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78 greatest NBA players ever: The HoopsHype list

HoopsHype ranks the 78 greatest players in NBA history, a list led by the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

For the fourth consecutive year since the league released its NBA75 list, we’re updating our GOAT rankings, adding a 78th player as we leave the league’s 78th season behind.

This one comes with a momentous update at the top, one that will irk many and delight many others (especially on the younger side). For the first time, Michael Jordan, the unassailable GOAT for so many years, doesn’t hold the No. 1 spot in our ranking. This shift follows a season in which LeBron James remained one of the premier players in the league, and was actually the best on a star-studded Team USA and the Olympic tournament as a whole.

As in previous years, we held a team vote with the opinions of eight HoopsHype staff members, discarded the highest and lowest ranks for each player, and awarded points based on the remaining positions.

Now, let’s delve into the list.

D’Angelo Russell: ‘The language Kobe Bryant spoke was foreign to me at the time’

Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell discussed the similarities and differences between playing alongside LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, the unfair injury-prone label on Anthony Davis, his bond with Austin Reaves, and more with HoopsHype Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto.

Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell recently discussed how he’s handled the pressure of a contract season and wants to remain a Laker in free agency this summer as part of a lengthy interview with HoopsHype.

In the remainder of the interview, Russell explained how the birth of his son, Riley, has changed his life, the similarities and differences between playing alongside LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, how the season has gone for the Lakers, the unfair injury-prone label on Anthony Davis, his bond with Austin Reaves, and more below.

77 greatest NBA players ever: The HoopsHype list

HoopsHype ranks the 77 greatest players in NBA history, a list led by the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

As the NBA embarks on its 78th season, we’ve taken the time to refresh our rankings of the all-time top players. This year, we’ve added one more, presenting our list of the 77 greatest players in NBA history.

This is now a yearly exercise which we started in 2021, when the league released its NBA75 list with egregious omissions like Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, who easily make our list.

In the latest rankings, LeBron James edges nearer to Michael Jordan, Nikola Jokic surges upwards, and a new active player makes the cut at No. 76.

Like the previous two years, we held a team vote with the opinions of eight HoopsHype staff members, removed the highest and lowest rank for each and awarded points 77-1 for the rest.

Now, let’s delve into the list.