White NBA Players (Best in History + Current Best: 2023 Review)

Best White NBA Players: Who are the greatest white NBA players of all time? Who are the top white NBA players right now?

We have all the answers you are looking for right here. We have compiled the top 100 most legendary NBA players as well as some of the most prominent modern and current NBA stars.

Since time immemorial, the NBA has provided a larger platform for black players. Michael Jordan, for example, has been a long-lasting and well-known black NBA player.

But the whites have certainly demonstrated their energy and athleticism. In fact, the NBA has given birth to many great white players.

Many of the best white basketball players in NBA history are unquestionably among the best players of all time.

Our list of the best white NBA players comprises white NBA greats that are always outstanding at fundamentals and deceptively quick. Some are sneaky fast, lights-out shooters, strong passers, or big men with solid post skills.

Here is our list of the best white NBA players that fans admire.

Best White NBA players of all time

Legends of the game? Here are the very best white NBA players. Most are retired; a few are still currently at the top of their game…

1. Larry Bird

Larry Bird is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He was a Small Forward and Power Forward from French Lick Township, Indiana.

Larry Bird is a former NBA professional basketball player, coach, and executive. Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, having earned the nicknames “the Hick from French Lick” and “Larry Legend.”

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.

Connect with the NBA legend on Twitter.

2. Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki was a Power Forward from Würzburg, Germany. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time.  considered by many to be the greatest European player of all time.

He was the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2017, as reported by Forbes.

3. Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic is a Guard and Small forward from Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Dončić shone as a youth player for Union Olimpija before joining the youth academy of Real Madrid. In 2015 he made his debut for the academy’s senior team at age 16, becoming the youngest in club history. Two years later, he led Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague title, winning the EuroLeague MVP and the Final Four MVP.

Dončić was named the ACB Most Valuable Player and won back-to-back EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player awards. In addition, he was selected to the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team.

In 2018, Dončić declared for the NBA draft, joining the Dallas Mavericks. He was selected unanimously to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won Rookie of the Year for the 2018–19 season. In his sophomore season, he was selected to his first NBA All-Star game and named to the All-NBA First Team. He is the Mavericks’ franchise leader in career triple-doubles.

A Slovenian international, Dončić made his senior debut for Slovenia in 2016 at only 17 years of age. He helped his country win its first EuroBasket title in 2017.

4. John Stockton

John Stockton is one of the best white NBA players of all time. Stockton was a point guard from Spokane, Washington.

He is regarded as one of the greatest point guards, players and passers of all time. He spent his entire NBA career (1984–2003) with the Utah Jazz, and the team made the playoffs in each of his 19 seasons.

Stockton was a ten-time NBA All-Star and holds the NBA records for most career assists and steals by wide margins. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 for his individual career and again in 2010 as a member of the 1992 United States Olympic basketball team.

In 1996, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. In October 2021, Stockton was again honored as one of the league’s greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

5. Steve Nash

Steve Nash was one of the best point guards from Johannesburg, South Africa.

He played 18 seasons in the NBA, where he was an eight-time All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA selection. Nash was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player while playing for the Phoenix Suns.

6. Jerry West

Jerry West is one of the greatest Point Guard and Shooting Guard from Chelyan, West Virginia.

He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers. His nicknames include “Mr. Clutch,” “the Logo,” “Mr. Outside,” and “Zeke from Cabin Creek.”

West’s NBA career was highly successful. He was voted 12 times into the All-NBA First and Second Teams. He was elected into the NBA All-Star Team 14 times and was chosen as the All-Star MVP in 1972, the same year that he won the only title of his career.

West holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3.

He was also a member of the first five NBA All-Defensive Teams (one second, followed by four firsts), which were introduced when he was 32 years old.

Having played in nine NBA Finals, he is also the only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team (1969).

West was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and selected to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980. West was named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1996 and to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

7. Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic is an NBA Center player from Sombor, Serbia.

He is a four-time NBA All-Star. Also, he has been named to the All-NBA Team on four occasions (including three first-team selections) and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.

Jokić ranks among the top 10 on the all-time list of the NBA players with the most triple-doubles (regular season and playoffs), where he is the leading European player and center, and he holds the record for fastest triple-double (achieved in 14 minutes and 33 seconds).

He also won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

8. Pete Maravich

Pete Maravich was a great white NBA shooting guard from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.

He is the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game.

All of his accomplishments were achieved before the adoption of the three-point line and shot clock, and despite being unable to play varsity as a freshman under then-NCAA rules. He played for three NBA teams until injuries forced his retirement in 1980 following a 10-year professional basketball career.

Maravich is one of the youngest players ever inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was regarded as one of the greatest creative offensive talents of all time, as well as one of the best ball handlers of all time. He died unexpectedly at the age of 40 during a pick-up game in 1988 as a result of an undetected heart defect.

9. Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale was a power forward from Hibbing, Minnesota, United States of America.

He is a former professional basketball player, coach and analyst who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and is regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time.

As a pioneering sixth man, Kevin McHale won three titles with the Celtics in the 1980s.

10. Rick Barry

Rick Barry was a small forward from Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States of America.

He ranks among the most prolific scorers and all-around players in basketball history.

Hall of Fame forward Rick Barry is the only player ever to lead the NCAA, NBA, and ABA in scoring. His name appears near the top of every all-time offensive list. He scored more than 25,000 points in his professional career. In four different seasons, he averaged more than 30 points.

He was named to 12 All-Star teams, four All-NBA First Teams, and five All-ABA First Teams. Barry was a nearly unstoppable offensive juggernaut, a passionate competitor with an untempered desire to win.

Occasionally his fiery competitiveness would grate on rivals — and teammates, too.

11. John Havlicek

John Havlicek was a Small Forward from Martins Ferry, Ohio.

Havlicek is widely considered to have been one of the greatest players in the history of the game and was inducted as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.

12. Bill Walton

Bill Walton was one of the best white NBA players. He was a professional Center from La Mesa, California

13. Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin was a Shooting guard and Small forward from New York City, New York.

He is a two-time Olympic Gold medalist and a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (in 2010 as a member of the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team—”The Dream Team”—and in 2011 for his individual career).

14. Bob Cousy

Bob Cousy was a professional NBA point guard from Yorkville, New York City, New York, United States of America.

Nicknamed “The Houdini of the Hardwood,” Cousy was the NBA assists leader for eight consecutive seasons, introducing a new blend of ball-handling and passing skills to the NBA.

Following his playing career with the Celtics, he served as a college basketball coach and an NBA head coach for the Cincinnati Royals. He is regarded as the first great point guard of the NBA.

15. Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol was a professional NBA Power forward and Center from Barcelona, Spain.

He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a four-time All-NBA team selection, twice on the second team and twice on the third team.

Gasol won two NBA championships, both with the Los Angeles Lakers back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002 with the Memphis Grizzlies, being the first non-American player to have won that award.

Gasol is regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and is also considered one of the greatest European players of all time.

He is the older brother of former NBA player Marc Gasol.

16. Peja Stojaković

Peja was a professional Small forward from Požega, Croatia.

He won the NBA Three-Point Contest two times and was the first European-born player to win one of the All-Star Weekend competitions.

Peja Stojaković made 1,760 three-point field goals in his career, which ranked 10th all-time at the point of his retirement.

17. Jason Williams

Jason Williams was a great NBA point guard from Belle, West Virginia.

Williams won an NBA championship in 2006 as the Miami Heat’s starting point guard. He was given the nickname “White Chocolate” because of his playing style.

18. Bob Pettit

Bob was a powerful Power forward from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

He was the first recipient of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1956, and he won it again in 1959. He was also the four-time NBA All-Star Game MVP.

Bob Pettit was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970. And he was the first NBA player to score more than 20,000 points. He is one of four players named to each of the four NBA anniversary teams. He is widely regarded as one of the all-time great power forwards.

19. George Mikan

Nicknamed “Mr Basketball,” George Mikan was a Center from Joliet, Illinois.

Mikan had a fantastic playing career, winning seven NBL, BAA, and NBA championships in nine seasons, as well as an NBA All-Star Game MVP award and three scoring titles. He played in the first four NBA All-Star games, as well as the first six All-BAA and All-NBA teams. Mikan was so dominant in the NBA that he prompted several rule changes, including the introduction of the goaltending rule, the widening of the foul lane (dubbed the “Mikan Rule”), and the creation of the shot clock.

20. Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol was an NBA Center from Barcelona, Spain.

The center is a two-time All-NBA Team member and a three-time NBA All-Star. He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013 and won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

Other Great White NBA Players

21. Arvydas Sabonis

• Center from Kaunas, Lithuania

22. Kevin Love

• Power forward and Center from Santa Monica, California Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers

23. Mark Price

• A point guard from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, United States of America

24. Kristaps Porzingis

• Power forward from Ventspils, Latvia

25. Gail Goodrich

• The shooting guard from Los Angeles, California

26. Tom Chambers

• Power forward and Center from Ogden, Utah

27. Jeff Hornacek

• The shooting guard from Elmhurst, Illinois

28. Bill Laimbeer

• Center from Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

29. Jerry Lucas

• Power forward and Center from Middletown, Ohio

30. Detlef Schrempf

• Small forward and Power forward from Leverkusen, Germany

31. Vlade Divac

• Center from Prijepolje, Serbia

32. Danny Ainge

• The shooting guard from Eugene, Oregon, United States of America

33. Gordon Hayward

• Small forward from Indianapolis, Indiana

34. Kyle Korver

• Small forward from Lakewood, California

35. J. J. Redick

• A Shooting guard from Cookeville, Tennessee

36. Dave DeBusschere

• Power forward from Detroit, Michigan

37. Billy Cunningham

• Shooting guard and Small forward from New York City, New York

38. Dan Majerle

• Shooting guard and Small forward from Traverse City, Michigan

39. Steve Kerr

• Point guard and Shooting guard from Beirut, Lebanon

40. Dave Cowens

• Power forward and Center from Newport, Kentucky

41. Andrei Kirilenko

• Small forward and Power forward from Izhevsk, Russia

42. Jack Sikma

• Power forward and Center from Kankakee, Illinois

43. Steven Adams

• Center from Rotorua, New Zealand

44. Goran Dragić

• Point guard from Ljubljana, Slovenia

45. Bobby Jones

• Small forward from Charlotte, North Carolina

46. Domantas Sabonis

• Power forward from Portland, Oregon

47. Rick Smits

• Center from Eindhoven, Netherlands

48. Kiki Vandeweghe

• Small forward from Wiesbaden, Germany

49. Jerry Sloan

• Small forward from McLeansboro, Illinois

50. Dan Issel

• Power forward and Center from Batavia, Illinois

51. Mark Eaton

• Center from Westminster, California

52. Paul Westphal

• Point Guard from Torrance California

53. Nikola Vučević

• Center from Morges, Switzerland

54. Alex Caruso

• Guard from College Station, Texas

55. Dolph Schayes

• Power forward and Center from New York City, New York

56. Bill Bradley

• Shooting guard and Small forward from Crystal City, Missouri

57. John Paxson

• A point guard from Dayton, Ohio

58. Tyler Herro

• Shooting Guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

59. Brian Scalabrine

• Power forward from Long Beach, California

60. Jonas Valančiūnas

• Center from Utena, Lithuania

61. Doug Collins

• Shooting guard and Small forward from Christopher, Illinois

62. Brook Lopez

• Center from North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

63. Joe Ingles

• Small forward from Happy Valley, Australia

64. Ricky Rubio

• A point guard from El Masnou, Spain

65. Tom Heinsohn

• Center from Jersey City, New Jersey

66. Keith Van Horn

• Small Forward from Fullerton, California

67. Bojan Bogdanović

• Small forward from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

68. Hedo Türkoğlu

• Small forward and Power forward from Gaziosmanpaşa, Turkey

69. Danilo Gallinari

• Power forward from Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy

70. Pat Riley

• Shooting Guard from Rome, New York

71. Wally Szczerbiak

• Shooting guard and Small forward from Madrid, Spain

72. Žydrūnas Ilgauskas

• Center from Kaunas, Lithuania

73. Rudy Tomjanovich

• Power forward from Hamtramck, Detroit, Michigan

74. Dick Van Arsdale

• Small forward from Indianapolis, Indiana

75. Mike Miller

• Shooting guard and Small forward from Mitchell, South Dakota

76. Kurt Rambis

• Power forward from Terre Haute, Indiana

77. Sarunas Marciulionis

• The shooting guard from Kaunas, Lithuania

78. Kirk Hinrich

• Point guard and Shooting guard from Sioux City, Iowa

79. Rex Chapman

• The shooting guard from Bowling Green, Kentucky

80. Christian Laettner

• Power forward and Center from Angola, New York

81. Lauri Markkanen

• Power Forward from Vantaa, Finland

82. Scott Skiles

• A point guard from La Porte, Indiana

83. Don Nelson

• Small Forward from Muskegon, Michigan

84. Tom Van Arsdale

• Small forward from Indianapolis, Indiana

85. Andrew Bogut

• Center from Endeavour Hills, Australia

86. Brent Barry

• Point guard and Shooting guard from USA, New York, Hempstead

87. Bob Sura

• Shooting Guard from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

88. Tom Gugliotta

• Power forward from Huntington Station, New York

89. T. J. McConnell

• A point guard from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

90. Rony Seikaly

• Center from Beirut, Lebanon

91. Bobby Hurley

• A point guard from Jersey City, New Jersey

92. Shawn Bradley

• Center from Landstuhl, Germany

93. Matt Geiger

• Center from Salem, Massachusetts

94. Nikola Mirotić

• Power forward from Podgorica, Yugoslavia

95. Cliff Hagan

• Shooting guard and Small forward from Owensboro, Kentucky

96. David Lee

• Power forward and Center from St. Louis, Missouri

97. Vinny Del Negro

• Point guard and Shooting guard from Springfield, Massachusetts

98. Jusuf Nurkić

• Center from Živinice, Bosnia and Herzegovina

99. Rick Carlisle

• Shooting Guard from Ogdensburg, New York

100. Bill Sharman

• The shooting guard from Abilene, Texas

Top 20 White NBA Players Right Now

1. Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic is currently one of the best white NBA players.

Doni shone as a youth player for Union Olimpija before joining Real Madrid’s youth academy. At the age of 16, he made his senior team debut for the academy in 2015, becoming the club’s youngest player ever. Two years later, he led Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague championship, earning EuroLeague MVP and Final Four MVP honors.

Doni was named the ACB Most Valuable Player and won the EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player awards back-to-back. He was also named to the EuroLeague 2010-20 All-Decade Team.

Doni declared for the NBA draft in 2018, joining the Dallas Mavericks. He was unanimously named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and was named Rookie of the Year for the 2018-19 season. In his sophomore season, he was selected to his first NBA All-Star game and named to the All-NBA First Team.

Luka Doni has the most career triple-doubles for the Mavericks.

Doni, a Slovenian international, made his senior debut for Slovenia at the age of 17 in 2016. He helped his country win its first EuroBasket title in 2017. That same year, he was named in the Tournament Team.

2. Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic is a Serbian basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. He was also named MVP of the 2020-21 NBA season.

 

This MVP superstar made his debut for Mega Vezura in 2012. He joined the Denver Nuggets in 2014 and currently holds the record for the fastest triple-double.

3. Domantas Sabonis

Domantas Sabonis is a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. He has two NBA All-Star appearances.

Sabonis began his career with Unicaja Málaga in Spain. He later relocated to the United States to play college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Sabonis was drafted 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA draft. On draft night, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he spent his rookie season before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2017.

During his five seasons with the Pacers, he was named an All-Star twice. Sabonis was traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2022.

4. Nikola Vucevic

Nikola Vucevic is currently one of the best white NBA players.

The superstar started his NBA career with Philadelphia. He now represents Chicago Bulls since 2020.

He is a two-time NBA All-star who also represented Montenegro at FIBA. The basketballer was one of the youngest players in Montenegro to be named Montenegro’s Best Young Player.

5. Gordon Hayward

Gordon is one of the best white NBA players.

The 2017 NBA All-Star is a professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets in the United States. He previously worked for the Utah Jazz, Team Chuck, and the Boston Celtics.

In addition, he recently signed a four-year, 120 million-dollar contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He promotes brands such as HyperX and Xfinity.

6. Goran Dragic

Goran Dragic is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. Before joining the NBA in 2008, he played professional basketball in Slovenia and Spain, earning the nickname “the Dragon.”

Dragic has also spent time with the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets. With the Suns, he was an All-NBA Third Team selection and the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2014. With Miami, he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in 2018.

In 2017, he led the senior Slovenian national team to its first FIBA EuroBasket title and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

7. Bogdan Bogdanovic

The Serbian basketball player is a shooting guard for Atlanta Hawks.

He is one of the best white NBA players today.

He was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 27th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, with his draft rights being traded to the Sacramento Kings during the 2016 NBA draft.

Bogdanović earned an All-EuroLeague First Team and a EuroBasket All-Tournament Team selection in 2017. In addition, he was selected to the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team.

8. Tyler Herro

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2022 plays for the Miami Heat.

After being selected by the Heat in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft with the 13th overall pick, Herro was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020. During his rookie season with the Heat, he reached the NBA Finals.

9. Kristaps Porzingis

The Dallas Mavericks superhero is the NBA’s tallest player, dominating both the center forward and center positions.

He began his professional basketball career in 2012 when he signed with Sevilla. For his athleticism, he received the Rising Star award. Following his successful debut, he signed with the New York Knicks in 2015. His victory over the Detroit Pistons earned him a name and fame.

10. Steven Adams

Steven Adams, dubbed “Pittsburgh’s Superstar,” was named the Best East Preseason Rookie.

He is a New Zealand professional basketball player. In August 2021, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. His NBA career began as an unpaid college athlete with the Wellington Saints in 2011.

Then, as the 12th overall pick in 2013, he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is also a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Other Current Best White NBA Players

The following are also top-class white NBA players playing currently in the NBA:

1. Alex Caruso
2. Jonas Valanciunas
3. Joe Ingles
4. Brook Lopez
5. Joe Harris
6. Duncan Robinson
7. Danilo Gallinari
8. Kevin Love
9. Jusuf Nurkic
10. J. J. Redick

We hoped you like our list of the best white NBA players. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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