Top 20 best white NBA players of all time: Who tops the list?

Throughout its history, the NBA has had many great players of all races and ethnicities. Some of the biggest stars of the league have been white players. Today we zoom in on the best white NBA players of all time.

This list includes not only players who came into the league through the American draft but also Europeans who had a significant impact on the league. The criteria for making the list are excellence, personality and success in the league.

Who is the best white NBA player of all time?

Former Boston Celtics star Larry Bird is considered the best white American NBA player of all time. He later became a coach with his hometown franchise, the Indiana Pacers.

Who was the best white NBA player of the 80s?

Aside from Bird, his Celtics teammate Kevin McHale was also on fire in the 80s. Mchale was part of the team that won the 1981,1984, and 1986 NBA championships.

Who was the best white NBA player of the 90s?

Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton was the best white NBA player of the 90s. He had an iconic partnership with big man Karl Malone, leading them to two trips to the NBA finals, losing to Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

Who was the best white NBA player of the 2000s?

Canadian point guard Steve Nash was the best white NBA player of the 2000s. During his time with the Phoenix Suns, he was declared league MVP twice and reached the NBA Finals once.

Who is the best white NBA player currently?

Serbian star Nikola Jokić is the best active white player in the NBA. The Denver Nuggets center is a two-time MVP winner and was runners-up for the 2022-23 MVP voting.

Who is the worst white NBA player of all time?

Many critics deduce that Darko Miličić is the worst white NBA player of all time. The Serbian was drafted to the NBA by the Detroit Pistons in 2003, aged only 18. He struggled to adapt to the league and did not improve significantly during spells at Minnesota, Orlando and Boston.

20. Jason Williams (Playing career:1998-2011)

Nicknamed ' White Chocolate' by fans, Williams was known for his eccentric passing and skill. He played 13 years in the league for Memphis, Sacramento, Miami and Memphis. Jason won the NBA championship in 2006 as starting point guard of the Miami Heat.

19. Marc Gasol (Playing career: 2003-present)

Spanish center Marc Gasol is the younger brother to LA Lakers legend Pau Gasol. He won the NBA's defensive player of the year award in 2011. Marc won the NBA championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.

18. Peja Stojaković (Playing career: 1992-2011)

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Serbian power forward Peja Stojaković is considered one of the best European players ever. He played for Sacramento, Indiana, New Orleans and finally, Dallas, where he won an NBA championship in 2011.

17. Arvydas Sabonis (Playing career: 1985-2003)

Sabonis was a dominant force in European basketball in the 80s and won Olympic gold in 1998, representing the Soviet Union. He joined the NBA in 1995 aged 30 but still put up impressive numbers at the Portland TrailBlazers. His son Domantas Sabonis is an NBA player playing for the Sacramento Kings.

16. Pau Gasol (Playing career: 1998-2021)

Pau is the older of the Gasol brothers. He formed a dynamic partnership with Kobe Bryant at the Lakers, winning two NBA titles in 2009 and 2010. After his retirement in 2021, he became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

15. Bob Pettit (Playing career: 1954-1965)

Bob Pettit was one of the best white NBA players of the '50s. He led the St Louis Hawks (current Atalanta Hawks) to the 1958 NBA title. He won the league MVP award in 1958 and 1959.

14. Bill Laimbeer (Playing career: 1979-1993)

Laimbeer was known for his physical play as part of Detroit's famous 'Bad Boy Pistons'. Bill won two NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. After retiring, he has had a successful coaching career in the NBA and WNBA.

13. George Mikan (Playing career: 1946-1956)

Mikan was a pioneer of the NBA. He played in the inaugural season in 1949-50 and led the Minneapolis Lakers to 5 titles. He passed away in 2005.

12. John Havlicek (Playing career: 1962-1978)

Havlicek is one of the greatest players in the history of the Boston Celtics. After being drafted in 1962, he played in Boston for 16 seasons, winning eight championships. John passed away in 2016.

11. Chris Mullin (Playing career: 1985-2001)

Mullin established himself as one of the league's best small forwards in the 80s and 90s. He played for the Golden State Warriors and later the Indiana Pacers. He won Olympic gold twice with the USA national team in 1984 and 1992.

10. Luka Dončić (Playing career: 2015- 0ngoing)

Luka is one of the few active players on the list. Despite only joining the league in 2018, Luka has proved to be an elite player, helping the Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference finals in 2022. The Slovenian has also made the All-Star team four times.

9. Nikola Jokić (Playing career: 2012- Ongoing)

Jokić is a two-time NBA MVP, winning the award in 2021 and 2022. The Serb is known for his silky skills and getting the best out of his teammates. He has played all of his NBA career in Denver with the Nuggets.

8. Kevin McHale (Playing career: 1980-1993)

Part of that successful Boston side of the 80s, McHale was known for being a tenacious player. He won 3 NBA titles in Boston.

7. Pete Maravich (Playing career: 1970-1980)

Pete Maravich, also known as ' Pistol Pete' was a great scorer during the 70s. He played for the Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics. He passed away in 1980 from a heart attack.

6. Bob Cousy (Playing career: 1950-1963)

Cousy was one of the early superstars of the NBA. With the Celtics, he won a total of 6 titles and was declared the league's MVP in 1957.

5. Jerry West (Playing career: 1960-1974)

Jerry West is one of the most successful figures in the history of the NBA. West won the NBA title once as a player for the LA Lakers and 8 times as a coach and executive, for the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He is said to be the image used in the NBA logo.

4. John Stockton (Playing career: 1984-2003)

Former Utah Jazz Player John Stockton is considered by many as the best point guard in the history of the NBA. He still holds the NBA's all-time records for steals and assists.

3. Steve Nash (Playing career: 1996-2015)

Point guard Steve Nash was the first Canadian to win the NBA MVP title, winning the accolade twice, in 2005 and 2006. He also led the league in assists in 5 seasons.

2. Dirk Nowitzki (Playing career: 1994-2019)

Dirk is arguably the best-ever European player to play in the league. After being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 1999, he lead the team to the NBA championship in 2011. He won the league MVP title in 2007 and NBA Finals MVP in 2011. Dirk Nowitzki is the highest-scoring NBA player born outside the USA.

1. Larry Bird (Playing career: 1979-1992)

Bird is widely regarded as the best white NBA player of all time. Spending his whole NBA career with the Boston Celtics, he won three NBA Championships and won league MVP honours three times. Larry Bird was also part of the 1992 USA basketball team that won the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

The NBA continues to give us many big names day by day as the younger generation of players starts to create their own legacies. The best white NBA players in the league's history have left an indelible mark in the sport and their names resound in the halls of the best sportsmen ever.

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