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12 famous basketball players of all time
The famous basketball players of all time are those who marked their legacy in the sand. These NBA players are speculating a lot about who should be at the top of the pyramid.
This list of all-time famous basketball players includes both active and retired players who still remain in the minds and hearts of fans. Although there are currently over one hundred all-time famous basketball players, including active players such as Stephen Curry, Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, LeBron James, etc., this list does not includes only twelve greatest ranked players in NBA history.
Famous basketball players of all time
12. Hakeem Olajuwon
Born: January 21, 1963
Place of birth: Lagos, Nigeria
Nationality: Nigerian, American
Teams: Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
Position: Center
Height: 2.13m (7ft 1in)
At such a height, Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon became the only player in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year, MVA, and NBA Finals honors in the same season.
The dream as he is nicknamed, retired from the game with a string of awards and accomplishments including Olympic gold medals and induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2008) and the FIBA (2016).
11. Kobe Bryant
Born: August 23, 1978
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Nationality: American
Number: 24
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Position: Shooting guard, shooting guard, swinger
Height: 1.98m (6ft 5in)
Kobe Bean Bryant enjoyed a successful career in the NBA from high school and in the big league before retiring in 2016 after 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Kobe Bryant is the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons. He inherits the legacy, earning the honors and respect of the best players in the game. Players like Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant,Derrick Rose and Dirk Nowitzki described Bryant as Micheal Jordan’s version of their generation.
10. Shaquille O’Neal
Born: March 6, 1972
Place of birth: Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
Nationality: American
Teams: Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers
Position: Center
Height: 2.16m (7ft 1in)
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal is retired but his legacy continues to shine as he enjoys complete fame and fortune. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2016) and the FIBA Hall of Fame (2017), The Big Aristotle, considered one of the tallest and heaviest players in the NBA history, (147 kg), is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most famous players in NBA history.
Besides basketball, O’Neal is a rapper with four rap albums to his name, actor, media personality, TV host, General Manager of NBA 2K League’s Kings Guard Gaming, businessman and an investor.
9. Larry Bird
Born: December 7, 1956
Place of birth: West Baden Springs, French Lick Township, Indiana
Nationality: American
Teams: Boston Celtics
Position: Small Forward, Powerful Forward
Height: 2.06m (6ft 8in)
From basketball (1979-1992) to coaching (1997-2000), Larry Joe Bird remains the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Regular Season Most Valuable Player, Most Valuable Player Useful of the Finals, All-Star Most Valuable Player, Manager of the Year and Coach of the Year.
The Basketball Hall of Fame recipient commemorating Naismith ranks eighth in NBA career playoff wins (296).
8.Oscar Robertson
Born: November 24, 1938
Place of birth: Charlotte, Tennessee, United States of America
Nationality: American
Teams: Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks
Position: Shooting Guard, Shooting Guard
Height: 1.96m (6ft 4in)
The Big O, as he is nicknamed, is 4th in NBA career free throwers with a total of 7,694 free throws. After his retirement, Oscar Robertson continues to enjoy the fame of his legacy as one of the greatest and most famous basketball players of all time.
Robertson has already won the MVP award in 14 professional seasons, 12 times as an All-Star and 11-time All-NBA Team member. His 18-inch bronze statue was specially designed by Harry Weber, the world-renowned sculptor in 2004.
7. Bill Russell
Born: February 12, 1934
Place of birth: West Monroe, Louisiana, United States of America
Nationality: American
Teams: Boston Celtics
Position: Center
Height: 2.08m (6ft 8in)
William Felton Russell remains one of the all-time famous basketball players with complex chains of accomplishments and legacy. On the one hand, he ranks first among NBA players with the most championships; a total of 11 championships won.
The Boston Celtic legend was honored with a statue in City Hall Plaza in 2013, along with a series of awards. He made history as the first black coach to win a major professional sports championship.
6. Julius Erving
Born: February 22, 1950
Place of birth: Roosevelt, New York, United States of America
Nationality: American
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, New York Nets
Position: Small front
Height: 2.01m (6ft 9in)
Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (1993), Julius Winfield Erving II ak.a Dr. J made it to the top twelve on this list for several reasons. For starters, he is the reason why the modern style of jumping and playing over the rim as well as the slam dunk became popular. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Erving has a spot in South Philadelphia and was the only player to be voted Most Valuable Player in both the ABA and NBA. With 30,026 combined points in both the NBA and ABA, he ranked 8th on the list of all-time leading scorers in ABA/NBA history.
The professional basketball player, businessman, is the owner of a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Philadelphia and currently works as a television analyst.
5. Chamberlin Wilt
Born: August 21, 1936
Died: October 12, 1999, Bel-Air, Los Angeles, CA.
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Nationality: American
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Warriors
Position: Center
Height: 2.16m (7ft 1in)
Wilt Chamberlin may be gone, but his legacy lives on, making him one of the most famous basketball players of all time and the 6th-best player in the NBA with 31,419 regular season points.
Among his legacy of successful basketball player is the most extraordinary and dominant basketball player in NBA history. To date, no NBA team or player has reached 100 points scored per game and the closest all-time high of 81 points scored in 2006 by Kobe Bryant.
In his 14-year NBA career, The Big Dipper has never been guilty in a regular season or playoff game. Some will remember him for his role in the film Canon the destroyer with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
4. Magic Johnson
Born: August 14, 1959
Place of birth: Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
Nationality: American
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Position: Guard Point, Power Forward
Height: 2.06m (6ft 8in)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr.’s position among the famous basketball players of all time is unquestionable judging by his records and influence till date. Johnson ranks 4th among career playoff players in the NBA (358).
His gaming legacy includes twelve All-Star games, three NBA MVP awards, ten NBA First and Second Team nominations, and nine NBA Finals appearances. After his retirement, Johnson joined the list of the most influential businessmen in America. He is a co-investor in several sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012 and the Los Angeles Sparks since 2014.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Born: April 16, 1947 as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.
Place of birth: New York City, United States of America
Nationality: American
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks
Position: Center
Height: 2.18m (7ft 2in)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could have retired after a fulfilling basketball career, but his legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest and most famous players continues to push him in the eyes of our generations. Here’s a quick look at what keeps him among the best basketball players of all time.
The powerhouse as he is commonly called holds the record for the 5th most seasons played (20) in NBA history. He has won a league-record six world championship titles and is the NBA’s leading scorer with 38,387 points. ESPN named him the best center in NBA history in 2015.
Abdul-Jabbar is the best-selling author of Giant Steps and numerous other books, a cultural ambassador for the United States, and a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.
2. LeBron James
Born: December 30, 1984 (34 years old)
Place of birth: Akron, Ohio, United States of America
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers
Nationality: American
Position: Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Forward
Number: 6
Height: 2.03m (6ft 7in)
With his many accomplishments in the NBA including an NBA championship, two Olympic gold medals, three All-Star Game Most Valuable Player awards, three NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards and four NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron Raymone James Sr definitely gives MJ a shot at qualifying as one of the most famous basketball players of all time.
From prep to pro, James continues to make national titles and controversial decisions such as dropping his first pro team, the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010, as a free agent to sign with the Miami Heat in what was called “The Most Controversial Free Agent Decisions in American Sports History.”
Yet while working for the Miami Heat in 2012, he won his first NBA championship and then returned to Cavaliers to lead them to their first NBA championship in 52 years.
1.Michael Jordan
Born: February 17, 1963
Place of birth: New York City, United States of America
Nationality: American
Teams: Washington Wizards, Chicago
Position: Shooting guard, small forward
Height: 1.98m (6ft 5in)
Michael Jeffrey Jordan, aka, MJ, undoubtedly tops the list. According to his biography on the official NBA website, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. This acclaim makes him practically famous for life! Why? you might ask yourself. First, the NBA website confirmed that he was one of the most marketed athletes of his generation and was credited with helping popularize the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
To cap off that legacy, the basketball legend has wisely invested his profits in the craft he knows best – basketball. He became the main owner and president of a professional team, Charlotte Hornets.
