Every NBA Team's Greatest Of All Time

For a little while, we can put the LeBron vs Jordan debate to one side and hopefully respect all the great players in NBA history by compiling the greatest player from every franchise. For some teams, this is an obvious choice, for others there will be as much debate as ever, but we've given it our best shot! All statistics mentioned are sourced from Basketball Reference.

The Nets’ best player did his damage while the franchise was still in New Jersey. Kidd led the team to two straight NBA Finals’ appearances in 2002 and 2003, and was the unquestioned catalyst for an up-tempo brand of basketball. San Francisco Gate’s website called presence and vision two of Kidd’s most special attributes.

With a franchise as storied as Boston’s, there is a laundry list of great players to choose from. However, it’s never a bad idea to pick the athlete who has 11 championship rings to his name. Sporting News wrote about how Russell revolutionized the way defense was played, as the center looked to snap his opponents’ confidence in half.

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Vince Carter comes to mind as the most exciting player in Raptors history, while Chris Bosh has an argument for being Toronto’s most talented player. However, Lowry spent nine seasons with the franchise, including the 2018-2019 campaign, where he helped lead them to a title. TSN Canada believes that Lowry takes the top spot in this discussion, with Kawhi Leonard coming in second.

Knicks fans are happy to see the franchise reach competitive levels once more, and are always locked into Frazier’s calls as a hometown broadcaster. Many basketball supporters in this generation might not realize how great of a player he was. In Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, Frazier scored 36 points, while also posting 19 assists and seven rebounds, leading the Knicks to the title.

Philadelphia is another team that has a wide selection of great players to choose from in this discussion. Allen Iverson would be a worthy selection here, but we went with Dr. J. in this spot. Erving’s athleticism brought fans to their feet, and his performance helped lead the 76ers to the 1983 championship. He ended up playing 11 seasons with the franchise.

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This is about as automatic as it gets. Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest NBA player of all time, and he made the Bulls an iconic franchise in the 1980s and 1990s. His six NBA Finals appearances without a loss is an accomplishment that may never be seen again in league history.

Thomas was the leader of the franchise’s most iconic teams, the “Bad Boys” Pistons of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He brought home two championships to Detroit, and epitomized the toughness that those rosters were known for. As Detroit improved, Thomas’ scoring average went down, as he realized that his biggest contribution came on defense and getting others involved.

He was a lethal three point shooting marksman before the NBA ushered in their pace and space era. Miller worked tirelessly, running around numerous screens set by his Pacers teammates to get open looks, which he usually knocked down. Complex wrote in 2023 that Miller is the fourth-greatest shooter of all time.

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Many might make a case for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Milwaukee’s greatest player ever, but he only played six seasons with the franchise. Antetokounmpo has played 11 seasons with the Bucks, and counting. He’s won the same number of titles as Abdul-Jabbar with the team, and may yet get another MVP to tie the legendary center.

There’s no question that James is the name that first comes to mind when fans think about Cavaliers basketball. Cleveland has only won one NBA championship, and it was thanks to James’ heroic efforts in the 2016 Finals. Ohio’s favorite son historically belted out “Cleveland, this is for you!” in his jubilation after the win.

James teamed up with his good friend Wade to win two championships in Miami. Wade also won another title with the Heat back in the 2005-2006 season with Shaquille O’Neal. There’s a reason why Miami Dade county is often called “Wade county”. Pat Riley told Sports Illustrated in 2023 that Wade is definitely the best player in franchise history.

The Wizards have had a bit of a checkered franchise history, but Unseld’s run of dominance for 13 seasons is still fondly recalled by basketball lovers. He averaged 14 rebounds per game for his career. In 2020, ClutchPoints made the case that Unseld is one of the most underrated centers in the NBA history.

Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway might come to mind as more beloved Magic players, but Howard played more seasons in Orlando than either of them. Howard also led the franchise to an NBA Finals appearance in 2009, just as Shaq and Penny did in 1995. Despite Howard’s longevity, ClutchPoints still feels like O’Neal is Orlando’s greatest player of all time.

Wilkins was as spectacular as he was skilled in the 1980s. The forward was known for throwing down thunderous jams over opposing centers, while also scoring the basketball in a myriad of ways. He averaged over 26 points per game with the Hawks over 12 seasons, and led the league in scoring during the 1985-1986 campaign.

As a relatively young franchise, the Hornets don’t have an obvious player that sticks out in this conversation. Baron Davis, Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson all come to mind, but Walker gets the slight edge. Even though he didn’t lead Charlotte to great postseason heights, the point guard was a tough cover. Walker averaged nearly 20 points a night in eight seasons with Charlotte.

Medium wrote a detailed piece about Duncan’s leadership style, which prioritized quiet guidance over boisterous messages. Because of his subdued nature, he’s often left out of discussions involving the best big men of all time. Spurs fans know that without Duncan and his steady presence, the franchise would be in a much different place.

Luka Doncic is making a strong case to knock Nowitzki off the top spot someday, but for now, the German is the best Dallas has ever seen. Yahoo Sports detailed in 2023 how the power forward changed NBA basketball forever. His ability to step out and shoot from long distance, in addition to putting the ball on the floor at 7 feet tall, put defenses in a world of trouble.

Indiana Pacers legend and current NBA analyst Reggie Miller told Basketball Network that Olajuwon had arguably the best footwork of any center in league history. Watching highlights of Olajuwon in his prime confirms that notion, as he used his pivot foot to confuse defenders as well as anyone. Olajuwon was quick off his feet as well, making a name for himself as an elite shot-blocker, too.

The Grizzlies are still a relatively young franchise, but The Athletic pinpoints Memphis’ grit and grind era in the 2010s as their most notable run. Zach Randolph, Tony Allen and Mike Conley all had a strong hand in at that time, but Gasol’s presence in the middle helped facilitate their effectiveness.

Pelicans fans are hoping that Zion Williamson stays healthy enough to take the reigns in this arena, but Davis has to be the choice for now. For seven seasons, Davis was a two-way star, leading the NBA in blocks three times during that span. The Pelicans selected him with the first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and were quite happy they did.

With all due to respect to Pete Maravich, the answer here is either Malone or Stockton. Stockton is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals, which make his case here awfully strong. However, we’ll give the slightest of edges to Malone, who scored 15,295 baskets on Stockton’s passes, according to StatMuse.

Bill Walton will remain a beloved Blazer forever, but the two main candidates for Portland’s top all time spot are Drexler and Damian Lillard. Lillard might very well have been the more talented player, but Drexler led his teams to perennial playoff runs, and two NBA Finals’ appearances. Drexler averaged over 20 points a night in 12 seasons with the Blazers.

Alex English’s 12 seasons with the Nuggets shouldn’t be forgotten, but Jokic has done just enough to eclipse the former scoring dynamo. In 2023, Forbes wrote a piece about the simple, but brilliant offensive dominance that Jokic has made look easy over the last few years. He’s a three-time MVP and an NBA champion, and the resume will continue to improve.

USA Today summarized Garnett’s basketball journey by saying that his intensity fueled a career that led to the Hall of Fame. His unwavering commitment to winning was a trademark of his style throughout his time with the Timberwolves. Although he wasn’t able to get Minnesota to the top, Garnett put the team on his shoulders on offense and defense during his prime.

The Thunder franchise relocated from Seattle, so technically SuperSonics players could be considered here. However, we’ll give the nod to Durant, who put basketball in Oklahoma City on the map. Durant reflected on his time with the franchise, and admitted to Basketball Network that he wanted to help the city grow.

There are any numbers of players who have a legitimate case to be tabbed as Los Angeles’ greatest of all time. With five titles and a swagger that only few in NBA history have ever had, Bryant gets the edge over other Lakers legends. Bryant is the all-time leading scorer in the franchise’s illustrious history.

Curry has amassed three point shooting records that are going to be difficult for anyone to break moving forward. His prolific play allowed the Warriors to win four titles during his tenure, and the guard continues to erupt for huge nights on the offensive end. He’s led the NBA in scoring twice, and the league in three pointers made in an astonishing eight seasons.

The Suns have had many exciting teams throughout their history, but perhaps the one that was most successful for the longest period was the “seven seconds or less” edition in the 2000s. Those squads were led by Nash, who pushed the ball up the floor to find shooters before the defense was set.

On a bit of a technicality, Robertson gets the belt as the greatest Kings player of all time. He played 10 seasons for the Cincinnati Royals, which eventually became the Sacramento Kings. In that stretch, he averaged over 25 points per game, nine assists and seven rebounds. In terms of Kings history in Sacramento, Chris Webber or Mitch Richmond have a claim as the greatest player ever.

ClutchPoints ranked Paul as their greatest Clipper of all time, and it’s hard to argue with that. Blake Griffin certainly deserves praise, but Paul’s pinpoint passes are what allowed Griffin to posterize defenders early in his career. The point guard also helped change the culture of a franchise that had only known losing in their history.