The 10 most influential players in NBA history, the first position is indisputable

10 Most Influential NBA Players 2022 Original Non W

We chose our top NBA players of all time much easier.

Because it’s easy to express love or shade the game’s finest players based on stats and organize them coherently/authoritatively like we did with the 30 Greatest NBA Players.

Determining who merits GOAT status—Michael Jordan or LeBron James—was easier and less messy than labeling James a more impactful player than Steph Curry.

Have you considered measuring their impact? How important was their career, considering their basketball genius and originality off the court that attracted viewers, captured imaginations, and blended pop and basketball culture? They altered the game’s course? Our mission was much harder than anticipated.

Ask Dwyane Wade.

“That’s just like asking somebody how they like their peanut butter and jelly,” future Hall of Famer and TNT NBA analyst Wade tells Complex Sports. “You may like it. It’s jelly. Peanut butter. Or peanut butter and jelly. They had unique careers.”

Besides being the GOAT on the court, LeBron has become a pop culture phenomenon and shaped basketball culture. But as much as Curry? Steph helped the NBA become a league that shoots significantly more 3-pointers per game than a decade ago? Wade wants to know how to measure a player’s influence while playing.

We’re still seeing both guys play and construct his legacy. Wade, James’ former Miami and Cleveland colleague, believes LeBron has had 20 years to construct his reputation, while Steph hasn’t. I think both have done something unique and extraordinary that places them on Mount Rushmore for what they’ve accomplished in this game, this rich NBA history. LeBron and Steph have never been seen.”

Dwyane, that’s fair. Let us clarify how we ranked the legends before revealing our highly subjective, current results.

We started with 20 guys and narrowed it down to 10 we considered the most significant. Dirk Nowitzki, Dr. J, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bill Russell narrowly missed. Then, our voting panel ranked the players 1-10 by influence in four categories.

Transcendence: How much did a player inspire basketball fans? Each was highly gifted and dominating in their own way. How high was their game compared to the others?

Innovation: How much did the player change basketball? Most notably, Curry’s 3-point shooting has transformed today’s game strategy. Is he more influential than Wilt Chamberlain, who rewrote the league rules?

Impact on Culture: How influential was the player in fashion, pop culture, footwear, and celebrity? M.J., the granddaddy of sneaker culture, made the original (and friendlier) Space Jam, pitched all types of products in his prime, and remains one of the world’s most popular athletes despite not playing in 20 years.

Legacy: Voters were asked to evaluate each player’s career from 30,000 feet and compare their NBA effect to others. Recency bias will play a role since Jordan, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Garnett all ended their careers within the past two decades, while Curry and James are still building theirs.

Following the results, Complex Sports ranks the 10 most impactful NBA players.

10. Kevin Garnett

Two main factors put the Big Ticket ahead of other names basketball fans expected to see before K.G.

First, Kevin Garnett deserves all the credit for reopening the high school-to-NBA pipeline. In 1995, K.G. became the first player in 20 years to enter the league without attending college. Few believed Garnett was ready or expected him to make an immediate impact in the NBA. His accomplishment started a revolution, and a year after he went fifth overall to the Timberwolves, high schoolers like Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O’Neal were drafted until the NBA’s 2006 one-and-done rule.

The second reason Garnett deserves this spot is his 1997 Timberwolves contract, a record-breaking six-year, $126 million agreement that shook the NBA. Following Michael Jordan’s departure from the Bulls in 1998, owners voted to reopen the CBA to restructure the league’s finances, fearing a shift towards player dominance. Example #1: Garnett’s megacontract. The league and players spent almost $1 billion on the 204-day 1998-99 lockout.

K.G. is proud that his massive pact shook up the league—“NBA wanted to be fucked up, let me correct that part,” he told us last year—but being an influencer to ballers who didn’t need a year or two of school to get paid and flourish faster meant more to him.

“Man, betting on yourself in high school when everyone is like, ‘What the heck are you doing? Why not attend college? Do what everyone else did—why not? Why are you proceeding differently? Garnett adds, “You won’t be in the league for that long.” “All those what-ifs and questions and having your friends ask. The biggest flex. Bet on yourself, win, and appear like a genius.” Adam Caparell

9. Wilt Chamberlain

Where should I start? At 7’1″ and 275 pounds, Wilt Chamberlain defied all logic when he entered the NBA in 1959. His agility was unfathomable to professional athletics. Chamberlain was the NBA’s first cheat code because he was huge, skilled, and nimble—he was a collegiate track standout. I can argue that no one has been so disruptive to the league since he arrived. I could start with his incredible number of records he still holds decades after retiring. Like scoring 100 in a game, 19 more than Kobe Bryant. Or all the 50-point or more performances—122—while Michael Jordan only had 39 in his career. Chamberlain is the only player to average 50 points per game in a season—nobody has topped 38.0 PPG. Chamberlain, who died at 63 in 1999, set 68 NBA records, many of which will never be broken. Over 100 were in his possession.

His ultimate NBA influence came from the fact that other teams had to completely adapt their plans to deal with him and the league had to amend the regulations to make the game fairer while Chamberlain played. Chamberlain had a huge impact on the league’s style of play, and Wilt the Stilt changed the rules to make things fairer for his opponents. Due to Chamberlain, the league had to extend the lane and ban offensive goaltending (now called basket interference).

After retiring, Chamberlain appeared in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Conan the Destroyer, cementing his fame. Wilt is said to have embarrassed the action star in the weight room. Nobody is known for bedding more women than Chamberlain. While Chamberlain later admitted in his autobiography that his claim of sleeping with 20,000 women was nonsense, it’s a figure he’s maybe more famous for than the 100 points he scored on the Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Love and basketball aside, Chamberlain was the first NBA player to use his large frame and charming personality to live larger than his measurements off the court, paving the way for future ballers of all sizes to capitalize on their Q Score and charisma. Adam Caparell

8. Shaquille O’Neal

Previously, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t feature in two-thirds of commercials and wasn’t Charles Barkley’s foil on Inside the NBA, the greatest sports studio show ever. Shaq used to be an unstoppable offensive force with the speed, power, and agility not seen in a player his size since Wilt Chamberlain. In his early years in the league, he even took down certain backboards, reminding everyone that the “Diesel”—one of his many nicknames—was unique. Future, present, or past.

Apart from his legendary strength, O’Neal was a two-time scoring champion, 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA, six-time Finals participant, and four-time Lakers-Heat champion. O’Neal was so dominant and unbeatable from 1999 to 2005, when he led the league in FG% every season save 2002-03. He could have easily been the MVP each season. The 7’1″, 300-plus-pound O’Neal was everything to his team, and the Lakers and Heat relied on him. His groundbreaking play earned him a spot on the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players team in 1996 after four seasons.

The way O’Neal—a decent guy with a dazzling smile and exuberant personality—acted on and off the court earned him a spot on this list. O’Neal’s 1992 $15 million deal with Reebok was the first time a major footwear manufacturer courted, planned, and produced a sneaker on that scale around a modern center. O’Neal changed the perception that large men weren’t serious sneaker endorsers—if the common guy couldn’t relate to him, why would they buy his shoes? He became the NBA’s most marketable player after Jordan, and given how good a pitchman he is 11 years after retiring, he’s perhaps the best business partner/spokesman in the league. In contemporary culture, O’Neal was the first NBA player to embrace hip-hop and Hollywood mid-career. Before 25, O’Neal recorded complete albums and starred in Blue Chips and Kazaam, setting a standard other ballers could never match. Adam Caparell

7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Michael Jordan faded. Steph Curry hits threes. The NBA had no shot like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook, which was unguardable and almost guaranteed to go in.

The 7’2″ center’s long, gangly arms and exquisite positioning allowed him to scorch teams with his breathtaking shot for two decades. Abdul-Jabbar would elevate his gigantic frame off his left foot, cup the rock in his right palm, and softly flick the ball through the basket with such perfect rotation every time that you almost wonder why the helpless defenders bothered to raise their arms. Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook made him a unique offensive player, and he controlled the NBA without being athletic, unlike many other groundbreaking players. He did not vault over opponents like Giannis Antetokounmpo. Abdul-Jabbar used his size well and was surprisingly durable for a player in his early 40s. In 20 seasons with the Bucks (six) and Lakers (14), Adbul-Jabbar never played fewer than 65 games.

Few will ever match Abdul-Jabbar’s stats. He has led the league in regular-season scoring for 38 years, but LeBron James is close to shattering it. Imagine what that number would be if Abdul-Jabbar didn’t spend four years at UCLA, as was the case 50 years ago. He made only one 3-pointer in his career. Nobody has more MVPs (six) or All-Stars (19) than the center.

His voice and example for future athletes may be his greatest contribution to the game and beyond. Abdul-Jabbar openly spoke out against society’s inequalities from an early age, despite a frame and renown that rendered him vulnerable to violent verbal insults and even death threats. Jim Brown convened the 1967 Cleveland Summit, a gathering of the most renowned Black sportsmen, after Muhammad Ali was stripped of his heavyweight titles for refusing to serve in Vietnam. Abdul-Jabbar attended. The following year, Abdul-Jabbar boycotted the Summer Games, missing his lone chance to win an Olympic gold medal (pros weren’t allowed to play). He couldn’t bring himself to represent a country that was so indifferent to Black Americans’ problems. Even at 74, Abdul-Jabbar writes essays and opinions on racial injustices, vaccines, and more.

Starting in the early 1970s with the Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar has accumulated 50 film and TV credits on IMDB, including The Simpsons and the cult basketball classic The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. Abdul-Jabbar’s persona remains formidable three decades after retiring from the NBA, so you’ll see him sporadically on TV or cinema. Adam Caparell

6. Allen Iverson

Is Allen Iverson the finest small-man player ever? I think it’s Zeke. What about impact? A.I. ignores Isiah Thomas and addresses His Airness. Since The Answer, a rookie, crossed up Jordan that fateful night in Philadelphia on March 12, 1997, generations of pro athletes have tried to replicate his braids, tats, streetwear, and unabashedness to be himself and take back his narrative. The fast, tiny Iverson humanized Black Jesus, and we noticed a cultural phenomena. A.I. was so street and authentic that the NBA created a clothing rule because almost every player dressed like hip-hop adolescents. His off-court effect was even stronger when you saw him leave it everything on the floor; Iverson was serious. Finally, A.I. had four scoring crowns. Twenty-five years later, Bubba Chuck is still loved in basketball and beyond. Angel Diaz

5. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Byrant’s legacy has grown more bulletproof since his tragic death two years ago, but seeing how much he inspired the league’s younger players makes it hard to deny his impact—even if some say he bit most of Michael’s style. Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker most resemble him. Tatum has the same physique and all-around talent, but Book, who idolized Kobe, strives to be the best every night. Bryant’s #crazy competitiveness rivals Mike’sTop athletes from every major discipline have adopted MambaMentality, which has inspired books and a philosophy. Playing his whole career with the Lakers and collecting five rings boosts his popularity. Kobe was a two-way player who made 12 All-Defensive teams and won two scoring titles. Just about the best on the floor. His Adidas and Nike sneaker legacy is undisputed. Before his death, he won an Oscar for Dear Basketball, a 2017 short film, and mentored young people with the Mamba Academy. Few second acts were as good as Kobe’s. Angel Diaz

4. Steph Curry

There are no more questions, “what ifs,” or conspiracy theories. Steph Curry is the greatest shooter ever. The stats, eye test, and Reggie Miller all support it. Curry is unheard of, like LeBron James. He has mastered shooting, and his emergence has changed how contemporary players see the game. Steph and the Warriors made the 3-pointer more valued, and other teams and players who grew up watching them changed their game to focus on it. Curry is responsible for 7-footers firing deep threes and teams playing small with five shooters. Curry altered basketball more than LeBron, despite his lack of fame.

While the 3-pointer has improved the game, it has also devalued players who can’t shoot it consistently. Guards without shooting skills aren’t valuable in the NBA. It even eliminated traditional bigs who played with their back to the hoop or were slower defensively on the perimeter. When bigs get fried switching onto or protecting perimeter players who can shoot, their value drops. So thanks to Steph Curry. Curry had a major impact on the NBA and basketball in general. After winning his fourth championship and first Finals MVP, the two-time league MVP is likely a top-10 player. Steph is No. 10 on our all-time list and has an opportunity to build on that legacy in his final seasons. Zion Olojede

3. Magic Johnson

Naturally, Magic is one of the most influential basketball players ever.

Earvin “Magic” essence For those of us who scarcely saw Johnson play in his last years, defining his brilliance is difficult. However, if you have at least one working eye and can read and watch highlights and listen to others tell incredible stories about his innovation, transcendence, and the revolution he ushered into the NBA in the 1980s, he was a precocious point guard who stood at a preposterous 6’9″ and could play every position, lead his team to wins it had no business pulling out, and dish out dimes the league had never seen before Before Johnson, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor defied positions and had elite athleticism. But none had Johnson’s explosive personality and knack for drama, while paving the way for LeBron James.

Magic was LeBron before his basketball genius. As Showtime Lakers leader, Johnson was a hybrid scorer/distributor who saw passing lanes nobody else did, helping Los Angeles win five titles in the 1980s. His energy and the Celtics’ regular appearances in the Finals helped the NBA rise from cultural obscurity—the Finals were aired on tape delay into the mid-1980s—to mainstream acceptance.

Johnson did it all with swagger long before the term became popular. He was the first in the league to flash a dazzling smile on the court and an expensive fur off it. Though he retired early after revealing his HIV status in 1991, his largest effect came from his lowest moment. Johnson’s diagnosis dispelled many of the disease’s nasty and erroneous stigmas, which used to immobilize individuals with terror. His tenacity is one of the best examples of AIDS no longer being fatal.

Johnson’s post-retirement business career has inspired other athletes. Magic Johnson was less successful as a basketball executive and TV pundit than on the court, but he was more successful off the field. Johnson, a Dodgers part-owner with a portfolio that may make him a billionaire like his BFF Michael Jordan, is still influencing popular culture. HBO, known for its storytelling, will portray his 80s career and off-court shenanigans. The Showtime Lakers’ shenanigans will be the focus of a Magic drama next month. That was quite influential. Adam Caparell

2. LeBron James

LeBron James should be your No. 2 player of all time if not him. LeBron may not have transformed the game of basketball as much as Steph Curry or M.J. (Magic Johnson came before him), but he is still a figure we have never seen. NBA has never seen a player like LeBron, 6’9″, 250 pounds, with outstanding speed, talent, and IQ. Despite being in his 18th year, he continues to dominate the game at an unparalleled level. Personally, I don’t see him declining soon. LeBron’s effect extends beyond the court. Because of social media, he’s one of the most famous names in the world, possibly surpassing Jordan. Even though he’s been hyped since high school, The Chosen One has exceeded expectations. After playing his final game with his son Bronny, King James will deserve a farewell tour like none we’ve seen because we may never see what he’s done again. Zion Olojede

1. Michael Jordan

LeBron James should be your No. 2 player of all time if not him. LeBron may not have transformed the game of basketball as much as Steph Curry or M.J. (Magic Johnson came before him), but he is still a figure we have never seen. NBA has never seen a player like LeBron, 6’9″, 250 pounds, with outstanding speed, talent, and IQ. Despite being in his 18th year, he continues to dominate the game at an unparalleled level. Personally, I don’t see him declining soon. LeBron’s effect extends beyond the court. Because of social media, he’s one of the most famous names in the world, possibly surpassing Jordan. Even though he’s been hyped since high school, The Chosen One has exceeded expectations. After playing his final game with his son Bronny, King James will deserve a farewell tour like none we’ve seen because we may never see what he’s done again. Zion Olojede