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Basketball GOAT Ranking

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Who is the GOAT of Basketball? Live ranking as of September 3, 2026: Michael Jordan is #1 with 16,946 votes (72,237.7 total fan votes).

Top contenders: Michael Jordan • Stephen Curry • Wilt Chamberlain

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starMost Favorited GOATs

RankCandidateFavorites Count
#15
#23
#32
#41
#51
#61
#71
#81
#90
#100
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45 total players
Rank #1
Michael Jordan
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I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and mis...

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite29%386%
16,94520,329 total ballots
92% up8% down
Rank #2
Stephen Curry
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I can't jump the highest. ... Whatever that means, however you got on that mountain, why not try to climb it?

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite44%325%
12,53014,328 total ballots
94% up6% down
Rank #3
Wilt Chamberlain
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Nobody roots for Goliath.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite30%380%
9,86010,092 total ballots
99% up1% down
Rank #4
Kobe Bryant
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Job's not finished.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite77%192%
4,5155,975 total ballots
88% up12% down
Rank #5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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First player in NBA history to average 30 points

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite71%215%
3,5075,671 total ballots
81% up19% down
Rank #6
Larry Bird
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Which one of you guys is going to come in second?

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite93%127%
1,8703,134 total ballots
80% up20% down
Rank #7
Allen Iverson
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We talkin' about practice. Not a game. Not a game. We talkin' about practice.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite99%103%
1,4501,886 total ballots
88% up12% down
Rank #8
Shaquille O'Neal
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Can you dig it?

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite98%106%
1,4012,089 total ballots
84% up16% down
Rank #9
Victor Wembanyama
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Youngest player to record a 20-20 game

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite98%108%
1,3081,972 total ballots
83% up17% down
Rank #10
Kawhi Leonard
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Board man gets paid.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite98%109%
1,1911,741 total ballots
84% up16% down
Rank #11
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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LeBron James' self-proclamation as basketball's GOAT... It's a little disappointing hearing him play this imaginary game.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite89%144%
1,0501,200 total ballots
94% up6% down
Rank #12
James Harden
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I'm not a system player. I am a system.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite
350560 total ballots
81% up19% down
Rank #13
Kevin Durant
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Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite99%105%
341385 total ballots
94% up6% down
Rank #14
Oscar Robertson
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First player to average a triple-double for an entire season

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite
269319 total ballots
92% up8% down
Rank #15
Patrick Ewing
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New York Knicks' all-time leading scorer

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite
263267 total ballots
99% up1% down
Rank #16
Magic Johnson
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Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite99%102%
260360 total ballots
86% up14% down
Rank #17
Jalen Brunson
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Most points in a playoff game by a Knicks player (47)

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite99%102%
228430 total ballots
77% up23% down
Rank #18
Paolo Banchero
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First rookie since LeBron James to record at least 25 points

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite
196456 total ballots
71% up29% down
Rank #19
Luka Doncic
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I just love playing basketball and competing.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite100%102%
192306 total ballots
81% up19% down
Rank #20
Tim Duncan
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Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.

Net (G)VotesFan Favorite100%102%
193205 total ballots
97% up3% down

help_outlineHow Rankings Work

Rankings are driven by net votes, with bigger Net (G)Votes ranked higher. Each card also shows the up/down split on a debate meter so you can spot Fan Favorites, Debate Magnets, and full-on Vote Wars at a glance. The sidebar "Most Controversial" table ranks players by total ballots cast (upvotes + downvotes). Weekly archives capture fixed snapshots, while live pages update in real time as votes are submitted.

Ranking Methodology

Rankings are based on net GOAT score: every upvote adds points and every downvote subtracts points. Profiles also show total ballots (upvotes + downvotes) so support volume is visible.

Weekly archive snapshots store the leaderboard state at a specific date so each week has a fixed, referenceable ranking page.

Boosts increase visibility and activity but the ranking score shown on profile and sport pages follows the same vote model. Automated abuse checks, rate limits, and CAPTCHA controls are used to protect integrity.

FAQ

Who is considered the GOAT of Basketball right now?

As of September 3, 2026, Michael Jordan is #1 in the live Basketball fan-vote ranking. Current leaders: 1. Michael Jordan 2. Stephen Curry 3. Wilt Chamberlain.

Is this an official Basketball ranking?

No. Vote The Goat is a fan-vote ranking for basketball. It reflects community voting, not an official federation or league decision.

How are the Basketball GOAT rankings calculated?

Basketball rankings are based on live fan votes, ordered by net votes. The "Most Controversial" table shows players ranked by total ballots cast (upvotes + downvotes). Votes update leaderboard positions in real time as they are submitted.

Can I vote for multiple Basketball player?

Yes. You can vote across multiple basketball legends, and each vote impacts the live ranking position.

How often are Basketball rankings updated?

Basketball rankings update continuously as new votes come in.

Where can I see older Basketball rankings?

Use the archive pages to browse past weekly snapshots and compare how basketball rankings changed over time.

forumCommunity Discussion

person
person
Anonymous Goat #4434114d ago

I Cant believe kobe above lebron. All respect to kobe, but lebron in undobutely the better all-around player.