Ranges for the Top 10 All-Time 🐐
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?
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