The NBA turned 75, and they gave us a list. It wasn't just a list; it was a 76-man battleground of legacies. Why 76? Because of a tie.
Honestly, the NBA top 75 players ranking is basically the sports world's version of a family Thanksgiving argument. Everyone has an opinion, and almost everyone is slightly annoyed. You've got the old-school purists shouting about George Mikan and the "new age" fans wondering how on earth Dwight Howard didn't make the cut while Anthony Davis did.
It’s messy. It’s glorious. And frankly, it’s a bit of a headache if you look too closely at the numbers.
The Logic (or Lack Thereof) Behind the List
When the league dropped this list in 2021, they used a "blue-ribbon" panel. Media members, former players, and coaches. Sounds official, right? But here is the kicker: they didn’t actually rank them. They just dumped 76 names into a pile.
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ESPN later stepped in to do the dirty work of ranking them 1 through 76. That’s where the real fire started. Michael Jordan at number one? Sure. LeBron James at two? Mostly accepted. But then you get into the weeds of the top 10.
Kobe Bryant often sits at number 10 in these rankings, which feels like a slap in the face to anyone who lived through the "Mamba" era. You’re telling me Oscar Robertson—who was incredible, don’t get me wrong—ranks higher than the guy who won five rings and dropped 81 in a game? It’s these types of era-spanning comparisons that make the NBA top 75 players ranking so polarizing.
The Snubs That Still Sting in 2026
You cannot talk about this list without mentioning Dwight Howard. It’s the elephant in the room.
Dwight is an eight-time All-Star. He’s a five-time All-NBA First Team selection. Most importantly, he won Defensive Player of the Year three times in a row. No one else has ever done that. Yet, he watched from the couch while guys with half his resume were fitted for their diamond jackets.
Klay Thompson is another one. The man is one-half of the greatest shooting duo in history. He has four rings. He once scored 37 points in a single quarter. Klay actually posted on Instagram about how "salty" he was, and honestly, you can't blame him.
- Dwight Howard: 3x DPOY, 5x All-NBA First Team (Left off)
- Anthony Davis: 0x DPOY, 4x All-NBA First Team (Included)
- Damian Lillard: 0x Rings, 1x All-NBA First Team at the time (Included)
The inclusion of active players like Lillard and Davis over established legends like Howard or even Tracy McGrady suggests the voters were looking at "peak" talent rather than "total" career value. It’s a classic debate: do you want a guy who was a supernova for five years or a guy who was a steady star for fifteen?
Why the Top 10 Never Changes
There is a "God Tier" in basketball. Kareem, MJ, LeBron, Russell, Wilt, Magic, Bird, Duncan, Kobe, and Shaq.
These ten men are basically cemented into the floor of the Hall of Fame. The only thing people argue about is the order. Some people think Bill Russell’s 11 rings should make him the GOAT. Others argue that Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game and 50-points-per-game season make him a literal god among men.
But if we’re being real, the top of the NBA top 75 players ranking is a closed club. For someone like Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo to break into that top 10, they don’t just need rings. They need a decade of dominance. Giannis made the list as an active player, which was a huge statement. He was only 26 at the time. That tells you everything you need to know about his trajectory.
The "Old Head" Bias vs. Recency Bias
The NBA made a specific choice to keep all 50 players from the 1996 "50 Greatest" list. This was a mistake.
Think about it. The game has changed so much since 1996. By keeping every single player from the 50th-anniversary list, the league essentially said that no one from the early days of the league could ever be surpassed. Is Dolph Schayes actually "greater" than Kyrie Irving or Vince Carter?
Statistically? No.
Impact-wise? Probably not.
But the league respects its elders. That’s why you see names like Dave Bing or Lenny Wilkens. They were pioneers. However, when you’re trying to find the 75 "best" to ever play, the "pioneer" argument starts to feel a bit thin. You end up with a list that is half a history lesson and half a talent ranking. It tries to be both and occasionally fails at both.
How to Actually Evaluate These Rankings
If you want to look at the NBA top 75 players ranking without getting an aneurysm, you have to categorize them. Don’t compare Steph Curry to Bob Cousy. It’s like comparing a Tesla to a Ford Model T. Both were revolutionary, but they aren't playing the same sport.
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- The Pioneers: Mikan, Pettit, Cousy. They built the house.
- The Transition Era: Kareem, Dr. J, Moses Malone. They made the league cool.
- The Global Icons: MJ, Magic, Bird. They made the league rich.
- The Modern Titans: LeBron, Kobe, Steph, KD. They broke the game.
When you look at it through those lenses, the snubs make more sense. The voters weren't just looking at who would win a 1-on-1 game in a gym today. They were looking at who "mattered" most to the story of the NBA.
What’s Next for the NBA 100?
We are already looking toward the 100th anniversary. By then, the NBA top 75 players ranking will be obsolete.
Luka Doncic will be on it. Nikola Jokic will likely be in the top 15. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama are already carving out their spots. The real question is: who gets kicked off? If the NBA continues the tradition of never removing anyone, the "Top 100" will just be the "Top 75" with 25 new names.
That feels like a cop-out. To truly honor the greatest, the league eventually has to make the hard choice to admit that some players from the 1950s simply weren't as good as the stars of the 2020s.
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Your Move: How to Use This Knowledge
Stop taking the "official" ranking as gospel. If you're building your own list, look at "Win Shares" and "Player Efficiency Rating" (PER) alongside the rings. But don't ignore the eye test. A guy like Allen Iverson might not have the "advanced stats" of a modern point guard, but his influence on the culture and the way the game is played is immeasurable.
Actionable Insight: If you want to dive deeper, compare the "All-NBA" selections of the players on the list versus those left off. You’ll find that Howard and McGrady have more First-Team selections than several players who actually made the Top 75. Use that data the next time you're arguing at the sports bar. It’s the only way to win.