Top 10 Greatest NBA Players of All Time, Ranked

By Adam Thompson

Apr 15th, 2025 5:39 PM EST

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It doesn’t matter the sport: “Who is the greatest player of all-time?” conversations never end, and there are always multiple angles to every argument.

It’s essentially impossible to confidently compare players from different eras. Everything is different, from the training and day-to-day lifestyles to the travel, finances, and off-season regimens.

From that regard, one can’t even look at statistics. In 1961-62, Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game. Would he do that in today’s NBA? We can easily answer that: No.

What can be measured is the dominance of a player in their own era.

Using that as the be-all, end-all criteria, Bookies.com is taking a side. We’ve created a ranking using only NBA Most Valuable Player award placement. It’s simple enough: A player gets five points for winning an MVP, three points for taking runner-up, and one point for a third-place finish. 

This MVP-based ranking not only sparks debate among fans but also offers valuable insight for those interested in NBA odds and sports betting, where historical greatness often influences public perception and wagering trends.

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It’s simple, and it could help settle debates. Tiebreakers were broken by those who had more MVP wins, or runner-up finishes. 

Based on those rankings, here are the Top 10 Greatest Players in NBA History:

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Ranking the Top 10 Players in NBA History

From all-time scoring leaders to dynastic champions, this list ranks the 10 greatest players in NBA history— NBA picks that stand out for their individual accolades, team success, and lasting impact on the game.

10. (tie) Karl Malone

The Mailman delivered for 18 seasons with the Utah Jazz, playing in at least 80 games in all but one of them. The two-time MVP ranks third all-time in scoring behind only LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His biggest ding was timing, playing in the same period as Michael Jordan, whose Bulls beat Malone’s Jazz twice in the NBA Finals. 

10. (tie) Bob Pettit

Pettit was perhaps the first real star of the NBA. He played in just 11 seasons but made the All-Star Game all 11 times in the 1950s and 60s, and ranked Top 5 in MVP voting eight times. He won the league’s first MVP trophy in 1956. The two-time scoring leader won an NBA title, too, in 1958 with the St. Louis Hawks. 

9. Tim Duncan

The “Big Fundamental,” as Shaquille O’Neal dubbed him, wasn’t flashy but he flat-out got it done with the San Antonio Spurs. In 19 seasons, all with San Antonio, Duncan made 15 All-Star Games and won a pair of MVPs. More importantly, he helped guide the Spurs to five NBA titles. 

8. Nikola Jokic

One of only two active players on the list, the Nuggets superstar has three MVPs over the last four seasons, and one NBA championship in 10 seasons. He should finish no worse than second in MVP voting for 2024-25. From a statistical standpoint, this year was his finest, averaging a career-high 29.6 points and 10.2 assists, in addition to 12.7 rebounds, his second-highest mark. 

7. Magic Johnson

The leader of Showtime as a near-unstoppable 6-foot-9 point guard who changed the game. He won three MVPs and five championships with the Lakers, and one could argue he was just getting started. He had finished Top 3 in MVP voting with three trophies in his final five seasons before an HIV diagnosis halted his play at age 31. 

6. Wilt Chamberlain

No player dominated the game as Wilt the Stilt did in the 1960s. He led the NBA in scoring seven times and rebounding and minutes played eight times. The three highest-scoring single seasons in NBA history all belong to Wilt, and his legendary 100-point game record may never be broken. 

5. Larry Bird

Injuries derailed an astonishing 10-year run finishing Top 4 in MVP voting, including six straight years of first or second places. His play led the Celtics to three NBA championships, and his clashes with Magic and his Lakers remains one of the top rivalries in sports history. 

4. Bill Russell

Russell was the leader on perhaps the top sports dynasty in American sports history. His Celtics won a whopping 11 championships in his 13 seasons on the court. Russell was named NBA MVP in five of those seasons. He never led the league in scoring but averaged over 22 rebounds four times. 

3. LeBron James

The King. He’s the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and at age 40 this season still managed 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game on 51% shooting. He’s won four MVPs and four NBA championships. While he ranks third, he could have easily taken first place. He finished runner-up for MVP four times and took third three others. 

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Nobody’s won more than the six NBA MVPs of Kareem, who secured three trophies as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks (and one championship) before joining the Lakers and winning three more MVPs and five more rings. He led the NBA twice in scoring, once in rebounding and four times in blocked shots. Only once in 20 years was he not at least an All-Star. 

1. Michael Jordan

The GOAT in many minds is the GOAT here, too. In many ways, MJ changed what it meant to be an athlete, and he backed up all the endorsements with exceptional success. He won five MVPs and six championships, his last for both awards at age 34. He ranks fifth in scoring and fourth in steals all-time. 

Notable Omissions: Moses Malone is the only three-time MVP that didn’t make the list. He finished Top 3 just one other time in 21 total seasons. 

Several active players ranked just outside the Top 10 as well, including James Harden (13th), Kevin Durant (14th), Giannis Antetokounmpo (19th) and Steph Curry (21st). 

Kobe Bryant, a Top 10 choice for many NBA fans, finished Top 2 in MVP voting only twice in 20 seasons and ranked 23rd. 

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About the Author

Adam Thompson

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Long established as one of the nation's premier handicappers, Adam Thompson joined Bookies.com in 2019 after a successful run as senior handicapper for SportsLine & CBSSports.com. He specializes in the NFL and MLB, where he's hit on well over 60% of his picks the past five years. Adam's NBA and horse racing picks have also produced consistent, major winners over the years.

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