October 22, (THEWILL) – With its celebration of its 75th anniversary this season, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has officially unveiled its full list of the top 75 players in league history.
Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, James Harden, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, and Kawhi Leonard were among the current players who made the team.
THEWILL recalls that at halftime of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, the league unveiled the top 50 players of all time, with 47 of them receiving personal recognition. At the 2022 All-Star Game in Cleveland, a similar ceremony will be held for the current team.
Ray Allen, Antetokounmpo, Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Curry, Davis, Tim Duncan, Durant, Kevin Garnett, Harden, Allen Iverson, James, Jason Kidd, Leonard, Lillard, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul, Gary Payton, Paul Pierce, Dennis Rodman, Dwyane Wade, Westbrook, and Dominique Wilkins are new members who were not previously selected for the top 50.
Dwight Howard was the obvious snub among those who did not make the cut, but he has done serious damage to his reputation and place in the game’s lore over the last eight seasons, with both waning production (which is natural as a player ages) and his off-court struggles.
Klay Thompson, a three-time champion, five-time All-Star, and one of the greatest shooters of all time was another name left out. This could possibly be because of the two seasons he missed due to devastating injuries. The same can be the case of Tracy McGrady, the prolific scorer, who led the league in scoring twice and was a
seven-time All-Star.
A panel of media members, current and former players, coaches, and team executives selected the NBA 75th anniversary team. The league did not reveal the results of the voting.
Those listed include:
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2. Ray Allen
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. Nate Archibald
6. Paul Arizin
7. Charles Barkley
8. Rick Barry
9. Elgin Baylor
10. Dave Bing
11. Larry Bird
12. Kobe Bryant
13. Wilt Chamberlain
14. Bob Cousy
15. Dave Cowens
16. Billy Cunningham
17. Stephen Curry
18. Anthony Davis
19. Dave DeBusschere
20. Clyde Drexler
21. Tim Duncan
22. Kevin Durant
23. Julius Erving
24. Patrick Ewing
25. Walt Frazier
26. Kevin Garnett
27. George Gervin
28. Hal Greer
29. James Harden
30. John Havlicek
31. Elvin Hayes
32. Allen Iverson
33. LeBron James
34. Magic Johnson
35. Sam Jones
36. Michael Jordan
37. Jason Kidd
38. Kawhi Leonard
39. Damian Lillard
40. Jerry Lucas
41. Karl Malone
42. Moses Malone
43. Pete Maravich
44. Bob McAdoo
45. Kevin McHale
46. George Mikan
47. Reggie Miller
48. Earl Monroe
49. Steve Nash
50. Dirk Nowitzki
51. Hakeem Olajuwon
52. Shaquille O’Neal
53. Robert Parish
54. Chris Paul
55. Gary Payton
56. Bob Pettit
57. Paul Pierce
58. Scottie Pippen
59. Willis Reed
60. Oscar Robertson
61. David Robinson
62. Dennis Rodman
63. Bill Russell
64. Dolph Schayes
65. Bill Sharman
66. John Stockton
67. Isiah Thomas
68. Nate Thurmond
69. Wes Unseld
70. Dwyane Wade
71. Bill Walton
72. Jerry West
73. Russell Westbrook
74. Lenny Wilkens
75. Dominique Wilkins
76. James Worthy
(Note: These are not rankings. The players are listed in alphabetical order. As a result of a tie, the team features 76 players.)
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
