As I sat down to compile this definitive ranking of the top 20 NBA players in history, I couldn't help but notice the recent news about Raymond Almazan extending his contract with MERALCO. It got me thinking about how player longevity and team loyalty factor into greatness - something that definitely influenced my list. Having followed basketball for over two decades and analyzed countless games, I've developed some strong opinions about what separates good players from truly legendary ones.

Michael Jordan sits comfortably at number one in my book, and I don't think this is particularly controversial. His six championships with the Bulls, five MVP awards, and that perfect 6-0 record in NBA Finals tell only part of the story. What truly sets Jordan apart in my view is his combination of offensive brilliance and defensive excellence - he made the All-Defensive First Team nine times, which often gets overlooked when people focus solely on his scoring. LeBron James claims the second spot for me, though I know some traditionalists might argue for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar here. LeBron's sustained excellence across multiple eras, his eight consecutive Finals appearances with both Miami and Cleveland, and his ability to transform every team he's joined into a contender give him the edge in my evaluation.

When we get into the 3-10 range, that's where the debates really get interesting. I have Kareem at number three because of his unprecedented longevity and that unstoppable skyhook, but I've always been slightly more impressed by Bill Russell's eleven championships in thirteen seasons. Magic Johnson at number five might surprise some younger fans who never saw him play, but his revolutionary court vision and ability to play all five positions changed basketball forever. Larry Bird at six represents perhaps the purest shooting form I've ever witnessed, while Wilt Chamberlain's statistical dominance - yes, including that 100-point game - earns him the seventh spot. Shaquille O'Neal at eight was the most physically dominant player I've ever seen in his prime, while Tim Duncan's fundamental perfection and five rings land him at nine. Kobe Bryant rounds out my top ten - his footwork and competitive fire were simply unmatched in my observation.

The second half of my list features some incredible talents that could easily be rearranged depending on what you value most. Hakeem Olajuwon at eleven possessed the most beautiful post moves I've ever studied, while Oscar Robertson's triple-double season before it became fashionable sits at twelve. Kevin Durant's scoring efficiency at thirteen, Stephen Curry's revolutionary shooting at fourteen, and Moses Malone's relentless rebounding at fifteen each brought something unique to the game. The final five spots go to Julius Erving, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki - though I'll admit I struggled mightily with these selections over players like Isiah Thomas and Jerry West.

What strikes me about creating such lists is how context-dependent they are. The Almazan contract extension reminds us that team situations profoundly impact legacies - how many great players never found the right organization to showcase their talents? In my analysis, I've tried to balance individual statistics with team success, longevity with peak performance, and offensive prowess with defensive impact. While statistics provide crucial evidence, sometimes you just have to trust what you've seen with your own eyes over years of watching the game. The beauty of basketball is that reasonable minds can disagree about these rankings, and that's what makes the conversation so endlessly fascinating.