Top 10 all-time best NBA players

The controversial question, the never-ending debate… For its Christmas article, the Paris Basketball staff reveals ITS all-time Top 10 best players. A ranking compiled from A to Z by club employees. The only criterion: only achievements in the Major League are taken into account.

So, who will be the GOAT, LeBron James or Michael Jordan ?

10) Bill Russell : The man with the most NBA titles leads the way. Single-handedly, the centre changed the course of the greatest franchise of all time. In 13 seasons wearing the green jersey, he won… 11 CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES. With 12 All-Star Games and 5 regular season MVP awards to boot, the Louisiana giant completely redefined the standards of defensive lockdown. He achieved unprecedented numbers in terms of blocks and averaged 22.5 rebounds per game throughout his career! All this while being an unprecedented leader, with a winning culture running through his veins. He was a true UFO among basketball players. Even Wilt Chamberlain – who came in 11th place in our ranking – paled in comparison to the Lord of the Rings. An irresistible centre who seemed to have come from the future.

9) Stephen Curry : Leader of the Splash Brothers, the ‘Devil’ already occupies a prominent place in this ranking, while the shadow of a fifth title still looms over California. When we talk about players who have revolutionised the world of basketball, Stephen Curry is among the first names mentioned. Alongside Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, this point guard’s skill has traumatised an entire continent. The only unanimous MVP in history, he dominated with three titles in four consecutive finals. He then surprised everyone by leading his team to the Holy Grail in 2022, earning his first NBA Finals MVP award in the process. Through his talent and dedication, Stephen Curry has gone from being the seventh pick in the 2009 draft to the best shooter of all time.

8) Shaquille O’Neal : When power meets… power, you get Shaq. In 1995, the NBA welcomed a young centre standing 2.16 metres tall and weighing 147 kg. A monster on paper, he became a weapon of mass destruction for more than a decade. Capable of exploding through any hoop, he even forced the big league to reinforce its baskets and add a line to its rules. Capable of producing playoff campaigns with 30.4 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. Capable of bringing the Miami Heat its first title in history. The greatest centre of his era, even his Achilles heel at the free throw line did not prevent him from dominating the NBA. With four NBA trophies and three Finals MVP awards to his name, Shaquille O’Neal is among the greatest centres of all time.

7) Tim Duncan : Not the flashiest, not the most spectacular… but definitely the most effective! His nickname, ‘The Big Fundamental,’ suits him perfectly. Strong defence and tough man-to-man on one side of the court. Bank shots and big three-pointers on the other. He also has unparalleled composure and quiet leadership. Often overlooked in these discussions, Tim Duncan looks more to the future than to the past. The Californian has an impressive and comprehensive list of achievements: 15-time All-Star, 8-time All-NBA First Team, 5 championship titles, 3 Finals MVP awards and 2 regular season MVP awards. His legacy is complemented by a number of playoff records, including defensive rebounds, blocks and double-doubles. A quiet leader under Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan has stood the test of time to put the San Antonio Spurs on the map in the United States.

6) Kobe Bryant : The Black Mamba climbed to the gates of the Top 5. This workhorse was fully in line with Michael Jordan’s legacy when he left high school. Barely of age, Kobe already seemed ‘NBA Ready’. Physically, he spent all his time in the gym. Technically, his Pump Fake & Pivot already made him unstoppable. And mentally, he was a beast ready to do anything to lead his team to victory. This strong character allowed him to quickly establish himself alongside Shaquille O’Neal on the Lakers. A major contributor to the Angelenos’ three-peat, his meticulous behaviour led him to take sole control of the franchise. During this period, he earned 11 NBA First Team selections, 9 All-NBA Defence Team selections and, most notably, the 2008 MVP award. However, his greatest achievement came during the 2009-2010 seasons, years of a legendary back-to-back crowned with 2 Finals MVP awards. The man who scored 81 points in a single game left a lasting impression like few others before him.

5) Larry Bird : Yes, this player straight out of a small university in Indiana ranks fifth in our ranking. Don’t be fooled by appearances. This tall blond nicknamed ‘Hick from French Lick’ was anything but an easy matchup to face. In addition to constantly talking trash to his opponents, he could shoot three-pointers as fast as his shadow. A major player in the Celtic-Lakers rivalry during the 1980s, Larry Bird contributed greatly to the development of the NBA. On the one hand, this was thanks to his strong character. But above all, it was thanks to his pioneering style of play, which resulted in three NBA titles, three regular season MVP awards and 12 All-Star Games. Larry Bird was basketball incarnate… just like his eternal rival!

4) Magic Johnson : When talking about Larry, how can we not mention Magic! 2.06 metres tall and weighing 108 kg: the typical measurements… of a point guard! However, the greatest point guard in NBA history in every sense of the word first made a name for himself at centre in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, replacing a certain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It was a winning move for coach Paul Westhead and an all-time performance for the Michigan native, who was rewarded with the first of his three Finals MVP awards. Back at point guard, Magic became the first great triple-double expert. Before Nikola Jokic or Russell Westbrook, he was the first to achieve this feat. The three-time regular season MVP was the personification of the term ‘Showtime’. In 13 years on the West Coast, he amassed five championship trophies and nine All-NBA First Team selections. In short, his career was littered with highlights and achievements of all kinds.

3) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar : SKYHOOK! Is there a more legendary move than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Skyhook? The answer is probably no. This simply unstoppable hook shot reflects the dominance that The Captain had over his era. The beneficiary of Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson’s assists first shone with the Milwaukee Bucks. After winning the franchise’s first title, he moved to the Los Angeles Lakers to add five more titles to their trophy cabinet. From his rookie season in 1970, when he averaged 28.8 points, to his defeat in the 1989 finals against the Detroit Pistons, KAJ won again and again. We’re talking about 19 All-Star Games, 11 NBA All-Defensive Teams and, above all, six regular season MVP titles – a record! And until recently, he was THE all-time leading scorer. That is, until our runner-up surpassed him…

2) LeBron James : Never before had a teenager been under so much pressure after leaving school. ‘The Chosen One’, according to Sports Illustrated… It seemed impossible for him to even live up to the media expectations weighing on his shoulders. Yet LeBron James has done much better than expected. The all-time leading scorer in the world’s greatest league is a one-of-a-kind phenomenon. Everywhere he has set foot, he has won. First criticised for leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, then singled out after ‘The Decision’, before being condemned following his defeat in the Finals against Dallas. The King took it upon himself to work hard and win. Back-to-back titles with the Heat, followed by the legendary BLOCK in 2016 and finally this title with the Lakers as the culmination of his legacy. His unparalleled longevity still allows him to perform at the highest level in an increasingly athletic NBA. Four Finals MVP awards, four regular season MVP awards and 21 All-Star Game appearances. An extraordinary record, worthy of the GOAT. But there were two contenders for this title. And in the end, MJ won !

1) Michael Jordan : LeBron, Curry, O’Neal, Kobe and Duncan. All these names owe their worldwide fame to Michael Jordan. There was an NBA before Jumpman and an NBA after Jumpman. To think that the guard was only selected third in the 1984 draft. It was a blessing for the Chicago Bulls who, without knowing it, had just made the best decision ever for an NBA franchise. From the outset, Michael Jordan became an outstanding leader. Demanding both of himself and his teammates, the New Yorker shaped THE Legacy, two of the last three three-peats… All as the undisputed leader of his team. He was unstoppable, as evidenced by his six Finals MVP awards, unbeatable, as evidenced by his five regular season MVP awards, and an excellent defender, as evidenced by his 1988 DPOY award. His off-court controversies provided a striking contrast to his ability to shine on the court.

For Paris Basketball, Michael Jordan is THE GOAT!