My top 50 Players in the League of All Time

[mdonnelly1989]

1.) Michael Jordan
2.) Lebron James
3.) Kareem
4.) Wilt Chamberlain
5.) Bill Russell
6.) Tim Duncan
7.) Shaq
8.) Magic
9.) Hakeem
10.) Larry Bird
11.) Kobe Bryant
12.) Oscar
13.) West
14.) Dr. J
15.) KG
16.) Curry
17.) Kevin Durant
18.) Admiral
19.) Karl Malone
20.) D-Wade
21.) Dirk
22.) Moses Malone
23.) Charles Barkley
24.) Elgin Baylor
25.) Bob Pettit
26.) Patrick Ewing
27.) CP3
28.) Walt Frazier
29.) Stockton
30.) Nash
31.) Giannis
32.) Scottie Pippen
32A.) Hondo
33.) George Mikan
34.) Kidd
35.) Isiah Thomas
36.) Clyde Drexler
37.) Allen Iverson
38.)James Harden
39.) Russell Westbrook
40.) Gary Payton
41.) George Gervin
42.) Kawhi Leonard
43.) Dominique Wilkins
44.) Bob Cousey
45.) T-Mac
46.) Ray Allen
47.) Reggie Miller
48.) Manu
49.) Elvin Hayes
50.) Nikola Jokic

If Curry wins this finals and Finals MVP he can jump as high as #12

[wojoaderge]

1.) Michael Jordan
2.) Lebron James
3.) Kareem
4.) Wilt Chamberlain
5.) Bill Russell
6.) Tim Duncan
7.) Shaq
8.) Magic
9.) Hakeem
10.) Larry Bird
11.) Kobe Bryant
12.) Oscar
13.) West
14.) Dr. J
15.) KG
16.) Curry
17.) Kevin Durant
18.) Admiral
19.) Karl Malone
20.) D-Wade
21.) Dirk
22.) Moses Malone
23.) Charles Barkley
24.) Elgin Baylor
25.) Bob Pettit
26.) Patrick Ewing
27.) CP3
28.) Walt Frazier
29.) Stockton
30.) Nash
31.) Giannis
32.) Scottie Pippen
32A.) Hondo
33.) George Mikan
34.) Kidd
35.) Isiah Thomas
36.) Clyde Drexler
37.) Allen Iverson
38.)James Harden
39.) Russell Westbrook
40.) Gary Payton
41.) George Gervin
42.) Kawhi Leonard
43.) Dominique Wilkins
44.) Bob Cousey
45.) T-Mac
46.) Ray Allen
47.) Reggie Miller
48.) Manu
49.) Elvin Hayes
50.) Nikola Jokic

If Curry wins this finals and Finals MVP he can jump as high as #12

Rick Barry?
Dolph Schayes?

[mdonnelly1989]

1.) Michael Jordan
2.) Lebron James
3.) Kareem
4.) Wilt Chamberlain
5.) Bill Russell
6.) Tim Duncan
7.) Shaq
8.) Magic
9.) Hakeem
10.) Larry Bird
11.) Kobe Bryant
12.) Oscar
13.) West
14.) Dr. J
15.) KG
16.) Curry
17.) Kevin Durant
18.) Admiral
19.) Karl Malone
20.) D-Wade
21.) Dirk
22.) Moses Malone
23.) Charles Barkley
24.) Elgin Baylor
25.) Bob Pettit
26.) Patrick Ewing
27.) CP3
28.) Walt Frazier
29.) Stockton
30.) Nash
31.) Giannis
32.) Scottie Pippen
32A.) Hondo
33.) George Mikan
34.) Kidd
35.) Isiah Thomas
36.) Clyde Drexler
37.) Allen Iverson
38.)James Harden
39.) Russell Westbrook
40.) Gary Payton
41.) George Gervin
42.) Kawhi Leonard
43.) Dominique Wilkins
44.) Bob Cousey
45.) T-Mac
46.) Ray Allen
47.) Reggie Miller
48.) Manu
49.) Elvin Hayes
50.) Nikola Jokic

If Curry wins this finals and Finals MVP he can jump as high as #12

Rick Barry?
Dolph Schayes?

I do think Barry certainly is and should be in there probably around top 40, not really sure about Dolph

[Dutchball97]

I'm gonna compare this list with the most recent PC board top 100 from 2020.

1.) Michael Jordan (+1)
2.) Lebron James (-1)
3.) Kareem (0)
4.) Wilt Chamberlain (+2)
5.) Bill Russell (-1)
6.) Tim Duncan (-1)
7.) Shaq (+1)
8.) Magic (-1)
9.) Hakeem (0)
10.) Larry Bird (0)
11.) Kobe Bryant (+1)
12.) Oscar (+2)
13.) West (0)
14.) Dr. J (+4)
15.) KG (-4)
16.) Curry (+8)
17.) Kevin Durant (+5)
18.) Admiral (-1)
19.) Karl Malone (-3)
20.) D-Wade (+8)
21.) Dirk (-6)
22.) Moses Malone (-2)
23.) Charles Barkley (-2)
24.) Elgin Baylor (+9)
25.) Bob Pettit (0)
26.) Patrick Ewing (+3)
27.) CP3 (-4)
28.) Walt Frazier (+2)
29.) Stockton (-3)
30.) Nash (-3)
31.) Giannis (+43)
32.) Scottie Pippen (0)
32A.) Hondo (+2)
33.) George Mikan (-14)
34.) Kidd (+2)
35.) Isiah Thomas (+8)
36.) Clyde Drexler (+2)
37.) Allen Iverson (+29)
38.)James Harden (-7)
39.) Russell Westbrook (+5)
40.) Gary Payton (+8)
41.) George Gervin (-4)
42.) Kawhi Leonard (0)
43.) Dominique Wilkins (+30)
44.) Bob Cousey (+19)
45.) T-Mac (+22)
46.) Ray Allen (+4)
47.) Reggie Miller (-8)
48.) Manu (+5)
49.) Elvin Hayes (+10)
50.) Nikola Jokic (+45)

For active players you of course need to take into account there's been 2 more seasons since the last top 100. Omissions are Rick Barry, Artis Gilmore, Dolph Schayes, Willis Reed, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Pau Gasol. Pretty much a combination of second tier stars from the 2000s and the pre-modern era.

[Owly]

I'm gonna compare this list with the most recent PC board top 100 from 2020.

1.) Michael Jordan (+1)
2.) Lebron James (-1)
3.) Kareem (0)
4.) Wilt Chamberlain (+2)
5.) Bill Russell (-1)
6.) Tim Duncan (-1)
7.) Shaq (+1)
8.) Magic (-1)
9.) Hakeem (0)
10.) Larry Bird (0)
11.) Kobe Bryant (+1)
12.) Oscar (+2)
13.) West (0)
14.) Dr. J (+4)
15.) KG (-4)
16.) Curry (+8)
17.) Kevin Durant (+5)
18.) Admiral (-1)
19.) Karl Malone (-3)
20.) D-Wade (+8)
21.) Dirk (-6)
22.) Moses Malone (-2)
23.) Charles Barkley (-2)
24.) Elgin Baylor (+9)
25.) Bob Pettit (0)
26.) Patrick Ewing (+3)
27.) CP3 (-4)
28.) Walt Frazier (+2)
29.) Stockton (-3)
30.) Nash (-3)
31.) Giannis (+43)
32.) Scottie Pippen (0)
32A.) Hondo (+2)
33.) George Mikan (-14)
34.) Kidd (+2)
35.) Isiah Thomas (+8)
36.) Clyde Drexler (+2)
37.) Allen Iverson (+29)
38.)James Harden (-7)
39.) Russell Westbrook (+5)
40.) Gary Payton (+8)
41.) George Gervin (-4)
42.) Kawhi Leonard (0)
43.) Dominique Wilkins (+30)
44.) Bob Cousey [sic] (+19)
45.) T-Mac (+22)
46.) Ray Allen (+4)
47.) Reggie Miller (-8)
48.) Manu (+5)
49.) Elvin Hayes (+10)
50.) Nikola Jokic (+45)

For active players you of course need to take into account there's been 2 more seasons since the last top 100. Omissions are Rick Barry, Artis Gilmore, Dolph Schayes, Willis Reed, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Pau Gasol. Pretty much a combination of second tier stars from the 2000s and the pre-modern era.

The comparison hasn't accounted for the quirk of OP having two players at the 32 (and 32a) spot and actually being a 51 player list.
e.g.
On OPs list take a player after the 32s ... say Clyde Drexler. He's got 36 next to him but is the 37th player named. You say he's climbed two spots on this version of the list. In reality, versus the RealGM 38th, he's climbed one place. Leonard notionally 42 on both lists is actually 43 on OPs list and has actually dropped one place. Assuming all else is accurate (and that you accept the premise that you can't have more than one player per slot) you need to subtract one from every player after Pippen (or I suppose Havlicek if you read "(a)" as an exact tie and they're equal [at 32.5 requiring their own adjustment]).

[penbeast0]

I'm gonna compare this list with the most recent PC board top 100 from 2020.

1.) Michael Jordan (+1)
2.) Lebron James (-1)
3.) Kareem (0)
4.) Wilt Chamberlain (+2)
5.) Bill Russell (-1)
6.) Tim Duncan (-1)
7.) Shaq (+1)
8.) Magic (-1)
9.) Hakeem (0)
10.) Larry Bird (0)
11.) Kobe Bryant (+1)
12.) Oscar (+2)
13.) West (0)
14.) Dr. J (+4)
15.) KG (-4)
16.) Curry (+8)
17.) Kevin Durant (+5)
18.) Admiral (-1)
19.) Karl Malone (-3)
20.) D-Wade (+8)
21.) Dirk (-6)
22.) Moses Malone (-2)
23.) Charles Barkley (-2)
24.) Elgin Baylor (+9)
25.) Bob Pettit (0)
26.) Patrick Ewing (+3)
27.) CP3 (-4)
28.) Walt Frazier (+2)
29.) Stockton (-3)
30.) Nash (-3)
31.) Giannis (+43)
32.) Scottie Pippen (0)
32A.) Hondo (+2)
33.) George Mikan (-14)
34.) Kidd (+2)
35.) Isiah Thomas (+8)
36.) Clyde Drexler (+2)
37.) Allen Iverson (+29)
38.)James Harden (-7)
39.) Russell Westbrook (+5)
40.) Gary Payton (+8)
41.) George Gervin (-4)
42.) Kawhi Leonard (0)
43.) Dominique Wilkins (+30)
44.) Bob Cousey (+19)
45.) T-Mac (+22)
46.) Ray Allen (+4)
47.) Reggie Miller (-8)
48.) Manu (+5)
49.) Elvin Hayes (+10)
50.) Nikola Jokic (+45)

For active players you of course need to take into account there's been 2 more seasons since the last top 100. Omissions are Rick Barry, Artis Gilmore, Dolph Schayes, Willis Reed, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Pau Gasol. Pretty much a combination of second tier stars from the 2000s and the pre-modern era.

Rather than refight the battles of the top 100, just looking at the comparison, mdonnelly's list seems stronger on low efficiency scorers (Nique, Iverson, TMac, Cousy) and weaker on George Mikan. Those are the big double figure differences other than Giannis and Jokic (and maybe some guys left off the list).

[Dr Positivity]

Seems much too low for DIRK

[mikejames23]

What's your criteria for an all time list? Would be helpful to know.

[mdonnelly1989]

What's your criteria for an all time list? Would be helpful to know.

I don't really have it down to a specific science but I take into account

Championships, Championship losses, Regular season MVPs, MVP shares.

Offensive and Defensive Talent, Skill, Ability, Dominance and Impact along with their situation.

Also I do my best to think, if there were a redraft of all the players dating back to Wilt/Bill ERA how would I draft them from start to finish to give me the best odds create a dynasty, with multiple chips with a CLEAN roster.

[DQuinn1575]

Good list; but will 4-7 games of Curry playing at his current level really mean he is better than 4 players? Is the gap between them that small that a good 7 games will change his ranking so much?

[mdonnelly1989]

Good list; but will 4-7 games of Curry playing at his current level really mean he is better than 4 players? Is the gap between them that small that a good 7 games will change his ranking so much?

Yeah, the gap between them is that small IMO. A chip plus performing better than every one else on THE stage of the year I think so. He needs another top 10 year to catch Kobe though.

Another year of top 10 plus another ring would jolt him into the top 10 comfortably but not yet.

[Cavsfansince84]

I think if someone is going to post this sort of personal list then at the least you need to list your top 3 or 4 criteria(in order of importance to you) so that there's some basis for discussion. Otherwise its just the same old stuff.

[mdonnelly1989]

I think if someone is going to post this sort of personal list then at the least you need to list your top 3 or 4 criteria(in order of importance to you) so that there's some basis for discussion. Otherwise its just the same old stuff.

I think mine would probably be

#1. Championships (Although, the top 5 are really close)
#2. Regular Season MVPS
#3. Finals MVPS
#4. Finals Visits
#5. Regular Season MVP Shares
#6. Career PER
#7. Career Efficiency
#8. Overall Prime Impact
#9. Over Prime Longevity
#10. Offensive & Defensive Skill/Impact/Ability

[mdonnelly1989]

Seems much too low for DIRK

I don't see Dirk as a top 15 player

Maybe anywhere between 16-22

[ChartFiction]

Curry outside of the top 5 is disrespectful to the sport

You cannot justify this with any meaningful analysis

[Dutchball97]

Curry outside of the top 5 is disrespectful to the sport

You cannot justify this with any meaningful analysis

Why would it be disrespectful? You're literally the first person I've seen put Curry in their top 5.

[Cavsfansince84]

Curry outside of the top 5 is disrespectful to the sport

You cannot justify this with any meaningful analysis

You might be the only person on this entire site who has Curry in their top 5. So maybe reconsider why you think that.

[No-more-rings]

1.) Michael Jordan
2.) Lebron James
3.) Kareem
4.) Wilt Chamberlain
5.) Bill Russell
6.) Tim Duncan
7.) Shaq
8.) Magic
9.) Hakeem
10.) Larry Bird
11.) Kobe Bryant
12.) Oscar
13.) West
14.) Dr. J
15.) KG
16.) Curry
17.) Kevin Durant
18.) Admiral
19.) Karl Malone
20.) D-Wade
21.) Dirk
22.) Moses Malone
23.) Charles Barkley
24.) Elgin Baylor
25.) Bob Pettit
26.) Patrick Ewing
27.) CP3
28.) Walt Frazier
29.) Stockton
30.) Nash
31.) Giannis
32.) Scottie Pippen
32A.) Hondo
33.) George Mikan
34.) Kidd
35.) Isiah Thomas
36.) Clyde Drexler
37.) Allen Iverson
38.)James Harden
39.) Russell Westbrook
40.) Gary Payton
41.) George Gervin
42.) Kawhi Leonard
43.) Dominique Wilkins
44.) Bob Cousey
45.) T-Mac
46.) Ray Allen
47.) Reggie Miller
48.) Manu
49.) Elvin Hayes
50.) Nikola Jokic

If Curry wins this finals and Finals MVP he can jump as high as #12

Seems like a pretty solid list, some things I’d certainly question. I don’t care for Cp3, and think he’s very overrated but 27 even for me seems quite low. I’d probably have him like 22nd or 23rd at this point. Wouldn’t complain if someone goes top 20, but 27-28 would definitely be on the lower end of reasonable. I like that you have Wade 20th, but Dirk being 21st isn’t really reasonable in my mind. Giannis is way too high for his fairly short prime so far, and there’s no way he’s that much higher than Jokic. Nash at 30 is notably low. Nothing really egregious overall though.

[Cavsfansince84]

Seems like a pretty solid list, some things I’d certainly question. I don’t care for Cp3, and think he’s very overrated but 27 even for me seems quite low. I’d probably have him like 22nd or 23rd at this point. Wouldn’t complain if someone goes top 20, but 27-28 would definitely be on the lower end of reasonable. I like that you have Wade 20th, but Dirk being 21st isn’t really reasonable in my mind. Giannis is way too high for his fairly short prime so far, and there’s no way he’s that much higher than Jokic. Nash at 30 is notably low. Nothing really egregious overall though.

Mainly just the placements of AI, Nique and TMac imo.

[ardee]

That's crazy low for Dirk. Can't imagine Durant, Wade or Malone ahead of him.

Incredible peak and longevity, averaged 25/10 on 58% TS in the Playoffs for his CAREER, deserves to be a top 15 guy.