Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, make no mistake about that. Despite the surge from LeBron James, who became the game’s greatest scorer, there is quite a disparity between Air Jordan and the rest of the players that came before or after him. Michael accomplished so much in the NBA, from winning six NBA championships in a flawless 6-0 Finals record to capturing 10 scoring titles; no player was as dominant as the shooting guard during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Since Michael Jordan retired following the 2002-03 NBA season, the NBA has been looking to create the new Air Jordan. Luckily, we have seen some elite players come through, including LeBron James, the closest thing to Jordan in Kobe Bryant, and superstar big men who won multiple championships and kickstarted a new era in the NBA. We also saw the rise of little guards who changed the game completely with their uniqueness, swagger, and playing styles. The NBA has been in good hands ever since the greatest player of all-time retired, and it is time to go through them.
Here are the 10 greatest players to play in the NBA since Michael Jordan retired, along with four honorable mentions.
Honorable MentionsNikola Jokic
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 20.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Achievements:
2x Regular Season MVP
3x All-NBA First Team
1x All-NBA Second Team
5x All-Star
Nikola Jokic has had an incredible run over the past three seasons. He has captured back-to-back MVP awards in 2021 and 2022 and could be the favorite for the 2023 MVP award as well. The Serbian is extremely unique as a 7-foot center because he impacts the game in multiple ways but is mainly known for his elite passing. We have seen some great passing centers in NBA history, including Bill Walton and Arvydas Sabonis, but Jokic is on another level.
A point center, Jokic has a host of impressive accomplishments that he has gained through seven years in the league, including two MVPs and five All-Star selections. At only 28 years old, Jokic can accomplish a lot more in the league before his career is over, and winning an NBA title with the Denver Nuggets could be a massive boost to the player’s legacy.
Steve Nash
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Achievements:
2x Regular Season MVP
5x Assists Leader
3x All-NBA First Team
2x All-NBA Second Team
2x All-NBA Third Team
8x All-Star
It is incredibly rare for any player, especially a point guard, to win back-to-back MVP awards, which is something Steve Nash did. The legendary point guard was not only an incredible playmaker but one of the best pure shooters we have ever seen. Nash averaged 49.0% from the field, 42.8% from three, and 90.4% from the free-throw line over his Hall-of-Fame career.
These are extraordinary numbers for the architect of one of the best offensive teams ever with the Phoenix Suns. Seeing Nash dribble rings around players and dominate the ball to result in team wins was something extraordinary to see, and the player was literally unstoppable when it came to creating shots for his teammates. No doubt, the Canadian star is an honorable mention.
Allen Iverson
Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Achievements:
1x Regular Season MVP
4x Scoring Leader
3x Steals Leader
3x All-NBA First Team
3x All-NBA Second Team
1x All-NBA Third Team
Rookie of the Year
11x All-Star
The greatest player under 6’1” tall, Allen Iverson, would rank somewhere in the top 10 if he was a few inches taller and slightly bigger. Even if he was undersized at 6’0” and 165 lbs, his skill and tenacity were so great, that “The Answer” carried a very average Philadelphia 76ers team to the NBA Finals in 2001. To add to that, Iverson managed to win Game 1 against the dynasty Lakers by dropping 48 points in 52 minutes.
Allen Iverson changed the game with his swagger and on-court toughness and is often recognized as one of the 10 greatest offensive players of all time. The Answer won four scoring titles, which ranks 3rd all-time behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, and was simply unguardable thanks to his speed, dribbling, and tenacity.
Kawhi Leonard
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 19.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Achievements:
2x NBA Champion
2x Finals MVP
2x Defensive Player of the Year
1x Steals Champion
3x All-NBA First Team
2x All-NBA Second Team
3x All-Defensive First Team
4x All-Defensive Second Team
5x All-Star
Kawhi Leonard is the epitome of a dominant two-way player. He can shut down players on the perimeter and then score the ball in a variety of ways. He was a young player with the Spurs and still managed to win Finals MVP, but his growth as a player has been remarkable as he captured his second Finals MVP with the Raptors.
Since then, Leonard has still remained one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and continues to excel in his offensive game. Whether it means taking defenders in the post or nailing his automatic mid-range jump shot, Kawhi is a perfect player by most accounts. Leonard’s legacy would be even greater if “load management” wasn’t such a hot topic, but he makes the honorable mention list regardless.
10. Dirk Nowitzki
Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Achievements:
1x NBA Champion
1x Finals MVP
1x Regular Season MVP
4x All-NBA First Team
5x All-NBA Second Team
3x All-NBA Third Team
14x All-Star
Dirk Nowitzki had an incredible career, winning Finals MVP in 2011 after a historically great run. Despite coming up against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in their prime, Nowitzki overcame the odds to win the 2010-11 NBA championship. There probably haven’t been many playoffs runs better than the one Dirk went through during that year.
The big German had one of the most unstoppable moves in history with the one-legged fadeaway, which he pulled out to terrorize defenses for years. No doubt, Nowitzki is the greatest shooting big man ever as he was 7 feet tall and yet averaged 47.1% FG, 38.0% 3-PT FG, and 87.9% FT. Along with capturing an MVP award, Dirk has been a top-10 player since MJ retired.
9. Kevin Garnett
Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Achievements:
1x NBA Champion
1x Regular Season MVP
1x Defensive Player of the Year
4x Rebounds Leader
4x All-NBA First Team
3x All-NBA Second Team
2x All-NBA Third Team
9x All-Defensive First Team
3x All-Defensive Second Team
15x All-Star
Kevin Garnett had the most intensity of any power forward ever and was one of the most competitive forces of all time. While many remember KG for his title-winning stint with the Boston Celtics as their defensive stalwart, he was the MVP of the league at one point as an unbelievable player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. “The Big Ticket” could pass, defend, rebound, and score at an elite level which makes him a top-five power forward ever.
His 2003-04 MVP season was iconic as he posted 24.2 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, and 2.2 BPG. Very few bigs could defend at a superstar level, rebound, pass, and also nail mid-range shots better than Garnett, which is why he is one of the greatest players to play the game after Michael Jordan’s era ended.
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Credit: Brett Davis/USA Today Sports
Career Stats: 22.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Achievements:
1x NBA Champion
2x Regular Season MVP
1x Finals MVP
1x Defensive Player of the Year
1x Most Improved Player
4x All-NBA First Team
2x All-NBA Second Team
4x All-Defensive First Team
1x All-Defensive Second Team
7x All-Star
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s run over the past few seasons has been exceptional to watch because The Greek Freak has managed to add an NBA title, Finals MVP, two MVPs, and a Defensive Player of the Year trophy to his trophy cabinet in that span. Giannis is built like no other player in history, pairing a lengthy 6’11” frame with phenomenal ball-handling and playmaking skills.
Antetokounmpo is one of a kind, and his career is nowhere near finished, as he is not even 29 years old yet. The Greek Freak is looking to add another NBA championship and Finals MVP to his resume because as he continues to win, he can start challenging the players ahead of him who all have multiple championships. No doubt, Giannis is off to a great start in his career.
7. Dwyane Wade
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 22.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Achievements:
3x NBA Champion
1x Finals MVP
1x Scoring Leader
2x All-NBA First Team
3x All-NBA Second Team
3x All-NBA Third Team
3x All-Defensive Second Team
13x All-Star
Dwyane Wade had an illustrious career, winning three NBA titles and making a whopping 13 All-Star teams. In his prime, a young Wade known as “Flash” was an unbelievably athletic and talented scorer who led the Miami Heat to an NBA title in 2006 by having one of the most impressive Finals series’ ever when he averaged 34.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.8 APG.
The legendary shooting guard was also very fortunate to play with LeBron James and Chris Bosh in a superteam, and that helped add two more championship rings to Wade’s fingers. As an unstoppable slasher and the greatest shot-blocking guard ever, Dwyane Wade is clearly a top-20 player ever and the second-best shooting guard to play the game since Michael Jordan hung it up.
6. Kevin Durant
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 27.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 PPG, 1.1 BPG
Achievements:
2x NBA Champion
1x Regular Season MVP
2x Finals MVP
4x Scoring Leader
6x All-NBA First Team
4x All-NBA Second Team
Rookie of the Year
13x All-Star
Even if you believe Kevin Durant’s championships with the Golden State Warriors have asterisks, his talent and scoring ability still place him as one of the all-time greats. The player is a unique case because championships probably won’t affect his place in the standings because of how he could fit into any team at any time and dominate.
Even if Durant shocked the world when he joined the 73-9 Golden State Warriors super team, he did show up in both Finals appearances to win the championships. Not to mention, KD won four scoring titles and has to be ranked somewhere near Michael Jordan as the most talented offensive player ever. His resume is impressive, and he has been one of the most dominant players since Jordan retired.
5. Stephen Curry
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Achievements:
4x NBA Champion
2x Regular Season MVP
1x Finals MVP
2x Scoring Leader
1x Steals Leader
4x All-NBA First Team
3x All-NBA Second Team
1x All-NBA Third Team
9x All-Star
While Curry’s career isn’t over, it is safe to say he’s impacted the game better than anyone could have expected. Stephen Curry is responsible for completely changing the game of basketball, both in the NBA and worldwide. Players from across the world, of all ages, are improving their shooting to be like Curry because he made it look so easy on the court. Curry showed the world how honing basic skills such as shooting and dribbling gives you the best chance to win and that size isn’t everything.
The point guard’s championship run in 2022 was massive to the player’s career because it added a Finals MVP to his name, something he failed to accomplish thanks to Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant’s presence. Even if Curry has played in a dynasty under a great head coach, his resume is simply supreme, and changing the game meant he has been the best point guard to compete since the Michael Jordan era finished.
4. Tim Duncan
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.2 BPG
Achievements:
5x NBA Champion
2x Regular Season MVP
3x Finals MVP
10 All-NBA First Team
3x All-NBA Second Team
2x All-NBA Third Team
8x All-Defensive First Team
7x All-Defensive Second Team
Rookie of the Year
15x All-Star
In terms of accolades, Duncan can probably make an argument for a top-five player ever. He won everything there is to win on an individual level and a team level and was the best player on the Spurs since he entered the league in his rookie season. Hardly any other big man had Duncan’s I.Q., and he can run an offense and dominate the game defensively single-handedly.
No doubt the best power forward ever with five championships and a track record of running a dynasty in San Antonio, even all-time great head coach Gregg Popovich had to admit the player was responsible for the franchise’s success. Duncan gets overlooked because of how “boring” he was as a talent, but he was incredibly dominant.
3. Shaquille O’Neal
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG
Achievements:
4x NBA Champion
1x Regular Season MVP
3x Finals MVP
2x Scoring Leader
8x All-NBA First Team
2x All-NBA Second Team
4x All-NBA Third Team
3x All-Defensive Second Team
Rookie of the Year
15x All-Star
The gigantic Shaquille O’Neal certainly made use of his size, becoming the most dominant physical specimen since Wilt Chamberlain. But as a winner, O’Neal even managed to pass Wilt on the all-time list. O’Neal captured three straight championships with the Lakers, spectacularly winning three Finals MVPs as well. Since Shaq and the Lakers did it, no team has had a 3-peat.
It was hard to match up with Shaq because he also combined size and athleticism with his gigantic frame, making him one of the all-time great Lakers stars and a top-three big man ever. Shaq was in the league when Jordan was in his final years, and we were already seeing who would be the face of the league next. As great as Shaq was, he was not on the level of the two players ahead of him.
2. Kobe Bryant
Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Achievements:
5x NBA Champion
1x Regular Season MVP
2x Finals MVP
2x Scoring Leader
11x All-NBA First Team
2x All-NBA Second Team
2x All-NBA Third Team
9x All-Defensive First Team
3x All-Defensive Second Team
18x All-Star
The late Kobe Bryant was arguably the most skilled player in the game because he had every move and counter-move in the book. He took what Michael Jordan brought to the game and upped it a notch because Bryant was willing and able to take any shot at any given time. By almost all accounts, Bryant was a near photocopy of Michael Jordan on the basketball court.
A scorer with an 81-point game on his resume, Bryant retired with five NBA championships with one franchise and is ranked 4th all-time in points scored. Winning was the core of Bryant’s legacy, however, as he did add those five championships and also two Finals MVP awards despite running Shaquille O’Neal out of town in Los Angeles. Some will argue for Magic Johnson as the king of L.A, but Kobe Bryant has to take that title, and the resume speaks for itself.
1. LeBron James
Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 27.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Achievements:
4x NBA Champion
4x Regular Season MVP
4x Finals MVP
1x Scoring Leader
1x Assists Leader
13x All-NBA First Team
3x All-NBA Second Team
2x All-NBA Third Team
5x All-Defensive First Team
1x All-Defensive Second Team
Rookie of the Year
19x All-Star
LeBron is the best small forward ever, and he manages to pass 1980s legend Larry Bird in that regard thanks to his longevity and the crucial fourth NBA championship ring he earned in 2020. James is always a threat to make the NBA Finals, carrying teams on his back and consistently being one of the best playmakers we have ever seen. Many will look at his all-time scoring record before anything else, but James is a top-five passer the game has ever seen.
His size and extremely high basketball I.Q. makes him one of the most decorated players in NBA history. LeBron James is consistently mentioned in the GOAT debate, and while that might be slightly unfair for The King, considering his past mistakes and shortcomings, he deserved to be mentioned. So far, with four titles, four Finals MVPs, four MVPs, and an all-time scoring record, perhaps no player has been better than LeBron for as long as he has played with 20 seasons in the books.
Source: fadeawayworld
