Top accolades: Six NBA titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, 10 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 14 All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, nine All-Defensive 1st Team selections

NBA rank: 3rd in steals, 5th in scoring, 47th in assists, 123rd in blocks, 131st in rebounds

Not a consensus pick in our Top 75 list, but close to it, as six of our eight voters picked Michael Jordan as the No. 1 player in their ranking. It’s impossible to argue that, too, as Jordan had the highest peak of any of the GOAT candidates and the longest list of top-level achievements (as of now). Jordan was a madman as a competitor, which led to him training as hard as any NBA player ever in order to get his body in elite shape to destroy opponents.

His mid-range game – face-ups, jab-steps, pull-ups, turnarounds, fadeaway, all of it – was second to none, and he was also a freakish athlete who could finish through contact and over length. And then there was the aspect of his clutchness, as Jordan was so often successful in nailing game-winners in the most high-pressure situations imaginable. Oh, and he was a top-tier defender, too.

Jordan was the face of the NBA for a long time, and his star status outside of the basketball world was almost hard to believe, and still sort of is. Overall, he’s still currently the GOAT, according to our voters.

Top accolades: Five NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, 11 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 18 All-Stars, nine All-Defensive 1st Team selections

NBA rank: 4th in scoring, 16th in steals, 31st in assists, 108th in rebounds, 196th in blocks

Not as high a peak as other megastars, but his career is one of amazingly sustained excellence – a result of an almost unparalleled work ethic and devotion to his craft, which helped him develop into an outrageous scorer out of the mid-range and near the rim, and a high-impact perimeter defender. Kobe Bryant was first a sidekick to Shaq before then becoming the man for the Lakers and winning five titles overall, two of which he earned Finals MVPs for. Bryant, who finished his career with more All-NBA 1st Team selections than Jordan (!), also probably turned more people into basketball fans than any player not named Michael (or Earvin).

Top accolades: Three NBA titles, one Finals MVP, eight All-NBA selections, 13 All-Stars, three All-Defensive 2nd Team selections

NBA rank: 30th in scoring and steals, 43rd in assists, 128th in blocks

Dwyane Wade never won a league MVP award but came close in 2008-09 and 2009-10. He was also a solid playmaker and a plus-defender, especially as a shot-blocker, as he ranks as the player 6-foot-4 or shorter with the most blocks ever. Wade also showed great humility in playing second fiddle to LeBron to chase titles later in his prime.

Top accolades: One MVP, seven All-NBA selections, 11 All-Stars

NBA rank: 14th in steals, 25th in scoring, 48th in assists

A cultural icon as well as one of the best lead guards of his era, Allen Iverson has to be one of the most ridiculously explosive athletes the sport has ever seen, especially out of a player generously listed at 6-feet tall. Iverson’s crossover was devastating (just ask Jordan), and his bombastic styler as a scorer made for thrilling viewing throughout his prime.

Top accolades: One MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, nine All-Stars, one Sixth Man of the Year award

NBA rank: 32nd in scoring, 41st in assists, 62nd in steals

James Harden already has a Hall-of-Fame resume thanks to his unreal scoring ability and playmaking. His crossover and stepback jumper make him impossible to slow down when he gets going, as does his strong shoulder on drives to the rim. Harden has a chance to add to his legacy in a major way over the coming years.

Top accolades: One NBA title, five All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars

NBA rank: 8th in steals, 33rd in scoring, 34th in assists, 130th in rebounds, 172nd in blocks

Clyde Drexler was a fantastic scorer, rebounder and playmaker for his position, while also using his athleticism well defensively.

Top accolades: Five All-NBA 1st Team selections, nine All-Stars

NBA rank: 42nd in scoring, 184th in blocks, 203rd in steals

A smooth operator on the wing as a scorer, George Gervin could fill it up with the best of them despite lacking much of a three-point shot. He is best remembered for his beautiful finger-roll layup, still one of the nicest moves in any player’s arsenal ever.

Top accolades: Three All-NBA 3rd Team selections, five All-Stars

NBA rank: 21st in scoring, 48th in steals, 113th in assists

One of the finest shooters ever, Reggie Miller ranks third in league history in made three-pointers (2,560). He was also extremely clutch about his shot-making, with a career highlight tape featuring multiple game-winning threes from high-pressure postseason contests.

Top accolades: Two NBA titles, two All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars

NBA rank: 24th in scoring, 53rd in steals, 94th in assists, 237th in rebounds

Had his peak come 20 years later, it’s fascinating to ponder what Ray Allen’s numbers might have looked like, as his bombastic style of play consisting of shooting a ton of threes would have fit wonderfully in today’s NBA. Still, Allen carved out a Hall-of-Fame career in his era anyway as one of the best shooters ever, and arguably owns the biggest shot in league history under his belt from Game 6 of the 2013 Finals.

Top accolades: Two All-NBA selections, eight All-Stars

NBA rank: 19th in scoring, 76th in assists, 138th in rebounds

Aside from being one of the most explosive dunkers in league history, Vince Carter was a productive player for 22 years – something that not many could have expected considering how reliant on athleticism he was during his prime.

Top accolades: Seven All-NBA selections, seven All-Stars, one Most Improved Player award

NBA rank: 72nd in scoring, 111th in assists, 147th in blocks, 235th in rebounds

A more impressive playoff career (he never made it out of the first round in his prime) could have greatly changed where Tracy McGrady finished in this ranking, as could have more longevity. But at his peak, McGrady was one of the most explosive and productive do-everything wings in basketball, one who would have dominated in the modern NBA.

Top accolades: One NBA title, seven All-NBA 2nd Team selections, 10 All-Stars

NBA rank: 37th in scoring, 86th in assists, 206th in rebounds

One of the best and underrated guards of the 1960s, Hal Greer was an All-Star 10 times that decade and an All-NBA 2nd Teamer seven times, helping lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a championship in 1966-67 alongside Chamberlain in what was one of the most slept-on guard-big duos in league history.

Top accolades: One NBA title, one All-NBA 1st Team selection, four All-Stars

NBA rank: 88th in scoring, 153rd in assists

Earl Monroe was a supremely skilled scorer especially driving and slashing to the rim while specializing in circus shots. An elite, quick ball-handler, The Pearl was an early version of Allen Iverson.

Top accolades: Three NBA titles, two All-NBA 3rd Team selections, five All-Stars, one All-Defensive 2nd Team selection

NBA rank: 263rd in scoring

His all-time statistics may have been the primary reason why he didn’t make the final NBA75 list, but it must be taken into account that Klay Thompson missed two full seasons in the midst of his prime due to injury, and even with that, he has made five All-Star rosters and won three championships while already ranking Top 20 all-time in three-pointers. If Thompson can return and eventually regain his elite form, his place in all-time standings will shoot up.

Top accolades: 10 NBA titles, three All-NBA 2nd Team selections, five All-Stars

NBA rank: 132nd in scoring

The go-to scorer for the Celtics dynasty of the 1960s, Sam Jones was also an extremely clutch performer who always managed to deliver in the playoffs. Jones also had a very accurate jump shot, a rarity for players of his era, even the guards.

Top accolades: Four NBA titles, two All-NBA 3rd Team selections, two All-Stars, one-time Sixth Man of the Year

NBA rank: 59th steals, 119th in assists, 173rd in points

A confident, energetic scorer, Manu Ginobili was able to get buckets in a variety of ways, including slashing to the rim, finishing over big men and hitting step-back threes in foes’ faces. The Argentine southpaw was a natural leader on the court with great quickness in his prime and helped make the Euro step a common move in the NBA.

Top accolades: Three NBA titles, one Finals MVO, two All-NBA selections, five All-Stars, six All-Defensive 1st Team selections

NBA rank: 51st in assists, 130th in scoring

One of the best defensive guards ever, Dennis Johnson was s somewhat shocking omission from the NBA75 list. Johnson had an offensive game, too, as he was an elite playmaker at the combo-guard spot. Johnson had superstar potential but had the selflessness to accept a role player position on the Celtics dynasty of the 1980s.

Top accolades: Two NBA titles, one Finals MVP, three All-NBA selections, six All-Stars, six All-Defensive selections

NBA rank: 81st in assists, 106th in scoring, 229th in steals

An elite defender out of the backcourt, Joe Dumars was a pivotal part of the Bad Boys Pistons dynasty who won back-to-back championships in the late ’80s. Dumars was a fantastic glue guy on many elite teams in his career, one who could knock down jumpers off the dribble in the mid-range at a high level. Also an underrated playmaker.

Top accolades: Four NBA titles, four All-NBA 1st Team selections, eight All-Stars

NBA rank: 228th in scoring

One of the NBA’s first shooting specialists, Bill Sharman could knock down jumpers from deep in his prime, and was an important member of various elite Celtics teams in his heyday. High basketball IQ, too, as evidenced by his becoming a successful head coach after his playing days.

Top accolades: One NBA title, one All-NBA 1st Team selection, five All-Stars

NBA rank: 58th in scoring, 75th in assists