Top 50 greatest nba players

View the full list. It began on Nov. David Aldridge: Explaining the criteria behind our selection process. This ranking is not in dispute.

Early in the season, the NBA unveiled its 75th Anniversary Team , a squad full of iconic players representing different points in the evolution of basketball. LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? Kawhi Leonard vs. Gary Payton? Stephen Curry vs. Larry Bird?

Top 50 greatest nba players

It was the third anniversary team in the league. In addition, the top ten head coaches and top ten single-season teams in NBA history were selected by media members as part of the celebration. The announcement marked the beginning of a season -long celebration of the league's anniversary. O'Neal was the last to be active in the NBA, retiring at the end of the —11 season. At the time of the list, only Pete Maravich was deceased. All 11 members from the 35th anniversary team were selected. The list was made through unranked voting completed by 50 selected panelists. Sixteen of the panelists were former players voting in their roles as players, 13 were members of the print and broadcast news media, and 21 were team representatives: contemporary and former general managers , head coaches , and executives. Of the last group, 13 were former NBA players. Players were prohibited from voting for themselves. The list was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by members of the print and broadcast media who regularly cover the NBA. Jackson was the last of the ten to coach in the NBA; he announced his retirement after the —11 season.

Playmaking point guards are almost a dying breed, but the skillset lives on in Chris Paul. He was the ultimate team player, a point guard who didn't need to put up gaudy scoring numbers to help his team win.

The NBA recently announced the top 75 players in league history for the league's year anniversary. While there were plenty of controversial selections and omissions — such as Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson and Lakers' Dwight Howard — but we're here to make some even tougher cuts as we've ranked the 50 best NBA players ever. There have been many great players in the history of the NBA who have made significant contributions to the game and achieved a high level of success. Some of the players who are often considered among the greatest of all time include:. Of course, everyone wants to know if LeBron James has surpassed Michael Jordan, but those aren't the only tough decisions we had to make. Is Lakers legend Kobe Bryant a top player ever?

It was the third anniversary team in the league. In addition, the top ten head coaches and top ten single-season teams in NBA history were selected by media members as part of the celebration. The announcement marked the beginning of a season -long celebration of the league's anniversary. O'Neal was the last to be active in the NBA, retiring at the end of the —11 season. At the time of the list, only Pete Maravich was deceased. All 11 members from the 35th anniversary team were selected. The list was made through unranked voting completed by 50 selected panelists. Sixteen of the panelists were former players voting in their roles as players, 13 were members of the print and broadcast news media, and 21 were team representatives: contemporary and former general managers , head coaches , and executives. Of the last group, 13 were former NBA players. Players were prohibited from voting for themselves.

Top 50 greatest nba players

The NBA is a league whose history is best understood through its players. More so than in any other team sport, the very best in basketball account for the majority of its championships and MVPs. Last October, the league announced its 75th Anniversary Team. The players were not ranked, however, and the entire 50th Anniversary Team made the cut, along with 25 players from the past 25 seasons. John Havlicek? Still a bit too old. Did you ever win an MVP? What did you do in the playoffs? What did you do in the biggest moments? What were your biggest accolades and awards?

Le garde fear and hunger

Today, he ranks 15th , ninth and eighth , respectively, in those three categories. That year, he averaged Looking at the 6-foot-9 forward, you would never think that he could play in the NBA, but boy oh boy could he play! Clyde Drexler. Paul Pierce is one of them and the other two also feature on this list. He did it with an unrivaled and unique brand of swagger. Archived from the original on June 29, But intangibles have to be factored into these conversations, as well. While AI first made a splash with his crossover dribble, his game came to be defined for the grit and tenacity he showed as a 6-foot, pound guard putting his body on the line among giants. Plus, his 6. He even has five NBA Championships and the respect of some of the greatest players ever to prove it. In 11 NBA campaigns, Dr.

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Charles Barkley. Eighteen years of After averaging Among players with at least Finals minutes, Durant Sam Goldaper. In contrast, Baylor took to the air for jumpers, rebounds and even some dunks. If he had played his entire career in the NBA, he would have ranked higher on this list. That's all from Elgin. He's third all-time in assists, ninth in assists per game and fifth in assist percentage. Not bad for the player, who is still playing excellent basketball. In baseball, there's a simple analytical concept known as Black Ink. Stephen Curry vs. Clyde Drexler.