The Best NBA Players of All Time

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The Best NBA Players of All Time: Top 100 Greatest Basketball Legends

Introduction

For nearly eight decades, the NBA has been home to some of the greatest athletes in the history of professional sports. From the dominant centers of the 1950s and 1960s to today's versatile superstars capable of excelling in every aspect of the game, every generation has produced players who changed basketball forever.

Comparing legends from different eras has never been easy. The game has evolved dramatically: the pace is faster, the three-point shot has become a central weapon, sports science has extended careers, and advanced analytics have transformed the way players are evaluated. Bill Russell dominated with defense and leadership in an era without the three-point line. Wilt Chamberlain shattered records that still seem impossible today. Magic Johnson revolutionized the point guard position, while Larry Bird elevated the importance of shooting and basketball IQ. Michael Jordan became the global face of basketball, and LeBron James redefined what sustained excellence looks like over two decades.

Every fan has a different opinion about who deserves to be called the greatest player in NBA history. Some value championships above everything else. Others focus on individual statistics, peak performance, longevity, defensive impact, or cultural influence. There is no perfect formula, which is exactly why debates about the NBA's greatest players continue to captivate basketball fans around the world.

This ranking attempts to balance every important aspect of a player's career. Championships matter, but so do MVP awards, All-NBA selections, defensive achievements, statistical dominance, longevity, consistency, leadership, and the ability to change the sport itself. Players from every era are judged within the context of the competition they faced while also considering their lasting impact on basketball history.

The list includes legendary champions, unstoppable scorers, elite defenders, revolutionary playmakers, and players whose influence extended far beyond the basketball court. Some dominated for only a few seasons with historically high peaks, while others remained among the league's best for well over a decade. Both types of greatness deserve recognition.

Rather than focusing solely on statistics, this ranking tells the story of how each player helped shape the NBA into the global phenomenon it is today. Many of these legends inspired future generations, introduced new styles of play, and created unforgettable moments that remain part of basketball history.

Whether you agree with every position in the ranking or not, one thing is certain: every player on this list earned a permanent place among the greatest competitors the sport has ever seen.

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How We Ranked the Greatest NBA Players

Selecting the 100 greatest players in NBA history requires much more than simply comparing points, rebounds, or championships. Basketball greatness comes in many different forms, and every era presents unique challenges.

To create a balanced ranking, we considered the following criteria.

Championships

Winning remains the ultimate goal in professional basketball. NBA titles played a significant role in our rankings, particularly for players who consistently performed at their best during the postseason.

However, championships were never treated as the only measure of greatness. Basketball is a team sport, and many all-time greats spent much of their careers without championship-caliber supporting casts.

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Individual Awards

Major individual honors were heavily weighted, including:

* NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP)
* NBA Finals MVP
* Defensive Player of the Year
* Rookie of the Year
* Scoring, rebounding and assist titles

These awards recognize players who stood above their peers during a particular season.

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Career Statistics

Raw numbers remain an important indicator of greatness.

Among the statistics considered were:

* Points
* Rebounds
* Assists
* Steals
* Blocks
* Shooting efficiency
* Advanced metrics where appropriate

Longevity and consistency also played a major role. Sustaining elite production for fifteen or twenty seasons is one of the hardest achievements in professional sports.

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Peak Performance

Some players reached levels that very few athletes have ever matched, even if their careers were relatively short.

A player's absolute peak often separates good players from true legends.

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🛡 Defensive Impact

Basketball is played on both ends of the floor.

Elite defenders such as Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan and Dennis Rodman transformed games without necessarily leading the league in scoring.

Defense was given substantial weight throughout the ranking.

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Influence on Basketball

Some players completely changed how basketball is played.

Examples include:

* Magic Johnson redefining the point guard position.
* Stephen Curry revolutionizing long-range shooting.
* Michael Jordan making the NBA a global brand.
* LeBron James setting new standards for longevity and versatility.

Influence extends far beyond statistics.

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Longevity

Remaining among the NBA's elite for more than a decade requires extraordinary talent, discipline, preparation, and adaptability.

Players who consistently performed at an All-Star or All-NBA level over many years received additional recognition.

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Legacy

Finally, we considered each player's overall legacy.

Questions included:

* Did the player change the history of the NBA?
* Did they inspire future generations?
* Are they remembered as one of the defining figures of their era?
* Would basketball history look different without them?

The answers to these questions often distinguish all-time greats from merely excellent players.

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No ranking can ever satisfy every basketball fan, but by combining championships, individual excellence, statistical dominance, longevity, influence, and historical significance, this list aims to present one of the most balanced evaluations of the greatest NBA players of all time.

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#100. Dave Bing

Position

**Point Guard**

NBA Career

**1966–1978**

Teams

* Detroit Pistons (1966–1975)
* Washington Bullets (1975–1977)
* Boston Celtics (1977–1978)

Career Highlights

NBA Champion (1978)

7× NBA All-Star

NBA Rookie of the Year (1967)

NBA Scoring Champion (1968)

2× All-NBA First Team

1× All-NBA Second Team

🏛 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

NBA 50th Anniversary Team

NBA 75th Anniversary Team

Career Statistics

* **20.3 points per game**
* **3.8 rebounds per game**
* **6.0 assists per game**
* **1,901 career steals** *(steals were officially recorded only during the final years of his career)*
* More than **18,000 career points**

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Biography

Few players in NBA history combined scoring ability, playmaking, and leadership as effectively as Dave Bing. Although he rarely receives the same level of attention as many of the league's biggest superstars, Bing was one of the most complete guards of the late 1960s and early 1970s and remains one of the greatest players ever to wear a Detroit Pistons uniform.

Born on **November 24, 1943**, in Washington, D.C., Bing developed into one of the country's top young basketball prospects despite overcoming a serious eye injury during childhood. His determination and work ethic became defining characteristics throughout his career.

He attended **Syracuse University**, where he quickly established himself as one of the nation's premier guards. Bing averaged more than 24 points per game during his college career and became one of the most decorated players in school history. By the time he entered the 1966 NBA Draft, scouts viewed him as an elite offensive talent with exceptional speed and court vision.

The Detroit Pistons selected Bing with the **second overall pick** in the 1966 NBA Draft. He wasted no time proving that he belonged among the league's elite, averaging **20 points per game as a rookie** while earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

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Becoming One of the NBA's Elite Guards

Bing's greatest strength was his versatility.

He could score from virtually anywhere on the floor, attack the basket with explosive quickness, knock down mid-range jumpers, and create opportunities for teammates. At a time when many point guards focused primarily on distributing the ball, Bing demonstrated that a floor general could also be one of the league's most dangerous scorers.

His breakout season came in **1967–68**, when he averaged an incredible **27.1 points per game**, capturing the NBA scoring title despite standing just 6-foot-3. Competing against legendary scorers such as Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Wilt Chamberlain, Bing proved he belonged among basketball's biggest stars.

Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, he remained one of the NBA's most consistent performers, regularly averaging more than 25 points while also contributing significant assist totals. His ability to balance scoring with playmaking made him one of the most complete offensive guards of his generation.

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Leadership in Detroit

Although the Pistons rarely contended for championships during Bing's prime, he became the unquestioned leader of the franchise.

Season after season, he carried much of Detroit's offensive burden while maintaining remarkable efficiency. His professionalism earned widespread respect throughout the league, and younger teammates often looked to him for guidance.

Bing's individual brilliance was sometimes overshadowed by the lack of postseason success, but historians generally agree that his supporting casts were rarely strong enough to compete with powerhouse teams such as the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, or Milwaukee Bucks.

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Final NBA Seasons

In 1975, Bing was traded to the Washington Bullets before finishing his playing career with the Boston Celtics.

Although injuries and age had begun to reduce his production, his experience and leadership remained valuable. During the **1977–78 season**, Bing finally earned the only NBA championship of his career as a veteran member of the Celtics, adding the final major achievement to an already outstanding résumé.

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Legacy

Dave Bing's influence extends far beyond his statistics.

He helped redefine what a scoring point guard could accomplish, combining elite offensive production with exceptional passing and leadership. His blend of speed, intelligence, and consistency paved the way for future generations of dynamic lead guards.

Following his retirement, Bing built an extraordinarily successful business career before entering public service, eventually serving as the **Mayor of Detroit** from 2009 to 2013. Few athletes have enjoyed such distinguished success both on and off the court.

Today, his place on both the **NBA 50th Anniversary Team** and the **NBA 75th Anniversary Team** confirms what basketball historians have long recognized: Dave Bing was one of the greatest guards of his era and unquestionably deserves a place among the 100 greatest players in NBA history.

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Why Dave Bing is No. 100

Dave Bing earns the final spot in our Top 100 because of his outstanding individual achievements, sustained excellence over more than a decade, and lasting influence on the evolution of the point guard position. While others may have collected more championships, few players ranked this low on the list can match his combination of scoring, playmaking, leadership, and longevity.

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