The National Basketball Association (NBA) is undoubtedly the most popular basketball league in the entire world. With over 80 years of history now to its name, the league has long been used to seeing the absolute best grace the league with their presence, across a number of eras.

Dominance from one team is not new to the NBA, which has seen teams enjoy stints of being the best over the decades - you only have to look at the dynasties created by the likes of the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers, and most recently, the Golden State Warriors.

This is down to the players that represent these teams, but more often than not, every incredible team is led by an absolute superstar, somebody that is regarded as one of the league’s greatest talents. With that being said, which 25 players are the best to have ever played in the NBA?

Ranking Factors

Multiple things have been considered in ranking this list, such as:

• Overall impact on the game - Self-explanatory, what did each entrant achieve in their career?
• Amount of honours won - Be it MVP awards or NBA Championships, what did each entrant win?
• Fan reception and legacy - How do fans remember each entrant? How much of a legacy did they leave behind?
• Effectiveness on the court - Simply enough, each entrant was an exceptional player.

25 Luka Doncic

Luka has hit the ground running at the Lakers, rediscovering the form of his pomp at the Dallas Mavericks - and when he is at his best, he's almost unstoppable.

The Slovenian machine recorded an incredible 33.9 points-per-game tally in the 2023-24 season prior to his jawdropping, almost unannounced trade to the Lakers in February 2025.

Injury halted him in 2024/25, but he was a regular for the Lakers in 2025/26, recording 33.5 points-per-game in the regular season to win his second scoring title and return to the All-NBA First Team. If he can lead his team to a Championship in the future, he'll fire his way up this list.

24 Jerry West

A Los Angeles Lakers legend who not only was a great player, but a superb executive too. Jerry West holds the distinct honour of being the only Finals MVP in history to have been on the losing side. A point guard who could also play at the two, West was a supreme scorer who hit some clutch shots at big times.

When you consider some of the great players to have played for the Lakers over the years, West is still widely considered one of the best in franchise history. A 14-time All-Star, West would make the All-NBA First Team 10 times, as well as leading the league in scoring in 1970 and then topping the charts in assists just two years later.

23 Karl Malone

Perhaps quite an underrated player from the glitz and glamour of the 1990s in the NBA, Karl Malone makes his way onto this list having had an incredible playing career. 18 years at the Utah Jazz saw him become their greatest-ever player, with the power forward winning the NBA's coveted Most Valuable Player award in 1997 and 1999. The Jazz reached the Finals in 1997 and 1998, losing to the Chicago Bulls on both occasions.

Fourteen All-Star appearances, 2x All-Star MVP awards, having his number retired by the franchise and averaging a career record of 25 points-per-game and over 10 rebounds per game means Malone deservedly earns his place among some of the best in the business. It's perhaps only the lack of a Championship that means he misses out on the top 20 in this list.

22 Julius Erving

One of the most explosive players to have ever played the game, Julius Erving's incredible athleticism saw him wow crowds up and down the country, not only in the NBA, but also in his early years as a player in the ABA too. Most recognised for his time with the 76ers, Dr J would win the NBA title in 1983, following on from his two ABA championships in 1974 and 1976.

In total, Erving would win four individual MVP awards across both associations, including 16 total All-Star nominations too - 11 of them coming in the NBA. A three-time scoring champ in the ABA, Erving could do it all.

21 Oscar Robertson

The man who became the face of the triple double until Russell Westbrook came along in the 21st century, Oscar Robertson could simply do it all from the point guard position. An elite passer, underrated scorer, and supreme rebounder, the 'Big O' was an integral piece of the Milwaukee Bucks' title success, combining with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to deliver a championship ring to the city.

Robertson's first and only title came seven years after he won the NBA's MVP award, while he was named to the All-Star team for 12 consecutive seasons. In fact, Robertson also made it to the All-NBA First Team for nine years in a row with the Cincinnati Royals, while he led the league in assists six times.

20 Charles Barkley

Now one of the most beloved sports personalities on television today, Charles Barkley's playing career was just as Hall of Fame-worthy. Despite being a rather undersized power forward, Sir Charles' physicality and athleticism meant that he often played way bigger than he actually was, and more than competed against some of the giants that played during that era.

Named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 1993, Barkley made the All-Star team for 11 years in a row between 1987 and 1997, while he also made the All-NBA First Team on five occasions. Such was his elite vertical and competitive desire put together, that he even remarkably led the league in rebounding in 1987.

19 Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing is a name that is slightly glossed over when it comes to these conversations, and that is likely down to his lack of MVP awards and Championships, with the New York Knicks failing to win a single trophy under his guidance - but that doesn't stop him being one of the best of the 1990s before eventually retiring in 2002.

An incredible 1989-1990 season saw him garner his most points-per-game and blocks per game, as well as being the season that saw him breach the 10 rebounds-per-game ratio for the first time of what would be eight successful attempts. Of course, awards are what makes a player great and those above and below him do boast that in their locker.

But Ewing remains a household name, and even with the Knicks finally ending their 53-year wait for a title in 2026, he is still remembered as one of their greatest players.

18 Moses Malone

When it comes to the most underrated players in NBA history, Moses Malone is surely up there and ranks just ahead of his namesake. A center who was named the league's MVP an impressive three times, Malone's name doesn't really come up in conversations of NBA's GOAT - indeed, even in discussions regarding the best big-men of all time, the former Philadelphia 76ers star doesn't get talked about that often either.

A 12-time All-Star who made the team consecutively from 1978 to 1989, Malone would also make the All-NBA First Team four times, while he led the league in rebounding six times over the course of his career.

17 Scottie Pippen

Overlooked by many when it comes to the Chicago Bulls' dynasty in the 1990s, but without Scottie Pippen, the Illinois franchise wouldn't have had half of the success it enjoyed, even if he did have his disagreements with those surrounding him.

Placed as a small forward on the court, Pippen's iconic number 33 jersey was a major reason in securing two three-peats for the Bulls prior to his move to the Houston Rockets after 11 years of service. An incredible scorer, assister and rebounder, he recorded an impressive 17 triple-doubles through his career - even more impressive given he was surrounded by stars such as Dennis Rodman, Michael Jordan and Toni Kukoc.

His career fizzled out quicker than he might have imagined, but Pippen was arguably as suited to the 'right-hand man' role for Michael Jordan than anyone else, and it shows.

16 Dirk Nowitzki

A modern-day stalwart, Dirk Nowitzki spent his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks and underlined his case as being one of the greatest foreign-born players to have ever played in the NBA. A power forward who could stretch the floor like no other, his performances in the playoffs when the Mavericks confounded all expectations to beat some titanic teams - including the Miami Heat 'Big Three' of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh - are noteworthy to say the least.

Nowitzki combined a superb scoring touch in and around the paint, with an exceptional ability to hit daggers from beyond the arc, making him a unique power forward at a time when post play was still being valued by big men.