We were sitting there listening to Austin Rivers on the “Off Guard” podcast the other day, and it got us thinking – why do we always argue about the top 50 or top 75 players of all time? Man, those debates get messy fast. Everyone’s got different criteria, different eras they favor, and honestly, it just turns into chaos.
But breaking it down by position? Now that’s where the real fun begins. Instead of trying to compare Magic Johnson to Tim Duncan or Michael Jordan to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar across completely different roles, we can focus on what makes each position special. That’s a debate we can actually sink our teeth into.
So here’s our take on the four faces that should be carved into the mountain for each position, plus some additional names that deserve serious consideration.
Point Guard: The Floor Generals
Mount Rushmore (Top 4)
- Magic Johnson – 5 championships, 3 Finals MVPs, revolutionized the position
- Stephen Curry – 4 championships, 2 MVPs, transformed basketball with 3-point shooting
- Oscar Robertson – Triple-double season, MVP, incredibly well-rounded
- Isiah Thomas – 2 championships, clutch performer, fierce competitor
Additional Considerations (2 More)
- Chris Paul – 12x All-Star, elite playmaker and leader
- John Stockton – All-time assists and steals leader, incredible longevity
The point guard position might be the deepest in NBA history. Magic’s there because he’s Magic – the 6’9″ point guard who made everyone around him better and delivered when it mattered most. Curry changed the entire sport with his range and off-ball movement. The Big O averaged a triple-double for a season when that seemed impossible. And Isiah? The man was clutch incarnate, leading the Bad Boy Pistons to back-to-back titles.
Stockton’s longevity records might never be broken, and CP3’s basketball IQ is off the charts. Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, and even young guns like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all deserve mentions too.
Other Point Guards Worth Mentioning
- Steve Nash (2x MVP, elite playmaker)
- Jason Kidd (Triple-double machine, great defender)
- Walt Frazier (2 championships, elite two-way player)
- Gary Payton (DPOY, “The Glove”)
- Damian Lillard (Clutch scorer, deep range)
- Russell Westbrook (MVP, multiple triple-double seasons)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite young scorer and playmaker)
Shooting Guard: The Scorers
Mount Rushmore (Top 4)
- Michael Jordan – 6 championships, 6 Finals MVPs, greatest player ever
- Kobe Bryant – 5 championships, 2 Finals MVPs, “Mamba Mentality”
- Jerry West – “The Logo,” Finals MVP in losing effort, clutch gene
- Dwyane Wade – 3 championships, 1 Finals MVP, elite two-way player
Additional Considerations (2 More)
- Clyde Drexler – Championship, elite athleticism and scoring
- George Gervin – “The Iceman,” 4x scoring champion, smooth scorer
This one’s pretty straightforward at the top. Jordan’s the GOAT, and Kobe had that same killer instinct. Jerry West literally is the NBA logo and was clutch before clutch was a thing. Wade was the perfect blend of scoring and defense, plus he knew how to get teammates involved when it mattered.
The shooting guard position gets interesting after the top tier though. You’ve got pure scorers like T-Mac and AI, clutch legends like Ray Allen and Reggie Miller, and even James Harden’s revolutionary step-back era.
Other Shooting Guards Worth Mentioning
- Ray Allen (Clutch shooter, 2 championships)
- Reggie Miller (Playoff legend, 3-point pioneer)
- Allen Iverson (MVP, cultural icon, heart of a lion)
- James Harden (MVP, elite scorer and playmaker)
- Tracy McGrady (Elite scorer, incredible talent)
- Manu Ginobili (4 championships, sixth man extraordinaire)
Small Forward: The Swiss Army Knives
Mount Rushmore (Top 4)
- LeBron James – 4 championships, 4 Finals MVPs, incredible longevity
- Larry Bird – 3 championships, 3 MVPs, ultimate competitor
- Kevin Durant – 2 championships, 2 Finals MVPs, elite scorer
- Julius Erving – ABA/NBA legend, incredible athleticism, “Dr. J”
Additional Considerations (2 More)
- Scottie Pippen – 6 championships, elite defender, perfect Robin to Jordan’s Batman
- Elgin Baylor – Scoring pioneer, incredible longevity, Finals heartbreak
LeBron’s longevity and versatility puts him at the top for us. Bird was the ultimate competitor who could beat you with his shot, his passing, or just his trash talk. KD might be the most unstoppable scorer we’ve ever seen. And Dr. J brought style and athleticism to the game in a way that influenced generations.
Pippen was the perfect complementary superstar, and Baylor was putting up video game numbers before anyone knew what video games were.
Other Small Forwards Worth Mentioning
- John Havlicek (8 championships, “Hondo” the ultimate winner)
- Kawhi Leonard (2 championships, 2 Finals MVPs, elite two-way player)
- Paul Pierce (“The Truth,” championship, clutch performer)
- Dominique Wilkins (“The Human Highlight Film,” elite scorer)
- Rick Barry (Championship, unique shooting style, fierce competitor)
- Carmelo Anthony (Elite scorer, Olympic legend)
Power Forward: The Enforcers
Mount Rushmore (Top 4)
- Tim Duncan – 5 championships, 3 Finals MVPs, “The Big Fundamental”
- Karl Malone – 2x MVP, incredible longevity, “The Mailman”
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – Championship, Finals MVP, 2x regular season MVP
- Charles Barkley – MVP, rebounding machine, incredible motor
Additional Considerations (2 More)
- Kevin Garnett – Championship, MVP, elite defender and intensity
- Dirk Nowitzki – Championship, Finals MVP, revolutionized the position
Duncan’s the ultimate winner and never got the credit he deserved for being so dominant for so long. Malone was a machine who delivered night after night. Giannis is a physical freak who willed Milwaukee to a championship. And Chuck was just pure energy and talent, even if he never got his ring.
KG brought intensity like no one else, and Dirk changed what big men could do with his shooting range.
Other Power Forwards Worth Mentioning
- Bob Pettit (2x MVP, 1958 champion, early NBA star)
- Elvin Hayes (“The Big E,” championship, elite scorer/rebounder)
- Dennis Rodman (5 championships, elite rebounder and defender)
- Chris Webber (Elite talent, incredible passer for position)
- Pau Gasol (2 championships, skilled big man)
- Chris Bosh (2 championships, adapted game perfectly)
Center: The Anchors
Mount Rushmore (Top 4)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 6 championships, 6 MVPs, all-time scoring leader (until LeBron)
- Wilt Chamberlain – 2 championships, 4 MVPs, incredible individual records
- Bill Russell – 11 championships, 5 MVPs, ultimate winner
- Shaquille O’Neal – 4 championships, 3 Finals MVPs, most dominant peak
Additional Considerations (2 More)
- Hakeem Olajuwon – 2 championships, 2 Finals MVPs, “The Dream”
- Nikola Jokic – Championship, Finals MVP, 2x regular season MVP
The center position has the most legends, and it’s not even close. Kareem had the skyhook and longevity. Wilt had the records that still seem impossible. Russell won everything there was to win. And prime Shaq was the most physically dominant player we’ve ever seen.
Hakeem had the footwork and skill, while Jokic is revolutionizing the position with his passing and basketball IQ.
Other Centers Worth Mentioning
- Moses Malone (Championship, 3x MVP, elite rebounder)
- David Robinson (2 championships, MVP, “The Admiral”)
- Joel Embiid (MVP, elite two-way center)
- Alonzo Mourning (Championship, elite defender)
- Dwight Howard (Championship, 3x DPOY, dominant peak)
- Patrick Ewing (Knicks legend, elite two-way player)
- George Mikan (Early NBA pioneer, 5 championships)
The Deep Cuts: Notable Players Left Off Lists
Here’s where it gets really fun – all the players who had serious game but just couldn’t crack these loaded positions:
- Vince Carter (Dunking legend, incredible longevity, cultural impact)
- Steve Francis (Explosive scorer, Rookie of the Year, exciting style)
- Penny Hardaway (Elite talent before injuries, Magic Johnson comparison)
- Gilbert Arenas (Three-time All-Star, clutch scorer, “Agent Zero”)
- Stephon Marbury (Elite scorer, flashy playmaker, overseas legend)
- Amar’e Stoudemire (6x All-Star, explosive dunker, Suns legend)
- Shawn Marion (“The Matrix,” unique versatile skill set, championship)
- Grant Hill (Elite all-around talent before injuries, 7x All-Star)
- Vlade Divac (Skilled passing center, international pioneer)
- Ben Wallace (4x DPOY, championship, elite defender)
- Rasheed Wallace (Championship, versatile big man, “Ball don’t lie”)
- Antawn Jamison (Elite scorer, 6th Man of the Year, consistent producer)
- Chauncey Billups (Finals MVP, “Mr. Big Shot,” clutch performer)
- Richard Hamilton (Championship, elite mid-range shooter, “Rip”)
- Baron Davis (Explosive guard, playoff upsets, highlight dunks)
- Lamar Odom (6th Man of the Year, versatile talent, 2 championships)
- Andrei Kirilenko (Elite defender, versatile forward, “AK-47”)
- Kyrie Irving (Championship, clutch gene, incredible handles)
The Beauty of Position-by-Position Debates
This is why we love breaking it down by position instead of those impossible overall rankings. Each position has its own identity, its own style of greatness. You can appreciate Magic’s creativity, Jordan’s killer instinct, LeBron’s versatility, Duncan’s consistency, and Kareem’s longevity without having to rank them against each other.
The debates get more focused too. Is Curry’s revolutionary impact on the game enough to put him ahead of Oscar’s complete dominance? Does Giannis’s modern dominance trump Dirk’s game-changing shooting? Should championships matter more than individual brilliance?
These are the arguments that make basketball beautiful. Every position tells its own story of evolution, greatness, and the different ways to dominate the game we love.
What do you think? Who are we sleeping on? Who doesn’t belong? Let the debates begin.
