Top 5 Team Leaders in NBA History

In the NBA, there are many players with a huge amounts of talent, but the intagibles and the leadership abilities often make the difference between a star and a superstar. The best of the best always will their team to a win in the biggest of games and want the ball in their hands for the toughest of shots. Who are some of the top leaders in the history of the NBA?

Top 5 Team Leaders in NBA History

5. Tim Duncan- San Antonio Spurs- Tim Duncan is one of the best power forward's to ever play the game of basketball, but the stats don't tell the entire story about Duncan. Duncan is a favorite of all of his teammates and he leads by example in his hard work on and off the court. Duncan is not about scoring the most points or getting the most coverage, but rather winning the most games and titles.

4. George Mikan- Minneapolis Lakers- Mikan led his team to five titles in just seven years and was the first dominate center in NBA history. Mikan could finish with either hand around the basket and was a force on the defensive end as well. Mikan and his team never did poorly because of his will to win and his clutch abilities.

3. Magic Johnson- Earvin "Magic" Johnson was a tremendous leader in his shortened NBA career. Magic only played until the age of 31, but won five NBA titles and excelled at making his teammates much better players. Magic could play any position on the court, and play them well. A man his size who could handle the ball and pass the way he did was a nightmare for other teams to guard.

2. Bill Russell- Russell's 11 NBA titles put him at the top of the all-time list of NBA titles won. Russell wasn't the best offensive center of his era, but he was certainly the best team leader. Russell was an absolute force on the defensive end of the floor and could change the game in numerous ways without scoring a point. Bill Russell led the Celtics to the most amazing streak of title wins in NBA history.

1. Michael Jordan- Where do you start with Michael Jordan? He is the most clutch basketball player of all time. Jordan wanted the ball at the end of the game, and he very rarely missed an opportunity to put the ball in the basket and seal up the game. Jordan could also clamp down on the opposing team's best player, and pushed his teammates harder than anyone I have ever seen. Jordan was both the most athletic and the most intelligent player on the floor, which made him next to impossible to defeat.

This list is a tough one to crack, but these five players proved to be great leaders that transformed the game and made their teammates much better in the process.