NBA Success: The Most Successful NBA Players Of The Last 25 Seasons (1984-2010)
The NBA All-Star Game is coming up, and it will honor the best individual players in the NBA for this season. With that in mind, I wanted to rank the most individually successful players of the last 25 years. First it was tough because I didn't know what to do with players that had been playing (Bird, Magic, Kareem). As a result, I decided to rank those that had been drafted between 1984-2009.
Then, how to rank them? I don't have spare time to watch film of all the players since then, and I don't have good enough memories to keep the late 80s or 90s alive. So, I decided to rank the players on success. Combining stats, accolades, and winning (both regular and postseason), I was able to formulate a list that I feel is relatively accurate on players' career. Some players are on the list for stats and accolades without a title while another doesn't have a single All-Star appearance but have 7 rings. Combining everything, including seasons that ended without titles, was difficult, but I feel the players are in accurate places relative to each other.
Obviously, current players had a tougher time climbing the list because they have played fewer seasons. Still, I think it prevents the newer players to gain an edge because they are fresher in our minds. Maybe, in a few years, this list will be upside down, similar, or the exact same. Regardless, I feel I have come up with an accurate list of the most individually successful players drafted since 1984.
**Note** I am not going to include any stats, All-Stars, or anything else from this year.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy it. Comments are welcome.
Honorable Mentions
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Some players just didn't quite have all-around success to make the list, but I still felt some of them needed to be mentioned.
Manu Ginobli/Tony Parker: Neither player has been selected to better than 3rd team All-NBA, but their leadership and clutch play have made the Spurs one of the most successful sports franchises in the last 10 years. Although Duncan is the unquestioned leader of the team, Ginobli and Parker have been some of the greatest supporters in recent memory.
Chauncey Billups/Paul Pierce: These two were easily the toughest two players to leave off the list, but they simply did not do enough on the individual level to make the list. They are clutch players who I always dreamed of having on my team (even though Chauncey was in Minnesota for a few seasons at the beginning of the millennium). Still, neither of them had a 1st team All-NBA on their resume, and each of them have a 6+ year stretch of being on bad teams.
25. Joe Dumars
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Career Highlights: 2x NBA Champion, 6x All-Star, 4x All-Defensive 1st Team, 1989 Finals MVP,.
Dumars kicks off the list with a very impressive resume. Although he was never the alpha dog on a great team, he was a great role player whom the Pistons counted on in the clutch. In 1989, he came through and helped the Pistons sweep a 2nd-rate Lakers team.
His number is retired in Detroit, and he has to be considered one of the most successful 2-guards in NBA history, especially in the last 25 years.
24. Robert Horry
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Career Highlights: 7x NBA Champion.
Flashback to Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Kobe and Shaq had just missed potential game-tying shots, and the ball is batted out of the lane by Vlade Divac. Now, name 3 people you would want to have taking that shot. My list: 1. Jordan 2. Bird 3. Horry. It's as simple as that.
The shot he hit on that May evening essentially ended the Kings run of regular season success as well as every Kings players' careers. So how can you truly value Robert Horry?
Although he never received individual rewards, Robert Horry was able to win everywhere he went. He won 2 titles while helping Hakeem, 3 while solidifying Kobe and Shaq as superstars, and 2 more while cementing Duncan's status as one of the greatest power forwards ever. He didn't bring extra attention to himself anywhere, but he still was able to win everywhere.
Therefore, despite a lack of tremendous stats, he has the most titles of any modern player, and if that doesn't count as success, I don't know what does.
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23. Dwight Howard
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Career Highlights: 3x All-NBA First Team, 4x All-Star, 2x Defensive POY.
Has there been a more exciting young center since Shaq other than Howard? The answer is no. His athleticism is through the roof, his personality is contagious, and his basketball IQ is continuously growing. He has led the league in rebounding for three straight years and in blocks for two straight years. His statistics are growing, and he continues to develop his game.
He has already led the Magic to four playoff appearances, including one Finals appearance and one additional Conference Finals. He is still young, and I wouldn't be surprised if he continued to lead the Magic back to the Championship doorstep. If he is able to get over that hump and win a couple Finals, then he threatens to enter the discussion as one of the most successful centers ever. If not, then I guess we get to remember him as one of the craziest athletes of our generation.
22. Alonzo Mourning
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Career Highlights: NBA Champion, 7x All-Star, 2x Defensive POY.
Looking at their resumes, Zo and Howard have very similar careers. While Howard is a better offensive center, Zo was a much more feared defensive player in his prime. In addition, Zo has the Championship that has remained elusive to Howard.
He had to take a break from basketball to recover from a kidney disease that almost cost him his career. Upon his return to the Heat, he was able to become a key leader and defensive player on their 2006 Championship team. He gave Shaq valuable rest, and he was able to anchor the defense, finishing 3rd in the league in blocks per game.
Zo was able to make the transition from great player to great role player flawlessly, and he will probably be remembered more for his leadership in 2006 than any great stats he put up in the late 90s.
21. Dirk Nowitzki
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Career Highlights: 9x All-Star, 10x All-NBA (4, 4, 2), MVP (2007).
Dirk has a tricky career to understand. He got close to the Finals (2003), but he milked an injury that cost the team the series and nearly cost Dirk his image. For the next few years, the Mavs lived in mediocrity. Nash and Nelson left, and the fate of the franchise was left in Nowitzki's hands. He responded.
In the 2006 playoffs, the Mavericks almost blew a 3-1 series lead to the Spurs. In Game 7, the Mavs blew a 20 point lead and were trailing by 3 with less than 30 seconds left. The Mavs put their season in Dirk's hands, and he responded. An incredible and-1 over Ginobli tied the game, and the Mavs went on to win the series, eventually falling to the Heat in the Finals.
I think that stretch in 2006 sums up Dirk's career well. He was clutch enough to come through for his team when they needed him, but he was still unable to carry them all the way to the top. Dirk had a successful career, but he was never able to vault himself to an 'elite' status.
20. Dwyane Wade
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Career Highlights: NBA Champion, 7x All-Star, 5x All-NBA (2, 2, 1), NBA Finals MVP (2006).
How on earth is Wade this low on the list?!? This list is garbage! Wade is at least top 3!
I figure that's how a lot of people will see Wade in this position. But please look a little closer. His career has only lasted 7 years, how is he supposed to be as successful as someone who's career lasted nearly 20? He's not. The list is over the last 25 years, so the young players (with half their careers left) shouldn't be expected to be towards the top. Settle down. Thank you.
While I appreciate Wade's style of play, think the Heat could have won the 2005 Championship if he didn't get injured, and believe he was tremendously clutch in the '06 Finals, I still think Wade is overrated. It's tough to believe, but compare his playoff results and 2nd best player to LeBron's:
'04: 2nd Round (Lamar Odom) No Playoffs (young Carlos Boozer)
'05: East Finals (Shaq) No Playoffs (Zydrunas Ilgauskas)
'06: Champions (Shaq) 2nd Round (Zydrunas Ilgauskas)
'07: 1st Round (Angry Shaq) Finals (Larry Hughes)
'08: No Playoffs (Shawn Marion?) 2nd Round (Zydrunas Ilguaskas)
'09: 1st Round (Udonis Haslem? Shawn Marion? Ouch) East Finals (Mo Williams)
'10: 1st Round (No one. Seriously, ZERO help) 2nd Round (Mo Williams)
So, Wade has made it deeper in the playoffs only 3 times (to LeBron's 4), and he has had a better 2nd player 5 (arguably 6) times, and we are still supposed to think he's been more successful than LeBron? This discussion isn't about talent or value, but success. Combined, Wade has done less with more than LeBron over the last 7 years. If LeBron had Shaq at the same time in his career, their roles would be more than reversed. Wade wouldn't even be in the conversation. But, with Shaq's help, Wade has been able to keep himself in the Kobe/LeBron discussion even if it isn't necessarily deserved.
That being said, Wade is a tremendous talent and he could easily jump LeBon in the future depending on the Heat's success. Speaking of the Heat, I think there are 3 major things to remember:
1. Wade is a much savvier business man than LeBron is. Just look at #s 2 & 3.
2. Wade went and got Bosh first. He knew he couldn't win without another star, so he got a big man to help him compete in the East. Only when LeBron was left with no one but Mo Williams did he take his talents to South Beach. So, don't forget that Wade got help before LeBron sought it.
3. No matter how successful Miami is, no matter how many rings they win (or don't win), unless LeBron leaves, Wade will always have 1 more.
Wade is great. He has been extremely successful. I just want to remind everyone that he isn't as great as people may think he is. Still, he has a chance to prove me wrong and climb the list if he becomes the alpha dog in Miami. We can only wait and see.
19. Steve Nash
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Career Highlights: 7x All-Star, 7x All-NBA (3, 2, 2), 2x MVP ('05, '06).
Nash is only one of ten guys who have won back-to-back MVP awards. That's ridiculous. In addition, he is one of the greatest offensive point guards in history, especially the last decade. Despite zero defense, he has led the Suns to three Western Conference Finals in the last six seasons.
Although he doesn't have a Championship on his resume, he's done just about everything else a point guard can do (well, except play defense). I love watching Nash play, and I hope he can get over the hump and win a Championship before his career is over. That may be an ambitious hope, but Nash is still a great talent who could use some help from his teammates (really Jason Richardson? You can't box out for two seconds?!? Just stand in Artest's way! Give Nash a chance! While I loved the "Just play basektball/say Queensbridge" interview, I wish Nash would've led a inferior Suns team over the Lakers and into the Finals). Guess some things just weren't meant to be.
18. Patrick Ewing
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Career Highlights: 11x All-Star, 10x All-NBA (1, 6), 3x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team.
Say what you want about Ewing's inability to win big games (and normally, I would), but he had one of the most successful careers for an NBA big man. Anyone that goes to more than a decade worth of All Star Games deserves some credit right? He was the best player and leader on the Knicks for over a decade (which some Knicks may not be proud of), and he had to perform on the biggest stage for his entire prime.
He was never the best player at his position (Olajuwon, Robinson, and Shaq had overlapping careers), and he was never able to win it all while those three (and MJ) were off winning every title from 1991-2003. His career could never be considered elite, but his success was good enough to be remembered fondly. Right, Knicks fans?
17. LeBron James
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Career Highlights: 7x All-Star, 6x All-NBA (4, 2), 2x All-Defensive 1st team, 2x MVP ('09, '10).
And you all thought I was going to put him in the top 5 after reading that Wade slide, didn't you? Not quite. Well, more like not yet. Remember that back-to-back MVP list? Here's the newest member. He is (arguably) the greatest athletic specimen in history, and he has led nobodies to the playoffs time and again.
Talk about his lack of a killer instinct all you want, he is the best player in the league, and he will be for at least the next three years. So, when will the championships start coming? That's not a question for me, but for LeBron.
But, what about success? That's where LeBron's career can be misleading. Not that he isn't as successful as his career suggests; rather, he is MORE successful than his results may say. I've already proven that he's done more with less than Wade, but does it matter to him? The answer is no, which is why I think many people forget how impressive his career has been. LeBron doesn't care about winning or championships the same way that MJ, Bird, or Magic did, and many people think that means he hasn't won at all. He has, he just hasn't won a Championship. Unfortunately, until he does, that's all that NBA fans (and, more importantly, Cleveland fans) will remember him for: a great, successful talent that just didn't care enough to vault himself into the most successful conversation.
16. Allen Iverson
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Career Highlights: 11x All-Star, 7x All-NBA (3, 3, 1), MVP (2001).
Many people didn't like AI. Many people thought he was too selfish. Many people will forget that he led nobodies to the Finals (where they got rolled). Despite one of the most successful careers of the past two decades, many people don't put Iverson in the success conversations.
He was an All-Star for over a decade, he was named one of the top three players at his position seven times, and he was an MVP once. He is another player that deserves a Championship, but he was never able to get one. It's too bad, but I don't think AI would change any of it. He may have been semi-selfish, but without much help in Philly, what choice did he have? He took them as far as he possibly could, and I consider that a pretty successful run.
15. Dikembe Mutombo
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Career Highlights: 8x All-Star, 3x All-NBA (0, 1, 2), 6x All-Defense (3, 3), 4x Defensive POY.
What? Dikembe this high? How? He didn't even win a championship, did he?
No, he did not win a championship, but Dikembe still should be considered as one of the most successful players to play the game. He was named an All-Star eight times, and he even was named to three All-NBA teams.
More impressively, he was named to six All-Defensive teams, and he was elected Defensive Player of the Year four times. FOUR TIMES! That means that four different years, he was believed to be the best defensive player in the league. That's absurd. Although his teams didn't see much success, except maybe his tearful upset of the Sonics in 1994, he was a feared defensive player for his entire career, which has to count for something. He is by no means the greatest post presence of the last couple decades, but he is definitely the most honored one.
14. Dennis Rodman
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Career Highlights: 5x NBA Champion, 2x All-Star, 8x All-Defense (7, 1), 2x Defensive POY.
He is one of craziest, wackiest, most bizarre NBA players in recent memory. The original Ron Artest. But could that man rebound/defend! Throughout the hair color changes, the off-court antics, the odd quotes, Rodman was able to win five Championships. That's a lot. Not many modern-day players have enough rings to fill a hand, but Rodman is one of them. Throw in a couple Defensive POYs and all of a sudden, we have an incredibly successful career.
Say what you want about his bizarre behavior, this man come from his home planet to win Championships, rebound basketballs, and play defense. MJ was much happier playing with Rodman than he was playing against him, and not many players can say that. Rodman can.
13. Charles Barkley
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Career Highlights: 11x All-Star, 11x All-NBA (5, 5, 1), MVP (1993).
Sir Charles is one of the greatest sports broadcasters ever. He is one of the few people who can speak the brutal truth and have people love him for it. His honesty and humor is contagious, and by the way, he was a pretty good basketball player too.
He was considered one of the two best players at his position 10 times. That honor in itself is enough in my book. In addition, Chuck was able to capture an MVP, and if it weren't for MJ, he probably would have won at least one Championship.
Unfortunately, MJ was playing at the same time, and he disallowed Barkley from ever attaining a ring; however, I think Chuck is content with that. No, he's not content in a LeBron 'I don't care about winning, I just want people to like me' way. Rather, he has the unique 'I was one of the best, I had a great time playing, I don't need no ring to solidify that' way. Sounds pretty successful to me.
12. Gary Payton
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Career Highlights: NBA Champion, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA (2, 5, 2), 9x All-Defensive 1st Team.
Even though he never won anything in his prime, he was one of the greatest defensive guards ever and he almost derailed the Bulls 2nd 3-peat in '96. Many people forget that Payton nearly completely shut down Jordan after the first three games of the series and causing everyone to devalue the 72-win season. Unfortunately, George Karl didn't have him guarding MJ for the first three games, which is why the Sonics fell in six.
Still, Payton matured, and he was able to be a valuable role player on a Championship team ('06 Heat), and put an extra stamp on his resume that Stockton will never have. Sure, it doesn't mean he was more successful than Stockton on the whole, but I'm sure the Glove will be satisfied knowing that he has the ring while his 90s rival/foil doesn't.
11. Kevin Garnett
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Career Highlights: NBA Champion, 13x All-Star, 9x All-NBA (4, 3, 2) 10x All-Defense (8, 2), MVP (2004).
As a Timberwolves fan, it killed me to pick a picture of KG in a Celtics uniform. His best years were in Minnesota weren't they?!? Doesn't that warrant a picture of Garnett in a 'Puppies' uniform? Unfortunately, no. While his best years were in the Twin Cities, his most successful (and important) were in Boston.
When he was traded to Boston, it seemed like a sick joke. No way would the Timberwolves trade their franchise for Al Jefferson, two nobodies, Theo Ratliff's contract, and Sebastian Telfair, right? Wrong. Still, almost every Wolves fan was glad it happened. KG deserved it.
KG went on to develop one of the coolest (and quickest) team chemistry's in recent memory. He was a man on a mission in 2008 (much like he was in '03-'04, only this time Sam Cassell's back didn't self-destruct), and he wouldn't let the Celtics settle for anything less than a Championship.
The leadership he showed in Boston put KG in another category. Rather than being a hyper-competitive, trash-talking loser, he became a winner. Whether or not you like Garnett's style, you can't take that Championship away from him (who would even want to try?), which is why he can be considered a success.
10. Jason Kidd
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Career Highlights: 10x All-Star, 6x All-NBA (5, 1), 9x All-Defense (4, 5).
One of the best all-around point guards ever has to be in the top 10. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like he will win a Championship, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Everyone remembers his game management and uncanny ability to find open teammates, but what separates him from other point guards (namely Nash) is his defense.
Although he can't play any defense anymore, he was one of the top two defensive point guards nine times. If he wasn't leading a fast-break, a terrible Nets team to the Finals, or the Mavericks to regular season success, he was shutting down the opposing teams' motor. From that, he was able to control the game on both ends of the floor, something that not a lot of guards can say.
I may take Nash, but Kidd has proven time and again that he can win. His success may have come from better situations, but he was still able to reach the Finals twice and escape the 1st round of the playoffs four other times. Another player that couldn't quite win it all, but he still had some of the most successful seasons without a lot of talent around him.
9. Scottie Pippen
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Career Highlights: 6x NBA Champion, 7x All-Star, 7x All-NBA (3, 2, 2), 10x All-Defense (8, 2).
For a bunch of MJ haters, they always say that he never won anything without Pippen. A friend asked me recently, "Do people just not care that [Pippen] never won without MJ?" That's interesting because it is true that Scottie never won a ring without His Airness. He came close ('00 Jailblazers), but he was never able to get over the hump without Jordan. So should that hurt his legacy?
I don't think so. Not one bit. We're talking about one of the best defensive players in history. We're talking about a guy who could defend anyone between 6'1" and 6'11" without having a problem. We're talking about a guy who was the 2nd best player on six champions, including one of the most dominant teams ever ('95-'96) Bulls. We're talking about a player whom Ron Harper described by saying, "Everyone talks about MJ first, but Pip had a more all-around game. Defense, offensive rebounds and defensive boards: Pip made the game easier for us to play." Sounds like a pretty successful career if you ask me.
8. David Robinson
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Career Highlights: 2x NBA Champion, 10x All-Star, 10x All-NBA (4, 2, 4), 8x All-Defense (4, 4), Defensive POY (1992), MVP (1995).
The Admiral was one of the greatest physical specimens in history. His combination of size, strength, and speed were seemingly superhuman for a man of such size. He was able to dominate players on both ends of the court with an unbelievable ease. Unfortunately, he wasn't blessed with that 'killer' instinct. Lucky for him, Tim Duncan came along.
It isn't right to credit Duncan with both of Robinson's Championships. While Duncan carried the Spurs in '03, Robinson was an integral part of the '99 Championship team. He was, undoubtedly, one of the most gifted players in history, and Tim Duncan was able to turn him into one of the most successful.
7. John Stockton
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Career Highlights: 10x All-Star, 11x All-NBA (2, 6, 3), 5x All-Defensive 2nd Team.
It's tough to talk about the Jazz of the 90s because it's tough to decide whether Stockton created Malone or Malone created Stockton. In the end, I think it's safe to say that neither player would have been nearly as successful without the other.
Stockton is the league's all-time leader in assists and steals, and his 14.5 apg. in 1990 will probably never be touched (even with the league moving toward a more fast-break style). Unfortunately, he still has no ring. This, however, can be accredited to Malone. Stockton was an assassin on the court whereas his counterpart melted in crunch time. Stockton was a class act, and he should always be one of the first names mentioned in any point guard discussion. Unfortunately, he never got the necessary support from his partner in crime to win a title.
Look, he's one of the most successful players of the last two decades, and his teammate still litters his slide. Rough, isn't it?
6. Hakeem Olajuwon
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Career Highlights: 2x NBA Champion, 12x All-Star, 12x All-NBA (6, 3, 3), 9x All-Defense (5, 4), 2x Defensive POY, 2x Finals MVP, NBA MVP (1994).
The Dream is one player that I wish I could have seen in his prime. Unfortunately, I never had the privilege of actually watching the man play. Luckily, his numbers speak for themselves.
Only four players have more All-NBA nominations, only five have more All-Defensive team nominations, only two have more Defensive POY awards, and, in this time-frame, only four players have more All-Star selections. Are you kidding me?!?
His accolades and nominations are from another planet. After Sampson was injured and left; however, it didn't look like Olajuwon was going to win a title. Lucky for him, Jordan took a two year break, which allowed him to swoop in and win a couple titles. So now, are we talking one of the greatest of all-time? Not quite, but his success puts him in a class of very few. To me, that still makes him one of the most successful players of all-time, especially within the last 25 years.
5. Karl Malone
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Career Highlights: 13x All-Star, 14x All-NBA (11, 2, 1), 4x All-Defense (3, 1), 2x NBA MVP ('97, '99).
Ok, I took a couple shots at the Mailman in Stockton's slide, so I'm going to give him his due in this slide.
He was a tremendous talent. He has the most All-NBA First teams (11), he was a two-time MVP, and he was an All-Star for almost a full decade and a half. I was talking about Malone to my dad and he had great memories of watching him:
"[Karl] was great. He could shoot, he could drive, he could post up, he could defend, heck, he could throw a few elbows if you needed him to. Fact his, he could do anything you could think of asking a power forward to do. As great as Duncan is, as much of a winner as he is, it's tough to say anyone was as talented as Karl was. But yeah, he wasn't going to win anything against Michael."
Sums it up to me. Great talent. Great competitor. Terrible in the clutch. While he is one of the greatest individual successes, his inability to lead his team to the promised land will (unfortunately) be his lasting legacy.
4. Kobe Bryant
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Career Highlights: 5x NBA Champion, 13x All-Star, 12x All-NBA (8, 2, 2), 10x All-Defense (8, 2), 2x Finals MVP, NBA MVP ('08).
Kobe slowly grew on me. I didn't like him at all when he and Shaq were winning, I didn't like his immature pouting without Shaq, I didn't like him when he conquered a weak Magic squad in the Finals. Finally, after watching nearly every Lakers game last summer, he grew on me. There is just no way that a fan of basketball can dislike Kobe as a player.
Regardless of your thoughts on his character, he is one of the greatest players ever, and he is easily one of the most successful players of the last couple decades. He has a swagger about him that grows on you as you watch him play, and it is too tough to keep him out of the 'greatest ever' debate, even if he is only mentioned.
Now, let's have some fun with Kobe's numbers. He's 32. Let's say he has three more 'elite' years. He has two mediocre years after that. Then, he hangs on for 1-2 more meaningless years on a goodbye tour. So, there is a legitimate possibility he earns 18 All-Star nominations (even if it's only on name alone), has 17 All-NBAs, 13 All-Defensive teams, and a 7x NBA Champion. Those are very estimated numbers, and each of those are better than Michael Jordan's.
Obviously, there is no way to tell what is going to happen, but those are possible. Many people won't ever put him in the GOAT debate, but if he attains these possible accolades, he will easily be one of the most successful players of all time.
3. Shaquille O'Neal
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Career Highlights: 4x NBA Champion, 15x All-Star, 14x All-NBA (8, 2, 4), 3x Finals MVP, NBA MVP (2000).
Even though Kobe has "one more than Shaq," I couldn't put him ahead of the Diesel. Shaq was just too dominant. He has a couple more All-Stars, All-NBAs, and an extra Finals MVP, so why is he valued higher than someone with an extra ring and All-Defense honors? Because, he's Shaqtastic.
Try it. Kobe's name can't evolve into a nickname at will, and to be honest, I don't think Kobe would have been as successful in other places. He has been incredible in LA, but he hasn't succeeded anywhere else. I'm not holding that against Kobe, but Shaq has been able to win in other places (Orlando, Miami, kind-of Phoenix & Cleveland, now Boston) with different roles.
I think his chameleon-ability puts him in an entirely new category. He is one of three players on this list who has won a title in at least two different places, and he is the only that can claim to being the best or 2nd-best on different title teams. Success has followed Shaq everywhere he went (except Phoenix, but honestly, did anyone expect that to work?), and that makes him an entirely unique, successful superstar.
2. Tim Duncan
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Career Highlights: 4x NBA Champion, 12x All-Star, 13x All-NBA (9, 3, 1), 13x All-Defense (8, 5), 3x Finals MVP, 2x NBA MVP ('02, '03).
Quick, list the five most successful players in the last 25 years. No? Ok, list the five most successful players in the last decade? Still no? Ok, how about the five most successful players to play in San Antonio? Tim Duncan finally make the list? Good. For some reason, he just isn't respected. I'm sick of the "he's too fundamental and too boring" excuse. Can we at least give the man a good excuse for leaving him off lists? "He's too slow," "I don't like his bug-eyed complaints," "I don't like Wake Forest." Anything, please!
Ok, regardless of any of those new excuses, Tim Duncan has been the most successful big man in the last two decades, if not ever (minus Bill Russell, but he's in his own class). He actually has more All-NBA and All-Defense selections than he does All-Stars. How does that work? Because Tim Duncan is THAT sneaky good (or because there was no All-Star game in 1999). He has been the leader of four different Champions, he has two MVPs, and he could add to his ridiculous accolades.
Despite any excuse you use, Duncan is spectacular. Being one of the great modern superstars, he should be acknowledge for doing things the right way and still being as successful as anyone. If I needed to win one series, and I had to choose a big man first, Duncan would easily be my first pick. He's done it all, anything else he adds to his resume is just gravy.
1. Michael Jordan
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Career Highlights: 6x NBA Champion, 14x All-Star, 11x All-NBA (10, 1), 9x All-Defensive 1st Team, Defensive POY (1988), 6x Finals MVP, 5x NBA MVP ('88, '91, '92, '96, '98).
When I first finished my list, part of me was disappointed MJ finished at the top. It seemed dull. I thought that, to make the list more interesting, Jordan should be put at 2nd. Better yet, why not just leave him off?! That could spark some conversation, right?
Then I actually looked as his career again. Are you kidding me?! His combination of Championships, All-Stars, All-NBAs, All-Defenses, Finals MVPs, and regular season MVPs are a joke. He has a fantasy career, it's as simple as that. Oh, by the way, he missed two seasons to play another sport. So, it is reasonable to add a two to everything on his resume (except maybe Defensive POY, WAIT!! He won a Defensive POY too?!?! God, he DID do it all). That's ridiculous.
Hands down, any way you wanna spin it, MJ was the best. But not just simply based on his play on the court, he was the most successful when you look strictly at the numbers. You can put his resume against anyone's, and it would embarrass just about anyone, especially those drafted since '84.
When it comes to any basketball list regarding success, no one but MJ can be listed at the top.
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