Every ranking update ever (Last basketball update: 6/23/25 Next update: July ’26)

The making of the list.

The Rules

If you disagree with the placement of an athlete whose prime occurred before 1975, please read The ChatGPT Cautionary Tale before commenting.

Historically undervalued: 🔵

Rank	Player			Position	Years
1	LeBron James		Why?	Pick one	2003-active
2	Michael Jordan			SG	1984-2003
3	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar			C	1969-1989
4	Shaquille O’Neal	🔵	Why?	C	1992-2011
5	Tim Duncan			PF	1997-2016
6	Steph Curry			PG	2009-active
7	Magic Johnson			PG	1979-1996
8	Kobe Bryant			SG	1996-2016
9	Kevin Durant			SF	2007-active
10	Nikola Jokic			C	2015-active
11	Larry Bird			SF	1979-1992
12	Karl Malone			PF	1985-2004
13	Giannis Antetokounmpo			PF	2013-active
14	Hakeem Olajuwon			C	1984-2002
15	David Robinson	🔵	Why?	C	1989-2003
16	James Harden	🔵	Why?	SG	2009-active
17	Wilt Chamberlain		Why?	C	1959-1973
18	Kevin Garnett			PF	1995-2016
19	Dirk Nowitzki			PF	1998-2019
20	Moses Malone			C	1974-1995
21	Kawhi Leonard			SF	2011-active
22	Bill Russell		Why?	C	1956-1969
23	Charles Barkley			PF	1984-2000
24	Jerry West			SG	1960-1974
25	Julius Erving			SF	1971-1987
26	Dwyane Wade			SG	2003-2019
27	Chris Paul			PG	2005-active
28	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander			PG	2018-active
29	Oscar Robertson			PG	1960-1974
30	Rick Barry			SF	1965-1980
31	John Stockton			PG	1984-2003
32	Anthony Davis			PF	2012-active
33	Russell Westbrook			PG	2008-active
34	Steve Nash			PG	1996-2014
35	George Gervin			SG	1972-1986
36	Joel Embiid			C	2016-active
37	Dwight Howard			C	2004-2022
38	Patrick Ewing			C	1985-2002
39	Gary Payton			PG	1990-2007
40	Scottie Pippen			SF	1987-2004
41	Luka Doncic			PG	2018-active
42	Adrian Dantley	🔵	Why?	SF	1976-1991
43	Jimmy Butler			SF	2011-active
44	Tony Parker	🔵	Why?	PG	2001-2019
45	Jason Kidd			PG	1994-2013
46	Pau Gasol	🔵	Why?	C	2001-2019
47	Damian Lillard			PG	2012-active
48	Clyde Drexler			SG	1983-1998
49	Walt Frazier			PG	1967-1980
50	John Havlicek			SF	1962-1978
51	Reggie Miller			SG	1987-2005
52	Paul Pierce			SF	1998-2017
53	Ray Allen			SG	1996-2014
54	Allen Iverson			SG	1996-2010
55	Isiah Thomas			PG	1981-1994
56	Tracy McGrady			SG	1997-2012
57	Jayson Tatum			SF	2017-active
58	Kyrie Irving			PG	2011-active
59	Dominique Wilkins			SF	1982-1999
60	Manu Ginobili	🔵		SG	2002-2018
61	Bob McAdoo			C	1972-1986
62	Willis Reed			C	1964-1974
63	Dave Cowens			C	1970-1983
64	Chauncey Billups			PG	1997-2014
65	Chris Webber			PF	1993-2008
66	Rudy Gobert			C	2013-active
67	Dikembe Mutombo			C	1991-2009
68	Alonzo Mourning			C	1992-2008
69	Kevin McHale			PF	1980-1993
70	James Worthy			SF	1982-1994
71	Alex English			SF	1976-1991
72	Bernard King			SF	1977-1993
73	Carmelo Anthony			SF	2003-2022
74	Devin Booker			SG	2015-active
75	Paul George			SF	2010-active
76	Donovan Mitchell			SG	2017-active
77	Karl-Anthony Towns			C	2015-active
78	Domantas Sabonis			C	2016-active
79	Jaylen Brown			SG	2016-active
80	Larry Nance	🔵	Why?	PF	1981-1994
81	Dennis Rodman			PF	1986-2000
82	Elgin Baylor			SF	1958-1972
83	Ben Wallace			C	1996-2012
84	Elvin Hayes			PF	1968-1984
85	George Mikan		Why?	C	1948-1956
86	Bob Pettit			PF	1954-1965
87	Joe Dumars			SG	1985-1999
88	Wes Unseld			PF	1968-1981
89	Artis Gilmore			C	1971-1988
90	Anthony Edwards			SG	2020-active
91	LaMarcus Aldridge			PF	2006-2021
92	Amar’e Stoudemire			PF	2002-2016
93	Chris Bosh			C	2003-2016
94	Bob Cousy			PG	1950-1963
95	Vince Carter			SG	1998-2020
96	Chris Mullin			SF	1985-2001
97	Dennis Johnson			PG	1976-1990
98	Bradley Beal			SG	2012-active
99	Mitch Richmond			SG	1988-2002
100	Tim Hardaway			PG	1989-2003

The rest of the best basketball players of all time.