Right now, some of you are trying to find a way to disagree with me while others are trying to stop gasping at just how amazing that was that I just solved one of the world's unanswered questions. Remember what I said in that first paragraph about everyone having a different taste? Well it's true. Picking the best player of all time at whatever sports you are talking about is like trying to describe who your favorite singer is of all-time; you want to pick a specific artist, but there are so many different genres of music that it's hard to pin one down out of all of them.
For example, if someone told me Notorious B.I.G. or Tupac Shakur were the greatest artists of all time, I would probably agree in the sense that they were both amazing rap artists, but I would not be able to say that they are the greatest artists of all-time (although I do love listening to them both). The reason being is because their genre was rap/hip hop. It would be different if they went on and had success in the genres of rock, country, electric, folk, alternative, and all the others that are out there.
If you now find yourself confused, then just hear me out on this: all professional athletes throughout history should be considered the greatest of all time by position and not by trying to lump them all together. Whenever the NBA starts up, the big talk about LeBron James and the constant comparisons to Michael Jordan are always wishing in the wind. Now my issue is not in comparing the impact James has on the NBA and the game of basketball to how Jordan does it. I'm actually pretty okay with that. My problem is when I hear the big media outlets, fans, even other pro players trying to compare their basketball skills to one another.
Let me say this and put it in bold so you all can see it. LeBron James and Michael Jordan played DIFFERENT POSITIONS! So because of that factor, comparing their skill sets on the court should not be even considered ever. Now if you want my opinion [and I know you do], of someone to compare James to, I would probably pick Jordan's teammate Scottie Pippen or Larry Bird from the Boston Celtics or Julius Irving aka "Dr. J" from back in the day. Why these guys? Well I'll let you guess. Yes, it is because they all played small forward in the NBA. See to me, that is a far comparison. Four amazing players at the same position that all pretty much have pretty similar skill sets at the position. Now if you need me to list it with my opinion [and again, I know you do], then I guess I'll drop mine for each position.
-SF
1) Right off the bat, I would have James ranked as the greatest small forward of all-time because of that all-around style of play he comes to work with every game. The four MVP awards, 11 All-Star appearances, and now three championships to coincide with his will to destroy everyone on the court makes him my choice for greatest small forward of all time.
2) Then Larry bird would be at No. 2 for what he was able to capitalize on in Boston while creating an amazing rivalry with magic Johnson and the L.A. Lakers. With three MVP awards, 12 All-Star appearances, and three championships, Bird comes just so close in my eyes to edging out James. 
3) Although some may argue high, Scottie Pippen would be my No. 3 choice because of the way he could kill you on offense and then destroy you on defense while helping Jordan capture Chicago's six titles.
4) Then I would put Irving at No. 4 on the list because, in my opinion, he was the beginning and embodiment of the modern day small forward in the NBA just after being the the King of Dunking.
5) And then No. 5 would be a three way tie between Elgin Baylor, Dominique Wilkins, & James Worthy. But hey, that's just my opinion. I will argue though that this list I just made makes more sense than trying to compare the 6'9" James with 6'6" Michael Jordan.
-SG
So with small forwards done, why not go ahead and rank the shooting guards list.
1) There is no argument that Michael Jordan was the greatest shooting guard of all time by what he accomplished and how he was able to play the game. The man had six NBA titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVP awards, 10 scoring titles, 14-time All-Star, and the list goes on. Plus it's Jordan so come on.
2) Some will argue that my No. 2 all time choice may be better in Kobe Bryant because... well Kobe. He is second in All-Star appearances with 17 behind Kareem, captured five NBA titles with Jordan's old coach Phil Jackson, and dropped the second most points (81) in a single game. Basically, the closest comparison to Jordan we have ever seen.
3) Then at No. 3, I would say Clyde Drexler because of how he was still able to shine despite having to compete in the same era as Jordan while helping Portland due battle with his Airness, and eventually getting his ring with Houston after being traded during the '95 season.
4) Then No. 4 would be Allen Iverson with his "size means nothing" style of play and a seemingly never-aging ability to play the game at a high level. Although he never secured a championship, Iverson was able to win MVP, make 11 All-Stars, and win four scoring titles. No wonder many claim him to be the "pound for pound" best player of all time.
5) Finally, my No. 5 choice would Dwyane Wade or Jerry West ( West played both point and shooting guard).
-PG
At point guard, there are a couple guys that are still playing now that are in my Top 10 point guards, but I'm sticking with the Top 5 theme that I have here.
1) The greatest point guard of all time has got to be Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who had the ability to play like he was the size of Isiah Thomas on a 6'9" frame. The man did it all (literally) with three MVP awards, three Finals MVPs, 12 All-Star appearances, and played all five positions in the 1980 NBA Finals as a rookie which may be the greatest Finals performance in NBA history.
2) At No. 2 is not hard at all because it has to be "The Big O" Oscar Robertson, who is the only NBA player to ever average a triple-double all season and was apart of the Milwaukee Bucks only NBA title.
3) My No. 3 choice is again easy because it's John Stockton, the man who was the master of the art of passing and gave great performances on defense as well. He was what I always hoped Kirk Hinrich would be for the Bulls, but never could.
4) Then at No. 4 I would take Isiah Thomas because the man ran the Bad Boys show in Detroit and delivered back-to-back NBA titles.
5) And for my No. 5 choice, it's a toss up between Bob Cousy and Chris Paul (for now)
-PF
Now we move on to power forwards, which I still say is a position that does not get enough credit for the stars that it has produced.
1) For the greatest of all time spot, I feel like there is a tie here between the recently retired Tim Duncan and "The Mailman" Karl Malone. But if I do have to choose, the in goes to "The Big Fundamental" Duncan for his simplistic approach to the game which saw him rewarded with five NBA titles during his 19-year career.
2) No. 2 on my list would then go to Karl Malone with his 14 All-Star appearances, two MVPs, and second on the all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
3) At No. 3, I would go with Charles Barkley, who like Iverson, played like he was seven feet tall and never backed down from any challenge on the court (off the court too if you include his golf game).
4) My next pick on the list would be Elvin Hayes at No. 4 which comes from his ability to help guide the Washington Bullets (now Washington Wizards) to their only NBA championship and was dominant on every level of scoring, rebounding, and shot blocking throughout his whole career.
5) And at No. 5, it would be between Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett.
-C
Finally, we come to the big men of the NBA: centers.
1) The choice for greatest of all time would be a three-way tie between the three best centers to ever play the game. But if I had to choose one, I would go with Kareem Abdul-Jabber as my greatest center of all time because he is the all-time leading scorer, a 19-time all-star, has six MVPs, and was apart of the Bucks only championship while winning five more NBA titles with Magic & Worthy. 
2) Then at No. 2 on my list, I got to go with Bill Russell as the greatest winner in NBA history with 11 NBA titles, only one of two players to average 20+ rebounds over his career, one of, if not, the greatest defender that ever played, and was always class both on and off the court.
3) However, Russell's rival comes in at No. 3 and hot on his tail and that man is Wilt Chamberlain. The Big Dipper's legacy is marked by the biggest feat of being the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a game, average almost 50 points a game over two seasons, be the other player besides Russell to average 20+ rebounds a career, recorded the most rebounds in a game with 55 against Russell, and was apart of two championships with the Philadelphia 76ers and the 33-win streak Lakers in 1971-72.
4) My pick for No. 4 on my list was a split again, but I had to go with Shaq here. Shaquille O'Neal has to be one of the heaviest players in the history of the NBA (Barkley might have been second at one point) which benefited his destructive style to break backboards, make the Orlando Magic into something special, make 15 All-Star appearances, three Finals MVP awards, and captured three of his four NBA championships with Kobe in L.A. before heading to Miami to help Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning win one.
5) Lastly, I went ahead and took Hakeem Olajuwon at No. 5 on my list because of his ability to bring back-to-back championships to the Houston Rockets, be the all-time leaders in blocks, be a master of offensive rebounding, and be the nicest guy on the court while also being the most fearsome and dominant as well.
So at the end of all of this madness that I have now written here in this returning article, I want everyone from now on to say that whatever player you name was the greatest player at their position because then this way, we call can have our cake and eat it too. I'm sure this will not make any impact and stop all the talk, but I hope in some way, it may change the way you think about comparing players at different positions or time periods or whatever it may come down too. All I know is that this is not the last that you've heard of from me on this subject. And so, with all that being said, I have just one more thing to say:
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