K SUMP ON SPORTS

This writer’s Top 30 NBA Players of All Time is confined strictly to the Modern Era, 1980 and after. Each player named played all or the bulk of their career in this era, because not only was the sport played at a much higher level, but it also has the key benefit of have being watched and evaluated in real time by the writer. No disrespect to Russell, Chamberlain, West, Robertson, Mikan, Lucas, Cousy, Sam Jones, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Wes Unseld, Elgin Baylor, Elvin Hayes, Nate Archibald, John Havlicek, George Gervin, David Thompson and all of the other greats that played most or all of their career before 1980, for they all have their own special place in NBA History, and they should be celebrated and receive all of the respect that they deserve as the pioneers that got us to the New World.

This New World is where the best NBA players are; any comparisons between players before the demarcation line of 1980 and after are truly akin to apples and oranges. With that stipulated, my opinion of the Top 30 Players of the Modern Era is listed below:

30. John Stockton – Basketball Hall of Fame 2009, 0x NBA Champion, 0x Finals MVP 2x Conference Champion, 0x MVP, 11x All-NBA: 2x First Team 6x Second Team 3x Third Team, 0x All-Star MVP, 10x All Star, 1x Defensive POY, 5x All-Defense, 9x Assist Champion, 2x Steals Champion. 1992 and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist.

NBA #1 All-Time Assist Leader – 15,806 assists

NBA #1 All-Time Steals Leader – 3,265 steals

Utah Jazz 1985-2003.

29. Allen Iverson – Basketball Hall of Fame 2016, 0x NBA Champion, 0x Finals MVP 1x Conference Champion, 1x MVP, 7x All-NBA: 3x First Team 3x Second Team 1x Third Team, 2x All-Star MVP, 11x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 0x All-Defense, ROY, All-Rookie, 4x Scoring Champion, 3x Steals Champion, 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist.

NBA #25 All-Time Scoring Leader – 24.368 points

NBA #14 All-Time Steals Leader – 1,983 steals

Philadelphia 76ers 1996-2006, Denver Nuggets 2006-2008, Detroit Pistons 2008-2009, Memphis Grizzlies 2009, Philadelphia 76ers 2009-2010.

28. Kevin McHale – Basketball Hall of Fame 1999, 3x NBA Champion, 0x Finals MVP 5x Conference Champion, 0x MVP, 1x All-NBA: 1x First Team, 0x All-Star MVP, 7x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 6x All-Defense, All-Rookie, 2x Sixth MOY.

NBA #28 All-Time Blocks Leader – 1,690 blocks

Boston Celtics 1980-1993.

27. Clyde Drexler – Basketball Hall of Fame 2004, 1x NBA Champion, 0x Finals MVP 3x Conference Champion, 0x MVP, 5x All-NBA: 1x First Team 2x Second Team 2x Third Team, 0x All-Star MVP, 10x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 0x All-Defense. 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist.

NBA #8 All-Time Steals Leader – 2,207 steals

Portland Trailblazers 1983-1995, Houston Rockets 1995-1998.

26. Jason Kidd – Basketball Hall of Fame 2018, 1x NBA Champion, 3x Conference Champion, 0x MVP, 6x All-NBA: 5x First Team 1x Second Team, 0x All-Star MVP, 10x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 9x All-Defense, Co-ROY, All-Rookie, 5x Assist Champion, 2000 and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist.

NBA #2 All-Time Assist Leader – 12,091 assists

NBA #2 All-Time Steals Leader – 2,684 steals

Dallas Mavericks 1994-1996, Phoenix Suns 1996-2001, New Jersey Nets 2001-2008, Dallas Mavericks 2008-2012, New York Knicks 2012-2013.

25. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 1x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP, 1x Conference Champion, 2x MVP, 5x All-NBA: 3x First Team 2x Second Team, 1x All-Star MVP, 5x All Star, 1x Defensive POY, 4x All-Defense, Most Improved Player, All-Rookie.

Milwaukee Bucks 2013-Present.

24. Dwyane Wade – 3x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP, 5x Conference Champion, 0x MVP, 8x All-NBA: 2x First Team 3x Second Team 3x Third Team, 1x All-Star MVP, 13x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 3x All-Defense, All-Rookie, 1x Scoring Champion, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2004 Bronze Medalist.

NBA #29 All-Time Scoring Leader – 23,165 points

NBA #29 All-Time Steals Leader – 1,054 steals

Miami Heat 2003-2016, Chicago Bulls 2016-2017, Cleveland Cavaliers 2017-2018, Miami Heat 2018-2019.

23. Dennis Rodman – Basketball Hall of Fame 2011, 5x NBA Champion, 0x Finals MVP 6x Conference Champion, 0x MVP, 2x All-NBA: 2x Third Team, 0x All-Star MVP, 2x All Star, 2x Defensive POY, 8x All-Defense, 7x Rebound Champion.

NBA #23 All-Time Rebounding Leader – 11,954 rebounds

Detroit Pistons 1986-1993, San Antonio Spurs 1993-1995, Chicago Bulls 1995-1998, Los Angeles Lakers 1999, Dallas Mavericks 2000.

22. Kawhi Leonard – 2x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP 3x Conference Champion, 0x MVP, 4x All-NBA: 2x First Team 2x Second Team, 1x All-Star MVP, 4x All Star, 2x Defensive POY, 6x All-Defense, All-Rookie, 1x Steals Champion

San Antonio Spurs 2011-2018, Toronto Raptors 2018-2019, Los Angeles Clippers 2019- Present.

21. Stephen Curry – 3x NBA Champion, 0x Finals MVP 5x Conference Champion, 2x MVP, 6x All-NBA: 3x First Team 2x Second Team 1x Third Team, 0x All-Star MVP, 6x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 0x All-Defense, All-Rookie, 1x Scoring Champion, 1x Steals Champion.

Golden State Warriors 2009-Present.

20. Charles Barkley – Basketball Hall of Fame 2006, 0x NBA Champion, 0x Finals MVP 1x Conference Champion, 1x MVP, 11x All-NBA: 5x First Team 5x Second Team 1x Third Team, 1x All-Star MVP, 11x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 0x All-Defense, All-Rookie, 1x Rebound Champion, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist.

NBA #26 All-Time Scoring Leader – 23,757 points

NBA #19 All-Time Rebounding Leader – 12,546 rebounds

NBA #26 All-Time Steals Leader – 1,648 steals

Philadelphia 76ers 1984-1992, Phoenix Suns 1992-1996, Houston Rockets 1996-2000.

19. Karl Malone – Basketball Hall of Fame 2010, 0x NBA Champion, 0x Finals MVP, 3x Conference Champion, 2x MVP, 14x All-NBA: 11x First Team 2x Second Team 1x Third Team, 2x All-Star MVP, 14x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 4x All-Defense, All-Rookie, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist.

NBA #2 All-Time Scoring Leader – 36.928 points

NBA #7 All-Time Rebounding Leader – 14,968 rebounds

NBA #11 All-Time Steals Leader – 2,085 steals

Utah Jazz 1985-2003, Los Angeles Lakers 2003-2004.

18. Julius Erving – Basketball Hall of Fame 1993, 1x NBA Champion (2x ABA), 0x Finals MVP (2x ABA), 4x Conference Champion (3x ABA), 1x MVP (3x ABA), 7x All-NBA: 5x First Team (4x ABA) 2x Second Team (1x ABA), 2x All-Star MVP, 11x All Star (5x ABA), 0x Defensive POY, 0x All-Defense (1x ABA), All-Rookie, (3x ABA) Scoring Champion.

ABA Virginia Squires 1971-1973, ABA New Nork Nets 1973-1976, Philadelphia 76ers 1976-1987.

17. James Worthy – Basketball Hall of Fame 2003, 3x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP 7x Conference Champion, 0x MVP, 2x All-NBA: 2x Third Team, 0x All-Star MVP, 7x All Star, 0x Defensive POY, 0x All-Defense, All-Rookie.

Los Angeles Lakers 1982-1994.

16. Moses Malone – Basketball Hall of Fame 2001, 1x NBA Champion (2x ABA), 1x Finals MVP (0x ABA), 2x Conference Champion (0x ABA), 3x MVP (0x ABA), 8x All-NBA: 4x First Team 4x Second Team (0x ABA), 0x All-Star MVP, 12x All Star (1x ABA), 0x Defensive POY, 2x All-Defense (0x ABA), All-Rookie, 6x Rebounding Champion.

NBA #5 All-Time Rebounding Leader – 16,212 rebounds

NBA #26 All-Time Blocks Leader – 1,733 blocks

ABA Utah Stars 1974-1975, ABA Spirits of St. Louis 1975-1976, Buffalo Braves 1976, Houston Rockets 1976-1982, Philadelphia 76ers 1982-1986, Washington Bullets 1986-1988, Atlanta Hawks 1988-1991, Milwaukee Bucks 1991-1993, Philadelphia 76ers 1993-1994, San Antonio Spurs 1994-1995.

Continued on Part 3

ksumpblog.wordpress.com