My Top 10 Players in NBA History

[Swagnificent]

DISCLAIMER: This list is based on pure basketball ability. I don't care about championships, awards, stats, or media hype. I judge players solely on their skill and talent. Think of it like being at the park and having to pick a squad. That's how I rate basketball players. And based on those metrics, these are the top 10 players in NBA history IMO.

Swag's Top 10 Players in NBA History
1a. Michael Jordan
1b. Kobe Bryant
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Shaquille O'Neal
5. LeBron James
6. David Robinson
7. Scottie Pippen
8. Tracy McGrady
9. Kevin Garnett
10. Kevin Durant

 

[Codeine Bryant]

Being at the park and having to pick a squad is vastly different from a list of best NBA players of all time.


McGrady, Pippen, and Garnett are not even top 25 all time.

 

[Wiirdo]

Swag does it again.

 

[bucks3115]

No kareem
No magic
Ur top 5

 

[Swagnificent]

Being at the park and having to pick a squad is vastly different from a list of best NBA players of all time.

McGrady, Pippen, and Garnett are not even top 25 all time.

That's the purest way of judging whose the best. Just because someone has more success cause they got paired with a better coach (like Tim Duncan) or had incredible health for a long time (like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) don't make them the best. To me, being the best is the guy who I am willing to put my life on the line for to win 1 basketball game. That's the purest way of judging who is better than who.

And based on that standard, T-Mac, Pippen, and KG are definitely in everyone's top 25. And in my top 10, they're definitely up there.

In terms of skill, talent, and athleticism, you can't find 10 better than McGrady, Pippen, and Garnett.

 

[Swagnificent]

No kareem
No magic
Ur top 5

Have you watched those guys plays? Or are you just going with hearsay of what other people have been drilling into your mind since birth?

I've watched Hardwood Classics of the NBA Finals from the 1980s and was not impressed one bit with those guys. Especially Magic who looked AWFUL. If I'm being honest, I probably wouldn't even have Magic in my top 30 all-time. He didn't impress me one bit while watching the 1984 NBA Finals.

I need to see some 1970s action of Kareem to fully judge him. Because based on the Hardwood Classics I saw from him in the 1980s he was not that impressive either. Though he was much better than Magic.

 

[SuperPawgHunter]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kareem
3. Wilt
4. Magic
5. Kobe
6. Dream
7. Shaq
8. Bird
9. I'm going to stop here,'cause I feel forced to put Lebronze, and I rather die, b.

 

[Swagnificent]

Swag does it again.

Typical cac behavior. Tariq Nasheed already broke down your people's tendency to try to use memes or gifs to try dismiss claims for which you can't argue against.

My list is flawless. Those are indisputably the 10 most talented basketball players in NBA history.

I can't even think of anyone who isn't in my top 10 that even has a good argument to be on there. Maybe Grant Hill or Penny Hardaway, but that's pushing it.

 

[Swagnificent]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kareem
3. Wilt
4. Magic
5. Kobe
6. Dream
7. Shaq
8. Bird
9. I'm going to stop here,'cause I feel forced to put Lebronze, and I rather die, b.

Those two guys DEFINITELY don't belong.

I've yet to see actual game footage of Wilt that aren't just highlights so its hard to judge him. 1980s Kareem is nowhere close to being in the top 10 all-time. But I'll give him a pass cause he was old then. I haven't seen 1970s game footage of Kareem to properly judge him so I'll put him in the same group as Wilt where its too hard to even properly evaluate them to place them on this list.

 

[Sauce Dab]

You lost me at 6 and 7. Dirk would've been better on that list than Robinson. Robinson doesn't deserve to be on any list with Hakeem

 

[SuperPawgHunter]

Those two guys DEFINITELY don't belong.

I've yet to see actual game footage of Wilt that aren't just highlights so its hard to judge him. 1980s Kareem is nowhere close to being in the top 10 all-time. But I'll give him a pass cause he was old then. I haven't seen 1970s game footage of Kareem to properly judge him so I'll put him in the same group as Wilt where its too hard to even properly evaluate them to place them on this list.

I disagree.

These dudes won went to multiple Finals, and won more they loss. They also are Bronze height, and both averaged double-doubles for the career. Lebron never averaged a double-double once. That is important, 'cause filling the stat sheet is what he does, but it is odd you have dudes like Harden, Westbrook etc. averaging double-doubles and triple-doubles, and Lebron has never done it. I mean, I think Lebron is better than Westbrook and Harden, but it is obvious that Lebron is fairly obsessed with stats, and has never done that.

 

[bucks3115]

Have you watched those guys plays? Or are you just going with hearsay of what other people have been drilling into your mind since birth?

I've watched Hardwood Classics of the NBA Finals from the 1980s and was not impressed one bit with those guys. Especially Magic who looked AWFUL. If I'm being honest, I probably wouldn't even have Magic in my top 30 all-time. He didn't impress me one bit while watching the 1984 NBA Finals.

I need to see some 1970s action of Kareem to fully judge him. Because based on the Hardwood Classics I saw from him in the 1980s he was not that impressive either. Though he was much better than Magic.

Doesn't matter
Ur list is trash

 

[Swagnificent]

You lost me at 6 and 7. Dirk would've been better on that list than Robinson. Robinson doesn't deserve to be on any list with Hakeem

Dirk never played any defense. Sure David Robinson was undressed by Hakeem Olajuwon, but that's the greatest center in NBA history. Hakeem also made Shaq look silly in the playoffs.

David Robinson was an elite offensive and defensive player. He could do everything on the court. And at a high level. He could honestly be even HIGHER on the list. He just lacked the elite killer instinct to fully maximize his physical attributes. In terms of pure physical talent, he would probably be top 3 all-time alongside Shaq and LeBron.

Scottie Pippen is the greatest perimeter defender in NBA history while being a masterful floor general as a point forward with an elite post-game. Pippen might be the most underrated player in NBA history. He was absolutely phenomenal at his peak.

 

[Swagnificent]

I disagree.

These dudes won went to multiple Finals, and won more they loss. They also are Bronze height, and both averaged double-doubles for the career. Lebron never averaged a double-double once. That is important, 'cause filling the stat sheet is what he does, but it is odd you have dudes like Harden, Westbrook etc. averaging double-doubles and triple-doubles, and Lebron has never done it. I mean, I think Lebron is better than Westbrook and Harden, but it is obvious that Lebron is fairly obsessed with stats, and has never done that.

Let me start with easy way to dismiss both. THEY DIDN'T PLAY DEFENSE.

Also I think they benefited from playing a weak era. The early to mid-1980s was not that good. Modern day basketball only really took off in 1989 when the Pistons won the title. Before that you didn't have really great competition in the NBA.

I've watched several NBA Finals games from the 1980s featuring Magic and Bird in their prime and I was not that impressed. I believe they are two of the most overrated players in NBA history. There are at least 20 players I would choose ahead of them.

 

[Swagnificent]

Doesn't matter
Ur list is trash

Why don't you post a top 10 list then since you think mine is trash?

Its easy to just criticize when you are not standing for anything.