwyane Wade
This little freak would have been awesome to watch in the 1980’s and 1990’s. That’s how good he is. Another Finals MVP could push him up this list by the end of 2011. At the moment he is ranked as the 29th greatest player ever!
4. LeBron James
Already the 22nd greatest player ever, and no matter how much the haters hate, this guy is freakin amazing! No one can or has put up numbers like this since Jordan averaged 32.5 points, 8.0 rebs, 8.0 assists and 3.2 steals per game in 1989. That says a whole lot. He is unstoppably on the path to be one of the top 10 greatest players ever.
P.S. He will win a title for sure. Not saying when though.
3. Tim Duncan
Quietly became the 17th greatest player ever. He ranks right up there with the all-time greats. The Spurs won four titles thanks to this guy. Tim is a true class act.
2. Kobe Bryant
After the Lakers won it in 2010, Bryant secured his spot as the ninth greatest player ever. Not higher because a 45 percent shooter was unacceptable in the 1980’s and early 1990's (the NBA’s toughest-highest-skills era). He would have been less effective back then. All of the eight all-time NBA greats above him shot 50 percent plus for their careers, so as an individual talent, he will not ever move up..but
He never gave up though and many fans think he’s higher, but they should be happy that he’s even in the top 10. I mean, that is amazing! One of the top 10 players in NBA history: Wow, Kobe, you surprised the heck out of me man. Ninth all-time is good enough. Getting older now, obviously, but he’s secured his place. You cannot take away the five title teams he’s been an integral part of.
1. Shaquille O’Neal
The Big Leprechaun is the oldest player in the NBA now and many youngsters and haters try to look down on him, when in fact, he would easily look down on all of them instead. Shaquille didn’t need the time to grow into an awesome player like Kobe did. Shaq was astonishing from the beginning.
This guy was truly unstoppable and indeed was the three time Finals MVP from 2000-2002, when the Lakers won it all in dominating fashion. He was no second fiddle, until his 2006 title with D-Wade.
Shaq is the one current player who would have utterly dominated in any NBA era, from the 1940’s and 50’s to the 60's, 70' 80's 90's and today, if he was in his prime. Seriously, who could stop a prime Shaq in any era? Nobody.
Give Shaq his due props. He is individually the fourth greatest player in NBA history. Can you guess who the top three are?
