NBA unveils the list of 75 greatest and best players in NBA history as it celebrates its 75th anniversary

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NBA unveiled the list of 75 greatest and best players in NBA history as it celebrates its 75th anniversary

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The NBA celebrates its 75th anniversary during the 2021/22 season unveiling the best and greatest players in the history

The NBA celebrates its 75th anniversary during the 2021/22 season and part of this celebration includes the unveiling of the roster of the 75 greatest and best players in NBA history (consisting of 76 players due to tie-in votes).

It’s been 25 years since the league unveiled its list of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, which provided the idea for celebrating the NBA’s 50th anniversary in 1996.

During the 1997 NBA All-Star Game halftime in Cleveland, 47 of the team’s 50 members were personally honoured. 2022 All-Star Game is once again slated to return to Cleveland as a nod to that time.

How The NBA’s 75th-anniversary team selection and ranking was done

The NBA’s 75th-anniversary team was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media, current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives. As a result of a tie in the voting, the 75th-anniversary team includes 76 players.

Top 7 NBA 75 most notable ranked legends (Ranking list of the most notable legends in order of their alphabetical order)

The NBA’s Top 75 marks its fourth time selecting a group of legends in alignment with a landmark anniversary.

The SI’s 5 NBA Crossover staff, Howard Beck, Chris Herring, Michael Pina, Rohan Nadkarni, and Jeremy Woo, and ESPN’s NBA insiders/experts Kirk Goldsberry Jorge Sedano Ramona Shelburne Marc Spears Brian Windhorst identified 10 best and greatest NBA players as each tried to name his top 5 best and greatest (best of the best) NBA players of all time in the 75th Anniversary of the sports entertainment:

1. Michael Jordan

2. LeBron James

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

4. Bill Russell

5. Tim Duncan

6. Magic Johnson

7. Larry Bird

8. Kobe Bryant

9. Wilt Chamberlain

10. Hakeem Olajuwon

NBA 75 Anniversary Ranking List in Order (NBA 75 Ranked)

The NBA 75 Anniversary ‘Ranking List in Order’ was not observed as many fans would love, but were arranged in alphabetical order of their first names

Anthony Davis

Statistics: 23.9 Points Per Game – PPG, 10.2 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 2.3 Assists Per Game – APG in nine seasons with New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2012-13 to 2018-19) and Los Angeles Lakers (2019-20 to 2020-21)*.

Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, 2017 All-Star Most Valuable Player MVP, three-time blocks champ, 2020 NBA champion.

Bill Russell

Statistics: 15.1 Points Per Game (PPG), 22.5 Rebounds Per Game (RPG), 4.3 Assists Per Game (APG) in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics (1956-57 to 1968-69).

Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, five-time MVP, 1963 All-Star Most Valuable Player – MVP, four-time rebounding champ, 11-time NBA champion.

Bill Sharman

Statistics: 17.8 Points Per Game – PPG, 3.9 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 3.0 Assists Per Game- APG in 11 seasons with Washington Capitols (1950-51) and Boston Celtics (1951-52 to 1960-61).

Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1955 All-Star MVP, four-time NBA champ.

Bill Walton

Statistics: 13.3 Points Per Game – PPG, 10.5 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 3.4 Assists Per Game – 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).

Accomplishments: Two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, 1977-78 Most Valuable Player – MVP, 1977 Finals Most Valuable Player – MVP, 1985-86 Sixth Man of the Year, 1976-77 rebounding champ, 1976-77 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion.

Billy Cunningham

Statistics: 20.8 Points Per Game – PPG, 10.1 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 4.0 Assists Per Game – APG in nine seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1965-66 to 1971-72; 1974-75 to 1975-76); also played two ABA seasons with Carolina Cougars (1972-73 to 1973-74).

Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 1967 NBA champion.

Bob Cousy

Statistics: 18.4 Points Per Game – PPG, 5.2 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 7.5 Assists Per Game = APG in 14 seasons with Boston Celtics (1950-51 to 1962-63) and Cincinnati Royals (1969-70).

Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, eight-time assists champ, 1956-57 Most Valuable Player – MVP, two-time All-Star Most Valuable Player – MVP, six-time NBA champion.

Bob Pettit

Statistics: 26.4 Points Per Game (PPG), 16.2 Rebounds Per Game (RPG), 3.0 Assists Per Game (APG) in 11 seasons with Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954-55 to 1964-65).

Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), four-time All-Star Most Valuable Player – MVP, two-time scoring champ, 1958 NBA champion.

Carmelo Anthony

Statistics: 23.0 Points Per Game – PPG, 6.3 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 2.8 Assists Per Game – 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: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ.

Charles Barkley

Statistics: 22.1 Points Per Game – PPG, 11.7 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 3.9 Assists Per Game – APG in 16 seasons with Philadelphia 76ers (1984-85 to 1991-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-93 to 1995-96), and Houston Rockets (1996-97 to 1999-00).

Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, 1992-93 Most Valuable Player – MVP, 1991 All-Star Most Valuable Player – MVP, 1986-87 rebounding champ.

Chris Paul

Statistics: 18.3 Points Per Game PPG, 4.5 Rebounds Per Game RPG, 9.4 APG in 16 seasons with New Orleans Hornets (2005-06 to 2010-11), LA Clippers (2011-12 to 2016-17), Houston Rockets (2017-18 to 2018-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20) and Phoenix Suns (2020-21)*.

Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive Team, 2013 All-Star Most Valuable Player MVP, 2005-06 Rookie of the Year, six-time steals champ, four-time assists champ.

Clyde Drexler

Statistics: 20.4 Points Per Game PPG, 6.1 Rebounds Per Game RPG, 5.6 Assists Per Game APG in 15 seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (1983-84 to 1994-95) and Houston Rockets (1994-95 to 1997-98).

Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 1995 NBA champion.

Damian Lillard

Statistics: 24.7 Points Per Game PPG, 4.2 Rebounds Per Game RPG, 6.6 Assists Per Game APG in nine seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (2012-13 to 2020-21)*.

Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 Rookie of the Year.

Dave Bing

Statistics: 20.3 Points Per Game – PPG, 3.8 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 6.0 Assists Per Game – APG in 12 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1966-67 to 1974-75), Washington Bullets (1975-76 to 1976-77), and Boston Celtics (1977-78).

Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA, 1966-67 Rookie of the Year, 1976 All-Star Most Valuable Player – MVP, 1967-68 scoring champ.

Dave Cowens

Statistics: 17.6 Points Per Game – PPG, 13.6 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 3.8 Assists Per Game – APG in 11 seasons with Boston Celtics (1970-71 to 1979-80) and Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83).

Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 1972-73 MVP, 1973 All-Star Most Valuable Player – MVP, 1970-71 Rookie of the Year, two-time NBA champion.

Dave DeBusschere

Statistics: 16.1 Points Per Game PPG, 11.0 Rebounds Per Game RPG, 2.9 Assists Per Game APG in 12 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1962-63 to 1968-69) and New York Knicks (1968-69 to 1973-74).

Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA, six-time All-Defensive team, two-time NBA champion.

David Robinson

Statistics: 21.1 Points Per Game PPG, 10.6 Rebounds Per Game RPG, 3.0 BPG in 14 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1989-90 to 2002-03).

Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1994-95 Most Valuable Player MVP, 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year, 1989-90 Rookie of the Year, 1993-94 scoring champ, 1990-91 rebounding champ, 1991-92 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion.

Dennis Rodman

Statistics: 7.3 Points Per Game PPG, 13.1 Rebounds Per Game 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: Two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, seven-time rebounding champ, five-time NBA champion.

Dirk Nowitzki

Statistics: 20.7 Points Per Game PPG, 7.5 Rebounds Per Game RPG, 2.4 Assists Per Game APG in 21 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1998-99 to 2018-19).

Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 2006-07 Most Valuable Player MVP, 2011 Finals Most Valuable Player MVP, 2011 NBA champion.

Dolph Schayes

StatIstics: 18.5 Points Per Game – PPG, 12.1 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 3.1 Assists Per Game – APG in 15 seasons with Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1949-50 to 1963-64).

Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 1950-51 rebounding champ, 1955 NBA champion.

Dominique Wilkins

Statistics: 24.8 Points Per Game – PPG, 6.7 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 2.5 Assists Per Game – APG in 15 seasons with Atlanta Hawks (1982-83 to 1993-94), LA Clippers (1993-94), Boston Celtics (1994-95), San Antonio Spurs (1996-97) and Orlando Magic (1998-99).

Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1985-86 scoring champ.

1968-69 Rookie of the Year, 1978 Finals MVP, 1974-75 rebounding champ, 1978 NBA champion.

Dwyane Wade

Statistics: 22.0 Points Per Game – PPG, 4.7 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 5.4 Assists Per Game – APG in 16 seasons with Miami Heat (2003-04 to 2015-16; 2017-18 to 2018-19), Chicago Bulls (2016-17) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18).

Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive team, 2006 Finals MVP, 2010 All-Star Most Valuable Player – MVP, 2008-09 scoring champ, three-time NBA champion.

Elgin Baylor

Stats: 27.4 Points Per Game – PPG, 13.5 Rebounds Per Game – RPG, 4.3 Assists Per Game – APG in 14 seasons with Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1958-59 to 1971-72).

Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, 1958-59 Rookie of the Year, 1959 All-Star Most Valuable Player – MVP.

Read on from ESPN

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