USA TODAY’S 75 GREATEST NBA PLAYERS NOS. 25- 1

A little more than 4,500 players have appeared in at least one NBA game. In addition, 236 players have made All- NBA teams and 437 have made All- Star teams, according to basketball- reference. com. So imagine the task of trying to whittle that list to the 75 best. That’s what we’re doing. With the NBA celebrating its 75th anniversary this season, USA TODAY assembled a panel of NBA experts to rank the greatest 75 NBA players of all time. Today we look at the Top 25. For the previous players ranked 26- 75, see nba. usatoday. com.

25 John Havlicek

Havlicek was a star at the forward and guard positions, which once led Sports Illustrated to say his “versatility made him perhaps the finest all- around player in the history of the NBA.” Nicknamed “Hondo” for his resemblance to John Wayne, he averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the regular season and 22.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 172 playoff games. Havlicek appeared in 13 straight All- Star Games, was an All- NBA first- or second- team selection 11 times and earned a spot on the NBA All- Defensive first or second team eight times. His eight championship rings were third behind Bill Russell’s 11 and Sam Jones’ 10.

24 Isiah Thomas

Thomas wasn’t the first small, quick point guard to find success in the NBA, but he elevated his status with fearlessness and creative shot- making while making plays for others. He averaged a points- assists double- double four times, including 21.2 points and leagueleading 13.9 assists in 1984- 85. Spending his entire career with the Pistons, he was a 12- time All- Star, five- time AllNBA, two- time All- Star MVP, two- time NBA champ and 1990 Finals MVP.

23 David Robinson

After completing his two- year commitment in the Navy, Robinson hit the ground running when he arrived in the NBA, winning Rookie of the Year in 1990 and leading the Spurs to a 35- game turnaround. With size, speed, strength and agility, “The Admiral” became a force in the paint on both ends of the floor. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 1992, MVP in 1995 and made 10 All- Star appearances, 10 All- NBA teams and eight All- Defensive teams. Paired with Tim Duncan, Robinson won his elusive first championship in 1999.

22 Scottie Pippen

Pippen remains the NBA’s greatest No. 2 option ever. He eased Michael Jordan’s workload. He defended the opponent’s top player and made Jordan and role players better with his willing passing. Nonetheless, Pippen experienced some frustrations throughout his 17year career. If not for Pippen’s presence, however, even Jordan admitted he would not have won six NBA titles.

21 Charles Barkley

One of the most colorful and candid players in NBA history, Barkley was a dominant power forward despite being vastly undersized for the position. Officially listed at 6- foot- 6 but closer to 6- 4, he used his strength, agility and playmaking to prevail against much taller players. He is the shortest player to lead the league in rebounding ( 14.6 per game in 1986- 87) and is one of six players with at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. But he holds the unfortunate distinction as one of the greatest never to win a championship.

20 Dirk Nowitzki

Nowitzki changed the game with his step- back shot and was credited with ushering in the modern era of power forward play in which players of all sizes were not only encouraged but expected to spread the floor with their long- distance shooting. He was the NBA’s highest- scoring foreign- born player ( 31,560) and was a 14- time All- Star. Nowitzki played all 21 seasons of his NBA career for the Mavericks, winning league MVP honors in 2006- 07 and guiding Dallas to its first NBA title in 2010- 11, being named Finals MVP. His career points ranks sixth in NBA history. But more than that, his signature one- legged fadeaway has been widely imitated.

19 Elgin Baylor

If not for Baylor, the Lakers arguably would never have been able to move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. If not for Baylor, other NBA stars may not have incorporated a running jump shot into their game. Those qualities partly explain why Baylor has been the NBA’s most underappreciated superstar. After the Lakers selected Baylor with their first pick in the 1958 draft, owner Bob Short believed the franchise would have gone bankrupt had he not accepted their offer. Baylor became what most eventually valued in a modern NBA player, including strong shooting, athleticism and footwork. He excelled as a player despite juggling military duties. His career was struck short by injuries just before the Lakers’ title in 1971- 72.

18 Moses Malone

Nicknamed “Chairman of the Boards,” Malone led the NBA in rebounding six times and is one of four players to have 25,000 points and 15,000 rebounds in his career. He was a three- time MVP and a 12- time All- Star who averaged 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds for his career. He was the first player to go from high school to the professional ranks, getting drafted by the Utah Stars of the ABA in 1974. Two years later, Malone jumped to the NBA. Before the playoffs in 1983, he made his famous fo- fo- fo prediction. He was off by a game as the Sixers became the first team in NBA history to lose just one game in the postseason.

17 Karl Malone

While becoming the NBA’s No. 2 scorer behind Kareem Abdul- Jabbar, Malone was incredibly consistent. He averaged at least 25 points for 11 consecutive years, and he scored 30 or more points in 427 games. Malone’s 36,928 points are No. 2 on the NBA career scoring list, behind only Abdul- Jabbar’s 38,387. The only thing missing from his resume is a championship. Malone and longtime teammate John Stockton led the Jazz to the 1997 and 1998 Finals, losing to Michael Jordan’s Bulls each time.

16 Julius Erving

Julius Erving brought high- flying, gravity- defying acrobatics to graceful new heights with his soaring dunks and gliding layups. Erving’s game had style and substance, making him one of the game’s greatest small forwards. He was the 1980- 81 NBA MVP, made the NBA All- Star team 11 times, made the AllNBA team seven times and won one championship. Had he played his entire career in the NBA, he would be much higher on the all- time lists. Instead, Erving, aka Dr. J, played five seasons in the ABA where he won two titles.

15 Stephen Curry

The NBA’s best shooter has “ruined the game,” as Curry likes to say. He has collected three NBA championships and countless shooting records with his seemingly unlimited range. Because of that gravity, opponents have swarmed Curry with double teams even at halfcourt, albeit to no avail. Curry also has become devastating as a playmaker and inspiring as a leader. With all those qualities, Curry became the architect of the Warriors’ dynasty.

14 Jerry West

The man became known as “Mr. Clutch” for his miraculous shots, playmaking and willingness to play through pain. But West also played through a different kind of pain – the persistent losing. West cemented the worst NBA Finals record of all time ( 1- 8), seven of those losses to the hated Celtics. Very little of it had to do with West, though. He remains the only player to be named Finals MVP on a losing team when he averaged nearly 38 points in a sevengame series loss in 1969. West finally collected his first NBA championship trophy three years later with a Lakers team that cemented the league’s longest winning streak ( 33 games in 1971- 72).

13 Kevin Durant

Durant did not win an NBA championship until he joined a star- studded Warriors team that had already won an NBA title, broke the NBA’s regular- season record and eliminated his former team in the playoffs ( Thunder). Still, what could have been possible without Durant became inevitable with him. Durant led the Warriors to two NBA titles with two Finals MVP performances because of his mastered footwork, midrange game and length.

12 Hakeem Olajuwon

Olajuwon arrived at the University of Houston as a gangly center from Nigeria in 1981. Twenty- one years later, he retired from the NBA as one of the league’s most intriguing players. Although he

was the No. 1 pick in the 1984 draft that included Michael Jordan, few league observers think the Rockets erred in choosing Olajuwon. In his first year, he averaged 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds while shooting 53.8% from the field and finished second to Jordan in Rookie of the Year balloting. Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points ( nearly 26 in the playoffs) and 11.1 rebounds in 18 seasons. He holds the league record in blocks with 3,830.

11 Oscar Robertson

Robertson showed he would be a special player right out of the gate. In his rookie season, he nearly averaged a triple- double, with 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game. By his second season, he had accomplished the mark, becoming the first player in the league to average a triple- double ( 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 11.4 assists). Robertson established a league record with his 181 career triple- doubles without much fanfare; the term wasn’t even coined until the early 1980s.

10 Shaquille O’Neal

O’Neal became larger than life with his size, play and personality, most notably with the Magic ( 1992- 96), Lakers ( 1996- 2004) and Heat ( 2004- 08). O’Neal shattered backboards and roughed up opponents while collecting four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs and one regular- season MVP.

9 Tim Duncan

The top pick in the 1997 draft, Duncan was a star from Day 1 with the Spurs, transforming the franchise into a perennial championship contender that took on his demeanor of quiet, consistent excellence. He won Rookie of the Year almost unanimously before capturing his first championship and Finals MVP in his second season. In 19 years with the Spurs, Duncan finished with five titles and three Finals MVPs to go with two regular- season MVPs, 15 All- Star Games, 15 All- NBA selections and 15 AllDefensive nods.

8 Larry Bird

Hailing from tiny French Lick, Indiana, Bird became the Boston face of the great Celtics- Lakers rivalry of the 1980s that helped rejuvenate the NBA. Bird led the Celtics to the NBA Finals five times during the decade, winning three championships and two Finals MVPs. With his versatile all- around game, passing and shooting, Bird helped redefine the small forward position. He played with a bravado to match his skill, always quick to remind everyone else in the 3- point contest they were playing for second.

7 Kobe Bryant

Bryant had a whole second act left unfulfilled after he and his 9- year- old daughter Gianna were among nine people who died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. But Bryant already left enough of a legacy with his play alone. He won five NBA titles and became the Lakers’ all- time leading scorer through an unmatched work ethic, miraculous shot- making and ability to play through pain. Bryant encountered plenty of adversities ( some self- inflicted), including jumping from high school to the NBA, a sexual assault charge settled out of court and mixed support for his demanding leadership style and high- volume shooting. But Bryant sought to maximize his strengths and overcome his weaknesses through sheer will and self improvement.

6 Bill Russell

Bill Russell was perhaps the NBA’s greatest champion. All he wanted to do was win, and he did that. He won 11 championships with the Celtics, was a five- time MVP, 12- time All- Star and 11time All- NBA performer in 13 seasons, averaging 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds in an era when blocks were not official stats. He led the league in rebounding five times, including 24.7 in 1963- 64. He is the NBA’s No. 2 all- time rebounder. There was no Finals MVP during a majority of his career, but he would’ve won the award at least once, and it’s named after him now. Russell was also the first Black coach in NBA history.

5 Wilt Chamberlain

Few NBA stars loomed as large as Chamberlain. His accomplishments remain mythical more than 48 years after he played in his final NBA game. He still owns 72 NBA records, many considered unbreakable. He averaged 48.5 minutes during the 1961- 62 season, sitting out one six- minute stretch in one game. He averaged 50.4 points, scored at least 40 in 63 of the 82 games and scored 50 or more in seven consecutive games. He was the only player in NBA history to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a season, which he did nine times. He was also the only player to average those numbers for his career, finishing with 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in 14 seasons. And did we mention he had a 100- point game as well as a 55- rebound game? Chamberlain was a seven- time scoring champ and 11- time rebounding champ.

4 Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson helped change the NBA for the better. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the league was in desperate need for a dynamic personality with the on- court skills to match. Johnson arrived at just the right time with an engaging smile and mesmerizing game for the Lakers. At 6- foot- 8, he was a point guard with extraordinary vision, skills and passing ability. As a rookie, he was named Finals MVP in 1980, averaging 21.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 8.7 assists. It was the first of his three Finals MVPs. Johnson was a 12- time All- Star, 10- time All- NBA selection, three- time regular- season MVP and won five titles, all with the Lakers. He led the league in steals twice and assists four times. For his career, he averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals.

3 Kareem Abdul- Jabbar

Just over 32 years have passed since his retirement, and Abdul- Jabbar still remains at the top of the NBA’s scoring list. On the Bucks ( 1969- 75) and Lakers ( 1975- 89), Abdul- Jabbar scored most of those 38,387 points with his signature sky hook shot. Abdul- Jabbar perfected the move by placing the ball over his 7foot- 2 frame, elevating himself on an angle and then sinking the shot with a smooth touch. No one has since duplicated Abdul- Jabbar’s shot, he suspects, because of the work required for something unglamorous. But it yielded results for Abdul- Jabbar, who won six NBA championships and six MVPs.

2 LeBron James

LeBron James entered the NBA with gargantuan and almost- impossible- tomeet expectations. He exceeded them. James is a four- time champion, fourtime Finals MVP, four- time regular- season MVP, 17- time All- NBA, 17- time AllStar, six- time All- Defense and threetime All- Star MVP. He is a complete player with a varied skill set who always seeks to improve his game. A gifted passer, accomplished scorer and dedicated rebounder, James is one of the game’s all- time greats. He is the No. 3 all- time leading scorer and will pass Karl Malone for No. 2 this season or next and could challenge Kareem Abdul- Jabbar for No. 1. He has the second- best alltime player efficiency rating, and James is on pace to become the only player to end up in the top five in scoring, assists and triple- doubles. James also has produced some of the most memorable playoff and Finals moments, including leading his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 championship.

1 Michael Jordan

Everyone has wanted to be like Mike for his basketball acumen, obsessive competitive drive and trailblazing endorsement deals. Of course, no one can be like Mike. He led the Bulls to an undefeated 6- 0 Finals record. He became the league’s most dominant scorer ever and one of the league’s top defenders. And he related to people of all backgrounds for his unmatched work ethic. Jordan’s track record isn’t perfect. He struggled initially with trusting teammates, clashed endlessly with management and spent his first six seasons without winning a title. His two retirements partly stem from burnout. And his demanding leadership style resonated with some and became oft- putting with others. But that does not detract from Jordan’s successful quest to become the greatest basketball player ever.