The NBA's official release of its Top 75 players in league history is scheduled for later this month. As I've discussed previously, I declined an invitation from the league to be on the official voting panel, but I always intended to assemble my own unofficial list and post it here.
The time has arrived to lock myself in the rankings dungeon this weekend and make my list. But I want to make sure I don't leave out anyone who should be considered. So ...
Who would you nominate, from 1996 until today, to compete with those 50 incumbents for a spot in my Top 75? (Editor's note: I definitely plan to include Dominique Wilkins and Bob McAdoo, both snubbed from the Top 50, in my top 75.)
Weigh in here! Anyone from the last 25 years who, in your eyes, merits consideration, please list them in this thread.
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This is can be tough for somebody my age. I'm 38 years old and I started watching and really following the NBA around the 1994-95 season. Looking at some of the older names that are on the Top 50 list is tough to determine if they should be removed or not because I'm not really sure how impactful their contributions were to the league. Especially, when you've had so many first-ballot hall of famers come into the league after 1996 that no doubt deserve to be in the Top 75. Luckily, I was able to come up with 25 names that would allow the Top 50 to remain.
Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Gary Payton, Dennis Rodman, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Anthony Davis, Dominique Wilkins, Bob McAdoo, Dennis Rodman, Jason Kidd, and Yao Ming
Bernard King merits consideration; based upon his unstoppable offensive barrage. His injury robbed him of some explosiveness, but did not stop him from scoring at a high level.
I like your list. Personally, I'd consider Kawhi, Harden, Kidd, Dwight and Westbrook locks. Kawhi has a case as a top-30 all-time player (multiple-time Finals MVP); the other 4 just have an incredible statistical body of work despite never leading a team to a title. You could make the case for AD as a lock, as well, but that case will probably be stronger 3-5 years from now.
The real question is who you have to eliminate from the first 50. As an old fart, there are a lot of names there that I think belong in the top 75. I agree with you to keep about 35-40.
Cat 1: MVPs that have been best players on championship teams (aka ultra-locks)
LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Cat 2: MVPs with a long/meaningful career (the D Rose rule)
Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Nikola Jokic
Cat 3: Finals MVPs 5
Kawhi Leonard, Dwyane Wade, Chauncey Billups, Andre Iguodala, Paul Pierce
Cat 4: Once in a lifetime talents and inspiration on their positions for the rest
Chris Paul, Gary Payton, Dennis Rodman, Pau Gasol, Klay Thompson
Cat 5: I don’t know yet how to pick 2 out of this bag :-S
Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Webber, Manu Ginobili, Luka Doncic, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Dame Lillard, Anthony Davis, Vince Carter, Elton Brand, Joe Johnson, LaMarcus Aldridge, Antawn Jamison, Draymond Green, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Paul George, Demar DeRozan, Blake Griffin, Bradley Beal, Kyrie Irving, Ron Artest, Tony Parker, Derrick Rose
Kyrie’s a name I’ll be interested to see if he makes it. He has the game, accolades, and an all-time Finals 3-point shot that make him worthy of inclusion.
Wonder if his tenure, post-Cavs, will cost him, though. He’s never “carried a team” to anywhere close to the Finals. And you could argue that without LeBron, his career might have been seen a lot differently.
Duncan, Kobe, Dirk, KG, Wade, Nash as locks. It would be wise to include The Mitten, The Answer, The Truth, Ray-Ray, Kidd, Reggie Miller. That gives us 12 and if we add Nique and McAdoo, we get to 14 already. I feel pressure to add Vinsanity, but he doesn't really have the accolades. Other very honorable "snubs" for me would be Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Bosh, Draymond Green, Rodman, Ben Wallace, Mourning, T-Mac, Ming, Mutombo and I thought thrice about Rodman and Big Ben.
Because the active list beats them.
You've got Bron, KD, Curry, Giannis, Kawhi, Harden, Russ, CP3. All locks to be in because of their All-NBA nominations, titles, MVPs and other accolades.
That leaves us only three spots. Howard, Melo and... Dame? He will get in the magical 10 All-NBA zone, if he continues on the path he's on. Jokic? Doncic, if we try to assume his next 25 years?
I'd vote for Jokic, honestly, but I get the rationale for Rodman, Vinsanity, Dame or a few others before Big Honey.
Some of the original Top 50 will indeed drop out. I hope to keep at least 40 because I don’t want to just forget players from the past who had incredible careers in their eras. But it’s the same with the official vote … no mandate from the league to keep the top 50.
Its incredible how many greats aren't on the NBA top 50 list because they were just getting started. Over half that list won't crack the top 50 anymore!
Gotta add Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant. Huge Spurs fan here so I would also include Manu. Robert Horry doesn't get on based on performance during the course of an entire season, but he was responsible for so many big shots that made or broke champions from 2000-2009. He's got to be on of those guys you consider if there is only time for one game winner shot. Maybe he is crowded out now by the likes of Klay or Lillard, but he was lethal in the early aughts.
Anthony Davis, Paul Pierce, TMac, Jason Kidd all have to be in consideration. Davis just hasnt done very much compared to the great power forwards of yesteryear.
Add Carmelo and manu, tony Parker, Chris webber, alonzo mourning, bosh, Bernard king, Adrian Dantley to list also I didn’t think of those guys. Also I think most of these notable mentions could replace guys on the originle 50 no disrespect to the legends though.🙏🏽
I really hope Bosh makes it. Incredible career as both a franchise player and then an invaluable 3rd star on an all-time team. Career ended too soon, but he put his stamp on the league nonetheless.
This is can be tough for somebody my age. I'm 38 years old and I started watching and really following the NBA around the 1994-95 season. Looking at some of the older names that are on the Top 50 list is tough to determine if they should be removed or not because I'm not really sure how impactful their contributions were to the league. Especially, when you've had so many first-ballot hall of famers come into the league after 1996 that no doubt deserve to be in the Top 75. Luckily, I was able to come up with 25 names that would allow the Top 50 to remain.
Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Gary Payton, Dennis Rodman, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Anthony Davis, Dominique Wilkins, Bob McAdoo, Dennis Rodman, Jason Kidd, and Yao Ming
Shoot, I added Rodman twice. Replace one Rodman with Pau Gasol.
Joe Ingles! I kid, I kid. I think that Chris Paul deserves some serious consideration.
These are my 25 to add to the original top 50:
1. Tim Duncan
2. Reggie Miller
3. Allen Iverson
4. Jason Kidd
5. Tony Parker
6. Chauncy Billups
7. Steve Nash
8. Kobe Bryant
9. Kevin Garnett
10. Dwyane Wade
11. Dirk Nowitki
12. Paul Pierce
13. LeBron James
14. Pau Gasol
15. Dwight Howard
16. Kevin Durant
17. Russell Westbrook
18. Carmelo Anthony
19. James Harden
20. Kawhi Leonard
21. Stephen Curry
22. Chris Paul
23. Giannis Antetokounmpo
24. Gary Payton
25. Tracy McGrady
Pd. Random order.
These are the ones at the edge:
Kevin Love, Dikembe Mutombo, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Derrick Rose, Chris Webber, Chris Bosh and Grant Hill.
Maybe in 25 years:
Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis.
If you were to add Dominique and Bob McAdoo to NBA@50 who are the two players you would've removed?
Bernard King merits consideration; based upon his unstoppable offensive barrage. His injury robbed him of some explosiveness, but did not stop him from scoring at a high level.
Locks:
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tim Duncan
Dirk Nowitzki
Chris Paul
Allen Iverson
Kevin Durant
Stephen Curry
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kevin Garnett
Dwyane Wade
Steve Nash
Dominique Wilkins
Gary Payton
Probably Making It:
Ray Allen
Kawhi Leonard
James Harden
Carmelo Anthony
Jason Kidd
Paul Pierce
Dwight Howard
Dennis Rodman
I think should make it:
Russell Westbrook
Reggie Miller
Dennis Rodman
Tracy McGrady
Chris Webber
Anthony Davis
Dikembe Mutombo
Probably gonna miss:
Kyrie Irving
Damian Lillard
Nikola Jokic
Joel Embiid
Paul George
Draymond Green
Klay Thompson
Vince Carter
Tony Parker
Manu Ginobili
Derrick Rose
Jimmy Butler
Blake Griffin
Rudy Gobert
That list seems a bit too concentrated on very recent players.
I like your list. Personally, I'd consider Kawhi, Harden, Kidd, Dwight and Westbrook locks. Kawhi has a case as a top-30 all-time player (multiple-time Finals MVP); the other 4 just have an incredible statistical body of work despite never leading a team to a title. You could make the case for AD as a lock, as well, but that case will probably be stronger 3-5 years from now.
Robert Horry….the most important role player in NBA History.
Getting lucky once in a while doesn't make a great player. Good night Robert Horry. Thanks for the memories.
Pau Gasol has to make it. Dirk, Yao, and him were the three biggest international players before Giannis and Luka.
Feels like Paul Pierce and Tony Parker will be underrated but should be on this list.
If Dirk isn't in your list--or the league's list--the list is invalid.
The real question is who you have to eliminate from the first 50. As an old fart, there are a lot of names there that I think belong in the top 75. I agree with you to keep about 35-40.
Cat 1: MVPs that have been best players on championship teams (aka ultra-locks)
LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Cat 2: MVPs with a long/meaningful career (the D Rose rule)
Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Nikola Jokic
Cat 3: Finals MVPs 5
Kawhi Leonard, Dwyane Wade, Chauncey Billups, Andre Iguodala, Paul Pierce
Cat 4: Once in a lifetime talents and inspiration on their positions for the rest
Chris Paul, Gary Payton, Dennis Rodman, Pau Gasol, Klay Thompson
Cat 5: I don’t know yet how to pick 2 out of this bag :-S
Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Webber, Manu Ginobili, Luka Doncic, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Dame Lillard, Anthony Davis, Vince Carter, Elton Brand, Joe Johnson, LaMarcus Aldridge, Antawn Jamison, Draymond Green, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Paul George, Demar DeRozan, Blake Griffin, Bradley Beal, Kyrie Irving, Ron Artest, Tony Parker, Derrick Rose
Kyrie’s a name I’ll be interested to see if he makes it. He has the game, accolades, and an all-time Finals 3-point shot that make him worthy of inclusion.
Wonder if his tenure, post-Cavs, will cost him, though. He’s never “carried a team” to anywhere close to the Finals. And you could argue that without LeBron, his career might have been seen a lot differently.
From retired players, the choice would be:
Duncan, Kobe, Dirk, KG, Wade, Nash as locks. It would be wise to include The Mitten, The Answer, The Truth, Ray-Ray, Kidd, Reggie Miller. That gives us 12 and if we add Nique and McAdoo, we get to 14 already. I feel pressure to add Vinsanity, but he doesn't really have the accolades. Other very honorable "snubs" for me would be Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Bosh, Draymond Green, Rodman, Ben Wallace, Mourning, T-Mac, Ming, Mutombo and I thought thrice about Rodman and Big Ben.
Because the active list beats them.
You've got Bron, KD, Curry, Giannis, Kawhi, Harden, Russ, CP3. All locks to be in because of their All-NBA nominations, titles, MVPs and other accolades.
That leaves us only three spots. Howard, Melo and... Dame? He will get in the magical 10 All-NBA zone, if he continues on the path he's on. Jokic? Doncic, if we try to assume his next 25 years?
I'd vote for Jokic, honestly, but I get the rationale for Rodman, Vinsanity, Dame or a few others before Big Honey.
Some of the original Top 50 will indeed drop out. I hope to keep at least 40 because I don’t want to just forget players from the past who had incredible careers in their eras. But it’s the same with the official vote … no mandate from the league to keep the top 50.
In addition to the big names, Please consider Ben Wallace
Its incredible how many greats aren't on the NBA top 50 list because they were just getting started. Over half that list won't crack the top 50 anymore!
Dennis Rodman has to be in that list. One of the greatest defensive players of all time.
I had forgotten Rodman wasn’t on the top 50 list. He’s a must, for sure.
Duncan, Shaq, Garnett, Dirk, Giannis, Lebron, Durant, Kawhi, D-Wade, Harden, Kobe, CP3, Curry
Grant Hill would be an automatic had it not been for those major injuries he had after he got to the Magic
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tim Duncan
Dominique wilkins
Gary Payton
Kevin Garnett
Dwayne Wade
Kawhi Leonard
James harden
Paul Pierce
Allen Iverson
Stephen Curry
Kevin Durant
Chris Paul
Ray Allen
Reggie miller
Klay Thompson
Russell Westbrook
Steve Nash
Dirk Nowitzki
Kyrie Irving
Jason Kidd
Anthony Davis
Dwight Howard
Giannis antatekounpo
Notable mentions I can think of Tracy McGrady, Vince, Dumars, Rodman, grant hill, drose.
please don't forget Dirk 🙂
I see you, @Holger. 🤪
If Shaq made it to the original list in 1996 as a fourth year player, I don't see why someone like Luka Doncic can (also entering his 4th season)
LeBron, Duncan, Wade, Garnett, Bryant, Nash, Dirk, Giannis, Paul, Allen, Pierce, Gasol, Kawhi, Curry, Durant, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Bosh, Manu, Kidd, Lillard, Iverson, Billups, Anthony Davis, Jokic
Gotta add Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant. Huge Spurs fan here so I would also include Manu. Robert Horry doesn't get on based on performance during the course of an entire season, but he was responsible for so many big shots that made or broke champions from 2000-2009. He's got to be on of those guys you consider if there is only time for one game winner shot. Maybe he is crowded out now by the likes of Klay or Lillard, but he was lethal in the early aughts.
Kevin Durant
Dirk Nowitzki
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Kobe Bryant
Jason Kidd
Gary Payton
Allen Iverson
Steve Nash
Dwyane Wade
Lebron James
Chris Paul
Carmelo Anthony
Tony Parker
Pau Gasol
Russell Westbrook
James Harden
Damian Lillard
Steph Curry
Giannis A
Luka Doncic
Kawhi Leonard
Nikola Jokic
Anthony Davis, Paul Pierce, TMac, Jason Kidd all have to be in consideration. Davis just hasnt done very much compared to the great power forwards of yesteryear.
Not sure about T-Mac. As great of a scorer he was, he never impacted winning
I tend to agree. I think you can get to 20 players pretty easy then it's a matter of preference.
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tim Duncan
Dominique wilkins
Gary Payton
Kevin Garnett
Dwayne Wade
Kawhi Leonard
James harden
Paul Pierce
Allen Iverson
Stephen Curry
Kevin Durant
Chris Paul
Ray Allen
Reggie miller
Klay Thompson
Russell Westbrook
Steve Nash
Dirk Nowitzki
Kyrie Irving
Jason Kidd
Anthony Davis
Dwight Howard
Giannis antatekounpo
Notable mentions I can think of Tracy McGrady, Vince, Dumars, Rodman, grant hill, drose.
Add Carmelo and manu, tony Parker, Chris webber, alonzo mourning, bosh, Bernard king, Adrian Dantley to list also I didn’t think of those guys. Also I think most of these notable mentions could replace guys on the originle 50 no disrespect to the legends though.🙏🏽
I really feel like Bill Walton needs to be removed from the original list. His career worsen with those major injuries and was never the same again.
This is great everybody. I am going to read every single comment
i feel like LeBron, Durant, Nash, Kobe, Iverson, Wade, Carmelo, Curry, CP3, Duncan, Garnett, Dirk, Giannis, and Kawhii should be the new people added
LOCKS:
Lebron
Duncan
Kobe
Durant
Curry
Harden
Dwayne Wade
Dirk Nowitzki
Iverson
Kevin Garnett
Jason Kidd
Steve Nash
Chris Paul
NEXT GROUP (not necessarily in order):
Giannis
Dominique Wilkens
Carmelo Anthony
Reggie Miller
Gary Payton
Westbrook
Kawhi Leonard
Paul Pierce
Ray Allen
Tracy McGrady
Chris Bosh
Grant Hill
Pau Gasol
Dwight Howard
Bernard King
Chris Mullin
Adrian Dantley
Dennis Rodman
Alonzo Mourning
Chris Webber
Spencer Haywood
I really hope Bosh makes it. Incredible career as both a franchise player and then an invaluable 3rd star on an all-time team. Career ended too soon, but he put his stamp on the league nonetheless.
Curry, Kobe, Nash, Duncan, Dirk and Manu
Lebron, Durant, Curry, Kobe, Dirk, Duncan, Iverson, CP3, Harden, Westbrook, Wade, Kawhi, Garnett, Giannis (?),
Add: Melo, Dwight, Manu, Draymond, Klay, JKidd, Nash, Dominique, McAdoo, Reggie Miller
Just in doing the list, there’s going to be some really good players squeezed out, if you keep all the original 50.
I didn’t realize Reggie Miller and JKidd didn’t make the list so I added them along with Nique & McAdoo to get you 25 players.
Manu gotta be there!
Manu over Parker and Klay gotta be on the list. That’s my only requirements