who are the best basketball players of all time?
Geminigemini-4-argonOpenAIgpt-6.1-sol5 passes + 1 real-search102 queries11/1/2026
Download run
Gemini observed: The model answered without searching
Gemini unique queries
48
4 in ≥ half the passes · stability 27%
OpenAI unique queries
46
4 in ≥ half the passes · stability 26%
Overlap between models
37%
15 shared of 41 distinct sub-queries
OpenAI real searches predicted
13%
1 of 8 matched the simulation
Cost of this run
$0.324
49,179 tokens · 8 web searches · on your keys
Side by side
The same idea worded differently counts as shared. Matching uses EmbeddingGemma 2 similarity.
20% of distinct sub-queries were generated by both models (semantic match ≥ 0.935 cosine, EmbeddingGemma 2).
Only Gemini Both Only OpenAI
Only Gemini8
nba all time leaders in points rebounds assists
criteria for ranking the basketball goat
best nba players of all time by position
greatest nba players of all time ranking
kareem abdul-jabbar vs bill russell vs wilt chamberlain
kareem abdul-jabbar bill russell wilt chamberlain accolades
nba 75th anniversary team full list
who do nba players think is the goat
Both models3
Only OpenAI4
greatest international basketball players of all time nba and fiba achievements
how to compare basketball greats across eras pace rules competition
what makes a basketball player one of the greatest of all time
greatest basketball players peak performance vs career longevity
Fan-out diagram
Seed → topic clusters → sub-queries, per model.
SEED QUERY
who are the best basketball players of all time?
48 unique queries · 5 passes
goat debate and criteria
2 queries · 5 hits
all time rankings by category
2 queries · 5 hits
player stats and records
1 query · 4 hits
nba all time leaders in points rebounds assists4xGoogle ↗
RELATEDReason
historical legends comparison
2 queries · 4 hits
cross era player comparison
1 query · 3 hits
michael jordan vs lebron james career stats3xGoogle ↗
COMPARATIVEComparison
consensus player rankings
1 query · 2 hits
greatest nba players of all time ranking2xGoogle ↗
REFORMULATIONReason
official top 75 lists
1 query · 2 hits
nba 75th anniversary team full list2xGoogle ↗
ENTITY EXPANSIONOther / navigational
greatest women basketball players
1 query · 2 hits
greatest wnba and womens basketball players of all time2xGoogle ↗
IMPLICITReason
Badge and edge weight = share of passes that produced the query. Hover a query for its intent and routing format.
Query classes
Google's semantic query class for every sub-query: what kind of answer each search is after, simulated vs real.
Gemini simulated (48)OpenAI simulated (46)OpenAI real searches (8)
Classes come from the query-classifier (a local Laya model). 82 of 102 calls are low-confidence (under 50%) — hover a query in the table to see its confidence.
What the models actually searched
Each model answered the query with its own web search. These are the searches it ran, matched to the closest simulated query.
OpenAI8 real searches · gpt-6.1-sol13% predicted
site.nba.com greatest players all time Michael Jordan LeBron James Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Google ↗
site.wnba.com W25 greatest players Diana Taurasi Lisa Leslie Sue Bird Google ↗
site.nba.com history legends profiles Michael Jordan six championships five MVP Google ↗
site.nba.com history legends profiles Kareem Abdul Jabbar six MVP Google ↗
site.nba.com NBA 75 team Magic Bird Russell Chamberlain Duncan Shaquille Curry Google ↗
site.nba.com LeBron James all time scoring leader 2026 Google ↗
site.nba.com legends profile Bill Russell 11 championships Google ↗
site.nba.com Stephen Curry greatest shooter history Google ↗
- johnholbein.org · johnholbein.org
- pr.nba.com · pr.nba.com
- wnba.com · wnba.com
- sportsfoundation.org · sportsfoundation.org
- cbssports.com · cbssports.com
- basketball-reference.com · basketball-reference.com
- sportingnews.com · sportingnews.com
- basketball-reference.com · basketball-reference.com
- interbasket.net · interbasket.net
- cbssports.com · cbssports.com
- wnba.com · wnba.com
- basketball-reference.com · basketball-reference.com
- cdn.nba.com · cdn.nba.com
- ak-static-int.nba.com · ak-static-int.nba.com
- nba.com · nba.com
- cms.nba.com · cms.nba.com
- en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
- s3.grizzliesapp.com · s3.grizzliesapp.com
- en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
- fs.ncaa.org · fs.ncaa.org
- nba.com · nba.com
- nba.com · nba.com
- nba.com · nba.com
- nba.com · nba.com
- basketball-reference.com · basketball-reference.com
- usab.com · usab.com
- cdn-uat.nba.com · cdn-uat.nba.com
- api-hub-uat.nba.com · api-hub-uat.nba.com
- hoophall.com · hoophall.com
- nba.com · nba.com
- nba.com · nba.com
- sports.yahoo.com · sports.yahoo.com
- cdn.nba.com · cdn.nba.com
- goheels.com · goheels.com
- en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
- atlantahawkspr.wordpress.com · atlantahawkspr.wordpress.com
- ncclinked.com · ncclinked.com
- aclanthology.org · aclanthology.org
- en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
- wabba.fitness · wabba.fitness
- en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
- reddit.com · reddit.com
- reddit.com · reddit.com
- reddit.com · reddit.com
- arxiv.org · arxiv.org
- reddit.com · reddit.com
- reddit.com · reddit.com
- reddit.com · reddit.com
Semantic map
Every query placed by meaning (EmbeddingGemma 2, 256-d). Shaded regions are topics, nearby points are near-paraphrases, and a circle's size is how often the query came back.
Colour
SimulatedReal searchBoth models
Hover a query to see its counterpart · click a topic to focus it · zoom with Ctrl/⌘ + scroll, a pinch, double-click or +
Queries
48 queries · click a column to sort
| Query / type | Search | Intent | Query class | Routing format | Cluster | Freq ↓ | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
nba all time leaders in points rebounds assists RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants objective statistical data showing who holds the career records in major basketball categories. | Reason | dataset | player stats and records | 4x of 5 | |
michael jordan vs lebron james career stats COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants to directly compare the statistical achievements of the two main contenders for the greatest player of all time. | Comparison | comparison_table | cross era player comparison | 3x of 5 | |
criteria for ranking the basketball goat IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants to understand what metrics—like rings, MVPs, or peak dominance—are used to judge who is the best. | Reason | faq_page | goat debate and criteria | 3x of 5 | |
best nba players of all time by position RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants to see who the best point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center are in history. | Reason | web_article | all time rankings by category | 3x of 5 | |
greatest nba players of all time ranking REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants a ranked list of the top players in NBA history. | Reason | web_article | consensus player rankings | 2x of 5 | |
kareem abdul-jabbar vs bill russell vs wilt chamberlain COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to compare the three most dominant big men in basketball history. | Comparison | comparison_table | historical legends comparison | 2x of 5 | |
kareem abdul-jabbar bill russell wilt chamberlain accolades ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know the major awards and championships won by the greatest historical centers. | Reason | comparison_table | historical legends comparison | 2x of 5 | |
nba 75th anniversary team full list ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants to see the official list of the 75 greatest players selected by the NBA. | Other / navigational | dataset | official top 75 lists | 2x of 5 | |
greatest wnba and womens basketball players of all time IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants to know the top female basketball players in history, such as Diana Taurasi or Cheryl Miller. | Reason | web_article | greatest women basketball players | 2x of 5 | |
best basketball players of all time for someone new to the sport PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants an accessible introduction to basketball's biggest icons without getting bogged down in advanced analytics. | Reason | tutorial_video/transcript | all time rankings by category | 2x of 5 | |
who do nba players think is the goat PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know the perspective of actual professional athletes on who the greatest player is. | Reason | podcast_transcript | goat debate and criteria | 2x of 5 | |
greatest nba players of all time ranked REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants an ordered list of the top professional basketball players in history. | Reason | web_article | consensus player rankings | 1x of 5 | |
greatest basketball players of all time REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants a ranked list of the most legendary basketball players in history. | Reason | web_article | all time rankings by category | 1x of 5 | |
top 10 greatest nba players of all time REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants a standard ranked list of the best NBA players in history. | Reason | web_article | all time rankings by category | 1x of 5 | |
top 10 basketball players in history REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user is looking for a concise list of the elite tier of historical basketball players. | Reason | web_article | all time rankings by category | 1x of 5 | |
basketball goat list REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user is looking for a list of candidates considered the 'Greatest of All Time' in basketball. | Other / navigational | web_article | goat debate and criteria | 1x of 5 | |
basketball goat rankings REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user is looking for rankings of the 'Greatest Of All Time' in basketball. | Comparison | web_article | goat debate and criteria | 1x of 5 | |
nba top 10 players all time consensus REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher is looking for the most widely agreed-upon list of the top ten NBA players. | Reason | web_article | consensus player rankings | 1x of 5 | |
top 10 basketball players ever consensus list REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user is looking for a widely agreed-upon list of the top ten basketball players. | Reason | review_roundup | consensus player rankings | 1x of 5 | |
michael jordan vs lebron james career stats comparison COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to compare the statistical achievements of the two main contenders for the greatest player of all time. | Comparison | comparison_table | cross era player comparison | 1x of 5 | |
michael jordan vs lebron james career stats and accolades COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to compare the two leading candidates for the best basketball player of all time. | Comparison | comparison_table | cross era player comparison | 1x of 5 | |
kareem abdul-jabbar bill russell wilt chamberlain Magic Johnson Larry Bird ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants information on the other foundational legends who consistently appear in the top-tier of all-time lists. | Reason | web_article | historical legends comparison | 1x of 5 | |
espn top 75 nba players list ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to see an authoritative media outlet's definitive ranking of the best players. | Reason | web_article | official top 75 lists | 1x of 5 | |
espn and athletic top 75 nba players list ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to see the authoritative rankings published by major sports media entities. | Reason | web_article | official top 75 lists | 1x of 5 | |
most nba championships and mvp awards by player IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know which players have the most hardware, as this is the primary metric for greatness. | Reason | dataset | player stats and records | 1x of 5 | |
espn and the athletic top 100 nba players ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to see consensus rankings from major, reputable sports media outlets. | Reason | review_roundup | official top 75 lists | 1x of 5 | |
what criteria is used to rank the greatest basketball players IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to understand how experts weigh championships, individual stats, and peak dominance when ranking players. | Reason | faq_page | consensus player rankings | 1x of 5 | |
criteria for ranking the greatest basketball players IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to understand what metrics (rings, MVPs, peak vs longevity) define the 'best' player. | Reason | faq_page | consensus player rankings | 1x of 5 | |
best basketball players of all time by position RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to see the greatest point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards, and centers in history. | Comparison | web_article | all time rankings by category | 1x of 5 | |
most nba championships won by a player RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know which players have the most team success and rings. | Reason | dataset | player stats and records | 1x of 5 | |
nba 75th anniversary team full roster ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to see the official list of the 75 greatest players selected by the NBA's blue-ribbon panel. | Other / navigational | checklist | official top 75 lists | 1x of 5 | |
how to compare nba players across different eras IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know how rule changes and pace of play affect all-time player rankings. | Comparison | web_article | cross era player comparison | 1x of 5 | |
best basketball players by position all time RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to see the greatest players broken down into point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. | Reason | web_article | all time rankings by category | 1x of 5 | |
best women's basketball players of all time ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know the greatest female basketball players in history, such as those in the WNBA or college. | Reason | web_article | greatest women basketball players | 1x of 5 | |
greatest female basketball players of all time RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know who the best women's basketball players in history are, such as Diana Taurasi or Cynthia Cooper. | Reason | web_article | greatest women basketball players | 1x of 5 | |
nba all time leaders in points rebounds assists and championships RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants objective statistical leaders to support all-time greatness claims. | Reason | dataset | player stats and records | 1x of 5 | |
greatest international basketball players outside nba RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to learn about legendary basketball players who dominated in FIBA, EuroLeague, or the Olympics. | Reason | web_article | all time rankings by category | 1x of 5 | |
players with the most nba championships and mvp awards RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants a list of players who have won the most hardware and accolades in league history. | Reason | comparison_table | player stats and records | 1x of 5 | |
who do fans think is the goat of basketball PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to see community opinions, debates, and fan polls regarding who the greatest player is. | Reason | forum/qna | goat debate and criteria | 1x of 5 | |
greatest women's basketball players of all time RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know the top female basketball players in WNBA and international history. | Reason | web_article | greatest women basketball players | 1x of 5 | |
best basketball players for someone who values peak dominance over longevity PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants a tailored list of the best players focusing purely on how good they were at their absolute prime. | Comparison | forum/qna | goat debate and criteria | 1x of 5 | |
comparing 90s nba basketball to modern era COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants to understand how rule changes and play styles affect comparisons between players from different decades. | Comparison | forum/qna | cross era player comparison | 1x of 5 | |
greatest international basketball players fiba and olympics ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know the best basketball players based on international play and global impact, not just the NBA. | Reason | web_article | all time rankings by category | 1x of 5 | |
best basketball players of all time for new fans to watch PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | A beginner basketball fan wants an accessible introduction to the sport's greatest legends through video. | Comparison | tutorial_video/transcript | goat debate and criteria | 1x of 5 | |
basketball player advanced stats per win shares vorp IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to evaluate the best players using modern analytics like Player Efficiency Rating, Win Shares, and Value Over Replacement Player. | Reason | dataset | player stats and records | 1x of 5 | |
all timenba player rankings advanced stats PER win shares PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The searcher wants an analytically driven ranking of the best players based on advanced efficiency metrics rather than narrative. | Reason | interactive_widget | player stats and records | 1x of 5 | |
who is considered the goat of basketball REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants a direct answer to who holds the title of 'Greatest of All Time' in basketball. | Yes / no | faq_page | goat debate and criteria | 1x of 5 | |
magic johnson vs larry bird vs kobe bryant vs tim duncan COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to compare the careers of the players who commonly round out the rest of the all-time top ten. | Comparison | comparison_table | historical legends comparison | 1x of 5 |
Tokens & cost
What this run used on your API keys, per model and step.
| Model | What | Requests | Input tokens | Output tokens | Web searches | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gemini-4-argon | Real-search passes | 1 | 227 | 1,642 | — | $0.017 |
| gemini-4-argon | Simulated passes | 5 | 5,035 | 8,723 | — | $0.097 |
| gpt-6.1-sol | Real-search passes | 1 | 21,475 | 710274 thinking | 8 | $0.130 |
| gpt-6.1-sol | Simulated passes | 5 | 2,965 | 7,336883 thinking | — | $0.079 |
| gemini-3.5-flash-lite | Naming clusters | 1 | 956 | 110 | — | $0.0006 |
| Total | 13 | 30,658 | 18,521 | 8 | $0.324 | |
Billed to your own API keys. Estimated from the providers' list prices (checked 2026-11-12); output includes thinking tokens. Free tiers, caching and retries can make your bill differ. OpenAI bills the web search content it reads as input tokens.
Passes
Does another pass still surface new queries? A flattening curve means the fan-out has stabilised.
GeminiOpenAIx = pass, y = cumulative unique queries
| Model | Pass | Target | Generated | Seconds | Tokens (in / out) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gemini-4-argon · real search | 1 | — | 0 | 21.5 | 227 / 1,642 | The model answered without searching |
| gemini-4-argon | 1 | 13 | 13 | 23.8 | 1,007 / 1,810 | |
| gemini-4-argon | 2 | 12 | 12 | 28.0 | 1,007 / 1,619 | |
| gemini-4-argon | 3 | 13 | 13 | 24.2 | 1,007 / 1,776 | |
| gemini-4-argon | 4 | 13 | 13 | 29.0 | 1,007 / 1,761 | |
| gemini-4-argon | 5 | 13 | 13 | 22.3 | 1,007 / 1,757 | |
| gpt-6.1-sol · real search | 1 | — | 8 | 23.5 | 21,475 / 710 · 8 searches | |
| gpt-6.1-sol | 1 | 12 | 12 | 25.7 | 593 / 1,502 | |
| gpt-6.1-sol | 2 | 12 | 12 | 24.8 | 593 / 1,488 | |
| gpt-6.1-sol | 3 | 12 | 12 | 26.4 | 593 / 1,500 | |
| gpt-6.1-sol | 4 | 12 | 12 | 23.8 | 593 / 1,421 | |
| gpt-6.1-sol | 5 | 12 | 12 | 24.8 | 593 / 1,425 |