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
No player in basketball history dominated every area of the game like Jordan.
Jordan is the consensus choice
Basketball experts, including analysts, commentators, historians, coaches, and players, have overwhelmingly declared him the greatest of all time.
No other player was as dominant as Jordan at his best. But are individual records and statistics enough to give him this status? According to different metrics used to assess the performance of players, Jordan seems to be one of the best players the NBA has ever seen.
Jordan's Chicago Bulls dominated in both the regular season and the playoffs throughout much of the 1990s, and the 1995-96 Bulls were the best team ever.
James has won consistently even as the game changes
As other superstars have risen and fallen, and the game has been revolutionized by new statistics and strategies, James's success has been the only constant.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best basketball player of all time
Abdul-Jabbar had more sustained success at the highest levels than any other player.
Abdul-Jabbar was the greatest collegiate player of all time
The history of U.S. college basketball is as storied as that of the NBA, and Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) was college basketball's greatest champion.
Following the most successful college career in history, Abdul-Jabbar excelled at the professional level and remained at the top for longer than any other player.
