Bill Russell

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Bill Russell won two NCAA championship with the San Francisco Dons back to back (1955-1956), on a college team that was the first to start three African American players (KC Jones and Hal Perry were the other two). Russell averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds per game during his college career, winning the MOP in 1955. Russell went on to play for the Boston Celtics and win 11 NBA titles, along with 5 MVP awards. Along with Henri Richard, Russell holds the record for the most championships won by an athlete in one of the big four North American pro-leagues. Russell was inducted into the hall of fame in 1975.

Wilt Chamberlain

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Another NBA icon from the 1960’s and early 70’s, Russell’s nemesis, Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain played from the Kansas Jayhawks, not winning the NCAA title with them but did win the MOP in 1957, as Kansas lost in the finals to North Carolina in a triple overtime game that ended 54-53, a loss later described by Chamberlain as the most painful loss in his life. Wilt arrived in the NBA after a year with the Harlem Globetrotters, becoming the most explosive offensive force in the history of the league, winning two NBA titles, four MVP’s and seven scoring titles. Chamberlain finished his career average of 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1979 and passed away 20 years later, at the age of 63.

Elgin Baylor

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Elgin Baylor led the Seattle Redhawks to it’s last final four appearance in 1958, losing to Kentucky in the final but winning the MOP for his effort. After three years in college, averaging 31.3 points per game, Baylor got drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers, in a move that “saved the franchise”, according to Bob Short. 14 Seasons later, Baylor ended his career without an NBA title, taking the Lakers to the finals eight times, losing them all, in an era almost entirely dominated by the Boston Celtics. The year he retired was the year the Lakers won their first NBA title since moving to LA. Title or not, Baylor is considered to be among the greatest to ever play the game and probably the first true complete all-around player. Baylor finished his career with 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, making the all-star game eleven times and still holds the record for most points scored in a single game in the NBA finals – 61. Baylor also happens to be one of the most unsuccessful GM’s in NBA history, forming a very unproductive partnership with Donald Sterling.

Jerry West

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Mr. NBA logo himself, Jerry West played college ball for West Virginia, leading the Mountaineers to it’s only Final Four until this year (my favorites to win it). He led WVU to the final, losing to California 71-70, winning the MOP. He joined Elgin Baylor with the L.A. Lakers, and unlike Baylor, managed to win a title, in 1972. He’s also the only player to win the Finals MVP playing for the losing team (1969, losing to the Boston Celtics, again). West was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980, ending his career with a scoring average of 27 points per game and has one NBA scoring title, scoring 31.2 points per game in the 1969-1970 season.

Jerry Lucas

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Maybe the greatest player ever in the college level, Jerry Lucas won two consecutive MOP (1960-1961) awards, leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to three consecutive Final Four appearances, winning the championship in 1960. Due to the whole Cleveland Pipers ordeal, Lucas started his NBA career only in 1963, playing for the Cincinnati Royals, San Francisco Warriors and finally the New York Knicks, winning the NBA title in 1973, becoming the first American basketball player to win a championship at every level – high school, college, Olympics and the pros. Lucas was inducted into the hall of fame in 1980, holding career averages of 17 points and 15.6 rebounds per game.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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So many records, it’s hard to know where to begin. He won three national championship with the UCLA Bruins under John Wooden, part of the school’s seven consecutive national titles. Jabbar, who was named Lew Alcindor at the time, won the MOP all three times (1967-1969), the only player to win the award three times. He still holds the school record for career point average (26.4), most points in a single game (61) and numerous others. How did he do in the NBA? Six championships, six MVP awards, scoring champions twice and holds the all time records for points scored (38,387), minutes played (57,446) and most all-star selections (19). He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1995, holding career averages of 24.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

Bill Walton

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Bill Walton won UCLA’s final three national titles in their seven consecutive run, winning two MOP’s along the way, the last player to win the award more than once.He was part of the school’s 88 consecutive wins streak, including two 30-0 seasons. Walton considers the loss to Notre Dame that ended the streak to be the toughest loss in his life. Walton played in the NBA between 1974-1987 but he missed three complete seasons due to injuries, completing only 468 games in his career. He still managed two NBA titles, one with the Blazers in 1977, the Portland’s only title to date, and one with the Celtics in 1986, coming off the bench, winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. He won the league MVP in 1978, and is the only player in NBA history to win the league MVP, sixth man and Finals MVP during his career.

Magic Johnson

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Probably the greatest passer in the history of the game and one of the few who could actually play every position at an all-star level. He led the Michigan State Spartans to the national title in 1979 in the most watched college basketball game at the time – the final against Indiana State, against one, Larry Bird. After two years in college with averages of 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists, Magic went pro and joined the NBA. He won five championships, three MVP awards and three NBA finals MVP. His career assists per game average is the highest all-time (11.2). He also averaged 19.5 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 2002.

Isiah Thomas

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Another great point guard of the 1980’s and one of the most hated men in New York city, Isiah Thomas, like Magic, played two seasons in college, also for a big ten team, Bob Knight’s Indiana. He won the national title with the Hoosiers in 1981, leaving for the NBA after winning the MOP. He played with the Detroit Pistons for 13 seasons, winning two NBA titles, including one Finals MVP (1990). He was inducted into the hall of fame in 2000. His career assists per game average is fifth best all time (9.3) and he also scored 19.2 points per game. He is still the Pistons all time leader in points, assists and steals.

James Worthy

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Unlike Thomas, Worthy likes Michael Jordan. James Worthy, “big game James”, was actually the big star on a North Carolina team that had Michael Jordan playing for it as well. Worthy was part of the 1982 national title winning side (with Jordan hitting the winning shot) and won the Final Four MOP before joining Magic, Kareem, and the Lakers. Worthy was part of three championships, winning the Finals MVP in 1988. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 2003 and is one of the greatest Small Forwards in NBA history.

Hakeem Olajuwon

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Hakeem is the last player to win the Most Outstanding Player award while playing for the losing side. He starred alongside Clyde Drexler for the “Phi Slama Jama” Houston Cougars team. Olajuwon reached two NCAA finals, once losing to the Wolfpack (1983) and once to the next player on the list and his Hoyas (1984). Olajuwon was part of the 1984 NBA draft, maybe the best draft class ever, joining Ralph Sampson and the Houston Rockets, forming the “twin towers”. It took Olajuwon a decade, but eventually he won two NBA titles with the Rockets, two finals MVP’s and one regular season MVP in 1994. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 2008. He is 10th all time in points, 12th in rebounds, 9th in steals and has more blocks than any other player in NBA history.

Patrick Ewing

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Patrick Ewing reached the national title game three times in college, losing once to Worthy’s and Michael Jordan’s North Carolina, winning it in 1984, beating Olajuwon and Houston and lost again in his senior year, as Georgetown were stunned by the Villanova.

Ewing was supposed to be the savior of the New York Knicks, but never got the city it’s long awaited title, making the finals in 1994 and in 1999. Ewing was part of the 2008 hall of fame class and finished with career averages of 21 points and 9.8 rebounds. He also won two Olympic gold medals in 1984 and 1992.

Oscar Robertson, 6′5 (1.96)

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The Big-O was one of the greatest all-time, remembered as one of the most versatile players to ever play the game, maybe the greatest triple-double threat to step on a basketball court. If you don’t remember, he finished the 1961-1962 season averaging a triple double for the entire season  – 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. We’re here for the assists. Robertson played as a point guard, but he was pretty much all around the place, and could play 1-4 and even as center if you really needed him to. Robertson led the league in assists six times during the 1960’s, all of them as a Cincinnati Royals. He is fifth on the all-time assist list with 9′887 in 1040 games, 9.5 per game, 4th best all-time.

Micheal Ray Richardson, 6′5 (1.96)

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Whatever happened to Micheal Ray? In short – he was drafted by the Knicks (ahead of Larry Bird!!!) and was billed as the next Walt Frazier. In his second season as an NBA player (1979-1980), Richardson became the first player to lead the league in both steals and assists, the only season he led the league in assists, and his first of four times he was on top of the steals rankings. Richardson was then traded to the Warriors and from there to the Nets, where he became an All-Star and in 1984 led them to a shocking upset of the Philadelphia 76ers who were the defending champions. Richardson was banned for life from the NBA in 1986 by David Stern for violating the NBA’s drug policy three times, moving on to the CBA, UBL and later on a successful career in Europe. He is currently the head coach of the CBA’s Oklahoma Cavalry and is a poster boy of what a destructive way of living ruins a successful career. He is 93rd all time in total assists (3899) and 23rd all time on the assists per game list with 7 apg.

Magic Johnson, 6′9 (2.06)

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No need to mention how good Magic was, to some the greatest basketball player ever. He played point guard, but he was everything else as well when necessary (1980 NBA Finals Game 6 – 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists playing as guard, forward and center during the game). Magic led the league in assists three times, fourth on the all time assist list, but his career average (11.2) is the highest of all time, one of only three players (the others being Stockton and Chris Paul) to have a 10+ assists per game career average.

Wilt Chamberlain, 7′1 (2.16)

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What?! A 7′1 giant leading the league in assists? Despite being an offensive beast, Chamberlain found time to share the ball with his teammates, especially later on in his career. In the 1967-1968 season Wilt led the league in total assists, averaging 8.6 per game. He averaged 7.6 the previous season and during his Lakers years (1968-1973) never finished with an assist average lower than 4 per game. His career average is 4.4, the highest ever for a center, 122nd all time and is 57th all time in total assists (4643).

Number 10 – Wes Unseld, 1968-1981 , 13,769 Rebounds

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Unseld spent his entire career with the Washington/Capital/Baltimore Bullets, all 13 seasons of it. He played 984 games, averaging 14 rebounds per game. He led the league in rebounds per game in 1974-1975, grabbing 14.8 rebounds per game. He averaged over 10 rebounds per game in 12 of his 13 seasons. He actually averaged much more than 14.8 in his first five seasons in the league, including 18.2 in his rookie season, but  it wasn’t enough with Chamberlain and Russell around.

Unseld was voted into the hall of fame in 1988, won an NBA title with the Bullets in 1978 including the finals MVP, and in 1969 won both rookie of the year and league MVP, the second player in history (Chamberlain the first) to achieve that.

Number 9 – Walt Bellamy, 1961-1975, 14,241 Rebound

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Walt Bellamy played in the real early days of the NBA for teams like the Chicago Packers and Zephyrs and also the New Orleans Jazz. He played for seven teams during his NBA career, playing 1043 games, averaging 13.7 rebounds per game, 7th best all time. He never led the league in rebounding but averaged more than 10 per game in 11 of his 14 seasons. His best came in his rookie season, averaging 19 per game.

Bellamy was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1993 and was a four time NBA All Star.

Number 8 – Nate Thurmond, 1963-1977, 14,464 Rebounds

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Another Center who started his career in the early 60’s and never won the rebounding title because of two other giants in the league at that time (Russell, Chamberlain). Thurmond played 964 games, averaging 15 rebounds per game, 5th best all time. He averaged more than 20 rebounds per game in a season twice (1966-1967, 1967-1968) but it wasn’t enough for leading the league at the time. He averaged more than 10 in his first 12 seasons.

Thurmond was voted into the hall of fame in 1985 and is a member of the 50 greatest players in the NBA team, and is also the first player to record a quadruple-double, back in 1974 as a Chicago Bull (22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks). Only three other players have repeated the Q-double since.

Number 7 – Robert Parish, 1976-1997, 14,715 Rebounds

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Robert Parish is the only player on the list with a career average lower than 10 rebounds per game, with 9.1 rebounds per game during his 21 seasons and 1611 games. Parish never averaged more than 12.1 rebounds per game but was solid throughout his career under the baskets, averaging more than 10 rebounds per game in 10 seasons.

The original agent zero, or double zero to be exact was inducted in the hall of fame in 2003, a member of the 50 greatest players team, a four time NBA champion and a nine time All Star.

Number 6 – Karl Malone, 1985-2004, 14,968 Rebounds

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The mailman Karl Malone is the only player in this top ten that isn’t a center, let’s begin with that. Malone, like many others, never led the league in rebounds per game, but did lead the NBA in total rebounds twice – 1991 and 1995. He averaged over 10 per game 10 times, and went below 8 per game only in one seasons. Over the course of 1476 games Malone averaged just above 10 boards per game.

No league title (thanx Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls), two league MVP awards, NBA’s 50th year all time team and a hall of fame induction coming very soon highlight his resume.

Number 5 – Moses Malone, 1976 – 1995, 16,212 Rebounds

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The second Malone in a row, Moses Malone wasn’t a towering giant like other great rebounders, but his 6′10 height, short for a center didn’t stop him from becoming one of the greatest rebounders of all time, fifth to be exact. He played in 1329 games and averaged 12.2 rebounds per game, 16th on the all time list. He led the league in rebounding six times (1979, 1981-1985), with his best coming in the 1978-1979 season, averaging 17.6 rebounds per game as a Houston Rocket. He averaged over 10 in his first 14 seasons in the league.

Moses won the NBA title once, in 1983 with the Philadelphia 76ers, three league MVP awards, one finals MVP, got into the hall of fame in 2001 and is also a member of the 50 greatest players team.

Number 4 – Elvin Hayes, 1968 – 1984, 16,279 Rebounds

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Elvin Hayes was even shorter than Moses at 6′9, but didn’t stop him from playing Center or Power Forward. Hayes is fourth all time in total rebounds and 14th in rebounds per game, averaging 12.5 rebounds in 1303 games. He led the league in rebounding twice – 1969-1970, averaging 16.9 rebounds per game and in 1973-1974, averaging his career best 18.1 per game. He never went below 11 per game during his first 12 seasons in the league.

Hayes is an hall of famer and one of the 50 greats of course and also has one NBA title with the Washington Bullets and Wes Unseld in 1978.

Number 3 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1969 – 1989, 17,440 Rebounds

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Number one in a lot of lists, but not here. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is second, well actually third on the all time rebounding list, only to the two giants who ruled the game during the 60’s. Kareem averaged 11.2 rebounds per game in his career, with his numbers dropping drastically in his second decade of play. His average is 24th best all time. He led the league in rebounding only once, in 1976, his debut year with the Lakers, averaging 16.9 rebounds per game. He averaged more than 10 in his first 12 seasons.

Kareem is a six time NBA champion and a six time NBA MVP, a 19 time All Star, and of course one of the greatest 50 players of all time.

Number 2 (Bill Russell) and Number 1 (Wilt Chamberlain)

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For statistical purposes only, Chamberlain is number one all time with 23,924 rebounds in 1045 games and Bill Russell is second with 21,620 rebounds in 963 games. Wilt averaged 22.9 in his career, Russell averaged 22.5. They both deserve the top spot. Both men are the only players in history with more than 20,000 rebounds in their career and a career average of more than 20 rebounds per game. The closest is Bob Petit with 16.9. Both represent an age in basketball when a center stood beneath the basket and no one got near him, no one could compete with him, with them. Close friends throughout their career until the 1969 NBA Finals, when Russell accused Chamberlain of copping out of a game in the face of a defeat, and Chamberlain later called Russell a backstabber. The two didn’t speak for more than 20 years after that. Chamberlain has the record for most rebounds in a game, 55, while Russell is second with 53, the only two men to grab more than 50 rebounds in one game. The list goes on and on… but the bottom line is, these two had one of the best individual rivalries in the history of the NBA and maybe team sports. Chamberlain maybe had a better stat line, but Russell had the titles. Chamberlain had two NBA titles, Russell had eleven. Russell was a five time MVP, Chamberlain was a four time MVP. Chamberlain did win more rebounding titles – he led the league in rebounding 11 times, while Russell led the league five times. Russell’s best was 24.7 in 1964, Chamberlain’s best was in 1961 – 27.2 rebounds per game.

What about active players? The only three players in the top 30 all time are Shaquille O’neal, who’s 12,566 rebounds put him at 15th. His average of 11.2 is 24th best all time. Kevin Garnett is 22nd all time in total rebounds with 11,682 and an average of 11.1. Tim Duncan is 28th all time, with 10,547 rebounds and an average of 11.7 per game, 20th best all time.

And two more – Dennis Rodman – the rebound king of the 1990’s – 20th best all time with 11,954 rebounds and an average of 13.1, 11th best all time. Dwight Howard’s 12.5 rebounds per game in his short career put him 14th best all time.

Number 10 – Moses Malone – 45,071 minutes

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The hall of famer and one of the 50 greatest players of all time, no.6 on the all time scoring list and number 5 on the all time rebounders is also number 10 all time in playing time. Moses Malone averaged 33.9 minutes per game during 1329 games over 19 seasons. He led the league in playing time twice, in 1979 and 1982, both times averaging over 40 minutes per game. He also surpassed the 40 minute per game mark in 1981.

Number 9 – Robert Parish – 45,704 minutes

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Hall of fame and the NBA’s 50th anniversary all time team, number 19 on the all time scoring list and number 7 on the all time rebounders list averaged 28.4 minutes per game throughout his career, the lowest average in the top 30 except for Kevin Willis (26.9). Parish played in the NBA for 20 seasons on four teams, mostly with the Boston Celtics (14 seasons), playing in 1611 games, the most ever. He played his most in 1986-1987, averaging 37.4 minutes per game that year.

Number 8 – John Havlicek – 46,471 minutes

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Hondo, or John Havlicek, besides being a hall of famer and a member of the al time 50 greatest players list is also part of maybe the most famous play-by-play call in the history of the NBA, back from 1965 “Havilcek stole it! Havilcek stole the ball” by Johnny Most, after Havilcek picked off Hal Greer from the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Finals game between the Boston Celtics and the 76ers.

Havlicek averaged 36.6 minutes per game over 1270 games in 16 seasons, all with the Celtics. He led the league in minutes twice, 1970-1971 and 1971-1972, averaging more than 45 minutes per game in both seasons, and averaged over 40 per game in three more seasons.

Number 7 – Gary Payton – 47,117

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Number 7 on the all time minutes list is also number 7 on the all time assists list which we have already covered not too long ago. Gary Payton, one of the NBA’s greatest point guards ever averaged 35.3 minutes per game during his career, spanning 1335 games in 17 seasons. He never led the league in minutes played, but averaged over 40 minutes per game for five consecutive seasons, between 1998-2003.

Number 6 – Reggie Miller – 47,619 minutes

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The league’s all time leader in 3 pointers made (2560) is number six in playing time all time. Reggie Miller spent his entire career with the Indiana Pacers, averaging 34.3 minutes per game, playing 1389 games in 18 seasons. He never averaged over 40, but went below 30 minutes per game only twice in his career, with his best coming in 2001, averaging just over 39 minutes per game.

Number 5 – John Stockton – 47,764 minutes

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The NBA’s all time leader in assists and steals had a lot of minutes in order to accomplish those top spots and distance himself from the rest by a lot. John Stockton is number five in playing time all time in the NBA, averaging 31.8 minutes per game through his 1504 games in 19 NBA seasons. He never averaged over 40, with his best coming in 1989, averaging 38.7 minutes per game. He played his entire career with the Utah Jazz.

Number 4 – Wilt Chamberlain – 47,859 minutes

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Wilt “the stilt” Chamberlain is the NBA’s all time leading rebounder and the all time leader in minutes per game, with 45.8 minutes per game. Chamberlain played 1045 games, the lowest number among the top 18, in a career spanning 14 seasons. Wilt led the league in minutes eight times, and he never played less than 40 minutes per game in his entire career. In his amazing 1961-1962 season (50.4 points per game), he average 48.5 minutes per game due to his over time play, resting only 8 minutes the entire season (an average of six seconds of rest per game).

Number 3 – Elvin Hayes – 50,000

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Also from the 50 all time greats list from 1996, Elvin Hayes is seventh on the all time scoring list and fourth on the all time rebounders list. He averaged 38.4 minutes per game in his career, playing 1303 games in 16 seasons. Hayes led the NBA in minutes played four times and minutes per game twice. He played over 40 minutes per game in nine seasons, with his best coming in his rookie season – 45.1 minutes per game.

Number 2 – Karl Malone – 54,852 minutes

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Another (almost) life long Utah Jazz player, and the number two on the NBA’s all time scoring list and number six on the all time rebounding list. Karl Malone averaged 37.2 minutes per game in his career, playing 1476 games in 19 seasons, 18 with them as a Jazz player. Malone never led the league in minutes, but played over 40 minutes per game twice and never played less than 30 minutes per game.

Number 1 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 57,446 minutes

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The Number one scorer of all time, the man who made and shot more field goals than anyone else and number three on the all time rebounding list. He’s won the MVP award six times, more than anyone else, and has also played more minutes in his career than any other NBA player. He’s number two in games played after Robert Parish. Kareem averaged 36.8 minutes per game in 1560 games and 20 NBA seasons. He led the league in total minutes once, in 1976 but never in minutes per game. He played more than 40 minutes per game in his first seven seasons in the NBA.

Active players getting close -

Jason Kidd, 15th all time, 41,155 minutes, 37.2 minutes per game.

Shaquille O’neal, 21st all time, 39,926 minutes, 35.7 minutes per game.

Kevin Garnett, 24th all time, 39,635 minutes, 37.6 minutes per game.

No. 10 – Dominique Wilkins

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‘Nique, The Human Highlight Reel. One of the best scorers and dunkers in the history of the game, no.10 on the all time scorers list. Dominique scored 26,668 in 1074 games, averaging 24.8 points per game, 12th best all time. He’s mostly remembered for his 11 and a bit season with the Atlanta Hawks from 1982 till 1994, where he was the main cause for Hawks’ prominence in the mid 80’s, including a four straight 50+ wins streak. Unfortunately, Wilkins and the Hawks never got through past the Eastern Semi Finals.

Winner of two dunk competitions (1985, 1990) Wilkins is considered one of the best dunkers of all time in the NBA, especially in-game dunkers. That’s how he got the human highlight film nickname. But besides being an athletic freak, Wilkins was an amazing scorer. Not including his last 3 seasons in the NBA when he was past 35, Wilkins averaged more than 20 points per game for 11 straight seasons, from his sophomore year in 1983-84 to his final Hawks season, when he was traded to the LA Clippers, always a bad career move, in 1993-94.

Wilkins was the league’s best scorer in 1986, averaging 30.3 points per game, before Michael Jordan took over that crown for the years to come. Wilkins averaged 30.7 a couple of years later but then again, Michael Jordan.

Wilkins played in nine all-star games, won a gold medal in the 1994 FIBA world championship and even won a European title while playing for Panathinaikos of Greece in 1996. He also played for the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and ended his career with the Orlando Magic.

No. 9 – Oscar Robertson

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The “Big-O” is always hard to place in the all time best by position list, cause he was on the first combo guards. Point guard but also a shooting guard. He was just a great player, no need to define. Great is an understatement, he’s one of the best of all time, with few few who will say he’s the best ever.

26,710 points in a 1040 games, averaging 25.7 points per game, ninth best all time. Robertson was a huge college star in Cincinnati, one of the best of all time at college level. He was picked by the Cincinnati Royals, these days the Sacramento Kings. Robertson spent ten seasons with the Royals, never scoring below 24.7 points per game and averaging an amazing triple double in the 1961-1962 seasons – 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game. Robertson won nothing with the Royals and was traded to the Milwaukee bucks before the 1970-71 season began.

Partnering with a young Lew Alcindor who later became Kareem, you know the one, Robertson wasn’t the scorer he once was but finally won an NBA title, the Bucks only one till this day. Robertson never averaged below 12.7 points per game in his career, and averaged over 30 six times, his best being 31.4 points per game in the 1963-64 season. Robertson had one MVP award (1964), was a 12 time all star and was selected as one of the 50 greatest players that played in the NBA in the league’s 50th anniversary in 1996.

No. 8 -  Hakeem Olajuwon

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Hakeem “the dream” with his third appearance in our posts, after being in best moves & monkey off back. Olajuwon is one of the best if not the best centers of all time, playing in the NBA for 18 seasons, 17 with the Houston Rockets and a final year with the Toronto Raptors. He scored 26,946 points in 1238 games, averaging 21.8 points per game, just below the top 30 but that’s mainly because he kept playing way past his prime, lowering the averages.

Olajuwon averaged 21 points or more in his first 13 seasons, with his best stretch coming between 1993-1996, averaging 27 points per game during that stretch, in which he also won his two NBA titles and the 1994 MVP. His best scoring season was 1994-1995, when he averaged 27.8 points per game en route to a second straight NBA title.

Olajuwon won’t be remembered as a scorer but more as an all around great and versatile player and an amazing defensive presence and shot blocker. He played in 12 all star games, part of the 50 greatest players group and also has a gold medal with US from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

No. 7 – Elvin Hayes

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The Big E, Elvin Hayes is another to be chosen to the 50 greatest players of all time back in 1996. Hayes arrived into the NBA after being a huge star in college, playing for the University of Houston, like Olajuwon. Actually, Hayes, together with Don Chaney, were the first African Americans to play basketball in that University.

Hayes played for the San Diego Rockets than turned Houston Rockets for 4 seasons. He won the scoring title in his first season, averaging 28.4 points per game in the 1968-1969 season. He is still the last rookie to lead the league in scoring.

Hayes wasn’t an explosive scorer in the rest of his career but still very solid and consistent offensively. In 16 seasons in the league he scored 27,313 points in 1303 games, averaging 21 points per game. His best scoring season was his junior year, scoring 28.7 points per game. He scored over 20 points in 10 seasons, including his first seven. After moving to Baltimore/Washington, where he won the NBA title with Wes Unseld, Hayes’ numbers dropped a bit but he was still a great force to be reckoned with on both sides of the court.

Hayes was 12 time NBA all star and a scoring champion once, to go along with his one NBA title.

No. 6 – Moses Malone

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Moses Malone was the fifth player to go straight from high school into the pro’s. He started in the ABA but 2 years later his NBA career began, after the merger. He’s considered the greatest prep-to-pro player of his era, maybe of all time, and was selected to the greatest 50 players of all time in 1996.

Malone scored 27,409 points in 1329 games, averaging 20.6 points per game in the NBA. He played 21 seasons, 19 in the NBA,more than any other player.

He played for the Buffalo Braves exactly 2 games before moving to the Houston Rockets and becoming a legend. He played six seasons in Houston and in his final season there scored 31.1 points per game. He was signed by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1982, and won his first title in the 1982-1983 season, the “Fo, Fo and Fo” year. Moses won 3 MVP titles in that stretch, 2 with Houston and one with Philly, including the Finals MVP in 1983.

He continued playing and scoring for 12 more years, in Philly, Atlanta, San Antonio, Washington and Milwaukee. Between 1978-1989 he never scored below 20.2 points per game, with his best being the 31.1 in the 1981-1982 season. Malone continued playing and grabbing rebounds mostly way into his late 30’s before retiring in 1995.

He was an All-Star 12 times, 3 time MVP and has one NBA title.

No. 5 – Shaquille O’Neal

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Shaq, the most dominant ever? Well, he thinks so. Maybe he is, who knows. O’Neal is still playing although past his prime but can still score, averaging 17.6 this last season with the Phoenix Suns.

O’Neal was a destructive and damaging force from the moment he stepping onto the NBA courts and after his Rookie season in which he averaged 23.4 points per game, Shaq never went below 26.2 until his final season with the Lakers when injuries started slowing him down. To this point, after 17 seasons in the league and 1117 games, Shaq has scored 27,619 points, averaging 24.7 points per game, 13th best all time but that will probably be dropping as his career continues.

O’Neal never scored above 30 points per game in the regular season, but has three seasons with 29+ and has averaged more than 20 points per game in his first 14 seasons. He won the scoring title twice, once in 1995 with 29.3 per game and a second time in 2000, averaging his career best 29.7 points per game.

Shaquille was at his best during the 2000-2002 stretch winning three NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, teaming up with Kobe Bryant. He won the Finals MVP in all three finals. In 2000 he was also named the league’s MVP. He added another title in 2006, winning his fourth championship ring playing for the Miami Heat, this time Dwayne Wade being beside him.

Entering his 18th seasons this fall, Shaquille has taken part in 18 all star games, and has an Olympic Gold (1996) and a World Championship Gold (1994) with the US.

No.4  – Wilt Chamberlain

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With someone like Wilt, the numbers say it all. Wilt Chamberlain is the only player to average over 40 points in one season, and he also has a season he averaged over 50 in. He led the league in scoring seven times and he even led it once in assists! His most famous record is his single game scoring record, the famous 100 points game on March 2, 1962, as a player of the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. The closest anyone has ever come was 81 points, Kobe Bryant, 3 years ago. He is also one of only two players, the other being Michael Jordan, to score more than 3000 points in one season. Wilt did it 3 times.

After a year with the Harlem Globetrotters Chamberlain entered the NBA, and the league was never the same. In the 1959-60 season, his rookie year, he led the league in scoring with 37.6 points per game. He had 38.4, 50.4(!!), 44.8, 36.9 and 34.7. Only when he first finished a season below the 30’s in scoring did he finally win a championship, with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967. He added another one with the Lakers in 1972, only scoring 14.8 points then. He retired after the following season.

Chamberlain averaged 20+ points in his first 12 seasons and 30+ in his first seven. His lowest number came in his final season, 13.2. He wasn’t as young and changed his game, becoming more of a team player. Wilt retired with two NBA titles, four MVP awards, 13 all star appearances and seven scoring titles.If there was no Bill Russel, maybe he’d have a couple more title rings, and maybe a few more points. He finished with 31,419 points, averaging 30.1, second best all time.

No.3 – Michael Jordan

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What more can be written about his man? The greatest NBA player, the greatest basketball player, maybe the greatest athlete ever. He has won 6 NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, ten scoring titles, five MVP awards and could of had more if the voters weren’t probably bored with choosing for him again. He played the all star game 14 times, and in 15 seasons that had 2 retirements between them scored 32,292 points in 1072 games, averaging 30.12 points per game, the highest scoring average of all time. If not for his second comeback at the age of 38, that number would be higher.

Jordan became the true scoring machine in his third season. After his 63 point performance in the 1986 playoffs against the Boston Celtics, people slowly came to grasp with how good he really is and how good could he be. He scored 37.1 points per game in 1987 and won seven straight scoring titles. He never scored below 30.1 in those seven years and when he won his second and third championship in 1992 and 1993 he was finally labeled as the best ever.

His return from the retirement in 1995 and the second three peat, with Jordan scoring 30.4, 29.6 and 28.7, winning three more scoring titles to go along with the NBA titles just broadened his legend and myth. Those two extra years when he was 38-39 with the Washington Wizards, in which he scored “only” 22.9 and 20 points per game seemed redundant to some, but to many showed what  a great and gifted scorer he was, even when he was touching 40.

No. 2 – Karl Malone

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The Mailman always delivers, that was Malone’s tag line. There wasn’t anyone as consistent and as good as Malone, except for Jordan. Jordan also comes into play when we ask : How many titles does Karl Malone have? 0. Twice in the NBA finals with Utah Jazz, twice beaten by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Malone also played with the Lakers in the 2004 finals, losing to the Detroit Pistons, but he was on his way to retirement by then.

We’re about points, and he had a lot of them. 36,928 points in 1476 games, averaging 25 points per game, 11th best all time. Malone played in the NBA for 19 seasons, and scored below 20 points per game only in his first and last. Between them came 17 seasons in which Karl Malone never scored below 20.6 points per game and scored over 27 points per game 8 times, including 31 points per game in the 1989-1990 season.

Although not a pure shooter or scorer like Jordan, Malone worked hard and hardly missed a day of work. In 17 out of his 19 seasons Malone played at least 80 games, never going below 35 minutes per game in those seasons. And he had John Stockton who is the NBA’s all time assist leader. That helps you score points.

Karl Malone retired with no NBA titles and no scoring crowns but with two NBA MVP awards (1997, 1999), part of the 50 greatest players team and was a 13 time NBA all star.

Number 1 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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The man formerly known as Lew Alcindor, Kareem is the greatest scorer of all time in the NBA, with 38,387 points, playing 1560 games and averaging 24.6 points per game, 14th best all time.

Kareem played 20 seasons in the league, 6 with the Milwaukee Bucks, winning one NBA title along Oscar Robertson in 1971 and 14 more with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning 5 NBA titles with them, with Magic Johnson running the team.

Kareem scored more than 20 points per game in his first 17 seasons, including four seasons with 30+ points per game. He won two scoring titles, in1971, averaging 31.7 and in 1972, averaging 34.8, his career best. He dominated the league and under the baskets in the post Chamberlain-Russel era and continued to be a great player well into his 30’s, playing a significant part in the Lakers titles. He became the greatest scorer of all time in 1984, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.

Kareem retired with 6 NBA titles, 6 MVP awards( All in his more dominant first half of his career), 2 scoring titles, 19 time NBA all star and of course part of the 50 greatest players of all time team.

Threats on the Top 10

Besides Shaq, there are 4 more active NBA players in the Top 30. Allen Iverson is 16th, with 23,983 points. Iverson didn’t have a great year last season, scoring a career low 17.6 points per game but as long as he’s healthy he’ll get into the top 10. Same goes for Kobe Bryant, 17th on the all time list, and will probably reach to the top 10 faster than Iverson. Kobe should be there in just over a season. Kevin Garnett is 26th, with 21,277 points. It’s not certain how good will he be when comes back from his season ending injury, and i’m not sure if he’s much of a threat on the top 10. Lebron, Wade and Carmelo will be in that place a few years from now and are on pace of threatening the top 10.