CBS POLL OF 25 BEST COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF ALL TIME:

Larry Bird 45,556
2 Michael Jordan 40,702
3 Lew Alcindor 38,712
4 Wilt Chamberlain 37,995
5 Earvin Johnson 34,247
6 Pete Maravich 31,060
7 Bill Walton 25,078
8 Patrick Ewing 24,848
9 Oscar Robertson 24,633
10 Tim Duncan 22,113

The four most famous teams in basketball are the Original Celtics, the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Harlem Globetrotters. The Original Celtics were organized in 1914 and toured the United States for seven years, amassing an amazing record of 1,320 wins against only 66 losses. They were so strong that when they joined the American Professional League tahey were broken up to give the other teams balance.


The Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association have dominated the game more than any other team in sports history. Coached by the "winningest coach in basketball*," Arnold "Red" Auerbach, the Celtics won eight consecutive NBA titles and nine championships in ten years.

In 1988 the Los Angeles Lakers became the first team to win back-to-back NBA championships in nineteen years. Coached by Pat Riley and led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson and James Worthy, the Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons in a seven-game series for the 1988 title. Led by Shaquille O'Neal and coached by Phil Jackson, they have since won three NBA titles in a row.

Without any question whatsoever, the Harlem Globetrotters are the most colorful team in basketball. Organized by Abe Saperstein, the Globetrotters have combined fantastic skill with ingenious comedy to become the most well-known basketball team. They play annually before packed houses throughout the world and have done more than any other team to popularize basketball internationally.

* Lenny Wilkins has since surpassed Auerbach's total wins record.