The GOAT Of Every NBA Franchise

Here are the greatest player of every NBA franchise. From Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to Stephen Curry, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan.

When we hear the word GOAT, the first thought that comes to mind is the same old tired debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. What that does is completely ignore a rich and beautiful 76-year history of the league. Every team, whether 10 years old or 75 years old, has a story worth telling. The focus of today will be the best of the best and elite from every single NBA team that has ever existed. This is a different GOAT conversation than the one that you are used to, but one that is certainly not as redundant and dragged out.

The players you will see representing each team today were selected using strict criteria. Production, accolades, and, most importantly, winning are all heavily factored into the selection made for each franchise. Some of these selections can go either way, and there will be a case to be made for more than 1 player when it comes to certain teams. Other selections were as easy as a wide-open layup. Whether you agree with the selections for each team below or not is in your hands, but one thing for sure is that each of these selections cannot be considered a bad choice by any means.

These are the greatest players of every NBA franchise.

Atlanta Hawks - Bob Pettit

Credit: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports

Career Stats (with Hawks): 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG

Career Achievements (with Hawks): 2x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 11x All-Star, 4x All-Star Game MVP, 11x All-NBA Team Selection

Despite Bob Pettit walking away from the game in 1965, the Atlanta Hawks have never had a greater player in their franchise history than Bob Pettit. Pettit is still among the elite power forwards in NBA history and is responsible for the only NBA title in Hawks' history. Pettit was a ferocious rebounder and scorer armed with a fall-away jumper to the side that wasn’t the prettiest but was as effective as any signature move in NBA history.

After winning the Rookie of the Year in 1955, Pettit followed that up with an MVP season in 1956. He averaged 25.7 PPG (which led the league) and 16.3 RPG. In 1958, Pettit led the Hawks to the NBA Finals, where he became the only man to ever defeat Bill Russell and the Celtics at that stage. He won his 2nd MVP in 1959 when he averaged 29.2 PPG (which led the league) and 12.2 RPG on 43.8% shooting. Pettit is still the Hawks' all-time leader in free throws made, rebounds, rebounds per game, and PER. He is also 2nd in points behind Dominique Wilkins.

Boston Celtics - Bill Russell

Career Stats (with Celtics): 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG

Career Achievements (with Celtics): 5x MVP, 12x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 11x All-NBA Team Selection, 1x All-Defensive Team Selection

The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships in NBA history (tied with the Lakers), and that is due largely in part to the presence of Bill Russell. Winning 11 championships in 13 seasons of play, Russell is considered to be the greatest winner in American sports history. Russell was not only a world-class basketball player but a world-class human being as well. His peers respected him off the court but feared him on it as an athletic, defensive machine who could not be contained.

Russell won a total of 5 MVP awards in his career, winning his first in 1958 and his final one in 1965. Russell was never named Finals MVP in his 11 title runs, mostly because it wasn’t invented yet, but he has the award named after him as a decent consolation. Russell won 5 rebounding titles in his career and averaged 22.5 RPG in his 13 seasons. As the greatest winner, rebounder, and possibly defender of all time, Bill Russell is the only choice for Boston’s GOAT.

Brooklyn Nets - Jason Kidd

Career Stats (with Nets): 14.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Career Achievements (with Nets): 4x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 6x All-Defensive Team Selection

Before we get into why Jason Kidd is the GOAT for the Brooklyn Nets, I have to address the elephant in the room. If we were including the ABA, Julius Erving would far and away be the GOAT for this team. However, we are discussing each team’s NBA GOAT, so Erving does not qualify for the Nets. Now that is out of the way, let us talk about Jason Kidd’s time in New Jersey. Kidd was a different breed during his time with the Nets, and it resulted in 2 trips to the NBA Finals with a mediocre roster.

Kidd was the best rebounding guard of his era, the best passing guard of his era, and the best defensive guard of his era. He averaged over 7.0 RPG and 9.0 APG during his time with the Nets and made 6 All-Defensive Teams in the process. His best offensive seasons came in New Jersey, and he led the NBA in APG twice. Kidd wasn’t able to deliver a championship for the Nets during his tenure, but he still gave them a better chance than any other player ever had before or has since. He was eventually able to hoist an NBA title with the Mavericks in 2011, though. As a point guard, player, and leader, Jason Kidd is second to none in Nets history.

Charlotte Hornets - Kemba Walker

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Career Stats (with Hornets): 19.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Career Achievements (with Hornets): 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

Without a championship to claim as their own, the Charlotte Hornets GOAT can only go to one man, Kemba Walker. Kemba owns a host of Hornets records to his name, including points, 3-pointers made, field goals made, free throws, minutes played, and more. His advanced stats are just as impressive, with the most offensive win shares in team history as well as the highest value over replacement player. For 8 seasons, Walker was the pride of Charlotte and a fan favorite across the entire league.

The Hornets struggled during Walker’s time there, but he was still able to get them to the playoffs twice in his 8 seasons with the team. His best season was his final season in Charlotte, when he made the only All-NBA Team of his career. In 2019, Walker averaged 25.6 PPG, 5.9 APG, and 1.2 SPG. He shot 43.4% overall from the floor and 35.6% from beyond the arc. With the records he holds for the franchise as well as how much he is beloved by the city, Kemba Walker is Charlotte’s GOAT as of 2022-23.

Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan

Career Stats (with Bulls): 31.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.4 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Career Achievements: 6x Finals MVP, 5x MVP, 1x Defensive Player Of The Year, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 12x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 11x All-NBA Team Selection, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection

Michael Jordan is the GOAT of all GOATs. Jordan rocketed to fame in the early 80s and 90s with his high-flying athleticism and propensity to deliver and shine in the biggest moments on the court. His defensive prowess was just as prevalent as his offensive firepower as he grew before fans’ eyes as his career went on. As the NBA entered the 1990s, a power shift began to take hold in the NBA. At the center of it was the 6’6’’ shooting guard from the Windy City.

Michael Jordan would go on to win 3 straight championships with the Bulls from 1991 thru 1993, becoming the first team to 3-peat since Bill Russell’s Celtics. After a brief retirement, Jordan returned to the Bulls to win 3 more NBA titles in a row from 1996 thru 1998. In all 6 NBA championships won by the Bulls in the 90s, Jordan was named the Finals MVP in every single one. Jordan almost single-handedly turned the entire franchise in Chicago around as their greatest player, not to mention the way he made the game go global and inked shoe deals that set up the mega deals we see from stars today. I don’t know about you, but whenever someone says the word Chicago, my mind immediately envisions the game of Michael Jordan.

Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron James

Career Stats (with Cavaliers): 27.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Career Achievements (with Cavaliers): 1x Finals MVP, 2x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 10x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection

When LeBron James entered the NBA in the 2033-04 season, the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He was the saving grace for a franchise that had never climbed the proverbial mountaintop and the next great NBA player to challenge for the GOAt title. James immediately showed he was up to the task with an efficient and generational all-around play on the court. He would lead the Cavs to 5 NBA Finals appearances in his 1st and 2nd stints there, delivering the team’s only NBA title in 2016.

Not only was it the Cavaliers’ first championship, but it was the greatest comeback in NBA history. Down 3-1 to the Warriors in the Finals, James led a comeback for the ages, winning 3 straight games and the NBA championship. It was James’ 3rd title at the time and 3rd Finals MVP overall. Being a hometown kid, delivering a title to the Cavaliers in the fashion he did is LeBron’s career-defining moment. What better way to cement your legacy as the Cavaliers' GOAT than that?

Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki

Career Stats (with Mavericks): 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Career Achievements (with Mavericks): 1x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 14x All-Star, 12x All-NBA Team Selection

For right now, Dirk Nowitzki is still the Dallas Mavericks GOAT, and it isn’t particularly close at this point. Nowitzki had ample opportunity to pursue championships elsewhere but chose to stick it out with the Mavericks for 20 years. After many disappointments in the postseason, Nowitzki finally delivered an NBA championship to Dallas in 2011, cementing his legacy as the Mavericks' GOAT.

Nowitzki’s best seasons include his 2007 MVP season, where he averaged 24.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and shot 50.2% from the field. He devastated opponents with his signature one-legged fadeaway in the paint and his ability to spread the floor. He was clutch and always showed up when the lights shined brightest. On the way to his first NBA title and Finals MVP award, Nowitzki eliminated the defending champion Lakers and Kevin Durant-led Thunder. He averaged 27.7 PPG for the playoffs that season in one of the most epic Finals runs in NBA history.

Denver Nuggets - Nikola Jokic

Career Stats (with Nuggets): 20.0 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Career Achievements (with Nuggets): 2x MVP, 4x All-Star, 4x All-NBA Team Selection

With the 2022-23 season being just the 8th of his career, Nikola Jokic has already established himself as the greatest player in Nuggets history. Jokic broke through during the 2018-19 season, and it has been an incredible ride ever since. He possesses the court vision and playmaking skills of a guard while being able to shoot the ball particularly well and have any offense Denver wants to be run through him because of his offensive versatility and ability.

Jokic won his first MVP award in 2021 when he led his Nuggets team to the playoffs despite losing his best teammate. He averaged 26.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 8.3 APG, and 1.3 SPG while leading the Nuggets to 47 wins. The following season, Jokic was still without Jamal Murray and lost another top teammate, Michael Porter Jr, for the season. Jokic responded with another MVP campaign by averaging 27.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, and 1.5 SPG. Jokic led the Nuggets to the playoffs once again with a historic season. As the only MVP in Nuggets history, Nikola Jokic is the Denver GOAT.

Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas

Career Stats (with Pistons): 19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Career Achievements (with Pistons): 1x Finals MVP, 12x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 5x All-NBA Team Selection

Isiah Thomas was the face of one of the most iconic and most hated teams in NBA history. Thomas was the leader and captain of the Bad Boy Pistons, who rose to stardom in the 80s and 90s for their brutalization of any player who dared attack the basket against them. Thomas led them with his superior point guard skills, blazing speed, incredible handles, and desire to win. Thomas was Detroit’s emotional, mental, and on-court leader who backed down from no challenge thrown his way.

Isiah’s best season can most likely be considered 1990 when the Pistons won their 2nd straight NBA championship. Thomas led them to 59 wins that year as they rolled right into their 2nd straight NBA Finals series. The Pistons downed the Trail Blazers in 5 games, and Thomas was named the series MVP. He averaged 27.6 PPG, 7.0 APG, and 1.6 SPG to help Detroit seal their 2nd title. Thomas is not only considered to be the Pistons' GOAT but also one of the best point guards in NBA history.

Golden State Warriors - Stephen Curry

Career Stats (with Warriors): 24.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Career Achievements (with Warriors): 1x Finals MVP, 2x MVP, 8x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 8x All-NBA Team Selection

Move over Wilt Chamberlain, there is a new GOAT in Golden State. In all reality, Curry took that title from him a few years ago as he transformed into the greatest shooter that ever lived and helped Golden State become a dynasty. We watched as Curry went from being relatively unknown for the first few years of his career to suddenly putting up great efficiency and insane volume shooting the ball from every range there is on the basketball court. His triumph and abilities have placed him among the elite in NBA history, where he rightfully belongs.

Curry really made a name for himself in 2015 when he took home his first MVP award, but it would be the following year that he entered the record books forever. Curry became the NBA’s first-ever unanimous MVP while leading the Warriors to an NBA record of 73 wins. Curry led the NBA in both points and steals that season, averaging 30.1 PPG and 2.1 SPG on 45.4% shooting from three-point range on 11.2 attempts. He has led the Warriors to 4 total NBA championships in 8 seasons, including his first Finals MVP performance in 2022 against the Celtics. With all due respect to the Warriors' greats, Curry stands alone as their GOAT.

Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon

Career Stats (with Rockets): 22.5 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 3.2 BPG

Career Achievements (with Rockets): 2x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 2x Defensive Player Of The Year, 12x All-Star, 12x All-NBA Team Selection, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection

During the 80s and 90s, there weren’t many players quite like Hakeem Olajuwon. On the offensive side of the ball, his footwork in the post and touch around the basket are skills even the best players of today still seek out during their offseason. On the defensive side of the ball, he was simply one of the best. Olajuwon had a nose for the ball with the greatest of instincts that led to many stolen possessions and blocked shots.

Hakeem Olajuwon’s best run has to be during the mid-90s when Michael Jordan stepped away from the game. He led the Rockets to an NBA championship in 1994 and was named Finals MVP, averaging 26.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 3.9 BPG. The following season in 1995, Olajuwon once again led an improbable run to the NBA Finals, where they dominated the Orlando Magic. Hakeem was once again named Finals MVP with 32.8 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG, and 2.0 BPG. Neither Shaq nor Patrick Ewing was a match for Hakeem’s greatness in those series, making Olajuwon the clear-cut Houston GOAT.

Indiana Pacers - Reggie Miller

Career Stats (with Pacers): 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Career Achievements (with Pacers): 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection

Reggie Miller spent his entire 18-year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers. Over time, he became one of the best shooters in NBA history, knocking down over 2,500 three-pointers in his career. Miller wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and was known as the game’s greatest instigator and antagonizer during the 90s. He went toe-to-toe with the best the game had to offer and had no problem getting right in their faces and letting them know he was never going to back down.

On average, Miller attempted 4.7 threes per game and knocked them down at a rate of 39.5%. In 6 of his 18 seasons, Miller eclipsed the 20.0 PPG mark for the Pacers and was named an All-Star 5 times. Miller also has some of the most infamous clutch moments in NBA history. His 8 points in 9 seconds against the Knicks still haunt New Yorkers to this day. Sorry, Spike. Miller isn’t the flashiest or even the most popular GOAT from the 30 NBA teams, but he is a GOAT nonetheless.

Los Angeles Clippers - Chris Paul

Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Career Stats (with Clippers): 18.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 9.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Career Achievements (with Clippers): 5x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 5x All-NBA Team Selection, 6x All-Defensive Team Selection

For a team that has suffered as much misfortune as the Clippers have in their history, finding their greatest player was a bit tricky. In the end, we went with the leader and floor general who led them to new heights during the 2010s, Chris Paul. The Point God was the maestro behind the Lob City Clippers, which also featured Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Paul displayed his elite two-way abilities every game he was on the floor during his 6 seasons in Los Angeles, and there was almost nobody better at his position at the time.

In his 6 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Paul led the NBA in steals 3 times while also leading the NBA in assists twice. He finished Top 7 for the MVP award 6 times for the Clippers, including finishing 3rd in 2011-12, his second-highest MVP finish ever. The Clippers may have never obtained the ultimate goal of winning the NBA championship, but Paul gave a fanbase hope for triumph after years and years of none in sight. This is subject to change considering the talent the Clippers currently have, but for now, Chris Paul remains the Clippers' GOAT.

Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant

Career Stats (with Lakers): 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Career Achievements (with Lakers): 2x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 18x All-Star, 4x All-Star Game MVP, 15x All-NBA Team Selection, 12x All-Defensive Team Selection

On the opposite end of the spectrum from the Clippers sits the long and rich history of the Los Angeles Lakers. In order to find the Goat of this franchise basically comes down to what you prefer. There are cases for the greats such as Kareem, Magic, West, Shaq, and Baylor. However, the choice for the Lakers' GOAT must be the man who spent 20 years devoting his life to the franchise, Kobe Bryant. Kobe was as electric as it gets, and what Michael Jordan started, Lobe enhanced the game on a global scale matched only by his predecessor.

Kobe Bryant grew up before our eyes from a high school kid surrounded by hype into one of the game’s greatest players. He helped lead the Lakers to 5 of their 17 NBA championships, including 2 after his companion Shaq left town. He won his only MVP in 2008 but, respectfully, should probably have at least 2 more to his name. His mentality and thirst for winning cemented him as one of the greatest competitors in all of history. Kobe Bryant is the Lakers' GOAT, and I know that will ruffle some feathers.

Memphis Grizzlies - Marc Gasol

Career Stats (with Grizzlies): 15.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Career Achievements (with Grizzlies): 1x Defensive Player Of The Year, 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, 1x All-Defensive Team Selection

Marc Gasol’s career with the Memphis Grizzlies got started off in the most peculiar of ways. The Grizzlies were only able to draft Gasol at the spot they did because of a trade that involved his brother, Pau, to the Lakers. He spent 11 seasons with the team with great production and an even bigger impact on the court. At his peak, Gasol was a top-tier center in the NBA, and not many will argue differently other than the ones who claim he didn’t deserve the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year award.

Gasol was a strong rebounder and an even better defender. He clearly got the playmaking gene from his brother as well, averaging over 4.0 APG at his best. He was the face of the grit and grind era with Memphis, which sparked basketball interest in the city like they had never seen before. For his part in putting the Grizzlies on the map and his impact on the franchise for 11 seasons, Marc Gasol is the Memphis Grizzlies GOAT.

Miami Heat - Dwyane Wade

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Career Stats (with Heat): 22.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Career Achievements (with Heat): 1x Finals MVP, 13x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 8x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection

I understand a lot of younger fans will be perturbed at the choice of Dwyane Wade as the Heat GOAT, but there is simply no other choice. Yes, LeBron James was amazing in Miami, but no other player has ever carried the heart and soul of Miami like Dwyane Wade. He could do it all on the court in his prime, including on the defensive end, where he recorded the most blocks by a guard in NBA history. There is a reason they call it Wade County, after all, as there is no other player more beloved than he is in Heat history.

Dwyane Wade’s biggest season came in 2006. Wade led the Heat to a 52-30 record on the year which was just his 3rd in the NBA overall. In the playoffs, the Heat advanced to the NBA Finals, where they quickly fell into a 2-0 hole against the Dallas Mavericks. From there, it was all Wade as he led the Heat to 4 straight wins and their first-ever NBA championship. Wade was named Finals MVP when he averaged 34.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.7 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. Wade’s contributions to Miami can never be understated, as he goes down in history as their greatest player.

Milwaukee Bucks - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Career Stats (with Bucks): 30.4 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 3.4 BPG

Career Achievements (with Bucks): 1x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection, 4x All-Defensive Team Selection

The debate can rage on for days between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the title of Milwaukee’s greatest player. Giannis certainly has a case, as he has won 2 MVP awards and an NBA title with a Finals MVP attached to it. Giannis has also put in more time with the franchise and passed Kareem on the Bucks' all-time scoring list. However, I do not believe most people understand just how dominant Kareem was with the Bucks.

In his 6 seasons with the Bucks, Kareem won himself 2 scoring titles and a blocks title, along with 3 MVP awards. He led the team to an NBA championship in 1971, which was just his second year in the NBA, averaging 31.7 PPG and 16.0 RPG that season. He averaged over 30.0 PPG 4 times and took home a blocks title in 1975 as well. Look, if you would like Giannis to be your Milwaukee GOAT, I understand, but for now, the choice is still Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for me.

Minnesota Timberwolves - Kevin Garnett

Career Stats (with Timberwolves): 19.8 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.6 BPG

Career Achievements (with Timberwolves): 1x MVP, 10x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 8x All-NBA Team Selection, 8x All-Defensive Team Selection

Kevin Garnett can be considered to be both the most underrated and overrated player in NBA history. Many fans have him rightful in the 11-20 range all-time, while others have him in the Top 10 above Kobe Bryant and other legends of the game. Either way, Garnett is far and away the best player in Timberwolves' history and the only player to date to win an MVP award with the franchise. He was a do-it-all player, even as a power forward, who could pass, handle the ball, and had a lethal mid-range jumper.

The 2003-04 season may just have been the best all-around season of Garnett’s career. He took home the MVP award that season averaging 24.2 PPG, 13.9 RPG (which led the league), 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, and 2.2 BPG. Garnett led the Timberwolves to 58 wins that year and the only Western Conference Finals berth in team history. Garnett would eventually win an NBA title with the Celtics in 2008 but left the Timberwolves as the all-time leader in nearly all of the major stat categories.

New Orleans Pelicans - Chris Paul

Career Stats (with New Orleans): 18.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 9.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Career Achievements (with New Orleans): 1x Rookie Of The Year, 4x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection

Chris Paul makes his second appearance on today’s GOAT list as the New Orleans Pelicans' greatest player ever. Paul played for the New Orleans Hornets for 6 seasons from 2006 thru 2011, and they eventually became the Pelicans a few seasons later, and the Hornets' name was returned to Charlotte, which the Bobcats occupied. Paul may have been the best version of himself in New Orleans, nearly securing an MVP award and taking the teams on their best runs in franchise history.

Paul was nearly an MVP in the 2008 season when he finished 2nd, averaging 21.1 PPG, 11.6 APG (led NBA), and 2.7 SPG (led NBA). Paul would lead the team to the playoffs in 3 of his 6 seasons with them and past the first round once in 2008. Paul won himself 3 steals titles total in New Orleans as well as 2 assists titles and is the team’s all-time leader in both categories. Paul’s title could very well fall in the future with stars like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram in town, but for now, he remains the New Orleans GOAT.

New York Knicks - Willis Reed

Career Stats (with Knicks): 18.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Career Achievements (with Knicks): 2x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 7x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 5x All-NBA Team Selection, 1x All-Defensive Team Selection

I know most Knicks fans and others around the globe will argue until they are red in the face about Patrick Ewing being the Knicks' GOAT. I fully understand that opinion, but that cannot diminish what Willis Reed was able to do with the Knicks during his 10 years in New York. Ewing is an all-time great who holds the most records in Knicks' history. However, an MVP and 2 NBA championships just hold more weight in the debate than anything.

Reed was one of the more feared matchups in the NBA during his time. He helped the Knicks win 2 NBA championships in 1970 and 1973, matched up against the great Wilt Chamberlain. He won the 1970 MVP award and averaged 21.7 PPG and 13.9 RPG. He was a fierce defensive presence as well, doing most of his damage before defensive stats were even recorded. His 2 Finals MVP awards were earned, not given as he was the best player on the court aside from Walt Frazier and Jerry West. The bottom line is that Reed delivered what Ewing couldn’t to the city in multiple NBA titles. At the end of the day, winning is the most important thing.

Oklahoma City Thunder - Kevin Durant

Career Stats (with Thunder): 27.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Career Achievements (with Thunder): 1x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 7x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 6x All-NBA Team Selection

Kevin Durant spent 9 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, helping to usher in a new era of basketball in Oklahoma City. He became one of the NBA’s best scorers, with his height and frame being no issue for his ability to handle the ball and score at will. Durant would win 4 scoring titles with the Thunder during a 5-year stretch from 2010 thru 2014. He averaged 29.3 PPG on 48.9% shooting during that time.

Durant would go on to help the Thunder make the only NBA Finals in team history during the 2012 season and nearly had them back again in 2015. Durant has always been lethal on the offensive side of the ball but what goes unrecognized is his ability to pass the ball as well as his defensive efforts. Durant is a weak side block machine at times which helped him average over 1.0 BPG 6 times with the Thunder. He has always had a complete game, but his scoring has overshadowed everything else that he does on the court.

Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard

Career Stats (with Magic): 18.4 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.2 BPG

Career Achievements (with Magic): 3x Defensive Player Of The Year, 6x All-Star, 6x All-NBA Team Selection, 5x All-Defensive Team Selection

The only 2 players with an argument for the GOAT of the Orlando Magic are Shaq and our selection, Dwight Howard. Both players played the center position at an elite level during their time with the Magic. Howard gets the edge because of his defensive impact, as well as his offensive dominance. Howard took home 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards during his time in Orlando, leading the NBA in blocks twice and averaging 2.2 BPG in his career with the team.

Howard’s 2009 season is still the stuff of legend around the Orlando Magic facilities. He averaged 20.6 PPG and led the NBA in both rebounds and blocks with 13.8 RPG and 2.9 BPG during the regular season. It was one of 4 seasons that Howard led the NBA in rebounds with the Magic. In the playoffs, Howard put the Magic on his back and led them to their first NBA Finals since 1995. During the playoffs, he averaged 20.3 PPG, 15.3 RPG, and 2.6 BPG. Although they lost in the Finals to Kobe and the Lakers, Howard’s run is etched in stone in Magic history.

Philadelphia 76ers - Wilt Chamberlain

Career Stats (with 76ers): 27.6 PPG, 23.9 RPG, 6.8 APG

Career Achievements (with 76ers): 3x MVP, 3x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection

The tales of Wilt Chamberlain's legendary career are still alive and well over 50 years later. There are a few players who are in contention for Philadelphia’s GOAT, such as Moses Malone, Julius Erving, and Allen Iverson. However, nobody dominated the competition like Wilt did in Philadelphia. Wilt won 3 straight MVP awards from 1966 thru 1968 with the Sixers and averaged over 25.0 PPG as well as over 23.0 RPG during that time.

Chamberlain also dipped more into his playmaking abilities with the 76ers during his 3 and a half seasons with the team. In 1967 and 1968, Chamberlain averaged 7.8 APG and 8.6 APG, respectively, which are by far his best seasons passing the ball. He also led the NBA in rebounds in his 3 full seasons in Philadelphia. Wilt would lead the 76ers to an NBA championship in 67. In the playoffs as a whole, he averaged 21.7 PPG, 29.1 RPG, and 9.0 APG. In the Finals, he averaged 17.7 PPG and 28.5 RPG and led his team with 6.8 APG.

Phoenix Suns - Steve Nash

Career Stats (with Suns): 14.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 9.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Career Achievements (with Suns): 2x MVP, 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection

The history of the Phoenix Suns is also littered with all-time greats like Alvan Adams, Paul Westphal, Walter Davis, and more. The GOAT of the franchise has to be the man who is one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history, Steve Nash. At the peak of his career, Nash led the offense with the most firepower in the NBA at the time. He did it so well that the NBA gave him 2 MVP awards for his efforts as he stood alone in Suns history as the only muti-time winner of the MVP award in franchise history.

Nash’s first MVP win came in the 2004-05 season when he averaged 15.5 PPG and 11.5 APG, which led the NBA. He led the Suns to 62 wins that season as they cruised into the playoffs. In 2005-06, Nash would repeat as the MVP, helping the Suns to win 54 games averaging 18.8 PPG and 10.5 APG, which again led the NBA. Not only did he win the MVP award, but he also joined the 50/40/90 club, one of the more exclusive efficiency accomplishments in basketball.

Portland Trail Blazers- Bill Walton

Career Stats (with Trail Blazers): 17.1 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.6 BPG

Career Achievements (with Trail Blazers): 1x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 2x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection

The Portland Trail Blazers have a complicated conversation when it comes to who their GOAT is. There is Damian Lillard, who recently became the all-time leading scorer in Portland history. There is Clyde Drexler, who led the team to 2 NBA Finals in his career. Both of them are great and have a case to be the selection for Portland. However, neither of them accomplished the things that Walton did during his time with the Trail Blazers.

Once again, winning matters in the GOAT conversation. Bill Walton may have had only 4 seasons in Portland before his body betrayed him, but he made the most of it in a big way. He led Portland to the NBA championship in 1977, when he led the NBA in rebounds and blocks during the regular season. He won Finals MVP that year, averaging 18.5 PPG, 19.0 RPG, and 3.7 BPG. The next season, he did something once again that no Trail Blazers player has ever done, won the MVP award. Greatness needs winning attached to its name, and Bill Walton is the Trail Blazers' biggest winner.

Sacramento Kings - Oscar Robertson

Career Stats (with Royals): 29.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 10.3 APG

Career Achievements (with Royals): 1x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 10x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selections

Oscar Robertson is one of the greatest point guards of all time. He was the first guard to really dominate all phases of the game, especially on offense. He became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season in 1962, his 2nd NBA season. He won 7 total assists titles with the Royals out of 10 seasons with the team. He was an elite passer, scorer, rebounder, and playmaker who made 10 All-NBA Teams, all of which were to the First Team.

Robertson did not win an NBA title until he left for Milwaukee in 1971. With the Royals, Robertson was still able to lead them to the playoffs 6 times, getting out of the first round twice. In 1964, he was named MVP when he averaged 31.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 11.0 APG. He averaged 30.0 PPG or better 6 times with the Royals in 10 seasons with the team and averaged over 10.0 APG 5 times. His legacy is cemented amongst the best in his position and as the GOAT of the Sacramento Kings franchise.

San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan

Career Stats (with Spurs): 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.2 BPG

Career Achievements (with Spurs): 3x Finals MVP, 2x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 15x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 15x All-NBA Team Selection, 15x All-Defensive Team Selection

From the moment Tim Duncan stepped on the court for the San Antonio Spurs, it was clear that he was destined for greatness. Over the next 20 years, Duncan evolved into one of the best players in basketball and the greatest power forward in NBA history. He wasn’t flashy or loud or flamboyant. He killed his opponents with basics and stifling defense to the tune of 5 NBA titles and 2 MVP awards.

Duncan led the Spurs to their first NBA title in just his 2nd season in the NBA. He would win 4 more over the next 15 seasons, claiming 3 Finals MVP awards as well. At his peak, he was the best interior defender in the NBA, wrongfully robbed of several Defensive Player of the Year awards. Duncan is the all-time Spurs leader in most major categories and turned them from a titleless franchise into a dynasty. If that doesn’t warrant being a team’s GOAT, then I don’t know what will.

Toronto Raptors - Kyle Lowry

Career Stats (with Raptors): 17.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Career Achievements (with Raptors): 6x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

Were you expecting Vince Carter or Kawhi Leonard? Both were great Raptors, and Kawhi did something no other player has done for Toronto in their entire history. What Kyle Lowry means to Toronto as a city and as a team cannot be quantified by accolades or numbers. Lowry came to Toronto, seen as a lost cause after jumping around from team to team for the first part of his career. He responded by aiding in their resurgence as a serious franchise, leading them to franchise records in wins and playing a huge role in their NBA title.

Lowry doesn’t get nearly the credit that Kawhi does for the Raptors championship, but they do not win it without him. In the playoffs overall, Lowry averaged 15.0 PPG, 6.6 APG, and 1.3 APG. In the Finals, Lowry averaged 16.2 PPG, 7.2 APG, and 1.7 SPG to help with an upset of the Warriors. Say what you will about injuries and so on, but Lowry delivered on both ends of the floor when it mattered most. Given the time he put into the Raptors and the things he accomplished as a result, Kyle Lowry is the Raptors' GOAT.

Utah Jazz - Karl Malone

Career Stats (with Jazz): 25.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8BPG

Career Achievements (with Jazz): 2x MVP, 14x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 14x All-NBA Team Selection, 4x All-Defensive Team Selection

The Utah Jazz are one of many NBA franchises still left without an NBA championship. The closest they ever came to achieving that goal was in the late 90s, led by Karl Malone and John Stockton. Malone was as consistent as any player has been in NBA history. He averaged 20.0 PPG or more for 17 straight seasons from 1987 thru 2003 with the Jazz and helped them get to heights they had never seen before or have seen since.

Not only was Malone consistent, but he was dominant as well. He took home the 1997 MVP award while leading the Jazz to 64 wins and a spot in the NBA Finals. He averaged 27.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 1.4 SPG for the Jazz that year. He would win another MVP award in 1999, averaging 23.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, and 1.3 SPG, while the Jazz won 37 out of 50 games. Say what you will about the man, and rightfully so, but on the court, Malone was a beast and absolutely the Jazz’s GOAT.

Washington Wizards - Wes Unseld

Career Stats (with Bullets): 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Career Achievements (with Bullets): 1x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

For the Bullets, there are really only 2 players who have a case to be named their GOAT. Elvin Hayes certainly has a case as an elite scorer and rebounder who helped the team win their only NBA title in 1978. The man we have chosen for their GOAT, however, is Wes Unseld, who spent all 13 years of his career with the Bullets from 1969 thru 1981. Unseld was the backbone of the team’s rebounding and defensive efforts, and without him, they may still be titleless.

Wes Unseld was named the MVP of the league in his rookie year in 1969. He averaged 13.8 PPG and 18.2 RPG for a team that won 57 games that year and finished 1st in the East. When the Bullets won the championship in 1978, Unseld was named the Finals MVP for his effort. Unseld made defensive plays when his team needed him most in the series and propelled them to victory. He averaged 9.0 PPG and 11.7 RPG, and despite Hayes’ 20.7 PPG and 11.9 RPG, Unseld took home the award. Whoever your choice is for the Washington GOAT, Hayes, or Unseld, you cannot go wrong with either player as your selection.

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