- Question
Who is the best basketball player of all time?
Basketball is one of the most popular and storied sports in the world. For decades, the world's best basketball players have achieved international fame and glory through their performances on the court, in some cases becoming true global icons. As successive eras of basketball superstars have passed, the debate over which player is the greatest of all time has evolved with ever-increasing complexity and passion. Taking into account championships, records, accolades, statistics, and impact on the game, which player stands above all the rest? Who is the greatest NBA player of all time?
Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time
This position names Michael Jordan as the best basketball player of all time. It argues that no one dominated every facet of the game as he did, that he reached the highest individual peak, led one of the greatest teams ever, and remains the consensus popular choice.
LeBron James is the best basketball player of all time
This position names LeBron James as the best basketball player of all time. It argues that he arrived with unmatched potential and fully realised it, that he already holds some of the game's greatest achievements, and that he has kept winning consistently even as basketball itself changed.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best basketball player of all time
This position names Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the best basketball player of all time. It argues that he enjoyed more sustained success at the highest level than anyone — unmatched longevity in the NBA — and that he was also the greatest collegiate player the game has seen.
Wilt Chamberlain is the best basketball player of all time
This position names Wilt Chamberlain the best basketball player of all time. It argues Chamberlain set some of the most incredible records in the sport's history—including his 100-point game—feats widely regarded as untouchable and unlikely ever to be broken.
Bill Russell is the best basketball player of all time
This position names Bill Russell the best basketball player of all time. It argues that since basketball is a team sport, winning matters most—and no one led their team to more success than Russell, whose eleven championships remain unmatched in the game's history.