NBA’s 75 greatest players of all time

[nmduke2001]

For the 75th anniversary of the NBA, they have released the 75 greatest players in the league’s history. I know I’m biased, but I think Grant Hill is the biggest snub. I think he deserves to be there more than at least 4 players with Reggie Miller being the easiest target.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-complete-list

https://www.landofbasketball.com/pla...gie_miller.htm

[TheTrain]

I love Grant, but Reggie Miller had some of the seminal moments in NBA playoff history. Miller Time deserved it more than Grant

[nmduke2001]

I love Grant, but Reggie Miller had some of the seminal moments in NBA playoff history. Miller Time deserved it more than Grant

Grant was all NBA 5 times to Reggie’s 3. Grant has a first team all NBA to Reggie’s none. Grant also did a lot more than score.

[SouthernDukie]

For the 75th anniversary of the NBA, they have released the 75 greatest players in the league’s history. I know I’m biased, but I think Grant Hill is the biggest snub. I think he deserves to be there more than at least 4 players with Reggie Miller being the easiest target.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-complete-list

https://www.landofbasketball.com/pla...gie_miller.htm

I agree that Grant should’ve made the list. Of course I was also shocked that George Gervin didn’t make the list. So who am I to judge?

[brevity]

Of course I was also shocked that George Gervin didn’t make the list. So who am I to judge?

George Gervin IS on the list. If justice is blind, you should totally be a judge.

You all complaining about Grant Hill are 25 years too late. I remember a SportsCenter when Dan Patrick commented on the NBA 50 list. Eternal sporks for whoever can find a clip, but it went something like this:

DAN PATRICK: "They say that Shaquille O'Neal made the NBA 50 list based on potential, and to that I say, why not Grant Hill?"

KEITH OLBERMANN (off camera): "Yeah!"

[FellowTraveler]

For the 75th anniversary of the NBA, they have released the 75 greatest players in the league’s history. I know I’m biased, but I think Grant Hill is the biggest snub. I think he deserves to be there more than at least 4 players with Reggie Miller being the easiest target.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-complete-list

https://www.landofbasketball.com/pla...gie_miller.htm

Grant Hill might be my favorite basketball player ever. But.

Reggie Miller is 18th in career win shares. 18th. Ahead of Kobe Bryant, Olajuwon, Larry Bird. 18th. He’s 22nd in career VORP, ahead of Pippen, Wade, Nash…

Would Grant Hill have had a better career than Miller if he stayed healthy? I think so. But Reggie Miller was a truly great player. No way he’s one of the first four cuts, much less the first.

Ben Taylor’s analysis of Reggie Miller is worth a read. In 2018, Taylor ranked Miller the 29th best player ever. Totally subjectively that feels a little high to me, but he’s comfortably top 75.

[brevity]

To be clear, no one on the NBA 50 list (in blue) was dropped. There was a tie, so 26 names (in red) were added. Most of the newcomers arrived in the league on or after the 50th anniversary year of 1996, but there are a few older selections: Bob McAdoo (started pro career in 1970), Dominique Wilkins (1982), Dennis Rodman (1986), Reggie Miller (1987), Gary Payton (1990), Jason Kidd (1994), and Kevin Garnett (1995).

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Ray Allen
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Carmelo Anthony
Nate Archibald
Paul Arizin
Charles Barkley
Rick Barry
Elgin Baylor
Dave Bing
Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant
Wilt Chamberlain
Bob Cousy
Dave Cowens
Billy Cunningham
Stephen Curry
Anthony Davis
Dave DeBusschere
Clyde Drexler
Tim Duncan
Kevin Durant
Julius Erving
Patrick Ewing
Walt Frazier
Kevin Garnett
George Gervin
Hal Greer
James Harden
John Havlicek
Elvin Hayes
Allen Iverson
LeBron James
Magic Johnson
Sam Jones
Michael Jordan
Jason Kidd
Kawhi Leonard
Damian Lillard
Jerry Lucas
Karl Malone
Moses Malone
Pete Maravich
Bob McAdoo
Kevin McHale
George Mikan
Reggie Miller
Earl Monroe
Steve Nash
Dirk Nowitzki
Hakeem Olajuwon
Shaquille O'Neal
Robert Parish
Chris Paul
Gary Payton
Bob Pettit
Paul Pierce
Scottie Pippen
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
David Robinson
Dennis Rodman
Bill Russell
Dolph Schayes
Bill Sharman
John Stockton
Isiah Thomas
Nate Thurmond
Wes Unseld
Dwyane Wade
Bill Walton
Jerry West
Russell Westbrook
Lenny Wilkens
Dominique Wilkins
James Worthy

[SouthernDukie]

George Gervin IS on the list. If justice is blind, you should totally be a judge.

Oh my! Not sure how I missed that. Good to know the Iceman made the list. You know the one thing George could do, is he could finger roll.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

To be clear, no one on the NBA 50 list (in blue) was dropped. There was a tie, so 26 names (in red) were added. Most of the newcomers arrived in the league on or after the 50th anniversary year of 1996, but there are a few older selections: Bob McAdoo (started pro career in 1970), Dominique Wilkins (1982), Dennis Rodman (1986), Reggie Miller (1987), Gary Payton (1990), Jason Kidd (1994), and Kevin Garnett (1995).

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Ray Allen
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Carmelo Anthony
Nate Archibald
Paul Arizin
Charles Barkley
Rick Barry
Elgin Baylor
Dave Bing
Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant
Wilt Chamberlain
Bob Cousy
Dave Cowens
Billy Cunningham
Stephen Curry
Anthony Davis
Dave DeBusschere
Clyde Drexler
Tim Duncan
Kevin Durant
Julius Erving
Patrick Ewing
Walt Frazier
Kevin Garnett
George Gervin
Hal Greer
James Harden
John Havlicek
Elvin Hayes
Allen Iverson
LeBron James
Magic Johnson
Sam Jones
Michael Jordan
Jason Kidd
Kawhi Leonard
Damian Lillard
Jerry Lucas
Karl Malone
Moses Malone
Pete Maravich
Bob McAdoo
Kevin McHale
George Mikan
Reggie Miller
Earl Monroe
Steve Nash
Dirk Nowitzki
Hakeem Olajuwon
Shaquille O'Neal
Robert Parish
Chris Paul
Gary Payton
Bob Pettit
Paul Pierce
Scottie Pippen
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
David Robinson
Dennis Rodman
Bill Russell
Dolph Schayes
Bill Sharman
John Stockton
Isiah Thomas
Nate Thurmond
Wes Unseld
Dwyane Wade
Bill Walton
Jerry West
Russell Westbrook
Lenny Wilkens
Dominique Wilkins
James Worthy

I got into a (virtual) disagreement about the validity of Rodman. The young whippersnapper was insistent that Rodman was a questionable choice, and went on to list a half dozen stats that were suspect. They suggested that Rodman was getting coattail votes from Jordan and The Last Dance.

My only response was that this kid clearly never watched him play. I've never seen someone dominant a game through almost wholly defense and rebounding. It wad astonishing to watch and almost impossible to describe.

Kids today...

[TheTrain]

Grant Hill might be my favorite basketball player ever. But.

Reggie Miller is 18th in career win shares. 18th. Ahead of Kobe Bryant, Olajuwon, Larry Bird. 18th. He’s 22nd in career VORP, ahead of Pippen, Wade, Nash…

Would Grant Hill have had a better career than Miller if he stayed healthy? I think so. But Reggie Miller was a truly great player. No way he’s one of the first four cuts, much less the first.

Ben Taylor’s analysis of Reggie Miller is worth a read. In 2018, Taylor ranked Miller the 29th best player ever. Totally subjectively that feels a little high to me, but he’s comfortably top 75.

That’s the key for me about Grant…HAD HE STAYED HEALTHY

His injuries limited him and he never produced anything magical in the post season

Miller will forever be remembered for his clutch play, his 3 point shooting and his playoff performances

[CDu]

I would not put Hill in over Miller. I WOULD put Hill in over Monroe, DeBusschere, and Wilkens. Hill outperformed each of those three in win shares, win shares/48 min, and All-NBA appearances. I would also gladly entertain the argument that he should be in over Maravich and Walton (moreso over Maravich).

[JBDuke]

It feels a little early to include the Freak, Davis, and Lillard on this list. Looks like they'll get there, but are if they have a Grant-like injury that derails their careers, have they earned their way on yet? Giannis's year last year might be what he needed to say "yes", but I'm not sure. And I'm conflicted about Westbrook and Harden. Both have elite skills, but both are problematic teammates that have struggled to be parts of winning teams. Harden is kind of an unstoppable force on offense. Westbrook is the master of the triple double, but is that enough? Again, I'm not sure.

Other folks here who are more avid NBA watchers may have more informed opinions than mine...

[kshepinthehouse]

It feels a little early to include the Freak, Davis, and Lillard on this list. Looks like they'll get there, but are if they have a Grant-like injury that derails their careers, have they earned their way on yet? Giannis's year last year might be what he needed to say "yes", but I'm not sure. And I'm conflicted about Westbrook and Harden. Both have elite skills, but both are problematic teammates that have struggled to be parts of winning teams. Harden is kind of an unstoppable force on offense. Westbrook is the master of the triple double, but is that enough? Again, I'm not sure.

Other folks here who are more avid NBA watchers may have more informed opinions than mine...

Guess it depends on the definition of greatest. Most talented or best career?

[robed deity]

Grant should be on the list, but it pains me to think about what he could have been if he stayed healthy. Top 20 wouldn't have been out of the question in my opinion. Sometimes I go to YouTube and watch his first few years with the Pistons. Jaw dropping stuff.

[CDu]

It feels a little early to include the Freak, Davis, and Lillard on this list. Looks like they'll get there, but are if they have a Grant-like injury that derails their careers, have they earned their way on yet? Giannis's year last year might be what he needed to say "yes", but I'm not sure. And I'm conflicted about Westbrook and Harden. Both have elite skills, but both are problematic teammates that have struggled to be parts of winning teams. Harden is kind of an unstoppable force on offense. Westbrook is the master of the triple double, but is that enough? Again, I'm not sure.

Other folks here who are more avid NBA watchers may have more informed opinions than mine...

The Freak has 2 MVPs, 5 All-NBA appearances, and a Finals MVP. He is a no-doubter at this point, and frankly it isn’t close.

Westbrook has an MVP, 2 scoring titles, 3 assists titles, and NINE All-NBA honors. He is top-40 all-time in points and top-20 in assists. He is also a no-doubter.

Harden has an MVP, seven All-NBA honors (6 of them 1st team), 3 scoring titles, an assist title, is top-40 in scoring and top-50 in assists. Also a no-brainer.

Anthony Davis has 4 1st team all-nba honors, which is better than many of the guys on the list.

Lillard has 6 all-nba honors. He is the one active guy who feels borderline. I think he definitely earns it by career end, but maybe not yet. Still, those 6 all-nba honors are better than some of the older guys on the list.

[Neals384]

My vote for questionable inclusion is Walton. Just 10 seasons, just 13 PPG, only two all star games...

But man, when he was on he was smokin' hot

[Steven43]

Westbrook has an MVP, 2 scoring titles, 3 assists titles, and NINE All-NBA honors. He is top-40 all-time in points and top-20 in assists. He is also a no-doubter.

I don’t like Westbrook as a basketball player. I don’t think he’s ever been a team player and has always just been hunting stats. I think he got a reputation as being a great player way back when and the label just stuck, so he kept getting voted to All-NBA teams even though I don’t think he deserved it.

One can have impressive-looking stats while being a team-oriented player and one can also have impressive-looking stats while being a selfish, individual player. Westbrook is the latter. He’s a terrible jump shooter and a terrible 3-pt shooter. In fact he’s perhaps the worst three-point shooter of all time for a player who takes as many of them as he does. And he’s not a particularly good passer even though he’s been playing PG his entire career. He doesn’t get his teammates involved and he doesn’t seem to care all that much whether his team wins or loses. If he did he wouldn’t play the way he does. Other than that he’s awesome, 😉

[1991 duke law]

The Freak has 2 MVPs, 5 All-NBA appearances, and a Finals MVP. He is a no-doubter at this point, and frankly it isn’t close.

Westbrook has an MVP, 2 scoring titles, 3 assists titles, and NINE All-NBA honors. He is top-40 all-time in points and top-20 in assists. He is also a no-doubter.

Harden has an MVP, seven All-NBA honors (6 of them 1st team), 3 scoring titles, an assist title, is top-40 in scoring and top-50 in assists. Also a no-brainer.

Anthony Davis has 4 1st team all-nba honors, which is better than many of the guys on the list.

Lillard has 6 all-nba honors. He is the one active guy who feels borderline. I think he definitely earns it by career end, but maybe not yet. Still, those 6 all-nba honors are better than some of the older guys on the list.

It would be interesting to contrast Westbrook to Russell and Walton. Did Russell score much? And Walton did not score much. But did they win and make everyone better? Did the team win because of them? Did Russ make his team better - did they not win in spite of him or did he not bring the necessary tools to win?

I have no strong view here and am just throwing out the question. Is Russ a stat hoarder or was he really great? I tend to think he will not mesh well on the Lakers as his poor shooting will prove to be a real Achilles heel. But regardless, just looking at his stats he does look great.

[SouthernDukie]

My vote for questionable inclusion is Walton. Just 10 seasons, just 13 PPG, only two all star games...

But man, when he was on he was smokin' hot

I don’t know, that might be a little high for Walton.

[Steven43]

It would be interesting to contrast Westbrook to Russell and Walton. Did Russell score much? And Walton did not score much. But did they win and make everyone better? Did the team win because of them? Did Russ make his team better - did they not win in spite of him or did he not bring the necessary tools to win?

I have no strong view here and am just throwing out the question. Is Russ a stat hoarder or was he really great? I tend to think he will not mesh well on the Lakers as his poor shooting will prove to be a real Achilles heel. But regardless, just looking at his stats he does look great.

I think the truly great players not only have a wide variety of elite skills, but also have a very positive competitive attitude and are always looking to find ways to support their teammates and help them play to their full potential. The truly great players do the little things that don’t show up on a stat sheet and care about winning above all else, while not really being concerned with their stats, particularly while the game is taking place.

Westbrook at his peak had the elite skills of overall athleticism, quickness, jumping ability, strength, toughness, agility, and determination. Nobody was more electrifying while knifing through defenders at a dizzying speed and then soaring way above taller players to throw the ball down with tremendous force. He was an athletic marvel and I loved watching him take it to the basket. Few have ever done it better.

Walton’s skills were quite different than those of Westbrook. At his peak he was a very mobile big man who could rebound at an extremely high level on both ends of the floor. He was an intimating presence on defense who could block and alter shots with the best of them. He hustled on both ends and had a great zeal for the game. He was a leader who set the tone for his teammates to look up to and follow. He had a seemingly endless variety of offensive moves and could score from just about any angle, and was a master at using the glass. All that being said, perhaps his greatest single attribute was his passing ability, which was legendary. Until Larry Bird and Magic Johnson came along there had probably never been a better passer 6’9” or above.

I feel kind of bad for denigrating Westbrook in an earlier post. At his best he was a very good player. I just wish he had learned to shoot less, pass more (and more effectively), and never have gotten caught up in this silly triple-double nonsense. I think his desire to compile stats really contributed to his downfall as an overall player.