The Top 10 White Basketball Players To Every Lace Em Up!
White basketball players have been ballin’ out since back when short shorts were the move and jumpers came with a side of skyhook. From Larry Legend lacing up in Boston to Jokić dishing dimes like he’s got eyes in the back of his head, these dudes didn’t just play — they ran the show.
Some were cold-blooded shooters, others were floor generals with PhDs in pick-and-roll. But every one of ’em? Game-changers.
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Let’s break down the top 10 White Basketball Players of all time — the ones who turned hardwood into highlight reels and made history while they were at it.
10. Pete Maravich
Position: Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6’5″, 197 lbs
Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974), New Orleans/Utah Jazz (1974–1980), Boston Celtics (1980)
Before streetball had mixtapes, Pistol Pete Maravich was out there breakin’ ankles with no-look passes, behind-the-back heat, and a handle way ahead of his time. He made the fundamentals look flashy and the flashy look fundamental.
Pete didn’t just play — he performed. Think of him as the NBA’s first rockstar with a basketball.
Even in an era that wasn’t built for his kind of flair, Pistol averaged over 44 points per game in college and had an NBA career that still makes hoop junkies shake their heads in awe. No titles, no problem — Pete left a legacy of creativity that can’t be measured in rings.
Accolades: 5× All-Star, 4× All-NBA, NBA Scoring Champion (1977), Hall of Fame (1987), NBA 75th Anniversary Team
9. Rick Barry
Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’7″, 205 lbs
Teams: San Francisco Warriors (1965–1967, 1972–1978), Oakland Oaks / Washington Caps / Virginia Squires (1968–1970), Houston Rockets (1978–1980)
Rick Barry wasn’t just a scorer — he was a problem. Known for that funky underhand free throw (that he actually made look cool), Barry was a walking bucket before the term even existed.
He could slash, pull up, or bury you from deep — and he wasn’t afraid to talk his talk while doing it.
His Finals MVP run in ’75? Legendary. Dude averaged over 30 a game that season and carried the Warriors to a chip like it was nothing. He played hard, smart, and unapologetically old school.
Accolades: NBA Champion (1975), Finals MVP, 8× All-Star (NBA & ABA), 6× All-NBA, Hall of Fame (1987), NBA 75th Anniversary Team
8. George Mikan
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6’10”, 245 lbs
Teams: Minneapolis Lakers (1947–1956)
Before shot clocks, three-pointers, or even modern sneakers… there was George Mikan. The original big man bully. Mikan didn’t just dominate — he forced the NBA to change.
Bro was so dominant they had to widen the lane and invent goaltending rules just to keep the games fair. He played with thick glasses, awkward footwork, and still cooked every big man in his path.
Without Mikan, there’s no blueprint for the dominant center. He made winning a habit and built the first NBA dynasty brick by brick — and bucket by bucket.
Accolades: 5× NBA Champion, 4× All-Star, 6× All-BAA/NBA First Team, Hall of Fame (1959), NBA 75th Anniversary Team
7. Luka Doncic
Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6’7″, 230 lbs
Teams: Dallas Mavericks (2018–2025), Los Angeles Lakers (2025 – present)
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At just 25, Luka Doncic is already putting up numbers that make legends blush. He’s got the body of a forward, the handle of a streetballer, and the vision of a seasoned vet. Luka doesn’t rush — he dictates. He’s got that slow-cook game, where every move feels like jazz with a stepback.
No stage has been too big. No moment too bright. He’s already got multiple 40-point playoff games, game-winners, and triple-doubles like they’re part of his morning routine. If he keeps this pace up? He might be top 5 when it’s all said and done.
Accolades: 5× All-Star, 5× All-NBA First Team, EuroLeague MVP, NBA Rookie of the Year (2019), All-Time Playoff PPG Leader (30.8+)
6. Steve Nash
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6’3″, 180 lbs
Teams: Phoenix Suns (1996–1998, 2004–2012), Dallas Mavericks (1998–2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2015)
Steve Nash didn’t just run offenses — he orchestrated masterpieces. The Canadian floor general could split defenders with a single bounce pass and had that magical 50/40/90 touch from the field.
He wasn’t the fastest, tallest, or flashiest — but when Nash had the rock, the whole arena held its breath.
He made Amar’e a star, ran D’Antoni’s system like a symphony, and made Phoenix the must-watch team of the 2000s. And when it came to leadership? Nash was the heartbeat. Pure point guard. Pure class.
Accolades: 2× MVP, 8× All-Star, 7× All-NBA, 4× 50/40/90 seasons, Hall of Fame (2018)
5. John Stockton
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6’1″, 170 lbs
Teams: Utah Jazz (1984–2003)
When it comes to passing and stealing, John Stockton is the king of the hill. The numbers aren’t close — he owns the all-time records for both, and no one’s catching him. But it wasn’t just stats. Stockton was surgical.
He ran the pick-and-roll with Malone like it was a cheat code and played every game like it was Game 7.
He didn’t say much, didn’t flex, but he brought it every single night. No gimmicks, just greatness. That short shorts, hard-nosed, get-under-your-skin type of game. Old-school killer in a new-school world.
Accolades: 10× All-Star, 11× All-NBA, 9× All-Defensive, NBA Assist Leader (9×), NBA Steals Leader (2×), Hall of Fame (2009)
4. Jerry West
Position: Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6’3″, 175 lbs
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1960–1974)
They made the logo outta him for a reason. Jerry West was a scoring machine with a clutch gene so wild they called him “Mr. Clutch.” He could shoot from anywhere, lock up your best guard, and if the game was on the line? You knew where the ball was going — and you still couldn’t stop it.
He took the Lakers to nine Finals and gave everything to the game and still the only player to win Finals MVP in a loss!
West wasn’t loud, but his game echoed through generations. Deadeye jumper, tight handle, ice in his veins. They don’t make ’em like Jerry West anymore.
Accolades: NBA Champion (1972), 14× All-Star, 12× All-NBA, Finals MVP (1969), Hall of Fame (1980), NBA 75th Anniversary Team
3. Dirk Nowitzki
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 7’0″, 245 lbs
Teams: Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019)
Dirk changed the game — straight up. The one-legged fadeaway? That’s his. Stretch fours? That’s him too. Dirk Nowitzki made it cool to be 7 feet tall and shoot like a 2-guard.
He showed up with a funny accent and left with a Finals MVP and the respect of every hooper alive.
His 2011 title run? Legendary. Took down Kobe, KD, and LeBron without a second star. Dirk’s loyalty, skill, and ice-cold jumper made him a global icon, and one of the most respected ballers to ever do it.
Accolades: NBA Champion (2011), Finals MVP, MVP (2007), 14× All-Star, 12× All-NBA, 6th All-Time in Points, Hall of Fame (2023)
2. Nikola Jokic
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6’11”, 284 lbs
Teams: Denver Nuggets (2015–Present)
We’ve never seen a big man like this!! Nikola Jokic moves like he’s got GPS in his brain — always 2 steps ahead. He’s not just dominating centers — he’s out-thinking the league.
Dimes from the elbow, bully-ball in the post, stepback threes — and somehow, he’s always smiling. He became the first center to average a triple-double for a whole season — stat-stuffin’ like grandma’s Sunday plate.
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Three MVPs and counting. A Finals MVP. And a title for a franchise that had never seen one before. Jokic is revolutionizing the center position in real time, and the scary part? He’s just getting started.
Accolades: NBA Champion (2023), 3× MVP, Finals MVP, 7× All-Star, 7× All-NBA, All-Time Playoff Triple-Double Leader
1. Larry Bird
Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’9″, 220 lbs
Teams: Boston Celtics (1979–1992)
Larry Legend wasn’t just cold — he was straight-up disrespectful. Larry Bird would tell you exactly how and when he was gonna score on you — and then do it. He had the nastiest step-back, the smoothest touch, and a court vision that made point guards jealous.
He played with a chip on his shoulder and a flamethrower in his hand. The only player in NBA history with three straight MVP trophies!
He took the Celtics back to glory, bodied the Lakers, and gave the NBA one of its best rivalries. Bird was swagger in slow motion, and every night he laced up, he left no doubt: he was that dude.
Accolades: 3× NBA Champion, 3× MVP, 2× Finals MVP, 12× All-Star, 10× All-NBA, Hall of Fame (1998), NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Still craving greatness?
Then don’t miss our list of the Best White NFL Players of All Time — it’s stacked with legends who hit hard, ran fast, and made history on the gridiron.
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