Top NBA Players In History And Their Legacies In The Game - Health Clipboard

Naming the best basketball player ever lived is a pretty difficult task and is something that we can’t take lightly. That’s why we decided to put our big boy pants and ventured into the realms of listing down some of the best NBA players that set foot on the hardwood.

Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without any guidance coming from the experts from ESPN who placed huge investments of resources to come up with all the information that we need. With that in mind, let’s take a look at our compilation of top-ranking NBA players in the history of the sport.

MICHAEL JORDAN

30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG

Chicago Bulls 1984-1993, 1995-1998
Washington Wizards 2001-2003

People call Michael Jordan as the G.O.A.T when it comes to basketball and for those who are not familiar with the term, it simply means the greatest of all time! He managed to bring home six NBA championships and six season MVP trophies in his house protected by a top-notch home security system. After his final retirement from the game, he went on and bought a portion of the ownership of an NBA team situated in North Carolina called the Charlotte Bobcats which is now known as Hornets.

LEBRON JAMES

27.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG

Cleveland Cavaliers 2003-2010, 2014-2018
Miami Heat 2010-2014
Los Angeles Lakers 2018-2020

LeBron James is one of those players that only comes once in every generation. Most people describe his physical body paired with his abilities as nothing that they have seen before. He showcases his talent in playing at both ends of the floor. James’ offensive talents are well above the leagues of others while his defensive skill is considered top-notch. King James still has plenty of gas left in his tank and he’s still not showing any signs of slowing down.

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG

Milwaukee Bucks 1969-1975
Los Angeles Lakers 1975-1989

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a scoring beast on the hardwood during his heyday. He spent twenty years in the league with six championship credits and has six league MVP awards under his belt. However, these numbers can’t be compared to the record that he set while playing the game. For those who are not in the loop, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time leader when it comes to points scored by a longshot. As of the time of writing, the only active player that could possibly match or even come close to his numbers is LeBron James with more than 34,000 points he made in the last seventeen years in the league as opposed to Kareem’s 38,387 points inside his two-decade run in the NBA.

BILL RUSSELL

15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG

Boston Celtics 1956-1969

Bill Russell is considered one of the biggest winners in basketball history. He was part of the core group of the legendary Boston Celtics that won eight straight NBA titles from 1959 NBA season up until 1966 and was instrumental in getting eleven NBA championships in his thirteen years in the league. He also won two NCAA titles for the University Of San Francisco men’s basketball team. On top of that, Russell was the team captain of the United States national basketball team that brought home the gold medal back in 1956. His success on that hardwood didn’t reflect on the investments he put up over the years and most of the businesses he established either went into bankruptcy or had a lackluster performance.

MAGIC JOHNSON

19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 1.9 SPG

Los Angeles Lakers 1979-1991, 1996

The 1980s Los Angeles Lakers were one of the most exciting teams to watch in the NBA and they revolutionized the game with their fast-pace and flashy offense that dominated the league. He is one of the greatest point guards that ever played the game and probably the most unique as well. Johnson’s physique made him a one of a kind point guard in the league. On top of that, Magic was listed at 6’9” making him one of the tallest guards in the league. He has five championship credits under his wing and three league MVPs.

WILT CHAMBERLAIN

30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG

Philadelphia Warriors 1959-62
San Francisco Warriors 1962-1965
Philadelphia 76ers 1965-1968
Los Angeles Lakers 1968-1973

When we are talking about raw numbers and sheer dominance, without a doubt Wilt Chamberlain is always on the top of the conversation. For those who don’t know, he’s the current holder of the NBA all-time record of points in a single game at 100 and from the looks of things, his record will stand the test of time.

Aside from earning a huge amount in his basketball career, he also made a truckload of money as a coach of an ABA team. He later retired after one season as a coach and pretty much lived on the investments he made during his prime.

LARRY BIRD

24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG

Boston Celtics 1979-1992

Basketball became a global phenomenon during the 80s and 90s. One of the reasons why the game became a worldwide success was this guy right here, Larry Bird. He is considered one of the legends of the game and many look at him as their inspiration.

During his collegiate year, he was never worried about student loans and such after receiving full-scholarship coming from Indiana State University. In return, he’ll have to give his talent and play for the men’s basketball team. It also set the stage for one of the biggest rivalries in the game.

TIM DUNCAN

19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.2 BPG

San Antonio Spurs 1997-2016

Starting from the get-go, the big man from Wake Forest already made a huge impact on the game of basketball with his unique skill set that was not common to any big men around the league. After earning his degree in his collegiate years, he went on to the NBA as the first overall pick of the 1997 draft class.

As we all know, centers and power forwards playing in the NBA usually use their huge and bulky bodies to power their way towards the rim. However, Tim Duncan strived using only his wits and his masterful fundamental moves, earning the nickname “The Big Fundamental.”

KOBE BRYANT

25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG

Los Angeles Lakers 1996-2016

No one can argue that Kobe Bryant might be one of the most competitive athletes of all-time. His intense drive for making a better version of himself made him one of the top players of all-time. In fact, Bryant is always at the top of that conversation. He accumulated five championship rings including a three-peat while playing alongside Shaq.

Kobe also showed a great deal of money management skills over the course of his career and he was able to build up a vast amount of fortune that can rival any of the biggest names in the world of sports. His legacy will always be remembered.

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL

23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG

Orlando Magics 1992-1996
Los Angeles Lakers 1996-2004
Miami Heat 2004-2008
Phoenix Suns 2008-2009
Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-2010
Boston Celtics 2010-2011

Without any shadow of doubt, the Big Diesel was one of the most physically-imposing players of all-time. His powerful body paired with all the athletic abilities he had was his main selling point why he became a four-time champ, three-time Finals MVP and a fifteen-time All-Star. He also made a truck-load of fortune during his time with the NBA and we are pretty sure he kept his financial advisors as busy as a beaver.

OSCAR ROBERTSON

25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG

Cincinnati Royals 1960-1970
Milwaukee Bucks 1970-1974

Oscar Robertson immediately became one of the league’s top players in his rookie year. He was an integral part of his team during his stay with the Cincinnati Royals and quickly averaged a ridiculous triple-double in a season in just his second year – he is also the first player to that feat in the history of the NBA, thus earning the nickname “The Big O.” Basketball also saved his family from bankruptcy and that meant a lot for him and his achievements are well-recognized by the fans of the game.

HAKEEM OLAJUWON

21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG

Houston Rockets 1984 – 2001
Toronto Raptors 2001 – 2002

Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon is perhaps one of the top big men in the league. Unlike traditional big men that controlled the painted area with their sheer muscle, Olajuwon dominated the land under the rim with grace and finesse. He’s also an expert when it comes to low-post moves with his soft touches. Credit to his skill set, The Dream managed to grab back to back championships for the Houston Rockets and cemented his legacy as one of the all-time great big men in the NBA.

STEPHEN CURRY

23.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 3.6 3s PG

Golden State Warriors 2009 – Present

Stephen Curry revolutionized the current era of the NBA with his sweet and deadly long-range bombs that earned him a couple of championships and made the Golden State Warriors the dynasty that we know today. He also led the small-ball era that the teams around the league uses today. His accomplishments were recognized greatly by his peers and he was the very first player to win the MVP award unanimously. We can’t see why the Golden State Warriors would not place a huge investment in this one of a kind superstar.

KEVIN DURANT

27.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 1.8 3s PG

Seattle SuperSonics 2007 – 2008
Oklahoma City Thunder 2008 – 2016
Golden State Warriors 2016 – 2019
Brooklyn Nets 2019 – Present

NBA fans rarely see the skill set Kevin Durant offers on the table. He is categorized as a big man with the ball handling skills and the shooting touch of a guard and that alone made him one of the best offensive machines in league history. His massive output plus his overall impact in the game gave him two championships with the Golden State Warriors and a pair of Finals MVPs. Even if he opt for retirement due to his recent injury, we are pretty sure he’ll never cross the bankruptcy line.

JULIUS ERVING

24.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.2 APG

Virginia Squires (ABA) 1971 – 1973
New York Nets (ABA) 1973 – 1976
Philadelphia 76ers 1976 – 1987

Julius Erving was playing well beyond the time his opponents played against him. He usually played above the rim as a high-flying acrobat that can finish either smooth or strong touches around the rim. If any of his guards were caught between him and the basket, it only meant it was poster time! His basketball prowess earned him a championship in 1983 and a Hall of Fame slot 1993. What’s more surprising, after he stepped away from the hardwood, he finally fulfilled his long-time promise to his mom of earning a college degree for himself.

JERRY WEST

27.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.7 APG

Los Angeles Lakers 1960 – 1974

Retired NBA superstar and now NBA executive Jerry West was known as Mr. Clutch because of his effectiveness in crunch times and from our standpoint, he lifts his game to another level during crucial moments of the game. Analysts and basketball enthusiasts place him at the top of their list when they are talking about the players at his position. Jerry West pretty much reached a long way now and accomplished lots of things compared to his younger days when his family were merely on the verge of bankruptcy.

KARL MALONE

25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG

Utah Jazz 1985 – 2003
Los Angeles Lakers 2003 – 2004

Karl Malone always delivered top-notch plays that transformed the Utah Jazz from your regular NBA team into a championship contender during the 90s and that’s probably the reason he was called “The Mailman.” He currently holds the number two slot for points scored in the league right behind the living legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Just like the G.O.A.T Michael Jordan, he also has a statue right outside the walls where the Jazz play. Malone is now retired and we are pretty sure he had all his business and insurance plans already laid out.

MOSES MALONE

20.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.3 BPG

1974-75 Utah Stars (ABA)
1975-76 Spirits of St. Louis (ABA)
1976 Buffalo Braves
1976-82 Houston Rockets
1982-86, 1993-94 Philadelphia 76ers
1986-88 Washington Bullets
1988-91 Atlanta Hawks
1991-93 Milwaukee Bucks
1994-95 San Antonio Spurs

Moses Malone’s name is considered one of the all-time greats when it comes to basketball. Well, after all, he wouldn’t make it on this list if he hadn’t had the credits to do so. He led the 76ers to an NBA title in 1983 and was chosen as the league’s MVP for the second time. His peers dubbed him as “Chairman of the Boards” with his strong and consistent performance of tirelessly getting most of the rebounds in the games he played.

DIRK NOWITZKI

20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.3 3s PG

Dallas Mavericks 1998-2019

The ninth pick of the 1998 NBA draft will go down in history as one of the greatest power forwards in the history of the sport and that’s none other than the sweet-shooting big man, Dirk Nowitzki. He was initially drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and on the same day, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. His peers gave him all the credits he deserved as the best Mavericks player of all-time. He also brought home The Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy to the city of Dallas back in 2011.

KEVIN GARNETT

17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Minnesota Timberwolves 1995 – 2007, 2015 – 2016
Boston Celtics 2007 – 2013
Brooklyn Nets 2013 – 2015

Kevin Garnett is known for being the heart of the team he was on during his time with the NBA. He was a born leader both on and off the court and acts as the backbone of the team when they need an extra push to get the job done. He also led the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship back in 2008. After he built up a good credit score while playing in the league, he then joined the gang of Inside the NBA as one of the crews for the show.

SCOTTIE PIPPEN

16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG

Chicago Bulls 1987 – 1998, 2003 – 2004
Houston Rockets 1998 – 1999
Portland Trail Blazers 1999 – 2003

During the 90s, the Chicago Bulls became the greatest team in the NBA thanks to the contributions Michael Jordan made to the team. However, they will never reach the pinnacle of success without the epic talent of Scottie Pippen. He was effective on both ends of the court and consistently received prestigious awards and credit on both offensive and defensive sides of the game. He truly built up a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.

ELGIN BAYLOR

27.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.3 APG

Minneapolis Lakers 1958 – 1960
Los Angeles Lakers 1960 – 1972

Many of us might not even be born yet to see the greatness Elgin Baylor offers on the table but for starters, he was described as a high-flying high-scoring wing player similar to King James, MJ and Dr. J., but on an earlier generation. He was the first overall pick of the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1958 Draft Class. What’s interesting is that Baylor was drafted twice by the same team, the first one was in the 1956 NBA Draft, and the second one was when he was selected first. We really think that the Lakers that time thought he’s a wise investment for the team and we can’t blame them.

CHARLES BARKLEY

22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG

Philadelphia 76ers 1984 – 1992
Phoenix Suns 1992 – 1996
Houston Rockets 1996 – 2000

Charles Barkley was one of the most relentless NBA athletes of all-time. He easily got consistent double-doubles day-in and day-out while earning a huge reputation and money from playing the game. From the looks of things, he really never got any issues with loans thanks to the huge contracts he got while playing in the NBA. He won the 92-93 season MVP and almost led the Phoenix Suns into the dreamland but fell to Jordan’s Bulls. He’s now working as a sports analyst for TNT.

DAVID ROBINSON

21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG

San Antonio Spurs 1989 – 2003

Many basketball analysts and enthusiasts consider David Robinson as one of the greatest centers that ever played the sport of basketball both at the collegiate and professional levels. He was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1987 Draft Class as the first overall pick but only played two years later since he had to serve his active duty to the Navy after he got his degree. The wait was worth it for the Spurs and he dominated both ends of the court right from the get-go. He’s also an integral part of the Spurs title runs in the late 90s until the early 2000s.

KAWHI LEONARD

18.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.4 3s PG

San Antonio Spurs 2011 – 2018
Toronto Raptors 2018 – 2019
LA Clippers 2019 – Present

Many experts suggest that Kawhi Leonard, also known as “The Claw,” to be the two-way player in the current NBA era. He’s a defensive specialist and an offensive powerhouse which earned him two NBA titles, one during his time with the San Antonio Spurs and the second with the Toronto Raptors. He’s currently on his quest for his third one added to his collection in his new house in San Diego that has a top-notch home security system.

DWAYNE WADE

22.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.5 SPG

Miami Heat 2003 – 2016, 2018 – 2019
Chicago Bulls 2016 – 2017
Cleveland Cavaliers 2017 – 2018

Dwayne Wade was another product of the famous 2003 NBA Draft Class that produced countless NBA stars such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and many others. He was the fifth overall pick of the Miami Heat, where he spent the majority of his stay in the league. Wade was instrumental in winning the first Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy of the franchise back in 2006 against the Mavericks and earning that year’s Finals MVP award. He sure kept his financial advisor in check since he has tons of money going into his bank account even after playing the game.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

20.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Milwaukee Bucks 2013 – Present

The league was shocked by the development that happened with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the high-level play that placed him at the top of the leagues at a very young age. He is known by his fans as the “Greek Freak” with his insane athleticism and his basketball prowess that made him the reigning MVP of the league and we are betting our credit cards that he’s aiming for a second one at the end of the season plus the biggest prize of them all, the NBA championship.

JOHN STOCKTON

13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG

Utah Jazz 1984 – 2003

John Stockton is the epitome of what it means to be a point guard and that’s bringing out the best from his teammates. He brought this attitude to heart and with his help, his teammate Karl Malone managed to get a stunning career in his NBA run earning the second spot for the points scored in an NBA career. The Utah Jazz found the perfect investments during that time with Stockton and Malone, and they produced the best duo in league’s history. Unfortunately, they weren’t lucky enough to get the NBA championship but they came really close to achieving that goal.

ALLEN IVERSON

26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.2 3s PG

Philadelphia 76ers 1996 – 2006, 2009 – 2010
Denver Nuggets 2006 – 2008
Detroit Pistons 2008 – 2009
Memphis Grizzlies 2009

Allen Iverson revolutionized the game of basketball by incorporating high-tier streetball plays into the professional scenes. His killer crossovers placed many defenders on their toes and his lightning speed easily penetrated any team defense that came into his way. Iverson was one of the most prolific offensive players of all-time and after his retirement from the game, rumors saying that he had gone into bankruptcy spread like wildfire. However, in 2015 he officially denied those rumors and said that everything’s going smoothly in his life.

STEVE NASH

14.3 PPG, 8.5 APG; 42.8 3P%, 1.4 3PG

Phoenix Suns 1996 – 1998, 2004 – 2012
Dallas Mavericks 1998 – 2004
Los Angeles Lakers 2012 – 2014

We are seeing a huge trend around the league of dynamic and fast-paced offense but we have to give the granddaddy of that scheme a huge amount of credit and that’s where Steve Nash goes to the equation. He found huge success with the “seven seconds or less” offensive sets of the Phoenix Suns during the 2000s that earned him a pair of season MVPs and came really close to the third one. His hall of fame career as a player in the NBA might be already done but his influence in the world of the sport still echoes up until this date.

ISIAH THOMAS

Detroit Pistons 1981 – 1994

19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.3 APG, 1.9 SPG

The city of Detroit and the fans of Pistons basketball love Isiah Thomas but the rest of the league hates him and that’s because of the reputation that he got while playing on the court as one of the “Bad Boys.” He and his team earned that reputation by playing a tough brand of basketball that earned him back-to-back championships for his team. We hope that the players he came across had a comprehensive medical insurance coverage since they really pinned down most of their opponents to the ground.

JAMES HARDEN

25.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 2.8 3s PG

Oklahoma City Thunder 2009 – 2012
Houston Rockets 2012 – Present

Starting from the earlier part of his career, James Harden already showed enormous star potential with his offensive game but it took him a trade from his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunders to the Houston Rockets to reach his full potential. Nowadays, he’s one of the top players in the league and considered the best player in his position. Harden was also hailed as the league’s MVP in the 2017-2018 NBA season. That also means fortune also started to reach the superstar level to a point that he can easily pay off a mortgage loan.

JOHN HAVLICEK

20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.2 SPG

Boston Celtics 1962 – 1978

The Boston Celtics are always considered one of the most well-decorated franchises in the NBA and that wouldn’t be possible without the legendary players building up the backbone of the famed sports franchise. One of these legendary players is the wing player John Havlicek. Experts placed huge credits to his contribution in the game as probably the best sixth-man the game has ever seen. He’s also responsible for the iconic radio call “Havlicek stole the ball!” by Johnny Most while they were playing the 76erson the biggest stage of them all, the final minutes of the NBA finals.

GEORGE MIKAN

23.1 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.8 APG

Chicago American Gears 1946 – 1947
Minneapolis Lakers 1947-49 (MBL, BAA), 1949-54, 1956

George Mikan is considered the very first dominant big man in the league and he was responsible for making big men a relevant picture in the world of basketball. He easily overpowered his competition and won a couple of championships during his prime and boosted his bank accounts over the top of the list to a point that he never worried about his mortgage loans or anything related to his financial situation. He truly was a born winner in terms of basketball and his financial prowess.

JASON KIDD

12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 1.4 3s PG

Dallas Mavericks 1994 – 1996, 2008 – 2012
Phoenix Suns 1996 – 2001
New Jersey Nets 2001 – 2008
New York Knicks 2012 – 2013

We have to give credit to the legendary point guard Gary Payton after he sculpted another Hall of Famer guard under his wing. For those who don’t know who we are talking about, well, maybe it is time to introduce to you Jason Kidd. He’s one of the greatest players in that position of all-time and one of the all-time league leaders in assists. He’s also part of the 2011 Dallas Mavericks championship team.

KEVIN MCHALE

17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 55.4 FG%

Boston Celtics 1980 – 1993

Kevin McHale is considered not only one of the best power forwards in the game. He’s part of the legendary team Boston Celtics during the 80s and played alongside Larry Bird and Robert Parish. Together they were known as the best frontline in the history of the NBA and many fans considered them the earlier version of the “Big Three.” McHale can now be seen in a couple of shows around the league as a host, analyst, and as commentator. He will turn 63 this December but we think he’s not yet ready to fully retire from the game and still has plenty of gas left in his tank.

PATRICK EWING

21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.4 BPG

New York Knicks 1985 – 2000
Seattle SuperSonics 2000 – 2001
Orlando Magic 2001 – 2002

Patrick Ewing is widely considered as the greatest Knick of all-time. Starting from the get-go, New York Knicks executives already gave a huge contract to Ewing that put his financial advisor on his toe. Well, their forecast was never wrong and Patrick Ewing transformed his team to a consistent championship contender team. With his consistent high numbers, he easily maneuvered himself to the top players in the league and arguably one of the top centers of all-time.

BOB PETTIT

26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG

Milwaukee Hawks 1954 – 55
Louis Hawks 1955 – 65

Bob Pettit’s basketball career has great and inspiring details to it. To be fair, he wasn’t as gifted as a basketball player starting from the get-go. In fact, he was cut from his high school varsity team during the earlier part of his career as an athlete. That became a big turning point to his life and that’s when he found himself doing practice day-in and day-out just to see some improvements in his skills. All of his investments paid off and he led his high school team to a state championship and pretty much paved the way for him to become one of the greatest NBA legends. A quick trivia for you guys, he and Kobe are the only players to win the NBA All-Star MVP awards four times.

WALT FRAZIER

18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.1 APG, 49.0 FG%

New York Knicks 1967 – 1977
Cleveland Cavaliers 1977 – 1979

Walt Frazier was one of the top players for the New York Knicks during the 70s. He was a key part of the team that earned them two championships during that decade. His first championship ring came down the wire, and many sports enthusiasts widely considered that as the best NBA championship game seven in history – it is popularly known as “The Willis Reed Game,” which was as iconic as MJ’s “Flu Game.” At the age of 75, most of us think that he’s already a retiree and just enjoying all of his investments during his prime but he’s still working as a commentator for the Knicks.

CHRIS PAUL

18.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.4 3s PG

New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets 2005 – 2007
New Orleans Hornets 2007 – 2011
LA Clippers 2011 – 2017
Houston Rockets 2017 – 2019
Oklahoma City Thunder 2019 – 2020

For many years now, Chris Paul is always at the top of his game and places his best foot forward to help his team reach its final goal, the NBA Championship. However, it seems like he can’t find the right tune to play along and the elusive trophy always just slips by his finger. With all that said, we still need to give him all the credits he deserves for being one of the top point guards not only in his generation but in the history of the NBA.

BOB COUSY

18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG

Boston Celtics 1950 – 1963
Cincinnati Royals 1969 – 1970

It is rare to see any kind of magic on the hardwood especially while playing basketball but if place Bob Cousy’s name in that equation, we bet with our credit cards that it will definitely change your thoughts on that. The third overall pick of the 1950 NBA draft revolutionized how players play the game of basketball. Fans and media also dubbed him as “The Houdini of the Hardwood” because of his excellent handles and his exceptional passing skills. He’s also a perennial All-Star and a six-time NBA champs with the Celtics.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK

23.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.8 Steals PG, 1.1 3s PG

Oklahoma City Thunder 2008 – 2019
Houston Rockets 2019 – 2020

When we are talking about individual stats, Russell Westbrook is a monster in that regard. The fourth overall pick of the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008 made a name for himself in the history book as a triple-double machine and even surpassed Oscar “The Big-O” Robertson in that section. That’s one of the reasons why fans use their credit cards to buy season tickets – they want to be part of history! He’s now one of the centerpieces of the Houston Rockets.

RICK BARRY

24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.9 APG

San Francisco Warriors 1965 – 1967
Oakland Oaks (ABA) 1968 – 1969
Washington Caps (ABA) 1969 – 1970
New York Nets (ABA) 1970 – 1972
Golden State Warriors 1972 – 1978
Houston Rockets 1978 – 1980

The retired basketball player, Rick Barry made a name for himself as one of the legends of the ABA and NBA. Aside from his hall of fame status, he made his way into history books as the only player to tally the top spot in scoring for a single season in the NCAA, ABA, and NBA. It has been a couple of decades since his retirement and we are pretty sure he’s been a good life with all the investments he made during his prime.

ELVIN HAYES

21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG

San Diego Rockets 1968-71
Houston Rockets 1971-72, 1981-84
Baltimore Bullets 1972-73
Washington Caps 1973-74
Washington Bullets 1974-81

During his childhood years, people close to him didn’t see any signs that Elvin Hayes would become a legend in the world of basketball. At first, he was just a regular clumsy kid from his school doing all sorts of stuff. He later joined his school’s basketball team but didn’t show any star potential but with his investments of hard work and practice on perfecting his craft all paid off and instead of a benchwarmer he used to be in his team, led them into a state championship and that paved the way for him to the legend that we know today.

ANTHONY DAVIS

24.0 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.4 Steals PG, 2.4 BPG

New Orleans Hornets 2012 – 2013
New Orleans Pelicans 2013 – 2019
Los Angeles Lakers 2019 – 2020

Anthony Davis, the big man of the Los Angeles Lakers, made into this list because of his absurd number posted in his credit. To give us some perspective, the stats that he came up only appear in video games! Davis one of the key pieces of the New Orleans Hornets as their number one overall pick in 2012. Since then, he never failed to show any flaws in his game and he made a move that will put him closer to his end goal, winning a gold chip.

DOMINIQUE WILKINS

24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 Steals PG

Atlanta Hawks 1982 – 1994
LA Clippers 1994
Boston Celtics 1994 – 1995
San Antonio Spurs 1996 – 1997
Orlando Magic 1999

Dominique Wilkins was one of the high flyers of the NBA during the 80s up until the early 90s. He was primarily known during his time with the Atlanta Hawks and most of his highlights were with this team. Speaking of highlights, he was known as “The Human Highlight Film” because of his high-flying, aerial assault to the rim. He received a huge sum of money during his prime and he took care of it properly with his money management skills.

GEORGE GERVIN

25.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG

Virginia Squires (ABA) 1972 – 1974
San Antonio Spurs 1974 – 1976 (ABA), 1976 – 1985
Chicago Bulls 1985 – 1986

George Gervin has one of the smoothest finger rolls in the league and that easily earned him the nickname “The Iceman.” He contributed a great deal in the world of basketball and the league awarded all of his investments towards the game by honoring him as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. Gervin was effective on both sides of the court but he was deadly on the offensive end equipped with all of the weapons he needed in his arsenal.

BILL WALTON

13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.2 BPG

Portland Trail Blazers 1974 – 1979
San Diego Clippers 1979 – 1984
LA Clippers 1984 – 1985
Boston Celtics 1985 – 1987

Bill Walton could have reached another level of greatness if he only didn’t succumb to injuries in the latter part of his career. After all, Walton’s achievement during his collegiate years can attest to the potential he could reach. For those who don’t know, he was a key part of the 88-winning streak plus a couple of championships for his UCLA squad. Despite the roadblocks, Walton still managed to get a spectacular career out of it. If only he had very good medical insurance coverage, he could have achieved more.

Reggie Miller

18.2 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 Steals PG, 1.8 3s PG

Indiana Pacers 1987 – 2005

Many basketball fans and enthusiasts place a lot of credit to Reggie Miller being the best long-range shooter of his era. He was shockingly effective as a player that his rival fans from New York coined him as the “Knick Killer.” Aside from that, his game significantly got better during crunch time! On the other hand, Miller is considered the best Pacers of all-time. Indiana placed huge investments in him and he delivered big time! For those who don’t know, he’s also responsible for making eight points in nine seconds during a playoff game in 1995.

WES UNSELD

10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG

Baltimore Bullets 1968-73
Capital Bullets 1973-74
Washington Bullets 1974-81

Wes Unseld was one of Washington’s treasures when it comes to the basketball world. He was their number one force on the hardwood during his era and immediately made an impact in the game during his rookie year winning not only the NBA Rookie of the Year Award but the Most Valuable Player Award as well. That makes him and Wilt Chamberlain the only players who have won this accomplishment in the history of the NBA. He had everything settled after he retired playing the game of basketball, including his investments and all that stuff but he just can’t leave his passion hanging and he immediately took a coaching and front office job after his time on the court.

JAMES WORTHY

17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 Steals PG

Los Angeles Lakers 1982 – 1994

The 80s Showtime Lakers were not only full of Magic Johnson and Kareem, but they also got another Hall of Famer in their lineup and that’s the one and only James Worthy. He was an essential piece of the puzzle for the Lakers and without him, it is possible that they wouldn’t be able to pull off three NBA championships during his time. With that kind of achievement under his belt, we can easily assume he earned huge fortune while playing the game and he showed tremendous money management skills over the years since we haven’t heard any news about him having any kind of financial troubles.

TRACY MCGRADY

19.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.2 Steals PG, 1.2 3s PG

Toronto Raptors 1997 – 2000
Orlando Magic 2000 – 2004
Houston Rockets 2004 – 2010
New York Knicks 2010
Detroit Pistons 2010 – 2011
Atlanta Hawks 2011 – 2012
San Antonio Spurs 2013

The ninth overall pick of the Toronto Raptors during the 1997 draft class turned out to become one of the top players in the entire league and he was Tracy McGrady. He and his cousin Vince Carter formed the dynamic duo of the Raptors during the early 2000s but he was traded to the Orlando Magic where he became a two-time scoring champion and one of the favorites for the MVP awards. We can see why many fans went on to use their credit cards to see him play on the hardwood.

GARY PAYTON

16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.8 Steals PG

Seattle SuperSonics 1990 – 2003
Milwaukee Bucks 2003
Los Angeles Lakers 2003 – 2004
Boston Celtics 2004 – 2005
Miami Heat 2005 – 2007

Gary Payton not only had the skills to play basketball but he also has the guts to play with the minds of some of the greatest players to have ever set foot on the hardwood. He was one of the superstars of the Seattle Supersonics during the 90s and was responsible for setting a couple of franchise records in many categories. Aside from his contribution to the game of basketball, he also placed huge investments in charity works within his area that point towards healthcare and the young ones.

PAUL PIERCE

19.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.3 Steals PG, 1.6 3s PG

Boston Celtics 1998 – 2013
Brooklyn Nets 2013 – 2014
Washington Wizards 2014 – 2015
LA Clippers 2015 – 2017

Paul “The Truth” Pierce may not be as flashy as his counterparts during his prime but we can safely say that he was more effective than some. He was one of the most durable players the league has ever seen and a huge credit to that would be his basic but effective moves. He won the NBA championship alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen back in 2008 and they barely got his second in 2010 against the Lakers.

VINCE CARTER

16.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 3s PG

Toronto Raptors 1998 – 2004
New Jersey Nets 2004 – 2009
Orlando Magic 2009 – 2010
Phoenix Suns 2010 – 2011
Dallas Mavericks 2011 – 2014
Memphis Grizzlies 2014 – 2017
Sacramento Kings 2017 – 2018
Atlanta Hawks 2018 – 2020

We probably haven’t seen a career as spectacular as Vince Carter’s. His playing career carried him through four decades of basketball eras – during the 1990s up until 2020. Though he only technically spent twenty-two years playing in the league. We have to give him credit for shifting to the back seat for the best of the team, especially during the later part of his career.

RAY ALLEN

18.9 PGG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.1 Steals PG, 2.3 3s PG

Milwaukee Bucks 1996 – 2003
Seattle SuperSonics 2003 – 2007
Boston Celtics 2007 – 2012
Miami Heat 2012 – 1014

The sweet-shooting Ray Allen was one of the favorite long-range bombers around the league during his time with the NBA. He consistently showed what it means to hit the basket during clutch moments and delivered big time points for his team. However, many of his fans didn’t know that he was once a high-flyer living above the rim than a long-range shooter. He also had a couple of movie credits and he was excellent in that regard as well.

CLYDE DREXLER

20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 2.0 Steals PG

Portland Trail Blazers 1983 – 1995
Houston Rockets 1995 – 1998

Clyde Drexler’s nickname “Clyde the Glide” didn’t come out of nothing. In fact, he was known as the highflying guard of the Portland Trailblazers and the Rockets during the 80s and 90s. He finally got his shot to the elusive NBA championship trophy when he joined his former teammate during college, Hakeem Olajuwon for the Houston Rockets in ‘95. After his time playing the game, he went on to grab a coaching career but eventually retired to spend some time with his family and loved ones. Well, with his smart investments in place, we can safely say his future is already secured.

MANU GINOBILI

13.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 Steals PG, 1.4 3s PG

San Antonio Spurs 2002 – 2018

Manu Ginobili might be one of the most underrated players in this list, probably because of Tim Duncan and his time with the San Antonio Spurs. However, his contribution to the overall success of the team might not be possible without his talent and we have to give him huge credit for that. He stepped up his game when everything was on the line and he clearly had the clutch mentality that helped his team get four championships for his team.

BOB MCADOO

22.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.3 APG

Buffalo Braves 1972 – 1976
New York Knicks 1976 – 1979
Boston Celtics 1979
Detroit Pistons 1979 – 1981
New Jersey Nets 1981
Los Angeles Lakers 1981 – 1985
Philadelphia 76ers 1986

During Bob McAdoo’s prime, there were only a few players around the league that could match his intensity and tenacity when playing the game of basketball. Perhaps only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the only person able to take on McAdoo in that regard. His basketball prowess gave him two NBA titles and an MVP award in 1975. After all, he did all of this to save his family from bankruptcy and we could say it was the right choice that he made.

WILLIS REED

18.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG

New York Knicks 1964 – 1974

Willis Reed was a vital piece of the puzzle when the New York Knicks was one of the powerhouses and competed for the league’s championship title. We have to give this man a huge credit for his perseverance and his heart of a champion that boosted the morale of his comrades to rally the Knicks pass through the game seven of the 1970 NBA Finals against the famed Lakers. He was limping out of injury but that didn’t stop him from earning the first two points of the game. His effort didn’t go to waste and his teammates cleaned up the Lakers grabbing his first championship in the bag.

ROBERT PARISH

14.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.5 BPG

Golden State Warriors 1976 – 1980
Boston Celtics 1980 – 1994
Charlotte Hornets 1994 – 1996
Chicago Bulls 1996 – 1997

“The Chief,” Robert Parish holds the title for the league leader when it comes to games played. He was the first player of the NBA to reach 21 years of playing the game of basketball for the NBA and tallied around 1,611 total games throughout his career. To give us some comparison, LeBron James, who is known for having less significant career-altering injuries and still actively playing the game only has around 1300 games under his name. From the looks of things, he seemed to be not interested in taking full advantage of his medical insurance policy while he was still actively playing the game.

DENNIS RODMAN

7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG

Detroit Pistons 1986 – 1993
San Antonio Spurs 1993 – 1995
Chicago Bulls 1995 – 1998
Los Angeles Lakers 1999
Dallas Mavericks 2000

Dennis Rodman may not be the most flashy player we have seen on the hardwood with his offensive skill set but he proved to his fans and critics that offense is always never the only defining stats of the game. He rose to fame with his pesky defense and by playing mind games with his opponents and crawling under their skin. He also showed relentless effort on the boards grabbing multiple rebounding titles over the course of his career. His investments to the game paid off and he was rewarded with five NBA championships.

ALONZO MOURNING

17.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.8 BPG

Charlotte Hornets 1992 – 1995
Miami Heat 1995 – 2003, 2005 – 2008
New Jersey Nets 2003 – 2004

Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball consistently produces Hall of Famer big men throughout the years and one of these Hall of Fame big men was Alonzo Mourning. He pretty much followed the footsteps of fellow Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo in that conversation. He pretty much holds the credit for the heats to become a consistent contender during the 90s up until the late 2000s. He was also part of the 2006 championship team alongside O’neal and Wade.

EARL MONROE

18.8 PPG, 3.9 APG

Baltimore Bullets 1967 – 1971
New York Knicks 1971 – 1980

Earl “The Pearl” Monroe was one of the top players in the league during the 70s. He was the high-scoring guard drafted by the Baltimore Bullets as the second overall pick of the 1967 NBA Draft Class. After spending a couple of years with his original team, he was traded with the Knicks but faced a big shadow of doubt from his critics about the style of play he and his teammate in New York would produce. Their big investments towards Monroe paid off and the tandem of Frazier-Monroe became an iconic backcourts in the league and arguably one of the best in history while earning the 1973 NBA title.

PAU GASOL

17.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.6 BPG

Memphis Grizzlies 2001 – 2008
Los Angeles Lakers 2008 – 2014
Chicago Bulls 2014 – 2016
San Antonio Spurs 2016 – 2019
Milwaukee Bucks 2019

The big man from Spain consistently showed that he’s pretty much effective on both ends of the court. Pau Gasol was a key part of the success of the Los Angeles Lakers for their championship runs during the late 2000s. He showed graceful touch around the block and got points down the paint using both hands. Now that he’s not playing in the league, maybe it is the right time for him to pursue a degree in medicine just like he wanted when he was young.

DAVE COWENS

17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG

Boston Celtics 1970 – 1980
Milwaukee Bucks 1982 – 1983

Dave Cowen’s heyday was his time with the Boston Celtics, where he won two championship rings, the league’s MVP award and the Rookie of the Year award. He was a key figure of the Celtic’s 1972-1973 run that set the franchise season of 68-14 win-loss record. Despite their heroic season run, they still got eliminated in the Lost East Conf Finals but they got their sweet revenge the following year. He pretty much earned huge success in the following years and he didn’t have to face any threats of going into bankruptcy.

ALEX ENGLISH

21.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG

Milwaukee Bucks 1976-78
Indiana Pacers 1978-80
Denver Nuggets 1980-90
Dallas Mavericks 1990-91

Alex English was one of the top-scoring wing players of the 70s and 80s, even in the early part of the 90s, he showed that he still has plenty of gas left in his tank. He set the league on fire with his high-scoring pace and led the Denver Nuggets in a nine-year playoff berth. Over the course of his career, he managed to grab more than 20,000 points in fifteen seasons. Now that’s an unbelievable feat that can only be matched by his fellow Hall of Famer Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant.

PETE MARAVICH

24.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.4 APG

Atlanta Hawks 1970 – 1974
New Orleans Jazz 1974 – 1979
Utah Jazz 1979 – 1980
Boston Celtics 1980

Pete Maravich was one of the most exciting players to watch in the early era of the NBA. He was like playing chess while his opponents were playing checkers and that’s a pale comparison on how advanced his game was during his time. His insane ball-handling skills and unfathomable passing gave birth to how modern players use fancy tricks to let their teammates score the basket. We also have to give credit to his scoring game and he was one of the most effective scorers of his time. A career and achievements truly worth of getting into the hall of fame!

BERNARD KING

22.5 PPG, 3.3 APG, 5.8 RPG

New Jersey Nets 1977 – 1979, 1993
Utah Jazz 1979 – 1980
Golden State Warriors 1980 – 1982
New York Knicks 1982 – 1987
Washington Bullets 1987 – 1993

Bernard King can be ranked as one of the best small forwards in the game history with all of the achievements and stats he gathered while he was playing the game. He played fourteen seasons in the league for a couple of teams but he consistently showed to his fans and critics that he was a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the court. If he only didn’t get himself injured and if modern medical insurance coverage were a thing that time, he could probably get more accolades for himself.

TONY PARKER

15.5 PPG, 5.6 APG

San Antonio Spurs 2001 – 2018
Charlotte Hornets 2018 – 2019

The French superstar Tony Parker was one of the significant players for the title run of the San Antonio Spurs during the 2000s. He showed great effectiveness as their primary point guard during these campaigns as a floor general, he delivered with tremendous efficiency. He helped Tim Duncan and the Spurs with their four NBA titles and was named the Finals MVP in 2007. What’s interesting is that, during the NBA Lockout in 2011, he went on to play with ASVEL, a French basketball team and he pretty much shouldered all the expenses including his insurance worth $250,000 quarterly just to play the game of basketball.

BOB LANIER

20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG

Detroit Pistons 1970-80
Milwaukee Bucks 1980-84

Bob Lanier spent fourteen fruitful years in the league that brought him success, fame, and fortune. Though he suffered a devastating injury in his knee that bugged him off throughout his career, that still didn’t stop him from posting very good numbers on the stat sheets. If he only had access to good insurance coverage at that time, he could have produced more and achieved more. Whatever the case may be, he still produced a stellar career in the NBA appearing in eight All-Star games and earning a spot as one of the greatest players in history.

DAMIAN LILLARD

24.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.5 APG, 2.9 3s PG

Portland Trail Blazers 2012-20

Damian Lillard is one of the modern-day heroes of the NBA thanks to his unparalleled talent in playing the game. Starting from the get-go, he immediately made an impact in the game and won the Rookie of the Year award as the hands-down winner. He also holds the record for the Blazers as the most NBA All-Star appearances that he shares alongside Clyde Drexler with five apiece. He’s still entering his prime and we can definitely place our credit cards on him that he will show stellar performances in the coming years. He might even give the city of Portland the NBA trophy in the coming years, who knows.

DIKEMBE MUTOMBO

9.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.8 BPG

Denver Nuggets 1991 – 1996
Atlanta Hawks 1996 – 2001
Philadelphia 76ers 2001 – 2002
New Jersey Nets 2002 – 2003
New York Knicks 2003 – 2004
Houston Rockets 2004 – 2009

For those die-hard fans of the game, we certainly can appreciate the joy and the overwhelming feeling Dikembe Mutombo felt while he was celebrating his team’s win against the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics who won 63 games that season. With that feat, he and the Denver Nuggets completed the first eight-versus-first seed upset in franchise history. That iconic feat earned him huge contracts in the coming years that made his financial advisor working day and night.

ARTIS GILMORE

18.8 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.4 BPG

Kentucky Colonels (ABA) 1971-76
Chicago Bulls 1976-82, 1987
San Antonio Spurs 1982-87
Boston Celtics 1988

Artis Gilmore was one of the dominating forces in the ABA and the NBA during his time on the hardwood. The 7’2” giant immediately made an impact on the game and earned the Rookie of the Year award and the MVP honors in the ABA. The Kentucky Colonels gave a lot of credit to Gilmore for their 1975 ABA championship and accepted the fact that they wouldn’t reach this achievement without the talented center’s intervention.