There are several great players in the NBA, but some players stand above the rest. Some of the best players of all time include Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Karl Malone. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the greats and how they stack up.
Karl Malone
Karl Malone was one of the most dominant players in the NBA’s history. He was a two-time MVP and was also the league’s leading scorer. He also ranked third all-time in free throw attempts and completions and was named an All-Star 14 times. In addition, he was an 11-time first-team All-NBA selection. His ten years of all-star status were the most in the league, and he was selected for the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team three times. The two-time NBA MVP was also selected to two NBA Anniversary Teams.
The NBA’s Hall of Fame has honored Karl Malone as one of its 50 greatest players. During his 18-year career, he played in 1,476 games and started in 1,471 of them. He averaged 24.7 points per game during the regular season and 21.7 points per game during the postseason. Unfortunately, he didn’t win a championship during this time, but his postseason numbers are just as impressive.
Karl Malone grew up in the small town of Summerfield, Louisiana and went on to play basketball at Louisiana Tech University. After graduating, he signed with the Jazz and began playing professionally. He was drafted as a first-round pick in 1985 and quickly established himself as the league’s dominant power forward. He earned the nickname “The Mailman” due to his uncanny ability to deliver on his promises.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal was a Hall of Fame center and a 15-time All-Star. He was named NBA MVP in 2000 and won four championships during his career. His size and athleticism made him an incredible post player. During his career, he averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game.
The NBA has many great players. However, many of them are hesitant to say who they consider the GOAT. Some consider Michael Jordan to be the best player of all time, while others believe Shaquille should be the best player of all time.
Shaq’s incredible career has gone far beyond the court. Outside of basketball, he has been an actor, spokesperson, and rapper. His influence on the game is unparalleled. Many people discount Shaq’s play as being great due to his size, but his skills and dominance are second to none. As a four-time NBA MVP and All-Defensive selection, Shaq was the greatest player of his generation.
Shaquille O’Neal was a dominating center who played at 7’1″ and 315 pounds. His dunks were spectacular and he was a constant threat to the basket. He led the NBA in field-goal percentage 10 times and was a master of close-range jump shots. However, he had a poor free-throw shooting percentage.
Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan is widely considered to be one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He has been a legendary power forward in the NBA for nearly 20 years and is one of the most underrated superstars in NBA history. He spent his entire 19-year NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs. His legendary career has earned him a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and a spot on the 75th Anniversary Team of the NBA.
Tim Duncan is a defensively gifted player. He is the only player in NBA history to win 15 All-Defensive Team honors. Even when his vertical leap wasn’t as great as it was when he was younger, he held his own against the best players in the league. His ability to block shots by incredibly explosive players like Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, and DeMarcus Cousins shows that he was an exceptional defender.
A power forward, Duncan played for seventeen years in the NBA and was a dominant force on both sides of the court. He was also an unselfish player who was committed to winning. Duncan was known for his impeccable timing, anticipation, and footwork. He was one of the best players of all time.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
In his illustrious career, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six MVP awards and was selected to 15 All-NBA teams. He was the most decorated player in NBA history, having won more games and Most Valuable Player Awards than any other player. Kareem is also one of the all-time scoring leaders.
In his fifth season in the NBA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was one of the best players in the league. He averaged 28-14-4 during the regular season and 30-16-4 during the playoffs. The Lakers missed the playoffs that year without his leadership and scoring ability, but Abdul-Jabbar ended up winning the league MVP that year.
While LeBron James will soon pass him, Abdul-Jabbar is the best scorer in NBA history. His career averaged 33.4 points per game and 13.6 rebounds per game. In addition to his scoring total, he also had great defensive skills, blocking 4.6 shots per game.
Abdul-Jabbar was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995. In May 2021, the NBA created the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Award to honor the former All-Star’s social activism. Abdul-Jabbar was active in the community throughout his career.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. His career high scoring averages were among the best in the league. He averaged more than 30 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. In the 2002 NBA Finals, he led the Lakers to a sweep of the New Jersey Nets and clinched the title for his team. The following season, he led the Lakers to their second title in three years. Kobe Bryant was named MVP of the Finals for his outstanding performance.
After playing in five NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant announced his retirement. In a sonnet titled ‘Dear Ball’, he expressed his affection for his number one team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and his fans. He married Vanessa Laine in 2001 and the couple has four daughters together. During his final seasons, he suffered from numerous injuries and slugged through high usage, inefficient seasons. His final two seasons, he won 21 games and 17 games, respectively.
Another great NBA player is Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan won a record six championships. In addition, he was a 17-time All-Star, which is the most consecutive years by any player. He was also an All-NBA first team member and a 12-time All-Defensive Team member. He set several records in the NBA and was considered one of the best shooters of all time.