The Best Basketball Players of All Time
There have been numerous players who have excelled and are regarded as the finest in the game throughout the history of basketball. Elvin Hayes, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, and Bob McAdoo are a few of these.
Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, one of the greatest centres in basketball history, spent more than 20 years playing in the NBA. He is well-known for both his trademark “Dream Shake” motion and his quick footwork in the low post. He has won two NBA championships as well. After playing for the University of Houston Cougars, Olajuwon was picked by the Houston Rockets. He received first place overall.
After an impressive first campaign, Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds. He also has the most steals, shot blocks, and blocked shots in the league. He recorded 200 blocks in a season for the first time in NBA history in 1990. He also took home the rebounding crown in 1990. He was the regular season MVP in 1993.
You will know Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as one of the best NBA players ever, whether you like basketball or not. He is a force to be reckoned with thanks to his distinctive shot, long gangly limbs, and all-around ability.
Kareem is well-known for his “Skyhook” shot, which is a flip shot over the shoulder with a slow, high-arcing motion from the low post. There is no other player who uses this shot. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most dominant NBA players of all time, and this is his hallmark shot.
Kareem averaged 24.8 points per game and is the most prolific scorer in NBA history. He added 10.8 rebounds per game on average. He has been a member of 15 All-NBA teams and has received six MVP honours.
Karl Malone was regarded as the best power forward of all time during his 19-year NBA career. He has won the MVP award twice, been named Finals MVP three times, and has scored 36,928 points to rank second all-time in NBA history.
He began his career in 1985 as a 13th-round draft pick and went on to win the regular season MVP award three times. Eight All-NBA teams, including two first-team all-star teams, included him.
Together with his playing achievements, Karl Malone has been honoured with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was included in Sports Illustrated’s list of the 50 Greatest All-Time Players and recognized as the best power forward in the history of the sport. In addition to being inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2010, he was awarded the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1997.
Malone was a terrific rebounder and the oldest player to ever record a triple-double. In addition, he was the NBA’s top free-throw shooter for five straight seasons. He is also among the league’s most resilient players. In his career, he has only missed 10 games.
Wilt Chamberlain was a four-time NBA MVP during his professional basketball career and the only player to average more than 30 points and 20 rebounds a game. He also took home nine different field goal percentage championships. Wilt Chamberlain also participated in thirteen All-Star Games and was chosen for seven 1st Team All-NBA teams.
With the San Francisco Warriors, Wilt Chamberlain, a highly talented athlete, won three titles. He was the only player to ever finish a game with 100 points. He made history by being the first player to win the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in the same year.
The one-armed bandit is still in the game and has paid his dues over the course of a 16-season career. The dude has played in a couple of big games as well as some big numbers. A high point in my career was taking home the NBA title in 1978. His peers selected him as the league’s top power forward and awarded him the MVP award.
The third player is the tallest in the league at 6 feet 9 inches, which is a little on the short side for PFs in the current crop. His strong level of energy results in a significant rebounding average. He was a shrewd passer and a good defender.
George Mikan had an eight-year professional career and dominated the sport throughout that time. His win percentages, rebounding numbers, and scoring averages are on par with some of the greatest players ever. He was chosen as the NBA’s most valuable player and won seven NBA titles. He also three times led the league in scoring.
Midway through the season, Mikan returned to the floor following a brief spell as the Lakers’ coach. He spent five straight seasons on the All-NBA First Team. From 1951 to 1954, he participated in four All-Star games as well.
Bob McAdoo was among the NBA’s top big men in the 1980s. From 1973 to 1976, he led the league in scoring three years in a row. He was also an NBA MVP and a five-time All-Star. He also captured two NBA titles while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, and the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame all inducted him. He spent 14 years as a player in the NBA. He was selected as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1975, and he helped the Lakers win two NBA Titles.
