Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1976-80), Phoenix Suns (198-83), Boston Celtics (1983-90), Key stats: 1,100 G, 14.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 44.5 FG%. Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG in 19 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1997-98 to 2015-16). NBA Odds: Grizzlies vs. Nuggets prediction, pick, how to watch - 3/3/2023. He never, ever thought a call that went against him was the right one, and he sought to rise to the occasion whenever his number was called. Bottom line: For the entirety of his career, Scott Skiles was listed at 6-foot-1. Stats: 19.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG in 19 seasons with Boston Celtics (1998-99 to 2012-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-14), Washington Wizards (2014-15) and LA Clippers (2015-16 to 2016-17). I've got great results with it. He had his number retired by two of the three places he played in his college and pro career, the University of Evansville and Chicago Bulls. Nobody wanted to challenge him in the lane, and its hard to blame the opposition considering the volume at which he swatted shots away from the rim. Still one of the most underrated centers of all time despite his production, Ewing is one of the best to ever play the position. Although his legacy is defined largely by the infamous malice at the palace, World Peaces placement on this list is about more than just that. Teams: Indiana Pacers (1975-78), Atlanta Hawks (1978-84), Detroit Pistons (1984-85), Washington Bullets (1985-87), Key stats: 813 G, 14.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 48.2 FG%. The all time official leaders for the NBA. Jones can place his name among the most admired NBA players of al -time for his class and demeanor, and he was finally elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. He had a presence on defense that he rarely gets credit for, but its worth noting because its just not something that all players can achieve. Starks made an All-Star team in 1994 and was NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1997. Even in the 1970s, at 6-foot-9, Cowens was thought to be too small to play center in the NBA. He was capable of controlling the defensive rebound and dribbling the length of the court for a ferocious finish at the rim. Ranking the greatest 75 NBA players of all time: Nos. 25-1 - USA Today Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, 1968-69 scoring champ, two-time rebounding champ, 1978 NBA champion. Games. Bottom line: Owner of one of the NBAs all-time greatest nicknames, Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson was known for his instant offense off the bench former Boston Celtics guard Danny Ainge actually gave Johnson the nickname. If you want another example of Robertsons toughness, please remember he took a full-on punch from Shaquille ONeal during a game and lived to tell about it. Perhaps thats why he was such a valuable commodity. Stats: 25.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.5 APG in 12 seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder (2009-10 to 2011-12), Houston Rockets (2012-13 to 2020-21) and Brooklyn Nets (2020-21)*. Chris Bosh with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James on the Heat in the 2010s. One of the tough guys in league history, McDaniel certainly never backed down from any challenge anyone was willing to present. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, three-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, four-time assists champ, two-time steals champ, five-time NBA champion. Its kind of incredible to think of now, but McHale didnt even become a full-time starter until five years into his career, winning NBA Sixth Man of the Year twice in that stretch. Barkley was never shy about getting into a scrappy brawl if it was warranted, but he was far more than just an agitator. Charles Barkley - Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame "This is the most passive aggressive relationship I've ever seen in my life," former NFL player Bart Scott said Wednesday on ESPN's "First Take," referring to both Rodgers and Packers management . Whats interesting about World Peaces career is that if hed have been born 10 years earlier, he likely would have been a player with comparable success to Dennis Rodman because his physical, tough style of play was more akin to past generations. Olajuwon didnt take anything from anybody when it came to where he felt his proper position in the lane was. Anyone who has never seen some of Birds closest encounters on the hardwood should hit the YouTube channel immediately. Famed broadcaster Howard Cosell summed up Americas feelings toward Reed in the winning locker room after the game. Stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG in 10 seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75 to 1977-78), San Diego/LA Clippers (1979-80 to 1984-85) and Boston Celtics (1985-86 to 1986-87). Pettit only played 11 seasons in the NBA and was a first-team All-NBA pick 10 times. Parish might not get the love that he deserves for being intense, but theres no questioning his commitment. He had game-changing skills, and thats not something we talk about when discussing point guards very often. He asserted himself no matter what the situation, and his leadership on the court was integral in Houston winning back-to-back titles. Sixth Man of the Year. Teams: St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1964-69), Phoenix Suns (1969-72), Boston Celtics (1972-76), Denver Nuggets (1976-77), Seattle Supersonics (1977-80), Key stats: 1,254 G, 9.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.2 FG%. He may have often looked out of place when he played, but thats because he was far ahead of his time. Luka Doncic, James Harden, Jimmy Butler to name a few. 13 Kevin Durant Top accolades: Two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, 11 All-Stars NBA rank: 26th. Stats: 18.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.9 APG in 13 seasons with Baltimore Bullets (1967-68 to 1971-72) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1979-80). With one of the more incredible crossovers Ive ever seen at his peak, it was tough to stop him even when everybody knew he was getting the rock. He never played less than 79 games in his first 13 NBA seasons before abruptly retiring early in the 1993-94 season after a fight with teammate Isiah Thomas. Green is one of the more outspoken players in the game today, and its tough to see his legacy as not having his Game 6 suspension from the 2016 NBA Finals front and center alongside his titles. Rookie of the Year. David Robinson's net worth is estimated at $200 million. "I taught the kid the look, the intimidation, yeah, the meanness. In the NBA, some of the greatest players of all time have also been some of the toughest as well as some of the most beloved. Johnson was 6-foot-2 and built more like an NFL defensive back than an NBA guard, but even on the Bad Boys, he was intimidating. Stats: 17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG in 11 seasons with Boston Celtics (1970-71 to 1979-80) and Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83). Key stats: 650 G, 18.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 47.6 FG%. Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-14), Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-present), Key stats: 713 G, 18.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 44.2 FG%. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA. Its a shame that he was never able to capture a ring, as there were few who dedicated themselves to a craft as thoroughly as Malone. Hes also one of just four players to win both Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. "If you played Monday through Saturday and didn't have a fight, you knew you had to be ready for Sunday because you'd surely have a fight. The two were unexpectedly caught in rough waters, and he was swept away by the current after getting her to safety. Stats: 22.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.9 APG in 11 NBA seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1976-77 to 1986-87); also played five ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1971-72 to 1972-73) and New York Nets (1973-74 to 1975-76). Every referee that has ever been a part of one of Wallaces game would attest that he should be even higher. Ringo H.W. McDaniel combined toughness with intimidation to a maximum degree. The 20 Greatest NBA Players of All Time The Sporting Blog He continued to play, leading his team to the 2017 Eastern Conference finals before being sidelined with a debilitating hip injury. Bottom line: There arent a lot of NBA players that come out of Wyoming, but James Johnson is one of them. Stats: 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG in 20 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1996-97 to 2015-16). I started that training with a 28 i. Teams: New Jersey Nets (2000-04), Denver Nuggets (2004-11), Los Angeles Clippers (2012), New York Knicks (2013-14), Milwaukee Bucks (2015), Key stats: 757 G, 12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 48.3 FG%. Dumars showed no fear when it came to his play on the defensive end, and he wasnt afraid to go hard against anyone who he was lined up against on any given night. Whats unique about his career was that style of play, at that time, was ahead of its time feed the ball to one player and let the game hinge on that. Bottom line: When you make it into a Beastie Boys song "I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason" its safe to say youve made it into some sort of rare air of sports celebrity. Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG in 20 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks (1969-70 to 1974-75) and Los Angeles Lakers (1975-76 to 1988-89); NBA's career leader in total points. To create All-Time #NBArank, we put together a ballot with the 150 greatest players ever. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Old-school NBA fans might remember McDaniels signature move on opponents who tried him his gigantic hands around their throats. Rookie of the Year. One of the most durable players ever, Malone is also second only to Abdul-Jabbar's 57,446 . His father, Stan, was an NBA player, and he had his son study tapes of Hall of Famer Wes Unseld as part of learning to play the game the right way. Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest player that the NBA has seen and won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. Key stats: 525 G, 9.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 58.9 FG%. 15 15. "I am mean," said Payton's father, who died in 2015. Weve already watched it a half-dozen times today, in fact. Martins innate toughness came from a pretty awful place. NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Player Efficiency Rating All-Time Player Efficiency Rating Leaders Active players are listed in bold * Indicates member of the Hall of Fame. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, 1963-64 MVP, 1960-61 Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star MVP, six-time assists champ, 1971 NBA champion. Western Conference Finals MVP. Stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG in 14 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1960-61 to 1969-70) and Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71 to 1973-74). Bottom line: Dave DeBusschere was one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, making the All-NBA Defensive Team six times in his career. Watch Dwyane Wade. Stats: 17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG in 12 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1982-83 to 1993-94). Stats: 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG in 14 seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1996-97 to 2006-07; 2009-10), Denver Nuggets (2006-07 to 2008-09), Detroit Pistons (2008-09) and Memphis Grizzlies (2009-10) . Instead, he broke them. Sixth Man of the Year. Paytons reputation was made by his skill as much as by his fearlessness, talking trash and backing it up to everyone. Stats: 22.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.3 APG in 10 NBA seasons with Philadelphia Warriors (1950-51 to 1961-62). NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Player Efficiency Rating Bottom line: John Havlicek is one of just four players in NBA history to win eight NBA titles. Thru 2030 Thru 2029 Thru 2028 Thru 2027 Thru 2026 Thru 2025 Thru 2024 Thru 2023 Thru 2022 Thru 2021 Thru 2020 Thru 2019 Thru 2018 Thru 2017 Thru 2016 Thru 2015 Thru 2014 Thru 2013 Thru 2012 Thru 2011 But here are the 20 most hated NBA players of all time, in no particular order: Kevin Durant. NBA Player Earnings | Spotrac Sixth Man of the Year. Bottom line: Theres always going to be some dispute about what Charles Barkleys actual height and weight were during his playing days, but its safe to say it was an inch or two below the 6-foot-6 he was listed at. In an era of players jumping teams, hes managed to stay with the Miami Heat for his entire career. Thats because Johnson, a second-degree black belt in karate, has been a professional MMA fighter and kickboxer since he was 18 years old and has a 7-0 record in MMA matches and 20-0 record in kickboxing. Stats: 15.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.7 APG in 14 seasons with San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1963-64 to 1973-74), Chicago Bulls (1974-75 to 1975-76) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1975-76 to 1976-77). Third Quarter Dubs Strike Again as Warriors Defeat Clippers | NBA.com Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive Team, 2003-04 MVP, 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year, 2003 All-Star MVP, four-time rebounding champ, 2008 NBA champion. Stats: 23.1 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.8 APG in seven seasons with Minneapolis Lakers (1948-49 to 1955-56). LeBron may very well be the most physically gifted athlete weve seen come into the league, but that doesnt make him the best, and certainly doesnt make him the most intense. Accomplishments: 11-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1980-81 MVP, two-time NBA All-Star MVP, 1983 NBA champion. Are you kidding me? NBA History: The Top 50 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1967 NBA champion. The Admiral led the ships path for San Antonio by example, and he lived by the idea of no easy buckets for the opponent. Two of the top teams in the Western Conference will go head-to-head in a rematch from last Saturday as an epic matchup . He also was routinely voted among the NBAs dirtiest players during his career. He was once singled out by NBA career leading-scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the toughest defender he ever faced and is regarded as the only post player of that era who could stand toe-to-toe with both Wilt Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 10-time All-Defensive team, 1994 All-Star MVP, 1994-95 steals champ, six-time NBA champion. Despite going undrafted, Wallace won an NBA-record four Defensive Player of the Year awards (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and helped lead the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title and back into the finals in 2005. 6. Teams: Chicago Bulls (1984-93, 1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03), Key stats: 1,072 G, 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 49.7 FG%, NBA titles: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998). His heroic, limping walk out of the tunnel for warm-ups, followed by scoring the first two baskets of the game (his only points) sparked the Knicks to the win and NBA title. First with his play and then with his legendary trash talk. Resume: 15 years; 4 All-Stars; 2X NBA Champion; Career stats: 12.9 PPG 9.7 RPG 0.9 BPG. Get used to that, because Adams could play for another 10 years. Mournings play was the bottom line when it came to his toughness, but he also had a world-class scowl that went with it, and his glare became synonymous with the rough-and-tumble play of the 1990s. Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard are deserving, but what separates them from Nikola Joki (an MVP winner), Paul George, Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler? The Celtics won the title in seven games. 1 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1991 out of UNLV. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1950-51 Rookie of the Year, 1952 All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, 1956 NBA champion. Stocktons style of play was physical and attacking. Not only was Dawkins downright crazy on the court, but he seemingly thrived off of breaking the backboard.