Michael Jordan hugs the championship trophy after the Bulls defeated the Lakers 4-1 in the 1991 NBA Finals.
From the origins of the league in the 1940s, stars have always shined bright in the NBA. That continued through the run of Celtics’ dominance in the 60s, to the ABA merger in the 70s and the Bird vs. Magic rivalry of the 80s. Then came the Michael Jordan-era Bulls dominating the 1990s and an era of stars that spanned the new millennium, too.
NBA.com profiles the greatest players in NBA history. These are the players that helped make the NBA what it is today.
NBA Legends Profiles
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Ray Allen
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Carmelo Anthony
- Nate Archibald
- Paul Arizin
- Charles Barkley
- Rick Barry
- Elgin Baylor
- Walt Bellamy
- Dave Bing
- Larry Bird
- Kobe Bryant
- Chris Bosh
- Al Cervi
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Maurice Cheeks
- Nat Clifton
- Charles “Chuck” Cooper
- Bob Cousy
- Dave Cowens
- Billy Cunningham
- Stephen Curry
- Anthony Davis
- Bob Dandridge
- Adrian Dantley
- Dave DeBusschere
- Vlade Divac
- Clyde Drexler
- Joe Dumars
- Tim Duncan
- Kevin Durant
- Alex English
- Julius Erving
- Patrick Ewing
- Walt Frazier
- Joe Fulks
- Kevin Garnett
- George Gervin
- Artis Gilmore
- Gail Goodrich
- Hal Greer
- James Harden
- John Havlicek
- Connie Hawkins
- Elvin Hayes
- Spencer Haywood
- Tom Heinsohn
- Grant Hill
- Dan Issel
- Allen Iverson
- LeBron James
- Dennis Johnson
- Magic Johnson
- Bobby Jones
- K.C. Jones
- Sam Jones
- Michael Jordan
- Johnny “Red” Kerr
- Jason Kidd
- Bernard King
- Toni Kukoc
- Bill Laimbeer
- Bob Lanier
- Kawhi Leonard
- Damian Lillard
- Jerry Lucas
- Karl Malone
- Moses Malone
- Pete Maravich
- Bob McAdoo
- George McGinnis
- Tracy McGrady
- Kevin McHale
- George Mikan
- Reggie Miller
- Yao Ming
- Sidney Moncrief
- Earl Monroe
- Alonzo Mourning
- Chris Mullin
- Calvin Murphy
- Dikembe Mutombo
- Steve Nash
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Robert Parish
- Chris Paul
- Gary Payton
- Drazen Petrovic
- Bob Pettit
- Paul Pierce
- Scottie Pippen
- Willis Reed
- Mitch Richmond
- Oscar Robertson
- David Robinson
- Dennis Rodman
- Bill Russell
- Arvydas Sabonis
- Dolph Schayes
- Bill Sharman
- Jack Sikma
- John Stockton
- Isiah Thomas
- Nate Thurmond
- Rudy Tomjanovich
- Wes Unseld
- Dwyane Wade
- Ben Wallace
- Chet Walker
- Bill Walton
- Chris Webber
- Jerry West
- Russell Westbrook
- Paul Westphal
- Jo Jo White
- Lenny Wilkens
- Jamaal Wilkes
- Dominique Wilkins
- James Worthy
