With Steph's 4 championship, I think he's finally joined the top 10 of all time list. I have him at #8, but 1 more MVP and 1 more Finals MVP may convince me to make him greatest PG of all time over Magic.
1) Jordan
5 MVPs, 6 Finals MVPs, 6 championships, 10 All-NBA First Teams, 9 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (930 games): 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 49.7 FG%
Postseason (179 games): 33.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.7 APG, 48.7 FG%
- Jordan never lost in the NBA Finals in 6 appearances.
2) Lebron
4 MVPs, 4 Finals MVPs, 4 championships, 13 All-NBA First Teams, 6 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (1,366 games) : 27.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.4 APG, 50.5 FG%
Postseason (266 games): 28.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 7.2 APG, 49.5 FG%
- 5 Lebrons beats 5 of any other player. 19 seasons so far, and he's played the most postseason games. Can single-handedly take a team the NBA finals. His 4th championship (titles with 3 different teams) seals his claim to #2 of all time.
3) Kareem
6 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs, 6 championships, 10 All-NBA First Teams, 11 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (1,560 games): 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 55.9 FG%
Postseason (237 games): 24.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 53.3 FG%
- The best big man of all time. Most points in NBA history (38387). Fortunate to play with Magic.
4) Russell
5 MVPs, N/A Finals MVPs, 11 championships, 3 All-NBA First Teams, 1 *All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (963 games): 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 44.0 FG%
Postseason (165 games): 16.2 PPG, 24.9 RPG, 4.7 AFP, 43.0 FG%
- Russell never won a Finals MVP award even though he won 11 titles. That's because they invented and named the award after him. He played his best on the biggest stage. *Would have likely dominated defensive teams but they invented that award in his last year.
5) Magic
3 MVPs, 3 Finals MVPs, 5 championships, 9 All-NBA First Teams, 0 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (906 games): 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 52.0 FG%
Postseason (190 games): 19.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 12.3 APG, 50.6 FG%
- Greatest point guard to ever play, and he could have played any position.
6) Duncan
2 MVPs, 3 Finals MVPs, 5 championships, 10 All-NBA First Teams, 15 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (1392 games): 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 50.6 FG%
Postseason (251 games): 20.6 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 50.1 FG%
- Duncan is the best PF in history. His 15 all-defense teams are the most of all-time (by 3).
7) Bird
3 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs, 3 championships, 9 All-NBA First Teams, 3 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (897 games): 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 49.6 FG%
Postseason (164 games): 23.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 6.5 APG, 47.2 FG%
- Best player of the 80s Celtics dynasty.
The top 7 has separated themselves as the elite who have consistently carried their teams in the regular season and in the playoffs.
8) Curry
2 MVPs, 1 Finals MVP, 4 championships, 4 All-NBA First Teams, 0 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (826 games): 24.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 6.5 APG, 47.3 FG%
Postseason (134 games): 26.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.2 APG, 45.2 FG%
- Greatest shooter in world history - most 3 pointers in NBA history. Should have at least 2 Finals MVP already (Iguodala inexplicably awarded in 2015, while Durant jumped on the bandwagon and stole 2 other Finals MVP awards). Best player under 6'6 in history.
9) Shaq
1 MVP, 3 Finals MVPs, 4 championships, 8 All-NBA First Teams, 3 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (1207 games): 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.3 BPG, 58.2 FG%
Postseason (216 games): 24.3 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.1 BPG, 56.3 FG%
- Shaq's lone MVP is an indictment on a lack of consistent season-long commitment. Had the physical assets to be greatest of all time, but not the mental drive.
10) Kobe
1 MVP, 2 Finals MVPs, 5 championships, 11 All-NBA First Teams, 9 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (1346 games): 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44.7 FG%
Postseason (220 games): 25.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44.8 FG%
- Overrated. Fortunate to play with Shaq and be reigned in by Phil Jackson. Never won without a dominant big and Phil. He's Iverson with size and personnel luck. Left to himself, he would take 40 shots per game, average 35, and lead his team to miss the playoffs.
Next Up:
11) Wilt
4 MVPs, 1 Finals MVP, 2 championships, 7 All-NBA First Teams, 2 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (1045 games): 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, 54.0 FG%
Postseason (160 games): 22.5 PPG, 24.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 52.2 FG%
- That Wilt only has 2 titles should be an embarrassment. Significant drop in scoring in playoffs. Wilt's lone Finals MVP is an indictment on his play on the biggest stage. Defensive team awards not invented until end of career.
12) Durant
1 MVP, 2 Finals MVP, 2 championships, 6 All-NBA First Teams, 0 All-NBA Defensive Teams
Regular Season (939 games): 27.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 49.6 FG%
Postseason (155 games): 29.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, 47.6 FG%
- Has not shown he can really lead his own team to championship. He embarrassingly joined a Warriors team that had just set the a league record for wins (73), already had a championship and the reigning league MVP, after choking away a game 6 series-clinching lead against them. Hindered Curry's legacy by jumping on Warriors' bandwagon.
Honorable Mention:
Oscar, Hakeem
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