The debate regarding who truly is the greatest basketball player of all time is a topic that has always been on the lips of NBA fans. It remains one of the fiercest arguments in all of sport, with a handful of superstars holding equally valid claims to the crown.

To finally settle the debate, the fan-voting platform Ranker put the ultimate question to the public, and the top 20 has been revealed.

10

Bill Russell

There might not be a more prolific winner in the history of North American sports than Bill Russell. Anchoring the legendary Boston Celtics dynasty, Russell collected an unfathomable 11 NBA Championships in just 13 seasons, including eight consecutive titles between 1959 and 1966.

His list of achievements is also staggering: five regular-season MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections. Russell also made history in 1966 when he became the first black head coach in major US professional sports. His defensive genius and unparalleled leadership make him a worthy top-10 lock.

9

Wilt Chamberlain

When Wilt Chamberlain joined the NBA, he was a statistical anomaly that forced the NBA to literally change its rulebook. The 7-foot-1 Philadelphia native holds over 70 NBA records, the most famous being his 100-point game in 1962.

Chamberlain captured two NBA titles, one with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972, while picking up four MVP awards along the way. Even with modern debates about the era he played in, the sheer magnitude of Chamberlain’s physical and statistical dominance remains undeniable.

8

Shaquille O’Neal

You would struggle to find a more physically imposing and terrifying force in NBA history than Shaq. O’Neal bulldozed his way to four championship rings, famously teaming up with Kobe Bryant to create one of the most iconic partnerships in NBA history as the Lakers three-peated the championship in the early 2000s.

A three-time Finals MVP and member of the 1996 Olympic “Dream Team”, Shaq was virtually unguardable on his day. In a testament to his lasting impact, three different franchises – the Orlando Magic, LA Lakers, and Miami Heat – have all retired his jersey.

7

Tim Duncan

Nicknamed “The Big Fundamental”, Duncan spent his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs, quietly transforming them into a dynasty.

Duncan walked away from the sport with five championship rings, three Finals MVPs, and two regular-season MVP awards. Widely considered the greatest power forward to ever pick up a basketball, he remains the only player in NBA history to be selected in both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons.

6

Kobe Bryant

The Los Angeles icon, Kobe Bryant, cemented himself as a global phenomenon during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Picking up five NBA championships and delivering a legendary 81-point game in 2006, Bryant’s lethal scoring ability and obsessive drive to win made him one of the most feared competitors in sport history. The 18-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medallist tragically passed away in 2020, but his cultural impact and legacy as an all-time great are forever remembered by those connected to the game.

5

Magic Johnson

Before the high-flying heroics of the modern era, there was Magic. Standing at a towering 6-foot-9, Magic Johnson revolutionised the point guard position, orchestrating the famous “Showtime Lakers” of the 1980s with a dazzling array of no-look passes and fast-break offence.

Spending his entire career in purple and gold, Johnson secured five NBA championships, three MVP awards, and three Finals MVPs. He is universally recognised as one of the greatest floor generals to ever step onto the court.

4

Larry Bird

Larry Bird was the ultimate all-around forward and one of the deadliest shooters the league has ever witnessed. Long before the three-point revolution, “Larry Legend” was stretching defences and single-handedly redefining the small forward position.

The undisputed star of the iconic 1980s Boston Celtics squad, Bird captured three NBA championships in the 1980s and managed the incredibly rare feat of winning three consecutive regular-season MVP awards. A legendary trash-talker with the skills to back it up, Bird’s iconic rivalry with Magic Johnson revitalised the NBA and laid the groundwork for its modern success.

3

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Across an astonishing 20-year career split between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kareem secured six NBA championships, 19 All-Star nods, and a record-setting six regular-season MVP awards.

Armed with the unblockable “skyhook” shot, Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA’s all-time scoring record for nearly four decades with 38,387 points.

2

LeBron James

LeBron James is the defining player of the 21st century. Having shattered the seemingly unbreakable all-time scoring record, recently surging past an astronomical 43,000 regular-season points, LeBron’s longevity and sustained peak are completely unprecedented in basketball history.

Boasting four NBA championships with three different franchises, LeBron’s historic 2016 Finals comeback against the Golden State Warriors remains his crowning achievement. Now into his 40s and remarkably still producing at an elite level, his all-around prowess on the court keeps him consistently in the GOAT conversation.

1

Michael Jordan

It comes as no surprise that the fans have crowned “His Airness” with the number one spot. With a flawless 6-0 record in the NBA Finals and six Finals MVPs with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan dominated basketball, but also transcended sport entirely.

Holding the highest regular-season scoring average in NBA history (30.1 points per game), Jordan was breathtakingly athletic. He defined the culture of 1990s basketball and became a global billionaire icon off the court through his legendary Air Jordan partnership with Nike. For the fans, MJ remains the undisputed greatest of all time.

Arsenal are looking to make their squad even stronger after a successful season, and talks have been opened over a major deal.

The Gunners secured the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years, finishing seven points ahead of Man City, while they also reached the Carabao Cup and Champions League finals, losing to City and then PSG on penalties.

Mikel Arteta is keen to keep pushing the team to its limits and has identified several positions in the squad he wants to bolster during the transfer window, including left wing.

Arsenal Open Talks for Rafael Leao

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign AC Milan Rafael Leao in a bargain deal.

The Portugal international, who has been described as a ‘superstar’, has spoken out publicly about his wish to leave the Serie A club this season as he enters the final two years of his contract, after they missed out on Champions League football.

A move away from Milan is expected, with the club open to a sale, and they have put a £50m transfer fee on his head as they look to cash in.

Leao’s representatives have been in touch with a number of clubs to see where his next destination could be, and Arsenal are understood to be one of those clubs.

The Gunners are not currently actively pushing for a deal, but they are looking to strengthen at left-wing this summer and a deal could materialise later in the window. Leao is very open to a move to the Premier League, and it’s believed that Milan could even accept a fee of around £42m plus add-ons to ensure he gets his transfer wish.

World Cup Could See Leao Price Rise

Leao is ready to shine at the World Cup this summer for Portugal, having been selected as part of Roberto Martinez’s 26-man squad, and that could be something that a lot of clubs are waiting to see.

The winger, who will turn 27 next week, knows that there will be a lot of attention on his performances, with Portugal being one of the favourites for the tournament, and if he is able to perform under that kind of pressure, it could make clubs stand up and pay even more attention.

Arsenal will already have a good idea of what type of player Leao is, but they’ll be paying closer attention to him now, and it’s possible they make a move quickly to get a deal done to ensure they’re not caught out by any price rise that may come with it.

Liverpool have begun a new era at Anfield after confirming the appointment of Andoni Iraola as their new manager, replacing Arne Slot in the dugout.

The Spaniard has arrived after the Reds decided to change the manager, following a difficult season where they finished 5th in the Premier League and trophyless after 13 defeats and more than 50 goals conceded, just 12 months after they won the title under the Dutch coach.

All the noise coming out of Liverpool in the final weeks of the season was that the board would stick with Slot for next season, which led to much shock around his departure. But it has now emerged that it seems the club had a real change of heart, as they were in talks over transfers while he was still in charge.

According to a report by Dutch outlet VI, Liverpool were one of the clubs to make contact over a deal to sign defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

The defender, who has been described as ‘incredible’, is entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Amex Stadium and has attracted the interest of several top clubs in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur have seen a formal bid rejected, with the Seagulls valuing the Dutch international at around £70m, despite his contract status.

While Liverpool have made contact with the player’s representatives about a deal, it’s unclear if the club will proceed with any deal, as it has emerged that the contact was made while Slot was still the manager, and he was the driving force for any deal.

A new central defender is likely to be signed after Ibrahima Konate left at the end of his contract, with a move to Real Madrid now confirmed by club president Florentino Perez. Virgil Van Dijk will be 35 when the season starts, while youngster Jeremy Jacquet is set to arrive after signing from Rennes in January.

Liverpool Move for Van Hecke Would be Sensible

Liverpool are in need of a new central defender, and someone who is Premier League proven would be a huge boost to the squad as they could come in and immediately make an impact, rather than needing to adapt for too long.

Van Hecke has good quality on the ball, is strong in the air, fast and physically imposing. All of those attributes fit well with top level football, and at 25 there is still plenty of room for him to improve too.

£70m would be a huge price to pay, and Brighton are notoriously tough negotiators. A move would be sensible, but it now looks unlikely with all the moving parts, and Spurs having already moved to agree personal terms.