Every NBA franchise best ever player

GOAT of each team
Atlanta Hawks (Bob Petit)
Boston Celtics (Bill Russell)
Brooklyn Nets (Jason Kidd)
Charlotte Hornets (Kemba Walker)
Chicago Bulls (Michael Jordan)
Cleveland Cavaliers (LeBron James)
Dallas Mavericks (Dirk Nowitzki)
Denver Nuggets (Nikola Jokic)
Detroit Pistons (Isiah Thomas)
Golden State Warriors (Steph Curry)
Houston Rockets (Hakeem Olajuwon)
Indiana Pacers (Reggie Miller)
Los Angeles Clippers (Bob McAdoo)
Los Angeles Lakers (Kobe Bryant)
Memphis Grizzlies (Zach Randolph)
Miami Heat (Dwayne Wade)
Milwaukee Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo)
Minnesota Timberwolves (Kevin Garnett)
New Orleans Pelicans (Anthony Davis)
New York Knicks (Patrick Ewing)
Oklahoma City Thunder (Russell Westbrook)
Orlando Magic (Shaquille O’Neal)
Philadelphia 76ers (Julius Erving)
Phoenix Suns (Steve Nash)
Portland Trail Blazers (Clyde Drexler)
Sacramento Kings (Oscar Robertson)
San Antonio Spurs (Tim Duncan)
Toronto Raptors (Vince Carter)
Utah Jazz (Karl Malone)
Washington Wizards (Wes Unseld)
GOAT of each team

Though they may not be Michael Jordan or LeBron James, every fan base has a player they believe is the GOAT in their eyes because of the memories and joy they brought to them.

Atlanta Hawks (Bob Petit)

Bob Petit never played in Atlanta but played for the Hawks franchise his whole career. He scored over 20,000 points for the Hawks and led them to their only championship in 1958.

Boston Celtics (Bill Russell)

The Celtics have many legends to choose from, but it's hard to ignore 11 championships in a 13-year career like Bill Russell did. According to Basketball References, he also won five NBA MVPs.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Brooklyn Nets (Jason Kidd)

Kidd led the franchise to back-to-back NBA Finals and was a five-time All-Star, six-time All-Defensive, and two-time All-NBA First Team as a Net.

Charlotte Hornets (Kemba Walker)

Walker holds the Hornets' records for most points, field goals, three-point field goals, and minutes played. He was a three-time All-Star and was named All-NBA in 2019.

Chicago Bulls (Michael Jordan)

Jordan is arguably the best player in NBA history and was the dominating figure in Chicago's glittering success. He won six titles in eight years, secured five MVPs, and ten scoring titles.

Cleveland Cavaliers (LeBron James)

Like Jordan, James is considered the best player ever. 'The King' led the Cavs to multiple NBA Finals appearances and won their only title in 2016, returning from a 3-1 deficit.

Dallas Mavericks (Dirk Nowitzki)

Dirk Nowitzki had a 20-year career with the Mavericks, scoring 31,560 points, winning the 2007 MVP award, and leading the franchise to their only title in 2011.

Denver Nuggets (Nikola Jokic)

Jokic is still an active player, but his resume makes him the best Nugget ever. The Serb led the Nuggets to the NBA title in 2023, securing the Finals MVP. He's also won three MVP awards.

Detroit Pistons (Isiah Thomas)

Thomas spent his whole 13-year NBA career with the Pistons, leading them to back-to-back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990 as part of the 'Bad Boy' Pistons.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Golden State Warriors (Steph Curry)

Despite still playing, Steph Curry has established himself as the greatest Warrior, winning four NBA titles, one Finals MVP, two MVPs, and the NBA's all-time three-point record.

Houston Rockets (Hakeem Olajuwon)

Olajuwon steered the Rockets to their only championships in 1994 and 1995 and leads the team in multiple records, including points, rebounds, steals, and blocks.

Indiana Pacers (Reggie Miller)

Miller was a demon shooter for the Pacers, scoring over 25,000 points and leading the franchise in assists and steals. He led the Pacers to the 2000 NBA Finals and was a five-time All-Star.

Los Angeles Clippers (Bob McAdoo)

While playing for the Buffalo Braves (now Clippers), McAdoo averaged 28.2 points in 334 games. He won three straight scoring titles and was named MVP in 1975, according to Planet Sport.

Los Angeles Lakers (Kobe Bryant)

Bryant spent the entirety of his 20-year career with the Lakers, winning five championships, securing two scoring titles, two Finals MVPs, and an MVP. He is the Laker leader in points and fourth all-time (33,643).

Memphis Grizzlies (Zach Randolph)

Randolph scored 9,261 points for the Grizzlies in 551 games. The franchise has retired his number 50 jersey. Due to his defensive presence, Randolph was known as a nightmare to play against.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Miami Heat (Dwayne Wade)

Dwayne Wade has just had a statue built outside Miami's arena, and for good reason. He won two titles with LeBron James and one in 2006, winning Finals MVP after averaging 34.7 in the finals.

Milwaukee Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo)

Antetokounmpo ended a 50-year wait for a championship in Milwaukee after winning the title in 2021, securing the Finals MVP. He is an eight-time All-Star and two-time MVP.

Minnesota Timberwolves (Kevin Garnett)

Garnett leads the Timberwolves' records in points, steals, blocks, assists, and rebounds. He was the 2004 NBA MVP and led the Wolves to the Western Conference Finals.

New Orleans Pelicans (Anthony Davis)

According to The Sportster, during his seven-year stint with the Pelicans, Davis averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks. He was a six-time All-Star and had three All-NBA selections.

New York Knicks (Patrick Ewing)

Legendary Knicks center Patrick Ewing leads the franchise in points scored, blocks, rebounds, and games played. If it weren't for Michael Jordan, he would have rings on his fingers.

Oklahoma City Thunder (Russell Westbrook)

Russell Westbrook was unstoppable with OKC, averaging a triple-double for four NBA seasons. He was a two-time scoring champion and two-time MVP while playing in Oklahoma.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Orlando Magic (Shaquille O’Neal)

O'Neal is more remembered for his time with the Lakers. However, 'Shaq' made his name in Orlando. In four years, O'Neal averaged 27.2 points and led the Magic to the NBA Finals.

Philadelphia 76ers (Julius Erving)

'Dr J' is one of the most influential players in NBA history. In 11 seasons with Philadelphia, Erving was an All-Star every season. He was named the MVP in 1981 and was an NBA champion in 1983.

Phoenix Suns (Steve Nash)

Nash led Phoenix in their most exciting period, the fast-paced 'seven seconds or less' offense. Nash won two MVPs with the franchise and averaged 9.4 assists in 744 games played.

Portland Trail Blazers (Clyde Drexler)

Drexler spent 12 years in Portland, securing eight All-Star selections. Drexler led the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals in 1992 but was pipped by Michael Jordan's Bulls.

Sacramento Kings (Oscar Robertson)

Then, called the Cincinnati Royals, Oscar Robertson was on a different planet. According to StatMuse, he averaged 29.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 8.5 rebounds in 752 games. He also had 176 triple-doubles.

San Antonio Spurs (Tim Duncan)

Duncan led the Spurs during their most successful period. In his 19-year career, he made 15 All-NBA selections, won five NBA Championships, and was named MVP twice.

Toronto Raptors (Vince Carter)

The Raptors just retired Vince Carter's jersey, and for good reason. Carter's journey in Toronto created Vinsanity, where he became the most elite dunker ever.

Utah Jazz (Karl Malone)

Malone led the Utah Jazz to back-to-back Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998 and won two MVP awards with the franchise. He scored 36,374 points for Utah and was a 14-time All-Star.

Washington Wizards (Wes Unseld)

Wes Unseld was named Finals MVP in 1978 after guiding Washington to their only title. In 1969, he became the second player to win the MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

More for you