Top 100 NBA Players of All-Time: 2018 Revision

We are a few weeks removed from the NBA Finals and its result shook the foundation of my Top 100 (and should have shaken everyone’s Top lists). So let’s look through my Top 100 and see what’s changed.

Dropped out: No One…AD is coming though.

As time goes on, new players get in. And that means someone has to drop out.

100. Tim Hardaway
99. Manu Ginobili
98. Alonzo Mourning
97. Dikembe Mutombo
96. Yao Ming
95. Vince Carter
94. Carmelo Anthony – To say he did nothing this season to raise his position is an understatement.
93. Kevin Johnson
92. Shawn Kemp
91. Robert Horry

No changes here.

90. Chris Mullin
89. Bob Dandridge
88. Paul Westphal
87. Dan Issel
86. Artis Gilmore
85. Tracy McGrady (-1)
84. Joe Dumars (-1)
83. Sidney Moncrief (-1)
82. Lenny Wilkins (-1)
81. Earl Monroe (-1)

Someone rose through the ranks.

80. Tony Parker (-1)
79. Chris Webber (-1)
78. David Thompson (-1)
77. Jerry Lucas (-1)
76. Pete Maravich (-1)
75. Dwight Howard (-2) – Charlotte just dumped him for Mozgov. MOZGOV! His early career stuff will always be great, but things just went downhill from LA on.
74. Russell Westbrook – He got elite help, averaged another triple-double and promptly lost in Round 1 again. Can we agree that his style of play is damaging to winning a NBA Championship at this point? Dwight’s damaged his own rep so much I felt Westbrook could pass him at least.
73. Chris Bosh (-1)
72. Dennis Rodman (-1)
71. Adrian Dantley (-1)

Only change is Westbrook-Dwight swap.

70. Alex English (-1)
69. Bob McAdoo (-1)
68. Tom Heihnson (-1)
67. Tiny Archibald (-1)
66. Pau Gasol (-1) – Great career. His peak was amazing.
65. Reggie Miller (-1)
64. Bill Sharmin (-1)
63. Dave Debusschere (-1)
62. Robert Parish (-1)
61. Bernard King (-1)

No movement here.

60. Elvin Hayes (-1)
59. Dolph Schayes (-1)
58. Paul Arizin (-1)
57. Dominique Wilkins (-1)
56. Billy Cunningham (-1)
55. Hal Greer (-1)
54. Nate Thurmond (-1)
53. Wes Unseld (-1)
52. James Harden (+33) – The NBA MVP! He was one game away from the Finals against a Warriors team that would destroy the Cavs the next round. Even looked competent on defense at times. Sky is the limit for Harden, especially if Paul sticks around and can stay healthy. Heck if Paul were healthy, we could be talking about the NBA Champs right now. Shame.
51. James Worthy (-1)

Another player rose in the rankings, which is why Worthy drops one spot.

50. Dennis Johnson (-1)
49. Bill Walton (-1)
48. Ray Allen (-1)
47. Chauncey Billups (-1)
46. George Gervin (-1)
45. Sam Jones (-1)
44. Clyde Drexler (-1)
43. George Mikan (-1)
42. Jason Kidd (-1)
41. Paul Pierce (-1)

Everyone dropped one spot because of the rising player.

40. Allen Iverson (-1)
39. Gary Payton (-1)
38. Patrick Ewing (-1)
37. Dave Cowens (-1)
36. Steve Nash (-1)
35. Kevin McHale (-1)
34. Walt Frazier (-1)
33. Willis Reed (-1)
32. Rick Barry (-1)
31. Bob Cousy (-1)

Someone moved up.

30. John Stockon (-1)
29. Chris Paul (+22) – Almost as good as you could expect. Made a Mike D’Antoni-James Harden team great on defense. Was able to share the ball with Harden, which was a big concern. Got a team to a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals, only to get injuried and watch the Rockets lose games 6 and 7. Put up a 41-10-7 with 8 threes to finally get past Round 2. If only he stayed healthy we’d probably be talking about his Top 20 candidacy. What a shame.
28. David Robinson
27. Elgin Baylor
26. John Havlicek
25. Bob Pettit
24. Scottie Pippen
23. Isiah Thomas
22. Dwyane Wade – Whacky season for Wade. Done as an impact player, and unfortunately didn’t jive with LeBron’s Cavs.
Curry moved up and we are still taking into account the other player who moved up, which explains all the drops.
21. Karl Malone (-1)

Curry’s moved up.

20. Charles Barkley (-1)
19. Julius Erving (-2)
18. Stephen Curry (+3) – Got hurt so didn’t get a full season, but still was great when he played. Set a NBA Finals game record for threes and had a legit case for NBA Finals MVP.
17. Oscar Robertson (-1)
16. Wilt Chamberlain (-1)
15. Kevin Garnett (-1)
14. Dirk Nowitzki (-1)
13. Jerry West (-1)
12. Kevin Durant (+6) – He’s knocking on the door of the Top 10 and put a huge Game 3 away in Cleveland. That’s two rings, but of course the discussion will be about how he got them as opposed to him actually owning while he got them.
11. Moses Malone

Curry is in, Durant is getting awfully close to the Top 10.

10. Kobe Bryant
9. Hakeem Olajuwon
8. Shaquille O’Neal
7. Larry Bird
6. Tim Duncan
5. Magic Johnson
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. Bill Russell (-1)
2. LeBron James (+1) – It’s time. LeBron’s 2018 playoffs were ridiculous and while it’s disappointing he got swept, it shouldn’t knock dragging this team to the Finals. Jeff Green was his 2nd best guy in Game 7 vs Boston. Jeff Green! He hit a bunch of game winners. Had some ridiculous statlines. He inched closer to Jordan, but unfortunately he’s quite old to just be inching. Still, it’s remarkable.
1. Michael Jordan