Which players are the GOATs of every position? It is never easy to rank a single player among the rest in every position because we have seen such amazing players compete since the NBA started in the 1947 season. Almost every generation has yielded top superstar players, and we have been lucky enough to witness most of them at specific moments in time.
The point guard position has seen a host of elite playmakers and floor generals compete in their eras and that role has changed in recent times, with scoring being the primary responsibility. The shooting guard position has remained consistent in terms of scoring duties, while the small forwards have generally been required to score and defend the wings.
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We have also seen elite big men throughout NBA history, and that is why it is likely that at least half of the top-ten players of all time have been bigs. Even if the NBA is a positionless league right now, it is time to revert back to the original positions as we make the greatest player of all time per position with two honorable mentions.
Point Guard – Magic Johnson
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2nd Place: Stephen Curry
3rd Place: Oscar Robertson
In an NBA that has been historically filled with fantastic talent at the point guard position, Magic Johnson is the greatest of them all. He is the best point guard of all time, and hardly anyone could argue that taking into account his individual and team success, even if Stephen Curry is starting to enter the conversation for some people. As great as Curry is, he can’t be mentioned on the level of Magic just yet. Johnson won five NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, and three MVPs while he consistently led his Lakers to fantastic records every year. No matter who Magic played with, he could lead the charge and guide his teammates to incredible success.
Johnson was the first point guard to truly change the game, using his mix of size and strength to completely dominate the ball. Magic could legitimately play all five positions, and his passing and court awareness was second to none. Remember, Magic won the NBA title and Finals MVP in his rookie campaign while stepping in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6. Without a doubt, Magic will go down as the best point guard of all time, and this will likely never change.
Stephen Curry is in second place due to the fact he changed the NBA with his shooting, and his accolades are truly tremendous. Even if you place asterisks next to his 2017 and 2018 NBA titles thanks to Kevin Durant joining the Warriors, two other championships, a Finals MVP award, back-to-back MVPs, and the all-time three-point record are synonymous with Curry. Oscar Robertson is in third place as the original triple-double king and one of the most dominant players of all time, regardless of position.
Shooting Guard – Michael Jordan
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2nd Place: Kobe Bryant
3rd Place: Jerry West
In a league that has been historically filled with dominant players who could score and defend, Michael Jordan is above everyone else as the greatest player of all time. He is the man, the myth, and the legend for the NBA and the single almost unearthly athlete we have ever seen. Jordan was an obsessed winner, blessed with incredible talent and athleticism, and simply hardly did anything wrong in his career when he stepped foot on a basketball court. With a flawless 6-0 Finals record, nobody was as dominant as Jordan was in his prime.
Jordan’s six NBA titles, six Finals MVPs, 10 scoring titles, and Defensive Player of the Year Award puts him far ahead of every player we have ever seen.
It was Michael Jordan who was the face of the league and still remains the most iconic and well-known player in the world. Michael won at every level, both individually and as part of a team, and provided countless memories for all fans and media to enjoy for the rest of eternity. Michael’s scoring ability and defensive prowess were near perfection, and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do well on the court. Jordan is not only the greatest shooting guard ever but the greatest player in the history of team sports.
Kobe Bryant deserves an honorable mention as being the closest to Michael Jordan in skill, playing style, and mentality. The Black Mamba captured five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and also added two Finals MVPs and a regular-season MVP trophy. Perhaps only Jordan could rival Kobe Bryant in terms of pure skill, and that alone places Bryant as one of the all-time greats. There is heavy competition for the third spot with regards to Dwyane Wade, but Jerry West is the NBA’s logo and one of the most perfect offensive players we have seen in terms of scoring, shooting, and playmaking ability.
Small Forward – LeBron James
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2nd Place: Larry Bird
3rd Place: Kevin Durant
LeBron James is the greatest small forward of all time, and it was settled as soon as The King captured his 4th NBA title and 4th Finals MVP as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. James also became the all-time scoring leader in NBA history this season and is the greatest all-around player we have ever seen. In terms of leadership, James is also one of the greatest because of the way he uplifted his teammates.
James has played in 20 seasons in the NBA and is still going strong as he posted 28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 6.8 APG at 38 years of age. The King does it all in terms of scoring, passing, and rebounding, and his amazing achievement of making 10 NBA Finals appearances shows just how dominant LeBron James has been after entering the league as the most hyped rookie of all time.
Larry Bird is easily the second-greatest small forward ever because he won three NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, and three MVPs as the face of the 1980s alongside Magic Johnson. The 12-time All-Star is one of the greatest shooters ever and also one of the greatest competitors as well. Kevin Durant has climbed the rankings over time because of his elite scoring ability as a four-time scoring champion with career shooting splits of 49.9% FG, 38.5% 3-PT FG, and 88.6% FT.
Power Forward – Tim Duncan
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2nd Place: Karl Malone
3rd Place: Kevin Garnett
There is only one player who can be regarded as the greatest power forward ever, and his name is Tim Duncan. The Big Fundamental won five NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, and two MVP awards as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan was not only one of the greatest defensive players of all time but the leader and driving force of a Spurs dynasty that featured the likes of Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, David Robinson, and Manu Ginobili at separate points.
Duncan was dominant inside the paint as a two-way player, and a spectacular 19-year career is on the resume of the legendary big man. Timmy was not the most exciting player to watch because of his below-the-rim style of play and slow pace, along with the fact he probably loved using the backboard on his shots more than we liked to see. That doesn’t take away from the power forward’s greatness.
Karl Malone has to be ranked in second place because he won two MVP awards and also made 14 All-NBA Teams and 14 All-Star appearances. The Mailman is also ranked third all-time in total points scored and formed one of the best duos ever with John Stockton. Finally, Kevin Garnett usurps the likes of Dirk Nowitzki and Giannis Antetokounmpo due to the fact that he was one of the most intense winners we have ever seen.
Center – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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2nd Place: Wilt Chamberlain
3rd Place: Bill Russell
No doubt, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best center of all time when taking into account individual and team records. He has the most records, won at every level, and had the most unstoppable move in NBA history in the skyhook. Kareem was a dominant player all the way into his 40s and was a force on both ends of the floor. Abdul-Jabbar averaged 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 2.6 BPG while making 19 All-Star teams, 15 All-NBA teams, and 11 All-Defensive teams.
Of course, Kareem captured six MVPs and six NBA titles to go along with two Finals MVP trophies. The big man was a winner at every level and was the most dominant center of all time as a result. Upon his retirement, Kareem ranked first among all players in points scored with 38,387 total points before LeBron James passed him up this year. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had an amazing career that lasted 20 years and is the number one center, and it isn’t a discussion.
Shaquille O’Neal just missed out on the top three because both Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell were such massive icons in their generations. Wilt Chamberlain has to appear when you consider the records this man has broken. He once scored 100 points in a single game, snagged 50 rebounds in a single game, and had career averages of 30.1 PPG and 22.9 RPG. Bill Russell is next with 11 NBA championships and is the single greatest winner in NBA history. Despite playing with a host of other elite star players, Russell was the leader of the iconic 1950s and 1960s Boston Celtics dynasty and is an honorable mention as a result.
