In sports, there are many debates among friends and peers that take place. There are some that debate all the time about whether championship teams from the 2000s and 2010s are better than teams from the 1980s and 1990s. However, some of the most significant debates among NBA fans involve comparing one player versus another.
In this piece, we aim to settle the debate once and for all. We will break down the greatest players in the history of the NBA.
If we are going to discuss the top players of all time, one cannot leave out Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Magic Johnson made his presence felt in the NBA immediately. Magic would get to the NBA Finals in his rookie season in the league. Although he was a point guard, Magic Johnson showed his greatness and ability to adapt when he was called on to be a center in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals. Magic Johnson would score 42 points.
He won five championships as the architect of the Showtime Lakers during the 1980s. Magic would win the MVP award three times.
There is no way that we can have a list like this and not include the late Kobe Bryant. Kobe is considered the greatest Laker ever by Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson. Kobe Bryant was a 5-time NBA champion. He was an 18-time All-Star and a one-time MVP. Kobe’s influence on the Laker franchise, as well as the game of basketball, was undeniable.
Lebron James was destined to be great at the game of basketball. For years, there were questions when he would be compared with Michael Jordan. This all changed when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA title after overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors in 2016. This feat lifted him to a place in which he could be compared with Jordan.
There could only be one considered the greatest of all time, and that is largely considered to be Michael Jordan. Jordan won 6 championships and 5 MVPs throughout his impressive career. He elevated the popularity of basketball around the world more than any player in recent history. Michael Jordan is often the standard that all players are measured against. His desire to win is simply incomparable.