We spent some time recently discussing how certain names have a different feel to them throughout NBA history. LeBron. Kobe. Magic. Larry. Just a single word, and instantly, NBA fans know what the discussion is about. There has been no other name in NBA history to have this effect on players, fans, and coaches alike. Michael. For the last 30-plus years, the name Michael, although common in everyday life, has been the symbolic word for greatness in the world of basketball thanks to one man, Michael Jordan. With his rise to superstardom, so too did the name Michael as it became not just the basketball symbol of greatness but an international one.

Just as we did with the name Kevin recently, today we will count down the NBA’s greatest players to ever bear the name Michael. It is important to note that Mike will be acceptable here considering that name is also synonymous with the GOAT. This ranking will be based on accolades, production, and impact on a team level. Of course, these Michaels and Mikes pale in comparison to the man who has a hold on the number-one spot, but let us take a deeper look into another one of the NBA’s strongest names.

These are the 10 greatest Michaels in NBA history.

10. Mike Miller

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Back in 2000, Mike Miller was the fifth overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the NBA Draft. Miller showed why he was selected so high with a Rookie of the Year campaign that saw him average 11.9 PPG on over 40.0% shooting from three-point land. Miller would average 15.2 PPG in his second season with Orlando on 38.3% shooting from three and 43.8% overall. In 2002-03, Miller would be traded to Memphis, where he continued his torrid shooting displays.

Miller would spend seven seasons with the Grizzlies from the end of 2002-03 thru 2007-08 and then again in 2013-14. He averaged 13.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 3.0 APG during those seven seasons on 42.0% shooting from three and 52.2% shooting overall. Miller would go on to capture two NBA championships off the bench later in his career in 2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat. With a resume as one of the best shooters in NBA history and a two-time champion, there is no doubt he is one of the best to bear the name Mike.

9. Michael Beasley

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As the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Michael Beasley had the world in his hands with the Miami Heat. As a rookie with Miami, he averaged 13.9 PPG and 5.4 RPG, mostly in a bench role, appearing in 81 games with just 19 starts. In his second season, he would start 78 games and average 14.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 1.0 SPG. In the 2010 offseason, Beasley was traded to Minnesota, where at first, it looked as if he would thrive.

Beasley averaged 19.2 PPG and 5.6 RPG in73 starts for Minnesota in 2010-11, but then the decline began. As we now know, Beasley was dealing with some unimaginable issues off the court that had serious effects on his play. He would spend the next eight seasons with six different teams before calling it quits for good in 2020. Beasley was nearly a star at his peak and had the potential to be much more, but he is still one of the best Michaels in NBA history.

8. Mike Bibby

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For 14 seasons, Mike Bibby ran the backcourt of some iconic NBA teams. Bibby was the second overall pick by the Vancouver Grizzlies during the 1998 NBA Draft, where he would spend the first three seasons of his career. As a scorer and playmaker, Bibby excelled and averaged 14.7 PPG, 7.8 APG, and 1.5 SPG for the team during that first stretch of his career. In 2001, Bibby was traded to the Kings for Jason Williams and Nick Anderson.

Bibby continued to shine for the Kings over the next seven seasons. Bibby would lead some extremely talented Kings teams into serious battles in the early 2000s during the Western Conference playoffs. In his first six years with Sacramento, he averaged 17.7 PPG, 5.4 APG, and 1.2 SPG and helped the Kings make five playoff appearances. Bibby was definitely robbed of at least one All-Star selection during this time, but he is still recognized as one of the best Mikes in NBA history.

7. Mike Conley

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Another talented guard who bears the name Mike is still on the court today, although for how much longer seems to be the question. Conley was the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. After two years of growing pains, Conley earned the starting job and soon became one of the faces of the Grit and Grind era they were so famous for in the early 2010s. In 2013, Conley earned the only All-Defensive Team selection of his career with his second straight season of 2.2 SPG.

Conley continued to lead the Grizzlies for 12 seasons and averaged 14.9 PPG, 5.7 APG, and 1.5 SPG with them during that run. They made six playoff appearances during that time, with Conley playing a huge role in their success. Conley would have his most impressive season in 2021 with the Utah Jazz. He earned the first All-Star selection of his career with 16.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, and 1.4 SPG. Conley is currently heading into his 17th NBA season if he chooses not to retire this offseason.

6. Michael Adams

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Michael Adams wasn’t even supposed to be on this list as a third-round pick of the Kings in the 1985 NBA Draft. Adams wouldn’t even appear in 20 games with the Kings as a rookie but would soon excel elsewhere. After another lackluster season with the Bullets, Admas would find his way to Denver with the Nuggets, where he would spend four seasons. He averaged 18.2 PPG, 7.2 APG, and 2.0 SPG during that time, including a 1991 season that saw him average 26.5 PPG, 10.5 APG, and 2.2 SPG in 66 games.

The next season, Adams made his way back to the Bullets. He became an All-Star for the first and only time in 1992, averaging 18.1 PPG, 7.6 APG, and 1.9 SPG. Adams would spend four more seasons in the NBA before retiring in 1996 at just 33 years old. Adams averaged 14.7 PPG, 6.4 APG, and 1.7 APG for his career and 12.8 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.6 SPG in five playoff appearances.

5. Michael Redd

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Now, we move on to one of the smoothest scorers of the 2000s. Redd is one of the best second-round picks in NBA history, going 43rd overall to the Bucks in the 2000 NBA Draft. It didn’t take long for Redd to get acclimated to the NBA and start seeing the court on a consistent basis. By his fourth season with Milwaukee, Redd was an All-Star averaging 21.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.0 SPG. He would average at least 20.0 PPG in each of the next five seasons as well.

During that one-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA stretch from 2004 thru 2009, he averaged 23.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 1.0 SPG. on 44.7% shooting. Redd would play a total of 11 seasons with the Bucks before spending a year in Phoenix and retiring at the end of the 2012 season. Redd is not only one of the greatest second-round picks ever but one of the NBA’s best left-handed players as well, who made his mark on the NBA in more ways than one.

4. Michael Cooper

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Michael Cooper was once described by the great Larry Bird as the absolute toughest defender he had to face. Copper’s tough and exhausting defensive effort aided in the Lakers winning five NBA championships during the 1980s, and Cooper was rewarded handsomely for it. Although never much of a serious offensive threat, Cooper was guaranteed to go toe-to-toe with an opponent’s best offensive player and make their night a living hell by the time that 48 minutes was up.

Cooper’s career-high in scoring was in 1982, with 11.9 PPG in 76 games played. From 1983 thru 1987, Cooper would play every single game for five straight seasons, earning numerous individual and team accolades over this time. In the end, Cooper was named an eight-time All-Defensive Team selection and the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year. What makes this even more impressive is that Cooper spent most of his time playing off the bench and around 25.0-30.0 minutes per game. That easily makes him one of the top Michaels to ever play the game.

3. Micheal Ray Richardson

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Ok, I know that his name is spelled a little differently, but it is still pronounced the same. I also know that his career was cut well short due to off-the-court issues that led to one of the longest suspensions in NBA history and a ban from the NBA. Richardson was the fourth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. By his second season, he was an All-Star, leading the NBA in both assists and steals. In 1980, he averaged 15.3 PPG, 10.1 APG, and 3.2 SPG in 82 games for the Knicks.

This began a string of three straight All-Star appearances for Micheal, all with the Knicks. He averaged 14.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.1 APG, and 2.6 SPG in his first four years with New York. Over the next few years, Ray Richardson would struggle with substance issues that took him away from the game on numerous occasions. In 1985, he would make another All-Star team with the Nets as he averaged 20.1 PPG, 8.2 APG, and led the NBA with 3.0 SPG. In 1986, he would receive a substance abuse-related suspension that would take him away from the game for good. Despite his struggles, he is still one of the best Michael’s in NBA history. Sorry, I meant Micheal.

2. Michael Finley

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In 1995, the Phoenix Suns made Michael Finley their 21st overall pick in the NBA Draft. Finley would impress right away and start 72 games in his rookie season, averaging 15.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.0 SPG on 47.6% shooting. Midway through his second season, Finley would be traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal that landed the Suns Jason Kidd. It would be in Dallas that Finley would reach his true potential.

Over his first two seasons in Dallas, Finley would average 21.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, and 1.5 SPG, but the Mavericks missed the playoffs each year. In 2000 and 2001, Finley would have back-to-back All-Star seasons with Dallas, averaging over 22.0 PPG as well as 5.8 RPG, 4.9 APG, and 1.4 SPG. He would spend a total of nine seasons with Dallas, with two All-Star selections and numerous playoff appearances to his name. Finley would capture an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2007. During the playoffs, Finley started all 20 games and averaged 11.3 PPG and 2.9 RPG on 41.0% shooting overall and 41.9% shooting from three.

1. Michael Jordan

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When it comes to the rest of this list, it feels like I should write an entire 2500-word piece about Michael Jordan alone. Been there, done that. Jordan went from the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Within 15 seasons, one of the greatest legacies in NBA history would be written. Jordan would go on to win a total of 10 scoring titles in his career as well as five MVP awards, two steals titles, a Defensive Player of the Year award, a Rookie of the Year award, 14 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA Team selections, and nine All-Defensive Team selections.

Oh, you thought I was finished? Not by a long shot. Jordan would cement his legacy as the GOAT when the games mattered most during the NBA playoffs and Finals. He holds the highest career scoring average in the playoffs with 33.4 PPG as well as in the regular season with 30.1 PPG. Jordan would lead the Bulls to six NBA championships in eight seasons from 1991 thru 1998 by way of two three-peats from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998. In each of those NBA Finals, Jordan was named the Finals MVP and was easily the best player on the floor on both sides of the ball. His legacy lives on to this day as he remains the greatest basketball Michael and basketball player of all-time. Oh, if I could be like Mike.