No. 3: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, Los Angeles Lakers
Chief Accolades – 6x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 6x NBA MVP, 19x NBA All-Star, 15x All-NBA Team Player, 5x All-NBA Defensive First Team, 2x NBA Scoring Champ
Stats – 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.6 BPG, 116 ORTG, 99 DRTG, 86.0 VORP, 273.4 Total Win Shares
The most decorated player in NBA history and the former ‘GOAT’ before Michael Jordan came along is Kareem.
Jabbar’s stats and numbers are actually insane when you think about how he really was a one trick pony. Kareem dominated the game in all aspects, even passing despite his size. Yes, his teams were great, but his individual numbers show his greatness more than anything.
The only player in my top 3 with a sub 100 DRTG and the only one to average a double-double. Jabbar brought basketball to life for fans throughout the 70’s and 80’s, and really was the NBA’s first revolutionary superstar along. Jabbar has seen his all-time ranking take a dip thanks to the last two generations, but he is still enshrined as one of the greatest ever.
Next: MJ