GOAT Index

Two legends at a time. Thousands of votes. One ranking.

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Who is the greatest NBA player of all time?

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    NBA GOAT ranking: the fans' top 25

    Based on 138 head-to-head votes from 5 fans. Updated live.

    1. LeBron James Forward · Cavaliers, Heat, Lakers · rating 2032 · 10–0
    2. Stephen Curry Guard · Warriors · rating 1862 · 6–2
    3. Michael Jordan Guard · Bulls · rating 1830 · 8–2
    4. Kobe Bryant Guard · Lakers · rating 1788 · 3–2
    5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center · Bucks, Lakers · rating 1703 · 5–4
    6. Magic Johnson Guard · Lakers · rating 1695 · 7–3
    7. Larry Bird Forward · Celtics · rating 1669 · 8–5
    8. Nikola Jokić Center · Nuggets · rating 1658 · 9–4
    9. Shaquille O'Neal Center · Magic, Lakers, Heat · rating 1618 · 7–4
    10. Wilt Chamberlain Center · Warriors, 76ers, Lakers · rating 1611 · 5–3
    11. Dwyane Wade Guard · Heat · rating 1594 · 4–3
    12. Kevin Durant Forward · Thunder, Warriors · rating 1540 · 5–5
    13. Giannis Antetokounmpo Forward · Bucks · rating 1537 · 5–4
    14. Karl Malone Forward · Jazz · rating 1493 · 5–4
    15. Dirk Nowitzki Forward · Mavericks · rating 1490 · 7–6
    16. Oscar Robertson Guard · Royals, Bucks · rating 1461 · 4–4
    17. Julius Erving Forward · Nets, 76ers · rating 1444 · 4–6
    18. Kawhi Leonard Forward · Spurs, Raptors, Clippers · rating 1444 · 4–4
    19. Tim Duncan Forward · Spurs · rating 1439 · 7–10
    20. Jerry West Guard · Lakers · rating 1409 · 5–4
    21. Hakeem Olajuwon Center · Rockets · rating 1407 · 3–4
    22. Moses Malone Center · Rockets, 76ers · rating 1351 · 3–7
    23. Kevin Garnett Forward · Timberwolves, Celtics · rating 1346 · 5–6
    24. Isiah Thomas Guard · Pistons · rating 1325 · 3–6
    25. Charles Barkley Forward · 76ers, Suns · rating 1301 · 3–7

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    Who is the NBA GOAT according to fans?

    LeBron James currently leads the GOAT Index NBA ranking after 138 head-to-head votes from 5 fans.

    How is the ranking calculated?

    Fans vote on head-to-head matchups between two legends. Every vote counts like a game result, and a Bradley–Terry model (the idea behind chess ratings) turns thousands of results into one ranking, where beating a highly rated legend counts for more than beating a long shot.

    More GOAT debates

    Men: Men's football · Men's tennis · NFL · MLB · NHL · Men's boxing · Formula 1 · Men's table tennis

    Women: Women's basketball · Women's football · Women's tennis · Women's ice hockey · Women's boxing · Women's table tennis

    How the ranking works. Every head-to-head vote is a result, like a game. The standings use a Bradley–Terry model, the same idea behind chess ratings: beating a highly rated legend counts for more than beating a long shot. Ratings are shown on a chess-style scale centred on 1500.

    One vote per matchup per person. If you see a pairing again in another session your new answer replaces the old one, so nobody can stuff the ballot by repeating a matchup.

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