Making a top 50 legacy list isn’t easy. In fact, it’s an automatic way for people to get angry at you. I’ve based this top 50 list off of what I know, what I’ve seen and what I’ve researched. Feel free to leave a comment saying whether you agree / disagree and what your own top 20 list would be (or 50 if you want).Some of the players on the list are still active in the NBA, and therefore their position on this list will likely change in the near future.
The reason I’ve chosen to do an all time legacy list over an all-time skills based list is because there are too many exceptions with an all-time skill based list. For example, Grant Hill had the potential to be a top 25 player of all-time based on his level of skill before injuries plagued his career. If this was an all-time skill based list then he would have to be included, despite his obvious lack of achievements in his career.
My all-time legacy list is built on a combination of a player's achievements, how they dominated their respective era, how I feel they would perform in other eras, statistics and the eye test.
Please note that I am strictly talking about what a player has done on the basketball court. Not impact on the game of basketball, not how many sneakers they’ve sold or how many kids shout their name every time their commercial comes on the TV.
Additionally, the gap between two players may be bigger than just the number stated. Simply put, the gap in ability and accomplishments between player numbers 5 and 6, for example, may be smaller than the gap between player numbers 16-18.
A number within a bracket indicates how many places a player has advanced due to their play last season.
Take a look:
Top 50 NBA Legacies of All-Time
- Michael Jordan
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Magic Johnson
- Larry Bird
- LeBron James (+6)
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Tim Duncan (+1)
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Bill Russell
- Oscar Robertson
- Moses Malone
- Karl Malone
- Jerry West
- Kobe Bryant
- David Robinson
- Charles Barkley
- Kevin Garnett
- Julius Erving (Dr J)
- Dirk Nowitzki
- George Mikan
- Bob Petit
- Dwayne Wade
- Isaiah Thomas
- John Stockton
- Elgin Baylor
- Clyde Drexler
- Gary Payton
- John Havlicek
- Bob Cousy
- Rick Barry
- Patrick Ewing
- Bob McAdoo
- Walt Frazier
- Neil Johnston
- George Gervin
- Elvin Hayes
- Scottie Pippen
- Dominique Wilkins
- Dolph Schayes
- Jason Kidd
- Steve Nash
- Allen Iverson
- Willis Reed
- Nate “Tiny” Archibald
- Dolph Schayes
- Walt Bellamy
- Pete Marvich (Pistol Pete)
- Paul Arizin
- Dave Cowens
Take the list for what it is, it’s just merely my opinion.
As I stated in the introduction, please feel free to comment with your own personal list.
