Charles Barkley picks his Top 10 NBA players of all-time / News - Basketnews.com

Charles Barkley named Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell to his all-time Top 5 while leaving Kobe Bryant and LeBron James outside of the list.

Credit: 2022 Getty Images, AP - SCANPIX Credit 2022 Getty Images, AP - SCANPIX

It's always interesting to see what the NBA's legends think of the other all-time greats and their former colleagues, isn't it?

Charles Barkley

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Charles Barkley, an 11-time NBA All-Star, 11-time member of the All-NBA Team, and the 1993 NBA MVP, revealed his Top 10 players in the league's history during his recent appearance on All the Smoke podcast, co-hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.

With Michael Jordan at the top, this is how Charles Barkley's list played out:

Michael Jordan Oscar Robertson Wilt Chamberlain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bill Russell Kobe Bryant LeBron James Tim Duncan Hakeem Olajuwon Jerry West

Barkley also noted that Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Elgin Baylor, and Shaquille O'Neal are right behind the aforementioned greats.

Interestingly, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who is in a GOAT discussion alongside Michael Jordan, did not even make the Top 5.

"I love LeBron, but the difference, in my opinion, is Michael and Kobe will kill you. LeBron is a nice guy. Ain't nobody ever said Kobe and Michael were nice guys. Those words have never been spoken. Nobody ever said, 'Man, Michael Jordan is a nice guy.' The same thing with Kobe. And that's nothing wrong with that, but LeBron, he is just a nice man and I got him seventh," Barkley explained his choice.

Can any current NBA player enter Chuck's Top 10 by the time they are done?

"Steph [Curry] is knocking on the door. If Steph wins one more [title], it will be hard not to put him in the Top 10," Barkley responded to a question.

Who is the best player in the league right now?

"I will go with Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. KD [Kevin Durant] is probably the best offensive player. But Joker [Nikola Jokic] is ridiculous. That dude is ridiculous. Joel [Embiid] is fantastic. Steph.

There are some great players out there, and they are fun to watch. I just wish they bring a little bit more strategy into the game, instead of, 'Hey, man, let's just jack up a bunch of threes'," he said.

Charles Barkley is now a television analyst on TNT, who was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams.

Barkley remains one of the biggest draws in NBA circles, evidenced by the fact that he still attracts endorsement deals more than two decades after retiring.

In 2020, he notably signed up with sports betting giants, FanDuel, a move that strengthened the sportsbook's position as one of the best US betting sites.

Barkley's influence and opinions on NBA issues carry plenty of weight, which is why the former NBA star's list of the 10 greatest players in history continues to generate plenty of reactions and debate amongst all stakeholders.

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