The NBA is releasing its official 75 greatest ever later this month in celebrating the 75th anniversary season of the league. A blue-ribbon panel of current and former NBA players, coaches, general managers, team and league executives, WNBAlegends, sportswriters and broadcasters named Leonard to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team in October. He missed a total of 22 games in 19 seasons, all with the Jazz, and set career assists and steals records that seem to be unbreakable. Shaquille O'Neal famously asked Wilkens during the 1994 All-Star Weekend. -- Kendra Andrews, 1966-75 Detroit Pistons; 1975-77 Washington Bullets; 1977-78 Boston Celtics, Bing's career was threatened twice by eye injuries -- falling and poking his left eye on a rusty nail as a child, then suffering a detached retina in his right eye during the preseason in 1971. 4. Stats: 27.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG in 18 seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04 to 2009-10; 2014-15 to 2017-18), Miami Heat (2010-11 to 2013-14) and Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19 to 2020-21)*. Possibility Tyler Herro can return for Game 2? His accomplishments are undeniable: He was the co-Rookie of the Year in 1995, along with Grant Hill. -- Andrew Lopez, 1968-71 San Diego Rockets, 1971-72, 1981-84 Houston Rockets; 1972-73 Baltimore Bullets, 1973-74 Capital Bullets, 1974-81 Washington Bullets, The "Big E" made an immediate impact, averaging 28.4 points and 17.1 rebounds as a rookie in 1968-69. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1976-77 scoring champ. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. -- Youngmisuk, 1987-98, 2003-04 Chicago Bulls; 1999 Houston Rockets; 1999-2003 Portland Trail Blazers, Pippen carved out a career for himself with unbelievable consistency on both ends of the floor. 1950-51 Washington Capitols; 1951-61 Boston Celtics, A Hall of Famer as both a player and coach, Sharman starred alongside Bob Cousy in Boston's backcourt in the 1950s, winning four championships. Resume: NBA 75; Hall of Fame; 2x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 12x All-NBA, 2x DPOY. Original reporting that provides diverse perspectives on news and issues of today. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1968 All-Star MVP, 1967 NBA champion. Behind that smile, there was a killer, he said. Stats: 23.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.8 APG in 18 seasons with Denver Nuggets (2003-04 to 2010-11), New York Knicks (2010-11 to 2016-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-18), Houston Rockets (2018-19), Portland Trail Blazers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1963-64 Rookie of the Year, 1965 All-Star MVP, 1973 NBA champion. MORE, McAdoo wasnt getting locked up much during his career, one in which he became a legend in two leagues as one of the greatest scorers basketball has seen. LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? MORE. Here's where the NBA's very best check in on our list, running from No. Then hed step onto the court. He was Hondo, a nickname he picked up after a John Wayne movie by that title. But while Webber was physically imposing, he also was skilled and nimble on the court. He guided them to five NBA championships, including their first over the hatedBoston Celtics in 1985. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, 1968-69 scoring champ, two-time rebounding champ, 1978 NBA champion. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time NBA champion. Stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG in 14 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1960-61 to 1969-70) and Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71 to 1973-74). -- Kevin Pelton, 1958-73 Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers, Greer was overshadowed by spending a large chunk of his career playing alongside the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, but he goes down in history as not only the first player to have his number retired by the 76ers but also remaining as the franchise's leader in a host of categories, including games, minutes and points. Hes coming. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 1950-51 rebounding champ, 1955 NBA champion. MORE, In time, Nash would put his spin on the point guard position, pushing the pace to a breakneck speed, offering a template of creativity for Steph and Dame and Trae and the generations that came after. Weve known how good LeBron is. MORE, Fans of the NBA knew it. Nash, a career 42.8% 3-point shooter, admits he wonders what could have been if he had the shot-hunting mentality of some of today's elite point guards. MORE, Any player selected to this 75th-anniversary team will have a staggering list of accomplishments on his rsum, credentials that would suggest success on the basketball court came easy to him. Without Wade, there's probably no Shaq, no LeBron and no Heatles in South Beach. In case you missed it, Part 1 of our countdown spanned the NBA's entire 75-year history, bridging the gap from George Mikan and Bob Cousy to Joel Embiid and Derrick Rose. But becoming the only player to ever lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season has a way of making everyone forget any height and weight measurables. He also was one of the game's great early shooters, setting a record for free throw percentage (93.2) during the 1958-59 season that lasted nearly two decades. He used his diverse offensive game to average 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his career while also shooting 50.3 percent. I still say his 1977 season was one of the best individual seasons ever, Ainge said. Arguably the greatest player of all time. He was remarkable without seeming remarkable. Jones daughter is rediscovering her dad by sharing the memorabilia he left behind, For 38 years, Abdul-Jabbar has remained the NBAs all-time leading scorer. TOP 75 PEAKS IN NBA . He was the common man. It began on Nov. 1, and has run every day through Feb. 18, 2022 we published a player profile on each player as we counted down our list of the top 75 players in NBA history, voted on by our panel. MORE, Creech: The triple-double has evolved from a statistical curiosity to NBAs gold standard of individual achievement, In high school, I knew it was a gift. With the NBA celebrating its 75th anniversary this season, USA TODAY assembled a panel of NBA experts to rank the greatest 75 NBA players of all time. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1995 NBA champion. There is no next. View the full list. Stats: 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG in 14 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1986-87 to 1992-93), San Antonio Spurs (1993-94 to 1994-95), Chicago Bulls (1995-96 to 1997-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1998-99) and Dallas Mavericks (1999-2000). Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1999-2000 MVP, 1992-93 Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star MVP, three-time Finals MVP, two-time scoring champ, four-time NBA champion. He was a giant in Boston sports and NBA history. Not only has Curry hit 3,083 3s (and counting), he broke Ray Allen's record in nearly 500 fewer games. On February 21, 2022, the NBA held its 75th anniversary ceremony at the 2022 All-Star game, celebrating its top 75 players of all time across different generations of basketball played. He was 1966 NBA Rookie of the Year and led the league in scoring in 1967. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive Team, 2013 All-Star MVP, 2005-06 Rookie of the Year, six-time steals champ, four-time assists champ. After an Achilles injury ended his third Finals run with Golden State, Durant has come back as good as ever in Brooklyn. In 18 seasons with the Jazz, he played in all 82 regular-season games 10 times and never missed more than two games in any season. Today we look at the Top 25. -- Pelton, 1998-2013 Boston Celtics; 2013-14 Brooklyn Nets; 2014-15 Washington Wizards; 2015-17 LA Clippers, Perhaps one of Pierce's biggest moments was in 2000-01, when he played all 82 games, became the first Celtic to score 2,000 or more points since Larry Bird in 1987-88 and averaged over 25 points in just his third year in the league. -- Lopez, 1948-49 (BAA), 1949-54, 1956 Minneapolis Lakers, The NBA's first giant, Mikan was an NBA pioneer. Stats: 18.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.1 APG in 15 seasons with Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1949-50 to 1963-64). While Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar get the lion's share of the credit for those teams, Worthy's 1988 NBA Finals MVP distinction tells the story of just how key he was in L.A.'s success, earning his "Big Game James" nickname for elevating his play when the games mattered most. Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2013-14 MVP, 2007-08 Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star MVP, two-time Finals MVP, four-time scoring champ, two-time NBA champion. Stats: 19.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG in 10 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (2011-12 to 2017-18), Toronto Raptors (2018-19) and LA Clippers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, 1988 Finals MVP, three-time NBA champion. MORE, English used his 6-foot-7 frame to score in a variety of ways. And Wades ability to work and his desire to consistently improve became the linchpin to one of the best careers from a shooting guard in NBA history. Adding the former MVP to a team that had gone 73-9 the year before created arguably the greatest team in NBA history, with Durant shining brightest against LeBron James in the NBA Finals to win Finals MVP back-to-back years. -- McMenamin, When you are the logo of the NBA, it means you have done something special in your career. A . 04 Jun 2023 13:21:33 It lifted the weight off his shoulders, solidifying him as one of the leagues most distinguished players. Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG in 19 seasons with Orlando Magic (1992-93 to 1995-96), Los Angeles Lakers (1996-97 to 2003-04), Miami Heat (2004-05 to 2007-08), Phoenix Suns (2007-08 to 2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10) and Boston Celtics (2010-11). 10) Kevin Durant Highest MVP finish: 1st (2014) First/Second-Team All-NBA selections: 9 Peak personified: Durant won back-to-back Finals MVPs against LeBron James, the first of which was. Thats why McAdoo checks in at No. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, three-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 1979-80 Rookie of the Year, 1982 All-Star MVP, three-time NBA champion. But the league never ranked them. -- McMenamin, 1984-93, 1995-98 Chicago Bulls; 2001-03 Washington Wizards. The GOAT. With the NBA celebrating its 75th anniversary this season, USA TODAY assembled a panel of NBA experts to rank the greatest 75 NBA players of all time. MORE, Harris: Maurice Stokes, the NBAs first Black superstar, was the rallying cry for the players labor movement, Russells accolades are unmatched. Stats: 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG in 13 seasons with Baltimore/Capitol/Washington Bullets. -- Friedell, Paul J. Maguire/The Boston Globe/Getty Images, Sources: Suns make Young top-paid assistant, Malone: Nuggets 'haven't done a damn thing' yet, Heat's Martin ill; no change to Herro's status, Sources: Borrego to become Pels' associate HC, Knicks All-Star Randle has surgery on left ankle, Sources: Nets hiring Ollie as assistant coach, 'Fear the ears': 'Air Corgi' picks Denver Nuggets to win it all, 'I never force it': How Nikola Jokic controlled Game 1, the NBA unveiled its 75th Anniversary Team. MORE, Malone didnt miss games. -- Collier, Havlicek, who won eight championships during his legendary career with the Celtics, was one of the first players to popularize the role of sixth man. Rodman won Defensive Player of the Year twice and was a five-time NBA champion as a centerpiece for dynasties in Detroit and Chicago. Hed come for your throat, your heart, your funny bone. What set Allen apart wasn't just his dominance from the outside, it was the work ethic that helped achieve that level of basketball greatness. MORE, The main thing Wilkins prides himself on when looking back on his 15-year career was never willingly taking a night off. -- Collier, Duncan dominated for a generation while rarely showing any emotion, aside from shock when he was whistled for a foul. Stats: 25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG in 19 seasons with Utah Jazz (1985-86 to 2002-03) and Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04). Stats: 23.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.3 APG in nine seasons with New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2012-13 to 2018-19) and Los Angeles Lakers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*. MORE, Pistons legend Isiah Thomas carried himself like a sweetheart. With his hook shot, Mikan led the league in scoring in his first three seasons. Stats: 18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.1 APG in 13 seasons with New York Knicks (1967-68 to 1976-77) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-78 to 1979-80). -- Friedell, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 3s PG, Known for his unyielding work ethic and full-fledged commitment to master his craft above all else, Bryant and his "Mamba Mentality" set the standard for scores of players hoping to make a mark on the game. -- Tim MacMahon, 18.2 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 Steals PG, 1.8 3s PG, The Pacers' legend became one of the greatest shooters in NBA history with one of the fastest releases the game has seen. Those 1980s Celtics are considered to have played one of the greatest stretches of basketball ever seen. Stats: 18.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.9 APG in 13 seasons with Baltimore Bullets (1967-68 to 1971-72) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1979-80). But for eight seasons in a Rockets uniform, Harden dominated games. MORE, Sam Amick: Top 20?! -- Collier, Nowitzki revolutionized the game as a 7-foot shooter and shattered the "soft Euro" stereotype. Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, 1967-68 Rookie of the Year, 1973 NBA champion. Kevin Durant. MORE, Holmes: Great shooting is an art form, but it takes time and work to forge, You cant talk about Jerry West without the Lakers being in the same sentence, of course. Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year career in Dallas, setting a record for length of a tenure with one franchise, and is the highest-scoring international player in NBA history. -- Jamal Collier, 1962-68 Detroit Pistons; 1968-74 New York Knicks, For the first six years the NBA started naming an All-Defensive First Team, DeBusschere's name was included on the list. 20 inThe Athletics all-time NBA 75 list. Which current and budding superstars are on their way to making the NBA 100? Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1993-94 MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Finals MVP, two-time rebounding champ, three-time blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. This list is as much about the impact of that player in NBA history. Stats: 14.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.5 BPG in 21 seasons with Golden State Warriors (1976-77 to 1979-80), Boston Celtics (1980-81 to 1993-94), Charlotte Hornets (1994-95 to 1995-96) and Chicago Bulls (1996-97). In fact, "Wilt the Stilt" has six of the highest 11 single-game point totals in NBA history and seven scoring titles, including a mythical 50.4 PPG in 1961-62. The MVPs. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA, 10-time NBA champion. A similar list was compiled ahead of the 1996-97 season to honor the 50 greatest players of all time, and those original 50 managed to keep their spots this time around. They didn't call him the "Round Mound of Rebound" for nothing, right? Long before that, Parish was an ideal All-Star complement to the Celtics' other frontcourt stars because of his skills and willingness to accept -- and occasionally deal out -- the physical play in the paint in the 1980s. MORE, Leonard is already a legend. Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, three-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, four-time assists champ, two-time steals champ, five-time NBA champion. Kevin Durant vs. Kobe Bryant? Like all successes, the 24-second shot clock has many fathers though one has been forgotten, When discussing the best playoff performances, greatness is often in the eye of the witness, Be Like Mike, H-O-R-S-E, Mars Blackmon, Jingle Hoops and all the best NBA commercials, How the Seven Seconds or Less Phoenix Suns changed the league: Were about to let it fly like Peyton Manning, Thanks to Willis Reed, Walt Frazier had the greatest Game 7 you may not know about, as legendary MSG photographer George Kalinsky remembers it, The triple-double has evolved from a statistical curiosity to NBAs gold standard of individual achievement, NBA 75: Reminiscing about some of the greatest playoff plays in NBA history, Who was the greatest rebounder ever? -- Youngmisuk, 2005-2011 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; 2011-2017 Los Angeles Clippers; 2017-2019 Houston Rockets; 2019-2020 Oklahoma City Thunder; 2020-22 Phoenix Suns, Still going strong in his 17th season, Paul became the first player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points and 10,000 career assists. Stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG in 10 seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (1974-75 to 1977-78), San Diego/LA Clippers (1979-80 to 1984-85) and Boston Celtics (1985-86 to 1986-87). We go one step forward and rank all 75. The order sometimes varies. In 1995-96, the season Payton became the most recent guard to win Defensive Player of the Year, Seattle pushed the 72-10 Bulls to six games in the NBA Finals. But he didnt play much, mostly just practicing with the team. MORE, Youre talking about shooting the basketball and the things he could do with a basketball in terms of banking it, shooting it straight in, off the glass it was like its like George Gervin was Minnesota Fats on the pool table,Pistonslegend Isiah Thomas toldThe Athletic. His influence on the modern athlete is omnipresent. He's also fifth all-time in steals (2,440) and could pass Michael Jordan for third place (2,514) next season. Still only 28, there's plenty more in store for him as long as he stays healthy. Stephen Curry vs. Larry Bird? Aside from his play on the floor, Pippen is routinely brought up as one of his former teammates' favorite people to play with. -- Bontemps, 2012-13 New Orleans Hornets, 2013-19 New Orleans Pelicans; 2019-22 Los Angeles Lakers, Taking the torch from Kevin Garnett as a near 7-footer who can completely dominate a game defensively with the offensive skill set to operate outside of the low post on the other end, Davis continues to redefine what a big man can do. Its the same pole, Damian Lillard assures because after all these years he can still see the nails in its side, all curled and gnarled. Manu Ginobili. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, three-time scoring champ, 2016-17 assists champ, 2017-18 MVP, 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year. Charles Barkley. What you have below are the final rankings, and deep profiles on every player in our final ranking, from the GOAT Michael Jordan down through players that define the NBAs history more than you might realize (see: George Mikan). His famous finger rolls, a phenomenal blend of flair and function, were so memorable that Nike made them into a marketing line long after Gervin hung up his high-tops. He found a way to make seven All-Star teams and gave the Pistons their first taste of success after moving from Fort Wayne to Detroit. This story is included in The Athletics Best of 2022. the most domina. Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG in 14 seasons with Boston Celtics (1950-51 to 1962-63) and Cincinnati Royals (1969-70). Slowly working through each year of his career, Antetokounmpo broke down things to give insight into how he has gotten to this point in his career. Scottie contains multitudes, thats always been his strength and his weakness. -- Dave McMenamin, 1948-64 Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers, One of the best players in the NBA's early years, Schayes was one of the last players to use a two-handed set shot and was a high-impact center during his 16 seasons with the Nationals and 76ers. When he needed to play with power, he could pull it off. Drexler is also one of four players in league history to have at least 2,000 offensive rebounds and 2,000 steals (Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone). Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG in 13 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1979-80 to 1990-91; 1995-96). Hal was a very quiet man on the court, Jones recalled. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. But Unseld wasn't just all muscle; he was one of the best outlet passers the NBA has seen. -- Bontemps, 1985-2000 New York Knicks; 2000-01 Seattle SuperSonics; 2001-02 Orlando Magic, This Knicks big man endeared himself to generations of New Yorkers because of his ability to perform and produce under the brightest of spotlights. Nothing came easy. There . -- Bontemps, 1970-74 Atlanta Hawks; 1974-79 New Orleans Jazz; 1979-80 Utah Jazz; 1980 Boston Celtics, Famed for his record-setting scoring playing for his father at LSU, Maravich never quite reached those same heights during an NBA career cut short by injury. We're also left to wonder what if Maravich had played his full career with the 3-point line, introduced during his final season. Stats: 19.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG in 19 seasons with Boston Celtics (1998-99 to 2012-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-14), Washington Wizards (2014-15) and LA Clippers (2015-16 to 2016-17). Wade gave Heat Culture its championship pedigree while earning a Finals MVP and leading the league in scoring (2008-09 when he averaged 30.2 points per game). HOME, When the man who laid claim at the time to the title of Greatest Shooter In the World rose from the corner and flicked his right wrist to let fly one of the most clutch shots in NBA history, there wasnt a soul in theMiami Heats arena who didnt think it was going to fall except for Walter Ray Allen. -- Lopez, 1976-85 San Antonio Spurs; 1985-86 Chicago Bulls; also played four ABA seasons with Virginia Squires (1972-74) and San Antonio Spurs (1973-76), The "Iceman" epitomized cool during his career. -- Pelton, 1992-96 Orlando Magic; 1996-2004 Los Angeles Lakers; 2004-08 Miami Heat; 2008-09 Phoenix Suns; 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-11 Boston Celtics, When Shaq arrived on the scene with the Magic in 1992, the league had never seen a center move up and down the floor with the strength and speed that O'Neal possessed. His footwork was phenomenal -- many players since have gone to him in the offseasons to learn -- and Olajuwon also had strength, athleticism and touch. He became so immune to the danger around him in his childhood that it was just another day when someone he knew succumbed to the violence. And theyre revealed The Athletics panels ballots for best all-time players, Introducing GOAT Points, a new way to historically compare players, How K.C. Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 2006-07 MVP, 2011 Finals MVP, 2011 NBA champion. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ. The NBA has been loaded with star talent, from. The NBA 75th Anniversary Team, also referred to as the NBA 75, was chosen in 2021 to honor the 75th anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 2006 Finals MVP, 2010 All-Star MVP, 2008-09 scoring champ, three-time NBA champion. Anthony Davis. MORE, Without Robinson, theSpursmight have different colors and a different name in a different city, playing in front of people who had no idea what the Spurs meant to their region. Robertson averaged a triple-double for an entire season in 1961-62 and finished with what was then a record number of career triple-doubles, performances that would not be matched until Westbrook's recent peak. -- Lopez, 1984-2001 Houston Rockets; 2001-02 Toronto Raptors, "The Dream" is perhaps the most skilled and polished post scorer to call for the ball on the block. It has been 25 years since the league unveiled its list of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, which tipped off a season-long celebration of the NBA's 50th anniversary in 1996. -- Andrews, 1996-98, 2004-12 Phoenix Suns; 1998-2004 Dallas Mavericks; 2012-14 Los Angeles Lakers, Nash pushed the pace -- and the NBA into the modern era of up-tempo play -- and it's sort of a shame he didn't play in this generation. And this is one of the most significant teams in NBA history. As a result of a tie in the voting, the 75th anniversary team includes 76 players. Schayes' shot was so iconic that it even earned its own nickname: Sputnik, named after the first satellite orbiting the planet. Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1985-86 scoring champ. Nobody was better than George Gervin. Bing, Greer and Schayes were also on the NBA 50 greatest players of all time list in 1996. Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is still the greatest international player in NBA history. The NBA unveiled its full list of the top 75 players in NBA history on Thursday in honor of the league's 75th anniversary season. MORE, Dennis Rodmans journey to the NBA 75 team is as improbable as any other star in league history. play. ESPN's NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head player matchups, taking into consideration the quality and quantity of their NBA contributions. Facts only. (Wilkens was the only person chosen both among the league's top 75 players and top 15 coaches.) Drexler himself was verygood, and that was the reason he was involved in all these moments and more during a 16-year career that easily could have been 20 if he had cared to continue playing. Accomplishments: 15-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive Team, 2003-04 MVP, 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year, 2003 All-Star MVP, four-time rebounding champ, 2008 NBA champion. He developed into a very good spot-up shooter after his skills waned in his twilight, one reason he fit so well with Dirk Nowitzki as the leaders of the Mavs' championship team. In 2009, then-NBA commissioner David Stern announced the Finals MVP award would be named after Russell. -- MacMahon, 1990-2003 Seattle SuperSonics; 2003 Milwaukee Bucks; 2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers; 2004-05 Boston Celtics; 2005-07 Miami Heat, Remembered as one of the NBA's greatest defenders in the backcourt, "the Glove" teamed up with Shawn Kemp to lead the brash, young Sonics to five consecutive seasons of 55+ wins. Nate Archibald. But he also was a dynamic two-way player, who in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals -- remembered for Willis Reed playing on an injured leg -- had 36 points and 19 assists in one of the greatest performances of all time to lead the Knicks to their first title. But now that he has that record, he's fine with that title. He was the NBA Most Valuable Player three times in four years and a 12-time All-Star, and he was named to the All-NBA First Team nine times. On the court, his play was relentless. *All stats/accomplishments for active players are entering the 2021-22 season. The subjectivity of it all is what makes for an amazing conversation. The Spurs had a winning record and made the playoffs in every single season of Duncan's 18-year career. The voice that accompanied that all-too-perfect smile was soft and infectious. Next toBlake Griffin, he turned a floundering franchise into a playoff regular and fringe contender. Barry drained 90% of his NBA free throws, fourth best all time. 35 if we were to apply that line of thinking. Subjective. Danny Ainge, who would later become Waltons teammate in Boston, grew up two hours south of Portland in Eugene. Stats: 17.0 PPG, 15.6 RPG, 3.3 APG in 11 seasons with Cincinnati Royals (1963-64 to 1969-70), San Francisco Warriors (1969-70 to 1970-71) and New York Knicks (1971-72 to 1973-74). He wasnt victorious in every battle, but would eventually win the war. Debating the NBA's 75 greatest players list: Snubs, surprises and the best of the best. 11 on The Athletics NBA 75, got to Houston, on the other side of the globe. Giannis Antetokounmpo. He also averaged at least 12.4 rebounds in every season. From his second to fourth season, McAdoo won three straight scoring titles, averaging 30.6 points, 34.5 points and 31.1 points, respectively, during that span. MORE, Erving was the telegenic, genial face oftwoleagues during his 16-year professional career, carrying the ABA for five seasons with the Virginia Squires and New YorkNets before going to Philly and the NBA in 1976 as part of the NBA-ABA merger. Dig in below for a deep dive on the best 75 of all time. 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