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Top 100 Greatest NBA Players

Can you name the top NBA players of all-time according to an ESPN poll of experts from 2016?
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: December 14, 2021
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First submittedFebruary 10, 2016
Times taken511,404
Average score39.0%
Rating4.31
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#
Retired
Player
1
2003
Michael Jordan
2
1989
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3
active
LeBron James
4
1996
Magic Johnson
5
1973
Wilt Chamberlain
6
1992
Larry Bird
7
1969
Bill Russell
8
2016
Tim Duncan
9
2011
Shaquille O'Neal
10
2002
Hakeem Olajuwon
11
1974
Oscar Robertson
12
2016
Kobe Bryant
13
1974
Jerry West
14
1987
Julius Erving
15
1995
Moses Malone
16
2004
Karl Malone
17
2019
Dirk Nowitzki
18
2000
Charles Barkley
19
2003
John Stockton
20
2003
David Robinson
21
2016
Kevin Garnett
22
active
Kevin Durant
23
active
Stephen Curry
24
1971
Elgin Baylor
25
2003
Scottie Pippen
26
1994
Isiah Thomas
27
2019
Dwyane Wade
28
1978
John Havlicek
29
active
Chris Paul
30
2015
Steve Nash
31
1993
Kevin McHale
32
2002
Patrick Ewing
33
1956
George Mikan
34
1965
Bob Pettit
#
Retired
Player
35
2013
Jason Kidd
36
1998
Clyde Drexler
37
1978
Rick Barry
38
1980
Walt Frazier
39
1970
Bob Cousy
40
1981
Elvin Hayes
41
2007
Gary Payton
42
1987
Bill Walton
43
1994
James Worthy
44
1999
Dominique Wilkins
45
2017
Paul Pierce
46
2010
Allen Iverson
47
1986
George Gervin
48
1974
Willis Reed
49
active
Russell Westbrook
50
2014
Ray Allen
51
2005
Reggie Miller
52
1986
Bob McAdoo
53
1981
Wes Unseld
54
1993
Bernard King
55
1983
Dave Cowens
56
active
Pau Gasol
57
1997
Robert Parish
58
2019
Tony Parker
59
active
Carmelo Anthony
60
1980
Earl Monroe
61
2018
Manu Ginobili
62
1991
Alex English
63
2012
Tracy McGrady
64
2000
Dennis Rodman
65
2008
Alonzo Mourning
66
2007
Chris Webber
67
active
Dwight Howard
#
Retired
Player
68
1984
Bob Lanier
69
2020
Vince Carter
70
1988
Artis Gilmore
71
1980
Pete Maravich
72
1991
Adrian Dantley
73
2009
Dikembe Mutombo
74
1964
Dolph Schayes
75
active
Blake Griffin
76
1984
Nate Archibald
77
1999
Joe Dumars
78
1969
Sam Jones
79
1974
Jerry Lucas
80
2013
Grant Hill
81
1991
Sidney Moncrief
82
1984
David Thompson
83
2000
Chris Mullin
84
1990
Dennis Johnson
85
1974
Dave DeBusschere
86
2017
Chris Bosh
87
2013
Chauncey Billups
88
1976
Billy Cunningham
89
2011
Yao Ming
90
1962
Paul Arizin
91
1993
Maurice Cheeks
92
1977
Nate Thurmond
93
1975
Lenny Wilkens
94
1998
Mark Price
95
active
Marc Gasol
96
1986
Bobby Jones
97
active
James Harden
98
1979
Gail Goodrich
99
active
Kevin Love
100
2003
Shawn Kemp
+1
Level 9
Apr 18, 2016
kobe Bryant should for sure be ahead of LeBron for the 3rd all time spot. I'm not hating on LeBron Because I like LeBron but kobe has had a better career by far
+2
Level 46
Aug 5, 2019
very debatable IMO. KObe has more rings and achievements but statistically wise Lebron has better stats.
+9
Level 14
Jan 12, 2021
lebron is way better kobe isnt top 5
+1
Level 15
Apr 29, 2021
kobe isnt top 10
+1
Level 18
Mar 20, 2024
kobe is top 5
+3
Level 9
Apr 18, 2016
if kobe isn't 3rd then at least top 10
+4
Level 83
Jun 19, 2016
No Jack Sikma. He played forever, has a ring, scored 17,000 points despite being on two mostly mediocre teams, led centers in FT% and was the first big man to master the 3-point shot. Not a top 50, but I think he makes top 100. Clearly a lot of subjectivity with this list, not a lot of science or math involved.
+1
Level 48
Sep 23, 2016
Who?
+2
Level 46
Aug 5, 2019
Jack Sikma is Good but the NBA produced SO MANY talented BIg Man and Power Forwards so I think he shoudn't really be in top 100 maybe top 30 centers but not top 100 players
+1
Level 84
Jul 16, 2016
Small update needed when you get a chance. Duncan just retired.
+2
Level ∞
Jul 21, 2016
Done
+1
Level 44
Jul 28, 2016
Here's a greatest ever quiz without any opinion, based solely on career win-shares: http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/103225/top-50-nba-players
+2
Level 25
Jul 29, 2016
this quiz is an outrage how is LeBron so damn high he is a bum he is basically the smartest kid on the shortbus. nobody in this era should be on the list period nothing but overrated bums
+2
Level 3
May 15, 2017
I disagree lebron should be on here but curry shouldnt because he only just became good
+2
Level 46
Aug 5, 2019
they're both deserved to be here. I hate lebron but he's in the goat talks. Curry just revolutionized the 3 point shot no one has ever did. You guys just hatin. He deserves it.
+1
Level 17
Dec 17, 2021
lebron is the goat
+1
Level 63
Aug 3, 2022
he's really not, though, and it's not even close.
+1
Level 30
Oct 26, 2022
LeBron is better then Jordan. He has better stats. Mike has more rings but that's because the NBA is so much more competitive then it was 25 years ago.
+1
Level 24
May 30, 2023
ur high
+1
Level 8
Aug 24, 2016
Curry doesnt deserve to be on this list aleast toward the top maybe around 60 And add Kyrie Irving
+1
Level 38
Sep 16, 2016
Love above Kemp, Ben Wallace, Steve Kerr, Horace Grant, etc?
+1
Level 65
Feb 9, 2017
Steve Kerr was a bench player!
+1
Level 46
Aug 5, 2019
Kemp got destroyed by injuries man, Ben Wallace maybe but steve kerr is a role player
+1
Level 48
Sep 23, 2016
I'm sorry but Allen Iverson should be way higher. I know it's not your decision Quizmaster but just my opinion
+1
Level 19
Oct 28, 2016
When you get Lanier, Cunningham, and Arizin, but forget Harden
+1
Level 65
Nov 7, 2016
So I get Dave DeBusschere and Earl Mornroe, and miss Dr. J, the Admiral, and Pistol Pete.
+1
Level 27
Nov 14, 2016
KOBE
+2
Level 48
Dec 16, 2016
I realize that this is not the quizmaster's list, but Aldridge should be on here over Blake Griffin (the most overrated basketball player in the world)
+1
Level 24
Jan 11, 2017
Your wrong there Lebron James he's so overrated if he's top 3 why isn't Black Mamba.
+1
Level 55
Jul 27, 2021
I think Kobe is 5th, behind Lebron, MJ, and Kareem, and Wilt in that order.
+1
Level 32
Apr 5, 2023
Wilt wasn't as good as Russell. Reason one got 11 rings and the other got 2
+1
Level 32
Oct 30, 2023
and also why one got 100 in a game and other didnt
+1
Level 10
Dec 24, 2016
When you get Billy Cunningham but miss Dr. J
+1
Level 44
Feb 25, 2017
Garnett, Kobe and Duncan have retired, making them no longer 'active' players....
+2
Level 20
May 17, 2017
Kevin love and gasol shouldn't be in here. They haven't proved themselves as hall of fame players
+1
Level ∞
May 18, 2017
There have only been something like 3,000 NBA players in the last 50 years. And let's be honest, most of the players in the sixties and seventies would be D-league players at best in today's league. There just aren't that many players to choose from.
+1
Level ∞
May 18, 2017
Also Gasol is elite, no question. How many players have ever had his combination of wingspan and shooting?
+1
Level 65
May 17, 2017
The most avid NBA fans among you should take my NBA Stats Leaders by Year quiz.
+1
Level 65
May 26, 2017
I love Manu Ginobili as much as the next guy, but he does not deserve to be on this list.
+1
Level 60
Jul 30, 2017
I disagree.
+3
Level ∞
Nov 3, 2017
Guy was/is a legend. Led Argentina to a gold medal in 2004. Not a single one of his teammates was active in the NBA at the time. Simply incredible.
+4
Level 65
Feb 16, 2018
I'm sorry, is this a 100 Greatest Players in Argentina list?
+4
Level ∞
Feb 27, 2021
Ginobili took a bunch of Argentinian scrubs and beat the Dream Team. He was possibly the best player in the world at that time.
+2
Level 63
Aug 3, 2022
at no point in his entire life has Manu Ginobili been "the best player in the world." not even for one millisecond. not then. not now. not ever. he was a great player, and i agree he's top 100 all time. but that's an absurd level of hyperbole you brought to this discussion with that comment. yikes.
+1
Level 47
Jun 5, 2017
Needs to be updated, Paul Pierce is retiring this year.
+1
Level ∞
Jun 5, 2017
Updated
+1
Level 95
Jul 4, 2017
Got #100 first, made me laugh; totally didn't expect him, but I always type Kemp first
+1
Level 65
Jul 26, 2017
How can you have that many current players? Disrespect to the history of the NBA. 18 active and a whole bunch who just retired?
+1
Level 43
Feb 10, 2018
To be honest with you the bunch of players that are active would be easily ranked in top 100 in history, guys like Curry, Durant, Paul or Wade are some of the best in history and guaranteed hall of famers. What is wrong for me is that there is Blake Griffin for example who didn't achieve that much and I think it is bit early to shove him in there.
+1
Level 19
Dec 18, 2017
Steve Nash?
+2
Level 73
Jan 29, 2018
I remember Artis Gilmore. And I blank on Steph Curry. Argh.
+1
Level 45
Jun 14, 2018
Get Marc Gasol out of here lol
+1
Level 71
Oct 28, 2018
What a joke! This is why people no longer watch ESPN, besides their political nonsense! They continue to way over hype active players. James is lucky he plays in a soft era, because had he played in the Jordan era he would have gotten his butt kicked by the Pistons, Knicks, Celtic, Lakers and the Bulls. He would have been a border line All-Star. Nowitzki ahead of Barkley, Robinson, Ewing? Did the people at ESPN who voted on the list ever watch a basketball game before the year 2000? And lastly, Chamberlain should be #1.
+1
Level 57
Dec 27, 2022
LeBron is a 6'9" freight train of a human being who can play any position and guard all positions on the court. He has an insane basketball IQ, the build of a football player, a very good post game, and a good jumper especially for the 90s. He has also shown his ability to carry G-league teams to NBA Finals, and of course his longevity. He is absolutely as successful then as he is today. No one besides Jordan can top him, and even that's close.
+2
Level 66
Dec 20, 2018
Haven't followed basketball since the Bulls dynasty fell apart after 1998, so I didn't do well on this. I know a few random players from the last 20 years, but not nearly enough. As for why ESPN placed so many active guys on the list, keep in mind that it's their nature to be biased in favor of the modern era. After all, "today's players aren't as good as the ones from yesteryear" isn't exactly a good business model. Everyone's got biases, and it makes sense for ESPN to be biased in favor of the modern day since actively promoting the people playing now is good business for them. That doesn't make the list good or bad inherently, I'm just saying to consider the source.
+1
Level 14
Mar 2, 2019
Considering I know hardly any NBA history, 67-100, I'll take that.
+1
Level 82
Aug 2, 2019
I'm happy with the 4 points that my limited knowledge of basketball, NBA Jam, common last names, and reading the comments was able to cobble together for me.
+1
Level 47
Apr 17, 2019
Need to update Nowitzski, Wade and Bosh to now say 2019.
+1
Level ∞
Apr 17, 2019
Done. Hope they make a new list. This one is started to feel a little dated.
+1
Level 77
Jun 18, 2019
also it says that alonzo mourning retired in 2004 but he actually finished in 2008
+1
Level 46
Aug 5, 2019
Guys I have NBA unique quizzes. Quizzes you haven't seen yet. Pleasee try guys. I'll appreciate it. Thanks. I put a lot of effort in it
+4
Level 53
Jan 27, 2020
RIP Mamba
+1
Level 58
Mar 5, 2020
Got two just by guessing "Jones" lol. Cool quiz
+2
Level 18
Mar 7, 2020
Where is derrick rose!?
+1
Level 57
Jul 20, 2022
:((((
+2
Level 13
Jun 5, 2020
vince carter has officially retired plz update
+1
Level 37
Sep 20, 2020
lmao this entire quiz is outdated
+1
Level 32
Apr 5, 2023
Well yes, it was made in 2016 by ESPN. Unless they re-do the list, it's not going to be updated, because it wasn't made by Quizmaster. If it was, this entire quiz idea would be dumb because it would no longer be objective.
+1
Level 26
Oct 20, 2020
how are you going to put marc gasol in front of harden and kevin love and gail goodrich, like what even man.
+1
Level 29
Nov 8, 2020
Paul Pierce over Allen Iverson????
+1
Level 14
Nov 15, 2020
Can we have a complete change on this quiz? I know that this list isn't your choice but we need a complete change. Kevin Love and Blake Griffin shouldn't be on here, and even though I am not a fan of Kyrie Irving, I agree that he should be on this list. You should also add Giannis Antetokounmpo. Also, you should change the order of players. Tim Duncan over Kobe Bryant? Really?
+1
Level 34
Jan 1, 2021
The list is dated for sure. But it's not quizmaster's list. It's ESPNs from 2016, They were doing a list for the 70th anniversary of the NBA if I remember correctly.
+1
Level 15
May 7, 2021
tim duncan is definitely better than kobe
+2
Level 79
Mar 10, 2021
This list is in serious need of an update. Kevin Love does not belong on this list. Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lilliard do belong on this list
+1
Level 20
Sep 11, 2021
It’s an ESPN top 100 list from 2016
+5
Level 56
May 18, 2021
Tacko Fall needs to be on here
+1
Level 26
Dec 31, 2023
for real tacko needs some love
+1
Level 55
Jul 6, 2021
Unpopular Opinion: Kobe is better than Tim Duncan for one reason.

Take Kobe's 2006 lakers team with Kwame Brown starting and replace Kobe with Duncan, I think not only would that team fail to make the playoffs but would be a top 7 worst team in the league.

+1
Level 57
Oct 30, 2022
Unfortunately, Kobe being better than Tim Duncan is a very popular and flawed opinion
+1
Level 17
Aug 21, 2021
damn, Harden at 97...
+1
Level 63
Sep 27, 2021
this list needs a serious update.
+1
Level ∞
Dec 14, 2021
Yeah, agree.
+1
Level 39
Dec 14, 2021
Alonzo Mourning retired in 2008, not 2004
+1
Level ∞
Dec 14, 2021
Okay, fixed.
+1
Level 14
Apr 11, 2022
Why is harden so low
+1
Level 52
Apr 14, 2022
I typed "Michael Jordan" and thought the quiz would be over.
+1
Level 60
May 15, 2022
That is the best 100 NBA performances quiz.
+1
Level 60
May 15, 2022
what is the argument that Moses Malone could possibly be ranked higher than Karl Malone? MVP's or championships I will need to do some research. This is a good list overall.
+1
Level 62
May 18, 2022
Giannis?
+2
Level 57
Jun 5, 2022
Small correction: neither of the Gasol brothers are active in the NBA anymore
+1
Level 43
Jul 9, 2022
Where's Lillard? He's on the top-75 anniversary list, but not on this top 100? Currently highest-paid player in NBA history and not on your list?
+1
Level 57
Aug 7, 2022
This is an ESPN list, and it's quite old
+1
Level 37
Dec 5, 2022
I'm proud of my forty-four.
+1
Level 57
Dec 7, 2022
One more tiny nitpick: Chris Mullin retired in 2001
+1
Level 73
Jan 6, 2023
Michael Jordan played the game on a completely different level than everyone else. There's not much I could write here that hasn't already been said, but I am happy that there seems to be very little controversy among this group that he's #1 of all-time, and I really have a hard time imagine his accomplishments ever being eclipsed. He was just so damn good.
+1
Level 66
Feb 8, 2024
he doesn't have the most rings as a first option, doesn't have the most mvps, doesn't have the most all nbas, doesn't have the most all star selections, doesn't have the most points... could go on and on... there is a debate about the greatest ever whether you like it or not...
+1
Level 37
Jan 30, 2023
Oscar Robertson is the only obvious one I missed.
+4
Level 44
Feb 17, 2023
Blake Griffin? are you serious lol
+1
Level 73
Apr 29, 2023
Nice quiz! I scored 88/100. I missed one player in the top 50. Someday I will learn how to spell DeBusschere. Thanks for the quiz!
+1
Level 24
May 30, 2023
Carmelo, Gasol brothers are no longer active
+1
Level 16
Jun 29, 2023
Oh my, 100/100 with 1 second left
+1
Level 61
Dec 29, 2023
whoever made this must hate james harden 😂
+1
Level 37
Jan 22, 2024
Improved to 65 but forgot Ewing and Harden.