Basketball is one of the most popular sports around the world. It was invented by James Naismith in 1891 who was a Canadian-American physical educator, and is one of the main sports played in the US to this day!
As a matter of fact, according to Statista, basketball has 24.23 million participants in the United States of America alone.
However, there have been some top players of the game ever since it was invented. They are so popular in the game’s history because of their amazing achievements in their careers.
Here are the 5 greatest basketball players in NBA history you need to know.
1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time because of his amazing portfolio. He won 3 playoff finals in a row and then moved on to baseball. But later had the greatest comeback to the NBA and won everything all again. He made the same record once more upon his return to the game.
On top of that, Michael is among the oldest players in basketball to score 40 and above in a game and also averaged 20 PPG. Not only that, but he played on all sides of the floor and always knew what to do to give his team consistent wins. Jordan is also remembered for never taking a game off.
2. LeBron James
LeBron James’s name represents greatness in NBA history because he was talented and excited fans when he played the game. This earns him a top position among the best basketball players of all time.
One of his most outstanding games was when he helped the Cleveland Cavaliers come from behind to defeat the Golden State Warriors in 2016. James’s great performances also earned him membership in the league’s 75th-anniversary team. His achievements also go beyond basketball as he was able to build a media empire and an educational institution in his hometown.
LeBron James is a favorite with punters who like to wager on the NBA, for obvious reasons. What’s better, is that if you enjoy betting on basketball, or any sport online platforms like Sports Betting Online are there to help. The site assists players in finding the best free bets, and best odds, as well as offers unbiased reviews to all players. In addition, you can find betting strategies to enhance your betting game.
3. Kareem Abdul- Jabbar
Kareem invented the most lethal shot and is the leading scorer in NBA history. He has a difficult-to-break record of 38,387 career points which is simply mind-boggling. Abdul Jabbar is said to have got each honor every superstar of basketball can ever earn. For example, he earned 6 MVPs.
Kareem was also part of the NBA’s 75th-anniversary squad and he finished in the top 5 players 15 times in the MVP voting. He was offensively skilled in many ways than any other player in the sport. The new generation still has a way to go to catch up with Kareem, but to give you an idea of who the best players are right now, we at Hoop Heads have compiled a list of the best players right now.
4. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is PG’s number one in NBA history. He joined the NBA in 1979 from Michigan State. As a matter of fact, in his first season in the NBA league, Johnson started playing in game 6 of the finals and scored 42 points which were highly impressive.
He earned the Lakers their first title in almost a decade. Magic couldn’t be left out of the 75th-anniversary team and was part of it. He also earned jaw-dropping accolades including 3 MVPs and 5 championships among others.
5. Kobe Bryant
Kobe was also among the most successful basketball players in NBA history. Some of Kobe Bryant’s accomplishments include five-time champion, 2-time finals MVP, and 9 All-Defensive First Team selections.
As a matter of fact, he managed to win as many titles as LeBron, Magic, and Wilt. This secures him a position among the most popular NBA players of all time. Basketball-Reference also brings you some more statistics about Kobe’s career you may need to know.