For many fans, critiques and players, basketball is more than a game; basketball can be a religion. There have always been debates over whom we will praise as the NBA’s best players. Almost everyone will agree, that Michael Jordan is the ‘G.O.A.T’ or ‘Greatest of All-Time’ when it comes to this sport.
Jordan played basketball in a cutthroat era; which arguably, contained the best ballers we have seen to this day. Jordan not only dominated on the hardwood but also changed the game of basketball forever by escalating it on a global scale. Jordan may be the G.O.A.T for how he prevented superstars of his era from winning the Larry O’Brien trophy. Many basketball players’ talents became hidden behind the flying Jumpman; even today many of the NBA best ballers fall into the shadow Jordan has casted over the game of basketball.
With the many comparisons that have been made or are being made to Michael Jordan, many fall short. Jordan is one of the few athletes we have had the pleasure of watching that had an instinct to dominate his opponent; along with, the greatest desire to win. Many of today’s NBA ballers may not of even been able to compete in such a cutthroat era of dominate basketball players.
Here is a list of the Top 10 NBA ballers, post-Jordan era, that can be mentioned with the greats and would of been able to compete with the high-level of talent during Jordan’s era.
10) Allen Iverson (AI, The Answer)
Allen Iverson had one hell of a career. Even though he never won an NBA Championship, he did make it to the Finals and gave the 2000-2001 Los Angeles Lakers the only loss of their championship run.
Though many people have mixed opinions about Allen Iverson, you cannot disagree that he made a big impact in the world of basketball both on and off the court. After spending two years at Georgetown University, AI entered the NBA and won NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.
Iverson is an 11x NBA All-star. No one played their heart out more than Iverson. We watched this ‘little man’ give all his heart and body to the game of basketball. Currently, AI sits at the number four spot for minutes per game with 41.12. The three players in front of Iverson are Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain.
9) Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki changed the NBA; especially for overseas players. Nowitzki is potentially the best NBA player we have seen to come from Europe. He has taken his Mavericks to the Finals twice and won one championship title during his career. Among active players, Nowitzki is ranked at number three for defensive rebounds; behind Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.
For most career points, Dirk is ranked at number seventeen. Among active players, Dirk is number three, behind Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.
Nowitzki has impacted the game with a jump shot we have not seen from any other player so far. When all is said and done, Nowitzki will go down as one of the greatest players in the NBA and possibly the best European player to play in the NBA.
8) Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd has been a solid and productive point guard throughout his career. Upon entering the NBA, Jason Kidd received the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. Currently, he sits at the number three spot of minutes played with 50,111. In front of Kidd, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Even though Kidd has bounced around a little, he has always been productive. Kidd finally won a NBA title in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks. He is currently ranked number two in all-time assist and steals. John Stockton sits in front of Kidd in both categories.
Jason Kidd is a strong offensive and defensive player and one of the best point guards, post-Jordan era. The league lost an iconic player, when he announced his retirement a couple days ago.
7) Dwyane Wade
Courtesy: USA Today
Dwayne Wade has played all his NBA games for the Miami Heat. Among active players, Wade averages 24.7 points per game; which put his at the number five spot. Player efficiency rating is a rating of a player’s per-minute productivity. Wade holds the NBA’s all-time career seventh spot for player efficiency rating. The only active players in front of Wade are Chris Paul and LeBron James.
In 2006, Dwyane Wade won his first NBA Championship, leading the Miami Heat to the title. During the finals, Wade secured the NBA Finals MVP. Wade was able to rally his team to win four straight after being down 2-0 in the Finals. In game 3,4,5, and 6 Wade never scored less than 36 points.
6) Ray Allen
Ray Allen came into the NBA, after attending the University of Connecticut for three years. Allen was drafted 5th overall from an impressive draft class. Ray Allen is up for debate as the greatest shooter of all-time.
Allen’s most prominent years were with ‘The Big Three’ in Boston. Allen was able to win his first NBA championship in Boston. Allen sits at the number nine spot for total steals among active players. Ray Allen also sits at the number one spot for career leaders for 3-PT field goals with 2,857. The closest player to Ray Allen is another player who is up for debate as one of the greatest shooters of all time, Reggie Miller. Ray Allen has already made 297 more 3-Pt fields than Reggie Miller and his career is not over.
5) Kevin Garnett (KG, The Big Ticket)
Kevin Garnett came into the NBA as a young kid out of high school. Ever since entering the NBA, Kevin Garnett changed the game of basketball. When KG entered the league, he was referred to as ‘The Basketball Player of the Future’ and that accusation could not of been anymore correct.
Before KG, we had yet to see such an athletic and active power forward. KG changed the game of basketball with his ability to hit jumpers, handle to ball, and defensive capabilities With 18 years in the NBA, KG is still as intimidating as he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Out of all active players, KG holds the number one spot in defensive rebounds with 10,575. Second place goes to Tim Duncan, with 9,803 defensive rebounds. Another impressive statistic, among active players with the most steals, Kevin Garnett ranks number 3. Garnett has 1,742 career steals falling behind Kobe Bryant and Jason Kid.
Garnett has received the NBA’s MVP and NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year during his career. Garnett may only have one NBA Championship under his belt but he will be a Hall of Fame candidate.
4) LeBron James
LeBron James is arguably the best player, other than Kobe Bryant to come to the NBA straight out of high school. James has played 10 years in the NBA and is still in his prime and getting better every year. James has won Rookie of the Year, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 4x NBA MVP, one NBA title and NBA Finals MVP.
LeBron is probably the most controversial basketball player today. Among the NBA’s career record for player efficiency rating, LeBron is ranked at number two, right behind Michael Jordan. For the NBA’s record for career points per game, LeBron is ranked number three with 27.6 PPG, behind Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.
LeBron still has years left in him and many more awards to win. Though, I believe his career will be defined by how many rings he wins. If he does not win more than Jordan or Kobe, he will always be criticized.
3) Shaquille O’Neil (Shaq)
Shaq is one of the greatest ‘big men’ that the NBA has seen. Shaq had complete control of the paint during his prime. Shaquille O’Neil has won the Rookie of the Year, NBA MVP, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 3x NBA Finals MVP, and 4x NBA Championships.
Shaq ranks number six for career points; the only other player in the top ten from the post-Jordan era is Kobe Bryant. Shaq has outscored Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and Oscar Robertson. For NBA all-time career blocks, Shaq ranks number seven with 2,732 blocks. Shaq finished his career averaging 23.7PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 2.3 BLKS.
Shaquille O’Neil is one of the best centers that the NBA has seen. He is a shoe in for the Hall of Fame.
2) Tim Duncan (The Big Fundamental)
Tim Duncan has been a dominant player since his Wake Forest days. Since entering the NBA, Tim Duncan has won Rookie of the Year, All-Star Game MVP, 2x NBA MVP, 3x Finals MVP, and 4x NBA Championships.
The Big Fundamental has been a display of athletic ability. We have not seen many big men that can do what Tim Duncan does on the court. Tim Duncan ranks number four for all-time career defensive rebounds. Throughout his regular season career, Tim Duncan had averaged 20.2PPG, 11.2RPG, and 2.2BPG. Tim Duncan’s production only increases during playoffs. During Tim Duncan’s career playoffs he has averaged 22.0PPG, 11.9RPG, and 2.5BLKs.
Tim Duncan has been a display and fundamental and basketball excellence.
1) Kobe Bryant (Black Mamba)
Courtesy: Yahoo Sports
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant but in a draft day trade Black Mamba became a Los Angeles Laker; where he has spent his whole career. In the post-Jordan era, Kobe Bryant is the only player ‘most like MJ’, from his domination as a scorer, his ability to play defense and his desire for greatness.
Kobe Bryant is a NBA MVP, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 4x All-Star Game MVP, and a 5x NBA Champion. For all time NBA career fields, Kobe Bryant ranks number one among active players and number six among all-time NBA career players. For NBA career points, the Black Mamba ranks number four, only 675 points behind the G.O.A.T.
Kobe Bryant’s performance and domination helped to keep basketball on a global level in the post-Jordan era. So far through his career, Kobe averaged 25.5PPG, 1.5STL, 4.8AST, and 5.3 RPG.
Kobe Bryant is the best player we have seen since Michael ‘G.O.A.T’ Jordan.
Honorable Mention
Kevin Durant (Durantula), Steve Nash, Paul Pierce (The Truth), Tony Parker
All statistics credited to Basketball-refernce.com.
