top 3 nba players of all time

1. Michael Jordan – Our greatest NBA player of all-time, Michael Jordan, is nearly perfect in all four of our criteria for ranking the greats. In 15 NBA seasons, Jordan led the NBA in many of our key statistical categories at one time or another. Jordan’s stats are uncanny:

• 30 points
• 6 rebounds
• 5 assists
• 2.3 steals
• 50% FG
• 84% FT
• 3-time NBA MVP

Jordan led his Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA titles, including many memorable performances when he was sick and when teams double- and triple-teamed him. Jordan could destroy defenses with the 3-point shot or he could leap over 7-foot defenders for crazy slam dunks. Michael Jordan could do anything he wanted on virtually any night. No other player can say this.

2. Oscar Robertson – If Oscar Robertson had been a little better shooter and won a few more titles, he would finish in a virtual tie with Michael Jordan on our Top 3 NBA Players of All-time list.

The Big O is the only player, other than LeBron James who is too young to qualify for our all-time NBA players list, to average better than 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game in a career. Of course, Robertson is most known for averaging a triple-double in one season and missing by one-tenth of a rebound per game in another season. Robertson’s career stats, though, are something to behold:

• 25.7 points
• 7.5 rebounds
• 9.5 assists
• 44% FG
• 84% FT
• 1-time NBA MVP

In terms of NBA titles, Oscar Robertson was far less prolific than Jordan, although Robertson did lead his team to one title. Considering intangibles, Robertson didn’t have MJ’s flamboyance, but Robertson’s size and agility made him nearly impossible to defend one-on-one.

3. Larry Bird – No all-time NBA players list would be complete with a player from the storied Boston Celtics. It may surprise people that it is Larry Bird who makes our list, instead of Bill Russell or Bob Cousy. Although we strongly considered both Russell and Cousy, these two greats just didn’t meet each of our criteria, and Larry Bird does. Consider Bird’s statistics:

• 24 points
• 10 rebounds
• 6 assists
• 50% FG
• 89% FT
• 1.7 steals
• 3-time NBA MVP

Bird played 13 NBA seasons and left at the top of his game. He led his Boston Celtics to three NBA titles. As far as intangibles go, Larry Bird had a few. Unlike many players his size (6-9, 230), Bird could post up even the best and biggest defenders, but he could also pop outside the 3-point arc and crush teams with his amazing shooting.

Although he shot just 38% from behind the arc, Bird was considered the best pure shooter of his time and one of the greatest shooters in history. Plus, Bird, like Michael Jordan, had more killer instinct than anyone. He was notorious for telling opponents he was going to beat them. Then, he did it, making Larry Bird one of the top 3 NBA players of all-time.