When it comes to the best white players in NBA history, you’d think we were talking about some sharpshooters just hoisting threes from the corner spot, and point guards who could pass the ball.
But the guys in our list didn’t just shoot, they redefined what it meant to play on the hardwood.
From Larry Bird’s trash-talking genius to Dirk Nowitzki’s one-legged fadeaway that broke hearts and ankles, these white-boys made sure that the phrase “white men can’t jump” was, although accurate, didn’t mean they couldn’t score in bunches!
Best White NBA Players In History
So, grab your favorite retro jersey and let’s take a trip down memory lane to celebrate the cream of the crop—players who didn’t just play the game; they changed it forever.
1. Larry Bird
- PPG: 24.3 | RPG: 10.0 | APG: 6.3
- Games Played: 897
- Total Points: 21,791
- Total Rebounds: 8,974
- Total Assists: 5,695
- NBA Championships: 3
- MVP Awards: 3
- All-NBA First Team: 9
- Years Active: 1979-1992
- Teams: Boston Celtics
Larry Bird, “The Hick from French Lick,” has topped many “best white players in NBA history lists” and tops ours as the best white basketball player of all-time.
Bird was the key in the Celtics’ winning ways during the 1980s, leading the team to three NBA championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986.
His battles with Magic Johnson, which began in college and continued into their NBA careers, is one of the most iconic in NBA history.
Bird was known for his shooting and basketball IQ. He could score from anywhere on the court, rebound like a power forward, and pass like a point guard.
Bird’s 24.3 points per game rank among the highest in NBA history, and he is remembered as one of the best small forwards to play the game.
2. Nikola Jokić
- PPG: 20.2 | RPG: 10.5 | APG: 6.6
- Games Played: 596 (as of 2024)
- Total Points: 12,035
- Total Rebounds: 6,280
- Total Assists: 3,937
- NBA Championships: 1
- MVP Awards: 2
- All-NBA First Team: 3
- Years Active: 2015-Present
- Teams: Denver Nuggets
The Joker, has rapidly established himself as one of the most unique and impactful centers in NBA history.
The Serbian big man has an unparalleled skill set for a player of his size at 6’11, combining elite passing, scoring, and rebounding. Jokić led the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023.
His ability to run the offense as a center, often acting as a point guard in half-court sets, is just great to watch. Jokić’s two MVP awards in 2021 and 2022 show his all-around brilliance, as he posts triple-doubles with ease and makes his teammates better with his vision and unselfish play.
His career averages of 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game show his dominance on the court.
3. Dirk Nowitzki
- PPG: 20.7 | RPG: 7.5 | APG: 2.4
- Games Played: 1,522
- Total Points: 31,560
- Total Rebounds: 11,489
- Total Assists: 3,651
- NBA Championships: 1
- MVP Awards: 1
- All-NBA First Team: 4
- Years Active: 1998-2019
- Teams: Dallas Mavericks
The big German, Dirk Nowitzki is certainkly our best European player in NBA history.
The 7-foot German forward changed the power forward position with his shooting, particularly from three-point range.
Nowitzki’s trademark one-legged fadeaway jumper became one of the most unstoppable shots in the game. He led the Dallas Mavericks to their first and only NBA championship in 2011, knocking off the heavily backed Miami Heat in the Finals.
Dirk’s career totals of 31,560 points and 11,489 rebounds place him among the top scorers and top rebounders in NBA history.
He won the MVP award in 2007 and was named to the All-NBA First Team four times.
Nowitzki’s impact on the game goes beyond his statistics, as he paved the way for future international players to succeed in the NBA.
4. John Stockton
- PPG: 13.1 | APG: 10.5 | SPG: 2.2
- Games Played: 1,504
- Total Points: 19,711
- Total Assists: 15,806 (NBA All-Time Leader)
- Total Steals: 3,265 (NBA All-Time Leader)
- NBA Championships: 0
- MVP Awards: 0
- All-NBA First Team: 2
- Years Active: 1984-2003
- Teams: Utah Jazz
John Stockton is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and NBA leader all-time in steals, records that are unlikely to be broken.
Over his 19-year career with the Utah Jazz, Stockton was the epitome of consistency, leading the league in assists for nine straight seasons from 1987 to 1996.
His partnership with Karl Malone, known as “The Mailman,” formed one of the best duos in NBA history.
Stockton’s career averages of 13.1 points and 10.5 assists per game highlight his role as the ultimate playmaker. Despite never winning an NBA championship, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in history.
5. Steve Nash
- PPG: 14.3 | APG: 8.5 | RPG: 3.0
- Games Played: 1,217
- Total Points: 17,387
- Total Assists: 10,335
- Total Rebounds: 3,642
- NBA Championships: 0
- MVP Awards: 2
- All-NBA First Team: 3
- Years Active: 1996-2015
- Teams: Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers
Steve Nash was one of the most skilled and efficient point guards in NBA history.
Canadian-born and bred, Nash won back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2005 and 2006, leading the Phoenix Suns’ high-octane offense that changed the way the game is played today.
Known for his elite shooting, particularly in the paint, Nash is one of the few players in NBA history to achieve the “50-40-90” shooting percentage in multiple seasons (50% field goals, 40% three-pointers, 90% free throws).
Nash’s career averages of 14.3 points and 8.5 assists per game, combined with his basketball IQ, made him one of the most respected players of his era.
6. Pau Gasol
- PPG: 17.0 | RPG: 9.2 | APG: 3.2
- Games Played: 1,226
- Total Points: 20,894
- Total Rebounds: 11,305
- Total Assists: 4,036
- NBA Championships: 2
- MVP Awards: 0
- All-NBA First Team: 0
- Years Active: 2001-2019
- Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks
Pau Gasol is one of the most skilfull big men in NBA history.
The Spanish-born big-man made an immediate impact in the NBA, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2002.
Gasol’s size, skill, and IQ allowed him to play both power forward and center at an elite level.
He was a key piece of the Lakers’ back-to-back rings in 2009 and 2010, forming a formidable duo with Kobe Bryant.
Gasol’s ability to score in the post, rebound, and pass out of double teams made him a beast at his peak. His career totals of 20,894 points and 11,305 rebounds cement his place among the best big white men of his generation.
7. Kevin McHale
- PPG: 17.9 | RPG: 7.3 | BPG: 1.7
- Games Played: 971
- Total Points: 17,335
- Total Rebounds: 7,122
- Total Blocks: 1,690
- NBA Championships: 3
- MVP Awards: 0
- All-NBA First Team: 1
- Years Active: 1980-1993
- Teams: Boston Celtics
Kevin McHale was perhaps the best white low-post player in NBA history, renowned for his footwork and catalogue of moves in the paint.
As a member of the Celtics during their 1980s dynasty, McHale was a massive part of the their success, pushing them to win three NBA championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986.
His ability to score efficiently from close range made him one of the most feared power forwards of his era. McHale was also an elite defender, often given the task of guarding the opposition’s best frontcourt player.
Despite coming off the bench early in his career, McHale won two Sixth Man of the Year awards and was named to the All-NBA First Team.
His career totals of 17,335 points and 7,122 rebounds shows his impact, and he is one of the best power forwards of all time.
8. George Mikan
- PPG: 23.1 | RPG: 13.4 | APG: 2.8
- Games Played: 520
- Total Points: 10,156
- Total Rebounds: 5,167
- Total Assists: 1,354
- NBA Championships: 5
- MVP Awards: 0 (Pre-MVP Era)
- All-NBA First Team: 6
- Years Active: 1948-1956
- Teams: Minneapolis Lakers
George Mikan was the NBA’s first true white superstar, dominating the league during its early years and helping to popularize professional basketball in the United States.
Standing at 6’10”, Mikan was a towering presence in the paint, using his size and strength to overpower opponents.
He led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA championships in the 1950s, helping build the Lakers as the league’s first dynasty.
Mikan was a six-time All-NBA First Team selection and played a big part in the development of modern basketball, including the creation of the goaltending rule.
His career averages of 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds per game highlight his place on our list.
Mikan’s legacy is such that the former NBA Rookie of the Year award was named in his honor.
9. Bill Walton
- PPG: 13.3 | RPG: 10.5 | APG: 3.4
- Games Played: 468
- Total Points: 6,215
- Total Rebounds: 4,923
- Total Assists: 1,590
- NBA Championships: 2
- MVP Awards: 1
- All-NBA First Team: 2
- Years Active: 1974-1987
- Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego Clippers, Boston Celtics
Bill Walton’s career was plagued by injuries, but when healthy, he was one of the best NBA centers of his era.
Walton led the Trail Blazers to their first and only NBA championship in 1977, earning NBA Finals MVP honors for his performance. The following year, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
Walton was known for his awesome passing ability for a big man, as well as his defensive and rebounding.
Later in his career, Walton played a key role off the bench for the Boston Celtics, helping them win the NBA championship in 1986.
10. Rick Barry
- PPG: 23.2 | RPG: 6.5 | APG: 5.1
- Games Played: 794
- Total Points: 18,395
- Total Rebounds: 4,923
- Total Assists: 4,952
- NBA Championships: 1
- MVP Awards: 0
- All-NBA First Team: 5
- Years Active: 1965-1980
- Teams: San Francisco/Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets
Rick Barry was one of best scorers in NBA history, known for his unorthodox underhand free-throw shooting style.
Barry led the Golden State Warriors to an NBA championship in 1975, earning Finals MVP.
Barry was a scoring machine, averaging over 30 points per game in multiple seasons and leading the league in scoring in 1967.
His intense competitiveness and drive to win made him one of the most feared players of his era (and perhaps one of the most angry teammates).
Best White Players In Basketball History
| Player | PPG | RPG | APG | BPG | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Larry Bird | 24.3 | 10.0 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 3 |
| 2. Nikola Jokić | 20.2 | 10.5 | 6.6 | 0.7 | 1 |
| 3. Dirk Nowitzki | 20.7 | 7.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 1 |
| 4. John Stockton | 13.1 | 2.7 | 10.5 | 0.2 | 0 |
| 5. Steve Nash | 14.3 | 3.0 | 8.5 | 0.1 | 0 |
| 6. Pau Gasol | 17.0 | 9.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 2 |
| 7. Kevin McHale | 17.9 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 3 |
| 8. George Mikan | 23.1 | 13.4 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 5 |
| 9. Bill Walton | 13.3 | 10.5 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 2 |
| 10. Rick Barry | 23.2 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 1 |
There you have it, our list of the best white player in NBA history. These white boys didn’t just leave their mark on the NBA, they left entire pale blueprints.
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