Greatest NBA Players of All Time: 190-300

This is the sixth and final post in my personal list of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. I recommend that you start from the beginning:

Greatest NBA Players, 1-29
Greatest NBA Players, 30-65
Greatest NBA Players, 66-100
Greatest NBA Players, 101-149
Greatest NBA Players, 150-189

Note: all stats and evaluations are through the NBA's 2024-25 season (Thunder over Pacers).

Positional breakdown

Below are the 189 players on this list, through the 2024-25 season, listed by their primary position, plus some close calls and honorable mentions.

Point guards: Bob Davies, Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Lenny Wilkens, Walt Frazier, Tiny Archibald, Gus Williams, Dennis Johnson, Mo Cheeks, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Fat Lever, Terry Porter, Mark Price, Kevin Johnson, John Stockton, Tim Hardaway, Penny Hardaway, Mookie Blaylock, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Close Calls: Slater Martin, Dave Bing, Jo Jo White, Calvin Murphy, Micheal Ray Richardson, Derek Harper, Mark Jackson, Rod Strickland, Terrell Brandon, Stephon Marbury, Sam Cassell, Andre Miller, Derrick Rose, Mike Conley, Tyrese Haliburton

Martin was a 7-time All-Star, 6-time champion (Lakers and Hawks), and 5-time All-NBA pick in the 1950s. There's not much film from that era, and his box stats leave a lot to be desired, but he was highly regarded and he consistently played on successful teams, even if it was usually as the third or fourth option.

Bing was a 7-time All-Star and 2-time first-team All-NBA selection. He made the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and was top 6 in MVP voting three times. White was a terrible shooter, but also a 7-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA pick, and 1976 Finals MVP with Boston. He played 40 mpg for very successful teams. Murphy, a career Rocket, was the best free throw shooter of his era (89.2%), basically tied with Rick Barry (89.3%). He's still top 10 all-time. The highest-scoring guard of the '70s, Murphy was only 5-foot-9, but very physical, an above-average defender.

Richardson was a 4-time All-Star who led the league once in assists and four times in steals. He played eight years, mostly for the Knicks and Nets, before addiction issues contributed to the end of his career. He died in November 2025, around the same time as Lenny Wilkens.

Harper was a great defensive player, two times All-Defensive and three times top-10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He's among the all-time top 20 in steals and top 30 in assists, and is the Mavericks' all-time leader in both categories. Jackson averaged a double-double as a rookie and had a long, productive career (mostly with the Knicks and Pacers). He's 6th all-time in assists. Strickland was 2nd-team All-NBA one year and ranks 14th all-time in assists. His best seasons were in Portland and Washington. Brandon is underrated because he played for slowest-paced team in history, the mid-90s Cavs, so his stats don't jump off the page. In context, though, they're very good. He made two All-Star teams and probably should have made more.

Marbury was a 2-time All-Star. He averaged 20 ppg and 8 apg six times, and he ranks among the all-time top 20 in apg (7.6). He was talented enough to rank higher than this, but his playing style didn't consistently facilitate team success. Cassell made one All-Star team and one All-NBA team, and he won rings in both of his first two seasons (with the Rockets) as well as his final season (he joined the 2008 Celtics in midseason). Miller ranks 12th all-time in assists. He averaged 16.5 ppg and 11 apg in 2002.

Baron Davis and Derrick Rose were both sick ball handlers, and both had careers affected by injury. Davis's injuries disrupted his career, but Rose's injuries completely derailed his. Rose was an unreal athlete, but Davis was a better rebounder, a much better passer, and a far better defender. Rose was flashy, but Davis was more functional. Rose was a 3-time All-Star and 2011 MVP.

Conley was a 2013 All-Defensive selection, 2021 All-Star, and 4-time Joe Dumars Trophy winner (sportsmanship). He's had some injuries, so he's not real high on any all-time lists, but last year was his 18th season, and he's still a valuable player. Haliburton already has two All-NBA selections, and two years leading his team to at least the Conference Finals. Underrated because he's not a 25 ppg guy.

Closest to the top 190: Dave Bing. I rate him a little higher than White and Murphy, but not enough to put him in a higher tier.

Honorables Mentions: Andy Phillip, Dick McGuire, Larry Costello, K.C. Jones, Jimmy Jones, Norm Van Lier, Don Buse, Norm Nixon, Doc Rivers, Gilbert Arenas, Rajon Rondo, John Wall, Kemba Walker, Jalen Brunson

Shooting guards: Bill Sharman, Richie Guerin, Sam Jones, Hal Greer, Paul Westphal, David Thompson, George Gervin, Walter Davis, Sidney Moncrief, Michael Cooper, Alvin Robertson, Clyde Drexler, Michael Jordan, Joe Dumars, Jeff Hornacek, Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond, Eddie Jones, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Manu Ginobili, Joe Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Klay Thompson, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan

Close Calls: Bobby Wanzer, Tom Gola, Jerry Sloan, Gail Goodrich, Lou Hudson, Earl Monroe, Pete Maravich, Randy Smith, Fred Brown, Dale Ellis, Hersey Hawkins, Jason Terry, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell

Wanzer was a 5-time All-Star with the Rochester Royals. He made 3 All-NBA teams, and he was the first player to average 90% on free throws (90.4% in 1952). Gola was a 5-time All-Star with the Warriors. He started for a championship team in 1956, then missed 1957 for military service, and made All-NBA when he returned in 1958. He averaged a double-double in 1959 and '60, and averaged more than 8 rebounds per game for his career. It doesn't impact his ranking here, but Gola was one of the greatest players in NCAA history.

Sloan was a 2-time All-Star, and 6 times All-Defensive even though the award didn't exist until his 4th season. He averaged 14 ppg and 7.5 rpg. The Bulls retired his #4 jersey, and he later became a Hall of Fame coach with the Jazz. Goodrich made five All-Star teams and led the 1972 NBA champion Lakers in scoring. Hudson was a 6-time All-Star for the Hawks, and ranked among the NBA's top 6 in scoring three times. Monroe and Maravich were both chosen to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Monroe was first-team All-NBA with the Bullets in 1969 and won a championship with the Knicks in 1973. Maravich averaged 24 ppg — for his career — and got MVP votes in five seasons. Smith made two All-Star teams and one All-NBA. He is the all-time leading scorer in Clippers history. Brown was the first 3FG% leader in NBA history (1980), but already nearing the end of his career. He received MVP votes in 2 seasons, but if he'd come along a few years later, when his outside shooting was more valuable, he'd probably make the top 200 easily.

Ellis played 16 seasons. He averaged 25 ppg twice and 24.9 a third time. Hawkins only made 1 All-Star team, but he came pretty close to a career 50-40-90 (49-39-87) and had a low turnover rate. Ellis had his best years with the Sonics, Hawkins with the Sixers and Sonics. Terry had a 19-year career, mostly with the Hawks and Mavs, and ranks 11th all-time in games played (1,410). He had 10 seasons with over 1,000 pts.

Beal is a 3-time All-Star with one year All-NBA, and 22.1 ppg / 4.1 rpg / 4.4 apg career averages. Now that his salary isn't weighing the Suns down any more, people should remember that he's a good player. Booker is a four-time All-Star and twice All-NBA, including first-team All-NBA in 2022. He has a 28/5/5 avg through 47 postseason games. Mitchell has an active streak of six consecutive All-Star selections. He was first-team All-NBA in 2025. This is one of those conservative ratings for active players. Mitchell, and perhaps Booker, could easily be in the top 190 already.

Closest to the top 190: Donovan Mitchell. I'm not convinced that Mitchell was the best player on his own team last season, but he's rising quickly.

Honorables Mentions: Paul Seymour, Jim Paxson, Andrew Toney, Reggie Theus, Paul Pressey, Rolando Blackman, Danny Ainge, Byron Scott, Rip Hamilton, Brandon Roy, Victor Oladipo, Anthony Edwards