Which players currently with a team are closest to entering the team’s top 12 all time players on Basketball Reference (measured by Win Shares)? Which players are realistically approaching all time best player?
Each team page on Basketball Reference has a list of headshots for the “All-Time Top 12 Players” as measured by the Win Shares they had with the team. Regardless of opinions on the accuracy in rating them, I was just genuinely curious how close some players are to actually getting on that page for each team. And who is actually on a path to be the best player for each team (by win shares).
Example, Jayson Tatum is not on the list currently for the Celtics. But if you pull the all time Win Shares for each team (which I did via Stathead), he’s actually 13th right now and a few games away from having his face on the list for the foreseeable future. Which makes sense, Tatum is clearly one of the greatest Celtics of all time.
Couple notes:
The Thunder page currently mixes Thunder and SuperSonics. I only measured after the relocation because I was curious how close Shai is to the top player. For the sake of this chart, KD is the all time leader and loses his rookie season. On Basketball Reference, Gary Payton is the leader.
For the players that “have a chance” at being the best, I’m just looking at guys decently high in the top 12. Yes, Caleb Wilson can hypothetically beat Michael Jordan’s all time win shares for the Bulls. I’m not including those types of choices.
“In range” of the top spot is a relative term. If you’re 8th place you’re in range, but the leader might have an insane gap.
This list is only people who are currently still with the team. For example, Mitchell Robinson is actually 15th for the Knicks right now. Decent chance he would have made the list (if Brunson didn’t bump him off), but he’s not on the Knicks anymore. So move down to the next closest player (in this case, Brunson).
#Active Players that are the All Time Leader of a Franchise (WS)
Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks (125.8)
Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets (142.9)
Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors (147.1)
Lebron James - Cleveland Cavaliers (154.1)
Kevin Durant - Oklahoma City Thunder (105.6)
#Active Players that are “In Range” of becoming the All Time Leader
Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes (27.2) -> Kyle Lowry (74.5): +47.3
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (58.0) -> Shawn Marion (93.2): +35.2
Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid (69.0) -> Dolph Schayes (142.4): +73.4
Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (72.2) -> Kevin Durant (105.6): +33.4
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (30.3) -> Chris Paul (76.4): +46.1
Minnesota Timberwolves: Rudy Gobert (38.3) -> Kevin Garnett (139.8): +101.5
Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo (64.0) -> Dwyane Wade (116.1): +52.1
Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard (103.1) -> Clyde Drexler (108.7): +5.6
Cleveland Cavaliers: Jarrett Allen (51.7) -> Lebron James (154.1): +102.4
#Current Players Closest to Top 12 All Time Leaders
| Franchise | Closest Player | Place | 12th Place | Low Player | High Player | Difference | Last Playable Season | How Many Like Last Season? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Evan Mobley | 13 | Terrell Brandon | 34.8 | 36.9 | 2.1 | 6.5 | 0.32 |
| Toronto Raptors | Jakob Poeltl | 13 | Chris Boucher | 23.9 | 25.9 | 2 | 4.3 | 0.47 |
| Boston Celtics | Jayson Tatum | 13 | Don Nelson | 67.2 | 69.7 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 1.56 |
| Orlando Magic | Wendell Carter Jr. | 14 | Rashard Lewis | 26 | 27.4 | 1.4 | 6.2 | 0.23 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Kenrich Williams | 15 | Luguentz Dort | 16.3 | 18.6 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.00 |
| Indiana Pacers | Tyrese Haliburton | 17 | George Hill | 30.2 | 33.6 | 3.4 | 10.4 | 0.33 |
| Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun | 18 | Kenny Smith | 30.5 | 37.3 | 6.8 | 8 | 0.85 |
| Sacramento Kings | Domantas Sabonis | 18 | Scott Wedman | 37.7 | 43.8 | 6.1 | 1.1 | 5.55 |
| Denver Nuggets | Aaron Gordon | 19 | Marcus Camby | 27.9 | 35.9 | 8 | 3.2 | 2.50 |
| New York Knicks | Jalen Brunson | 20 | Earl Monroe | 36.9 | 43.9 | 7 | 8.8 | 0.80 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Tyrese Maxey | 22 | Red Kerr | 35.1 | 58.7 | 23.6 | 8.7 | 2.71 |
| Detroit Pistons | Jalen Duren | 23 | Richard Hamilton | 29.5 | 54 | 24.5 | 11 | 2.23 |
| San Antonio Spurs | Keldon Johnson | 27 | Danny Green | 23.2 | 33.1 | 9.9 | 6.4 | 1.55 |
| Utah Jazz | Lauri Markkanen | 27 | Gordon Hayward | 20.1 | 43 | 22.9 | 3.5 | 6.54 |
| Atlanta Hawks | Onyeka Okongwu | 28 | Josh Smith | 30.9 | 47.6 | 16.7 | 6 | 2.78 |
| Dallas Mavericks | Kyrie Irving | 28 | Jason Kidd | 14.7 | 39 | 24.3 | 4.6 | 5.28 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Nicolas Batum | 29 | Swen Nater | 17.7 | 28.9 | 11.2 | 1.8 | 6.22 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Austin Reaves | 33 | Wilt Chamberlain | 27.5 | 63.6 | 36.1 | 5.6 | 6.45 |
| Charlotte Hornets | Mason Plumlee | 37 | Emeka Okafor | 11.2 | 26.2 | 15 | 0.5 | 30.00 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Yves Missi | 38 | Ryan Anderson | 6.3 | 16.2 | 9.9 | 2.7 | 3.67 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Cam Spencer | 42 | Brandon Clarke | 6.1 | 24.6 | 18.5 | 5.3 | 3.49 |
| Brooklyn Nets | Day’Ron Sharpe | 42 | Keith Van Horn | 11.9 | 30.9 | 19 | 3.5 | 5.43 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Donte DiVincenzo | 44 | Terrell Brandon | 9.1 | 23.1 | 14 | 5.2 | 2.69 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Jerami Grant | 56 | CJ McCollum | 12.6 | 37.7 | 25.1 | 4 | 6.28 |
| Phoenix Suns | Grayson Allen | 57 | Charles Barkley | 13.3 | 44.4 | 31.1 | 3.9 | 7.97 |
| Golden State Warriors | Gary Payton II | 60 | Purvis Short | 14.2 | 43.4 | 29.2 | 3.5 | 8.34 |
| Miami Heat | Davion Mitchell | 62 | Grant Long | 6.6 | 31.6 | 25 | 4.3 | 5.81 |
| Chicago Bulls | Josh Giddey | 71 | Toni Kukoc | 8.6 | 41.2 | 32.6 | 3.2 | 10.19 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | A.J. Green | 90 | Junior Bridgeman | 7.1 | 41.1 | 34 | 2.4 | 14.17 |
| Washington Wizards | Justin Champagnie | 102 | Brendan Haywood | 6.2 | 35.8 | 29.6 | 3.1 | 9.55 |
#Likeliest Players to End up on the Top 12 Next Season
Orlando Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. (14th); passing Bo Outlaw (26.3) and Rashard Lewis (27.4)
Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley (13th); passing Terrell Brandon (36.9)
Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton (17th, if he plays like 2025 season); passing Steve Stipanovich (30.4), Mark Jackson (31.8), Roy Hibbert (31.9), Domantas Sabonis (32.5) and George Hill (33.6)
Toronto Raptors: Jakob Poeltl (13th); passing Chris Boucher (25.9)
New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson (20th); passing Mark Jackson (37.7), Anthony Mason (37.8), Bill Bradley (38.8), Kurt Thomas (39.0), Mitchell Robinson (41.0), Dick Barnett (42.8), Carmelo Anthony (42.8), and Earl Monroe (43.6)
Houston Rockets: Alperen Sengun (18th); passing Shane Battier (30.7), Tracy McGrady (33.2), Cuttino Mobley (35.9), Mike Newlin (36.3), Rodney McCray (36.4) and Kenny Smith (37.3)
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kenrich Williams (15th); passing Enes Freedom (17.6), Isaiah Joe (18.0), and Lu Dort (18.6) - Kenrich Williams is 43rd place for Sonics/Thunder combination
Any surprise names that jump out? Think Mason Plumlee has a shot with the Hornets?