The Sporting News: Greatest 75 Players and Top 10 Peaks in NBA History

[LAL1947]

Came across this nice article by Josh Eberley at TheSportingNews. They have made their own ranked list of the Greatest 75 players and Top 10 Peaks in NBA History. Thought I'd share it here, enjoy and discuss.

NBA's Greatest 75 Players: Ranking The Top 10 Peaks In NBA History

If you had to pick players based on how insane they were at their absolute peak rather than on the totality and success of their careers, how different is the all-time list? Would any names change from those included on the NBA's 75th anniversary team, announced earlier this season and honored at halftime of the All-Star Game in Cleveland?

A collection of over 50 NBA beat writers, national media members, and #NBATwitter stars weighed in to answer exactly that.

1) Michael Jordan
2) Lebron James
3) Kareem Abdul Jabbar
4) Wilt Chamberlain
5) Shaquille O'Neal
6) Magic Johnson
7) Larry Bird
8) Kobe Bryant
9) Bill Russell
10) Kevin Durant

Link to #11-25 | Link to #26-50 | Link to #51-75

#11-25 in order: Duncan, Curry, Hakeem, Oscar, Giannis, Garnett, West, Dirk, Erwing, Kawhi, Barkley, Karl Malone, D. Wade, Moses Malone, D. Robinson.

Some guys who didn't make the NBA's Greatest 75 list have found their way onto this one... like Luka, Jokic, Chris Webber, Vince Carter, Derrick Rose, Klay Thompson, Tony Parker and Pau Gasol.

Their Method:
- Voters were asked to rate players 1-100, with 100 being the greatest possible peak ever and then adjusting their scale accordingly.
- Voters were able to assign multiples of any number and were given a ballot of 259 names. Does 259 sound like a lot? Yes! This league has had no shortage of talent through its initial 75 years. We didn't want to leave any viable candidate out -- and still, we had several individuals ask for names to be added!
- We didn't define "peak" nor were voters asked to think of any one specific year when they were going through their ballots. For example, how would you define LeBron James' peak? Was it early in Cleveland when his athleticism cast him far above his peers? Was it 2013 in Miami after he added a consistent three-ball and became a Defensive Player of the Year candidate? Or was it in 2018 when his basketball acuity had never been more on display? All are worthy answers. For those who asked for more structure behind the word ‘peak,’ they were told, “If you could pick any player in history, with the hopes of winning the title immediately, not knowing the era, rules, coach, or teammates -- who would you choose? Make that player your 100 and adjust accordingly.”
- We averaged the final ratings from all 58 voters and voila... the top 75 peaks.

[Pelon chingon]

Peak Wade and TD are comfortably above Kobe.

[LAL1947]

Peak Wade and TD are comfortably above Kobe.

Well, 50 NBA beat writers, national media members, and #NBATwitter stars felt otherwise when they made this list... so could you be comfortably wrong?

[Pennebaker]

Jordan at #1 is merely the last remnants of MJ nostalgia.

LeBron will be #1 on that list eventually once more people understand how improbable it was that he went to 8 consecutive finals in a tough era filled with loaded teams and two dynasties (Warriors and Spurs) without the help of absolute masters like Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen and Jerry Krause.

In other words, Michael Jordan was not capable of doing what LeBron did at his peak.

On the other hand, LeBron on the 1990s Bulls probably would've won 8 titles minimum.

[Pelon chingon]

Peak Wade and TD are comfortably above Kobe.

Well, 50 NBA beat writers, national media members, and #NBATwitter stars said otherwise as they made this list... so could you be comfortably wrong?

Nah.

[GregOden]

KD sticks out like a sore thumb on that top 10 list. A bunch of guys have led their own teams to titles. Durant never has been the bus driver outside of USA basketball where he's surrounded by all stars.

[skones]

Kobe's strength is longevity, not peak. He should be considerably lower IMO.

[Loaded_Hollows]

Lol curry’s peak AND career overshadows Durant’s. Another worthless list.

[YamaChan]

Jordan at #1 is merely the last remnants of MJ nostalgia.

LeBron will be #1 on that list eventually once more people understand how improbable it was that he went to 8 consecutive finals in a tough era filled with loaded teams and two dynasties (Warriors and Spurs) without the help of absolute masters like Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen and Jerry Krause.

In other words, Michael Jordan was not capable of doing what LeBron did at his peak.

On the other hand, LeBron on the 1990s Bulls probably would've won 8 titles minimum.

Who wants to be Like Mike when you can be like LeBron instead, with these all-time all-time career highlights:

- Getting swept in the Finals twice
- Being on the losing end of the two biggest Finals blowouts by point differential in NBA history
- Getting outplayed by Jason Terry while authoring the worst Finals performance by a top 10 player ever
- Attempt to team stack only to be ringblocked 3 times by an organically developed team that then teamstacked better
- Declared to the media he was activating playoff mode in 2019 after which the Lakers had one of the worst records with one of the easiest schedules and missed the playoffs
- In the 2021 playoffs, he bragged about his shoulders being broad enough to carry the team, after which the rest of the series was a blowout, remembered for how LeBron walked out on his teammates during the worst blowout
- Before the 2022 season, he dared his haters to "keep that same energy" during the season, when any intelligent basketball fan could see that his team was washed and had terrible fit, and said team couldn't even make the play-in tournament

Nothing quite like Peak LeBron

[Loaded_Hollows]

Jordan at #1 is merely the last remnants of MJ nostalgia.

LeBron will be #1 on that list eventually once more people understand how improbable it was that he went to 8 consecutive finals in a tough era filled with loaded teams and two dynasties (Warriors and Spurs) without the help of absolute masters like Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen and Jerry Krause.

In other words, Michael Jordan was not capable of doing what LeBron did at his peak.

On the other hand, LeBron on the 1990s Bulls probably would've won 8 titles minimum.

Even with all LeBum’s manufactured super team nonsense, he still is just 3-6 in finals series. 22-33 in finals games Be happy they generously (and incorrectly) put him at #2.

[GSWFan1994]

Jordan at #1 is merely the last remnants of MJ nostalgia.

LeBron will be #1 on that list eventually once more people understand how improbable it was that he went to 8 consecutive finals in a tough era filled with loaded teams and two dynasties (Warriors and Spurs) without the help of absolute masters like Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen and Jerry Krause.

In other words, Michael Jordan was not capable of doing what LeBron did at his peak.

On the other hand, LeBron on the 1990s Bulls probably would've won 8 titles minimum.

[Loaded_Hollows]

Jordan at #1 is merely the last remnants of MJ nostalgia.

LeBron will be #1 on that list eventually once more people understand how improbable it was that he went to 8 consecutive finals in a tough era filled with loaded teams and two dynasties (Warriors and Spurs) without the help of absolute masters like Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen and Jerry Krause.

In other words, Michael Jordan was not capable of doing what LeBron did at his peak.

On the other hand, LeBron on the 1990s Bulls probably would've won 8 titles minimum.

Who wants to be Like Mike when you can be like LeBron instead, with these all-time all-time career highlights:

- Getting swept in the Finals twice
- Being on the losing end of the two biggest Finals blowouts by point differential in NBA history
- Getting outplayed by Jason Terry while authoring the worst Finals performance by a top 10 player ever
- Attempt to team stack only to be ringblocked 3 times by an organically developed team that then teamstacked better
- Declared to the media he was activating playoff mode in 2019 after which the Lakers had one of the worst records with one of the easiest schedules and missed the playoffs
- In the 2021 playoffs, he bragged about his shoulders being broad enough to carry the team, after which the rest of the series was a blowout, remembered for how LeBron walked out on his teammates during the worst blowout
- Before the 2022 season, he dared his haters to "keep that same energy" during the season, when any intelligent basketball fan could see that his team was washed and had terrible fit, and said team couldn't even make the play-in tournament

Nothing quite like Peak LeBron

The world must never forget LeBum and Wade mocking Dirk after he got sick and then getting destroyed by Dirk

[Deivork]

Interesting and adds some more value. Not liking ranking people like Giannis so high... is he #15 if he retires tomorrow? They're projecting a future that no-one really knows

[LAL1947]

Interesting and adds some more value. Not liking ranking people like Giannis so high... is he #15 if he retires tomorrow? They're projecting a future that no-one really knows

I could be mistaken but I don't think they're projecting into the future here. From reading the method they used, it looks like they have gone about this by asking this question of the 50 people who took part in the poll:

"If you could pick any player in history, with the hopes of winning the title immediately, not knowing the era, rules, coach, or teammates -- who would you choose? Make that player your 100 and adjust accordingly."

[CM17]

Well, interesting. Was wondering if McGrady is in it (he's in the 40s).
Guess with peak they didn't mean just one season.
Only the top 10 looks more like they considered the whole career.

"Only" 259 players were considered. I'm sure there could be more, but wouldn't change the top75 much.

[NBA4Lyfe]

biased rankings, why do all of these casuals hate using basketball reference to do their rankings. Is it because james harden would ranked much higher if they did and curry would be ranked lower

[Deathray]

Shaq's peak is underrated. I didn't see Wilt play, but other than him, no other player at his peak forced teams to game plan for one guy like Shaq did. The Heat won the title because they were still playing 5 on 4 at the offensive end and should have won it the year before except for some nagging injuries to Wade and Shaq.

And Walton has to be in the top 25. HIs peak was amazing and it's crazy what he could have been without injuries.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

Replace Kobe and Durant with Duncan and Hakeem and it's the same top 10 (different ordering) as the PC board's most recent GOAT peaks project:

1) Michael Jordan 1990-91
2) LeBron James 2012-13
3) Wilt Chamberlain 1966-67
4) Shaquille O'Neal 1999-00
5) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1976-77
6) Tim Duncan 2002-03
7) Larry Bird 1985-86
8) Bill Russell 1963-64
9) Hakeem Olajuwon 1993-94
10) Magic Johnson 1986-87

[chicago paxsons]

Jordan at #1 is merely the last remnants of MJ nostalgia.

LeBron will be #1 on that list eventually once more people understand how improbable it was that he went to 8 consecutive finals in a tough era filled with loaded teams and two dynasties (Warriors and Spurs) without the help of absolute masters like Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen and Jerry Krause.

In other words, Michael Jordan was not capable of doing what LeBron did at his peak.

On the other hand, LeBron on the 1990s Bulls probably would've won 8 titles minimum.

I don't have a problem with people putting lebron ahead of jordan (even if i don't), but lebron's entire career, until he went to the lakers, was played in the weaker of the two conferences. Since lebron's move, he did win a championship, but he missed the playoffs twice (the first and second times of his career) and was knocked out of the first round once, so i think that has to be taken into account.

Lebron did play against the spurs and warriors dynasties, but did so in the east where there was no major threat to the finals once the celtics and pistons got old. Who were his main threats in the east? The dwight howard magic, the derrick rose bulls for one year, the paul george pacers for a couple, the kyle korver hawks for a couple, the derozan raptors, the early version of the current celtics? All were good teams, but none were world beaters (like the spurs and warriors) and they all had major weaknesses and/or flamed out earlier than expected.

Also, lets not pretend lebron didn't get help from wade, bosh, kyrie (while he was still a reliable player), and davis. For lebron's finals runs he also had excellent coaches, spoelstra with the heat, david blatt, and hand picked tyronn lue.

I think lebron's finals runs should be held in similar, but lesser regards to the showtime laker's finals runs, near identical total runs (showtime - 9, lebron - 10), less finals wins (showtime - 5, lebron - 4) while playing in the weaker conference. To be clear, i don't consider this comparison to be an insult at all.

With regards to jordan, he played in the east which was the tougher of the two conferences for his whole career (until joining the wizards). No chance lebron wins eight, jordan won six while getting a "break" from basketball for near two years inbetween them which i would bet money extended his career and made winning six possible.

[Kobe187]

Lol @ Durant. Hakeem & Magic peaks definitely better.