Ranking the Worst Seasons of the 25 Greatest NBA Players Ever

The 25 greatest NBA players ever are the cream of the crop in the basketball world and yet each of them, in their worst season ever, seemed flawed and human. In their worst seasons these players did not seem like the top 25 players ever, with the exception of a few, whose worst seasons were still great.

Let's see who they are and rank their worst seasons from No. 25 to No. 1, taking into consideration their age and whether they were injured or not.

This list is ranked by worst of the worst to the best of the worst. The players' overall all-time ranking (in my opinion) is in parenthesis.

Moses Malone (10)

Malone was the first to skip college and go pro. He entered the ABA at age 19. On the other end of the spectrum, at age 39, this three time NBA MVP had a dismal season that was sad to see.

In 1994 Malone played 17 games for the Spurs and averaged just 8.8 minutes per game. He shot 37 percent from the field and 69 percent from the line. Malone only grabbed 2.7 rebounds a night and scored only 2.9 points per game. What a sad way to end a top 10 all-time career.

John Stockton (23)

Stockton became the bast passer in NBA history and put the all-time assists and steals records out of touch, but as a rookie he was a backup to Ricky Green in Utah.

The year was 1984-85 and Stockton played in all 82 games, but averaged only 18.2 minutes a night. He shot 47 percent from the field and 74 percent from the line. He also added 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 5.6 points.

Kobe Bryant (16)

In Bryant's rookie year he was 18 years old. He later would put up stellar numbers, but in his first three seasons he did not.

His first season was, so far, his worst. He played 71 games and averaged 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He shot 41 percent from the field in 15.5 minutes per night.  

Clyde Drexler (25)

Clyde the Glide is underrated but makes my top 25 ever cut...at No. 25.

His rookie year, though, was not so great. Clyde averaged 7.7 points on 45 percent shooting and he added 2.9 rebounds, 1,9 assists and 1.3 steals per game, in only 17 minutes a night. He did play in all 82 games in 1984 for Portland.

Hakeem Olajuwon (6)

One of the most awesome all-around players ever, Hakeem had a bad year in 2002, but we forgive him because he was 39 years old. He averaged less than Clyde or Kobe in their worst seasons, but he did much more, too.

Olajuwon averaged 7.1 points on 46 percent shooting, but he also added six rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks. Pretty good for an old man who played 61 games and 22.6 minutes per night for Toronto.

Shaq (8)

We just saw Shaq's worst season and he fittingly has retired.

At age 38 he scored 9.2 points per game for Boston and shot an amazing 67 percent from the field, but he only played 20 minutes a night and added 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Sayonara big fella.

David Robinson (21)

Robinson had his last and worst season at age 37, but he did win his second ring, thanks in part to Tim Duncan.

Robinson averaged 26 minutes a night in 2003, adding 8.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. He shot 47 percent from the field and played 64 games.

Bill Russell (7)

Russell was such a winner that even in his last season his team found a way to win the title.

Russell was 34 years old and put up numbers that would be Rodman's dream numbers. He averaged 9.9 points on 43 percent shooting, also adding 19.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Amazing!

Elgin Baylor (17)

Baylor managed to score 10 PPG in his worst season, 1971. He also added 5.5 rebounds and one assist at the age of 36.

He had never won a title and then retired right at the beginning of the LA's 1972 season. Damn, he should have stayed on that year.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was 41 years old in 1989.

And yet he managed 22.9 minutes, 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Great stuff for a senior citizen.

Rick Barry (18)

Rick Barry played his last season in Houston in 1980.

He averaged 12 points per game at age 35 and shot only 42 percent, but he did shoot 33 percent from three-point range and 94 percent from the line. He also added 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals.

Oscar Robertson (11)

 The walking triple double had his worst year at age 35 for Milwaukee.

He scored 12.7 points per night, averaging four rebounds and 6.4 assists with 1.1 steals. He shot 44 percent from the field and 84 percent from the line.

Charles Barkley (19)

The Round Mound of Rebound did add 14.5 points, 3.2 assists and 10.5 rebounds per game in 2000—his last season—but he only played 20 games, for his worst season ever.

That's how good he was.

Karl Malone (20)

At the age of 40, Malone played for the Lakers and had probably his best chance to win a title with Shaq, KB and GP at his side.

Sadly, he played only 42 games for the 2004 Lakers and in the Finals his team somehow failed. Thanks for nothing, Kobe and Shaq.

Malone averaged 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals, while shooting 48 percent from the field in his last and worst season.

Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan, who turned 35 during the 2011 season, put in 13.4 points per night to go with 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. He shot 50 percent from the field and played 28.4 minutes per night in 76 games.

Wilt Chamberlain (2)

Off the heels of his second title win, the man who once averaged 50 points and scored 100 was held to 13.2 points per game for the Lakers, at age of 36. He added an amazing 18.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists, though.

Yet LA didn't repeat as champs and the legend retired.  

John Havlicek (8)

Havlicek was the greatest on-court hustler ever—even as a rookie that was evident.

Havlicek's worst season was his rookie year, but he won a title and put in 14.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 45 percent shooting. He played in 80 games and also shot 73 percent from the line in 1963.

Magic Johnson (4)

We all know Magic's worst season was his failed comeback in 1996.

He played 30 minutes per in his 32 games and shot 47 percent from the field. He added 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists.

Isiah Thomas (13)

Isiah's last season as a pro was his worst, but at least he didn't hang on past his prime.

Isiah was only 32 when he played 58 games for the Pistons, averaging 14.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 6.9 assists per game on 42 percent shooting.

Larry Bird (5)

Larry Legend only had two seasons under 20 points per game—and both were above 19 PPG—but 1989 was his worst season, because he only played six games.

In those six games he averaged 19.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and a steal. He shot 47 percent from the field and 95 percent from the line at 32 years old.

Julius Erving (22)

Dr. J finished out his storied career at the age of 36 with 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, on 47 percent shooting and 81 percent from the line.

Nice way to end it in 1987, Dr. J.

Jerry West (12)

As a rookie, Jerry West was already a beast.

He played 79 games and 35.4 minutes per night in his worst season. He put forth 17.6 point, 7.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists, shooting 42 percent from the field...and he was just a rookie.

Bob Pettit (14)

Pettit was so amazing and underrated that many people do not give him credit as a top 15 all-time player. Also, people forget that Pettit and the Hawks beat Boston and Russell in the 1958 NBA Finals, stopping the Celtics reign for a year.

Also, Pettit had an amazing worst season as a 22-year-old rookie. He averaged 20.4 points on 41 percent shooting and added 13.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Milwaukee Hawks. Pettit never averaged under 20 points per game!!!

LeBron James (24)

James is definitely hated, but he was loved in his first season as an 18 to 19-year-old. James scored a (so far) career low 20.9 points in his worst season. He added 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.6 steals on 42 percent shooting. He had a great worst year.  

Michael Jordan (1)

The GOAT"s worst year was amazing, taking into consideration he was 40 years old. Jordan shattered every record ever held by a 40 year old, including being the only 40 year old to average 20 PPG for a season and the only player over 40 to score 40 or more in a game. Unbelievably, he was the only Wizard in 2002 to play all 82 games, even though half of the roster was half his age. The rest of the Wizards were a disgrace to basketball.

Jordan averaged 37 minutes a night and scored 20 points on 45 percent shooting. He also added 82 percent from the line, 6.1 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game.