Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE, via Getty Images

While there are several amazing players in the NBA, there are some that come out on top. This article will focus on three of the best players of all time and how they shaped NBA odds while playing the game they loved. Even though two of the players on this list are retired, they were huge when they were playing and are both still considered to be some of the best.

1. Michael Jordan

If you ask a group of people, a large majority will say that the best player of all time is Michael Jordan. He was a huge part of the NBA in the 80s and 90s and was one of the players that really helped the NBA gain its extreme popularity. He played for an astonishing 15 seasons and helped his team, the Chicago Bulls, win six championships. He played in college and was chosen by the Bulls as the third overall draft pick. In addition to these championships, he also won many individual rewards, including five MVP awards, ten first-team designation awards, and ten scoring titles. While he stayed with the Bulls for the majority of his career, he did play a few seasons with the Washington Wizards.

2. Shaquille O’Neal

Considered one of the best players and centers of all time, Shaquille O’Neal is now a permanent fixture on the show Inside the NBA. He had a 19-year career and has played on six different teams. Right out of college, he was the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in 1992 and quickly became one of the top players of his time. In addition to being an NBA champion four times, he also holds other titles, including the 92-93 Rookie of the Year and several MPV awards. He retired after the 2010-2011 season and has been inducted in both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame.

3. LeBron James

LeBron James, also known as King James, is a player for the LA Lakers and was the first pick in the first round of the 2003 draft. He started with the Cleveland Cavaliers and played with them for seven years. He played for the Miami Heat from 2010-2014 and actually came back to Cleveland to play from 2014-2018. He’s been with the Lakers since 2018 and is still currently playing with them. From his first game in 2010, he has won many awards, including four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and the 2014 Rookie of the Year. In addition to being one of the best players of all time, he created a charitable organization called the LeBron James Family Foundation that has done a lot for his hometown of Akron, Ohio, including opening an elementary school and housing complex.