Ranking the 10 Best White NBA Players

The NBA is a haven for all types of athletes from different nationalities and ethnicities, from the Greek Freaks to athletic Canadians. However, for most of the period, black athletes have dominated the game, but in between some of those legends, some white players have made their place as Hall of Famers. It all started with athletes like Larry Bird in the 1980s, who made the game popular with their insane shooting skills on the court, and the baton was carried to Luka Doncic through different players, who is leading the league today.

Moreover, it is not just a position that these players are limited to. Rather, they have explored all the positions on the hardcourt to be versatile enough to play with any team. So, we will compile all those white players who sealed their presence in the memories of the NBA and the league fans forever and continue to do so. However, before moving to ranking the top 10 white players from the NBA, we will understand the parameters for the selection.

Ranking Factors

The ranking factors for choosing the best white NBA players in league history include the stats that they've put on the board, along with time spent on the court, and the impact they have made on the league. Here are the factors for the selection of the best white players so far:

• Career Statistics: The career statistics factors include players' points, rebounds, assists, efficiency, and other key metrics.

• Longevity and Consistency: How many years the players have spent in the league, along with the consistency across the years, to maintain their legendary status.

• Individual Accolades: Along with team impact, individual achievements also matter for players like MVPs, All-Star appearances, and other awards.

• Team Success: Players who led their team to the playoffs and kept contributing to the team's entry into the postseason.

• Influence and Legacy: How much the players were able to inspire the generation of players, or continue to do so with their skilful performance.

It is not just about the number of points and fundamental stats that players put on the court. Rather, it is about the performance that came out of them during the clutch moments and pressure situations.

Ranking 10 Best White NBA Players of All Time

The list for the top 10 best white NBA players of all time is filled with names who might be future Hall of Famers and the legends who kept on putting excellence and won their place on the list. Here is a tabular breakdown of the players as per Ranker data, along with their career points and the teams that they played for.

#10: Kevin McHale (Retired)

Kevin McHale played from 1980 to 1993 for only one team Boston Celtics. As a power forward, Kevin was a menace to opponents and was called the Torture Chamber in the league. 3 times NBA champion, 7 x NBA star, Kevin had it all within his reach and even won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award two times in his career. He averaged 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in his career. He was a legend who even contributed to the game of the Celts, even when his Navicular bone was broken. His intensity as a sixth man and ability to pass the ball to the perimeter as it entered the perimeter were hailed as the best. That's why he is on the list of the Top 10 best white NBA players of all time.

• Championships: 3 (Boston Celtics, 1981, 1984, 1986)

• Accolades: 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991), 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984, 1985)

#9: John Havlicek (Retired)

The 6'5" swingman John Havlicek was not tall in stature, but he was agile enough to move around the court, and that's how he was able to shoot two and create passing space. He also played all his playing seasons for the Boston Celtics and during his journey with the historical NBA franchise tallied 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. His quick frame could get him steals, and that's what he was known for. He could steal the ball to save the game and even saved the Celtics' playoff hopes, near the end of Game Seven in the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals. He also held the responsibility of captain of the Celtics from 1969 to 1978, and was named NBA Finals MVP in 1974.

• Championships: 8× NBA champion (1963–1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)

• Accolades: NBA Finals MVP (1974), 13× NBA All-Star (1966–1978), No. 17 retired by Boston Celtics

#8: Pete Maravich (Retired)

Pete Maravich, who was known by the name of Pistol Pete, with just 6 feet and 5 inches in the era of the big men, was a legend. He was a shooting guard long before the period of three-point shooting and the shot clock introduction. Yet he was able to stand tall with his 10-year-long career performance tallying 24.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. Moreover, he had a 44.1% shooting percentage for two-pointers in the league. Pete's career succumbed to injuries, and even his demise was sudden at the age of 40. Yet he was able to accumulate an NBA scoring crown and All-Star appearances while playing for the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics.

• Championships: 2 (Lakers 2009, 2010)

• Accolades: 5× NBA All-Star (1973, 1974, 1977–1979), NBA scoring champion (1977), No. 7 retired by Utah Jazz.

#7: Steve Nash (Retired)

Steven Nash, Canadian by origin, played in the NBA from 1996 to 2014 for teams like the Dallas Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Lakers. But he did the best for the Phoenix Suns, turning them into a force to be reckoned with his performance. He dished out a whopping 14.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. Nash was an excellent passer during his days since he would look for every opening, and once there was no opening, he would go for a shot at the bucket. That's why he was more lethal because he was quick and judgmental enough to take the shot. He was an anchor between the modern style as well as old school type of basketball.

• Championships: 0
• Accolades: 2× NBA Most Valuable Player (2005, 2006), 8× NBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005–2008, 2010, 2012), 5× NBA assists leader (2005–2007, 2010, 2011), 4× 50–40–90 club (2006, 2008–2010)

#6: Jerry West (Retired)

Jerry West was known as the Logo since the logo of the National Basketball Association is inspired by his dribbling position before shooting. He is on the list of one of the greatest players of all time due to his ability under pressure. While playing for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1960 to 1974, his shot accuracy was so high that he could even shoot from 60 feet to the bucket. Moreover, he did it all when there was no three-point shooting, and even the shot clock was not there. Yet he was able to tally 27 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. Notably, his field goal percentage was 47.4, and he won recognition like NBA champion (1972) and NBA Finals MVP (1969).

• Championships: NBA champion (1972)

• Accolades: NBA Finals MVP (1969), 14× NBA All-Star (1961–1974), NBA All-Star Game MVP (1972), NBA scoring champion (1970), NBA assists leader (1972)

#5: Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers)

The Slovenian guard Luka Doncic has quickly earned his place as a legend in the league despite being an international player. He is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, but it all started with the Dallas Mavericks, with which he went to the 2024 NBA Finals. He is just 26 and has got the name of Luka Mgaic from the league enthusiasts for his ability. As a shooting guard, the triple-doubles come naturally to a player of his caliber. He took the baton from Dirk Nowitzki as the Mavericks' star, but he was eventually traded to the Lakers this year. Even before appearing in the NBA, he was a European star who won the EuroLeague and even won the Finals MVP in 2018.

• Championships: 0, averaging 28.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 7.7 APG

• Accolades: 5× NBA All-Star (2020–2024), 5× All-NBA First Team (2020–2024), NBA Rookie of the Year (2019), NBA scoring champion (2024)

#4: John Stockton (Retired)

John Stockton was a boon to the Utah Jazz squad that dominated under him and Karl Malone on the hardcourt. He was considered the best point guard that ever was due to his 6'1" stature and ability to steal the ball from players. That's why he still leads the NBA in terms of assists (15,806) and steals (3,265). It is worth noting that it has been 22 years since he left the game, yet no one has been able to touch his record. Stockton played for 19 seasons as a point guard and always stayed a team player. That's why the Jazz did not let him go anywhere, considering the importance he added to their offense.

• Championships: 0

• Accolades: 10× NBA All-Star (1989–1997, 2000), NBA All-Star Game MVP (1993), 9× NBA assists leader (1988–1996), 2× NBA steals leader (1989, 1992)

#3: Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

The Serbian basketball center for the Denver Nuggets is considered the best center and player in the world right now due to his domination on the court. He has been directing the offense of the Nuggets for a long time and even won the championship with the team. He is 30 years old, but his achievements are soaring through the roof at such a young age. That's why Nikola Jokic is often put on the top 10 centers that the league has ever witnessed so far. The 6'11" giant started playing for the league in 2016 and has been a part of it since then. In the current season, he is averaging 29.1 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists.

• Championships: NBA champion (2023)

• Accolades: NBA Finals MVP (2023), 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (2021, 2022, 2024), 7× NBA All-Star (2019–2025), 4× Serbian Player of the Year (2018, 2021, 2022, 2024)

#2: Dirk Nowitzki (Retired)

Dirk Nowitzki was a German baller who, like any other international star, first dominated the Bundesliga and then came to the NBA. He proved most fruitful for the Dallas Mavericks since he played 21 seasons with the franchise in the NBA and kept them competitive in the game. Dirk is tagged as the greatest European player of all time, and the highlight of his game was his one-legged fadeaway and shooting skills that he possessed. In his whole career, he averaged 20.7 points per game along with 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists. That's why the Mavericks management retired his number 41 jersey to honor his dedication and commitment to the team.

• Championships: NBA champion (2011)

• Accolades: NBA Finals MVP (2011), NBA Most Valuable Player (2007), 14× NBA All-Star (2002–2012, 2014, 2015, 2019), 50–40–90 club (2007)

#1: Larry Bird (Retired)

Larry Bird was the king before Michael Jordan, since he carried the same mentality as MJ. He was an excellent shooter who had the knack for reading the court amid the fast-paced flow of players around him. That's how he dished out 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in his career, which is a trademark of the performance he displayed during his whole stint in the NBA. There were many firsts for Bird, like he is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. Moreover, he played only for the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992.

• Championships: 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)

• Accolades: 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986), 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986), 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992), NBA All-Star Game MVP (1982), NBA Rookie of the Year (1980), 2× 50–40–90 club (1987, 1988), 3× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986–1988)