Basketball Lists: Top 500 All-Time Players, 2018 Edition: 350-301

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 350 through 301 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.

350) Danny Manning, F, 1988-2003

Definitely on the short list of greatest college careers of all time, but his pro career was marked by injuries, bad luck, and the Clippers curse

Selected first overall by the Clippers in 1988 back when they were still the definitive worst franchise in the NBA by leaps and bounds

Tore his ACL during his rookie season but came back strong a year later, eventually reaching All-Star status in ’92-’93 while averaging 22.8 points per game and leading L.A. to the playoffs

Unhappy with the departure of coach Larry Brown and his contract situation, he sparred with management during the ’93-’94 season and was traded to Atlanta

Was named to a third All-Star team in 1994 but that turned to be his peak as various knee injuries affected the remainder of his career

Settled into a solid bench role in the last half of his career, and won Sixth Man of the Year in 1998 while playing for Phoenix

349) Dale Davis, F, 1991-2007

Lasted 16 seasons in the NBA, most of it spent as a consistent force of nature in the paint

Started his career out of Clemson with the Pacers, starting almost immediately at power forward and averaging nearly a double-double (10.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game) during his four year prime

Played on all five Pacers teams that reached the Conference Finals in the Reggie Miller era, including the NBA Finals appearance in 2000, a season in which he was named to the All-Star team

Traded to Portland in 2000 and his stats quickly started to slip even though he lasted another seven seasons

Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in offensive rebound percentage for 11 consecutive seasons

348) Monta Ellis, G, 2005-Active

One of the better pure scorers in the NBA during his prime, finishing in the top ten in scoring in ’09-’10 (25.5 points per game) and ’10-’11 (24.1 points per game)

Also finished in the top five in the NBA in steals per game three different times

Won Most Improved Player in ’06-’07 for the Warriors in his second season after being lightly regarded as a second round pick in 2005 straight out of high school (the final draft of the prep-to-pro era)

Was an inconsistent but nonetheless important piece of the “We Believe” Warriors team that shocked Dallas in the first round of the 2007 playoffs as a #8 seed

That turned out to be Ellis’ only second round playoff appearance of his 12-year career, with five other appearances with the Bucks, Mavericks, and Pacers ending in round one

Missed most of the ’08-’09 season right in his prime after tearing a ligament in his ankle in a moped accident

347) Hedo Turkoglu, F, 2000-2015

The first Turkish player in NBA history, he led a great generation of players from his home country into the league, including Mehmet Okur and Ersan Ilyasova

Started his career as part of the renowned Kings bench crew, with his utility and three-point shooting serving as assets for a perennial contender

His prime eventually came in Orlando, where he teamed up with Rashard Lewis as a dangerous, oversized forward duo, peaking in ’07-’08 with 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game en route to winning the Most Improved Player award

Helped the Magic to a surprise NBA Finals appearance in 2009 when his size and shooting created severe matchup issues in the Conference Finals for Cleveland

Crumbled under the pressure of a huge contract granted by the Raptors in 2009, and his later career was defined by near constant injuries and a surprise steroid suspension

346) Jimmy Jones, G, 1967-1977

One of the earliest stars of the ABA, he was an offensive force for his hometown New Orleans Buccaneers

Averaged 26.6 points per game in ’68-’69, good for second in the ABA, while leading the league in field goal percentage

Was named 1st-Team All-ABA three times, and was an All-Star in six of his seven ABA seasons

Led the Bucs to the ABA Finals in 1968, and the Utah Stars to the ABA Finals in 1974

In 1974 finally joined the roster of the Bullets team that had drafted him seven years earlier, backing up Kevin Porter as they reached the 1975 NBA Finals

Averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game in his ABA career, and is fifth all-time in league history in total assists

345) Jim Paxson, G, 1979-1990

He may not be #1 overall on this list, but he does claim the top spot amongst members of the Paxson family, beating out his father, Jim, Sr., and his brother, John

Was arguably the best Blazers player in the immediate years after Bill Walton’s departure, up until he lost his starting job to a young Clyde Drexler

Was named to two All-Star teams, in 1983 and 1984, while averaging 21+ points per game each of those seasons; was also 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’83-‘84

As an oversized (6’6”) guard, would regularly post up smaller opponents to rack up points

As much as he’s memorialized for his best years with Portland, he’s almost just as reviled for his brief stint in Boston where he called out Larry Bird to the media for his poor relationship with coach Jimmy Rodgers

344) Michael Redd, G, 2000-2012

One of the best shooters of his generation, but ultimately remembered best for one calamitous contract and one devastating injury

Was an All-Star during the ’03-’04 season, the only one in which he started in all 82 games

Finished fifth in the NBA in ’06-’07 with a career high 26.7 points per game, but appeared in only 53 games due to injuries; averaged 20+ points per game for six consecutive seasons

Spent all but one of his 12 seasons with the Bucks, who drafted him in the second round in 2000; despite having grown up in Ohio and being personally recruited by LeBron James, he spurned a free agency offer from the Cavs in 2005 and instead resigned with Milwaukee for a mammoth six-year $91 million contract

Simultaneously tore his ACL and MCL in 2009, effectively ending his already injury-riddled career

Played on the 2008 U.S. Olympic “Reedem Team” that won the gold medal

343) Andrei Kirilenko, F, 2001-2015

Only 18 when drafted by the Jazz in 1999, but already had two years of pro experience in his native Russia
Joined Utah in 2001 and soon became the face of the franchise after Karl Malone and John Stockton’s departures, as well as a global ambassador for the NBA
Peaked in ’03-’04 with 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-Star team and made his first of his three All-Defensive appearances
Led the league in blocks in ’04-‘05
Only player in Jazz history besides Malone to appear in the franchise’s all-time top ten in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks
Played with Russia in the 2000 and 2012 Olympics, and during the 2011 NBA lockout starred for CSKA Moscow, leading them to the Euroleague title while winning MVP

342) Jamal Crawford, G, 2000-Active

The only player to win Sixth Man of the Year three times, he took home the trophy with the Hawks in ’09-’10, then with the Clippers in ’13-’14 and ’15-‘16
Spent most of the first half of his career as a starter, and averaged a career high 20.6 points per game starting for the Knicks at shooting guard in ’07-‘08
Led the NBA in free throw percentage in ’11-’12 at 92.7%; after struggling with free throw shooting early in his career, he’s finished above 90% in four of the last seven seasons
Selected eighth overall by the Cavaliers in 2000 despite getting kicked out of Michigan for recruiting violations, and traded on draft day to the Bulls
Has played 18 seasons in the NBA but only made eight playoff appearances, none of which were on a team that advanced past the second round
Finished the ’17-’18 season just shy of 19,000 career points, and will likely join the top 50 all-time scorers sometime during the ’18-’19 season

341) Darryl Dawkins, C, 1975-1989

Claimed to have descended from the Planet Lovetron (he was actually born in Orlando) and supposedly received the “Chocolate Thunder” nickname from diehard Sixers fan Stevie Wonder
His original nickname in the pro ranks was actually “Man-Child,” as he became the first player to make the leap directly from high school to the pros
Though he was the fifth pick in the 1975 Draft, his playing time early on was sparse and his breakout didn’t come until the ’79-’80 season
One two separate occasions in 1979 laid down a dunk so aggressive that it shattered the backboard, causing a length game delay and eventually forcing the NBA to switch to breakaway rims
Helped Philadelphia to Finals appearance in 1977, 1980, and 1982 (eventually earned a ring in 1989 with the Pistons, though he didn’t participate in the playoffs that season)
Never quite lived up to expectations, peaking at 16.8 points per game in ’83-’84 after a trade to the Nets

340) Terrell Brandon, G, 1991-2002

Played point guard apprentice to Mark Price for four seasons with the Cavs before finally taking over as full-time starter in ’95-‘96
Made two consecutive All-Star appearances in 1996 and 1997, and was the only Cleveland player on the roster when they hosted the latter edition
Averaged 19.4 points and 6.4 assists per game over the stretch of his two All-Star seasons, and was named “best pure point guard in the NBA” by Sports Illustrated
Was traded to the Bucks in the summer of 1997 (as part of the Shawn Kemp deal) and started to deal with injuries that hampered the rest of his career
Traded again to the Timberwolves in 1999 (as part of a blockbuster that also included Stephon Marbury and Sam Cassell), he became a play maker and second scoring option behind Kevin Garnett, but had his career cut short by a major knee injury in 2001

339) James Edwards, C, 1977-1996

Spent 19 seasons in the NBA with eight different teams, compiling over 14,000 points and over 6,000 rebounds
Also committed over 4,000 career personal fouls, good for 12th all-time
Peaked statistically in early seasons with the non-contending Cavaliers and Pacers, averaging 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over a four-year stretch, starting in ’78-‘79
Was traded the Pistons in 1988 and became an indelible member of the “Bad Boys,” with his serene demeanor (earning him the nickname “Buddha”) and unassuming court presence standing out on a roster filled with brash personalities
Started at power forward for Detroit in ’89-’90, finished third on the team in scoring and fourth in rebounding as they won the championship
Ultimately played in four NBA Finals, winning three titles, two with the Pistons (1989 and 1990) and one at the end of his career with the Bulls (1996)

338) Avery Johnson, G, 1988-2004

Unwanted by the NBA after a stellar-but-unnoticed career at Southern, and spent a year in USBL purgatory
In his first six NBA seasons he was waived or traded by the Sonics, Nuggets, Rockets, Warriors, and Spurs multiple times before finally catching on with San Antonio in ’94-’95 at the age of 29
Put his leadership skills and hardened bulldog attitude to good work, becoming a team leader and playmaker for the Spurs and taking over the starting point guard position for five seasons
Averaged a career high 9.6 assists per game for the Spurs in ’95-’96, good for third in the NBA
Hit the series clinching shot in game five of the 1999 NBA Finals against New York, and was third on the team in scoring and first in assists as the Spurs won their first title in franchise history

337) Paul Seymour, G, 1947-1960

Spent 10 seasons with the Syracuse Nationals, almost the entirety of the franchise’s time in upstate New York, and is arguably their second greatest legend after his longtime teammate Dolph Schayes
Came off the bench for the ’49-’50 Nationals team that lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals, and was the starting shooting guard for the squads that reached back-to-back Finals in 1954 and 1955, winning the franchise’s first championship in the latter
Named to three consecutive All-Star teams, starting in 1953, and was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’53-’54 and ’54-‘55
Had a longtime rivalry with Bob Cousy, that on several occasions turned into physical altercations on the floor
Took over as player-coach late in his career, then full time coach for the Hawks after retiring as a player and was fired for refusing to bench Cleo Hill, the only black player on the team

336) Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, 2013-Active

Already a consistent MVP candidate at age 23, and possesses a bevy of skills that can continue to improve
Most improved Player in ’16-‘17
Has improved his scoring average and rebounding totals every season, peaking at 26.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in ’17-‘18
2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and a two-time All-Star; finished seventh in MVP voting in ’16-’17, and sixth in ’17-‘18
Put on a dominant performance in a first round playoff series against the Celtics, with 25.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in a seven-game loss; has yet to lead the Bucks into the postseason second round
Born in Greece to Nigerian parents but didn’t receive his Greek citizenship until age 18; represents the national team and came just shy of carrying them to qualification for the 2016 Olympics

335) Louie Dampier, G, 1967-1979

Arguably the true face of the ABA, he’s the league’s all-time leader in points and assists

Spent all nine seasons of the ABA’s history playing for the Kentucky Colonels, and led them to a surprise championship in 1975

Named to seven ABA All-Star teams, 2nd-Team All-ABA four times, and led the league in three-point field goals twice

Never led the ABA in assists per game, but finished in the top ten in the category in all nine seasons

Selected by the Spurs in 1976 dispersal draft and lasted three seasons in the NBA coming off the bench as a combo guard

An All-American at Kentucky, and played on the infamous 1966 team that lost in the NCAA championship to the all-black Texas Western starting lineup

334) Kenny Smith, G, 1987-1997

Known to most fans now as the jovial foil to Charles Barkley on TNT’s Inside the NBA, but was once an unsung hero of Houston’s back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995

Earned the nickname “The Jet” for his quick first step and explosiveness at the basket, and competed in three All-Star Slam Dunk Contests

Drafted by the Kings and was 1st-Team All-Rookie

Had his best statistical season with the Rockets in ’90-’91 with 17.7 points and 7.1 assists per game, even earning some MVP votes

Took on more of a playmaker role in the Rockets’ title years, but often contributed clutch shots in key moments, such as his buzzer beater that tied game one of the 1995 NBA Finals against Orlando and sent it to overtime where the Rockets eventually won

Retired at age 31 due to injuries; spent time with the Hawks, Magic, Pistons, and Nuggets in addition to the Kings and Rockets

333) Rodney McCray, F, 1983-1993

Had a dynamic college career as a member of the famed “Doctors at Dunk” at Louisville who reached the Final Four three times in his four years there

Drafted third overall by the Rockets in 1983 as a compensation pick for losing Moses Malone in free agency

Both an effective rebounder and an elite passer despite playing small forward, he was also terrific defender and was named 1st-Team All-Defensive in ’87-‘88

Helped the Rockets reach the 1986 NBA Finals

Became more of a scorer after getting traded to the Kings, peaking at 16.6 points per game in ’89-‘90

Lost most of his effectiveness late in his career due to an abdominal injury, but did put in some minutes off the bench for the Bulls during their title season in ’92-‘93

332) Antonio McDyess, F, 1995-2011

His career is basically split in two parts, before and after severely rupturing his knee in 2001

Was named 1st-Team All-Rookie for the Nuggets, in the three season stretch from 1998 to 2001 he averaged 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and was named to the 2001 All-Star team

Missed almost three entire seasons after rupturing his Patellar tendon, during which he was traded from Denver to the Knicks to the Pistons

Remade his late career game as a mid-range jump shooter and sharp defender off the bench, and helped Detroit reach the NBA Finals in 2005

Played on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team that won gold, as an injury replacement for Tim Duncan

Originally drafted second overall by the Clippers, who traded him to Denver for Brent Barry and Randy Woods

331) Bob Boozer, F, 1960-1971

Drafted first overall by the Royals in 1959, one year before they selected Oscar Robertson, but delayed his NBA debut so that he could play on the 1960 U.S. Olympic team (with Robertson and Jerry West)

Became Cincinnati’s starting power forward immediately, and averaged a double-double in his second and third seasons

Traded to the Knicks in 1964 to make room for Jerry Lucas (he would later publicly call the trade racially motivated), and then spent a year as a role player for the Lakers

Found a starring role with the Bulls, who selected him in their 1966 expansion draft, averaging 21.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his two seasons in Chicago

Was the first Bulls player to make an All-Star team, in 1968

Finished his career with the Bucks, reuniting with Robertson, and was the sixth man on the ’70-’71 championship team

330) Scott Wedman, F, 1974-1987

One of the league's first health nuts, he was a vegetarian and gym rat in an era where some guys were smoking cigarettes during halftime of games, and was nicknamed “The Invisible Hulk” for his propensity for disappearing into the gym for hours

Drafted sixth overall by the Kansas City Kings in 1974, he teamed up with Tiny Archibald to carry them to the playoffs four times in his seven years there

Was an All-Star in 1976 and 1980, and averaged a career high 19.0 points per game in both ’79-’80 and ’80-‘81

Eventually joined the Celtics, where he was Larry Bird’s backup for four seasons, three of which ended with a Finals appearance and two with titles

Shot a perfect 11-of-11 from the floor during a game one blowout victory over the Lakers in the 1985 NBA Finals, which became known as the “Memorial Day Massacre”

Started in 19 games for an injured Kevin McHale during the epic ’85-’86 Celtics season that many consider the greatest of all time

329) Don Ohl, G, 1960-1970

Played two years of semi-pro ball after falling to the fifth round of the 1958 Draft

Eventually made the Pistons roster, and averaged 16.7 points per game in his first four seasons with the team

Was traded to the Bullets in 1964 and became even more of a scoring threat, averaged 19.7 points per game over his first three seasons in Baltimore

Tended to save his biggest games for the playoffs, where he led the Pistons in scoring as they reached the 1962 Conference Finals, and averaged 26.2 points per game in 13 playoff game appearances with the Bullets, still a franchise record

Made five All-Star appearances, two with Detroit and three with Baltimore

Nicknamed “Waxie” by teammates for his meticulously maintained crew-cut hair

328) Sam Lacey, C, 1970-1983

Probably the most underrated center of the ‘70s, and undoubtedly a franchise legend for the Kings
Played 11 ½ of his 13 NBA seasons with the Kings, starting when they were the Cincinnati Royals and ending in Kansas City; the franchise eventually retired his jersey
Once the NBA started tracking blocks and steals in ’73-’74, he tallied 100+ in both categories for six straight seasons (he’s one of only five players in history to do so)
Was named to the 1975 All-Star team
Averaged a double-double in each of his first six seasons, peaking at 14.2 points and 13.4 rebounds per game in ’73-‘74
Helped lead the Kings to a rare Conference Finals trip in 1981, their only such appearance during their Kansas City era

327) Larry Kenon, F, 1973-1983

Consistently the second best player on the Spurs during their George Gervin heyday, he was one of the most overlooked stars of the late ABA/early merger era
Averaged 20 points and 16 rebounds per game for Memphis State in 1973, but fell to the third round of the NBA Draft due to leaving school early
Opted to join the ABA and won a title in his rookie season with the Nets (he was actually drafted by the Memphis Tams but they couldn’t afford to pay him)
Though he played second banana to Julius Ervin on the Nets and Gervin on the Spurs, he was an All-Star in all three of his ABA seasons and later named to two NBA All-Star teams
Actually increased his scoring and rebounding significantly in the NBA, averaging 21.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in his first four NBA seasons, all with the Spurs
Recorded a rare triple-double that included 11 steals, which is still tied for the single-game NBA record

326) Caron Butler, F, 2002-2016

Initially drafted by the Heat in 2002, but pinballed to the Lakers before eventually settling into his prime with the Wizards
A 6”6’ swingman that could square up against shooting guards but rebound against forwards and centers
Averaged 19.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in four seasons in Washington, an era of individual success that was also marred by injuries and playoff disappointments
Named to back-to-back All-Star teams in 2007 and 2008
Missed the 2008 playoffs due to injuries which would vex him for the remainder of his career
After joining the Mavericks, missed the ’10-’11 season due to knee surgery and had to watch as his teammates won the title
Had later stints with the Clippers, Bucks, Thunder, Pistons, and Kings before finally retiring officially in 2018

325) Jason Richardson, G, 2001-2015

While carrying an otherwise putrid Warriors squad for years, he became a fan favorite for life for his dunks, long range shooting, and gregarious personality
Won back-to-back Slam Dunk Contests in 2002 and 2003
Averaged a career high 23.2 points per game for the Warriors in ’05-’06, and led the NBA in three-point field goals in ’07-’08 while averaging 21.8 points per game for the Bobcats
After five years of cellar dwelling, finally reached the playoffs with the Warriors in 2007 as they pulled off a stunning first round upset of top seeded Dallas
Finally got to play on contenders late in his career with the Suns and Magic before a knee injury forced him into early retirement
Held the Warriors franchise record for three point field goals for several years before getting surpassed by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson

324) Tom Meschery, F, 1961-1971

Born Tomislav Nikolayevich Mescheryakov, his parents fled the Bolshevik Revolution and he was the first NBA player of Russian descent
Nicknamed “The Mad Russian” for his bruising enforcer style on the court, and led the league in personal fouls in his rookie season
Was an All-Star for the Warriors in ’62-’63 while averaging a career high 16.0 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game
Second in scoring behind Wilt Chamberlain in ’63-’64 Warriors that lost to the Celtics in the NBA Finals, and a starting power forward on the ’66-’67 Warriors that lost in the Finals to the 76ers
Became a popular figure late in his career in Seattle after the Sonics selected him in the 1967 expansion draft
Post-playing career endeavors have included owning a tea shop, teaching high school English, and publishing several books of poetry, and he still blogs to this day on his website, Meschery’s Musings

323) Willie Naulls, F, 1956-1966

Had an impact on basketball beyond what can be measured in stats, titles, or accolades, as the first black athlete to be captain of an American pro team
Captained the Knicks after they traded for him in 1957, and over a five-year prime with New York averaged 20.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game
Was named to four All-Star teams in that five-year stretch
Later recruited by Bill Russell and Red Auerbach to join the Celtics to come off the bench behind John Havlicek and Satch Sanders
Spent three seasons in Boston, winning a title in each, including the ’64-’65 team that many consider the best of the Russell era
One of the earliest stars under John Wooden at UCLA, he led the team to the NCAA Tournament in 1956 where they lost to Russell and San Francisco in the Sweet 16

322) Sidney Wicks, F, 1971-1981

Selected second overall by the Blazers in 1971 after the team paid the Cavs not to take him first
Scored 20+ points per game in his first four seasons, and double-digit rebounds in three of them, overall averaging 23.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game during that span
Named an All-Star in each of his first four seasons
Won Rookie of the Year for the ’71-’72 season, putting together arguably the greatest rookie season ever for a non-future Hall of Famer
Never led Portland to the playoffs in his five seasons with the team, finally making his one and only postseason appearance with the Celtics in ’76-‘77
After averaging 24.5 points per game in his rookie campaign, his scoring average dropped every single season, finishing with 6.7 for the Clippers in ’80-‘81

321) Serge Ibaka, F, 2009-Active

1st-Team All-Defensive three straight years, starting in ’11-‘12
Finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in ’11-’12, third in ’12-’13, and fourth in ’13-‘14
Led the NBA in blocks per game twice, peaking at 3.7 per game in ’11-’12, which is tied for the highest single-season total of this century (with Hassan Whiteside, Theo Ratliff, and Alonzo Mourning); also led the NBA in total blocks for four straight seasons
His 9.78 block percentage in ’11-’12 was the highest in the NBA since Manute Bol in ’88-‘89
Peaked statistically overall in ’13-’14 with 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game
Played in four Conference Finals with the Thunder, including a trip to the 2012 NBA Finals
The first ever Congolese NBA player, his parents both played basketball for the national team

320) Max Zaslofsky, G, 1946-1956

At the age of 21 he led the Chicago Stags to the inaugural NBA Finals in 1947

Was named 1st-Team All-NBA in his rookie season, and held the record for almost 60 years as the youngest player to receive that accolade until LeBron James broke it

Led the NBA in total points in ’47-’47 and free throw percentage in ’49-’50, and was the second best pure scorer of the league’s early years after Joe Fulks

Ultimately named 1st-Team All-NBA in his first four seasons, and played in the second ever All-Star Game in 1952

Selected by the Knicks in 1950 dispersal draft after the Stags folded, returning home after being raised in Brooklyn

Helped the Knicks reach three straight NBA Finals starting in 1951

319) Reggie Lewis, G, 1987-1993

Born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare heart defect that cut his life and promising career short in 1993, and could have been treated if he had ever been screened by a cardiologist

Drafted by the Celtics in 1987 when the roster was still stacked but seemingly aging in dog years

Got his big opportunity in ’88-’89 when Larry Bird and Danny Ainge were waylaid with injuries, and within two years he was the undisputed team leader and top scorer

Averaged 20.8 points per game in each of his last two seasons, and was named to the All-Star team in 1992

Collapsed during a workout in July of 1993 and couldn’t be revived; was eventually pronounced dead by cardiac arrest

His #35 was retired by the Celtics in 1995, one of only two players in team history to be so honored without having won a championship

318) John Johnson, F, 1970-1982

Maybe the most underrated small forward of the ‘70s, as he spent the first half of his career starring for bad teams and the second half as a role player for contenders

Instantly the best player on the expansion Cavaliers team that drafted him in 1970, averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in his first two seasons

Named to the All-Star team in each of his first two seasons, becoming the first ever Cavs All-Star

Had some time as a successful starting small forward for the Blazers before getting traded to Houston in 1976 and getting buried on the bench

Remade himself as a point forward on the Sonics in ’77-’78, and helped the team reach back-to-back NBA Finals, winning a championship in the latter in 1979

317) Arvydas Sabonis, C, 1995-2003

His pro experience started at age 16 in his native Lithuania (then part of the Soviet Union) but he didn’t reach the NBA until 15 years later

A lot happened in between, including two Olympics medals (gold for the U.S.S.R. in 1988, when he outplayed David Robinson in a matchup against the USA, and bronze for Lithuania in 1992), six European Player of the Year awards, and several attempts by NCAA and NBA teams to lure him stateside

Finally joined the Blazers in 1995 (they had drafted the “European Bill Walton” in the first round nine years prior) and despite his body being ravaged by injuries and overuse, he put together a solid seven-year NBA career

Was All-Rookie in ’95-’96, averaged a double-double in ’97-’98 with 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, and helped lead the Blazers to back-to-back Conference Finals in 1999 and 2000

316) Kevin Porter, G, 1972-1983

Heralded as one the fastest point guards of the '70s, and one of the decade’s premier passers, but also of one of the most overlooked

Led the league in both total assists and assists per game four times in a seven year stretch, but was never named to an All-Star team

Mostly played on bad teams like the Pistons and Nets, but his early career stint with the Bullets included an NBA Finals appearance in 1975

Broke Bob Cousy’s record for most assists in a game with 29 during the ’78-’79 season (it was later broken by Scott Skiles, but he’s still second all-time)

Peaked at 13.4 assists per game for the Nets in ’78-’79, while also averaging a career high 15.4 points per game; only John Stockton and Isiah Thomas have averaged more assists in a single season

315) Mike Conley, G, 2007-Active

Typically overshadowed in his career by teammates Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, he has quietly built one of the greatest all-time careers for a player without an All-Star appearance
Has long been considered the Grizzlies’ leader on and off the court, and may ultimately go down as the franchise’s greatest player by the time he leaves or retires; he’s the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and steals, and is second all-time in points
Led the league in total steals in ’12-’13, and is one of the NBA’s top defensive point guards
Injuries have unfortunately marked much of his career, including a heel tear that required surgery and cost him the majority of the ’17-’18 season
Was a teammate of Greg Oden on the 2007 Ohio State team that reached the National Final, and was drafted fifth overall later that summer, four spots after Oden
His father, Mike, Sr., won gold in the triple jump at the 1992 Olympics

314) Doc Rivers, G, 1983-1996

His leadership skills as a coach, which helped Boston win the 2008 title, gestated in his playing days, especially with the Hawks

An imposing floor general, as a versatile combo guard who stood 6’4”, he never did anything particularly impressive statistically (he did average 10.0 assists per game in ’86-’87 which is not too shabby) but led the team with his ball handling, passing, and quick hands on defense

Played in the 1988 All-Star Game

Spent eight season with the Hawks, leading them to the playoffs six times, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists

Spent much of his later career with the Knicks splitting time as the starting point guard with Derek Harper, and the sprained knee that kept him sidelined for the 1994 playoffs arguably may have cost New York the title

313) Brandon Roy, G, 2006-2013

Not counting a five-game comeback with the Timberwolves in ’12-’13, he played in just five NBA seasons and was an All-Star in three of them

Peaked in ’08-’09, with 22.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game

Led the Blazers to back-to-back 50 win seasons in ’08-’09 and ’09-’10, both of which ended with first round playoff losses (his teams never advanced past round one)

Won Rookie of the Year in ’06-’07 after being selected with the sixth pick by the Timberwolves and then getting immediately traded to Portland

Was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’08-’09, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting

Played 70+ games in a season just twice, ultimately lasting just 326 total NBA games due to near constant issues related to the lack of cartilage in his knees

312) Mack Calvin, G, 1969-1981

Fondly remembered in the ABA annals for his diminutive size, endless motor, and infectious love of the game

Arguably the best point guard in ABA history, with five All-Star appearances, three nods on the 1st-Team All-ABA, and consistently amongst the league leaders in assists per game

Played on five different teams in seven ABA seasons: the Los Angeles Stars (with whom he played in the 1970 Finals), Miami Floridians, Carolina Cougars, Denver Nuggets, and Virginia Squires

Unrecruited by John Wooden at UCLA despite starring in high school in Long Beach, he attended rival USC instead and was part of the ’68-'69 Trojans team that shocked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion

Drafted in the 15th round by the Lakers in 1969, he eventually joined the team as a free agent when the ABA dissolved in 1976, becoming a teammate of Kareem

311) Joe Caldwell, F, 1964-1975

One of the best pure athletes of the pre-merger era; described by Julius Erving as the best man-to-man defender he faced in the ABA

Also a pioneer in NBA contract negotiations, one of the first players to be represented by an agent, and the first player to successfully escape the reserve clause and jump ship for the ABA

Started in the NBA in 1964, where he was drafted second overall by the Pistons but spent most of his career with the Hawks

Named to the All-Star team in 1969 and 1970, and averaged a career high 21.1 points per game in ’69-‘70

Despite being one of the NBA’s best two-way forwards he was underpaid and underappreciated by management and jumped ship for the ABA, leading to a legal dispute

Was named to two ABA All-Star teams in four seasons with the Carolina Cougars

310) Anthony Mason, F, 1989-2003

One of the toughest, most resilient, and most versatile players in NBA history

His career got off a trying start; selected in the third round by the Blazers then almost immediately cut, he spent time with pro teams in Turkey, Venezuela, and the CBA before finally signing with his hometown Knicks in 1991

His defensive versatility was especially on display in the 1994 playoffs, when he managed to hamper Scottie Pippen in the Conference Finals and then Hakeem Olajuwon in the NBA Finals

Won Sixth Man of the Year in ’94-‘95

Stepped up his offensive output in later stints with Charlotte and Miami (where he reunited with Pat Riley), averaging a career high 16.2 points per game in ’96-’97 and being named to the 2001 All-Star team

309) Paul Pressey, F, 1982-1993

Helped revolutionize the “point forward” position, setting the stage for future stars like Scottie Pippen and LeBron James

A terrific passer with a high court IQ, he was also such an explosive dunker that he earned the nickname “Rubber Band Man” while playing at Tulsa

Never an All-Star but was named All-Defensive three times, received MVP votes twice, and was arguably the most important player on the Bucks teams that reached the Conference Finals in 1984 and 1986

Was a serious stat stuffer in his first full season as a starter, ’84-’85, with 16.1 points, 6.8 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game

Retired as a player to become a coach for the Warriors in 1992, but was pressed back into service on the court for 18 games that season due to a rash of injuries to Golden State

308) Lionel Hollins, G, 1975-1985

Only of only two All-Americans in Arizona State history, along with James Harden, and the first overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft

Took over as Portland’s starting shooting guard in ’76-’77, and was the assists leader, steals leader, and third in scoring on that year’s championship team

In ’77-’78 was named 1st-Team All-Defensive, an All-Star, and scored a career high 15.9 points per game (was later named 2nd-Team All-Defensive the next season)

Was traded by the rebuilding Blazers to the Sixers at the deadline in 1980, and became a complementary player to Julius Erving on the wing as Philadelphia reached the 1980 and 1982 NBA Finals

Struggled through injuries in late career stops with the Cippers, Pistons, and Rockets

Had his jersey retired by the Blazers in 2007, on the 30th anniversary of the championship team

307) Mychal Thompson, C, 1978-1991

Though he played high school and college ball in the U.S., he was born in the Bahamas and became the first foreign-born player ever drafted first overall in the NBA

Selected by the Blazers to replace the injured and holding-out Bill Walton, and was 1st-Team All-Rookie as their starting center

Broke his leg playing pick-up ball back in the Bahamas, and was forced to miss the entire ’79-’80 season

Came back strong for the Blazers and peaked in ’81-’82 with 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game

Had a second life as a backup center on the Showtime Lakers, playing in four NBA Finals late in his career, winning championships in 1987 and 1988

His son, Klay, is an NBA All-Star and has won multiple championships with the Warriors

306) Ricky Pierce, G, 1982-1998

Spent the majority of his 16-year career coming off the bench, ultimately going down as one of the greatest sixth men of all-time

Won the Sixth Man of the Year award twice with the Bucks, in ’86-’87 and in ’89-’90 when he averaged a career high 23.0 points per game

Played in the 1991 All-Star Game, and just five days later was traded from Milwaukee to Seattle

Got a chance to start at shooting guard for the Sonics, and was their leading scorer in ’92-’93 as they reached the Conference Finals

Shot 87.5% from the free throw line in his career, and finished in the top 10 in the NBA seven times in that category

After retirement, invented a specialized basketball called the Accushot22 (a reference to his jersey number) that helps kids learn to properly shoot

305) Phil Smith, G, 1974-1983

A San Francisco luminary at the high school, college, and pro level, he’s so revered in his hometown that September 27th is "Phil Smith Day" in the city

First pick of the ABA Draft in 1973, but opted to stay in school one year longer and fell to the second round of the 1974 NBA Draft

Contributed bouts of scoring and defense off the bench for the Warriors in his rookie season as they won the NBA championship

Took over as the starting shooting guard in ’75-’76 and was named 2nd-Team All-NBA, 2nd-Team All-Defensive, and finished seventh in MVP voting

Averaged 19.6 points per game over his four year prime, and was named to two All-Star teams

Suffered an Achilles’ injury early in the ’79-’80 season from which he never recovered, and he wound down his career with brief and unmemorable stops with the Clippers and Sonics

304) John Starks, G, 1988-2002

One possibly apocryphal story that says a lot about his career: While toiling in the CBA in 1990, he was supposedly about to get a contract offer from the Pistons, but the team balked after he was ejected from a game for bumping a ref
Another one: Later that fall, when he was a long-shot to make the Knicks roster, he supposedly injured his knee trying to dunk on Patrick Ewing during practice, and the team technically couldn’t cut him due to the injury
Undrafted in 1988 after bouncing around four different colleges (including getting expelled from two of them for detrimental conduct)
Won Sixth Man of the Year in ’95-’96, was named 2nd-Team All-Defensive in ’92-’93, and made the All-Star roster in ’93-’94 (when he peaked with 19.0 points per game)
Played in numerous dramatic playoff series with the Knicks, and made a series of unforgettable blunders, including crippling ejections during the 1993 playoffs, and an embarrassing 2-of-18 shooting performance from the field in game seven of those Finals

303) Jim McMillian, F, 1970-1979

The first three-time winner of the Hagerty Award, which is granted to the best college player in New York (Chris Mullin eventually matched the feat) while leading Columbia to their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 1968
Drafted by the Lakers in 1970 and took over the starting small forward position after Elgin Baylor’s 1971 retirement
Was in the starting lineup for all of the Lakers’ 33-game winning streak during the ’71-’72 season, and their eventual championship that spring
Averaged 18.8 points per game during the regular season in ’71-’72, and made some key contributions in the playoffs, including a 42 point performance during the Conference Finals against Milwaukee
Played again in the 1973 Finals with Los Angeles before getting traded to Buffalo
Led the Braves to their first ever playoff appearance in ’73-’74 with his best statistical season, 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game

302) Sean Elliott, F, 1989-2001

Though he did spent one year with the Pistons (traded to Detroit in 1993 for Dennis Rodman), he was a lifetime Spur, joining the team in 1989, the same season as David Robinson, and going out in 2001 as a champion
San Antonio reached the playoffs 10 times in his 11 years with the team, eventually winning the championship in 1999
Was consistently the team’s second or third leading scorer, peaking at 20.0 points per game in ’95-‘96
Named to the All-Star roster in 1993 and 1996
Hit the “Memorial Day Miracle” shot during the 1999 Conference Finals against Portland, an improbable off-balance three-pointer that clinched game two of the series
Announced after the 1999 championship run that he played the season with a rare kidney disease that required a transplant; received a new kidney from his brother and played one more full season with the Spurs before retiring

301) Mel Hutchins, F, 1951-1958

Drafted second overall out of BYU in 1951 by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, who were about to move to Milwaukee and shorten their name to the Hawks

Had an incredible rookie year, averaging 9.2 points and 13.3 rebounds per game, and leading the NBA in total rebounds

Averaged a double-double in ’52-’53 with 11.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game

Named to four All-Star teams, one with the Hawks, and three with the Pistons

After being sold to the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1953, he helped the team reach back-to-back NBA Finals in 1955 and 1956

Finished fourth in the first ever NBA MVP voting in ’55-’56, behind only Bob Cousy, Paul Arizin, and Bob Pettit

Retired in 1958 at age 30 due to various lingering knee injuries

His sister, Colleen, Miss America 1952, married NBA star Ernie Vandeweghe, whose son, Kiki, also eventually played in the league and is on this list

Oct 25, 2018

Top 500 All-Time Players, 2018 Edition: 350-301