50 Greatest Players in NBA History

The 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, also referred to as NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, were chosen in 1996 to honor the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was the third anniversary team in the league.[1] Fifty players were selected through a vote by a panel of media members, former players and coaches, and current and former general managers. In addition, the top ten head coaches and top ten single-season teams in NBA history were selected by media members as part of the celebration.[2] The 50 players had to have played at least a portion of their careers in the NBA and were selected irrespective of position played.

The list was announced by NBA commissioner David Stern on October 29, 1996, at the hotel Grand Hyatt New York, the site of the Commodore Hotel, where the original NBA charter was signed in 1946. The announcement marked the beginning of a season-long celebration of the league's anniversary.[2] Forty-seven of the fifty players were later assembled in Cleveland, during the halftime ceremony of the 1997 All-Star Game.[2][nb 1] At the time of the announcement, 11 players were active; all have subsequently retired.

Players selected

List

Eleven players (Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Robert Parish, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton) were active in the 1996–97 season, during which the list was announced.[4] All have since retired. O'Neal was the last to be active in the NBA, retiring at the end of the 2010–11 season. All of the selected players have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. At the time of the list, only Pete Maravich was deceased.[5]

All 11 members from the 35th anniversary team were selected.[5] Eight of the 10 players from the 25th anniversary team were chosen, with Bob Davies and Joe Fulks—who both last played in the 1950s—being omitted.[6]

Key
Italics Denotes player who was active in the NBA at the time of induction
All Star Denotes number of All-Star appearances
HOF Year Denotes year of Basketball Hall of Fame induction
GGuardFForwardCCenter
PosPositionPtsPointsRebRebounds
AstAssistsMVPMost Valuable Player
Name Team(s) played for (years)[a] Pos Pts Reb Ast Championships won[b] MVP won Finals MVP won All Star HOF Year Ref.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989)		 C 38,387 17,440 5,660 6 (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) 6 (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980) 2 (1971, 1985) 19 1995 [7]
Nate Archibald Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha / Kansas City Kings (1970–1976)
New York Nets (1976–1977)
Boston Celtics (1978–1983)
Milwaukee Bucks (1983–1984)		 G 16,481 2,046 6,476 1 (1981) None None 6 1991 [8]
Paul Arizin Philadelphia Warriors (1950–1952, 1954–1962) F 16,266 6,129 1,665 1 (1956) None None 10 1978 [9]
Charles Barkley Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000)		 F 23,757 12,546 4,215 None 1 (1993) None 11 2006 [10]
Rick Barry San Francisco / Golden State Warriors (1965–1967, 1972–1978)
Houston Rockets (1978–1980)		 F 18,395 5,168 4,017 1 (1975) None 1 (1975) 8 1987 [11]
Elgin Baylor Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers (1958–1971) F 23,149 11,463 3,650 None None None 11 1977 [12]
Dave Bing Detroit Pistons (1966–1975)
Washington Bullets (1975–1977)
Boston Celtics (1977–1978)		 G 18,327 3,420 5,397 None None None 7 1990 [13]
Larry Bird Boston Celtics (1979–1992) F 21,791 8,974 5,695 3 (1981, 1984, 1986) 3 (1984, 1985, 1986) 2 (1984, 1986) 12 1998 [14]
Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors (1959–1965)
Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)
Los Angeles Lakers (1968–1973)		 C 31,419 23,924 4,643 2 (1967, 1972) 4 (1960, 1966, 1967, 1968) 1 (1972) 13 1979 [15]
Bob Cousy Boston Celtics (1950–1963)
Cincinnati Royals (1969–1970)		 G 16,960 4,786 6,955 6 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963) 1 (1957) None 13 1971 [16]
Dave Cowens Boston Celtics (1970–1980)
Milwaukee Bucks (1982–1983)		 C 13,516 10,444 2,910 2 (1974, 1976) 1 (1973) None 7 1991 [17]
Billy Cunningham Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1972, 1974–1976) F 13,626 6,638 2,625 1 (1967) None None 4 1986 [18]
Dave DeBusschere Detroit Pistons (1962–1968)
New York Knicks (1968–1974)		 F 14,053 9,618 2,497 2 (1970, 1973) None None 8 1983 [19]
Clyde Drexler Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998)		 G 22,195 6,677 6,125 1 (1995) None None 10 2004 [20]
Julius Erving Philadelphia 76ers (1976–1987) F 18,364 5,601 3,224 1 (1983) 1 (1981) None 11 1993 [21]
Patrick Ewing New York Knicks (1985–2000)
Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)
Orlando Magic (2001–2002)		 C 24,815 11,607 2,215 None None None 11 2008 [22]
Walt Frazier New York Knicks (1967–1977)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1977–1979)		 G 15,581 4,830 5,040 2 (1970, 1973) None None 7 1987 [23]
George Gervin San Antonio Spurs (1976–1985)
Chicago Bulls (1985–1986)		 G 20,708 3,607 2,214 None None None 9 1996 [24]
Hal Greer Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers (1958–1973) G 21,586 5,665 4,540 1 (1967) None None 10 1982 [25]
John Havlicek Boston Celtics (1962–1978) F/G 26,395 8,007 6,114 8 (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976) None 1 (1974) 13 1984 [26]
Elvin Hayes San Diego / Houston Rockets (1968–1972, 1981–1984)
Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets (1972–1981)		 F/C 27,313 16,279 2,398 1 (1978) None None 12 1990 [27]
Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers (1979–1991, 1996) G 17,707 6,559 10,141 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) 3 (1987, 1989, 1990) 3 (1980, 1982, 1987) 12 2002 [28]
Sam Jones Boston Celtics (1957–1969) G 15,411 4,305 2,209 10 (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) None None 5 1984 [29]
Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998)
Washington Wizards (2001–2003)		 G 32,292 6,672 5,633 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) 5 (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) 14 2009 [30]
Jerry Lucas Cincinnati Royals (1963–1969)
San Francisco Warriors (1969–1971)
New York Knicks (1971–1974)		 F 14,053 12,942 2,732 1 (1973) None None 7 1980 [31]
Karl Malone Utah Jazz (1985–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004)		 F 36,928 14,968 5,248 None 2 (1997, 1999) None 14 2010 [32]
Moses Malone Buffalo Braves (1976)
Houston Rockets (1976–1982)
Philadelphia 76ers (1982–1986, 1993–1994)
Washington Bullets (1986–1988)
Atlanta Hawks (1988–1991)
Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1993)
San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995)		 C 27,409 16,212 1,796 1 (1983) 3 (1979, 1982, 1983) 1 (1983) 12 2001 [33]
Pete Maravich Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974)
New Orleans / Utah Jazz (1974–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980)		 G 15,948 2,747 3,563 None None None 5 1987 [34]
Kevin McHale Boston Celtics (1980–1993) F 17,335 7,122 1,670 3 (1981, 1984, 1986) None None 7 1999 [35]
George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers (1948–1954, 1956) C 10,156 4,167 1,245 5 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) None None 4 1959 [36]
Earl Monroe Baltimore Bullets (1967–1971)
New York Knicks (1971–1980)		 G 17,454 2,796 3,594 1 (1973) None None 4 1990 [37]
Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002)		 C 26,946 13,748 3,058 2 (1994, 1995) 1 (1994) 2 (1994, 1995) 12 2008 [38]
Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic (1992–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)
Miami Heat (2004–2008)
Phoenix Suns (2008–2009)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2009–2010)
Boston Celtics (2010–2011)		 C 28,596 13,099 3,026 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006) 1 (2000) 3 (2000, 2001, 2002) 15 2016 [39]
Robert Parish Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980–1994)
Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)
Chicago Bulls (1996–1997)		 C 23,334 14,715 2,180 4 (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997) None None 9 2003 [40]
Bob Pettit Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks (1954–1965) F 20,880 12,849 2,369 1 (1958) 2 (1956, 1959) None 11 1971 [41]
Scottie Pippen Chicago Bulls (1987–1998, 2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003)		 F 18,940 7,494 6,135 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) None None 7 2010 [42]
Willis Reed New York Knicks (1964–1974) C/F 12,183 8,414 1,186 2 (1970, 1973) 1 (1970) 2 (1970, 1973) 7 1982 [43]
Oscar Robertson Cincinnati Royals (1960–1970)
Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974)		 G 26,710 7,804 9,887 1 (1971) 1 (1964) None 12 1980 [44]
David Robinson San Antonio Spurs (1989–2003) C 20,790 10,497 2,441 2 (1999, 2003) 1 (1995) None 10 2009 [45]
Bill Russell Boston Celtics (1956–1969) C 14,522 21,620 4,100 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) 5 (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965) None 12 1975 [46]
Dolph Schayes Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers (1949–1964) F 18,438 11,256 3,072 1 (1955) None None 12 1973 [47]
Bill Sharman Washington Capitols (1950–1951)
Boston Celtics (1951–1961)		 G 12,665 2,779 2,101 4 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961) None None 8 1976 [48]
John Stockton Utah Jazz (1984–2003) G 19,711 4,051 15,806 None None None 10 2009 [49]
Isiah Thomas Detroit Pistons (1981–1994) G 18,822 3,478 9,061 2 (1989, 1990) None 1 (1990) 12 2000 [50]
Nate Thurmond San Francisco / Golden State Warriors (1963–1974)
Chicago Bulls (1974–1975)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1975–1977)		 C 14,437 14,464 2,575 None None None 7 1985 [51]
Wes Unseld Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets (1968–1981) C 10,624 13,769 3,822 1 (1978) 1 (1969) 1 (1978) 5 1988 [52]
Bill Walton Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1979)
San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers (1979–1985)
Boston Celtics (1985–1988)		 C 6,215 4,923 1,590 2 (1977, 1986) 1 (1978) 1 (1977) 2 1993 [53]
Jerry West Los Angeles Lakers (1960–1974) G 25,192 5,366 6,238 1 (1972) None 1 (1969) 14 1980 [54]
Lenny Wilkens St. Louis Hawks (1960−1968)
Seattle SuperSonics (1968–1972)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1972–1974)
Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1975)		 G 17,772 5,030 7,211 None None None 9 1989 [55]
James Worthy Los Angeles Lakers (1982–1994) F 16,320 4,708 2,791 3 (1985, 1987, 1988) None 1 (1988) 7 2003 [56]
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who voted as a player, was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
A white person with brown hair, wearing a gray suit and a blue shirt, smiles.
Larry Bird, who voted as a team representative, was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
A basketball player, wearing a light-colored jersey with the number "13", is holding a basketball in front of another basketball player who is wearing a dark-colored jersey with the number "6".
Bill Russell (left) and Wilt Chamberlain (center), who voted as players, were selected as two of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
A black mustached player who is bald, wearing an earring on his left ear, looks toward the left.
Michael Jordan was active at the time of the announcement of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
A bald, bearded black person looks toward the left, his mouth open.
Shaquille O'Neal was the last active member of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Selection process

The list was made through unranked voting completed by 50 selected panelists. Sixteen of the panelists were former players voting in their roles as players, 13 were members of the print and broadcast news media, and 21 were team representatives: contemporary and former general managers, head coaches, and executives. Of the last group, 13 were former NBA players. Players were prohibited from voting for themselves. Only three voting former players (Bill Bradley, Johnny Kerr, and Bob Lanier) were not selected to the team.

Voters
*Denotes voter who was selected to the 50 Greatest Players list
Voter categoryAs categorized by the NBA
NameVoter category
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*Player
Marv AlbertMedia member
Al AttlesTeam
Red AuerbachTeam
Elgin Baylor*Team
Dave Bing*Player
Larry Bird*Team
Marty BlakeTeam
Fran BlineburyMedia member
Bill BradleyPlayer
Hubie BrownTeam
Wilt Chamberlain*Player
Mitch ChortkoffMedia member
Bob Cousy*Player
Billy Cunningham*Team
Chuck DalyTeam
David DuPreeMedia member
Wayne EmbryTeam
Julius Erving*Player
Joe GilmartinMedia member
Sam GoldaperMedia member
Alex HannumTeam
Lester HarrisonTeam
John Havlicek*Player
Chick HearnMedia member
Red HolzmanTeam
Phil JasnerMedia member
Magic Johnson*Player
Johnny KerrPlayer
Leonard KoppettMedia member
Bob LanierPlayer
Frank LaydenTeam
Leonard LewinMedia member
Jack McCallumMedia member
Dick McGuireTeam
George Mikan*Player
Bob Pettit*Player
Harvey PollackTeam
Jack RamsayTeam
Willis Reed*Team
Oscar Robertson*Player
Bill Russell*Player
Bob RyanMedia member
Dolph Schayes*Player
Bill Sharman*Player
Gene ShueTeam
Isiah Thomas*Team
Wes Unseld*Team
Peter VecseyMedia member
Jerry West*Team

Top 10 Coaches in NBA History
Phil Jackson (left) and Red Auerbach (right) both made the 1996 list of the top ten coaches in NBA history.

Alongside the selection of the 50 greatest players was the selection of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History. The list was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by members of the print and broadcast media who regularly cover the NBA. All 10 coaches named were alive at the time of the list's announcement, and five of them—Bill Fitch, Phil Jackson, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Lenny Wilkens—were then active. Six have since died: Red Holzman in 1998, Red Auerbach in 2006, Chuck Daly in 2009, Jack Ramsay in 2014, John Kundla in 2017, and Bill Fitch in 2022. Jackson was the last of the ten to coach in the NBA; he announced his retirement after the 2010–11 season. Nelson was the only member to have never won a championship as a coach, even though he won five as a player. Wilkens was the only member of the coaches list to have been selected as a member of the players list. All ten coaches are also members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with Fitch the last member inducted in 2019.

Key
Italics Denotes coach who was active in the NBA at the time of induction
Coach Team(s) coached (years)[a] Coaching record Championships won as coach[b] Coach of the Year award(s) won Year of Basketball Hall of Fame induction Ref.
Red AuerbachWashington Capitols (1946–1949)
Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–1950)
Boston Celtics (1950–1966)		 938–479 (.662) 9 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) 1 (1965)1969[57]
Chuck DalyCleveland Cavaliers (1982)
Detroit Pistons (1983–1992)
New Jersey Nets (1992–1994)
Orlando Magic (1997–1999)		 638–437 (.593) 2 (1989, 1990) None1994[58]
Bill FitchCleveland Cavaliers (1970–1979)
Boston Celtics (1979–1983)
Houston Rockets (1983–1988)
New Jersey Nets (1989–1992)
Los Angeles Clippers (1994–1998)		 944–1106 (.460) 1 (1981) 2 (1976, 1980)2019[59]
Red HolzmanMilwaukee / St. Louis Hawks (1954–1956)
New York Knicks (1967–1982)		 696–604 (.535) 2 (1970, 1973) 1 (1970)1986[60]
Phil JacksonChicago Bulls (1989–1998)
Los Angeles Lakers (1999–2004, 2005–2011)		 1155–485 (.704) 11 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) 1 (1996)2007[61]
John KundlaMinneapolis Lakers (1948–1959) 423–302 (.583) 5 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) None1995[62]
Don NelsonMilwaukee Bucks (1976–1987)
Golden State Warriors (1988–1995, 2006–2010)
New York Knicks (1995–1996)
Dallas Mavericks (1997–2005)		 1335–1063 (.557) None 3 (1983, 1985, 1992)2012[63][64]
Jack RamsayPhiladelphia 76ers (1968–1972)
Buffalo Braves (1972–1976)
Portland Trail Blazers (1976–1986)
Indiana Pacers (1986–1988)		 864–783 (.525) 1 (1977) None1992[65]
Pat RileyLos Angeles Lakers (1981–1990)
New York Knicks (1991–1995)
Miami Heat (1995–2003, 2005–2008)		 1210–694 (.636) 5 (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2006) 3 (1990, 1993, 1997)2008[66]
Lenny WilkensSeattle SuperSonics (1969–1972, 1977–1985)
Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1976)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1986–1993)
Atlanta Hawks (1993–2000)
Toronto Raptors (2000–2003)
New York Knicks (2004–2005)		 1332–1155 (.536) 1 (1979) 1 (1994)1998[67]

Top 10 Teams in NBA History

Also included in the NBA's 50th-anniversary celebration was the selection of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History. The list was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by members of the print and broadcast media who regularly cover the NBA. Teams were chosen from among all single-season individual teams. Each team won the NBA championship, and they combined to average 66 wins per season. The 1995–96 Chicago Bulls had, at the moment, the best single-season record in NBA history with 72 wins.

Six out of the 30 NBA franchises (29 franchises at the time of announcement) had a team named to the list; the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers had two teams selected.

Six players were on the roster of two teams on the list—Wilt Chamberlain with the 1966–67 Sixers and 1971–72 Lakers; James Edwards, Dennis Rodman, and John Salley with the 1988–89 Pistons and 1995–96 Bulls; and Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen with the Bulls in both 1991–92 and 1995–96. Three other individuals both played for and coached honored teams, all of whom completed this "double" with a single franchise—K. C. Jones with the Celtics as a player in 1964–65 and coach in 1985–86, Billy Cunningham with the Sixers as a player in 1966–67 and coach in 1982–83, and Pat Riley with the Lakers as a player in 1971–72 and coach in 1986–87. Phil Jackson, head coach of the Bulls from 1989 to 1998, was the only man to coach two teams that made the list. Although Jackson was under contract to the Knicks as a player in their 1969–70 championship season, he did not play that season as he was recovering from spinal fusion surgery.[68]

The Hall of Famers listed for each individual team are solely those inducted as players, and do not include those inducted in other roles. Players whose names are italicized were inducted after the announcement of the ten best teams.

Season Team Record Roster and head coach Players in the
Hall of Fame		 Players on the
50 Greatest Players list		 Ref.
1964–65Boston Celtics 62–18 (.775)Ron Bonham, Mel Counts, John Havlicek, Tom Heinsohn, K. C. Jones, Sam Jones, Willie Naulls, Bevo Nordmann, Bill Russell, Tom Sanders, Larry Siegfried, John Thompson, Gerry Ward, coach Red Auerbach[d] 5 (K. Jones, S. Jones, Heinsohn, Russell, Havlicek)[e] 3 (S. Jones, Russell, Havlicek)[69]
1966–67Philadelphia 76ers 68–13 (.840)Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Costello, Billy Cunningham, Dave Gambee, Hal Greer, Matt Guokas, Luke Jackson, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni, Chet Walker, Bob Weiss, coach Alex Hannum[d] 4 (Greer, Chamberlain, Cunningham, Walker) 3 (Greer, Chamberlain, Cunningham)[70]
1969–70New York Knicks 60–22 (.732)Dick Barnett, Nate Bowman, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Walt Frazier, Bill Hosket, Don May, Willis Reed, Mike Riordan, Cazzie Russell, Dave Stallworth, John Warren, coach Red Holzman[d] 4 (Frazier, Bradley, DeBusschere, Reed) 3 (Frazier, DeBusschere, Reed)[71]
1971–72Los Angeles Lakers 69–13 (.841)Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim Cleamons, LeRoy Ellis, Keith Erickson, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston, Jim McMillian, Pat Riley, Flynn Robinson, John Trapp, Jerry West, coach Bill Sharman[d] 4 (Goodrich, West, Chamberlain, Baylor[f]) 3 (West, Chamberlain, Baylor)[72]
1982–83Philadelphia 76ers 65–17 (.793)J. J. Anderson, Maurice Cheeks, Earl Cureton, Franklin Edwards, Julius Erving, Marc Iavaroni, Clemon Johnson, Reggie Johnson, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, Mark McNamara, Clint Richardson, Russ Schoene, Andrew Toney, coach Billy Cunningham4 (Erving, Malone, Cheeks, Jones) 2 (Erving, Malone)[73]
1985–86Boston Celtics 67–15 (.817)Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle, Dennis Johnson, Greg Kite, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Jerry Sichting, David Thirdkill, Sam Vincent, Bill Walton, Scott Wedman, Sly Williams, coach K. C. Jones 5 (McHale, Bird, Parish, Walton, Johnson) 4 (McHale, Bird, Parish, Walton)[74]
1986–87Los Angeles Lakers 65–17 (.793)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Adrian Branch, Frank Brickowski, Michael Cooper, A. C. Green, Magic Johnson, Wes Matthews, Kurt Rambis, Mike Smrek, Byron Scott, Billy Thompson, Mychal Thompson, James Worthy, coach Pat Riley[d] 3 (Johnson, Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar) 3 (Johnson, Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar)[75]
1988–89Detroit Pistons 63–19 (.768)Mark Aguirre, Adrian Dantley, Darryl Dawkins, Fennis Dembo, Joe Dumars, James Edwards, Steve Harris, Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer, John Long, Rick Mahorn, Pace Mannion, Dennis Rodman, Jim Rowinski, John Salley, Isiah Thomas, Micheal Williams, coach Chuck Daly[d] 4 (Thomas, Dumars, Dantley, Rodman) 1 (Thomas)[76]
1991–92Chicago Bulls 67–15 (.817)B. J. Armstrong, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, Bob Hansen, Craig Hodges, Dennis Hopson, Michael Jordan, Stacey King, Cliff Levingston, Chuck Nevitt, John Paxson, Will Perdue, Scottie Pippen, Mark Randall, Rory Sparrow, Scott Williams, coach Phil Jackson[d] 2 (Jordan, Pippen) 2 (Jordan, Pippen)[77]
1995–96Chicago Bulls 72–10 (.878)Randy Brown, Jud Buechler, Jason Caffey, James Edwards, Jack Haley, Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoč, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Dickey Simpkins, Bill Wennington, coach Phil Jackson[d] 4 (Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Kukoč) 2 (Jordan, Pippen)[78]

Notes
  • a American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
  • b Each year is linked to an article about the NBA Finals in that year.
  • d Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as coach; Bill Sharman was inducted as both a player and a coach
  • e A sixth player on this team, Sanders, was inducted into the Hall as a contributor in August 2011.[79]
  • f Having been injured in the second game, Baylor missed the remainder of the 1971–72 season. He retired at the beginning of the next season.[80]

See also

Notes
  1. Three players were absent: Pete Maravich, who had died in 1988; Shaquille O'Neal, who was recovering from a knee injury; and Jerry West, who was scheduled to have surgery and could not fly.[3]

References

General
  • "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  • "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 19, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  • "Top 10 Teams in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

Specific
  1. Jackson, James (October 22, 2021). "James Harden, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony among greats celebrating place on NBA's Top 75 list". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  2. "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  3. Banks, Lacy (February 10, 1997). "Real dream team steals show". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 96.
  4. Bembry, Jerry (October 29, 1996). "Unseld gets NBA top 50 tip Former Bullets great takes honor in stride". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021.
  5. Aschburner, Steve (October 23, 2021). "How I voted players to NBA's 75th Anniversary Team". Sporting News. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  6. Aboy, Agustín (September 3, 2021). "NBA 75: Taking a trip down memory lane to revisit the NBA 50 years ago". NBA.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  7. "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  8. "Nate Archibald Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  9. "Paul Arizin Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  10. "Charles Barkley Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  11. "Rick Barry Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  12. "Elgin Baylor Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  13. "Dave Bing Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  14. "Larry Bird Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  15. "Wilt Chamberlain Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  16. "Bob Cousy Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  17. "Dave Cowens Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  18. "Billy Cunningham Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  19. "Dave DeBusschere Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  20. "Clyde Drexler Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  21. "Julius Erving Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  22. "Patrick Ewing Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  23. "Walt Frazier Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  24. "George Gervin Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  25. "Hal Greer Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  26. "John Havlicek Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  27. "Elvin Hayes Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  28. "Magic Johnson Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  29. "Sam Jones Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  30. "Michael Jordan Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  31. "Jerry Lucas Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  32. "Karl Malone Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  33. "Moses Malone Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  34. "Pete Maravich Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  35. "Kevin McHale Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  36. "George Mikan Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  37. "Earl Monroe Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  38. "Hakeem Olajuwon Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  39. "Shaquille O'Neal Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  40. "Robert Parish Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  41. "Bob Pettit Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  42. "Scottie Pippen Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  43. "Willis Reed Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  44. "Oscar Robertson Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  45. "David Robinson Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  46. "Bill Russell Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  47. "Dolph Schayes Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  48. "Bill Sharman Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
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