Top 500 All-Time Players, 2018 Edition: 450-401

Every year we rank the 500 greatest players in NBA (and ABA) history based on various tranches of empirical data and historical context (breakdown of ranking criteria can be found here). The following is numbers 450 through 401 for the year 2018.

All previous entries can be found here. The full list can be found here with bios, and here as just a list.

450) Nene, F/C, 2002-Active 

• Born Maybyner Rodney Hilario in Brazil, he was nicknamed “Nene,” Portugese for “baby” due to being the youngest in his family and eventually legally shortened his name in 2003 
• Already had several years of pro experience in his native Brazil when the Knicks drafted him in the 2002 lottery and then traded him to Denver 
• Showed early signs of potential stardom for the Nuggets until tearing his ACL and MCL during the ’05-’06 season, robbing him of basically an entire year of playing time and robbing him him of much of the on-court volatility that he thrived on 
• Peaked statistically for the Nuggets in ’10-’11, leading the NBA in field goal percentage while averaging career highs in points per game (14.5) and rebounds per game (7.6) 
• Has never reached the NBA Finals, but has played in the Conference Finals starting for the Nuggets in 2009 and then as a lightly used backup center for the Rockets in 2018 

449) Kevin Martin, G, 2004-2016

• Never an All-Star, but a consistent offensive force in his prime, averaging 22.4 points per game during a five year peak with the Kings and Rockets 
• An explosive scorer despite an unorthodox shot motion, his breakout came in the 2006 playoffs, when he buried a buzzer beater in a first round game three win over the Spurs (though the Kings eventually lost the series) 
• Finished second in Most Improved Player voting for the ’06-’07 season behind Monta Ellis 
• Injury prone due to his svelte frame, suffered various ailments to his ankle, groin, and shoulder that forced him to miss significant time later in his career and retire in 2016 at age 33 
• Played in the postseason just three times in his 13-year career, and never advanced past the second round 

448) Mario Chalmers, G, 2008-Active

• Starting point guard for three Heat NBA Finals teams, including champions in '11-'12 and '12-'13, and backup guard on the '10-'11 Finals team
• Fourth on the team in playoff scoring, and third in assists, on the '11-'12 Heat that won the title 
• Has averaged 10+ points per game in just three seasons, including his rookie one, when he was named 2nd-Team All-Rookie; peaked at 10.3 points per game in '15-'16, playing for the Heat and Grizzlies
• Served as the proverbial little brother to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, but his occasional moments of glory, including a 25-point outburst in a crucial game four win in the 2012 NBA Finals against Oklahoma City
• Hit a clutch, game-tying three-pointer in the 2008 NCAA Championship Game, helping Kansas eventually defeat Memphis in overtime
• The only player in NBA history that was born in Alaska

447) Steve Mix, F, 1969-1983

• Grew up in Toledo, OH and brought blue-collar mentality to his game 
• So consistent with his lefty jumper mechanics that teammates called his favorite floor spots “Mixville” 
• After short stints with the Pistons and in the ABA was named to All-Star Game in 1975 as member of Sixers 
• Leading scorer and rebounder for Philadelphia for several seasons before they signed Julius Erving, then became Dr. J’s mentor and took supporting role in offense 
• Played with Sixers in Finals losses in 1977, 1980, and 1982; then played with Lakers in 1983 Finals when they lost to his former Philly teammates 

446) Lou Williams, G, 2005-Active

• A bench specialist extraordinaire, he’s started in just 109 of his 861 career games 
• Won Sixth Man of the Year for the Raptors in ’14-’15 and for the Clippers in ’17-‘18 
• A rare prep-to-pro player that fell to the second round of the draft but still found NBA success; he originally committed to play at Georgia but declared for the draft at the last minute instead 
• Averaged 15.5 points per game in ’14-’15, which was then a career high, but has since had his best scoring seasons past the age of 30, with 17.5 in ’16-’17 (split between the Lakers and Rockets) and 22.6 in ’17-’18 for the Clippers 
• Led the Clippers in scoring in ’17-’18 despite coming off the bench in 60 of 79 games 
• Has only made it as far as the second round of the playoffs, in 2012 with the 76ers and in 2017 with the Rockets 

445) Bruce Bowen, F, 1996-2009

• Barely recruited out of high school, he had a star turn at Cal State Fullerton but went undrafted in 1993 
• Played in France and the CBA for several years before finally making his NBA debut late in the ’96-’97 season, logging exactly one minute for the Heat 
• After brief and unmemorable stops with Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, he signed with the Spurs for the ’01-’02 and took over the starting small forward spot for the next eight years 
• Won championships with the Spurs in 2003, 2005, and 2007 as a defensive specialist, always taking on the toughest assignment on the opposing team, from Richard Jefferson to Kobe Bryant to Richard Hamilton to LeBron James 
• Named to eight consecutive All-Defensive teams, including 1st-Team All-Defensive five times; never won Defensive Player of the Year, but finished as the runner-up three times 

444) Cuttino Mobley, G, 1998-2009

• An exciting player in his own right, but spent most of his college and pro career overshadowed by star teammates 
• Played with Tyson Wheeler at Rhode Island, then in the Rockets back court with Steve Francis on a team that could score at will but struggled to compete and seemed to exponentially age coach Rudy Tomjanovich 
• Later was a member of the Clippers team that made a shocking run to the second round of the playoffs in 2006, then almost immediately flamed out as players feuded with each other and coach Mike Dunleavy 
• Didn’t do much but score, but scored in bunches, including a career high 21.1 points per game in ’01-’02 for Houston 
• Was forced to cut his career short when a physical revealed he had the same heart condition that caused the deaths of Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis 

443) Jason Williams, G, 1998-2011

• After a rocky college career that included a rescinded scholarship from Providence, a controversial transfer from Marshall to Florida, and a suspension from Florida for marijuana use, settled in with a stellar rookie season for the Kings 
• Just another colorful character on a roster stocked with them, he led Sacramento to a memorable near upset of the Jazz in the first round of the 2000 playoffs and then their first playoff series win in over 20 years in 2001 
• Traded to the Grizzlies in 2001 for Mike Bibby, his time with Memphis was his best statistically (14.0 points and 8.1 assists per game in ’01-’02), it was also marked by off court-incidents, including supposed altercations with fans and journalists 
• Emerged wiser and seemingly more mature after a trade to the Heat in 2005, and started all 82 games in Miami’s ’05-’06 season that ended with a championship 

442) Purvis Short, F, 1978-1990

• Like Joe Barry Carroll two years later, he is a player with an undeniably great career that will be forever tainted by where exactly the Warriors drafted him – fifth overall in 1978, one spot ahead of Larry Bird 
• Never named an All-Star and spent much of his time coming off the bench, but still established a solid career for the Warriors 
• Long before Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, he was the original long range shooting star for Golden State, taking advantage of the newly established three-point line with his trademark “rainbow shot” 
• Finished in the top five in the NBA in scoring in two straight seasons, with 28.0 points per game in ’84-’85 and 25.5 points per game in ’85-’86; scored 59 points in a game against New Jersey during that stretch 
• Struggled late in his career with knee injuries and was forced to retire in 1990 at age 32 

441) Bryon Russell, F, 1993-2006

• Usually thought of first as the player falling to the floor (after arguably being pushed off) trying to cover Michael Jordan shooting the series clincher in the 1998 NBA Finals; when Jordan specifically referenced Russell in his Hall of Fame induction speech, Russell rebuked with a challenge: a one-on-one rematch for charity (Jordan has yet to accept) 
• Drafted late in the second round out of Long Beach State in 1993, and played sparingly off the bench for Utah in his first few seasons 
• Entered the starting lineup in ’96-’97, and his terrific man-to-man defense and quick first step to the basket were major asset’s in Utah’s runs to the 1997 and 1998 Finals 
• Peaked with 14.1 points per game in ’99-’00 just as the Jazz were fading back into irrelevancy 
• Played in one more Finals with the Lakers in 2004, logging garbage time minutes 

440) Wally Szczerbiak, F, 1999-2009

• The son of a former ABA and European League star, he was born and raised in Spain during his father’s playing days 
• Selected sixth overall by the Timberwolves in 1999 Draft, immediately took over the starting small forward position and was named 1st-Team All-Rookie 
• Was the second or third scoring option on the T-Wolves behind Kevin Garnett for several seasons, peaking in ‘01-’02 with 18.7 points per game, and helped the team finally make its first Conference Finals appearance in 2004, coming off the bench behind Latrell Sprewell 
• Named to the 2003 All-Star team 
• Traded to the Celtics in 2006 and started to struggle with injuries that necessitated multiple surgeries on his ankles 
• Finished his career with the Cavaliers, coming up just short of NBA Finals appearances in 2008 and 2009 before retiring due to knee injuries 

439) Juwan Howard, F, 1994-2013

• His NBA career spanned two whole decades and was capped with back-to-back championships with the Heat, but his biggest claim to fame will always be the Fab Five at Michigan 
• Was drafted by the Bullets in 1994, who soon traded for his Michigan teammate, Chris Webber and they became a dangerous low post duo 
• He and Webber were Washington’s leading two scorers for four seasons and led the Bullets to their only playoff appearance of the decade, a first round loss to the Bulls in 1997 
• He was named to the All-Star team in ’95-’96, while averaging career highs in points per game (22.1) and rebounds per game (8.1) 
• After reaching the second round of the playoffs just once in his first 16 seasons signed with the Heat in 2010 and was on the roster as they reach the NBA Finals three consecutive times, winning the title in the last two 

438) Lucius Allen, G, 1969-1979

• Part of arguably the greatest NCAA team of all time, the ’67-‘68 UCLA Bruins that finished 29-1 
• Though he was drafted third overall by the Sonics in 1969, he was traded just a year later to Milwaukee and reunited with his college teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 
• Played key minutes off the bench backing up Oscar Robertson as the Bucks won the title in 1971 
• Eventually wrested the starting job from Robertson and became the team’s second scoring option thanks to a reliable jumper 
• Peaked in ’73-’74 with 19.1 points per game and even garnered some MVP votes (Abdul-Jabbar won the trophy), but tore cartilage in his knee late in the regular season and missed Milwaukee’s run to that year’s Finals 
• Such a dominant force in high school that he was named Kansas Player of the Century in 1999; finished his pro career back in his hometown, playing for the Kansas City Kings 

437) Gerald Wallace, F, 2001-2015

• Considered the league's most underrated player for so long that he eventually became arguably overrated just by virtue of that reputation 
• His late career was unfortunately marred by his signing of arguably one of the worst contracts in league history: four years for $40 million with the Nets in 2012 
• Synonymous with the Bobcats, a franchise that technically lasted for only 10 seasons and selected him in their expansion draft; he was their only All-Star and led them to their first playoff appearance in 2010 
• Averaged 18.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his four-year prime, and also joined Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson as the only players to average two-plus steals and two-plus blocks in a single season 

436) Kirk Hinrich, G, 2004-2016

• Grew up idolizing Gary Payton and applied his leadership lessons and defensive focus to a solid 13-year career 
• After a star turn at Kansas, concentrated more on ball handling and defense in the NBA, but could still rack up points, averaging as high as 16.6 points per game in ’06-‘07 
• Became an indelible member of the Bulls teams that made the first playoff appearances of the post-Michael Jordan era 
• Was 1st-Team All-Rookie in ’04-’05 and 2d-Team All-Defensive in ’06-‘07 
• Played in 11 postseasons with the Bulls and Hawks, but his teams never advanced past the second round 
• Before matriculating at Kansas, he was a three-sport star in high school and was named Mr. Basketball in Iowa 

435) Clifford Ray, C, 1971-1981

• Found only limited playing time on the Bulls frontline after they drafted him in 1971, but made the most of it, averaging 8.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game over his first three seasons in just 27.7 minutes per game 
• Matched up impressively against Wilt Chamberlain in a first round loss against the Lakers in his rookie season, averaging 15.3 points and 16.5 points per game for the series 
• Traded to the Warriors in 1974 for the aging Nate Thurmond, and was the starting center on the ’74-’75 team that won the championship, leading the team with 10.6 rebounds per game; they defeated his former Bulls teammates in the Conference Finals 
• Averaged 10.2 rebounds per game over his first seven seasons before struggling later in his career with injuries 
• Once put his large frame and long arms to good use off the basketball court when he rescued a marine park dolphin by reaching into its throat and pulling debris from its stomach 

434) Kendall Gill, G, 1990-2005

• Started off strong with the Hornets, named 1st-Team All-Rookie, leading the team in scoring in just his second season with 20.5 points per game, and teaming up with Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning to lead them to the second round of the 1993 playoffs 
• Was traded to the Sonics in 1993, but quickly fell out of favor with coach George Karl, especially after taking a leave of absence to deal with clinical depression 
• Traded again to the Nets in 1996, and scored a career high 21.8 points per game in ’96-‘97 
• Started to concentrate more on his defense with the Nets, and led the NBA in steals in ’98-’99; also tied the NBA record for steals in a game with 11 (with Larry Kenon) 
• Won the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest in 1990, but finished in last in the NBA edition when he participated during his rookie season 

433) Joe Barry Carroll, C, 1980-1991

• Never came close to living up the hype surrounding him when he was selected first overall in 1980, but still had a solid and lengthy career 
• Golden State traded away Robert Parish and the rights to Kevin McHale to trade up and select Carroll, and his later career struggles inspired fans to label him “Joe Barely Cares” 
• Averaged 20+ points and seven-plus rebounds per game in four straight seasons in his prime for the Warriors (with a one-year stint in Italy sprinkled in between) and was named to the All-Star team in 1987 
• As Golden State’s leading scorer in ’86-’87, led the team to its first playoff appearance in a decade 
• Many now just remember him as a bust, and a footnote in the Genius of Red Auerbach story, but reviewing his stats and skills and contributions to Golden State tell a different story 

432) Fred Carter, G, 1969-1977

• Self-proclaimed “best player on the worst team in history” as the top scorer and second in assists on ’72-’73 Sixers team that finished 9-73 
• Averaged 21.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game during his three-year prime with Philly 
• Before playing with 76ers was starting shooting guard on Bullets team that reached 1971 Finals 
• Became first black student at Mount St. Mary’s in 1965 and is greatest player in NBA history to come from the school 
• Widely credited with popularizing the fist bump gesture as a part of celebrations 

431) Jon McGlocklin, G, 1965-1976

• After a couple quiet seasons buried on the Royals’ bench, he was selected by the Bucks in the 1968 expansion draft and has been an indelible franchise legend ever since 
• Scored Milwaukee’s first ever basket in 1968, was their first All-Star in 1969, and was a key part of their first title team in 1971 
• After averaging 19.6 points per game as a point guard in ’68-’69, shifted over to shooting guard to accommodate Oscar Robertson and took on more of a long range shooting specialist role on the ’70-’71 championship team 
• After retiring in 1976 has become a franchise ambassador for the Bucks, including his jersey retirement, a longtime TV analyst job, and his presidency of the MACC Fund, a Milwaukee-based non-profit that raises money for childhood cancer research 
• An Indiana high school legend back when that really meant something, he was also a star at Indiana University 

430) Kevin Duckworth, C, 1986-1997

• Seized the moment in his second NBA season when the two centers in front of him on the Blazers depth chart (Sam Bowie and Steve Johnson) went down with injuries, and held on to the starting center job for six seasons 
• Named to the All-Star team in 1989 and 1991 
• Won the Most Improved Player award in his breakout ’87-’88 season 
• Peaked statistically in ’88-’89, with 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game 
• Started at center for the Blazers in two NBA Finals, in 1990 and 1992 
• Struggled with injuries and weight issues in late career stops with the Bullets, Bucks, and Clippers 
• Spent many years as a franchise ambassador for Portland until his sudden and tragic death from heart failure in 2008 at the age of 44 

429) Mehmet Okur, C, 2002-2012

• Already a superstar in his native Turkey when the Pistons drafted him in the second round in 2001 
• Became the first Turkish born player to ever win a championship, contributing off the bench at power forward and center for the Pistons in ’03-‘04 
• Came into his own after signing with the Jazz and becoming their starting center, peaking in ’05-’06 with 18.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game 
• Named an All-Star in 2007 (also the first, and still only, Turkish born player to have that distinction) 
• Helped the Jazz reach their first Conference Finals of the post-Karl Malone/John Stockton era in 2007 
• Though he played in several major tournaments with the Turkish national team, he missed his opportunity to represent his home country when they hosted the FIBA World Championships in 2010 due to an Achilles injury which also forced him to retire at age 32 

428) Rickey Sobers, G, 1975-1986

• His rookie year with the Suns started off quietly, but crested into a starring role in what would be dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played” 
• In gave five of the 1976 Finals he tied Paul Westphal for the team lead with 25 points as the Suns fell in a triple overtime thriller against the Celtics 
• Though his career arguably peaked in that game, he did last 10 seasons in the NBA and compiled over 10,000 points 
• Played in the postseason just two more times in his career, with the Bulls in 1981 and the Bullets in 1984, both first round losses 
• Peaked with the Pacers in ’77-’78, with 18.2 points and 7.4 assists per game 
• Was the first star player at UNLV under coach Jerry Tarkanian 

427) Tim Thomas, F, 1997-2010

• Once noted by Ray Allen as a player who could be amongst the league's best if he cared to be 
• Traded on draft day to the 76ers for fellow incoming rookie Keith Van Horn, but lasted just two seasons with Philly 
• Thrived soon after in a sixth man role for the Bucks, helping them reach the Conference Finals in 2001 
• Peaked in ’03-’04 when he was traded from Milwaukee to the Knicks at the deadline, with 14.7 points per game 
• Had fleeting moments of great play with the Knicks, Bulls, Suns, Clippers, and Mavericks, but never anything sustainable as he always seemed indifferent towards his basketball career 
• Took a leave of absence from the Mavericks in 2010 to care for his sick wife, and missed on the team’s subsequent championship run 

426) Junior Bridgeman, F, 1975-1987

• Regularly led the Bucks in scoring off the bench (topping out at 17.6 points per game in ’79-’80) and would have won multiple Sixth Man of the Year awards if it had existed before ’82-‘83 
• Had a rocky start in Milwaukee as the centerpiece of the trade haul that the Bucks received from the Lakers in exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but endured and became a franchise legend 
• Born Ulysees, Jr., he was nicknamed “Junior” as a child to differentiate him from his father, and “The Torch” as an adult due to his ability to score in a hurry off the bench (a real forebear for Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson) 
• Played great in the 1984 Conference Finals against Boston, averaging 17.3 points per game and giving an admirable defensive performance against Larry Bird 
• Built a business empire in both his native home of Louisville and his adopted home of Milwaukee after retiring from basketball, and had expressed interest in parlaying his fortune into ownership of an NBA team 

425) George Hill, G, 2008-Active 

• Has played for five different teams in his 10 NBA seasons, and each of them has reached the playoffs except one (the Pacers in ’14-’15) 
• Started as a role player for the Spurs, backing up Tony Parker for three seasons before getting traded to the Pacers in 2011 as part of the infamous Kawhi Leonard deal 
• As the starting point guard, helped the Pacers reach back-to-back Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014 
• Had his two best statistical seasons with the Pacers in ’14-’15 (16.1 points and 5.1 assists per game) and his one season with the Jazz in ’16-’17 (16.9 points and 4.2 assists per game) 
• Started at point guard for the Cavaliers in ’17-’18 as they reached the NBA Finals; was third on the team in playoff scoring and second in assists 

424) Rickey Green, G, 1977-1992

• Was toiling for the Hawaii Volcanos of the CBA when the Jazz signed him in the summer of 1980; had previously been cut by the Warriors and Pistons 
• Lightning quick off the dribble and possessing sticky hands on defense, he had a breakout season in ’81-’82 
• Held on to Utah’s starting point guard position for four years, averaging 13.8 points, 8.4 assists, and 2.4 steals during that stretch, before giving way during the ’85-’86 season to a young John Stockton 
• In ’83-’84 he led the NBA in steals per game and total steals, was named the All-Star team, and helped the Jazz reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history 
• Trails just Stockton and Karl Malone on the all-time Jazz leaderboard in total assists and total steals 

423) Willie Wise, F, 1969-1978

• Dubbed by Sports Illustrated in his prime as “the best two-way player in pro basketball,” he’s often overlooked due to playing eight of his nine pro seasons in the ABA 
• 2nd-Team All-ABA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive twice, and a three-time ABA All-Star 
• Helped lead the Stars to the ABA Finals three times, first in his rookie year with the team in Los Angeles in 1970, then winning the title in Utah in 1971, and losing in 1974, as the team’s leading scorer 
• Peaked in ’71-’72 with 23.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and averaged 20+ points per game in four straight seasons 
• Struggled in a later stop with the Virginia Squires as knee injuries and poor conditioning took their toll, and played only sparingly for the Nuggets and Sonics after joining the NBA with the 1976 merger 

422) Roy Tarpley, F, 1986-1995

• Maybe the quintessential NBA example of a player’s incredible talent not being enough to overcome their off-court troubles 
• Spent an entire decade in the NBA, but played in just 304 total games during that span, including the postseason 
• Averaged 15.0 points and 12.2 rebounds per game during his three-year prime, starting in ’87-’88 
• Named Sixth Man of the Year for Dallas in ’87-’88, and led the NBA in offensive rebound percentage 
• Was huge for the Mavericks in the ’87-’88 playoffs, averaging 17.9 points and 12.9 rebounds per game as they came within one game of making the NBA Finals 
• Started to struggle with injuries in the ’90-’91 season, including a torn ACL, was arrested multiple times for DWIs, and eventually suspended indefinitely by the NBA for failing three drug tests 
• Kicked around several European leagues before rejoining the Mavericks in 1994, but was soon banned for life by the NBA for alcohol abuse, a decision over which he’d battle the NBA in court for years, finally settling with them in 2009 

421) Caldwell Jones, C, 1973-1990

• One of four brothers who all played in the NBA 
• Spent five seasons in the ABA, averaging 15.8 points per game for the Conquistadors, Sails, Colonels, and Spirits before joining the 76ers as a free agent after the merger 
• Never averaged double-digit points in an NBA season, but made his reputation as a tireless rebounder and defender 
• Averaged 9.2 rebounds per game in six seasons with Philadelphia, and was named 1st-Team All-Defensive twice 
• Mostly played off the bench backing up Darryl Dawkins, and helped the Sixers reach the NBA Finals in 1977, 1980, and 1982 before being packaged as part of the trade that netted Moses Malone 
• Ultimately played in 1,299 ABA and NBA games combined, later spending time with the Blazers, Spurs, Bulls, and Rockets, for whom he teamed up with his brother Major 

420) Jameer Nelson, G, 2004-Active

• Won essentially every collegiate award possible during his time at St. Joseph’s, but fell to the #20 pick of the 2004 NBA Draft 
• Spent the first 10 seasons of his career with Orlando, where he was functional and consistent, albeit unspectacularly; annihilated the franchise record for total assists and is top five for the Magic all-time in total points, steals, and field goals 
• Named to one All-Star team in 2009, but tore his shoulder right before the break and missed the rest of the regular season and most of the playoffs; did return on time for Orlando’s Finals appearance against the Lakers, but played limited minutes off the bench 
• Was the second best Magic player on the team that reached the 2010 Conference Finals, averaging a career-high 19 points per game during the playoffs 
• Has transitioned in a journeyman late his career, including stops with the Mavericks, Celtics, Pelicans, Nuggets, and most recently the Pistons 

419) Darrell Griffith, G, 1980-1991

• His “Dr. Dunkenstein” nickname was inspired by George Clinton and well earned during his exciting career at Louisville, where he redefined the recently reinstated slam dunk 
• Carried it over to the NBA, where he teamed up with Adrian Dantley on the thrilling early ‘80s Jazz teams and participated in the 1985 Slam Dunk Contest (where he threw down a 360 degree slam) 
• Was an accomplished long range shooter in addition to a polished dunker, and led the NBA in three-point field goals and three-point shooting percentage during the ’83-’84 season 
• Lost most of his explosiveness after a stress fracture to his foot late in the ’84-’85 season, but remained effective up until his 1991 retirement 
• Still fourth all-time in Jazz history in total scoring, behind only Dantley, Karl Malone, and John Stockton 

418) B.J. Armstrong, G, 1989-2000

• The first draft selection of the Phil Jackson era in Chicago in 1989, but spent most of his early career on the bench behind veteran John Paxson 
• Never an elite play maker at point guard, but he could rely on a consistent long range jumper and took full advantage of opponents double-teaming Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen 
• Led the Bulls in bench scoring in the ’90-’91 and ’91-’92 seasons that ended in championships 
• Was a surprising inclusion in the 1994 All-Star Eastern Conference starting lineup, and finished second in the Three-Point Contest that year behind Mark Price; finished the ’93-’94 season with a career high 14.8 points per game 
• Selected by the Raptors in their expansion draft but never suited up in Toronto, instead getting traded to the Warriors before the season started 
• Now a high-profile agent, with clients including Draymond Green and Derrick Rose 

417) Greg Ballard, F, 1977-1989

• Won a title with the Bullets in his rookie season, acting as a glue guy off the bench, and played in the team’s 1979 Finals loss 
• Drafted fourth overall, he became the starting small forward in ’79-’80 and held down the position for six seasons 
• A terrific dribbler and passer for a man his size (6’7”), and led the league in turnover percentage in ’81-‘82 
• Also an elite defender, he was the Bullets’ all-time franchise leader in steals for over 20 years until John Wall broke the record 
• Was traded from Washington for Manute Bol in 1985, and spent time late in his career playing in Italy as part of an NBA outreach program before retiring with the Sonics in 1989 

416) Jimmy Butler, G, 2011-Active

• Named to the last four All-Star Games, and was 3rd-Team All-NBA the last two seasons 
• 2nd-Team All-Defensive four times 
• Won Most Improved Player in ’14-’15, and finished 10th in MVP voting in ’17-‘18 
• Has averaged 20+ points per game each of the last four seasons, peaking at 23.9 per game in ’16-‘17 
• Spent his first six seasons with the Bulls before getting traded to the Timberwolves, becoming a co-centerpiece of a young, up-and-coming team with Karl-Anthony Towns 
• Has struggled with injuries throughout his career, missing 10 or more games in every season but one 
• Played on the gold medal winning 2016 U.S. Olympic team 

415) John Lucas, G, 1976-1990

• An All-American at Maryland in both basketball and tennis before becoming the #1 overall pick in 1976; he was once ranked in the world top 600 before giving up his racket career to focus on the hardwood) 
• Among the top ten league leaders in assists per game in each of his first five seasons 
• Eventually began to struggle on the court due to his substance abuse off the court, and blew opportunities with the Rockets, Warriors, Bullets, Cavaliers, and Spurs 
• Seemed to come back clean with Houston in ’84-’85, but then failed a drug test late in the ’85-’86 season and missed the entire postseason as the Rockets reached the NBA Finals 
• Submitted to rehab after the NBA suspended his Rockets teammates Mitchell Wiggins and Lewis Lloyd, and managed to las several more NBA seasons as a solid role player 

414) DeMarcus Cousins, C, 2010-Active

• Currently stands as the greatest player of all time never to reach the postseason, though that reign will surely end with the Warriors in '18-'19 if he can be healthy come playoffs time
• 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and a four-time All-Star
• Over his first eight seasons in the NBA, he has career averages of 21.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, with highs of 27.0 points per game in '16-'17 and 12.9 rebounds per game in '17-'18
• Has struggled to stay upright, playing in 75 or more games in just two seasons in his career, both of them early on
• Notoriously fiery on the court, he has led the NBA in personal fouls three times and has several suspensions to his name
• Won gold at the 2016 Olympics as part of the U.S. team

413) Michael Adams, G, 1985-1996

• Had one of the quirkiest shot releases in NBA history, a self-described “push shot” that was supposedly a result of always being the smallest player on the court during childhood pick-up games in his native Hartford 
• Was also undersized at only 5’10” and 162 pounds 
• Led the league in three-pointers made two times, and set the record for most consecutive games with a three-point field goal (he’s still fifth on the list, far behind current record holder Stephen Curry) 
• Averaged 26.1 points, 10.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game for the Nuggets in ’90-’91, one of the best statistical season ever for a point guard 
• Made the All-Star team in 1992 as a member of the Bullets 

412) Kenny Anderson, G, 1991-2005

• His unique, playground-inspired style seemed like a harbinger of the shifting tenor of the point guard position, but ultimately had only minor long-term impact 
• Started his career strong with the Nets, averaging career highs in points per game (18.8) and assists per game (9.6) in ’93-’94 and being named to the All-Star team 
• Had a hectic off-court lifestyle, infamous for his partying and ultimately fathering seven children with five different women, and played erratically during his prime for the Nets, Hornets, and Trail Blazers 
• Settled into a veteran floor general role with the Celtics, helping them reach the Conference Finals in 2002 
• Seemingly hung around a little too long in the NBA, which in retrospective seems to be related to his perpetual legal and financial troubles 

411) Gerald Wilkins, G, 1985-1999

• Selected in the second round by the Knicks in 1985, 46 picks after they took Patrick Ewing, but became an essential piece of their late ‘80s revival 
• Though not as powerful as his older brother, Dominique, he was still an acrobatic dunker, and participated in the Slam Dunk Contest in 1986 and 1987 
• Averaged 18.3 points per game in a two year prime with New York, but built his reputation from there on his defense 
• Was particularly hyped as a Michael Jordan “stopper” but really only slightly slowed him down more so than other defenders, and was on the wrong end of a highlight reel game winning shot by Jordan in the 1993 playoffs 
• Had some good years later as a defensive specialist with the Cavs, but his career started to slip due to injuries and was mostly unmemorable, save for a three-game stretch in ’98-’99 when he and Dominique were teammates in Orlando 

410) Brad Miller, C, 1998-2012

• Plodding, unathletic, and, by his own admission, probably unable to dunk, but put together a solid 14-year career out of his old-school skills of passing, pick setting, and mid-range jump shooting 
• Undrafted out of Purdue and was playing professionally in Italy when the Hornets signed him during the 1998 lockout 
• Had a solid four year prime with the Pacers and Kings between 2002 and 2006, averaging 14.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and being named to two All-Star teams 
• A perfect fit in the Indiana system, where he could do all the dirty work like setting complex picks for Reggie Miller, and in Rick Adelman’s Sacramento system, where his reliable short jumper and passing vision were in line with the European offensive style 
• Led the league in offensive rating in ’04-’05 despite averaging just 15.6 points per game (which was a career high) 

409) Cliff Robinson, F, 1979-1992

• Not to be confused with the other Cliff Robinson who starred for the Blazers in the ‘90s and will appear later on this list 
• Was so green when he joined the NBA in 1979 that even in his second season he was still the league’s youngest player 
• Averaged 17.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his first 10 NBA seasons with the Nets, Kings, Cavaliers, Bullets, and 76ers, but reached the playoffs just three times, each time a first round loss 
• In addition in scoring and rebounding he was also an adept and versatile defender, often shifting to an undersized center position when called upon to defend the opposing team’s best offensive player 
• Left the NBA in 1989 due to injuries suffered during a car accident, but made a brief comeback with the Lakers down the stretch of the ’91-’92 season and actually faced off against the other Cliff Robinson in a playoff series that spring 

408) Roy Hibbert, C, 2008-2017

• His throwback style – a plodding, back-to-the-basket, shot blocking center – served him well for several years but couldn’t last long as the league had passed him by 
• Probably would have been a top 10 pick in 2007, but fell out of the lottery to the Pacers in 2008 after returning to Georgetown for his senior year 
• Plugged away for seven years in Indiana, with All-Star appearances in 2012 and 2014 
• Peaked in ’11-’12 with 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game 
• Finished in the top five in the league in blocks for three straight seasons, and was named 2d-Team All-Defensive in ’13-‘14 
• Helped the Pacers reach back-to-back Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014, both devastating losses to the Heat 
• Had later unsuccessful stops with the Lakers, Hornets, and Nuggets, and went unsigned for the entirety of the ’17-’18 season before officially retiring 

407) Mo Williams, G, 2003-2016

• Despite a stellar career at Alabama, he fell to the second of the Draft in 2003 as teams considered him too small to play his natural shooting guard position 
• After a quiet rookie season with the Jazz eventually broke out with the Bucks, averaging 16+ points per game in three straight seasons in Milwaukee as the starting point guard 
• Traded to Cleveland in 2008 to become the second scoring option behind LeBron James, and averaged a career high 18.3 points per game in ’08-’09 while being named to the All-Star team and helping the team reach the Conference Finals 
• Endeared himself to Cavs fans as a team leader in the wake of James’ departure for Miami, but was traded during the ’10-’11 season to the Clippers 
• After stints with the Clippers, Blazers, Jazz, Timberwolves, and Hornets, returned to the Cavs in ’15-’16 as a deep bench combo guard and earned a championship ring 

406) Orlando Woolridge, F, 1981-1994

• Remembered mainly for his high-flying, high-scoring days with the Bulls pre-Michael Jordan, his career was still long and productive after that 
• Led the Bulls with 19.3 points per game in ’83-’84; it would take a decade for another player besides Jordan to lead the team in scoring 
• Actually increased his scoring in two years playing alongside Jordan, with 21.9 points per game, and averaged 20+ points per game again in later seasons with the Nets and Nuggets 
• One of the best in-game dunkers of his era, thanks to his incredible in-flight boy control 
• Eventually played in one NBA Finals, coming off the bench for the ’88-’89 Lakers 
• After leaving the NBA, he ended up starring for coach Mike D’Antoni in Italy, where he led Benetton Treviso to the European Cup title in 1995 

405) Rudy Gay, F, 2006-Active

• Controversy seems to always follow him, starting with his freshman year at Connecticut when the NCAA investigated his recruitment but ultimately found no wrongdoing 
• Selected eighth by the Rockets in the 2006 Draft, but immediately traded to the Grizzlies, where he became a high-scoring star for six-plus seasons whose individual successes never seemed to translate to team success, and they made the playoffs just once in 2012 
• Averaged 18+ points per game in each of his full seasons with Memphis, and is still in the top five all-time in franchise history in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks 
• After a short stop in Toronto, wound up on another moribund team in Sacramento, where he averaged a career high 21.4 points per game in ’14-‘15 
• Finally joined a decent team in ’17-’18 as the third leading scorer on the Spurs, making just his second career playoff appearance 

404) Brook Lopez, C, 2008-Active

• Starred at Stanford alongside his twin brother, Robin 
• Has had a long and productive NBA career, albeit an injury-plagued one where he always seemed to be falling just short of stardom level 
• Made one All-Star team in 2013 while playing for the Nets, but even that was a controversial decision, as he was surprisingly added to the roster by commissioner David Stern after Rajon Rondo pulled out with an injury 
• Averaged 20+ points per game in four separate seasons, but has always struggled with rebounding and defense for a man of his size, and his teams have reached the playoffs just twice in 10 seasons, both first round losses 
• After signing a huge contract with Brooklyn in 2015 and not living up to it, was eventually unloaded on the Lakers with whom he slogged through another difficult season for a bad team in ’17-‘18 

403) Eddie L. Johnson, G, 1977-1987

• Nicknamed “Fast” for obvious reasons, he was as quick to the basket as anyone in the ‘80s, but also a polished perimeter defender 
• Emerged as a leading scorer for the Hawks and was consistently the team’s second option behind John Drew and later Dominique Wilkins, peaking at 19.1 points per game in ’80-‘81 
• Named to consecutive All-Star rosters in 1980 and 1981, and the All-Defensive team twice 
• After a trade from Atlanta to Cleveland in 1986, his career quickly spiraled out of control due to injuries and rampant cocaine use; suspended for life by the NBA soon after for failure to attend mandated addiction rehab sessions 

402) Billy Paultz, C, 1970-1985

• Nicknamed “Whopper” for his size and stature, standing 6’11” and 235 pounds 
• Averaged a double-double in five of his six ABA seasons, peaking at 16.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in ’72-’73 for the Nets 
• Led the ABA in blocks per game in ’75-’76, and finished third in league history in total blocks 
• Named to three ABA All-Star teams, and helped lead the Nets to the 1974 title 
• Transitioned to the NBA post-merger with the Spurs, and became more of a role player, but lasted nine seasons in the league 
• Played in the 1981 NBA Finals with the Rockets, backing up Moses Malone at center, and reached the Conference Finals with the Spurs in 1979 and 1983 
• Between the ABA and NBA his teams reached the postseason in all 15 seasons he played professionally 

401) Ben Gordon, G, 2004-2015

• Drafted third overall by Chicago and became the only player to win Sixth Man of the Year as a rookie; finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind his college teammate (at Connecticut) Emeka Okafor
• Split the rest of his time with the Bulls between the bench and starting lineup, averaging 20+ points per game twice, in ’06-’07 and in ’08-‘09
• Signed a huge free agent contract with the Pistons in 2009, but never came close to living up to it, thanks in large part to injuries, his lack of conditioning, and erratic behavior
• Hasn’t played in the NBA since 2015, but has made several comeback attempts including stints in the G-League
• Born in London to Jamaican parents, he could have used his dual citizenship to represent the host British team in the 2012 Olympics, but was dropped from consideration after missing several mandatory meetings and training camp appearances