1. Bill Russell Revolutionized the game defensively, any argument over his merit for the #1 position can be settled with: 11 championships in 13 years
2. Kareem Abdul Jabaar Career leader in points scored, 6 MVP's, 6 Championships, 19 time all-star, none can match his combination of greatness and durability
3. Shaquille O'Neal Along with Wilt, the most imposing big men ever to play the game, Shaq gets the nod for his four titles and counting
4. Wilt Chamberlain 100 point game, 2 championships, 4 MVP's led the league in points, rebounds and assists each at one point in his career
5. Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem holds the record for career blocked shots, a 6 time all NBA first team selection, 2 championships and an MVP merits his placement in the top 5
6. Moses Malone 3 time MVP who changed the game by coming straight from high school, recorded over 27,000 points and 16,000 rebounds in his 21 seasons
7. George Mikan The first great big man of the game who fueled the NBA's first dynasty by helping the Lakers to 4 championships in the 1950's
8. David Robinson 10 time all star, MVP, and won two championships near the end of his career teaming with Tim Duncan to form the Twin Towers
9. Bill Walton The best passing big man of all time, crippled by injuries, but still won and MVP while leading the Blazers to a championship, later won again with the Celtics
10. Patrick Ewing An 11 time all star, who battled with the best centers of the late 80's and early 90's, totaled over 24,000 points and 11,000 rebounds
11. Dan Issel A 7-time all star who dominated both the NBA and ABA, totalling 27,000 points over 15 seasons
12. Dave Cowens MVP, 7 time all star, and led the Celtics to 2 championships in the 1970's
13. Willis Reed Heroically led the Knicks to the 1970 Championship a year in which he was the MVP, and won a title again in 1973
14. Artis Gilmore H 6 time NBA star, ABA champion and MVP, scored over 15,000 points and grabbed more than 9,000 rebounds in 17 seasons
15. Wes Unsled Burst into the league, winning the MVP and ROY his first season, later led the Bullets to a championship winning finals MVP
16. Nate Thurmond 7 time all-star who averaged more than 15 points and 15 rebounds over his 14 years
17. Walt Bellamy Battled with Wilt and Russell in the 1960's, was a 4 time all star and amassed over 20,000 points and 14,000 rebounds
18. Bob Laneir BA 6 time all star who totaled over 19,000 points and 9,000 rebounds in 14 seasons
19. Alonzo Mourning A 7 time all star, who led with defense, won an NBA title after battling back from kidney failure
20. Robert Parish 4 time champion and 9 time all star, leads all players in career games played with 1,611 in which he totaled over 23,000 points and 10,000 rebounds
21. Dikembe Mutombo An 8 time all star, and defensive player of the year 4 times, number 2 in career blocks
22. Neil Johnston Hall of famer, was one of the first great big men being selected to 6 consecutive all star teams in the 1950's
23. Bill Laimbeer elped fuel the pistons to championships with his elbows and defense, 4 time all-star
24. Ed Macauley Hall of famer, a seven time all star, and league MVP in 1950-51
25. Yao Ming A 7'6'' giant, the first pick of the 2002 drafted, aided in the globalization of the NBA as he brought with him the hopes of the Chinese
26. Larry Foust An 8 time all star, who scored more than 11,000 points in 12 seasons in the 1950's and 60's
27. Jack Sikma A 7 time all-star, who attained over 17,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in 14 years for the Sonics and Bucks
28. Clyde Lovellette Hall of famer, and 3 time all star, won two championship with the Celtics dynasty in the early 1960's
29. Ben Wallace An undersized big man who compensated with defense, selected first team NBA all defense 5 times, and an all-star 4 times, and led the pistons to a championship
30. Brad Daugherty First pick of the 1986 draft, played only 8 seasons but was a 5 time all-star selection
31. Kevin Willis An ageless wonder, played in the league at the age of 44, played in over 1,400 games in 21 seasons with more than 17,000 points and 11,000 rebounds
32. Arvydas Sabonis A great passing big man, who graced the NBA at the end of his career after years of playing in Europe. Would likely be much higher on this list had he come to the NBA sooner
33. Zelmo Beaty 5 time NBA and ABA all-star, scored more than 15,000 points in 12 seasons split between the two leagues
34. Vlade Divac The serbian great, an excellent passing big man, played 16 seasons for the Lakers and Kings, a 1 time all-star
35. Brad Daugherty Played his entire career for the Pacers, a 1 time all star, scored more than 12,000 points in 12 seasons
36. Zydrunas Ilgaskus A Lithuanian giant, has already been selected to 2 all-star games in 9 strong season for the Cavaliers
37. James Edwards Played in 19 seasons, scoring more than 14,000 points for 8 different NBA teams
38. Mychal Thompson The first pick of the 1978 draft, socred more than 12,000, and joined the Showtime Lakers of the 1980's near the tailend of their dynasty
39. Bill Cartwright A consistent performer for 15 NBA season, was selected to 1 all-star, and won three championships with Michael Jordans' Bulls
40. Brad Miller A 2 time all star selection, blossomed after joining the Kings after a few subpar years
41. Kevin Duckworth A time 2 all-star played for 5 teams and scored more than 8,000 points in 11 NBA season
42. Ralph Sampson PA 7'4" giant was plagued by injuries after 4 all-star selections, and being the first pick of the 1983 draft
43. Rony Seikaly An early European influence, scored almost 10,000 points over his 11 NBA seasons
44. Alvan adams A 1 time all-star, scored more than 13,000 points in 13 NBA seasons
45. Elden Campbell Played for 15 years, in more than 1,000 games scoring over 10,000 points for 6 NBA teams
46. Mike Gminski A consistent performer scored more than 10,000 points and grabbed more than 6,000 rebounds in 14 NBA seasons
47. Elmore Smith A defensive force, was top 10 in the league in blocked shots for 7 of his 8 seasons
48. Sam Lacey A 1 time all-star, scored more than 10,000 points in 13 years
49. Marcus Camby An injury plagued big man with 1 all-star selection, twice led the league in blocks per game
50. Chuck Share An early big man, played for 3 teams in the 1950's after being the first pick of the 1950 NBA draft

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