The 45 greatest Nba players of all time

1. Michael Jordan

Actor | Space Jam

Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 17, 1963. He was the fourth of five children born to James and Deloris. James Jordan was a mechanic and Deloris Jordan was a bank teller. Soon after Michael's birth, James and Deloris felt that the streets of Brooklyn were unsafe to ...

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Actor | Airplane!

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record...

3. Wilt Chamberlain

Actor | Conan the Destroyer

Wilton Norman Chamberlain was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Olivia Ruth (Johnson), a domestic worker, and William Chamberlain, a welder, custodian, and handyman. Wilt didn't come from a race of giants as many thought. Both his parents were no bigger than 5-9, but as a young boy he began a ...

4. Kobe Bryant

Producer | Dear Basketball

Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant won five NBA championships, ...

5. Magic Johnson

Producer | Obsessed

Magic Johnson was born on August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Obsessed (2009), Dead Tone (2007) and Hair Show (2004). He has been married to Cookie Johnson since September 14, 1991. They have two children.

6. Bob Cousy

Actor | Celtic Pride

Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousy entered the NBA in 1950, and became the foundation of the great Boston Celtic teams of the 50's and 60's. On retiring from the Celtics in 63, Cousy accepted the job of head coach at Boston college and built it into a respected 5 time NCAA Tournament team. Cousy ...

7. Tim Duncan

Actor | Watch NBA Finals with Spidey and Iron Man

Tim Duncan is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He spent his entire 19-year playing career with the Spurs.

In high school, he played basketball for St. Dunstan's Episcopal. In ...

8. Bill Russell

Actor | On the Right Track

The term Dynasty might have never applied to Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell. In the History of professional sports there has never been an athlete who has more accolades or championships, in other words Bill Russell was not only a champion, but he was perhaps the definition of a ...

9. LeBron James

Producer | Space Jam: A New Legacy

LeBron James is an American basketball player and film producer who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. He is one of the most accomplished basketball players of the 21st century. He played himself in Space Jam: A New Legacy and Trainwreck. He is the owner of a ...

10. Hakeem Olajuwon

Actor | Heaven Is a Playground

Hakeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In ...

11. Shaquille O'Neal

Actor | Steel

Shaquille O'Neal is a retired professional American basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA on TNT. He is considered one of the greatest players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. He was one of the tallest and heaviest players ever. O'Neal ...

12. Oscar Robinson

Actor | The Creep Behind the Camera

Oscar Robinson is known for The Creep Behind the Camera (2014) and Confessions of an Elf (2011).

13. Larry Bird

Actor | Space Jam

Larry Bird graduated from Springs Valley High School in French Lick, Indiana in 1974. He attended Indiana University briefly, then transferred to Indiana State University in Terre Haute. He then embarked on an outstanding basketball career, establishing himself as one of the best shooting forwards ...

14. Karl Malone

Actor | After the Sunset

Karl Malone is an American retired professional basketball player.

Malone played the power forward position and spent his first 18 seasons (1985-2003) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Utah Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate John Stockton. Malone also played one ...

15. Jerry West

Actor | Uncle Drew

Jerry West was born on May 28, 1938 in Chelyan, West Virginia, USA. He is an actor, known for Uncle Drew (2018), Arli$$ (1996) and Vince's Places (2022). He has been married to Karen Christine Bua since May 28, 1978. They have two children. He was previously married to Martha Jane Kane.

16. Julius Erving

Actor | Philadelphia

One of the NBA's first superstars Julius Erving's high flying hard powered style brought the NBA and basketball to levels previously unheard of. Julius Erving was born in Hempstead New York in 1950. He grew up in a housing project, the son of a single mother, with two siblings. His father having ...

17. Kevin Garnett

Producer | The Republic of Sarah

Kevin Garnett is known for The Republic of Sarah (2021), Dynasty (2017) and Set It Off (1996).

18. Chris Paul

Producer | Crossroads

Chris Paul is an NBA basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina native is an twelve-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Off the court, Paul has served as the President of the National Basketball Players Association since 2013. His business ...

19. David Robinson

Actor | Revenge of the Cheerleaders

David Robinson is known for Revenge of the Cheerleaders (1976) and Sharri (2018).

20. John Stockton

Director | Standing Up

John attended Sunderland University (2007-2011) and received a first for his final film "Wheelies". He also received a first for his overall degree in Media Production Video and New Media. He went on to study at Shiney Row college for a teaching qualification. He received a PTLLS award in March ...

21. Moses Malone

Self | The 1983 NBA Finals

Moses Malone is an American basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1974 through 1995.

A center, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times, was a 12-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA...

22. Allen Iverson

Actor | Hustle

One of the most controversial Basketball players of all time, Allen Iverson is one of the most loved and hated figures in Basketball. Born Allen Ezail Iverson in Hampton, Virginia, he grew up very poor to a struggling mother and a father who deserted him. Growing up, he was very athletic, playing ...

23. Elgin Baylor

Actor | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Elgin Baylor (born September 16, 1934) is an American former basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 14 seasons as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in eight NBA Finals. Baylor was a gifted shooter, strong ...

24. Scottie Pippen

Actor | He Got Game

Scottie Pippen is an American former professional basketball player. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Scottie Pippen, along with Michael Jordan, played an important role in transforming the Chicago Bulls into a ...

25. Gary Payton

Actor | After the Sunset

Gary Payton played his high school basketball at Skyline High School in Oakland, California before attending Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Throughout his four-year career at OSU, he became one of the most decorated basketball players in OSU history. During his senior year, Payton ...

26. Dennis Rodman

Actor | Double Team

Dennis Rodman is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was nicknamed "The Worm" and is famous for his fierce defensive and ...

27. Dirk Nowitzki

Actor | Hustle

Dirk Nowitzki was born on Monday, June 19th, 1978, in Wurzburg, Bavaria, Germany, Europe, as Dirk Werner Nowitzki. Dirk is a very active athlete & has become an actor, in sports events, especially basketball. He is best-known for being 24 for 24 in Western Conference Finals' Game 1, on Tuesday, May...

28. Isiah Thomas

Producer | Playin' for Love

Isiah Thomas is an American former basketball player who played professionally for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard, the 12-time NBA All-Star was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball ...

29. Dikembe Mutombo

Actor | Coming 2 America

Dikembe Mutombo is a Congolese American retired professional basketball player. Mutombo played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Outside basketball, he has become well known for his humanitarian work.

The 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m), 260-pound (120 kg) center, who began his career with...

30. Rick Barry

Actor | Uncle Drew

Rick Barry will go down as one of the greatest, albeit misunderstood and controversial, stars in basketball history. He was born in New Jersey and, after a successful high school career, enrolled at the University of Miami (Florida). With a dead-eye outside shot, Barry put Hurricane basketball on ...

31. Dwyane Wade

Actor | What to Expect When You're Expecting

Dwyane Wade was born on January 17, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012), Shot in the Dark (2017) and Relentless. He has been married to Gabrielle Union since August 30, 2014. They have one child. He was previously married...

32. Charles Barkley

Actor | Hot Shots!

Charles Barkley is an American retired professional basketball player who is an analyst on Inside the NBA (1988).

Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominant power forwards. An All-American power forward at Auburn University, he was drafted as a junior ...

33. Kevin Durant

Producer | Swagger

Kevin Durant was born on September 29, 1988 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Swagger (2021), Two Distant Strangers (2020) and The 2017 NBA Finals (2017).

34. Steve Nash

Self | Occult Crimes

35. Kevin McHale

Actor | Cheers

Kevin Edward McHale (born December 19, 1957) is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary...

36. Bill Walton

Actor | Little Nicky

William Theodore Walton III (born November 5, 1952) is an American retired basketball player and television sportscaster. Walton played for John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins in the early 1970s, winning three successive College Player of the Year Awards. He led the UCLA Bruins to two NCAA ...

37. Nate Archibald

Assistant_director | Burl's

Nate Archibald is known for Burl's (2003).

38. James Worthy

Self | De slimste mens ter wereld

39. Clyde Drexler

Actor | The Sentinel

Clyde Drexler is an American former professional basketball player who was the commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", Drexler played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), spending a majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers ...

40. Tony Parker

Self | Mr. Schneider Goes to Washington

41. Dominique Wilkins

Actor | Billions

Dominique Wilkins is an American retired professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Wilkins was a nine-time NBA All-Star, and is widely viewed as one of the best dunkers in NBA history, earning the nickname "The Human ...

42. Amar'e Stoudemire

Actor | MacGruber

Amar'e Stoudemire was born on November 16, 1982 in Lake Wales, Florida, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for MacGruber (2010), Trainwreck (2015) and New Year's Eve (2011). He has been married to Alexis Welch since December 12, 2012. They have four children.

43. Stephen Curry

Producer | Finding Forrester

Stephen Curry was born on March 14, 1988 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Finding Forrester, Breakthrough (2019) and Ballers (2015). He has been married to Ayesha Curry since July 30, 2011. They have three children.

44. Reggie Miller

Actor | He Got Game

Reggie Miller is an American retired professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career with the Indiana Pacers.

Miller was known for his precision three-point shooting, especially in pressure situations and most notably against the New York ...

45. Paul Pierce

Actor | She Ball

Paul Pierce is an American former professional basketball player who played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is an analyst on ESPN's NBA Countdown.

After being chosen by the Boston Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft, Pierce spent the first 15 years of...