Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and in turn, the National Basketball Association is one of the most successful organizations. There have been many legends to have played the game, from the larger-than-life centers such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, to electrifying guards like Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook and who can forget Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player to lay his hands on a basketball.
1. Point Guard: John Stockton
Honors: 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, five-time All-D selection, Hall of Fame
Career Stats: 13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, .384 3P% Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankPGs/ran...
Rational: When I think of the point guard position, I think of a person who is a floor general, someone who is able to distribute the ball to his teammates. No player in the history of the game has more assist than John stockton, and while yes Magic Johnson was more versatile, Stockton was a point guard specialist. The fact he led his team of virtual nobodies other than himself and Karl Malone to the NBA finals two years in a row is a feat in and of itself.
2. Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan
Honors: Five-time MVP (1987-88, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98), six-time Finals MVP, 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, nine-time All-D selection, 10-time NBA scoring champion, Defensive Player of the Year (1987-88), Rookie of the Year (1984-85), Hall of Fame
Championships-6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Career stats-30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, .497 FG% Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankSGs/ran...
Rational: Do I even need to make a case for Jordan? To put it simply, Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.
3. Small Forward: Lebron James
Honors: four-time MVP (2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13), two-time Finals MVP, 11-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, six-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (2003-04), NBA scoring champion (2007-08)
Championships: 2 (2012, 2013)
Career Stats: 27.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 6.9 APG, .496 FG% Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankSFs/ran...
Rational: Sure, Larry Bird was great and one of the greatest pure shooters in basketball history but James is simply on another level. His physical stature and sheer athleticism alone make this man the greatest player today. The only knock I would put against Lebron is the fact the he has been to a few NBA finals now but has only come out with two titles. James has one of the greatest work ethics in basketball and always seems to improve his game from year to year.
4. Power Forward: Tim Duncan
Honors: Two-time MVP (2001-02, 2002-03), three-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection, 15-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (1997-98)
Championships: 5 (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
Career Stats: 19.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.2 BPG, .506 FG% Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankPFs/ran...
Rational: Tim Duncan is class personified -- the absolute embodiment of a team player. A vast amount of people would be quick to label Duncan as a boring player, but as Bill Simmons states in his piece on Duncan," Since 1997 you've never heard of Duncan dogging it, calling out teammates, showing up heavy for training camp, complaining about money, asking for a trade,giving himself a nickname. Of course people found that boring... but when was winning boring?" Winning is simply what Tim Duncan does. The Spurs’ record since Duncan was drafted first overall in 1998 is a remarkable 1,072-438.
5. Center: Shaquille O'Neal
Honors: MVP (1999-2000), three-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA selection, three-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (1992-1993)
Championships: 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006)
Career Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG, .582 FG%
Rational: Shaq was simply a dominant force to watch. He carried the Lakers to three straight championships and if he had put personal issues with Kobe Bryant aside, the Lakers very well could have won at least two or three more titles.
