Look, basketball fans love to argue. It’s basically our national pastime. But when the league dropped the nba 75 greatest players list back in 2021, the internet didn't just argue—it kind of melted down.
I remember watching the reveal during that 75th anniversary season. It was supposed to be this pristine, golden celebration of hoops history. Instead, we got a 76-man list (thanks to a tie) that felt like it was designed in a lab to trigger every Warriors fan and Dwight Howard stan on the planet.
Why the NBA 75 Greatest Players List Still Stings
The weirdest thing about this list? All 50 players from the 1996 "Top 50" team were automatically grandfathered in. Well, "automatically" is a strong word, but they all made it. Voters like Howard Beck have since admitted they felt a massive amount of pressure to not "disrespect" the legends of the 50s and 60s.
But honestly, that’s where the logic starts to get a bit shaky. If you're picking the 75 best to ever lace them up, can you really tell me with a straight face that every single player from 1996 is better than Klay Thompson or Draymond Green?
It’s a tough sell.
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The Elephant in the Room: Dwight Howard
If there is one name that defines the "snub" category, it’s Dwight. The man is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He dragged a Magic team to the Finals past LeBron James. He’s an eight-time All-Star.
And yet? Nothing.
Some people say it’s because he wasn't "popular" with the media or his peers. Others think his late-career journeyman phase soured the memory of "Prime Dwight." Whatever the reason, leaving a first-ballot Hall of Famer off the nba 75 greatest players list while including guys who played when the league had eight teams is... a choice.
Who Actually Made the Cut?
The list isn't just about who didn't make it. The 11 active players included at the time represent the absolute peak of the modern era. We’re talking:
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- LeBron James (Duh.)
- Kevin Durant
- Stephen Curry
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (The youngest on the list at 27)
- Kawhi Leonard
- Damian Lillard
- Anthony Davis
- James Harden
- Russell Westbrook
- Chris Paul
- Carmelo Anthony
Lillard and Davis were the two names that got the most heat. People pointed to Dame’s lack of a ring or AD’s injury history. But when you look at the raw talent and the way Dame revolutionized deep-range shooting, it’s hard to stay mad for long. He’s a cold-blooded killer on the court.
Breaking Down the "New" Legends
Since 1996, the game changed. We saw the rise of the international superstar. We saw the three-point revolution. The voters had to find room for 26 new names (again, because of that tie).
Aside from the active guys, we saw legends like Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett finally take their rightful spots. It’s almost hard to believe Kobe wasn't on the original 50 list, but then you realize he was a rookie when that came out. Time flies.
We also saw the "correction" of the two biggest snubs from '96: Dominique Wilkins and Bob McAdoo. Watching "The Human Highlight Film" finally get his jacket was probably the highlight of the whole ceremony for most old-school fans.
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The Problem with Comparing Eras
You’ve got guys on this list who played in Chuck Taylors and others who have custom-molded, carbon-fiber sneakers.
How do you compare George Mikan to Shaquille O'Neal? You basically can't. Mikan was dominant against guys who had summer jobs as accountants. Shaq was dominant against actual giants.
The nba 75 greatest players list tries to bridge that gap by focusing on "greatness" rather than just "who would win 1-on-1." Greatness is about how you dominated your own time. Bill Russell won 11 rings. You can't take that away from him just because he didn't have a step-back three.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you’re looking to dive deeper into how these rankings work or want to build your own "Top 75" without the legacy bias, here is how you should actually look at the data:
- Focus on Peak vs. Longevity: Some players (like Bill Walton) made the list because their "peak" was so high it couldn't be ignored, despite a short career. Others (like Robert Parish) made it because they were elite for twenty years.
- Ignore the "Tie": The 76th player was never officially named, but the math suggests it was a deadlock at the very bottom of the ballot. Treat the list as a living document.
- Watch the Tape: Don't just look at Basketball Reference. Go watch 1970s Wes Unseld or 1950s Bob Pettit. You’ll realize these guys were athletes, even if the footage is grainy.
- Track the "Next 25": With the 100th anniversary coming up in 2046 (a long way off, I know), start thinking about who has already played their way onto that list. Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic are already locks.
The nba 75 greatest players list is a snapshot of how the league viewed itself in 2021. It’s flawed, it’s biased toward the Lakers and Celtics, and it’s missing some serious defensive hardware. But it’s also the best roadmap we have for the history of the game.
The best way to respect the list is to keep arguing about it. That's what the players would want anyway.