Basketball is undoubtedly one of the most loved games across the world. However, with some popular tournaments like the NBA (National Basketball Association) in the US, the love for the game reaches the next level. The American sports enthusiasts eagerly wait for the tournament as it’s a chance for them to place bets on their favourite teams and players. If you also want to win big by placing bets on your favourite NBA players but don’t know where to start, you can try your luck on sport betting sites.
Nevertheless, while players like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid are garnering huge popularity in current times, here is a list of players that are regarded as the greatest of all times (GOATS). Scroll down to the end of this article and find out if your favourite basketball player found a spot on the list!
1. Michael Jordan
The legendary Michael Jordan is, perhaps, the most-liked basketball player in history. Born on 17 February 1963, the player has earned huge respect and fame across the globe due to his tremendous gaming skills and several records. The player has played in 15 NBA seasons between 1984 and 2003. His team, Chicago Bulls, won six NBA Championships during this time.
Michael Jordan has won NBA Finals MVP trophies six times! He has also won the NBA MVP award five times and has been named the All-Star 14 times. Apart from this, he has also been a ten-time scoring champion, rookie of the year, and defensive player of the year.
2. Kobe Bryant
Born on 23 August 1978, Kobe Bryant was a fiery name among basketball lovers worldwide. During his 20-year career, which lasted from 2006 to 2016, he earned several awards that many players can only dream of. Being a son of Joe Bryant, a former NBA player, he learned basketball skills at a very young age.
Kobe played for the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his entire career and won five championships. He was named All-Star 18 times, a member of the all-NBA team 15 times, a member of the All-Defense Team 12 times, and the MVP NBA Player of 2008. Unfortunately, Kobe lost his life in a helicopter crash on 26 January 2020.
3. LeBron James
As of January 2024, LeBron Raymone James Sr. is the oldest NBA player of the season. However, despite being older than the rest of the players, LeBron shows some skills that many players younger than his age strive to possess. Many compare LeBron to Michael Jordan.
Since his NBA debut in 2003, LeBron has won several awards in his more than 20 years-long career. Also known as ‘King James,’ LeBron has been part of 10 NBA finals, out of which his team won four championships. Besides, LeBron has also been part of the Olympic gold-winning team twice. LeBron James is the all-time leading scorer in the NBA. He has also been named all-star for a record 20 times. During his entire career, LeBron won the NBA MVP award four times.
4. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal, also famously known as ‘Shaq’, is a sensational basketball player. O’Neal is known to be one of the most dominant NBA players in history. Shaq has earned several awards throughout his 19-year-long NBA career, which lasted from 1992 to 2011. With 7’1” in height and a weight of over 1300 lbs, he was a beast on the court that could easily move past even the strongest defenses.
Shaq won Rookie of the Year in 1992, followed by making his first NBA finals in 1995. After spending his initial four years with the Magic, Shaq moved to the Los Angeles Lakers. Later, the Lakers won three consecutive seasons in 2000, 2001, and 2002. However, with his fellow basketballer Kobe Bryant, Shaq joined the Miami Heat in 2004.
Shaq O’Neal has won 15-time All-Star Game Selections, three NBA All-Star MVP awards, three Finals MVPs, and 14 All-NBA Team selections, along with many more titles under his belt.
5. Stephen Curry
Wardell Stephen Curry II, better known as ‘Chef Curry,’ is one of the most followed basketball players of modern times. Stephen, son of former NBA star Dell Curry, made his NBA debut in 2009 with the Golden State Warriors. His older brother, Seth Curry, is also a well-known NBA player.
The unbelievable shooting skills of Curry have gilded him amongst the greatest players of all. Curry is widely popular for making three-point shots and encouraging his team players to attempt the same.
Throughout his 14 years, and counting career, Stephen Curry has won several awards. Some of the well-known titles earned by the NBA star are two-time conference player of the year, NCAA record for the most three-pointers, and NBA MVP of 2014-15.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a basketball player of Greek Nigerian origin, made his NBA debut at the age of 19 in 2013. Nicknamed the ‘Greek Freak,’ Giannis is liked by millions for his on-court performances and versatile and dominant playing style. He is regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time.
Giannis consecutively won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. Before Giannis, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar and LeBron James were the only ones to win MVP awards under the age of 26. Giannis was also titled the NBA Defensive player of the year 2020. By doing so, he joined Hakeem and Jordan, the only players to win both awards in the same year.
Final Words
When James Naismith first invented basketball in 1891, he probably did not know that the sport would turn out to be such a massive hit in the future. Throughout its 130+ years-long history, basketball has given mankind some true gems who demonstrated the perfect combination of skills and sportsmanship.
While the era of many great basketball players has already passed, you can still watch the likes of Nikola, Giannis, and Stephen Curry showing off their skills on the court. While the NBA players sweat on the court, you can enjoy watching them beat their opponents and benefit from their sporting skills.
You can put your stakes on your favourite team and player using a trusted betting platform and earn lots of money while enjoying the game on your television! So, try your hand at online sports betting to test your luck.
