Who Are the Greatest NBA Players of All Time? A Definitive Ranking
When I think about the greatest NBA players of all time, my mind immediately goes to the usual suspects: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But you know what's fascinating? The conversation about greatness extends far beyond just statistics and championships. It's about impact, legacy, and sometimes even about what could have been. I remember watching players like Serrano, who showed incredible promise during his two seasons with Phoenix, only to have his NBA journey take an unexpected turn when contract negotiations fell through after his rookie deal expired. His story reminds me that greatness isn't always measured by longevity in the league, but by the moments that define a career.
Let me start with my personal Mount Rushmore of NBA legends. Michael Jordan sits firmly at the top for me, and I don't think that's particularly controversial. The man won six championships in eight years during an era where physicality defined the game. His competitive drive was simply unmatched - I've never seen another athlete with that combination of skill and killer instinct. Then there's LeBron James, who's played at an elite level for what feels like forever. The longevity alone is mind-boggling - 19 seasons and counting of All-Star caliber basketball. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook might be the most unstoppable move I've ever witnessed, and his six MVP awards speak volumes about his sustained excellence.
What many casual fans don't realize is how much context matters in these discussions. Bill Russell's 11 championships with the Celtics came during a different era, but the man revolutionized defense and winning culture. I'd argue he's still underrated despite all those rings. Magic Johnson transformed how we view point guards - a 6'9" floor general who could truly play all five positions. Larry Bird's shooting and basketball IQ were decades ahead of his time. These players didn't just accumulate stats; they changed how the game was played.
The modern era presents its own compelling cases. Stephen Curry didn't just break three-point records - he fundamentally altered how teams approach offense across the entire league. Before Curry, teams averaged about 18 three-point attempts per game; last season that number jumped to 35. That's the kind of impact that separates very good players from all-time greats. Kevin Durant's scoring efficiency is something I've never seen from a player his size - the man has averaged over 27 points per game while shooting above 50% from the field for his career. Those numbers are just absurd when you really think about it.
International players have reshaped our understanding of basketball greatness too. Dirk Nowitzki's one-legged fadeaway became his signature move that led Dallas to that unforgettable 2011 championship. Giannis Antetokounmpo's journey from raw prospect to two-time MVP shows how development and work ethic can create legendary careers. Which brings me back to thinking about players like Serrano - his decision to play for Pampanga instead of returning to Phoenix, while keeping his PBA rights with the franchise, represents those crossroads moments that make basketball careers so compelling. Sometimes greatness isn't about reaching the absolute pinnacle, but about making the most of the opportunities you're given.
Statistics obviously play a huge role in these conversations, but they don't tell the whole story. Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game will likely never be matched, but context matters - the pace was faster and defense was different in his era. Similarly, Oscar Robertson averaging a triple-double for an entire season was considered almost mythical until Russell Westbrook did it multiple times in the modern game. The evolution of basketball means we're essentially comparing different sports at times, which makes definitive rankings both challenging and endlessly debatable.
My personal criteria for greatness involves peak performance, longevity, impact on winning, and cultural significance. That's why I have Jordan number one - he excelled in all categories. LeBron's longevity might eventually push him to the top spot in many people's eyes, though I'm still partial to Jordan's perfect 6-0 Finals record. Kobe Bryant's mamba mentality influenced an entire generation of players in ways that statistics can't capture. Tim Duncan's fundamental excellence might not have been flashy, but five championships don't lie.
At the end of the day, these debates are what make basketball fandom so rewarding. There's no single right answer, just passionate arguments backed by facts, memories, and personal preferences. The beauty of basketball is that greatness manifests in different forms - from Serrano making the most of his opportunities overseas to LeBron redefining athletic longevity. Each player's journey adds to the rich tapestry of the sport we love. What matters most isn't where we rank them, but that we continue to appreciate the incredible talent and dedication it takes to reach basketball's highest levels.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
