Not everyone agrees on a strict GOAT list — some players have tight ranges (everyone mostly agrees), while others swing wildly depending on what you value most. Here’s how the ranges usually play out: Jordan (1–2) — Needs no explanation. LeBron (1–3) — 3 is almost always hating. Kareem (2–5) — Only gets to 2 if you weigh college heavily. Wilt / Russell (3–Out) — Depends on how much you discount eras. Shaq (3–10) — Peak pushes top 5, career more like 6–10. Magic (4–7) — Ultra consistent, but weaknesses (defense/shooting) drop him a bit. Kobe (4–Out) — High variance; depends how you view his volume, teamwork, and later years. Duncan (5–8) — 18 years of winning, slow steady decline. Bird (5–9) — Clutch and dominant, but shorter career + average athleticism hold him back. Hakeem (8–Out) — High peak, but wasted years on bad teams, post-peak decline. Steph (9–Out) — Injuries, stacked teams, lack of two-way play keep him lower. KD (10–Out) — Only creeps in if you value scoring above all else. Having a higher range doesn’t mean someone isn’t great — just means their career is messier to parse through. Where do you have these legends in your Top 10? #NBA #GOATDebate #MyNBAGOAT #NBAGreats #NBALegends #NBAHistory #BasketballDebate #NBADiscussion #Sports