Ranking the NBA’s Top Ten GOATs

By Frank W. Gillespie | Posted 1 month ago
Ranking the NBA’s Top Ten GOATs

When determining a hierarchy for the NBA’s greatest players of all-time, many important factors must be taken into consideration. A proper GOAT system evaluates critical elements such as the player’s individual statistics, awards recognition, records set, championships won, the professional opinions of their peers, and also the player’s overall positive impact on both their team and the sport of basketball as a whole. 

Is Michael Jordan, AKA “His Airness”, still the NBA’s undisputed GOAT? Yes, he is. 

1. Michael Jordan, SG/SF: Chicago Bulls/ Washington Wizards (15 Seasons)

Despite the impressive resume that LeBron James has compiled over the course of his 21-year career, LBJ is still a distant second to MJ. There is no real contest and no legitimate discussion regarding a challenger as the NBA’s GOAT. Michael Jordan stands alone as the true King of the Court, and it will remain that way for the foreseeable future. 

Jordan is ranked highest in the popular PER analytic (Player Efficiency Rating) of all the other players on this list (only behind Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, overall), and is tied with Wilt Chamberlain for highest all-time PPG average (30.1) in the regular season. During the postseason, Jordan is again Numero Uno with a whopping 33.4 PPG, and is rocking second for total all-time playoff points scored (5,987). Furthermore, Jordan was undefeated in the Finals, as he and the Chicago Bulls won all six of their visits to The Big Dance. Jordan still holds the record for most points ever scored in a playoff game (63), albeit in a loss to the Boston Celtics in 1986. “God disguised as Michael Jordan”.

Jordan admired Magic Johnson and Larry Bird a great deal, and he used their games as a sort of measuring stick for his own success. MJ won Rookie of the Year (ROY) in 1984-85, was a nine-time All-Defensive choice, 10-time scoring champ, 11-time All-NBA selection, 14-time All-Star, five-time league MVP, and six-time NBA Finals MVP. Jordan was, and still is, the man. What makes all of this even more impressive is the fact that Jordan accomplished these feats during a notoriously physical and violent phase of the NBA’s evolution. Back then, teams specifically game-planned violence, and blatantly beat the hell out of the most dangerous players on the court. See “The Jordan Rules”.     

2. LeBron James, F: Cleveland Cavaliers/ Miami Heat/ L.A. Lakers (21 Seasons, and Counting) 

LeBron James is the closest talent to Jordan that we’ve seen in a long while, but no matter what he accomplishes going forward, it is extremely unlikely that LBJ will ever rank higher than #2. Yes, James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, and through sheer force of will, conditioning, and longevity, he will continue to enter previously uncharted statistical territory. James is a remarkable specimen, and his abilities are awe-inspiring. What LBJ is accomplishing in his 21st season in the league is absolutely mind-boggling. 

Through 21 seasons, James has amassed 20 All-Star appearances, 19 All-NBA selections, six All-Defensive nods, four league MVP awards, and four Finals MVP awards. James has a losing record in the NBA Finals though, winning only four times out of 10 trips, so even if he wins the title twice more (in two appearances) LBJ would still only be .500 when it matters the most. As great as James is, he is not even close to Jordan with regards to being the GOAT. However, based on his ever-evolving body of work, James has proven to be a spectacular player and a solid #2. 

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C: Milwaukee Bucks/ L.A. Lakers (20 Seasons)

Throughout the NBA's 77-year history, only LeBron James has more total points and All-Star appearances than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. James’ recent eclipse of these two Abdul-Jabbar milestones prompted “The Tower of Power” to shift down one position on the GOAT list. Abdul-Jabbar helped to popularize Islam, sports goggles, and the skyhook, en route to winning a total of six NBA titles with the Bucks and Lakers.

Named ROY in 1969-70, Abdul-Jabbar also appeared in 19 All-Star games, was All-NBA 15 times, All-Defensive team 11 times, won league MVP six times, and Finals MVP twice. Abdul-Jabbar was also a four-time blocks champ, and a two-time scoring champion (as compared to James’ lone NBA scoring championship in 2007-08). A force to be reckoned with, on and off the court, Abdul-Jabbar was a giant among men. 

4. Bill Russell, C: Boston Celtics (13 Seasons) 

If the central criteria for NBA GOAT were number of championships won, Bill Russell would wear the crown. With 13 total NBA titles under his belt, Russell had more championship rings than he had fingers. Russell won 11 titles as a player for the Boston Celtics, two more titles as the Celtics’ head coach (the first black head coach in NBA history, after taking over for legendary coach Red Auerbach), and also won two NCAA titles with the University of San Francisco (USF) before all of that. Russell = Winner. 

Russell played in a day and age where many of our modern stat categories weren’t even recorded, so a portion of the total impact is lost. For example, the first year for the NBA All-Defensive team was Russell’s final season in the league (1968-69). Russell was, of course, named to the first team right out of the gate. With the data that we do have, Russell was a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, five-time league MVP, and four-time total rebounds champ. For much of his career, Russell was going up against one of the most imposing figures in NBA history: GOAT #5, Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain. 

5. Wilt Chamberlain, C: Philadelphia/ San Francisco Warriors/ Philadelphia 76ers/ L.A. Lakers (14 Seasons) 

As far as staggering individual NBA feats are concerned, there is no one yet who has approached Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary status. This 7-foot-1, 275-lb freight train of a man could move with the quickness of a panther. Chamberlain was an absolute force of nature, and he routinely imposed himself on the opposition. For example, in 1962 Chamberlain reportedly scored 100 points in one game vs the New York Knicks, a record that still stands today. 

The next-highest single-game point total is 81 points, scored by Kobe Bryant vs the Toronto Raptors in 2006. Chamberlain is a seven-time scoring champ, and is tied with Jordan for the highest career scoring average of all-time in the regular season (30.1). Additionally, Chamberlain is an 11-time total rebounding champ, and holds the NBA record for most RPG (22.9) across a career (Russell is second, with 22.4 RPG). 

Statistically speaking, with regards only to scoring, Chamberlain has Russell beat almost two to one. Chamberlain’s PER is 26.2, tied for seventh with former San Antonio Spurs’ center David Robinson, while Russell’s PER score is only 18.9. It is also Chamberlain who enjoyed a slight edge over Russell in rebounding, assists, and overall defensive performance/ contribution. However, Russell had intangibles and obvious leadership qualities that led him to be the winningest athlete in professional sports. 

Chamberlain only managed to win two NBA titles, despite his superhuman skills. Russell won 11 NBA titles as a player (often knocking off Chamberlain along the way), and two more as an NBA head coach. Chamberlain always claimed that the Celtics surrounded Russell with more talent than he was surrounded by, and that was the reason for the discrepancy in titles. 

However, the reality is that Russell played with 11 future Hall of Fame teammates over the course of his career, and Chamberlain played with nine future Hall of Famers. It leads one to believe that the value of Russell’s total package was the real reason that Russell had more rings than his hands could hold, while Chamberlain only managed to adorn his pointer fingers. Nevertheless, statistically speaking, Wilt Chamberlain literally shattered the mold, and some of his NBA records may never be broken (Although, Luka Doncic has been bringing the noise this season).

6. Magic Johnson, PG: L.A. Lakers (13 Seasons) 

7. Larry Bird, F: Boston Celtics (13 Seasons) 

8. Kobe Bryant, SG/SF: L.A. Lakers (20 Seasons) 

9. Tim Duncan, C/PF: San Antonio Spurs (19 Seasons)

T-10. Hakeem Olajuwon, C: Houston Rockets/ Toronto Raptors (18 Seasons) AND Shaquille O’Neal, C: Orlando Magic/ L.A. Lakers/ Miami Heat, etc (19 Seasons)      

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