From the origins of the league in the 1940s, stars have always shined bright in the NBA. That continued through the run of Celtics’ dominance in the 60s, to the ABA merger in the 70s and the Bird vs. Magic rivalry of the 80s. Then came the Michael Jordan-era Bulls dominating the 1990s and an era of stars in the 2000s, too.

NBA.com profiles the greatest players in NBA history. These are the players that helped make the NBA what it is today.

NBA Legends Profiles

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
• Ray Allen
• Nate Archibald
• Paul Arizin
• Charles Barkley
• Rick Barry
• Elgin Baylor
• Walt Bellamy
• Dave Bing
• Larry Bird
• Kobe Bryant
• Al Cervi
• Wilt Chamberlain
• Maurice Cheeks
• Charles “Chuck” Cooper
• Bob Cousy
• Dave Cowens
• Billy Cunningham
• Adrian Dantley
• Dave DeBusschere
• Vlade Divac
• Clyde Drexler
• Joe Dumars
• Tim Duncan
• Alex English
• Julius Erving
• Patrick Ewing
• Walt Frazier
• Joe Fulks
• George Gervin
• Artis Gilmore
• Gail Goodrich
• Hal Greer
• John Havlicek
• Connie Hawkins
• Elvin Hayes
• Spencer Haywood
• Tom Heinsohn
• Grant Hill
• Dan Issel
• Allen Iverson
• Dennis Johnson
• Magic Johnson
• Bobby Jones
• K.C. Jones
• Sam Jones
• Michael Jordan
• Johnny “Red” Kerr
• Jason Kidd
• Bernard King
• Bill Laimbeer
• Bob Lanier
• Jerry Lucas
• Karl Malone
• Moses Malone
• Pete Maravich
• Bob McAdoo
• Tracy McGrady
• Kevin McHale
• George Mikan
• Reggie Miller
• Yao Ming
• Sidney Moncrief
• Earl Monroe
• Alonzo Mourning
• Chris Mullin
• Calvin Murphy
• Dikembe Mutombo
• Steve Nash
• Hakeem Olajuwon
• Shaquille O’Neal
• Robert Parish
• Gary Payton
• Drazen Petrovic
• Bob Pettit
• Scottie Pippen
• Willis Reed
• Mitch Richmond
• Oscar Robertson
• David Robinson
• Dennis Rodman
• Bill Russell
• Dolph Schayes
• Bill Sharman
• Jack Sikma
• John Stockton
• Isiah Thomas
• Nate Thurmond
• Rudy Tomjanovich
• Wes Unseld
• Chet Walker
• Bill Walton
• Jerry West
• Paul Westphal
• Lenny Wilkens
• Jamaal Wilkes
• Dominique Wilkins
• James Worthy