Michael Jeffrey Jordan ranks first in our ranking of the world's best NBA players. He is a businessman and former professional basketball player from the United States. He was a National Basketball Association (NBA) player for fifteen years, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan is the principal owner and chairman of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets as well as NASCAR Cup Series team 23XI Racing.

Michael Jeffrey Jordan played three seasons of college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels under coach Dean Smith. In 1982, he was a freshman on the Tar Heels national championship team. Jordan joined the Bulls as the third overall draft pick in 1984 and quickly became a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring while also establishing himself as one of the game's best defensive players.

Michael Jeffrey Jordan won his first NBA title with the Bulls in 1991, then added titles in 1992 and 1993 to complete a three-peat. Jordan left basketball before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball, but returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and led them to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as a then-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season.

Six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, ten NBA scoring titles, five NBA MVP awards, ten All-NBA First Team selections, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game selections, three NBA All-Star Game MVP awards, three NBA steals titles, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award are among Jordan's accolades and accomplishments.

In 1999, ESPN named him the greatest North American athlete of the twentieth century, and he was second only to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press's list of athletes of the century. Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice, once for his individual career in 2009 and again in 2010 as a member of the United States men's Olympic basketball team in 1992.

Michael Jeffrey Jordan is well-known for his product endorsements and is one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation. He contributed to the success of Nike's Air Jordan sneakers, which debuted in 1984 and are still popular today. In 2006, he became a part-owner and the head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Hornets), and in 2010, he purchased a controlling interest. Jordan became the NBA's first billionaire player in 2016.

Born: February 17, 1963

Nationality: American

Junior Bridgeman is a businessman and former professional basketball player from the United States. From 1975 to 1987, Bridgeman was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball League (NBA). Junior Bridgeman currently owns Ebony and Jet magazines. Despite never earning more than $350,000 per season during his NBA career, Junior Bridgeman now has a net worth of more than $600 million, making him one of the richest NBA players.

Junior Bridgeman played for Coach Denny Crum at the University of Louisville. In 1974 and 1975, he was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. He averaged 15.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 87 games during his collegiate career at Louisville.

Junior Bridgeman was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Milwaukee Bucks along with David Meyers, Elmore Smith, and Brian Winters in exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as a rookie with Milwaukee in 1975–1976 under coach Larry Costello. He had a career-high 41 points in a 129–125 loss to Boston on December 15, 1976.

Junior Bridgeman scored 32 points and had six assists in a Game 1 Eastern Conference Semifinals loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on April 5, 1981. After nine seasons in Milwaukee, Bridgeman was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on September 29, 1984, along with Harvey Catchings, Marques Johnson, and cash for Terry Cummings, Craig Hodges, and Ricky Pierce. He returned to Milwaukee for one more season before retiring in 1987 after spending two years in Los Angeles. He played in 711 Bucks games, the most in franchise history. Bridgeman scored 11,517 points in his 12-year NBA career.

Junior Bridgeman worked and learned the business model of Wendy's fast-food restaurant franchise during the off-seasons of his playing career. He invested in the franchise after retiring from the NBA and eventually owned over 100 different Wendy's and Chili's restaurants before selling in 2016. Bridgeman Foods Inc's President and CEO, Bridgeman, became a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company in 2017 and signed a letter of intent to buy bottling operations in Canada in 2018. Bridgeman purchased Ebony and Jet for $14 million in December 2020 through Bridgeman Sports and Media, after the magazines declared bankruptcy earlier that year.

Born: September 17, 1953

Nationality: American

Magic Johnson (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player and former head of basketball operations for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers (NBA). Johnson, widely regarded as the best point guard of all time, spent 13 seasons with the Lakers, was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

After winning titles in high school and college, the Lakers selected Johnson first overall in the 1979 NBA draft. In his debut season, he won a championship and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, and he went on to win four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Magic Johnson announced his retirement in 1991 after contracting HIV but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. Following player protests, he retired for four years before returning in 1996, at the age of 36, to play 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for the third and last time.

Three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, 12 All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nods are among Johnson's career accomplishments. He topped the league in regular-season assists four times and is the all-time leader in average assists per game (11.2) in the NBA. After leaving the NBA in 1992, Johnson founded the Magic Johnson All-Stars, a traveling squad that played exhibition games all around the world.

Magic Johnson, who was named one of America's most prominent black business people by Ebony magazine in 2009, has several business interests and was a part-owner of the Lakers for several years. Magic Johnson was also a member of the group that bought the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and the Los Angeles Sparks in 2014. During Johnson's ownership of both organizations, the Sparks won the WNBA championship in 2016 and the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020. Magic Johnson has ten NBA championships across his playing and ownership careers, five as a player and five as a minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Born: August 14, 1959

Nationality: American

LeBron James is an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers (NBA). He is widely regarded as one of the best NBA players of all time and is sometimes compared to Michael Jordan in disputes over who is the greatest basketball player of all time.

LeBron James has four NBA championships, four NBA MVPs, four NBA Finals MVPs, three All-Star MVPs, and two Olympic gold medals. James has the most playoff points, the second-most career points, and the seventh-most career assists. He has been named an NBA All-Star 18 times, All-NBA Team 17 times, and NBA All-Defensive First Team five times. He has appeared in ten NBA Finals, the third-most all-time, including eight straight from 2011 to 2018.

While playing for the Heat in 2012 and 2013, LeBron James won his first two NBA titles, as well as the league's MVP and Finals MVP trophies. In 2014, after his fourth season with the Heat, James chose to opt-out of his contract and re-sign with the Cavaliers. In 2016, he guided the Cavaliers to a 3–1 Finals triumph over the Golden State Warriors, bringing the team's first championship and breaking the Cleveland sports curse. James exercised his contract option to depart the Cavaliers in 2018 and joined the Lakers, where he won the 2020 NBA championship and was named Finals MVP for the fourth time.

Off the court, LeBron James has amassed even more cash and celebrity through sponsorship deals. He has appeared in books, documentaries (including two Sports Emmy Awards for his work as an executive producer), and television commercials. He has 19 ESPY Awards to his name, has hosted Saturday Night Live, and starred in the sports film Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021). Since 2011, James has been a part-owner of Liverpool F.C., and he is the president of the LeBron James Family Foundation, which has established an elementary school, housing complex, retail plaza, and community center in Akron.

Born: December 30, 1984
Nationality: American

Shaquille O'Neal ranks fifth in our ranking of the world's best NBA players. He is a former professional basketball player from the United States who now works as a sports analyst on the television show Inside the NBA. O'Neal is widely recognized as one of the best basketball centers of all time. He is a 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) and 325-pound (147 kg) center who played for six clubs in the National Basketball Association (NBA) over a 19-year career and is a four-time NBA champion.

Shaquille O'Neal was picked as the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft after playing collegiate basketball for the LSU Tigers. He rapidly established himself as one of the league's greatest centers, winning Rookie of the Year in 1992–93 and leading his team to the NBA Finals in 1995.

After four seasons with the Magic, Shaquille O'Neal became a free agent and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. They won three championships in a row in 2000, 2001, and 2002. O'Neal was transferred to the Miami Heat in 2004, amid tensions with Kobe Bryant, and won his fourth NBA championship in 2006. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns midway through the 2007-2008 season. O'Neal was moved to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2009–10 season after spending a season and a half with the Suns. O'Neal retired after playing for the Boston Celtics in 2010-11.

Individual honors for O'Neal include the 1999–2000 NBA MVP Award, the 1992–93 NBA Rookie of the Year award, 15 All-Star Game selections, three All-Star Game MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards, two scoring titles, 14 All-NBA team picks, and three NBA All-Defensive Team selections. He is one of only three players in NBA history to earn NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP all in the same year (2000), joining Willis Reed in 1970 and Michael Jordan in 1996 and 1998. He is eighth all-time in points, sixth in field goals, fifteenth in rebounds and eighth in blocks.

In 1996, Shaquille O'Neal was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team as one of the league's greatest players of all time. O'Neal is third all-time in field goal percentage due to his ability to dunk the basketball and score from close range (58.2 percent). In 2016, O'Neal was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. O'Neal was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021, confirming his status as one of the league's best players of all time.

Born: March 6, 1972

Nationality: American

Kobe Bryant was a professional basketball player from the United States. He was a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association for his entire 20-year career (NBA). Bryant, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA Team member, a 12-time All-Defensive Team member, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. Bryant has also twice led the NBA in scoring and ranks fourth all-time in the regular season and postseason scoring. In 2020, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Kobe Bryant, who was born in Philadelphia and raised in Italy, was named the top American high school basketball player while at Lower Merion. He declared for the 1996 NBA draft as the son of former NBA player Joe Bryant and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick; he was then traded to the Lakers. Bryant established himself as a high-flyer as a rookie by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest and was named an All-Star in his second season.

Kobe Bryant, the Lakers' all-time leading scorer, was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star selections rank second all-time, and he has made the most consecutive starts. Bryant's four NBA All-Star Game MVP Awards tie him for the most in NBA history with Bob Pettit. In the mid-2000s, he coined the moniker "Black Mamba," which became popular among the general public. He won gold medals with the United States Olympic teams in 2008 and 2012.

Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others. Following his death, a number of tributes and memorials were issued, including the renaming of the All-Star MVP Award in his honor.

Born: August 23, 1978
Died: January 26, 2020

Nationality: American

David Robinson is a minority owner of the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Robinson was a 10-time NBA All-Star, the 1995 NBA MVP, a two-time NBA champion (1999 and 2003), a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner (1992, 1996), a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2009 for his individual career, 2010 as a member of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team), and a two-time U.S.Olympic Hall of Fame inductee (2009 for his individual career, 2010 as a (2008 individually, 2009 as a member of the 1992 Olympic team). He was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary (1996) and 75th Anniversary Teams as one of the league's all-time greats (2021). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers in both college and NBA history.

David Robinson was the second child of Ambrose and Freda Robinson and was born in Key West, Florida. Robinson's father was in the United States Navy, so the family moved frequently. Robinson excelled in school and most sports, except basketball, after his father retired from the Navy and the family moved to Woodbridge, Virginia. Robinson went to Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., where his father worked as an engineer.

David Robinson had exceptional post mobility, speed, and ball-handling ability, especially for a center. Robinson was nearly unstoppable on both sides of the floor, throwing down dunks and blocking shots with his good hands. He was also known for his powerful mid-range jump shot.

Over 987 games in the NBA, David Robinson averaged 21.1 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, 3 blocks per game, and 2.5 assists per game. He is also one of only four players in NBA history to have recorded a quadruple-double. He is also one of only six players in history to score 70 points or more in a single game. On April 24, 1994, Robinson scored 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Born: August 6, 1965

Nationality: American

Hakeem Olajuwon, sometimes known as "the Dream," is a former professional basketball player from Nigeria. He was a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and, later, the Toronto Raptors from 1984 to 2002. In 1994 and 1995, he led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles. In 2008, Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers of all time, as well as one of the best basketball players of all time.

Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and came to the University of Houston to play for head coach Guy Lewis. His college career with the Cougars includes three Final Four appearances. The Houston Rockets selected Olajuwon with the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft, which also included Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. He formed the "Twin Towers" with Ralph Sampson, who stood 7 feet 4 inches (224 cm). The two guided the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1986, where they were defeated in six games by the Boston Celtics. Olajuwon became the Rockets' uncontested leader after Sampson was transferred to the Golden State Warriors in 1988.

Hakeem Olajuwon was the first non-American to be an NBA All-Star and start in an NBA All-Star Game, the first non-American to win the NBA MVP, the first non-American to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and the first non-American to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP all in the same season in the 1993–94 season. His Rockets won back-to-back championships, avenging his college championship defeat to Patrick Ewing, and Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic. Olajuwon was a part of the United States national basketball team that won an Olympic gold medal in 1996, and he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Hakeem Olajuwon was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021, recognizing him as one of the league's best players of all time. He retired as the NBA's all-time leader in blocks (3,830) and is one of just four players in NBA history to record a quadruple-double.

Born: January 21, 1963

Nationality: Nigerian / American

Kevin Garnett is a retired American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for 21 seasons (NBA). Garnett, also known as the "Big Ticket" for his powerful dunking and athleticism, is regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and is noted for his intensity, defensive abilities, and versatility. He is one of just five NBA players to have received both the NBA Most Valuable Player Award and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award as of 2020.

Kevin Garnett was a McDonald's All-American at Farragut Career Academy in 1995 and was named national player of the year. He entered the NBA draft in 1995, and the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him with the fifth overall choice, making him the first player drafted directly out of high school in 20 years. Garnett made an immediate impact with the Minnesota Timberwolves, guiding them to an eight-game winning streak. He won the NBA MVP Award in 2004 after leading the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals. In 2007–08, he was awarded NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Kevin Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster trade in 2007, following 12 seasons with the Timberwolves. In his first season with the Celtics, he helped lead them to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, while also finishing third in the MVP voting. Garnett was part of a second sensational transaction in 2013 that took him to the Brooklyn Nets alongside former Celtic Paul Pierce. Garnett was traded back to Minnesota in 2015. In September 2016, he announced his retirement from professional basketball. Garnett was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021, recognizing him as one of the league's greatest players of all time.

Kevin Garnett was named to 15 All-Star Games during his NBA career, winning the All-Star MVP title in 2003. He was chosen to the NBA All-Defensive Team 12 times and the All-NBA Team nine times. Garnett also owns multiple franchise records for the Timberwolves.

Born: May 19, 1976

Nationality: American

Grant Henry Hill is an American former professional basketball player who is a co-owner and executive of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks (NBA). He attended Duke University and is widely regarded as one of its most talented players. Hill played in the NBA for four teams after four years of college basketball: the Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic, the Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He spent the majority of his career as a small forward.

Grant Henry Hill played basketball for the Duke Blue Devils for four years. He was the 1994 ACC Player of the Year, a two-time NCAA All-American, and a two-time NCAA champion. Hill was touted as one of the best players in Duke history and as one of the greatest college basketball players of his era.

After graduating from Duke in 1994, Grant Henry Hill was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the third overall pick in the NBA draft. He was the co-winner of the 1995 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Early in his NBA career, Hill was widely considered to be one of the best all-around players in the game, often leading his team in points, rebounds, and assists. Hill averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game in his first six seasons in the NBA, and he was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team five times.

Grant Henry Hill was a member of the Magic's Eastern Conference All-Star team in 2005. During his time with the Phoenix Suns, he reached the Western Conference Finals in 2010. Hill averaged 13.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in the 12 seasons following his ankle injury. Hill announced his retirement from the NBA on June 1, 2013. He is a seven-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA pick, and won NBA Sportsmanship Award three times. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Born: October 5, 1972

Nationality: American