The Top 36 Players of All-Time As of September 10, 2024.

My Top 36 NBA/ABA Players of All-Time as of September 10, 2024

 

The Top 4

1. Michael Jordan

2. LeBron James 

3. Wilt Chamberlain

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

 

Big Gap

 The Next 5

5. Tim Duncan

6. Magic Johnson

7. Bill Russell

8. Larry Bird

9. Shaquille O’Neal

 

Big Gap

 Some Great Guards

10. Jerry West

11. Kobe Bryant

12. Oscar Robertson

13. Stephen Curry

 

Small Gap

Really Great Careers

14. Karl Malone

15. George Mikan

16. David Robinson

17. Bob Pettit

18. Julius Erving

19. Hakeem Olajuwon

20. Kevin Durant

Small Gap 

Very Solidly In Top 25

21. Moses Malone

22. Nikola Jokic

23. Charles Barkley

24. Kevin Garnett

25. Dirk Nowitzki

 

Small Gap

All-Time Great Players With Some Issues

26. James Harden

27.  Giannis Antetokounmpo

28. Elgin Baylor

29. Rick Barry

30.  Chris Paul

31. John Stockton

Small Gap

 Guys Making the Top 36 

32.  John Havlicek

33. Scottie Pippen

34.  Bob Cousy

35. Dwyane Wade

Barely Holding On to the Last Spot

36. Kawhi Leonard

Comments on Revisions to 2021 List

1.  Michael Jordan

2. LeBron James

3. Wilt Chamberlain

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

(gap)

5. Tim Duncan

6. Magic Johnson

7. Bill Russell

8. Shaquille O'Neal

9. Larry Bird  these  two switched spots - which was just a personal reconsideration decision made by me.

(gap)

10. Jerry West 

11. Kobe Bryant

12. Oscar Robertson

Curry moves up to here due to his play 2021-24

(gap all move down one due to Curry)

13. Karl Malone

14. George Mikan

15. David Robinson

16. Bob Pettit

17. Julius Erving

18. Hakeem Olajuwon

19. Moses Malone

20. Charles Barkley

21. Kevin Durant - moves up to 20 over Moses and Barkley due to KD's 2022-24 play

Jokic moves WAY UP into spot 22 due to MVPs and FMVP and title and huge advanced stat placements.

22. Kevin Garnett

23. Dirk Nowitzki

24. Stephen Curry moves up 11 spots from here

25. James Harden

Antetokounmpo first moves into the top 36, all the way up to #27 due to play playoffs 2021 through play in 2024.

26. Elgin Baylor

27. Rick Barry

28. John Stockton

29. Chris Paul

30.  John Havlicek

31. Scottie Pippen

32.  Bob Cousy

(gap)

33. Dwyane Wade -- These guys are now down two spots (passed by Jokic and Giannis) and are in danger of 2027 elimination).

34. Patrick Ewing

35. Gary Payton

36. Steve Nash -- These underlined 3 are eliminated from the top 36 (due to Jokic, Giannis, Kawhi Leonard)

Kawhi Leonard added here at #36 due to overall play 2021-24.